Alpine Chough on Anglesey (1 Viewer)

[David Smith]

Just enjoyed a good week-end around SouthStack area where we saw what we were certain was an Alpine Chough (as well as 'normal' choughs). Didn't say too much as we thought 'they are not supposed to be in G.B.' but then we met a lady who told us it has been reported in a local paper. Has anyone else seen this ? or is it more common than I think ?

 

[BobTag]

Just enjoyed a good week-end around SouthStack area where we saw what we were certain was an Alpine Chough (as well as 'normal' choughs). Didn't say too much as we thought 'they are not supposed to be in G.B.' but then we met a lady who told us it has been reported in a local paper. Has anyone else seen this ? or is it more common than I think ?

Hi Dave,

A wild Alpine Chough would be a first record of the species in the UK.

Please can you provide some more details - what led you to the potential identification, exact location, circumstances of the observation, etc.

Thanks, Ben

 

[Lichfield Birder]

Juvenile Chough??

 

[Jane Turner]

Choughs shouldn't have laid yet, let alone fledged young... so either was its a remarkalbe record!

 

[David Smith]

Ben
keeping in mind I am quite new to bird watching-I am trying to be careful not to 'imagine' sitings i.e. I think it would be easy to convince yourself (myself) you have seen a certain bird so I try hard to be certain and if I can't tell what it is I don't count it.
We were on the cliff top close to the car park which leads to Ellins Tower. Just below us was a 'normal' Chough flying around which is easy to spot. Then we saw an almost identical bird but with a distinct yellow beak. It was
because we are new that we spent some time going through the books and the only one that seems to fit is the Alpine.
On the way back we stopped of at Conway and by chance got speaking to a knowledgeable lady bird spotter and we mentioned this bird-she told us it has been reported in a local paper. Not knowing it is unusual I didn't ask her which paper so can't advise you.
Hope this helps!
By the way-I am quite happy to be proved wrong so no-one needs to worry about being blunt.

 

[Lichfield Birder]

Choughs shouldn't have laid yet, let alone fledged young... so either was its a remarkalbe record!

Well if its not a juvenile, I need to fill the car with petrol!!!!

 

[BobTag]

Thanks Dave.

Any locals know anything about this?

Anyone got Ken Croft's number & could give him a call to get this checked out? Got to be worth a look...

Ben

 

[David Smith]

The lady (and her colleague) I spoke to were from Chester and Southport so I really don't know if any locals are aware of it. As I say she did tell us it had been reported in the local paper.
Is it worth contacting the RSPB as they have a base at Ellins Tower ?

 

[Pie Face]

Has anyone noticed the date

 

[Steven Astley]

:clap: :clap: :clap: Well done David and congratulations to Mark. Obviously it didn't have me fooled for a second

 

[David Smith]

NO!!!!!
This is genuine-I am genuine. As I said, I am OK if proved wrong but this is 100% genuine.

 

[Pie Face]

NO!!!!!
This is genuine-I am genuine. As I said, I am OK if proved wrong but this is 100% genuine.

Mind you I remember, 2 years ago, scoffing at the Belted Kingfisher in Staffs - now that could have been painful.

Mark

 

[Steven Astley]

NO!!!!!
This is genuine-I am genuine. As I said, I am OK if proved wrong but this is 100% genuine.

Its bad day to be posting about possible firsts for Britain David.

Ok if it's serious is it possible it's 1cy that still has its yellowish bill or a very early breeder, we did have a mild winter.

If it is an Alpine. I find hard to believe its slipped the net so to speak, mentioned in papers as well.

Are you sure the people you spoke weren't talking about a yellow billed Tern that was on Anglesey last year.

There can be a lot of misinformation floating around more casual birders.

If it is an Alpine and nobody believes it than its another twitching comedy moment.

 

[David Smith]

Sorry-whats an 1cy ?
What is a yellow billed tern ? I thought all terns were white ? (serious comment).
I will contact RSPB tomorrow and check if anyone else has seen this bird-but as I stated-I am not saying "I SAW AN ALPINE CHOUGH!!" I am saying I saw a bird identical to a Chough but with a distinct yellow bill and then was told it had been reported.

 

[BobTag]

Sorry-whats an 1cy ?
What is a yellow billed tern ? I thought all terns were white ? (serious comment).
.

1cy is 1st calandar-year.

A Yellow-billed Tern is a tern with a Yellow-billed (vs orange-billed tern etc). One was present last year in the tern colony at Celym Lagoon (OK, wrong spelling). Let's not get into the debate of what that was, or wasn't here now...

Yes David, give the RSPB a call tomorrow.

Alpine Chough has a distinctly shorter bill than Red-billed Chough. Did you notice this? If the bill was the same lenght, it helps us know for certain that it wasn't an Alpine Chough.

 

[Steven Astley]

1cy is 1st calandar-year.

A Yellow-billed Tern is a tern with a Yellow-billed (vs orange-billed tern etc). One was present last year in the tern colony at Celym Lagoon (OK, wrong spelling). Let's not get into the debate of what that was, or wasn't here now...

Yes David, give the RSPB a call tomorrow.

Alpine Chough has a distinctly shorter bill than Red-billed Chough. Did you notice this? If the bill was the same lenght, it helps us know for certain that it wasn't an Alpine Chough.

Yes quite correct and I meant 2nd cy in other words less than 1 year old, born last year!

 

[David Smith]

I have been in contact with RSPB. They have no knowledge of such a siting. They have looked for any references to local papers but not found anything.
They checked the reference books and, to quote, "fledglings can hold onto their yellow beak for some time" but it doesn't tell them what "some time" means. I passed on the comment re' not having nested yet and they feel the explanation COULD BE that it hatched late last year.
All I can say is in every respect it looked like a normal Chough but the beak was very clear and distinctly yellow. As it was flying slightly below me I couldn't see the legs clear enough to describe.
I am going back next week and will be looking-if anyone else is going you will see me-I'm the one with binoculars. (that is a joke-the rest isn't)

 

[James]

I am going back next week and will be looking-if anyone else is going you will see me-I'm the one with binoculars. (that is a joke-the rest isn't)[/QUOTE]

I will also be there (with binoculars) Good Friday and/or the Saturday. Taking some friends who wanted to see chough anyway.

James (also from Warrington).

 

[David Smith]

You may already know but you will see them around south Stack. Also if you take the walk over to North Stack you should see them.
Another good place I found is Maltreath Sands (Nr Newborough). There is a public car park and you can walk with the sea & estuary to one side and a number of lagoons on the other side. Plenty to see and a pleasant walk.

 

[pandachris]

You may already know but you will see them around south Stack. Also if you take the walk over to North Stack you should see them.
Another good place I found is Maltreath Sands (Nr Newborough). There is a public car park and you can walk with the sea & estuary to one side and a number of lagoons on the other side. Plenty to see and a pleasant walk.

David, off topic but do you know about Penmon Point near Beaumaris? Probably the best place on Anglesey to see Black Guillemot and a pleasant spot in its own right.