Bird Notes columnist Julian
Hughes of RSPB Conwy reveals how the Snowy Owl got twitchers in a flap, and
outlines 11 birding events in the coming days
Andrew Forgrave
Rural Affairs Editor
11:02, 19 JUN 2018
UPDATED11:39, 19 JUN 2018
ANGLESEY'S FIRST SNOWY
OWL IN ALMOST HALF-A-CENTURY
Early June can be an excellent
time for rare birds, Anglesey’s most
memorable being a Black Lark at RSPB South Stack in
2003 that brought thousands of birders from across the UK to see a bird hardly
ever witnessed in western Europe.
Last week’s twitch to Amlwch was not on
the same scale, but the sight of a Snowy Owl on the Anglesey
coastal path will live long in the memory of those fortunate to see
it.
Reported by walkers over several
days, it proved a one-Friday wonder for birders with no sign since.
This same female was in
Pembrokeshire in late May; readers may recall that one was also reported
from Holy
Island in late March .
Snowy Owls found in Britain
usually originate from Arctic Canada, some undoubtedly hitching a ride on
trans-Atlantic freighters.
More than a dozen appeared in
Britain last winter but this is only the fourth ever seen in North Wales, and
the last on Anglesey was in 1972, so it drew a keen crowd from as far away as
the English Midlands.
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