WINTER RARITIES ALONG THE NORTH WALES COAST

Storm Goretti left a dramatic imprint across the UK. As it swept in from the Atlantic, the system delivered a potent mix of hazards—exceptionally strong winds, heavy snowfall and prolonged rainfall. A rare red warning for wind was issued for the Isles of Scilly and much of Cornwall, where gusts peaked at 99mph at St Mary’s Airport, the strongest recorded there since 1991. On the mainland, Culdrose clocked winds of 90mph, while Camborne reached 80mph.

But as so often follows extreme weather, calm eventually returned—and with it came opportunity.

An early start under settled skies provided ideal conditions for a mid-winter circuit of the North Wales coast. From limestone headlands to estuarine edges, the day would deliver a rewarding mix of scarce visitors and classic coastal species.

The first stop was the Great Orme at Llandudno, where the long-staying Shorelark continued to perform reliably.

Early morning on the Great Orme looking down to Conwy

Present since Boxing Day 2025, the bird showed exceptionally well, offering prolonged views against the stark, dramatic limestone backdrop.

A species of Arctic tundra and high mountain systems-breeding across Scandinavia, northern Russia and ranges such as the Alps and Pyrenees—the Shorelark is a scarce and charismatic winter visitor to Britain’s coasts. Seeing one feeding calmly on the windswept Orme felt like a fitting symbol of winter resilience.

From the coast, attention turned inland to the Conwy Valley in search of Hawfinches. Two well-watched churchyards, St Mary’s at Caerhun and St Peter’s at Llanbedr-y-Cennin, were given several hours of patient coverage.

St Peter's-Llanbedr-y-Cennin

St Mary’s at Caerhun

Despite their reputation and regular appearance in annual reports, the finches remained elusive. Instead, the stillness of the churchyards was marked only by Greenfinch, Chaffinch, Great, Blue and Coal Tits, plus a single Goldcrest flitting quietly through the canopy.

Greenfinches were in good numbers in both churchyards

Back along the coast, Colwyn Bay offered a change in both pace and reward. Joined by Cheshire birder Dave Bedford, an hour of seawatching produced a steady passage of wintering sea ducks and divers.

Dave seawatching

Among hundreds of Common Scoters, there were three Red-throated Divers, a Great Northern Diver, and most notably, a drake Surf Scoter. Unlike its Common and Velvet relatives, Surf Scoter is an irregular winter visitor to the British Isles, with most records thought to involve birds displaced from North America by strong westerlies or Atlantic gales. In the context of Storm Goretti’s recent passage, its presence felt especially apt.

Surf Scoter

(c)Sean O'Hara

The final destination was the River Clwyd at Rhyl, where a first-winter Lesser Yellowlegs discovered the previous week was still present. Feeding alongside Redshank, the bird offered excellent comparative views, its finer structure and brisk feeding action clearly evident. A rare Nearctic vagrant in Britain, Lesser Yellowlegs remains a notable find anywhere, and this encounter marked my first with the species for several years. 

A juvenile Magpie, curiously persistent, lingered nearby throughout the observation.

As daylight faded, the day drew to a close with a strong sense of satisfaction. In the calm aftermath of an Atlantic storm, North Wales had once again demonstrated its winter potential, delivering quality birding, memorable encounters and the reminder that even the quietest season can shine when conditions, timing and persistence align.