26/10/2020.
Wales is under lockdown, so the only exercise we are allowed today is 'from the front door' and with no driving. Frustrating enough when the forecast suggests this is the last settled day for a week or more, but especially so when a number of unusual migrant and winter birds have been spotted across North Wales, including a Dusky Warbler on Anglesey and a Turtle Dove at Y Bala.
These two are obviously 'out of bounds' but Marc Hughes' report of a rare Pallas' Warbler (stock image below) on the Great Orme is more tantalising. A quick check of the map shows that by the most direct route the bird is around 9km away, so the return trip just about avoids the worst of the weather and gets us back before dark (though headtorch gets packed just in case...).
These miniscule Warblers can be difficult to spot at the best of times so we are fully aware that looking for the bird is just a ruse; the main aim is just to get out for fresh air and exercise but you never know......
Once out of the house it's obvious we are not the only ones wanting to make the most of the day - cyclists and dog walkers everywhere, meaning lots of waiting and sidestepping to maintain social distance.
Our route takes us through the village of Glanwydden (with the Queen's Head sadly closed for Lockdown) and across onto 'Nant y Gamar' / Coed Gaer / Gloddaeth Woods. The track leads us round the back of Gloddaeth Hall (now St David's College) with it's abandoned 17th century Water Tower.
We continue through 'Coed y Gell', by-passing the intriguing yew-forested peak of Bryn Maelgwyn - named after the 
6th Century King of Gwynedd who is thought to have lived in the area - a trip for another day!
After passing through Llanrhos churchyard we find another tower on the SW of Bryniau farm. Although known to some locals as the 'Water Tower' this is actually a more defensive structure, with mortared rough-stone walling and beam holes similar to that seen in mediaeval towers in the area. There seems some controversy over whether this was built as a watchtower for Conwy Castle, or in the 17th Century by Lord Mostyn as a defence against attack by Barbary Pirates!
From here we drop finally into Llandudno, past the hospital, and join the Wales Coast Path at West Shore. There are storm clouds gathering over the mountains, yet we still avoid them here as they pass by on westerly winds.
Finally we arrive at Llys Helig Drive and sit down for a packed lunch next to the Pine trees where the warbler was seen. Silence. No birds at all to be seen or heard! A Robin briefly breaks the quiet, but some other birders pass by and report that they haven't seen either the warbler or the flock of Long-tailed Tits it was hanging around with.
We walk on a little, not expecting anything, when the 'pee-pee-pee-Pee' calls of the LTTs fill the air, and then fleeting glimpses of a tiny bird with wing bars.. eye stripe.. central head stripe... and then it's gone. Enough to confirm Pallas' Warbler? Probably. And with no further sightings that's as close as we can get.
Time is moving on so we set off on the slightly longer but easier return route through Llandudno to North Shore and via Penrhyn Bay (checking briefly on a climbing project at Chwarel Bach) and arriving back just as the rain starts.
20km covered, stayed dry and a probable 'life-list' bird. Not a bad 'Lockdown' day!
© Picture credits: Kirsty Weyman
