Pond Dipping

Very little chance for birding this week as I devoted most of my time to securing a job in Lancashire - with the help of one of the adjacent comment posters. Thanks, Paul.

One of the few chances I had was early on Thursday morning when I found myself wandering around Greenfield Valley in the pitch black with a couple of Springers in tow.

I had hoped to catch a glimpse of a Tawny Owl, but the woodland was largely devoid of both sight and sound of wildlife save a couple of mournful Robins.

With the light improving as I returned towards the car park where I decided to check the lower pool for wildfowl.

It was here I had a wonderful surprise: a pair of Dippers perched on a metal platform over the water with the male bird singing and displaying to his mate!

I had never seen Dipper at Greenfield before and it is the first time I have listened to their song. Unfortuntely both birds soon clocked me and shot off to the far side of the lake.

On a sadder note, I am sure I am not alone in being shocked at the unedifying scrum over at Leasowe cockle beds.

Sometimes - in my more naive moments - I think as a race we are becoming more enlightened in terms of our relationship with the environment, but the egregious spectacle - shamefully sanctioned by North West 'Fisheries' - on the north Wirral coast is a sobering reminder of how far we still have to go.

It made me delve deep into my past to a track by the New York group the Wu-tang Clan who ironically sang a track called C.R.E.A.M: Cash Rules Everything Around Me.

Until later.

Dunlin on a Hot Tin Roof

The humble Dunlin was the star of the show at Connah's Quay this morning as inchoate groups of this diminutive wader slowly coalesced into one large flock of three to four thousand birds.

Unable to settle they spent most of the period around high tide whirling around over the Dee channel whilst the grounded Oystercatcher et al roosted on the edge of the marsh in a more relaxed fashion.

Fewer wildfowl today than in previous times with fifty or so Teal and a handful of Shelduck the only ducks seen from the West Hide. The Bunded Pools were a little more varied with a trio of Goldeneye the highlight.

Five Pink-footed Geese seem to have taken up residence on Oakenholt Marsh - perhaps a family group - although they were very distant favouring a channel behind where the 'big gulls' roost over the high tide.

A Kingfisher was conspicuous again perching in front of the hide - there have been two seen together recently refelcting the excellent numbers of this bird that seem to be present along the welsh side of the Dee.

No raptors at all today, so it is a little puzzling why the Dunlin were so flighty...

Connah's Quay NR 22.11.10

3,000 - 4,000 Dunlin
1,500+ Lapwing
1,500 Oystercatcher
3 Spotted Redshank
5 Pink-footed Goose
3 Goldeneye
6 GC Grebe
15 Linnet
1 Kingfisher

Until later.

Designer Stubble

Like George Micheal, I am developing a rather unnatural obsession with stubble. I clocked this particular field behind Deeside Industrial Park last week and keen to add some difficult to find farmland birds for my Flintshire list - not to mention a chance of a Waxwing on the estate proper - I decided to hop over there this morning.

When I arrived the area was teeming with birds; not perhaps the ones I had expected but between 800-1000 Fieldfares and circa 100 Redwings feeding on hawthorns that were absolutely dripping with berries.

A spectacular sight and well worth checking out over the weekend - the line of trees runs adjacent to a brook that also has a public footpath running next to it enabling great views.

Also chocker with birds was the bare plouged field running parallel to the road into the steelworks. A massive flock of Lapwing, plus a decent numbers of Skylarks made up the lion's share of birds, with smaller numbers of Reed Buntings, Starlings and Linnets.

It looks like this field may have good potential over the coming weeks. Who knows, I may get to see a Grey Partridge, Tree Sparrow or Corn Bunting in Flintshire yet!

With fifteen minutes to spare, I mooched over to Shotwick Fields to run the rule over the Swans.
Some retard had decided to let three Whippets roam around the field, so the birds were a little spooked. It did have one advantage though: they all had their heads up. Around forty Whoopers present, plus a lonesome Bewicks...

Another birder from Lymm who joined me briefly also picked up a Merlin bombing across.

Until later.

Moules Marinieres

When I wake at six thirty - courtesy of my Little Owl alarm call – I normally utter something about culling non native species, turn over, and fall back asleep. This morning was slightly different. Instead of pulling the covers over my eyes, I decided to drive down to the Point of Ayr under the cloak of darkness.

I was hoping to find a Shortie or two hunting over the dunes, but all I found was a steady stream of zombie-like dog walkers in reflective jackets.

As a change of tactic I decided to trawl the strandline on the beach all the way up to Gronant – and back – with, again, little success.

Reluctantly I then started to grill the gulls – not literally – as I headed back towards the lighthouse. And there were absolutely thousands of them – all taking advantage of the large amounts of mussels, razorfish, whelks, oysters, etc that last week’s storm must have washed-up on the beach.

Fond of the odd bit of foraging myself, I decided the free moules were too good to miss, so in the pocket fifty of the largest went. Probably past there best I would have thought, but unlike fungi at least there isn’t a chance of them killing me!

After gathering my free lunch, I walked over to the shoreline to run the rule over the still water. A couple of Great Crested Grebes were fairly close in, but even nearer still was a cracking immature Great Northern Diver – my first ‘non fly past’ here.

Realising I was now parallel to the end of the spit, I decided to have one last comb of the sand and shingle and this time my luck changed when I almost trod on a single Snow Bunting.

Withdrawing to the top of the dune, I sat down and watched the bird prodding around the pebbles for a good half an hour. An excellent end to a profitable morning…

Now, where’s the white wine.

Until later.

Halkyn Thriller

Creeping around Halkyn graveyard early this morning I noticed that one of the occupants had failed to return home…

Having given my grave robbing career a long time ago, I was actually there trying to find a Hawfinch – something I have failed to do so in the past and so it was today too.

Not wanting to have a wasted journey I decided to have a walk eastwards along the public footpath towards Plas Newydd.

Passing past the Water Buffalo farm I picked-up a raptor being mobbed by a Crow. I assumed it to be a Buzzard, but as it banked the silhouette of a Red Kite appeared – superb!

I watched the bird on and off for about an hour as it hunted over Pant-y-gof farm and being a carrion hunter, I couldn’t avoid thinking that it may be after a former inhabitant of the residence above…

Seriously though, it was great to see a local Red Kite. There have been quite a few sightings recently from this area, so perhaps Flintshire has a permanent bird on territory as oppose to just a flyover.

I may whinge about the RSPB, but the re-introduction of the Red Kite has been an incredible success and I still get a thrill each time I see one. Now RSPB, how about some less ‘box office’ projects: still no Tree Sparrow, Grey Partridge or Corn Bunting in Flintshire yet this year.

Until later.

For Your Eyes Only...

Thanks to Ian ‘007’ Fleming for sending me a picture of the American Robin he found at Turf in Devon.

Ian found the bird after initially heading to Turf for an American Golden Plover. No plover, but as dusk fell 007 found himself looking at a rather unfamiliar passerine.

After a couple of phone calls the bird was identified as an American Robin. The news went out only to be received with predictable scepticism from jealous local birders.

Thankfully they had to eat their words, when in the morning the American Robin reappeared – brilliant find Ian!

Here is a picture of Ian receiving the plaudits he deserves…

More mundanely, a morning visit to Connah's Quay was hindered somewhat by me forgetting my telescope. Still, a Kingfisher and a couple of Greenshanks were on the reserve, plus a pair (or whatever the collective noun is!) of Cohens.

Until later.

Bleak Expectations

Saddled with a pair of wired Springers for a couple of days there was only one thing for it: a lap of Llyn Brenig in the hope of buying a few hours peace and quiet later on.

As with Anglesey, Mynydd Hiraethog seems to deal in a stock trade of wind and pervading greyness in the winter and today was no different.

Parking at the north end and heading south along the east shoreline birding was a little slow to begin, with a trio of Greylag Geese on the lake about my lot.

A Kestrel then appeared over one of the small islands and proceeded to cause a commotion resulting in a small wader being flushed. It was a little murky, but from the size and flight of the bird it looked to be a small ‘calidris’ wader – an interesting bird here this time of year.

Pressing on I was soon heading back north along the west side of the lake where things began to pick up a little with small posses of Crossbill flying overhead plus a Great Spotted Woodpecker.

I nearly jumped out of my skin a few minutes later when a bird was then flushed from the side of the track by one of the spaniels. A fleeting glance at the bird before it disappeared into the trees was enough to confirm a startled Woodcock.

As the skies began to brighten a few raptors started to appear: first a Buzzard, then a pair of Kestrels and as I was walking over Goes Maen Llwyd a pair of Ravens.

Not far from the car park I noticed a few walkers heading towards me and as I nosily put my bins on them I caught three birds fly up from the heather in front of them. Initially I thought they must be Snipe but as they flew towards me they revealed themselves to be Dunlin!?

I must admit to being pleasantly surprised a little puzzled to find Dunlin up here in the late autumn. Are they birds that have bred locally and stayed on; are they simply on migration; or are they going to over-winter on the lake?

Who knows…?

Llyn Brenig

4 Goldeneye
17 Crossbill
1 Woodcock
3 Dunlin
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
1 Stonechat
3 Kestrel
1 Buzzard
2 Raven
2 Reed Bunting

Until later.

In the Lap' of the Gods...

Despite it being a thoroughly grotty day, I shrugged off a sudden but thankfully brief compulsion to go to RSPB Starbucks and headed to CQNR for the high tide instead.

Now, a question: what does a former defensive lineman for the Chicago Bears called William Perry and the West Hide have in common? Answer later.

Anyway, birds. Good numbers of Oysties and Dunlin today, with the latter extremely jittery before finally settling on the marsh quite close to the hide.

A few Great Crested Grebes drifted in on the tide, but a pair of Red-breasted Mergansers over nearer Flint Point was a pleasant surprise and a new bird for me at the reserve.

Also good to see was a Rock Pipit that paused briefly on the perimeter of the marsh before flying off towards the power station.

With the risk of my extremities developing frostbite, I was thinking of heading over to the bunded pools, but a passerine feeding near a few Redshanks drew my attention.

A quick glimpse of the bird revealed a probable Lapland Bunting, but it soon slipped behind a clump of grass. Eventually after a quick game of hide and seek it was again visible and after getting another observer on the bird we were confident of the identification.

The bird then melted into the vegetation, before another observer located two birds a little further back. Despite the driving rain and lousy visibility both individuals displayed the bill and classic head pattern of a Longspur.

Predictably they were soon lost to sight and a fifteen minute search drew a blank. A Skylark then appeared and a four of five minutes later two Meadow Pipits, but alas no Buntings…

Naturally I had now started to question the original identity of the bird(s) and as time passed with no further sign, the doubts really started to creep in.

Having watched a brace of Lapland Buntings at the Point of Ayr about a month ago – including one stunning male – I was fairly confident I hadn’t made a mistake, but in the face of mounting evidence to the contrary it didn’t look good!

So, I’m not sure what to think really. It’s not very palatable to conclude that after four years birding I can’t tell the difference between a Pipit and a Bunting, but I must admit I may have in the words of a former boss ‘dropped a bollock.’

Connah’s Quay NR 8.11.2010

3,000 Oystercatcher
1,200 Dunlin
1 Spotted Redshank
375 Teal
2 Red-breasted Merganser
7 Goldeneye
1 Peregrine
1 Rock Pipit
1 Kingfisher
74 Great-black Backed Gull
2 Meadow Bunting

Until later.

Answer: ‘The Refrigerator’

Jackanory

An interesting few hours at Shotton Pools NR produced a good variety of birds on a gorgeous, crisp, clear and calm autumnal morning.

Two Water Rails calling from reeds at the side of the metalled track started the ball rolling and a brace of Goldeneye plus a quintet of Pochard accompanied the more numerous Tufties, Gadwall and Common Teal on the ‘Tern Raft Pool.’

The shallow pool to the south-east of the Ringing Hut held a score or so of feeding Common Snipe and as I inched further along the path, I flushed yet another Snipe – this time a Jack Snipe that shot out a few feet in front of me before darting silently to the reeds on the opposite side

Almost immediately a couple of small passerines took to the wing from the fringe of the water a little further on. Both birds called: a Reed Bunting first and then the second - either a Rock Pipit or a Water Pipit.

I can’t say that I am anywhere near being able to separate these two birds on flight call, but given that the passerine was feeding on the edge of fresh water, dare I think it could have been a Water Pipit?

Two more Water Rails - one squealing incessantly – were heard as I walked over towards the River Dee, plus a male Peregrine alighting on the Steelwork’s Power Station were other notable birds, but that was it for the day as the skies darkened and the heavens opened…

20+ Common Snipe
1 Jack Snipe
2 Goldeneye
5 Pochard
4 Water Rail
1 Water/Rock Pipit
1 Peregrine
1 Sparrowhawk

Until later.

Twitchable

I’m sure many of you will have watched the BBC4 documentary on Twitching yesterday evening (Nov 1st).

Mostly cringe worthy; I thought the strangest aspect of the programme was the self-styled ‘Policeman of Twitching’ Lee Evans who looked like the love child of Christopher Lee and an eighteenth century pirate.

He argued that his self-appointed role was a necessary burden he had to undertake in order to maintain some degree of probity in a field he felt was full of cheats and blaggers. Incredidbly he claimed not to enjoy the notoriety, when it was as plain as his stupid ear-ring that he absolutely lapped it up.

As the show unfolded, a more sinister element emerged – the odd couple from Somerset who seemed intent on confining their daughter’s childhood to weekends on the M5. Foxy missus though.

The main ‘star’ of the show was a character called Gary Bagnell, who seemed to accurately portray the stereotype of a twitcher the programme was trying identify. However, he seemed a fairly dull individual who only seemed exceptional is his ordinariness.

Step forward the most quirky chap – the trawler man from Hull who looked like he was about to have a heart attack after rushing all the way from the Scillies to tick the Eastern-crowned Warbler.

Definitely the most compelling subject in the film, he briefly offered an insight into the sort of dedication, compulsiveness and single-mindedness that makes up this type of birder.

Also, in a moment of sheer brilliance he responded to the question “What is the point of what you are doing” with (and I paraphrase somewhat) “What is the point of anything. Most people want world peace. That’s just a start, but really means that people are free to do as they please and I choose to do this. In the end, you could argue everything in pointless and are lives are ultimately meaningless in the grand scheme of things.”

JP Sartre eat you heart out.

Until later.