With everybody getting their knickers in a twist over the immature Golden Eagle down in deepest mid-Wales, I opted for the more mundane surroundings of Shotton Pools NR.It had been a few months since my last visit and I was surprised to see that the ‘development’ of the area continues apace with yet more vegetation cleared and the appearance of the skeleton of a new hide.
Feeders have also been hung around the reserve and it was adjacent to the new food supply close to the ringing hut that I found my first Brambling of the year – a bird that was soon joined by another two.
The cooling pools were mostly frozen over and what water remained was crammed full of Gadwall and Coot. Talking of waterfowl, has anybody seen a Moorhen this year? I for one haven’t – they seem to have been decimated by the cold winter.
With an hour still to spare I headed over to the footpath next to the Dee and was delighted to bump into a flock of forty Lesser Redpolls feeding frantically on alder seeds.
More finches were on the path in the form of thirty plus Chaffinch, but most notable were the good numbers of Reed Buntings in the phragmites – one female was even collecting nesting material!
Now, back to that Eagle.
Firstly, if the bird is found shot or poisoned then the local farming community should be lined up and every tenth person shot. I’m a hardliner.
Secondly, if any photographer tries to get too close, then he or she should be made to eat their camera lens: without condiments.
Shotton Pools NR 29.01.11
3+ Brambling
40 Lesser Redpoll
30+ Chaffinch
8+ Reed Bunting
26 Gadwall
1 Goldcrest
2 Great Spotted Woodpecker
Until later.
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