It' s just too feckin' cold to go birding at the moment - especially if you are a wimp like me. I have been known to sport gloves in June - French footballers eat your heart out.
The wildlife cold well do without me clomping around anyway, it's probably best to leave them to their own devices at present.
It was with this in mind that I am slightly surprised to see that some people are continuing to ring birds during this sustained spell of freezing temperatures.
It must be vital scientific work I imagine; the same type that compels people to deliberately target specific - usually rare birds - that have to temerity to avoid capture first time round.
Still there has been some good armchair nature watching this week including BBC2's excellent hour long programme on Butterflies - yet more evidence that the beeb can get things right if they put their minds to it and when not trying to turn the story of a some family from Surrey's delay at Heathrow airport into a human trajedy on the scale of World War 1.
Keep calm and carry on.
Until later.
Sunday 19 December 2010
Sunday 12 December 2010
Local Matters
Birding has taken a back seat yet again this weekend with a brief visit down to the Point of Ayr and a couple of quick dog walking expeditions around Lloc the sum of my activities.
The affect the hard weather has had on wildlife was again evident at the old colliery site when I nearly stepped on a Golden Plover. Clearly the worst for wear, the wader could only muster enough strength to shuffle nine or ten yards away from me.
After flushing a couple of Snipe, I decided discretion was the better part of valour and I retraced my steps back towards the lagoons where in the interim a lovely female Goosander had taken up residence.
Being a fairly open area it was difficult to avoid being detected by the sawbill, so after disturbing yet another bird I decided it was time to call it a day and head over towards Coed y Garreg to collect some wood.
Different area, same result: as soon as I started along the footpath towards the tower my clumping size twelve feet startled a Woodcock that after crashing into the lower branches of a birch tree spiralled high into the blue sky.
I got the message and decided to spend the rest of the weekend indoors…
In other news, I have just noticed that some lucky beggar has bagged a Rough-legged Buzzard at Connah’s Quay. Nice, but at the moment a local Waxwing would be good!
Until later.
The affect the hard weather has had on wildlife was again evident at the old colliery site when I nearly stepped on a Golden Plover. Clearly the worst for wear, the wader could only muster enough strength to shuffle nine or ten yards away from me.
After flushing a couple of Snipe, I decided discretion was the better part of valour and I retraced my steps back towards the lagoons where in the interim a lovely female Goosander had taken up residence.
Being a fairly open area it was difficult to avoid being detected by the sawbill, so after disturbing yet another bird I decided it was time to call it a day and head over towards Coed y Garreg to collect some wood.
Different area, same result: as soon as I started along the footpath towards the tower my clumping size twelve feet startled a Woodcock that after crashing into the lower branches of a birch tree spiralled high into the blue sky.
I got the message and decided to spend the rest of the weekend indoors…
In other news, I have just noticed that some lucky beggar has bagged a Rough-legged Buzzard at Connah’s Quay. Nice, but at the moment a local Waxwing would be good!
Until later.
Sunday 5 December 2010
Iffy Chiffy
A good candidate for a Siberian Chiffchaff was the highpoint of a morning ramble around the the Point of Ayr. I found the Phyllos warbler feeding in a small area of phragmites near the entrance to Delyn Metals.I am not going to detail any physical characteristics as evidence to its identification because quite frankly I would not have a clue what I'm talking about, but a call reminiscent of a Dunnock would seem to indicate something a little fishy was going on!
A female Merlin was good to see over near the old colliery lagoons, although judging by the paucity of small passerines knocking about, Sunday dinner could be a long time coming.
The cold snap seems to have prompted an increase in the number of Redshank however, with well over a thousand in the vicinity when three hundred is more typical.
Good numbers of Blackwits and Oystercatchers roosting over the high tide too, plus a small party of six Brent Geese.
The strengthening work to the seawall looks to have ground to a halt before it even started, with many people studiously ignoring the sign informing all and sundry that the path is technically closed.
What a good window of opportunity though for the RSPB to finally pull their finger out and build a new hide whilst his work is going on.
Until later.
Saturday 4 December 2010
Shoot to Chill
Having started a new job in deepest, darkest Lancashire I have had little opportunity to go birding recently.
However, wildlife has still been in the forefront of my mind as in between trying to get my head around prescribing data a quick glance out of the window at the latest in a series of snow flurries made me wonder how our wildlife is coping.
More specifically I was reminded of the freezing temperatures of last winter. Despite the hard winter last year wildfowling continued on the Dee Estuary throughout; furthermore I personally witnessed – and reported – some shocking behaviour.
The rules on the cessation of wildfowling during such weather are a little oblique, but basically state that a sustained period of subzero temperatures should result in a suspension in shooting activities.
Due to the vagaries and quirks of the weather the temperatures increased for one day during a particularly hard spell early this year, thus breaking the sequence needed to evoke a postponement of wildfowling.
Sadly, it appeared that most shooters opted to follow the letter rather than the spirit of the law and continued their activities.
If I had had any sympathy for them – and I did have a little as I would much rather eat a wild duck than a supermarket chicken that has endured a like of misery – this evaporated.
After all, you can hardly call it sport when you are shooting at weak birds that have also – due to the frozen marshes – had to congregate in a small area. They may well have shot fish in a barrel.
In other news, I noticed that the RSPB over at Inner Marsh Farm are operating an event on the 12th of December to let people view the birds gathering to feed on a sacrificial crop.
This is a notable improvement on last winter when a similar crop was planted, but in an area the punters could not access unless they wished to engage in some minor trespassing.
On a final note, I have just received a gloating text from my sister who found some Waxwings near her gaff in Buckley. Am I the only person in Britain who has not seen one this year?
Probably.
Until later.
However, wildlife has still been in the forefront of my mind as in between trying to get my head around prescribing data a quick glance out of the window at the latest in a series of snow flurries made me wonder how our wildlife is coping.
More specifically I was reminded of the freezing temperatures of last winter. Despite the hard winter last year wildfowling continued on the Dee Estuary throughout; furthermore I personally witnessed – and reported – some shocking behaviour.
The rules on the cessation of wildfowling during such weather are a little oblique, but basically state that a sustained period of subzero temperatures should result in a suspension in shooting activities.
Due to the vagaries and quirks of the weather the temperatures increased for one day during a particularly hard spell early this year, thus breaking the sequence needed to evoke a postponement of wildfowling.
Sadly, it appeared that most shooters opted to follow the letter rather than the spirit of the law and continued their activities.
If I had had any sympathy for them – and I did have a little as I would much rather eat a wild duck than a supermarket chicken that has endured a like of misery – this evaporated.
After all, you can hardly call it sport when you are shooting at weak birds that have also – due to the frozen marshes – had to congregate in a small area. They may well have shot fish in a barrel.
In other news, I noticed that the RSPB over at Inner Marsh Farm are operating an event on the 12th of December to let people view the birds gathering to feed on a sacrificial crop.
This is a notable improvement on last winter when a similar crop was planted, but in an area the punters could not access unless they wished to engage in some minor trespassing.
On a final note, I have just received a gloating text from my sister who found some Waxwings near her gaff in Buckley. Am I the only person in Britain who has not seen one this year?
Probably.
Until later.
Saturday 27 November 2010
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.
Monday 22 November 2010
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.
Friday 19 November 2010
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.
Tuesday 16 November 2010
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.
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.
Saturday 13 November 2010
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.
Friday 12 November 2010
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…
Wednesday 10 November 2010
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.
Monday 8 November 2010
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’
Saturday 6 November 2010
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.
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.
Tuesday 2 November 2010
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.
Sunday 31 October 2010
Oriental Express
Whilst most sane individuals snoozed away the ‘extra’ hour in glorious slumber, I – courtesy of a dawn alarm call from my neighbouring Little Owl – was down at the Point of Ayr early doors for a visible migration watch.Birds were moving through – almost exclusively finches – but it was a steady flow more than a torrent, so after things had tailed off after an hour or so I moved over to the Old Colliery site.
A group of thirty Siskins were feeding on the alders next to the hide path, but otherwise things were spookily quiet.
However, the still autumnal morning air was soon pierced by a very familiar racket and I looked up to see the profile of a Rose-ringed Parakeet shooting across the BHP works.
In India, they are one of the most common birds and the number I have seen is probably approaching a googleplex, but this was a first in the UK for me!
An introduced species, I know, but an unexpected addition to my Flintshire list this year nonetheless. I can’t say that I am overjoyed that they are establishing themselves in Blighty – I am a bit of a hardliner when it comes to non-native species and I would probably favour their removal.
Local Little Owl take note – especially if you continue to wake me up too early!
Vis Mig Talacre Dunes 31.10.10 – 07.05am to 08.00am
Chaffinch 259
Siskin 22
Greenfinch 12
Brambling 3
Goldfinch 3
Linnet 12
Bullfinch 2
Woodpigeon 6
Meadow Pipit 6
Fieldfare 1
Old Colliery Site
Rose-ringed Parakeet 1
Siskin 35
Merlin 1
Snipe 1
Little Grebe 3
Until later.
Friday 29 October 2010
There Be Shrikes?
Nipped into a blustery Cop Hole over lunchtime today. The pool was very, very quiet with only a couple of first winter drake Tufted Duck braving the gusty wind.On initial inspection, the marsh didn’t fare much better, but after parking my arse on the damp embankment for twenty minutes or so a ringtail Hen Harrier appeared from nowhere and was then promptly ushered over to the rifle range by a couple of Carrion Crows.
It looked like a juvenile male to me – yet another addition to the list of young, immature and adult female Hen Harriers that almost seem to occupy the estuary exclusively.
On another note, I have been running the rule over Halkyn Mountain as a possible subject for a year’s intensive patching.
Despite being scarred by a couple of humungous quarries, there appears to be a fair amount of decent habitat to explore, although to be honest initial findings reveal birds to be a little thin on the ground.
It looks ideal for a wintering Great Grey Shrike though and last year I was pretty damn certain I found an Eastern Stonechat, so I will continue to keep tabs on the area over the winter and who knows…
Until later.
Wednesday 27 October 2010
The Boy Done Good
A duo of male Peregrines terrorising the wader roost on Oakenholt Marsh was the highlight of a few hours spent at Connah’s Quay NR early this afternoon.
Both falcons were fairly distant, but in all probability were the adult and juvenile from the power station. Hunting lessons look to be progressing well with the young bird looking the part, but not quite succeeding in making a kill.
‘Kal ho naa ho’ as they in India…there will always be tomorrow…
Other birds on the marsh included masses of Canada Geese and good numbers of Lapwing too, whilst Spotted Redshanks and Greenshank continue to haunt the bunded pools.
Meanwhile, somebody has been busy on the stream that runs in front of the West Hide – a guerrilla raid has resulted in four sticks being placed over the water as prospective Kingfisher perches. The local avian fisherman has not been slow in taking advantage with the furthest vantage point already occupied!
Woe betides the perpetrator of this heinous, provocative and seditious act on RSPB land. Expect stooges to be dispatched lickety-split to remove the offending articles – the perches clearly benefit wildlife and facilitate people in seeing the birds.
Also on the radar today: a male Sparrowhawk…
Until later.
Both falcons were fairly distant, but in all probability were the adult and juvenile from the power station. Hunting lessons look to be progressing well with the young bird looking the part, but not quite succeeding in making a kill.
‘Kal ho naa ho’ as they in India…there will always be tomorrow…
Other birds on the marsh included masses of Canada Geese and good numbers of Lapwing too, whilst Spotted Redshanks and Greenshank continue to haunt the bunded pools.
Meanwhile, somebody has been busy on the stream that runs in front of the West Hide – a guerrilla raid has resulted in four sticks being placed over the water as prospective Kingfisher perches. The local avian fisherman has not been slow in taking advantage with the furthest vantage point already occupied!
Woe betides the perpetrator of this heinous, provocative and seditious act on RSPB land. Expect stooges to be dispatched lickety-split to remove the offending articles – the perches clearly benefit wildlife and facilitate people in seeing the birds.
Also on the radar today: a male Sparrowhawk…
Until later.
Sunday 24 October 2010
Tata For Now
“Bloody-cold this morning” I said to Ray Mears as he took a break from Arctic Survival training inside the West Hide at Connah’s Quay this morning.Still, being ice-blasted from the biting wind at least took my mind of my aching joints. That and talking to Ray – freezing temperatures and a mega dose of pharmaceuticals can do strange things to you…
Good numbers of Dunnies and Teal out on the sand and mud flats before high tide, with a larger serving of Oystercatchers and Blackwits over towards Flint Castle.
Nothing out of the ordinary however, so after bidding farewell to everybody’s favourite survival expert it was over to the relatively toasty Middle Hide.
More waders here, including over a hundred K-not, Dunlin, Redshank, plus fifteen Spotted Redshank and three Greenshank.
For afters it was over to Shotton Pools Nature Reserve over at Corus, or should that now be the Tata Shotton Works Nature Reserve? I wonder if the name change was greeted with a chorus of boos? (I should be shot for that one).I must admit that seeing the ‘Tata’ logo in the United Kingdom a little unnerving; having spent long periods in India, I used to the ubiquitous brand appearing on practically everything, but it seems more that a little odd back in Blighty.
As Denzil has noted, much work has been done down here over the last two months – not much of it sympathetic to the avian inhabitants - I imagine the Cetti’s Warblers may be applying for housing benefit this winter.
Good birds around today though, with a Kingfisher (above, pictured from the Space Station) a nice surprise; even more surprising was that it appeared to have caught an actual fish from the cooling pools.
Two Green Sandpipers were also on the manor, plus a Snipe and the first Goldeneye I have seen this winter.
Not bad, not bad at all.
Until later.
Thursday 21 October 2010
Heaven 17
I nipped over to Flint way just after lunch for a quick poke around Connah’s Quay and Cop Hole.Arriving in the West Hide, I met up with Keith LJ whom informed me that I had just missed my 2672nd Mediterranean Gull this year – bugger.
A hopeful scan over the mudflats revealed good numbers of shorebirds still, plus increasing numbers of Wigeon and Pintail, but to my chagrin the Med had skedaddled.
With no news of the Barred Warbler – and in birding no news is bad news – I resigned myself to half an hour in the middle hide.
Not the numbers of waders of yesteryear, but eleven Spotted Redshanks were on show, including this active trio above – hardly a shot of Cohen vintage, but not bad for a mobile phone and ‘scope!
After twenty minutes, my curiosity got the better of me and I decided to take a punt on the Barred Warbler over near the rifle range. En route I just had time to work through a group of waders roosting on the marsh and low and behold amongst the Redshank and Dunlin stood another six Spotted Redshanks – a record here for me!
But on to Cop Hole it was where yesterday’s finder of the Barred Warbler was in situ, but regrettably the warbler was not.
A really great find by Stan Skelton yesterday and I am doubly miffed that I couldn’t get over there to see it and that I had missed a great Flintshire bird – what an addition that would have been…
Until later.
Tuesday 19 October 2010
Poco Seawatch
Following a night of strong westerly winds and a continued - albeit lighter - north westerly this morning, I spent an hour or so in the dunes at Talacre over high tide this morning.
Whilst I wasn't exactly beating the Skuas off with my Leicas, a few interesting birds flew out of the estuary including a hat-trick of Brent Geese flying west.
Other birds included a handful of distant Common Scoters - that seem to fly like unguided missiles to me - and a couple of Red-breasted Mergansers and Great Crested Grebes.
Of additional interest was what seemed like a decent passage of Common Gulls this morning. Hands-up, I am not what you would call au-fait with their migratory meanderings, but at least thirty adult birds went through today.
Until later.
Monday 18 October 2010
The Sloe Food Movement
Four hours passed in no time at all down at Connah’s Quay today with a typical excellent variety of species recorded.
Birds of the day probably go to a couple of Kingfishers – one in hot pursuit of t’other - that flew across the front of the newly officially anointed West Hide, although the three Peregrines on show (a big female perched on Oakenholt Marsh, plus what looked like a father and son circling near Flint Bridge) ran a close second.
Waders were aplenty with good numbers of Redshank and Dunlin feeding on the mudflats, although being around the neap tide time a large amount on mud and sand was exposed and thus the majority of the shorebirds were a good distance away.
The shaven Bunded Pools also had a small flock of Blackwits and Knot and whilst the numbers of Greenshank start to reduce – just five today – the count of Spotted Redshanks now appears to be into the teens.
Twelve birds for definite on the pools, and possibly another three further along the shoreline add up a respectable fifteen and this would corroborate a rumoured total of the same number over the weekend.
Canada Geese get rather overlooked by most birders (me included), but it would be hard to argue that the two and a half thousand or so present on the marsh today didn't represent a great 'natural' spectacle. Scrutiny of the flock revealed a score or so of various hybrids, a few Greylags and what appeared to be a Canada/Brent cross - a new one for me!
It was interesting to note that many of the trees, bushes and shrubs have been trimmed along the road to the Field Centre – possibly before the last Open Day?
Interesting because large numbers of autumn berries appear to have been removed in the process, prompting the question is tidiness more important than food for the birds…?
Connah’s Quay NR 18.10.10
2,000+ Canada Goose
3 Shoveler
3 Peregrine (adult female, adult male and juvenile male)
12+ Spotted Redshank
5 Greenshank
500 Black-tailed Godwit
300 Knot
400 Dunlin
2 Ringed Plover
2 Kingfisher
15 Skylark
2 GC Grebe (adult and juvenile)
1 Little Grebe
Until later.
Birds of the day probably go to a couple of Kingfishers – one in hot pursuit of t’other - that flew across the front of the newly officially anointed West Hide, although the three Peregrines on show (a big female perched on Oakenholt Marsh, plus what looked like a father and son circling near Flint Bridge) ran a close second.
Waders were aplenty with good numbers of Redshank and Dunlin feeding on the mudflats, although being around the neap tide time a large amount on mud and sand was exposed and thus the majority of the shorebirds were a good distance away.
The shaven Bunded Pools also had a small flock of Blackwits and Knot and whilst the numbers of Greenshank start to reduce – just five today – the count of Spotted Redshanks now appears to be into the teens.
Twelve birds for definite on the pools, and possibly another three further along the shoreline add up a respectable fifteen and this would corroborate a rumoured total of the same number over the weekend.
Canada Geese get rather overlooked by most birders (me included), but it would be hard to argue that the two and a half thousand or so present on the marsh today didn't represent a great 'natural' spectacle. Scrutiny of the flock revealed a score or so of various hybrids, a few Greylags and what appeared to be a Canada/Brent cross - a new one for me!
It was interesting to note that many of the trees, bushes and shrubs have been trimmed along the road to the Field Centre – possibly before the last Open Day?
Interesting because large numbers of autumn berries appear to have been removed in the process, prompting the question is tidiness more important than food for the birds…?
Connah’s Quay NR 18.10.10
2,000+ Canada Goose
3 Shoveler
3 Peregrine (adult female, adult male and juvenile male)
12+ Spotted Redshank
5 Greenshank
500 Black-tailed Godwit
300 Knot
400 Dunlin
2 Ringed Plover
2 Kingfisher
15 Skylark
2 GC Grebe (adult and juvenile)
1 Little Grebe
Until later.
Thursday 14 October 2010
Chanterelle Show-and-tell
Incredibly, when out looking for fungi yet again this evening I stumbled across another good Flintshire bird: a Marsh Tit!Truth is indeed stranger than fiction; go out looking for Wood Blewits at Coed y Garth and find a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker; go out looking for Chanterelles (pictured above) at Llyn Helyg and I find a Marsh Tit.
I’m sure there is some strange, profound cosmic truth here – either that or I am becoming psychotic from eating too many mushrooms. Or maybe I am just feckin’ lucky…
I picked up the Marsh Tit feeding in the undergrowth right near the entrance to Llyn Helyg at SJ117777 – just over the style next to the metal gate and on the left.
It is perhaps not too surprising to find them here as it is classic Marsh Tit habitat: mature deciduous trees with plenty of rotting stumps and branches. Hopefully one may even have the courtesy to pay a visit to my feeding station in my back garden a mile away in Lloc.
Even closer to home, the Little Owl that lives in the old oak across the road from me was in good form last night waking me up with a few verses of loud screeching at three in the morning.
Taking its cue from the Little Owl, the local Tawny Owl also decided to crank it up a little too. Any chance of some sleep chaps?
Llyn Helyg 14.10.10
1 Marsh Tit
13 Chanterelles
Until later.
Wednesday 13 October 2010
Lesser spotted in Coed y Garth
Out mushrooming in Coed y Garth this evening when I heard a faint tapping from the top of the tree I was standing next to.
I looked up and casual as you like was a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker working its way up the branch only ten or so feet away from me!
A first for Flintshire!
Bugger all else about though.
Until later.
I looked up and casual as you like was a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker working its way up the branch only ten or so feet away from me!
A first for Flintshire!
Bugger all else about though.
Until later.
Monday 11 October 2010
The Longest Day
A long, long, day out in the field today, save an hour or so for a late Breakfast, produced an excellent haul of birds, plus some strong evidence that autumn migration is finally kicking-in.
So, let’s begin at the beginning as they say.
A quick trip down to the Point of Ayr at dawn – ostensibly to walk my dog – turned into full-on stravaigin when it was obvious a good number of birds was on the move. Signs were good from the start when I heard a Goldcrest calling from a conifer in near the car park and although there were few birds on the ground, the next couple of hours produced a heavy passage of mainly finches including two groups of Crossbill and a score or so Siskin.
A nose around the colliery lagoons added Kingfisher, Greenshank, the resident Little Grebes and a couple of Kestrels, whilst the surrounding grassland held excellent numbers of Skylarks, Meadow Pipits and a flock of Linnet.
After a hearty breakfast of puffball, eggs and bacon, it was back on the road and on towards Connah’s Quay. After a quartet of Little Stint had been reported yesterday, the aim was to pick up at least one today, but despite much searching I drew a blank.
Plenty of other wader around though (including good numbers on the Bunded Pools – hopefully I am wrong about the vegetation bring too short and they stay), with the highlight being seven Spotted Redshanks from the middle hide.
With some familiar ‘boat races’ around too, including Geoff, Keith. Mark and Stan it was an excellent few hours. However, attempts to locate the Long-billed Dowitcher were curtailed somewhat when a couple of young pikies decided they were going to attempt to steal a boat moored on the edge of the pools. Exit birds stage left.
This was a cue for Stan and me to head over to Kop Hole and have a good a scan over the marsh.
It was a glorious warm evening – toasty enough for a Ruddy Darter and Hawker sp – and with superb visibility too. Although never close, we watched a couple of Marsh Harriers, a ringtail Hen Harrier and a Merlin that were all hunting and a little nearer a couple of Swallows hawked insects over one of the flashes.
Also over the marsh was a small flock of fifteen very unsettled Brent Geese (numbers on the up now), whilst closer to home a late Wheatear sat on my old tree stump seat. The soundtrack to the evening was kindly provided by a noisy Water Rail that called constantly from the ditch behind us.
A cracking day!
Point of Ayr, early morning:
50+ Crossbill
1 Kingfisher
1 Greenshank
2 Little Grebe
2 Kestrel
Connah’s Quay, early afternoon:
7 Spotted Redshank
1 Greenshank
Kop Hole, early evening:
2 Marsh Harrier (adult male, juv/fem)
1 Hen Harrier (ringtail)
1 Merlin
1 Peregrine
15 Brent Goose
2 Swallow
1 Pochard
1 Water Rail
1 Wheatear
Until later.
So, let’s begin at the beginning as they say.
A quick trip down to the Point of Ayr at dawn – ostensibly to walk my dog – turned into full-on stravaigin when it was obvious a good number of birds was on the move. Signs were good from the start when I heard a Goldcrest calling from a conifer in near the car park and although there were few birds on the ground, the next couple of hours produced a heavy passage of mainly finches including two groups of Crossbill and a score or so Siskin.
A nose around the colliery lagoons added Kingfisher, Greenshank, the resident Little Grebes and a couple of Kestrels, whilst the surrounding grassland held excellent numbers of Skylarks, Meadow Pipits and a flock of Linnet.
After a hearty breakfast of puffball, eggs and bacon, it was back on the road and on towards Connah’s Quay. After a quartet of Little Stint had been reported yesterday, the aim was to pick up at least one today, but despite much searching I drew a blank.
Plenty of other wader around though (including good numbers on the Bunded Pools – hopefully I am wrong about the vegetation bring too short and they stay), with the highlight being seven Spotted Redshanks from the middle hide.
With some familiar ‘boat races’ around too, including Geoff, Keith. Mark and Stan it was an excellent few hours. However, attempts to locate the Long-billed Dowitcher were curtailed somewhat when a couple of young pikies decided they were going to attempt to steal a boat moored on the edge of the pools. Exit birds stage left.
This was a cue for Stan and me to head over to Kop Hole and have a good a scan over the marsh.
It was a glorious warm evening – toasty enough for a Ruddy Darter and Hawker sp – and with superb visibility too. Although never close, we watched a couple of Marsh Harriers, a ringtail Hen Harrier and a Merlin that were all hunting and a little nearer a couple of Swallows hawked insects over one of the flashes.
Also over the marsh was a small flock of fifteen very unsettled Brent Geese (numbers on the up now), whilst closer to home a late Wheatear sat on my old tree stump seat. The soundtrack to the evening was kindly provided by a noisy Water Rail that called constantly from the ditch behind us.
A cracking day!
Point of Ayr, early morning:
50+ Crossbill
1 Kingfisher
1 Greenshank
2 Little Grebe
2 Kestrel
Connah’s Quay, early afternoon:
7 Spotted Redshank
1 Greenshank
Kop Hole, early evening:
2 Marsh Harrier (adult male, juv/fem)
1 Hen Harrier (ringtail)
1 Merlin
1 Peregrine
15 Brent Goose
2 Swallow
1 Pochard
1 Water Rail
1 Wheatear
Until later.
Saturday 9 October 2010
Far from the Madding Crowds
I was going to head down to Connah's Quay for the high tide today, but en route I remembered it was open day, so in pursuit of a more peaceful couple of hours I changed tack and headed for Bagillt Marsh.
With the tide galloping in, I decided to sit on top of the small hill next to Bagillt Dock and look for some Grebes, but it wasn't Great Cresties I saw on the water, but three Brent Geese - dark bellied by the look of it too, although the light was pony.
In actual fact, I was surprised at just how much activity there was on this stretch of the estuary: lots of small wader flocks zipped by, containing modest numbers of Oystercatchers, Blackwits, Knot and Redshank, but the star bird of the vigil was a female Merlin that flew in to the marsh from across the water.
Feeling jolly pleased with myself I headed home only to discover that four Little Stints had been reported from Connah's Quay - a much sought after Flintshire year tick. Do'h!
Continuing with the Connah's Quay NR theme, I emailed David Jones yesterday about the crew cut that has been inflicted on the vegetation around the Bunded Pools.
All credit to DJ, he responded quickly, although I don't think he took too kindly to my inquiry, Here is his communication:
I note your comments, I can assure you that we do liaise with EON and infact have a 5 year management plan which includes a cutting regime, we meet once a year to see whether our actions are working. The following bodies are involved in the discussions; Richard Toft Consultant Ecologist, Fenella Bellinger Consultant Landscape Designer, RSPB, Countryside Council for Wales, EON and ourselves.
Your comments about making stupid (I didn't say stupid - Ed) decisions are not helpful, if you want to be involved in the decision making process our AGM is on Friday 10th December, you need to get a member to nominate you as a Trustee.
Regards
David Jones
Chairman
Sort of prompts the question, how many ecologists does it take to cock-up a nature reserve?
Seriously though, it is fairly obvious to many of us that use CQNR on a regular basis that obliterating the cover around the pools was not a wise move.
In all fairness, the Deeside Naturalist Society do an excellent job - especially when you consider that it is staffed by volunteers and run on a shoestring budget. Ever since I have joined they have bulit an extra hide and put up a couple of screens; heck if they had been in charge over at Inner Marsh Farm and had the RSPB's resources behind them they would have constructed an exact replica of the Taj Mahal down at the Point of Ayr by now.
Still, I would like to put a couple of points forward at the AGM, so if anybody out there wants to nominate me as a trustee them I would be very grateful. I can also raise the issue of the slits in the West Hide that really need widening...
Until later.
With the tide galloping in, I decided to sit on top of the small hill next to Bagillt Dock and look for some Grebes, but it wasn't Great Cresties I saw on the water, but three Brent Geese - dark bellied by the look of it too, although the light was pony.
In actual fact, I was surprised at just how much activity there was on this stretch of the estuary: lots of small wader flocks zipped by, containing modest numbers of Oystercatchers, Blackwits, Knot and Redshank, but the star bird of the vigil was a female Merlin that flew in to the marsh from across the water.
Feeling jolly pleased with myself I headed home only to discover that four Little Stints had been reported from Connah's Quay - a much sought after Flintshire year tick. Do'h!
Continuing with the Connah's Quay NR theme, I emailed David Jones yesterday about the crew cut that has been inflicted on the vegetation around the Bunded Pools.
All credit to DJ, he responded quickly, although I don't think he took too kindly to my inquiry, Here is his communication:
I note your comments, I can assure you that we do liaise with EON and infact have a 5 year management plan which includes a cutting regime, we meet once a year to see whether our actions are working. The following bodies are involved in the discussions; Richard Toft Consultant Ecologist, Fenella Bellinger Consultant Landscape Designer, RSPB, Countryside Council for Wales, EON and ourselves.
Your comments about making stupid (I didn't say stupid - Ed) decisions are not helpful, if you want to be involved in the decision making process our AGM is on Friday 10th December, you need to get a member to nominate you as a Trustee.
Regards
David Jones
Chairman
Sort of prompts the question, how many ecologists does it take to cock-up a nature reserve?
Seriously though, it is fairly obvious to many of us that use CQNR on a regular basis that obliterating the cover around the pools was not a wise move.
In all fairness, the Deeside Naturalist Society do an excellent job - especially when you consider that it is staffed by volunteers and run on a shoestring budget. Ever since I have joined they have bulit an extra hide and put up a couple of screens; heck if they had been in charge over at Inner Marsh Farm and had the RSPB's resources behind them they would have constructed an exact replica of the Taj Mahal down at the Point of Ayr by now.
Still, I would like to put a couple of points forward at the AGM, so if anybody out there wants to nominate me as a trustee them I would be very grateful. I can also raise the issue of the slits in the West Hide that really need widening...
Until later.
Friday 8 October 2010
Slowly, slowly, catchey monkey.
An excellent few hours over the high tide at the Point of Ayr this morning was capped with two Lapland Buntings found feeding on the small shingle bank to the left of the old hide area.
This couplet represent the first and second birds for me anywhere and being in Flintshire too made finding the birds even more satisfying.
Longspurs notwithstanding, the thousands of Blackwits and Oystercatchers roosting on the spit made the trip worthwhile alone, although predicatably they were subject to disturbance from a couple of plonkers with two Alsatians and also, rather crassly, a birder.
It was good to see the leucistic Oystercatcher back for another year and other interesting birds included a dozy female Goosander, a tardy juvenile Sandwich Tern, a fresh looking Grey Plover and a maurading Peregrine.
Wildfowl numbers are on the up with around seven hundred and fifty Shelduck and a century or so of Pintail and Wigeon.
The numbers:
Oystercatcher VIIIM
Black-tailed Godwit IIMVD
Shelduck VIICL
Wigeon C
Pintail C
Lapland Bunting II
Sandwich Tern I
Peregrine I
Grey Plover I
Skylark XL
Linnet XX
Hail Caesar.
This couplet represent the first and second birds for me anywhere and being in Flintshire too made finding the birds even more satisfying.
Longspurs notwithstanding, the thousands of Blackwits and Oystercatchers roosting on the spit made the trip worthwhile alone, although predicatably they were subject to disturbance from a couple of plonkers with two Alsatians and also, rather crassly, a birder.
It was good to see the leucistic Oystercatcher back for another year and other interesting birds included a dozy female Goosander, a tardy juvenile Sandwich Tern, a fresh looking Grey Plover and a maurading Peregrine.
Wildfowl numbers are on the up with around seven hundred and fifty Shelduck and a century or so of Pintail and Wigeon.
The numbers:
Oystercatcher VIIIM
Black-tailed Godwit IIMVD
Shelduck VIICL
Wigeon C
Pintail C
Lapland Bunting II
Sandwich Tern I
Peregrine I
Grey Plover I
Skylark XL
Linnet XX
Hail Caesar.
Thursday 7 October 2010
Poco Vis Mig
Some – albeit small – signs of visible migration at the Point of Ayr this morning with a high, wide and handsome Great Spotted Woodpecker, a couple of Siskins and a handful of Chaffinches moving through.It was interesting to note that Richard Smith’s article on visible migration contained in the latest newsletter http://www.deeestuary.co.uk/news.htmstates that some birds move towards the POA from the north Wirral area. In my experience, the birds passing over the dunes at Talacre are generally passing in the opposite direction – from west to east and over towards Hilbre??
Not much in the dunes to write home about, but the return walk along the beach was a little more interesting producing thirty-four Grey Plover and my first Sanderling of the winter – a flock of four flying along the shore.
On t’other side of the Point, the Kingfisher is still milling around the bridge near the entrance to the scrap metal yard and a peek through the bins revealed the massive flock of Blackwits picked up by Denzil (patch invader!!) at Ffynnongroyw few days ago to still be on the manor.
Less productive was an evening raid to the rifle range to look for some Shorties.
Score:
Wildfowlers 9 – Short-eared Owls 0
A distant ringtail Hen Harrier and a Sparrowhawk was as good as it got on the marsh, but of more interest was a probable Black-necked Grebe on the pool adjacent to the Steelworks roundabout. I say probable as it was getting dark and I was viewing the bird from the guard post. Unfortunately the bird sloped into the reeds as I moved to get a closer look, but I’m pretty sure – not much mistaking that steep forehead and upturned bill…
Until later.
Tuesday 5 October 2010
Armies of Dunlin
Popped into the Connah's Quay for an hour over lunch. Like my hair, the tide was receding slowly and the freshly replenished mudflats were brimming with Dunlin.
It's not often that you get large number of Dunnies down at Connah's Quay - there were circa fifteen hundred today - and a quick scan through the ranks revealed most of them to be the larger Alpina race - some still sporting their summer gear.
It was hard to work my way through them as the entire flock - plus a similar number of Redshank - were very unsettled and kept moving around in large groups as if they were battalions of troops being marshaled by an indecisive General.
Nevertheless, I did mange to pick out a couple of juvenile Curlew Sandpipers and a young Bar-tailed Godwit, but the hoped for Little Stint remained elusive.
Strangely, apart from a small handful feeding near the west hide, I could not locate the Black-tailed Godwits that should be numbering in the thousands now!
A brief visit to the bunded pools was also drew a blank, with three Spotted Redshanks the only birds of note.
Until later.
It's not often that you get large number of Dunnies down at Connah's Quay - there were circa fifteen hundred today - and a quick scan through the ranks revealed most of them to be the larger Alpina race - some still sporting their summer gear.
It was hard to work my way through them as the entire flock - plus a similar number of Redshank - were very unsettled and kept moving around in large groups as if they were battalions of troops being marshaled by an indecisive General.
Nevertheless, I did mange to pick out a couple of juvenile Curlew Sandpipers and a young Bar-tailed Godwit, but the hoped for Little Stint remained elusive.
Strangely, apart from a small handful feeding near the west hide, I could not locate the Black-tailed Godwits that should be numbering in the thousands now!
A brief visit to the bunded pools was also drew a blank, with three Spotted Redshanks the only birds of note.
Until later.
Sunday 3 October 2010
The Merry Springers Show
I have been out plenty over the last week - but although I have been in the great outdoors at least a couple of times per day I have had a couple of deranged Springer Spaniels in tow.As one can imagine, this is not very conducive to good birding. Nevertheless, I must have walked the entire Flintshire side of the Dee Estuary in segments over the last week in between sitting and home writing sarcastic comments about the Royal Society for Picnics and Barbeques (Okay, enough is enough! It’s being on the social and trying to live on 65 quid a week – it makes you bitter!!!)
Anyways, my best ‘discovery’ has been the old colliery pools and surrounding area that lie past Ground Zero at the Point of Ayr.
Until a few weeks ago, I had never walked in this section, but it is incredible habitat – a mixture of pools (the middle one pictured above), wet grassland and scrub.
Over a few visits I have clocked Little Grebe, Greenshank, Kingfisher, Kestrel, Wheatear, a pair of juvenile Ravens and a probable Lapland Bunting, I say ‘probable’ as I’ve never seen one for sure and have no clue what their call sounds like. Incidentally, if anybody knows where I can get a sound file of the call, then can you please let me know?
The Lappy was in quite an interesting area as it happens – right at the point where the seawall that passes behind the pools reaches the railway wall at the western end of Ffynnongroyw beach. For some reason part seems to hold a good concentration of migrant passerines – on every occasion I have walked this far there has always been good numbers of birds.
Other interesting observations this week have been a good count of over ten Great Crested Grebes on the river channel of Bagillt Marsh (they seem to have vanished from around Connah’s Quay), a few hundred Golden Plover flying north along the shoreline the same evening and quite a few sightings of Ringed Plover too between Mostyn and Flint.
All this walking along the coast then gave me an idea: why not walk the entire length from Prestatyn to Flint and then get the train back. What the heck - buy an open return and do it both ways!
Until later.
Thursday 30 September 2010
Point of Allah
The Black Grouse can exclusively reveal the reason for the latest hold-up in the reconstruction of the long awaited replacement hide at the Point of Ayr.
The current delay is said to be due to the relevant authorities having to conduct an ‘impact assessment’, but this blog understands the real reason for the delay is due to concerns the RSPB raised when it was discovered that the new structure would be pointed directly towards Mecca. The organisation has also gone as far as producing an artist's impression (pictured above) of what the potential chaos may look like.
Said RSPB spokesperson Fatimah Niqab:
“When we found out that the new hide was facing that most holy of sites to our Islamic brothers, we were concerned that it would turn into a ‘de facto’ place of worship or a ‘Mosque’ as we tend to call them.”
The Memsahib went on to say:
“We were obviously worried that it would develop into a place of pilgrimage and that the subsequent increase in visitors would overwhelm the current parking facilities.”
Fears have also been raised by regular holidaymakers to the local static caravan concentration camps at nearby Talacre.
One shaven headed and tattooed wag commented:
“Before you know it there will be a Minaret, with a Muezzin blaring out the call to prayer every five minutes. How do you expect me to sleep off my twenty pints of Stella with that Hullabaloo?”
Until later – unless I am the subject of a Fatwa.
The current delay is said to be due to the relevant authorities having to conduct an ‘impact assessment’, but this blog understands the real reason for the delay is due to concerns the RSPB raised when it was discovered that the new structure would be pointed directly towards Mecca. The organisation has also gone as far as producing an artist's impression (pictured above) of what the potential chaos may look like.
Said RSPB spokesperson Fatimah Niqab:
“When we found out that the new hide was facing that most holy of sites to our Islamic brothers, we were concerned that it would turn into a ‘de facto’ place of worship or a ‘Mosque’ as we tend to call them.”
The Memsahib went on to say:
“We were obviously worried that it would develop into a place of pilgrimage and that the subsequent increase in visitors would overwhelm the current parking facilities.”
Fears have also been raised by regular holidaymakers to the local static caravan concentration camps at nearby Talacre.
One shaven headed and tattooed wag commented:
“Before you know it there will be a Minaret, with a Muezzin blaring out the call to prayer every five minutes. How do you expect me to sleep off my twenty pints of Stella with that Hullabaloo?”
Until later – unless I am the subject of a Fatwa.
Tuesday 28 September 2010
RSPB in shock Sagrada Familia admission
The United Kingdom's 'premier' conservation charity, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds has come clean and admitted that it is the chief organisation behind the development of Barcelona's iconic Sagrada Familia cathedral.In construction since 1882, the building is not scheduled to be completed until 'the onset of Summer 2025' at the earliest.
Designed by the renowned Antoni Gaudi, the structure was generally considered to be a Catholic place of worship, but Will Colsen, the RSPB's project manager in Barcelona, has shed some new light on the situation.
"The Sagrada Familia was actually one the RSPB' s first undertakings. We noticed that we had few memberships in Catalonia at the time, so we commissioned Gaudi to design an edifice on which Peregrine Falcons could nest. Visitors were to be hoisted up by rope and basket to view the birds and on the way down the local RSPB membership recruiter was required to subject them to a 'Spanish Inquisition' until they joined the charity."
Regardless of the overrun and huge costs involved, the RSPB still thinks the project has been worthwhile.
"Despite requiring almost 97% of our total revenues we feel that the Sagrada Familia will give us a vital foothold in a country notrious for a lack of respect toward animals and no reserve in the United Kingdom has suffered as a result of this massive undertaking."
Until later.
Monday 27 September 2010
Inner Marsh Farm Communicae
Muchas gracias amigo to Ian ‘007’ Fleming for forwarding me an e-mailed response to issues he and many others have regarding the painful ‘development’ of the Inner Marsh Farm reserve.
(I read in despatches that 007 is currently on a secret mission somewhere in deepest Norfolk - think more ‘Flycatcher’ rather than ‘Spycatcher.’)
Anyhow, here is an RSPBwallah’s reply to perceived neglect of their North West Frontier Province reserves.
Dear Mr Fleming,
Thank you for your inquiry concerning Inner Marsh Farm.
I want to reassure you that the RSPB has not got a bias to spending more money in one part of the country at the expense of another. We have 186 reserves that are open to the public. The amount of visitor provision varies greatly from small sites with a simple trail through to sites with full visitor facilities including toilets, visitor centre, cafe and shop. Only thirty of our sites have full visitor facilities, including Leighton Moss in the North West. The RSPB has been investing many millions of pounds to create reserves in places where we haven't made provision for our members. For example we opened Rainham Marshes to provide a reserve for our members in London and Saltholme our first major reserve in the North East. This programme continues and we will be opening Middleton Lakes to provide a much needed site for people living in the Midlands.
At Inner Marsh Farm we are committed to creating a new reception building with toilets, a new hide and additional paths by Summer 2011. I recognise that this may seem a long way off, but the development of visitor facilities takes time. For most of our major sites we are reliant on external funding from bodies like the lottery. In addition, they require a lot of work to plan and build.
I hope that my e-mail reassures you that we do value our members and that we are making progress in making Inner Marsh Farm even better.
Best wishes
Paul
Paul Forecast
Head of People Engagement
Well, at least they had the courtesy to reply fully to 007’s inquiry.
I’m not sure how au fait he is with the situation at Inner Marsh Farm (the constant delays, obfuscation and secrecy) but Summer 2011 would not be a long way off if there was a guarantee that the work will finally be completed.
It would be refreshing if the organisation was a little contrite too. Sadly – as is the case with many large bodies – nobody will ever concede that they are culpable of doing something poorly.
I will keep saying it until I am blue in the face though: it is UNACCEPTABLE that Inner Marsh Farm given its primacy amongst RSPB reserves still does not have adequate toilet facilities. Why don’t they install temporary bogs until the new part of the reserve is able to receive visitors?
As for neglecting some reserves at the expense of others – can you really see them failing to rebuild a hide within 27 months if the reserve in question was at Titchwell as oppose to a remote backwater in Flintshire – the Point of Ayr has had a raw deal.
At least we have some deadlines though, albeit poetically vague ones.
Inner Marsh Farm: to be completed by ‘Summer 2011.’
Point of Ayr Hide: to be completed by ‘the onset of winter 2010.’
Watch this space…
Until later.
(I read in despatches that 007 is currently on a secret mission somewhere in deepest Norfolk - think more ‘Flycatcher’ rather than ‘Spycatcher.’)
Anyhow, here is an RSPBwallah’s reply to perceived neglect of their North West Frontier Province reserves.
Dear Mr Fleming,
Thank you for your inquiry concerning Inner Marsh Farm.
I want to reassure you that the RSPB has not got a bias to spending more money in one part of the country at the expense of another. We have 186 reserves that are open to the public. The amount of visitor provision varies greatly from small sites with a simple trail through to sites with full visitor facilities including toilets, visitor centre, cafe and shop. Only thirty of our sites have full visitor facilities, including Leighton Moss in the North West. The RSPB has been investing many millions of pounds to create reserves in places where we haven't made provision for our members. For example we opened Rainham Marshes to provide a reserve for our members in London and Saltholme our first major reserve in the North East. This programme continues and we will be opening Middleton Lakes to provide a much needed site for people living in the Midlands.
At Inner Marsh Farm we are committed to creating a new reception building with toilets, a new hide and additional paths by Summer 2011. I recognise that this may seem a long way off, but the development of visitor facilities takes time. For most of our major sites we are reliant on external funding from bodies like the lottery. In addition, they require a lot of work to plan and build.
I hope that my e-mail reassures you that we do value our members and that we are making progress in making Inner Marsh Farm even better.
Best wishes
Paul
Paul Forecast
Head of People Engagement
Well, at least they had the courtesy to reply fully to 007’s inquiry.
I’m not sure how au fait he is with the situation at Inner Marsh Farm (the constant delays, obfuscation and secrecy) but Summer 2011 would not be a long way off if there was a guarantee that the work will finally be completed.
It would be refreshing if the organisation was a little contrite too. Sadly – as is the case with many large bodies – nobody will ever concede that they are culpable of doing something poorly.
I will keep saying it until I am blue in the face though: it is UNACCEPTABLE that Inner Marsh Farm given its primacy amongst RSPB reserves still does not have adequate toilet facilities. Why don’t they install temporary bogs until the new part of the reserve is able to receive visitors?
As for neglecting some reserves at the expense of others – can you really see them failing to rebuild a hide within 27 months if the reserve in question was at Titchwell as oppose to a remote backwater in Flintshire – the Point of Ayr has had a raw deal.
At least we have some deadlines though, albeit poetically vague ones.
Inner Marsh Farm: to be completed by ‘Summer 2011.’
Point of Ayr Hide: to be completed by ‘the onset of winter 2010.’
Watch this space…
Until later.
Sunday 26 September 2010
Magical Birding
Given that I am in possession of a pair of hyperactive Springer Spaniels this week whilst my sister and brother-in-law kick it in Mallorca, I decided on a trip up to Penycloddiau on the Clywdians early this morning.Generally, I am no fan of the ‘Scouse Alps’ – they are everything the Welsh Uplands should not be: largely bereft of wildlife, overrun with people and massively overgrazed.
Nonetheless, with the east flank of Penycloddiau just in Flintshire, I thought they may be the outside chance of Black Grouse – provided the almost mythical tiny remnant population hadn’t been squashed under the wheels of a mountain bike.
It was a glorious crisp autumnal morning when I set out just after eight, with the distant ‘kronking’ of a Raven the only noise interrupting the silence.
Although calling constantly I didn’t get a good view of the big corvid until I had hit the top of the mountain. The bird didn’t take too kindly to the first human intrusion of the day and if drifted off towards the Vale of Clwyd.
There were very few other birds about, with a pair of Stonechat and a lovely charm of a hundred or so Goldfinch seen from the Clwydian Way the only other notable avian activity.
What was notable though was the large numbers of Fly Agaric mushrooms growing in the conifer plantation near the car park.
One of the most familiar mushrooms and illustrated in countless fairytales, these fungi are of course infamous for their hallucinogenic properties…
Perhaps if I had indulged, I may have had a more interesting list of birds to report!
Still, things picked up a little on the way back to Nannerch when I noticed a large group of Ravens and a single Buzzard feeding a sheep carcass.
The lamb must have only cashed in his chips recently as with a favourable wind collection I get a good whiff of the meat. Within seconds I stopped watching the birds gorging themselves and for some strange reason my focus turned towards mint sauce and Sunday dinner...
Until later.
Thursday 23 September 2010
Connah's Quay Putting Green
Apologies – I must have misunderstood. I thought that the Ryder Cup was to be held at Celtic Manor this October. Have I missed something?Perhaps – like New Delhi – there have been some last minute problems with the original venue, so step forward…. Connah’s Quay Nature Reserve!
No, stay with me, just think – the bunded pools would be a fearsome water hazard and best of all, look at the greens! I can visualise Peter Alice and Co commentating from the middle hide and the Field Centre would make a perfect media tent!
Okay, enough satire.
It appears as if somebody has got medieval on the vegetation that surrounded the bunded pools at Connah’s Quay NR. Consequently the thousands of waders that over the past month or so having been using the area as a roost have done one – only a handful of Flapwings and Redshanks remained today.
The Goldfinches can hardly be impressed either. The teasels that they were hitherto feeding on have been razed to the ground too.
Why?
I can only assume that this is part of E.on’s landscaping, but what a crass thing to do on a NATURE reserve.
Short back and sides, sure, some of the plants were obstructing the view from the hides, but why did you have to go totally US Marine Corps?
Muppets.
What would be more worrying was if this was done with the acquiescence of the Deeside Naturalist Society – surely not one would hope.
Anyway, birds.
Yes there were some and one of them was a juvenile Curlew Sandpiper.
Until later.
Monday 20 September 2010
Waderfest
After being metaphorically nailed to the dunes at Talacre last week and thus suffering from a few wader-withdrawal symptoms, I heard the call of Connah’s Quay NR this morning.It wasn’t to disappoint with fourteen species of shorebird present in the AM.
One of which was this Barwit on the bunded pools that I have captured clearly in this superb image - I never realised the curvature of the Earth was so apparent!
Also appearing as soloists were a Turnstone, a Golden Plover, a juvenile Curlew Sandpiper and the long-staying Long-billed Dowitcher that is now well advanced in its moult to winter plumage.
Making up the rest of the oeuvre were a quartet of Greenshank and Spotted Redshank, plus the usual good numbers of Redshank, Lapwing, Oystercatcher, Curlew and a handful of Knot and Dunlin.
The Black-tailed Godwit flock is building, although most of the birds were aloofly roosting over towards Flint; their big numbers only being revealed when flushed by a monster female Peregrine that looked to be on a serious business flight as oppose to mere leisure.
Other notables included the welcome return of the Kingfisher to one of its favourite haunts (the fence next to stream in front of the west hide), and a Pochard on the otherwise quiet Ash Pool.
A fleeting to visit to Shotton Pools NR, produced a welcome Flintshire year tick in the form of a Green Sandpiper, plus another well known resident!
Until later.
Friday 17 September 2010
A Bit 'Ropey
It is never a good sign when seawatching to see Cormorants commuting around in all directions; it's a sure sign that birds are back to their normal workaday routines.However, there was still a few Leach's knocking around and very close in they were too with most birds fluttering over the surf giving cracking views.
No Shearwaters or Skuas either during what was admittedly a much shorter seawatch, with a brace of Gannets and a single Fulmar the only fully payed-up members of the pelagic contingent present in the estuary.
Of most interest however was a trio of small whitish and light grey waders I picked-up flying in a westerly direction past the Dee Light.
To all intents and purposes they looked like Grey Phalaropes - especially when they appeared to drop down on the water. I say appeared as they could easily have disappeared into a trough and then flew out of view…
It’s a pity they weren’t a little closer in – interesting but no Flintshire tick!
Until later.
Thursday 16 September 2010
After the Lord Mayor's Show
Nothing like the avian heroin that was yesterday’s seawatch, but still there were sufficient birds to provide enough entertainment for a couple of hours at the Point of Ayr this evening.
A score or so Leach's were the highlight, but unlike the previous day the petrels were exiting both stage left and stage right; indeed some birds seemed to be feeling the wind rather than fighting it today, with many of the dainty sea swallows obviously feeding.
Moreover, it was good to watch the birds engage in something approaching 'normal' behaviour. I really enjoy seawatching, but it always a little sad to see so many birds completely bushed. It may seem an odd simile, but it's akin to a good Bullfight - a tremendous spectacle unfortately tainted by the fact that something has had to suffer.
Anyway, fewer Skuas ce soir too, with three dark-phase Arctic Skuas the only identifiable birds. I was however completely foxed by a trio of birds that passed in close succession of one another quite near the shore. After looking the books, I have still not the foggiest idea if they were juvenile Arctics or young Long-tailed - or a mixture of the two!
Also notable was a handful of Kittiwakes, a couple of Manxies, four Common Scoters and amidst the noticeably declining number of Sandwich Terns, a good candidate for an Arctic.
Until later.
A score or so Leach's were the highlight, but unlike the previous day the petrels were exiting both stage left and stage right; indeed some birds seemed to be feeling the wind rather than fighting it today, with many of the dainty sea swallows obviously feeding.
Moreover, it was good to watch the birds engage in something approaching 'normal' behaviour. I really enjoy seawatching, but it always a little sad to see so many birds completely bushed. It may seem an odd simile, but it's akin to a good Bullfight - a tremendous spectacle unfortately tainted by the fact that something has had to suffer.
Anyway, fewer Skuas ce soir too, with three dark-phase Arctic Skuas the only identifiable birds. I was however completely foxed by a trio of birds that passed in close succession of one another quite near the shore. After looking the books, I have still not the foggiest idea if they were juvenile Arctics or young Long-tailed - or a mixture of the two!
Also notable was a handful of Kittiwakes, a couple of Manxies, four Common Scoters and amidst the noticeably declining number of Sandwich Terns, a good candidate for an Arctic.
Until later.
Wednesday 15 September 2010
Medicinal Leach's: Overdose
If this morning’s session was a bit pony and trap, then stint number two this afternoon at the Point of Ayr certainly made up for the slow start this morning – and then some.As soon as I had hunkered myself down in the dunes I was on to a Bonxie that was quickly joined by a couplet of dark phase Arctic Skuas that proceeded to harass the bigger Great until flew high back into the estuary.
The next couple of hours up to high tide at around five produced a constant heavy passage of Arctic Skuas (more then I have ever seen), Manxies and a constant drip of Leach’s Petrels.
Next, torrential rain.
Then, as the skies finally cleared, bird of the day: a cracking juvenile Sabine’s Gull that flew very close to the shore, quickly followed a few minutes later by number two that nearly slipped by unnoticed in a small group of juvenile Kittiwakes.
With the wind easing things began to relent a little, with one notable exception – Leach’s Petrels, that right up the point that I called it an evening at half six were moving out of the estuary one after another…
Strange business this birding.
Flintshire this year: Sabine's Gull 2, Mediterranean Gull 0.
Who'd have thunk it?
Point of Ayr 15.09.10 3:00PM to 6:30PM
2 Sabine’s Gull (both juveniles)
60+ Leach’s Petrel
30+ Arctic Skua
1 Great Skua
30+ Kittiwake
80+ Manx Shearwater
4 Fulmar
1 Gannet
1 Red-throated Diver
10+ Common Scoter
Gazillions of Guillemots
Until later.
Medicinal Leach's
Despite feeling a little under the weather after being struck down by a good dose of Iberian bacteria, the howling winds battering my window panes this morning were enough to lure me down to the Point of Ayr for a spot of seawatching.
First light is supposed to be a good time for seabird passage and with the tide still fairly high up the beach – albeit receding – the omens looked good.
On the downside, the wind looked a little too south-westerly and after a promising start of two Leach’s in the first ten minutes, things fizzled out quicker than bottle of Lidl champagne and an hour later I called time.
Great to see a Little Shearwater had been bagged off the North Wirral coast yesterday, but another intriguing report was that of ‘70+ Skua spp.’
I can’t quite get my head around this; how was it that seventy observations were made of Skuas without any conclusive identification of one single bird? Beats me.
Until later.
First light is supposed to be a good time for seabird passage and with the tide still fairly high up the beach – albeit receding – the omens looked good.
On the downside, the wind looked a little too south-westerly and after a promising start of two Leach’s in the first ten minutes, things fizzled out quicker than bottle of Lidl champagne and an hour later I called time.
Great to see a Little Shearwater had been bagged off the North Wirral coast yesterday, but another intriguing report was that of ‘70+ Skua spp.’
I can’t quite get my head around this; how was it that seventy observations were made of Skuas without any conclusive identification of one single bird? Beats me.
Until later.
Tuesday 14 September 2010
Las Islas Cies
I have just returned from a short break to Galicia in north-western Spain, where in between sinking enough seafood to sink a battleship, I managed a quick trip to a quite outstandingly beautiful small archipelago of islands just off the coast of the city of Vigo.The three islets are a small nature reserve, and significantly hold the largest breeding colony of Yellow-legged Gulls in the world, two thousand pairs of Shags, a significant number of pairs of Storm Petrel, plus a healthy population of Kentish Plover to boot.
More details at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C%C3%ADes_Islands
Unfortunately for the birder, access is strictly regulated with normal punters only allowed onto to shoes from the start of July to the middle of September. Most people venture out on a day trip, but it is possible to stay overnight on a small campsite for a maximum of twelve nights.
Despite its rustic appearance, there are some facilities including this excellent seawatching hide (picture below) overlooking the Atlantic Ocean – I sat there for a good fifteen minutes fantasising about the birds that must have slipped by unnoticed.
There is also a network of paths across the islands enabling easy exploration of the lagoon, scrubland, coastal and wooded areas. Given the islands position on the west coast of the Iberian Peninsula, the islands must be superb for migrants; indeed without the aid of my binoculars I was able to bag a female Pied Flycatcher. Also, this kind chap (underneath) was also kind enough to pose for me…
Any ideas where I may be going camping for ten days early next September?Until later.
P.S - Never under any circumstances get carried away in Spain and think you can eat anything. Clams, Scallops, Mussels, Cockles, Octopus, Squid: yes. Boiled pigs ears: no.
Tuesday 7 September 2010
Four Hundred Swallows does make an Autumn
With news that a Stone Curlew had been sent packing from Hilbre in the direction of Wales, in a bout of ludicrous optimism I was up early this morning for a good scout around the dunes at Talacre.And what did I find? Well, alas no Eurasian Thick-knee, but plenty of warblers – Blackcaps mostly – and a very good passage of Swallows that continued unbroken all morning.
After a couple of hours of a diet of Chiffchaffs, Willow Warblers, Common Whitethroats, and the aforementioned Blackcaps, I decided I wasn’t going to bag a Wryneck or a Barred Warbler and elected to walk down to the old hide area to watch the tide come in.
As expected, the Kingfisher was present and correct, but my attention was drawn to the end of the spit where the amassing Oysties were being terrorised by a rather inept juvenile female Peregrine.
Things had settled down by the time I had plonked myself on hte bench. Excellent numbers of Curlews today, possibly in excess of two thousand birds – a great count down here.
Other waders included singles of Whimbrel, Black-tailed Godwit, Greenshank and Knot and these were soon joined by a score of winter liveried Bar-tailed Godwits spare a couple of moulting adults.
For the final hour I moved over to the spit and found a hundred or so Ringed Plover, plus thirty Dunlins roosting on the shingle, whilst over the drink there was little save a handful of Sandwich Terns, a Gannet and a Grey Seal.
Point of Ayr 7.9.10
Curlew circa 2,000
Oystercatcher circa 2,500
Ringed Plover 100
Conwy Sandpiper 30
Bar-tailed Godwit 20
Black-tailed Godwit 1
Whimbrel 1
Greenshank 1
Knot 1
Redshank 80
Peregrine 1 (juvenile female)
Sparrowhawk 2 (juvenile female and an adult female)
Sandwich Tern 6
Gannet 1
Great Spotted Woodpecker 2
Kingfisher 1
Blackcap 10+
Common Whitethroat 3
Chiffchaff 4
Willow Warbler 3
Bullfinch 2
Wheatear 3
Swallow 400+
On a different tack, I could write thousands of words on what I feel about the direction the RSPB is heading, but in a glorious piece of serendipity this little quote from RSPB Starbuck’s website sums it up for me much more succinctly than I ever could:
“My husband and I often visit on a Saturday afternoon. It's a real treat. There's always something interesting to see at this lovely spot and the coffee, cakes and view (sic) from the café are just great. “ Jane Turner
Until later, or hasta luego – off to Spain again for a short break!!
Thursday 2 September 2010
Odds and Sods
It’s been fairly quiet down at the Point of Ayr this week. The exception being a Kingfisher that has taken up residency on the pool next to the path that leads to the old colliery site.The water looks grim, and resembles a smaller version of the uber-polluted lakes that you used to see in next to chemical plants in some poor ex-Soviet bloc satellite country.
Still, it seems fairly content there, although it is often buried right at the back of a cluster of dead branches – almost as if it is slightly ashamed to be fishing in such a dirty pond.
The odd Wheatear on the seawall past the old hide, plus a few common warblers have been the only signs of passerine migration, although on the wader front I did catch up with a group of circa three hundred Ringed Plover feeding on the mud yesterday when out gathering some Marsh Samphire.
General wader numbers seem to building, and also the first Pintail and Wigeon have returned to the Point – both species before August was out.
Until later.
Sunday 29 August 2010
Great Expectations
A brisk north-westerly had me hunkered down in the dunes at Talacre late morning anticipating a decent seawatch.After a frustrating half an hour watching a handful of distant Shearwaters, the first of what was to be two Bonxies powerfully lumbered out of the estuary fairly close in.
This was quickly followed by a dark-phase Arctic Skua that after a rather half-hearted attempt at flying into the wind ‘flopped’ down on the sea near a large buoy.
Then, after a barren spell a conundrum. It was another Skua that initially I had down as a juvenile dark-phase Arctic, but on closer inspection it appeared to be a bit more beefy and that nudged me towards a young Pomarine…will just have to leave that one…
Another hour must have slipped away watching squillions of terns and a drip feed of Gannets before the first Fulmar of the day moved through prompting a small movement of juvenile Kittiwakes.
After yet another funk, Great Skua number two, but try as I might, no Petrels, and considering the conditions a tad disappointing.
Will be interesting to see if anybody had any Petrel joy over in the Wirral – not much seems to slip past unnoticed at Hilbre!
Point of Ayr 29.08.10
2 Great Skua
1 Arctic Skua (dark phase, adult)
1 Arctic/Pomarine Skua (dark, juv)
20+ Gannet
15+ Kittiwake (mostly juveniles)
1 Fulmar
1 GC Grebe
4 Guillemot
1 Razorbill
1 Wigeon (first of 'autumn')
Lots, and lots, and lots of Terns.
Until later.
Thursday 26 August 2010
Autumn Range
Sat in the west hide at Connah’s Quay this morning it felt as if autumn had arrived as a cool north-easterly breeze coupled with a blanket of grey cloud welcomed me as I opened up the shutters.The mudflats were very quiet for waders and wildfowl with only modest numbers of the commoner species. There were however, hundreds of Black-headed Gulls and I resigned myself to working my way through them for a Med Gull until the tide had pushed further in.
An hour later – and still no Med Gull – I gave up and had another scan down the channel. A small wader caught my eye amongst a group of three Redshanks and as I trained my scope on the bird a cracking juvenile Curlew Sandpiper emerged – superb!
With the water rising and a few more people arriving in the hide, things then started to improve. I found a pair of adult Yellow-legged Gulls roosting with twenty or so Lesser-black Backed and albeit at distance, I just managed to pick out a couple of Turnstones amongst the Oysties over towards Flint.
Frustratingly, I also thought I had found a Little Stint, but with nobody else being able to find the bird and it also being too far for a positive id, it will have to go into that long list of probables…
Next on the agenda was a hunting juvenile Marsh Harrier found by KLJ quartering the edge of the marsh on the far bank of the river.
With an hour so to spare a trot down to the bunded pools was in order and as has been the case in recent weeks they were chocker with Blackwits, Redshank, plus a count of Greenshank somewhere in the teens, and a single moulting Spotted Redshank.
All in all, pretty darn good. A boost to my Flintshire list too this year - now approaching credibility at 156!
Connah’s Quay 26.08.10
1 Curlew Sandpiper (juv)
13 Greenshank
1 Spotted Redshank
2 Turnstone
2 Yellow-legged Gull (adult)
1 Marsh Harrier (juv)
Until later.
Tuesday 24 August 2010
So-so.
With strengthening ‘westerlies’ confidently predicted by the Beeb, I chanced my arm for a couple of hours seawatching down at the Point of Ayr this morning.Unfortunately both flags near the car park were intent on telling a slightly different tale, with the blow coming from a more south-westerly direction – not ideal.
Things kicked-off pretty well though, with four juv/fem Eider floating along the shoreline with the prevailing wind. Only the second time I have bagged Eider down here, after my first – a Drake – was just last autumn.
Had I have known that this was as good as it was going to get I would have packed-up after ten minutes, but the constant stream of terns kept my attention if not interest.
Whilst a fair few Gannets flew fairly close to the beach, the Skuas – if there were any about – were not playing ball. The only sniff I had was of a large Skua-type silhouette moving distantly across the horizon.
Also, mere dots were a couple of Manxies, a Kittiwake and a few groups of a score or so Common Scoter. With Liverpool Bay having just been given special protection http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-11031671 I would have assumed the Scoters would have been strolling along the beach puffing in cigars rather than toughing it out in strong winds!
With an hour or so to spare there was just enough time to check-out the high tide roost from the old hide area. Try as I might, I could not winkle one Med Gull out of the hundreds of roosting Black-heads; I just can’t seem to bag one in Flintshire this year.
It was scanning through the Mallards though, that the surprise birds of the day appeared: three very early female Pintail – I don’t think I have ever seen the first ‘winter’ arrivals in August before…
4 Eider
60+ Common Scoter
1 Kittiwake
2 Manx Shearwater
30+ Gannet
250+ Sandwich Tern
40+ Little Tern
1 Arctic Tern, plus several ‘Commic.’
2 Ringed Plover
3 Pintail
500+ Curlew
Until later.
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