Comfortably numb probably best describes how I felt in the west hide at Connah’s Quay this afternoon. For a change the wind was not blasting through the shutters, but the pervasive fog and cold cloaking the estuary gradually permeated through my clothing chilling me to the bones.
No matter, as there was a good turnout today of both birds and birders, with regulars Keith and Bob amongst a good crowd on the reserve over high tide.
Waders were again the star attraction with perhaps ten thousand roosting on Oakenholt Marsh - the lion’s share made up from Lapwing, Knot, Dunlin and building numbers of Black-tailed Godwit.
Soon after the birds had settled a male Peregrine attacked the roost and sent all the waders into the air. The pulsating groups of birds seem to make all manner of shapes as they twisted and turned and today they appeared to be running through the various illustrations of human internal organs, including passable attempts at Kidney, Heart, Lung and Liver!
On the bunded pools, a good count of Wigeon and Teal was to be had, but the area was strangely devoid of any of the rarer ‘shanks and the faint call of a Spot Red was the only evidence today that any were about.
However, it is very seldom that Connah’s Quay fails to produce at least one thing unusual and on the way back to the car the four of us was treated to decent views of an adult female Hen Harrier drifting over the embankment behind the pools.
Until later.
No matter, as there was a good turnout today of both birds and birders, with regulars Keith and Bob amongst a good crowd on the reserve over high tide.
Waders were again the star attraction with perhaps ten thousand roosting on Oakenholt Marsh - the lion’s share made up from Lapwing, Knot, Dunlin and building numbers of Black-tailed Godwit.
Soon after the birds had settled a male Peregrine attacked the roost and sent all the waders into the air. The pulsating groups of birds seem to make all manner of shapes as they twisted and turned and today they appeared to be running through the various illustrations of human internal organs, including passable attempts at Kidney, Heart, Lung and Liver!
On the bunded pools, a good count of Wigeon and Teal was to be had, but the area was strangely devoid of any of the rarer ‘shanks and the faint call of a Spot Red was the only evidence today that any were about.
However, it is very seldom that Connah’s Quay fails to produce at least one thing unusual and on the way back to the car the four of us was treated to decent views of an adult female Hen Harrier drifting over the embankment behind the pools.
Until later.
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