Shenton's Smew

I have been out and about over the last few days, including an excellent Saturday morning at the Point of Ayr.

If the seawatch at this site on Friday was a little sketchy, it redeemed itself the following day with some excellent birds.

Contrition was not the order of the day early on though; although the area was thronged with birds there was little variety on the wader and wildfowl front and more gulls then you could shake a stick at.

In fairness, the immature Spoonbill put on a show, but it was a good hour and a half before the first raptor appeared on the radar – a fem/imm Merlin that buzzed the roost a couple of times before docking on a mound in the middle of the marsh.

Eagle-eyed Mark Murphy then caught a glimpse of a possible Jack Snipe disturbed by the incoming tide, but the bird was not playing ball and promptly buried itself in a clump of Sea Purslane.

A Ron Atkinson spotter’s badge was then duly earned after he picked out a female Goosander that had stealthily drifted in.

For afters it was over to Warren Fields and after setting up scopes near the railway bridge I located a group of five grey geese. My thoughts were initially White-fronts, but with my only experience of these birds a fleeting glimpse of a pair of juveniles about two miles out into Banks’ marsh near Southport, I was a little unsure.

Thankfully there was one adult replete with diagnostic great whacking white band around the base of its bill – the other four being juveniles.

A Barnacle Goose was also found with a group of Canada Geese, but the most intriguing bird was what appeared to be a drake Smew roosting on the bank of one of the pools.

Sadly, the opportunity of a life bird for Mark was taken away when it revealed itself to be a Muscovy Duck, or to give it its new name – Shenton’s Smew.

Until later.

Parsimonious Poseidon

With strong westerly winds blowing for the majority of the week, I decided to take a punt on a seawatch down at the Point of Ayr this morning.

With most of the Skuas, Petrels and Shearwaters now safely kicking it in warmer climes, a December session is never going to set the pulse racing fully, but nonetheless this time of year can still be productive.

Things started in a promising fashion with a handful of Kittiwakes and a small party of Red-breasted Mergansers moving out of the estuary before most teachers were calling their register.

It was good to see a few juvenile Kittiwakes too; through no fault of their own the Scottish breeders have been about as productive as a Greek roadie in the last few years – perhaps they have enjoyed more success this year?

A 1st winter Little Gull was next on the scene, battling valiantly against the strong gusts. Superficially similar to a young Kittiwake in plumage, there really is no mistaking these little critters if you take a few minutes to observe their flight and behaviour. It was a plucky little bugger too, spending plenty of time feeding from deep within the troughs.

And then things gradually petered out. Great Crested Grebes, Red-throated Divers, Guillemots and a few Common Scoters passed through, but nothing too interesting.

The winds began to abate too and then I noticed the Cormorants started to get busy commuting around in all directions – always a sign that normal business is resuming. Time to call it a day.

It was now my time to do battle with the wind as I headed to Prestatyn to pick up a bus home. Hundreds of gulls were roosting on the beach and although conditions were not exactly conducive to careful study I did managed to pick out an adult Yellow-legged.

Until later.

Inclement

I’ve been out on a couple of birding expeditions this week – a walk from home at Lloc to Prestatyn and a hobble around Greenfield Valley and Dock.

Let’s start at the beginning.

On Tuesday I set off in warm sunshine and a steady breeze and so it was until I neared the Point of Ayr when the skies darkened somewhat, blackened and then moved into a new level of lightless murk hitherto unknown to Man.

Cue monsoon and gale force winds. Fortunately – or so I thought – there was a Hawthorn tree thicker than your average Wag, so I hunkered down leeward side and waited for the deluge to pass – except it didn’t.

Forty-five minutes later I was sodden and with the prospect of three more hours of walking to go I was not a happy camper.

It was a pity really, because things had started well: a Marsh Tit in Garth Wood and a quintet of Brent Geese near Mostyn were unexpected.

When I squelched up at the Point of Ayr there was pandemonium as the waders and wildfowl had been caught with their pants down so to speak.

The combination of the lashing wind and low pressure had caused the tide to cover the marsh in a spectacle reminiscent of a good ten metre effort.

With my bins not in the best of shape and myself not entirely won over to the idea of catching hyperthermia I was in no mood to enjoy the commotion, but there were excellent numbers of birds – particularly Pintail.

Leaving the marsh I headed for the shoreline to undertake a Snow Bunting/Shore Lark hunt, but was surprised to see the waves hammering into the dunes. Not being particularly partial to drowning, I walked along the tops of the dunes until the tide had ebbed.

Alas, not much to report. I’ve not seen any Snow Buntings at Talacre this year and indeed I only had one passage individual last winter. I’m not sure why this is, but I have noticed a distinct lack of a strandline along most of beach…lack of food?

After a day’s convalescence, I was still in the painful throws of severe chafing, but nonetheless decided a trip to Greenfield was in order.

Hobbling long like John Wayne did have its advantages – I was able to pay a little more attention to any arboreal action as I shuffled along.

Plenty of mixed flogs of foraging passerines around, although ‘mixed’ is pushing it a little – the three major groups I located were dominated with Blue and Great Tits with the odd Goldcrest, Nuthatch or Coal Tit thrown in.

I had hoped for a Yellow-browed Warbler, Firecrest or Lesser Spot – fat chance.

Still, a Dipper was a good find as was a Grey Wagtail, both earning a crust on the stream at the bottom of the Valley. This made up a little for the distinct lack of birds on any of the pools, that quite frankly were pony.

Until later.

Quay Notes

It may well be the North West Birdwatching Fair at Martin Mere this weekend, but even the WWT’s premier reserve would have struggled to match the festival of wildlife on show at Connah’s Quay NR this weekend.

Oakenholt Marsh was the reluctant host to thousands of wildfowl and waders as a very high tide forced them to compete for a rapidly decreasing amount of exposed marsh – I imagined it to be a sort of biblical scene for the unlucky creatures that didn’t make the cut for Noah’s Arc!

With Black-tailed Godwits, Oystercatchers, Dunlin, Redshank, Lapwing and Teal all probably numbering over two thousand each, plus hundreds of Wigeon, Pintail and Knot on the scene too, it was truly an incredible spectacle.

Rarer birds included the immature Spoonbill, a score or so Twite, a monster juvenile female Peregrine, a Rock Pipit and on the Bunded Pools a trio of Greenshank and a Red-breasted Merganser.

More distantly a juvenile Hen Harrier hunted over White Sands, whilst in the same vicinity a family party of probable Whooper Swans grazed.

Mildly comic was the most incompetent wildfowler I have ever seen, who displayed about as much field craft as a NWBF photographer.

I did give me an idea though. Now that the Snow Bunting stalkers have succeeded in chasing-off their quarry, perhaps they could consider buying a few wooden decoys and attempt to lure them back!

Until later.

Snow Buntings to appear at Leveson Inquiry

High profile celebrities such as Siena Miller, JK Rowling and Hugh Grant may have grabbed the headlines with their appearances at Lord Leveson's inquiry into standards in the press, but next week - in an unprecedented move - a flock of birds will share their experiences at the hands of the craparazzi.

The avian witnesses are a flock of Snow Buntings that regularly overwinter at a beach near Rhyl in North Wales. In recent years they have been relentlessly hounded by a small group of photographers, making their lives a living hell.,

One of the group - who are now holed-up at at a secret coastal location after being chased up and down the beach last weekend - commented:

"When we first arrive things are generally okay, but as soon as the word gets out that we have returned all hell breakes loose."

"..you think Siena Miller has problems, but we no more than she'll ever know about bring relentlessly pursued by a group of weird male fetishists with cameras.."

Another added:

"We were hoping to bargain with them and maybe arrange one weekend when we strike a few poses (you know, a few of us playing poker or pool etc) and in return we then get left in peace. But it's hopless, they just can't help themselves and we just don't understand what they want. What did Einstein say was the definition of stupidity...doing the same thing again and again and expecting different results? I think that pretty much sums them all up, however I was caught with a rather wistful look last weekend and I've never done that before."

Until later.

RSPB Valley Lakes Discovery

Excited botanists made a beeline for Llyn Penrhyn this weekend following the discovery last week of a stem of Phragmites that was slightly longer than any of the others surrounding it, leading many eminent scientists to speculate that it could be the American subspecies americanus.

Dr Reed from Bangor University was out for his weekly peregrinations around the RSPB’s Valley Lakes when he happened upon this startling discovery.

“I couldn’t believe my eyes at first, but there it was growing in front of me and clearly 2 inches taller than all the other reeds around it.”

“On closer inspection I was even more exited as the ligules measured 0.95 millimetres. As any fool knows The Eurasian genotype can be distinguished from the North American genotype by its shorter ligules of up to 0.9 millimetres (0.04 in) as opposed to over 1.0 millimetre (0.04 in), shorter glumes of under 3.2 millimetres (0.13 in) against over 3.2 millimetres (0.13 in) (although there is some overlap in this character), and in culm characteristics.”

If verified this will be the first confirmed occurrence of the subspecies in the UK, but there are sceptics, most notably Professor Communis who quickly poured scorn on Dr Reed’s find.

In language more colourful than most in academia, he boomed:

“Seriously, what fucking planet is he on? Pluto? Actually not Pluto, because it’s not a cocking planet is it anymore – who do you think I am? Professor friggin Brian Cox or something? Anyway, does he think that all species in the natural world are manufactured in a mould so that there are all feckin’ identical? Has he never seen a bleedin’ Red-necked Grebe?”

Until later.

Spoonerism

An immature Spoonbill found feeding in the ‘White Sands’ channel, viewed from the West Hide was the highpoint of yet another rewarding visit to the excellent Connah’s Quay NR.

A Red-breasted Merganser (as per Keith & Bob – great to catch-up with you both!) was also present in the Bunded Pools, where a male Peregrine delighted in giving two small flocks of Wigeon the heebie-jeebies.

The only notable no-show was the sizable flock of Twite that has been patronizing the car park and wire fence near the West Hide.

Interestingly these finches are apparently to be the subject of a netting exercise in order to determine the birds’ provenance. One can sort of understand the targeted study of a group of these declining finches, but why risk injuring or killing them in a mist net?

If the birds are colour ringed, then surely patient observation from the West Hide with a telescope would enable somebody to obtain all the salient details without mithering them?

Also the subject of a good gossip was the news that the long-staying Long-billed Dowitcher of a couple of winters ago has yet to be officially accepted by the relevant bodies.

The lack of a photograph is supposedly the main reason for the hold-up – notwithstanding the fact that tens of competent birders viewed the bird for weeks on end…

If local rarity committees are to remain relevant, then surely this sort of churlish and pedantic behaviour should stop?

Until later.

Short Attention Span

Talk about saving the best ‘till last.

I undertook another hike from home at Lloc to Prestatyn yesterday with the aim of rendezvousing with the high tide at the Point of Ayr and then moving over to Gronant to look for some Short-eared Owls.

This time I was fully tooled up with my telescope and foldaway chair and after a two hour yomp of Goose Green-esque intensity I was in situ at the old hide site.

It was glorious. Thousands of waders thronged the shoreline including surprisingly high numbers of Bar-tailed Godwits – perhaps due to the prolonged South-easterlies the birds had been pushed further east?

Sadly – as is increasingly common at the POA – the high tide roost was disturbed by a cretin with a camera. Not a craparazzi, just s casual with a basic camera grinning gormlessly at the scattering Oystercatchers. Prat.

Next up was Warren Fields that held good numbers of Lapwing a gross or so of grazing Wigeon and a pair of dozing Pochards.

En route to Gronant I pitched-up on top of the highest dune for a scan of the drink. It was very quiet, but persistence (actually more of a reluctance to move my backside) paid off eventually with a distant flyby Great Northern Loon.

Close inspection of the strandline all the way to the Little Tern watch-point at Gronant produced nowt – something I considered a little unfair considering Snow Buntings seem to be popping up everywhere else!

Moron of the day number two was loose though. Sharing the same gormless retarded grin of the aforementioned, he delighted in watching his Whippet chase every element of birdlife on the beach.

Exhausted I collapsed into the dunes at Gronant and waited for dusk. As it happens I didn’t have to wait that long.

A tick past three and the first Short-eared Owl began its first sortie. Seemingly determined to cover every inch of territory it flew back and forth up and down the gullies in the dunes – sometimes very, very close.

After thirty minutes it was joined by another bird and soon after a third. The light was fantastic and the next twenty or so minutes I spent burrowed in the vegetation watching the birds hunt was the best birding I’ve had all year. And, I flushed a Woodcock too – superb.

Until later.

Twite Place, Twite Time.

A cracking flock of seventy-two Twite – the biggest I have ever seen – was the highlight of a trip to Connah’s Quay NR over the high tide.

They must have bred like Rabbits this year as there were several smaller flocks bouncing about too - a sign of a Twite renaissance? Let’s hope so.

Otherwise things were fairly quiet, although a male Peregrine did buzz the waders roosting towards Flint before alighting on the pylon behind the Ash Pool.

A summer-plumaged Dunlin was a novelty this late in the year. I assume it must have been a female as a male Dunlin wouldn’t have taken this long to prepare its winter wardrobe!

The Bunded Pools were fairly quiet, although a quartet of Greenshanks was viewable from the middle hide.

For afters Mark Murphy and I set a course for Cop Hole and a scan of Burton Marsh.

It wasn’t too long before MM picked out a brace of Shorties, a female Merlin and a sub-adult male Hen Harrier, before my single paltry contribution of an immature female Hen Harrier.

You don’t too many male Hen Harriers on the Dee to the pound, so we enjoyed the spectacle for as long as we could before heading for home…

Until later.

Ffynnongroyw Rocks

I recently bumped in a chap I know from Oakenholt called Eddie. It was in Holywell and I was doing my shopping.

“Hello Paul, how you doin’? You’ve put on weight.”

He was right.

I had been planning to walk from Lloc to Prestatyn for a while and now it was time for action.

First port of call was the small flash at Whitford. Mallards, Mallards, Mallards, hooray a Teal, Mallards, Mallards, Mallards…you get the picture.

Then something spooked them. I was a largish falcon and although flying unusually lethargically it was definitely a young female Peregrine. Good start.

Garth Wood was next up and although I encountered two sizeable winter flocks of passerines they were both dominated by Long-tailed and Blue Tits.

After the damp and murky woodland it was good to emerge back out into the sunshine at Ffynnongroyw.

The beach and adjoining mudflats were lightly peppered with Shelducks and gulls, but it was the thin rocky shoreline parallel to the railway wall that produced the goods in the guise of a brace of Rock Pipits.

Pushing on I soon reached the old hide site at the Point of Ayr. A scan of the point revealed the unmistakable metronomic swishing action of a feeding Spoonbill – I had seen reports of one in recent days, but I had imagined the bird had probably been clocked asleep on one of the flashes on Warren Fields.

Doubly pleasing was the fact that it was a new bird for the Point of Ayr and the first I have seen anywhere for a good while.

The next leg of the trek involved a slog along the beach from Talacre to Gronant with the aim of unearthing a Snow Bunting or two.

No such luck today, with two small flocks of Linnets as good as it got.

Having nearly reached Prestatyn, I opted to negotiate the sand dunes behind the golf course. After flushing a handful of Meadow Pipits I then disturbed a larger Pipit with that flew off high and fast uttering a call more reminiscent of a Sparrow.

I immediately thought Dick’s Pipit, but I have only seen a couple before and certainly never heard one calling, so this one will have to go down firmly in the possible category…

Until later.

Llocale

I spent an enjoyable few hours performing an orbit of my cottage in Lloc early this afternoon.

First stop was the petit Pen y Gelli nature reserve near the A55. Never brimming with birds, the site was true to form today, although it did hold a circling Raven and a brace of Red Admirals, including the above battered example.

A small area of scrub near Pant y Wacco was a little more productive with the heavily berried Dogwood and Hawthorn containing a handful of buried Blackbirds and a single Redwing, plus a patrolling male Sparrowhawk.

Next up was beech woodland to the north-east of the village. After a very uneventful walk through I settled down on the edge of a field to scan the horizon above Whitford.

After adding, three Buzzards, another Sparrowhawk, four flyover Skylarks and a sextet of Stock Doves I noticed a trickle of Chaffinches working their way towards me through a row of mature trees next to the footpath.

The trickle soon became a flood as scores and scores of birds appeared on the scene seemingly out of thin air.

Soon they were flying over my head and landing in an old oak tree situated in the middle of a small pasture.

After roughly 6-700 had flown by I eventually heard what I had been keeping my ears pricked for – the more scratchy and wheezy call of a Brambling.

Eager to grill the flock further I decided to inch closer to the oak, but unfortunately I was not the only thing eyeing the finches. A male Sprawk buzzed the canopy and scattered them in all directions and in a matter of seconds they had all vanished as quickly as they had arrived…

Until later.

Black Fawr

After enduring nearly four weeks of decorating and a crisp, sunny autumnal day forecast it was time to down paint brushes and head for the mountains.

Arenig Fawr was the destination and after my sister had picked me up at 8.30, it was full steam ahead.

We rocked-up near Llyn Celyn and a cursory scan of the lake revealed it to be holding precisely one bird. It clearly had a talent for modern politics positioning itself precisely in the middle and thus remained unidentified, although it hinted at being a drake Goosander.

Out on the slopes of Arenig Fawr it was very much a day that Henry Ford (although perhaps not one JT and Freddie Mercury look-a-like Luis Suarez) would have enjoyed – we could watch any bird so long as it was black.

Thus, a handful of Carrion Crows, a pair of Ravens and a flock of migratory Starlings were all there was to be had.

Then things got a little better, although very much on theme – a trio of Choughs were flushed by a chap and his howlin’ dog a few hundred metres ahead. Nice.

After enjoying an incredible panorama that afforded lovely views of all of North Wales’ major mountain ranges it was time to descend and we had all but reached the bottom when the streak was ruined by a Meadow Pipit.

But, in a curious twist, we then spotted what must be Wales’ only black sheep farmer.

Not a farmer of black sheep ,oh no sirey, an actual sheep farmer who was black. It then struck me that apart from professional morris dancing, there could be no whiter profession than farming.

Or birding for that matter – how many ethnic minority birders do you know apart from David Lindo?

Bugger all?

Sue, Grabbit and Runne.

Dear the Black Grouse,

I noticed that you were having some copyright issues with a litigious photographer.

To avoid a tap on the shoulder from Inspector Knacker, I have an image that I would be happy to for you to use.

I’m sure it will more than adequately replace the close-up of the Dotterel at the Great Orme as it is too of an attractive young bird being pestered by an obsessive man standing far too close.

I do however take issue with your headline “If you tolerate this then your children will be next.”

Although clearly to any body with an IQ higher than a whelk that this was a warning for my species not being so confiding to the craparazzi in the future and not a threat to their familes, I really hate the Manic Street Preachers.

Yours etc,

Dott Errel.

Under the Radar

I have not done much ‘serious’ birding recently, with various domestic projects having supplanted any urge I have had to get out.

Still, there is plenty of entertainment to be had surfing the web, with the most pulsating and compelling thread that of the technical photography discussion that accompanied the 453,958 pictures of Starbucks’ Buff-breasted Sandpiper on the NWBF.

One serial snapper had boasted that he/she had taken 565 images – who says that there is no skill in photography anymore?

For my part, I have never seen a ‘BBS’, but the prospect of sitting in a confined space with the associated racket of bleeps and clunks was more than enough to put me off.

Perhaps a quiet corner can be found at the new RSPB Burton Mere Wetlands that I learn is due to open it doors on Saturday morning at 9.30am.

Even more surprising than the fact that is has actually opened, is the rather low-key nature of the announcement.

A notice on the Dee Estuary website reads:

RSPB Burton Mere Wetlands will open to the public on Saturday 24th September at 9.30am. More details to follow.

Whereas, the Inner Marsh Farm blog is of similar brevity:

Burton Mere Wetlands Opens Saturday 24th September.

You would have imagined the opening of a ‘new’ RSPB reserve would have been carried out with a little more fanfare rather than a brief announcement a couple of days in advance.

Conspicuous by its absence is any reference to a closing time. It was always rumoured that the old ‘sunset’ deadline for being booted out would be replaced by a more businesslike 5.00.

Also of interest will be the nature of the ‘viewing facilities’ down at the reserve. The RSPB seems to be moving away from traditional hides in an attempt to attract a broader range of people to its reserves – especially children.

Hell, they probably won’t even call them bird reserves soon: Wildlife And Nature Kindergarten Engagement Resource Solutions would be my guess.

Until later.

Copper load of this...

Sorry for the poor image taken on my mobile, but I am not in possession of 80-400 Nikon vr lense - whatever the chuff one of those is.

Anyhow, the cultured amongst you will have no doubt concluded that rather than being a piss-poor picture, it is clearly a subtle and brilliant pastiche of French Impressionism.

Cobblers aside, the Small Copper that graced my Ice Plant yesterday afternoon was the undisputed highlight of what has been a dreadful summer for butterflies in my village.

Plants hitherto unknown to me such as Phlox, Verbena, Red Valerian and the immensely handsome Teasel (a plant that I am developing an unnatural fixation with) have been lovingly installed with the express aim of turning my garden into a veritable 3 Star Michelin restaurant for bees and butterflies.

It didn’t happen though. Whilst quite a few bees have remorselessly plundered my Borage and Lavender, butterflies have been conspicuous by their absence.

Then, yesterday, out of the blue, Fortuna’s Wheel spun upwards and I was blessed with the beauty above and four Small Tortoiseshells; the latter all feasting on the Verbena – a plant that had until now been studiously ignored.

A little research on the Small Copper seems to reinforce my good luck – it is in a group of butterflies that do occasionally visit gardens, but infrequently.

Perhaps there is a small colony nearby, for there is certainly a fair amount of Wood Sorrel growing in a local wood – one of the primary larval food plants for this species.

Fingers crossed next year for a Wall Brown – my favourite butterfly and just as beautiful as the Fritillaries, whom with their gaudiness and high maintenance are quite frankly a bit ‘The Only Way is Essex’

Until later.

Jeepers Treecreeper!!! (Smiley Face)

Sergeant Major Murphy is a tough taskmaster, so it was out the house early on Saturday to mix with fellow crepuscular elements of humanity such as insomniac dog-walkers, dirty stop-outs, keen paperboys and well, birders.

With the hope of encountering some migrants, we concentrated on the dunes and paddocks behind Presthaven Gulag and after a rather slow start, things began to pick-up around the small copse close to the static ghetto.

A ménage a trios of Stonechats and a few skulking ‘Phyllos’ warblers kept the bins interested, but the most interesting migrant by far was a single Treecreeper – not a very familiaris (a gag that will surely have you 'race' nerds rolling in the aisles) bird at Talacre and my first for the site.

The actual paddocks area was more productive with Wheatears perhaps nudging into two figures. These were accompanied by a host of commoner birds including Meadow Pipits, Skylarks and a solo juvenile Reed Bunting.

After spending twenty minutes poking around an old farm house looking for evidence of any visible Owls, it was off to the old colliery site for an appointment with the tide.

At eight and a half metres, it was enough to push all and sundry to their favoured roosting spots, but despite a good variety of waders that included a quartet of Turnstones, a Greenshank and a Whimbrel, none of the currently ubiquitous Curlew Sandpipers were on our radar.

The sea was quiet (although things should heat up here early in the week), with just a handful of Terns; two of the birds were of passing interest – one seemingly in possession of a very dark bill with a lighter base.

Roseate? Probably not and it was too far away to be sure, to be sure.

Until later.

Where were you?

With the strong winds entering a third day, the lure of a seawatch at the Point of Ayr was just too strong.

Given that I am still without motorised transport, it was time for the bicycle to make an appearance and after forty five minutes free-wheeling downhill I was ensconced in the dunes by first light.

Initial signs were encouraging: many Terns, Manxies and Gannets were battling against the strong westerly wind. The Manxies in particular were visibly jaded, with most of the birds unusually lethargic – the last few days had obviously drained them of energy.

With so many seabirds passing by it was surely a matter of time before a Skua or a Petrel made an appearance, but two and a half hours later I was still waiting.

I was about to call time when I picked up a gull just behind the Dee Light. I was hard to be one hundred percent due to the distance, but it looked good for a juvenile Sabine’s Gull, but without conclusive views, a young Kittiwake could not be ruled out. Ho Hum.

After loading up the panniers, I headed over the site of the old hide (now sadly looking very overgrown), for a quick scan of the marsh.

The tide was a good way out, so the waders were scattered far and wide. Still a Whimbrel was good and a flyby Kingfisher a welcome boon before the long slog back to Lloc…

Until later.

Well, it was here just a second ago...

An early morning excursion to the River Clwyd was the order of the day and despite the trying conditions, a handful of decent birds were rinsed out of the gloom.

It could have been worse had the forecast rain materialised – I say ‘forecast’ here in the loosest sense of the word given the recent BBC meteorological soothsayers have been about as reliable as a dodgy Lancia (or 02 plate Vauxhall Astra for that matter).

Anyway, the strong wind (again, not forecast) made things a little tough, especially for somebody as nesh as me. I’ll shut up about the weather soon, but being British it’s in my blood.

The assembled waders were also a little skittish, probably due to the bone-chilling autumnal gusts driving across the estuary. (There I go again, I just can’t help it).

However, brave soldiers that Tony, Mark and I are (not that there are many cowardly ones - I think they tended to be shot by a firing squad), we battled on and located a couple of Greenshanks and a lonesome juvenile Knot.

The main shorebird shenanigans were further up opposite the mouth of the Gele though, so after losing Tony hors de combat, a quick yomp further up the river was the order of the day.

And it paid dividends too – the waders were within a stone’s throw from the cycle path. After hunkering down on an old tree stump it wasn’t long before a juvenile Little Stint was winkled out from the Dunlin and Ringed Plover.

It darted about like a toddler on e-numbers, hence the lovely image above. It was the first one I had seen for over two years too and the closest I have ever seen one. Grand.

And did I tell you about the weather…

River Clwyd 3.9.11

1 Little Stint (juv)
3 Greenshank
1 Bar-tailed Godwit
50+ Dunlin
50+ Ringed Plover
1 Bar-tailed Godwit
1 Knot
1 Snipe
3 Goosander
1 Sparrowhawk
1 Wheatear
14 Turnstone


Until later

Klan Ringing Group

Whilst browsing the ‘We Bird North Wales’ site - the new birding webpage for refugees from the NWBF – I cam across perhaps the most bizarre birding image I have ever come across.

It was from the SCAN clamping group after yet another of their highly scientific and effective ringing sessions at a swallow roost.

Quite what the taker of the image had in mind I can only begin to speculate, but one thing it did remind me of was the rather macabre images a certain organisation from America’s Deep South used to release after carrying out one of their infamous lynchings.

I then scrolled down to a picture taken from last year's Christmas Party and I did begin to wonder…

Until later.

Red-vent horizon

A profitable four hours was spent at Connah’s Quay late morning and early afternoon, with a fly-through Hobby, a Grey Wagtail and a single Golden Plover the more unusual birds.

As is typical at this time of year, the best birding to be had though was the magnificent spectacle of thousands of wading birds trying to outwit the incoming tide.

Oystercatchers and Black-tailed Godwits were legion, with fewer numbers of Knot and Redshank.

Unfortunately most of the action took place a good way from the West Hide over towards Flint, precluding close scrutiny of the waders.

More amenable were the ‘shanks on the Bunded Pools – amongst the hundreds of Redshanks Mark Murphy and I managed to extract at least five Spotted Redshanks and about ten Greenshanks.

The local Peregrines put on a good turn too, hunting in tandem; the female did the spooking whilst the male was tasked with the actual hunting – something it summarily failed to bring to a successful conclusion.

Until later.

When was year dot?

It was with no surprise that I read an article in the Daily Telegraph detailing the decline in pan-European numbers of farmland birds.

We all know the reasons: intensification of agriculture, pesticides, yadda, yadda, but what we are never told is what the conservation bodies deem to be a minimum acceptable population.

Declines are measured against an arbitrary year in the past, probably, one imagines, the one that produces the sharpest decrease in numbers.

What it is worth mentioning is that many – if not all – of these species have benefited from the fact that many of their ‘traditional’ areas were once pristine, native forest that was cleared by human beings.

Maybe, the numbers we see now are perhaps true reflections of the populations of these species say 1,000 or 2,000 years ago and the real losers are woodland birds.

It all depends really on where you set the starting point…

It would be extremely interesting to see the BTO or the RSPB produce a document with the desired minimum populations of all species of birds breeding in the United – Kingdom - at least then there would be a target to aim for.

I imagine the line from both these organisations would be that we want as many as possible, but I’m afraid in today’s world that simply isn’t realistic.

With established figures, work could then begin on establishing enough habitats for the birds to breed in.

Not been out much recently – at least to proper birding locations – due to the lack of a vehicle. Cars are just getting too bloody expensive, so a switch to two wheels as oppose to four is one the cards.

It will be interesting to see how difficult it will be to carry kit around without my motor – especially all the paraphernalia that goes with a seawatch!

Until later.

Carnedd Dafydd

I have felt the lure of the mountains this week and after a quick appetiser of the Scouse Alps from Penycloddiau on Tuesday, it was on to the main course today – a slog up Carnedd Dafydd.

With time about to be called on the upland breeding season birds were few and far between at both locations.

Perhaps the highlight was a lone female Peregrine bombing around the summit today – a very welcome site after the slim pickings on the ascent that amounted to a couple of Wheatears and a couple of Mipits.

The Clwydians were similarly quiet, although it was heartening to see a good numbers of Stonechats after the pummelling they received during the last two winters.

A yaffling Green Woodpecker was good too, although I couldn’t locate the bird on the deck.

Until later.

Same, same, but different.

Frodsham Marsh is not everybody’s cup of tea, but I like it. One of the things I have missed since leaving Chester is my relatively frequent trips down to this site to enjoy its wildlife and ragbag of dog-walkers, fly-tippers, rapscallions and birders.

It was therefore time – after an absence of about a year and a half – for another trip and after Mark Murphy had picked me up early doors we were on the fringes of number six tank before eight.

As you only notice that people age after prolonged periods of not seeing them, the marshes were essentially the same but subtlety different.

Number six tank is more vegetated that a couple of years ago and also sports a new bank in its north-western corner.

The birdlife has changed too; now two Schedule 1 breeding wading birds nest on the site as opposed to just one – I’ll leave those for you to work out…not too difficult though.

Five nests of each this spring, but sadly three nests were ruined by cretinous retards on quad bikes.

The Ruddy Ducks have gone too – at six-hundred nicker a pop apparently – so the wildfowl mainly comprised a handful of Pochard amongst the commoner species.

A few raptors were on the wing and included a small number of Buzzards and a pair of Kestrel over number three.

The Weaver Bend was a little more productive, but still relatively quiet. Passage wader migration was evident - although modest - comprising just a juvenile Dunlin, a single Common Sandpiper and a brace of Little Ringed Plovers.

And that was a wrap.

Until later.

You all love the NWBF, don't lie...

I know you all adore the North Wales Happy Snapping Forum (copyright The Dee Birder - please don't sue), so I have written a lovely user guide for you all to read before concocting your next birding vignette accompanied by a series of stunning and original images.

The North Wales Birding Forum: a user’s guide. Version 2.011.

1.

Under no circumstances use your actual name. An ‘avatar’ is the preferred nomenclature - especially one containing a reference to birds. Examples include ‘Tomkite’, ‘Drizzlygoose’ and a gobshite called ‘The White Ptarmigan’, or something like that.

2.

Users must include a couple of lines at the bottom of their posts containing a few words of wisdom. This makes you look intelligent and educated and not at all a cod-philosophical clown.

3.

The exclamation mark must be used copiously. This grammatical tool will of course be preceded by a series of yellow faces displaying a variety of expressions!!!!!!!!!!

This is mandatory for Scousers as clearly they are all naturally hilarious and you simply could not read a single sentence without falling about laughing.

4.

Alan Davies is to be treated like ‘Big Brother’. Like Winston Smith in 1984 you must eventually learn to love Big Brother. For those struggling to fall under his spell, indoctrination is available through ‘thebiggestbrother’ bird tours. Email: O’Brian@theministryoftruth

5.

No matter how piss-poor or hackneyed your image of a bird maybe, everybody else on the forum is absolutely dying to see it and to tell you how clever you are.

6.

If you find a Schedule 1 breeding species on territory and singing, then in no circumstances keep it discreet. Blazon it all over birding websites and watch the circus unfold!! Correction......!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

7.

Every comment - however puerile or banal - is welcome. Other readers love to know that you too occasionally have the odd bird in your back garden.

8.

Do not disrespect RSPB Starbucks. It is an excellent reserve with year-round interest and in no shape or form a Cafe and Shop with pond attached.

9.

Posts from outside the forum are encouraged – especially from Inner Temple Farm. For those who do not know, some of the reserve is actually in Wales (Note : Colin Wells does not enter this part of the reserve – Ed.)

Members are specifically interested in reports from those who claim to have seen the latest ‘MEGA’ as great sport can be had watching them being grilled by ‘The Grand Inquisitor’ himself – Ajax1973-75.

10.

And finally, an exemplar of what your post should look like.

Went to RSPB Conwy today and spotted a Pallas’s Gull. I know that it wasn’t a Black-headed Gull as it was bigger.

I have never seen one before, but it definitely was one as I checked in the book.

Not bad for my first visit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Nothing else there.

Shut 'em down...

I recently had a post deleted from the North Wales Birding Form that went along the lines of ‘…..I have visited the Point of Ayr and Oakenholt Marsh in excess of four hundred times combined and have never seen Colin Wells -- the site manager for the Dee Estuary - at either in location in the last five years…’

Apparently this constituted a personal attack – a statement of fact.

You would expect this sort of thing to happen in China or Syria, but on a birding website?

I can appreciate that administrating a website can be a difficult task and that you are never going to please all of the people all of the time, but was this really necessary?

Perhaps the best thing about the NWBF over the last six months has been the threads that have broken out into rancour, dispute and hot debate. A few insults flew around, but are people really so thin-skinned and sensitive?

I think the NWBF is now very sterile, and the most offensive aspect of the forum is the banal drivel that now constitutes ninety-five percent of its content – the other five percent is taken up by Alan Davies PLC.

Until later.

Common and Garden

I did the rounds on Saturday and whilst the cast at Shotton Pools was pretty much unchanged, Connah’s Quay is starting to produce some interesting birds.

Close scrutiny of the Wagtails on the Ash Pool produced a couple of juvenile Yellows amongst the throngs of Pied and a single juvenile Wheatear dropped in too for a few minutes before mysteriously vanishing.

There seems to be plenty more vegetation on the reserve this autumn, with the stately Teasel legion – much to the delight of the local Greenfinches and Bumblebees.

Plenty of Ragwort too, with tens of Gatekeepers filling their boots; in fact many flutterbuys were on the wing including Common Blue, Meadow Brown, Small Heath and Red Admiral.

Oakenholt Marsh was dominated by the increasing Canada Geese and the hundreds of Black-headed Gulls are still holding sway on the mudflats although wader numbers are building.

Notable shorebirds included a couple of Common Sandpipers and a brace of Spotted Redshanks, but Greenshanks were conspicuous by their absence – just one on the Bunded Pools, although a punter earlier in the week had recorded twenty-four!

More migratory waders in the shape of a pair of Green Sandpipers were on the reservoir at Shotton Pools that also contained a rather bedraggled looking Kingfisher.

Quite a few Warblers were skulking around the fruiting shrubs and bushes, but all kept discreetly from view with the exception of a Garden Warbler.

Ace Cetti-hunter Denzil had one of the aforementioned here a couple of weeks ago too, but if it was still on the manor it effortlessly gave me the slip.

Until later.

Greene King

Shotton Pools Nature Reserve just gets stranger. In addition to the usual lukewarm reception at the North Gate, I was mistaken for a wildfowler on a ‘Feed the Ducks’ day.

I was slightly puzzled as to what precisely this entails – more later.

On the bird front, things are starting to pick-up. The reservoir held three Green Sandpipers, heralding the start of the autumn shorebird migration.

The three Lapwing chicks were present too and are now nearly fully grown.

Another recent feature of the reserve has been a hunting male Sparrowhawk and today – for the third time in succession – I witnessed it returning with prey to a probable nest site.

Bird of the morning though was this very showy Kingfisher that posed in the gloom for a good five minutes no more than twenty yards from the hide – another one was present too, but despite hearing it call I couldn’t locate it.

The next port of call was Connah’s Quay where I bumped into the now resident Denzil, who proceeded to illuminate me on the purpose of ‘Feed the ducks’ day.

Apparently Mallard are held captive in a cage at Shotton Pools and then released for shooting. This perhaps explains why there are so many ‘feral’ Mallards spending the summer around this part of the estuary.

CQNR was is good form with Common Sandpiper, Greenshanks and a newly arrived heavily moulting Spotted Redshank too.

The Common Redstarts are still near the Wetland Meadow Hide, with the male particularly showy.

Loads of butterflies on the wing, including Gatekeepers, Meadow Brown, Speckled Woods, Green-veined Whites and a single Red Admiral.

Until later.

Do Ospreys Dream of Electric Tags?

"...if I knew for a certainty that a man was coming to my house with the conscious design of doing me good, I should run for my life..." HD Thoreau

With the risk of repeating myself, it was with tongue firmly in cheek that I used the above quotation in reference to the activities of the SCAN Clamping Group at Puffin Island.

Sadly, it just gets worse:

http://montgomerybirdblog.blogspot.com/2011/07/osprey-update.html

What possible SCIENTIFIC reason is there for attaching satellite tracking devices to all THREE chicks?

What do the Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust hope to learn from this? Ospreys are increasing in number in the United Kingdom and their migratory routes and overwintering areas are well known.

Utterly, utterly pointless and as far as the 'wild' birds are concerned a huge betrayal of trust.

On a science fiction theme - rather than a cod-scientific one - I can imagine a point in the future when technology allows all birds to be chipped and their whereabouts known at all times.

Birdguides will feed live data on the locations of rare birds; not only those in the UK, but perhaps ones that are potential arrivals.

A message along the lines of : White-throated Robin in Belgium - bird following a northerly migration route (see link), and predicted to arrive in the Dungeness area tomorrow morning.

Twitchers would actually be in place before the bird arrived!

You heard it here first...

Until later.

Phase Fazed

With the winds strengthening and from the WNW there was only one thing for on Sunday morning – down to the dunes at the Point of Ayr for a seawatch.

Things began well – no sooner had I parked my backside I picked up a Great Skua shearing against the wind; although a good way out its beefy outline, powerful flight and white primary flashes were a dead give away.

After the initial explosion out of the blocks things settled down and I was treated to a steady passage of Manx Shearwaters - with the odd Kittiwake thrown in for good measure.

Good numbers of both Little and Sandwich Terns kept up my interest as did a smallish Grebe that unfortunately I couldn’t nail down as it kept disappearing into the troughs.

Just before lunch the monsoon kicked-in and I decided to stick with it until saturation point.

After a couple of minute’s rain, I then picked up a dark bird moving from towards Hilbre in a westerly direction. Initially, it was obscured from view by the taller dunes, but as it passed the lighthouse I was able to get a decent view.

My first thought was of a chunky Grey Plover, although the plumage was obviously completely wrong. Zooming in and improving my focus it was then clear I was looking at a Skua, but not one I was familiar with.

It was a charcoal grey colour and seemed to lack any white on the primaries; in fact it was fairly uniform in colour. The one thing that did stand out was a fairly short and stubby bill – possibly why I had initially thought Grey Plover.

Fortunately I had my copy of Helm, but it was in the car. Five minutes later I was pouring over the Skuas and the closest fit seemed to be a juvenile intermediate phase Long-tailed Skua..

Without any experience of Long-tailed Skuas – I have heard people call them whilst seawatching at the same spot, but had doubts – it will have to go in the probable category.

On the sceptical side perhaps the strongest argument against it being a juvenile LT Skua is the fact that we are in mid July. Surely it would be too early for a fledged chick to be migrating past the UK?

Also, the bird did seem to be flying purposely – if not powerfully – in a fairly low and straight trajectory. Would the fairly small Long-tailed Skua not struggle to keep its velocity in strong winds?

Until later.

The Redshank Redemption

Building numbers of Red and Green 'shanks (15+) were visible at Connah's Quay over high tide this lunchtime - almost exclusively occupying the Bunded Pools.

Additional wader interest was the incresing numbers of Blackwits and a singleton Common Sandpiper on Oakenholt Marsh.

Also on Oakenholt Marsh was a cracking duo of recently fledged Peregrine siblings. I have it on good authority that these birds are not the offspring of the pair that nested on the power station, but from another nest not too far away.

It was also good to catch-up with Denzil whom having been hors de combat over all of the winter and most of the spring is now on the mend...

Until later.

Warren Buffeting

A ragged - but nonetheless stunning -  Osprey was the highlight of an early morning walk out to Abermenai Point at Newborough Warren.

Birding was a little difficult at the outset as what can only be described as a plague of dogs charged around the entrance to the car park and the mouth of the Braint.

Still, they were soon left behind and my mate Rob and I were in no time at all nearing the point.

With little to worry the Leicas most of out attention was focused on the huge numbers of Graylings and the masses of wildflowers - including scores of the exquisite Pyramidal Orchid.

It was then that we inadvertently flushed a raptor and as I half-heartedly raised my bins to confirm yet another Buzzard I had a rather pleasant shock - Osprey!

Rather than just navigating itself to another roosting point, the bird decided it was time for brunch and after shaking off the irritating presence of the local Great-backed Blacked Gulls it proceeded to fish.

No question what was on the menu - Mullet. The shallows were teeming with them and after three unsuccessful dives, the fourth attempt was a success.

It was as this point that I realised that this was the time I had ever seen an Osprey catch a fish and for my mate Rob it was the first time he had encountered an Osprey!

Not to be outdone, when we turned onto the beech we startled a female Peregrine enjoying Oystercatcher alfresco.

Happy hunting indeed...

Until later.

Poet's Corner

It is not often that this blog delves into the scary realm of poetry, but whilst surfing the internet for plants to attract moths into my garden, I happened upon this by Danske Danridge:

THE Moth is waiting for the night
To poise his feathered wings, untried,
Fresh from their prison, scarcely dried,
And trembling for the trial flight.
“The Rose is dreaming of the Bee:
Perchance my Primrose wakes for me."

The evening wears a gold zone:
One waits and listens like the flower,
She feels her fate and knows her hour.
The night is come, but not alone:
Love's wings are trembling on the air:
All the heart's treasure lying bare

Moths – it’s all about Evening Primrose, Nicotine plants, Jasmine, Honeysuckle and Phlox apparently.

On a completely unrelated note, take a butcher’s hook at this photograph of a chap from ‘SCAN’ ringing group from a recent trip to Puffin Island:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/petewood1981/5921899721/in/set-72157627161021618

I thought long-line fishing had been banned...

At least some ‘vital’ data will be gathered: birds fish at sea, some live longer than others, some now have to go further than they did in the past to find food etc, etc...

If only we could warn the inhabitants in advance. I was reminded too of a Thoreau line from his book 'Walden.'

 "...if I knew for a certainly that a man was coming to my house with the conscious design of doing me good, I should run for my life..."

Until later.

Mist Netting shown to be 'safe'.

I imagine some people may have already read this article on mist netting as it has appeared in this month’s ‘Birdwatch’ magazine.

http://www.birdwatch.co.uk/channel/newsitem.asp?c=11&cate=__10933

It concludes that roughly 1 in every 200 birds caught using this method are injured and 1 in every 400 are actually killed.

I must admit to being staggered by these findings – I thought any ringing activity was supposed to be passive?

For example, I found this on the RSPB Liverpool branche's website:

“...and no, Birds are not affected by the birdringing process, as ringing is carried out by skilled ringers who have the utmost consideration for the birds welfare in mind.”

This is quite clearly a load of old cobblers.

If mist netting is causing fatalities in the UK, then these statistics should be made available.

Do Bird Observatories record this sort of information?

I have long-held doubts about the benefits of ringing birds, and this is certainly another tick in the ‘why bother’ category.

Maybe it is time for somebody to have the courage to conduct some research into the efficacy of the activity in general.

I think the results would lead to some uncomfortable reading...

Until later.

RSPB @ Point of Ayr – Not Yet Arsed

Can I politely remind all readers that the new hide at the Point of Ayr is NOT yet built.

There are still no contractors working on site plus some of the footpaths, screening, landscaping etc are not yet finished so the site is unsafe.

Several recent birders have unwittingly disturbed the sensitive wildlife on the site, when out looking for the sign-posted ‘Bird Hide’.

So can I please ask all potential visitors to put their enthusiasm on hold until we are ready to allow access and we have the facilities in place to show you the great wildlife w/o unnecessarily disturbing it.

Thank You for your co-operation in this.

RSPB Dee Estuary Team

0151 336 7681

A tale of two Flycatchers

After another dose of car woe, I was eager to get out and test drive the bleeder on Friday afternoon.

I opted for a blast down the ’55 to Northop and then for a little tootle to a lovely little SSSI at Maes y Grug via Soughton Hall.

The grounds of Soughton Hall have been grabbing my attention of late, especially as a Little Owl was seen in the area recently.

As my local one has done a vanishing act, I am keen to catch-up with a Flintshire resident this year, plus the area also looks good for another scarce bird locally: Green Woodpecker.

Things seldom go to plan, and I saw neither, but was compensated with stunning views of a Spotted Flycatcher at the horse paddocks.

Sadly, most of the area has been given over to the incalculably pointless artisan pursuit of golf (you now I’m right KD!), but there are pockets of tall mature trees surrounded by rough grassland that do offer potential.

Equally pleasing was the small Maey y Grug nature reserve north of Alltami. There is some excellent habitat hear and I enjoyed a not too common spectacle nowadays – Swifts, Swallows and both Martins hawking insects from the surface of the pool.

Whilst idling away the late afternoon I also noticed that I was sitting slap bang next to a spider’s nest containing hundreds of the tiny women-worriers.

Until later.

Wading In

A visit to Connah’s Quay on Wednesday was yet another step into winter. As is its want when the wind blows from the north-west, the west hide was absolutely freezing.

The last eight or nine months have been the perfect illustration that us human beings may have over-extended ourselves when we went north of Andalucia – give me Flamenco, Fino, Seville Women, and the Coto Donana any day of the week over the Dee Estuary in June!!

I don’t mean it – or maybe I do.

Still, there where some good birds abound today, including an adult and a juvenile Common Sandpiper and best of all a young Little Ringed Plover – my first for the reserve. Muy Bien.

The heron family were well represented too, with around ten Grey Herons scattered around the reserve, plus twenty or so Little Egrets.

In football manager argot, the Legrets appear to have good ‘bouncebackabilty’, for after the last two winters decimated numbers on the estuary they appear to be legion again. Like us homo sapiens, they must be wondering why they bothered to venture north of the toasty Mediterranean lagoons.

And speaking of things Mediterranean, still no gull of the same name for me in Flintshire this year. They seem to be popping-up all over North Wales, Lancashire, and even the Wirral side of the Dee, but I cannot buy one at CQNR or the POA.

Finally, some wag on the NWBF responding to my suggestion (or maybe plea!) that the Point of Ayr be taken over by RSPB Starbucks at Conwy, mentioned that they may build a climbing frame and slide instead if that were the case.

Pretty much sums up where the RSPB are at the moment: a children’s play area is more important than a bird hide.

To be hones, I don’t care if they build an exact replica of the Taj Mahal from gravy, providing they build a hide, or even to use RSPB doublespeak – a ‘viewing structure.’

Until later.

Dodgy Birds

I did the rounds late this morning – Connah’s Quay and Shotton Pools – and this pukka  Common Spotted Orchid growing on landfill at the steelworks was unquestionably the highlight of a dreech couple of hours.

In fairness, CQNR was a little improved on recent weeks. Although still suffering from a rash of Black-headed Gulls and Shelducks, there has definitely been a post-breeding influx of Lesser Black-backeds and Little Egrets.

On the subject of Egrets, a Great White Egret was reported yesterday from this reserve, but despite a good deal of searching from a number of people following the original sighting it has sadly not been relocated.

I have to confess to being a little sceptical of many GWE records on the Dee Estuary; many seem to be single observer sightings and invariably the bird is never relocated.

I can only speak of my experience of these Egrets in India, but if that is anything to go by, the Great Whites are not too keen on brackish and salt water, much preferring fresh.

This, of course, probably means why they don’t hang around the Dee for too long…?

I must admit to being immensely pleased today too see that for the second year in succession, the pair of Oystercatchers breeding on the stone island near the field centre have successfully bred.

There has been at least one other pair on the reserve too – on the Ash Pool – and although they hatched at least two chicks, I’m not sure if either made it, unlike the aforementioned duo on the pools who have one new addition to the ranks.

Also on the reserve today was one of the two ‘Ruddy’ Shelducks recently logged. I didn’t get a great view, but I imagine that they are the same sketchy brace that have been knocking about for a few years now.

What with the ‘Bonapartes’ Gull, ‘GW’ Egret, and now ‘Ruddy’ Shelduck, Connah’s Quay NR seems to have more hooky birds in its book than Del Boy!!

Anyway, Shotton Pools. One Little Ringed Plover. Nothing Else. Security bloke had a go at me for blowing my horn when I was waiting at the gate. I hadn’t.

Until later.

RSPB to ankle-tag Twitchers

The Royal Society for the Psychology of Birders has released details of a proposal to place electronic tracking devices on a number of twitchers.

Some twitchers are rumoured to undertake incredible journeys each year, with many individuals believed to clock up in excess of 50,000 miles.

Despite being locally common when a rarity appears, very little is known about where they go when they complete the return migration home.

Thor Undrath from the RSPB who is leading the study added:

“Many people regard them as a pest - especially the subspecies photographus – but to me they are a much misunderstood species.”

“By learning more about their movements, we can seek to protect their habitat and ensure their future survival.”

Thor plans to catch the Twitchers when the next major rarity – known in Twitching polari as a “MEGA” – appears in Scotland.

“Myself and a colleague will simultaneously place mist nets across the M6 and the A1. Any twitchers caught will then be weighed and measured before having an electronic tracking device attached to their person.”

“Hopefully people will be able to follow their movements on the Internet.”

Until later.

A good little spot...

An early start this morning for one of my favourite ‘Upland Lite’ walks around the foothills of the Scouse Alps at Cilcain – a good spot if you are not man enough for the open moors.

Whilst it is unlikely that you will be treading on Golden Plover nests or getting dive bombed by a Merlin, it is still a good area for a variety of birds.

The areas of gorse and heather around Cilcain are excellent for Yellowhammer, with a trio present today, whilst are always plenty of Whitethroats is the same habitat too, a handful of Stonechats, plus today there was the added bonus of a pair of Whinchats feeding young.

It must also be one of the top spots for Cuckoo, and early doors there were no fewer than three calling males – one with an incredibly hoarse call! Yet more evidence that Cuckoo numbers are up this year.

Staying on the subject of Cuckoos, I was quite surprised to learn that despite well over fifty thousands of these birds being ringed in the UK, there has only ever been one recovery from sub Saharan Africa - yet more evidence on the pointlessness of a great deal of bird clamping.

Cilcain 18.06.2011

3 Cuckoo
3 Stonechat
2 Whinchat
3 Yellowhammer
2 Kestrel
2 Raven
1 Lesser Redpoll

Until later.

Magpies to fund research into songbird decline

The Black Grouse can exclusively reveal that a group of influential Magpies tired of being used as a scapegoat for the precipitous decline in many British Songbirds are to fund a study into the impact of human beings on our farmland and woodland passerines.

The spearhead of the campaign, Maggie Picker, commented:

“Human beings have increased dramatically since the 1960s and they seem oblivious to inimical impact that their population has had on the ecosystem.”

“If the current rate of environmental degradation continues, then I’m afraid we are going to have to call for a cull.”

Ms Picker also lamented the recent absence of a “good war” in keeping the human population in check.

“Previously the mass of humanity was much less peaceable and would senselessly slaughter each other in endless fatuous conflicts – this simply doesn’t happen anymore.”

The research could however prove controversial within the wider avian community. Larid Grayson – a spokesperson from “Gulls for Garbage” chipped-in with:

“We are delighted with the expansion of the human population and their profligate and unsustainable lifestyles.”

“Years ago, we used to feed on crabs and other bits and bobs – now we have fetid morsels from all corners of the globe all within one huge landfill site – we couldn’t be happier.”

Gil Scott Heron, from charity du jour “Help for Herons” also has reservations.

“Where there are humans, there are ponds. And where there are ponds, there are fish.”

“.....and by the way, although it is completely off the point, thebiggestheron, has a space left on his tour to the Sunderbans this Sunday. Email Goliath@yahoo.coot

Until later.

Kate Humble Sunbathes in the Buff

The thousands of twitchers that flocked to Cleveland to see a White-breasted Robin, have finally come clean and admitted that what they were actually watching was the BBC Springwatch presenter Kate Humble sunbathing topless.

The cloak of secrecy was removed after one birder, Steve Lister, confessed that the White-throated Robin story was a red herring designed to mask the real truth.

“You don’t think that this many people would turn up for a real bird would you? I mean, Kate Humble is a well known celebrity and we didn’t just want any Peeping Tom, Dick or Harry rocking-up did we?”

Despite only fleeting glimpses of the White-breasted Humble, most punters left satisfied, albeit with a slightly empty feeling.

“To be honest, I don’t know where I go from hear”, said one dejected observer.

As you can guess, not much to report from Connah’s Quay this morning…

Until later.

Cold Comfort Migneint

Mark Twain once quipped: “The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco.”

Well travelled he may have been, but he clearly never visited the Migneint in June.

Fortunately the walk a friend Rob and I undertook was mainly on the leeward side of the mountain, thus sparing us from the icy winds that greeted our arrival on the summit.

As is with this area, birds – apart from the ubiquitous Meadow Pipits – are few and far between.

Highlights on the way up were a pair of Whinchat and a female Ring Ouzel. The mountain thrush was occupying a classic area of habitat – a boulder strewn upland ravine with a couple of dead trees, although this represents the first year that I have seen this territory occupied.

Ring Ouzels – and Cuckoos for that matter – seem to be around in good numbers this year, perhaps reflecting a general upturn recently of a number of classic Welsh summer migrants.

And that was going to be pretty much that. I found no Golden Plovers on an old favoured section of the moor and I had not seen one single raptor.

Then, a couple of hundred yards away from the car a female Merlin absolutely bombed past us back up the mountain.

Superb.

Until later.



The Summer Funk is here...

Not much doing this weekend, despite several hours in the field.

Connah’s Quay has surrendered to the monochrome tyranny of Shelduck and Black-headed Gulls and Shotton Pools and Deeside Industrial Estate fared little better.

If I had to pick a winner, it would be the cycle path behind the Industrial Estate, with plenty of Small Skipper, Common Blue and Small Tortoiseshell butterflies on the wing.

The Poppies were out too – in vast numbers; enough in fact to keep the average Afghan Warlord and his clan in Kaftans for years.

On a slightly positive note, there are still plenty of Common Terns on the inner estuary with a few birds still hanging around the steelworks. Only six this afternoon, but at least two birds had rather juicy looking fish…

A singing Reed Warbler got me a little interested when it started to go all John Coltrane, but I still couldn’t turn it into a Marsh Warbler…

Until later.

The Late Evening News...

A truly excellent and memorable evening’s birding was had by me, Mark Murphy and Tony in the Gwydir Forest at sunset yesterday.

The undoubted stars were a hat-trick of Nightjars, but the supporting cast made up of a trio of Cuckoos and Tree Pipits, plus a pair of Redstarts was hardly bad.

None of the birds were shy either, with a pair of Cuckoos particularly keen to strut their stuff showing at one point down to about thirty yards.

The Nightjars were hardly backward in coming forward with three birds heard churring around a quarter to ten and thereafter in flight intermittently for the next forty five minutes with one male flying very close indeed.

The white handkerchief trick was employed on a few occasions, but this seemed to make little difference and was perhaps more a sign of surrender to the armies of midges and mossies more than anything else!

Until later.

Beavers Beware!!

It was good to see the return of Springwatch last night, especially as they have chosen to relocate to my favourite reserve – RSPB Ynys Hir.

The format looks the same, although there is still too much nattering and not enough actual wildlife – a perennial bugbear of mine.

Also, it looks like Martin Double-Barrel is enjoying his hair even more than ever this series – a feat I never thought possible!

Perhaps it is no coincidence that they have opted to be near the hippy enclave of Maccynlleth; possibly the only town outside the London borough of Clapham that has enough humus and carrot juice to sustain a BBC production team.

The King may be dead, so long live Charlie Double-Barrel II. Great to see the re-introduced Beavers, but surely I cannot be alone in having a little sympathy with them.

Their de facto incarceration reminded me of Patrick McGoohan’s character “No.6” from the prisoner.

“I will not be pushed, filed, stamped, indexed, briefed, debriefed or numbered. My life is my own.”

Fat chance – expect Rover to be released should you stray too far Christian...

Until later.

Little and Large

A pleasant surprise at a dismal Connah’s Quay this morning was this pukka 2cy Little Gull.

When I first picked-out a ‘small larid’ amongst the throngs of Black-headed my thoughts initially turned to Bonaparte’s Gull, but when the bird flew closer its true identity was revealed (I wonder if Bonaparte’s Gull earned its name from being diminutive like Monsieur Napoleon himself?)

Frankly I felt a small amount of sympathy for the ting blighter as every time it attempted to feed it was remorselessly harried by the Black-heads – shocking bullying!

Not much else going-on aside a few Common Terns and with Stan disappearing up the M6 to see a Common Sandpiper with acne, I headed for home.

Of considerably bigger stature – although no less noteworthy – was a fleeting glimpse I had of a Goshawk when out walking in Mynydd Hiraethog yesterday.

No mistaking this beast as it flew across an area of clearfell being pursued by a very cross looking Carrion Crow.

In other news I nearly froze to death at Coed Nercwys on Thursday evening when out looking for Nightjars. Not a sniff - but the weather wasn’t exactly ideal.

Getting warmer later in the week apparently so could be time for more crepuscular sleuthing!

Until later.

RSPB revealed as holders of Super Injunction

I can exclusively reveal that The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds are members of the infamous list of slebs, slappers and organisations that have applied for - and successfully been granted - a Super Injunction.

The subject of the Super Injunction is the former bird hide at the Point of Ayr, Flintshire, North Wales.

The act forbids any mention of the fact that there used to be a bird hide on the site or that there were ever any plans – past or present – to construct what is termed a ‘viewing structure.’

RSPB Wales spokesperson Bryn Biggs was unavailable for comment, leaving office junior Barry Gareth to fend-off inquiries:

“We don’t comment on tittle-tattle. By the way, where is the Point of Ayr anyway – is it in Ceredigion?”

Until later.

P.S - I have been rooting around on the Interweb and it seems I am not the only blogger on the case of the RSPB. One common thread seems to be the lack of will when it comes to controlling the predation of wader chicks..a problem that any regular visitor to Inner Marsh Farm over the last few years will be familiar with.

http://peregrinesbirdblog.blogspot.com/2011/05/rspb-belfast-harbour-revisited-and-it.html

http://derekbirdbrain.blogspot.com/2011/05/wetland-paradise.html

Coed y Garth

A blustery Saturday morning was spent navigating around the ‘Triangle Walk’ that takes in Garth Wood and the adjoining farmland.

There was surprisingly little chorus - perhaps because most birds are busy trying to find food for their insatiable young.

Tit song was the most conspicuous by its absence, with a few species of warbler, a Song Thrush and the ubiquitous Wren making up the orchestra.

I was eager to see if the Pied Flycatchers had remained faithful to a particular tree that has been occupied the previous two years, but sadly there was no sign.

Similarly absent from an open area of mature oak was the ‘spinning coin’ trill of a Wood Warbler - an area that has held held this species in the past.

Ironically it was when I exited the woodland that things improved and I heard the unmistakable-scratchy-mess-of-an–excuse that passes for the song of the Common Redstart. A scan of through the canopy revealed a female too.

The lane that oozes through the pastures between the two sections of tree was also productive producing three Yellowhammers.

This Bunting is widely considered to be uncommon this side of the border, but the more I walk locally the more singing males I discover. I would class them ‘local’ rather than uncommon.

Incidentally, the hedgerows along this section of road are superb being an almost classic mix of native plants, trees and shrubs. The verges are also left uncut, unlike at Lloc where I live.

Here, Flintshire County Council and its department of Yellow-jacketed Terminators fanatically strim the vegetation to within an inch of its life.

Is there are more pointless, costly (financial and ecological) exercise that councils undertake? I thought they were short of money?

Contrast Dyserth Road with the embankment along the A55 at the moment – it’s awash with a glorious array of wildflowers. Wonderful.

Until later.