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.