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.