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.
Hi Paul
ReplyDeleteVisited Burton Mere yesterday which was quite nice but nothing compared to the scene i had on my local patch at Oakenholt this morning.
As you have said it is a truly spectacular sight with thousands of waders and wildfowl to be seen- no Spoonbill today but along with the usual i got some great views of Sanderling and a trio of Grey Plovers.
Close to 4000 Oiks out there today too- they just kept coming in over the river all morning- sun was shining and great to just bask in it's light(once i found shelter from the Westerly wind!) and watch the birds fight for every available piece of marsh- not much by the time tide was at it's peak.
Has to be one of the premier sights in UK and proud that it can all be seen on my doorstep- who needs Burton Mere!
Dan.
Hi Dan
ReplyDeleteThere is no doubt whatsoever that the high tide on Oakenholt Marsh is truly spectacular,and from my own personal point of view,I find that viewing it from Flint Castle is more enjoyable than from the West Hide at Connah's Quay.
I'm glad that you enjoyed your visit to Burton Mere Wetlands,it really is a superb reserve isn't it.
I don't know whether you are a member at Connah's Quay Nature Reserve,but if not,I would definitely look at joining,because it is a brilliant nature reserve that is very well run by the Deeside Naturalists Society,and there are some superb birds to be enjoyed there.
Cheers Denzil
I am a member of the CQNR and agree that it is an excellent reserve.Have spent many a happy day walking around and some of my earliest and best birding memories have taken place there.
ReplyDeleteI was in the hide this Sunday but with those Westerly winds it came screaming through the slats and place was like an icebox.I do most of my high tide bird watching from the rocks on Oakenholt marsh (between the Castle and the West Hide)where you tend to get better views up the main gutter and are closer to the birds without disturbing them.
Dan
Hi Dan,
ReplyDeleteNIce to know that you appreciate what possibly is the best piece of the estuary - Oakenholt Marsh, just for the record it is owned by the RSPB and thus is the brother of Burton Mere Wetlands as part of the RSPB Dee EStuary nature reserve :)