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