Haute Couture

A trickle of southern migrants was the highlight of Saturday’s trip to Inner Marsh Farm. The brooding heat inflicted a sort of lethargy on the birds with most of them snoozing or feeding half-heartedly around the pool edges.

A superb male Ruff displaying a nice grey and black ensemble was the highlight, although the presence of the two Spoonbills on the hide pool made a welcome change from their normal intransigent behaviour of roosting well hidden on No 1 pool.

Also of note in front of the hide were three Common Terns lazing with sizeable flocks of Lapwing and Black-headed Gulls, peppered with a handful of Black-tailed Godwits.

After failing to locate a male Redstart that had been seen around the boardwalk area I plonked myself down on the bench at the top of the hill and scanned the back pool.

Three Avocets and a Little Ringed Plover were picked-up after my first sortie and after a little more effort I found a Green Sandpiper skulking around the reeds and also another brace of LRPs.

Until later.

It's All Mandarin to Me

A walk around Farndon this morning in the mizzle produced some interesting birds.

Gunshot from a nearby farm flushed a Cuckoo that I picked up flying over a wheat field. It attempted to settle in a dead tree, but a Magpie soon mobbed the bird and off it moved.

On another dead tree a new family of Kestrels roosted and all looked rather damp and fed-up.

When I reached the River Dee at the end of Townfield Lane, I searched a little while for any sign of Kingfishers having seen them here a few times before. It is easy to see why they like this section of water; plenty of overhanging willows and other protruding tree branches to hunt from.

No Kingfishers today, but skulking under some vegetation was another family – of Mandarin Ducks! Apart from a lone eclipse male at Inner Marsh Farm a couple of years ago, these are the only birds I have seen in Cheshire. Apparently they are spreading with this introduced species having taken to Britain like, well, a duck to water. Sorry.


Until later.

I'm Still Here

Old Dai Davies had a farm, E-I-E-I-O
And on his farm he had a Whinchat, E-I-E-I-O
With a "tic-tic" here and a "tic-tic" there
Here a "tic" there a "tic"
Everywhere a "tic-tic"
Old Dai Davies had a farm, E-I-E-I-O

It must be the sun.

The lull of the moors was strong again this morning, so I succumbed to this urge by paying a visit to the Berwyns.

The going was slow at first – my legs were still suffering from a lactic acid induced torpor resulting from yesterday’s trip to World’s End.

A cracking male Redstart and a new family of Wheatear (clearly Catholic given the number of fledglings) were ample reward for completing the steep climb to the fringe of the moor.

Then it all went ‘Chat’ crazy, with a conservative estimate of seven male Whinchats and three male Stonechats in an area called Gwern Wynodl – a veritable chat bonanza!

Four Ravens, a Tree Pipit and a brace of Buzzards kept the interest going as I completed the final part of my ascent to Bwlch Maen Gwynedd.

For some additional torture, I plumped to head to the highest point at Cadair Berwyn. After about half a kilometer the monotonous song of the Meadow Pipits was broken by an unfamiliar call from a small bird in flight. I quickly locked-on to the bird in the air - a wader, and not one, but two Dunlin! This is the first time I have seen these diminutive waders breeding on the Welsh mountains – now for Golden Plover and the mythical Ring Ouzel!

After resting at the cairn on the summit, I started the return trip to Llandrillo taking in Foel Fawr and Cwn Tywyll. The habitat was mostly grassland, with a sprinkling of heather and bilberry and consequently held legions of Skylarks and Mipits but little else.

More interesting was a brace of Broad-bodied Chasers hawking insects over a stream, and as I passed back into Cefn Pen-llety conifer plantation, I assumed the fun was over.

I was wrong. I picked-up the weak song of a Wood Warbler, although it seemed to be emanating from the middle of a clump of conifers? I moved closer and after some searching located a bird sitting on a branch halfway up the trunk of a larch tree. No mistaking these wonderful birds and it soon burst into another verse of its unique song. Shouldn’t you be in deciduous woodland mister?

Until later.

The End Of The World As We Know It

Fine weather, heather and feathers were very much the theme of today: a hike around Ruabon Moor.

Starting from World’s End, my sister and I first headed along the Offa’s Dyke path that runs under the wonderfully scenic limestone rock face of Eglwyseg Valley.

There was plenty of birdsong, including good numbers of Tree Pipit singing heartily from the very top of their respective trees.

When we reached Bryn Goleu we began a steep climb to Ruabon Moor, where our slow progress was closely monitored by a family of Wheatear. Pausing for breath at the top of the ascent I caught a glimpse of a falcon that disappeared before I could identify it. We decided to wait a little longer and were soon rewarded with another brief – but conclusive – view of a Hobby!

A little further on - at the fringe of the moor - we were met by a rather agitated male Whinchat whom had taken umbrage at our movement through his territory. Very bold he was too, perching in some instances only a few metres away. His irritation was well-placed too being the father of four recent fledglings.

Eventually we emerged at a conifer plantation on Newtown Mountain. After our customary wrong-turn, followed by a short break to watch a cracking male Bullfinch, we were back on the mountain for the final leg of the journey back to World’s End.

After a few minutes my sister said that she thought she could hear a Curlew. We listened in the still air, but nothing. It was not her imagination though, as no more that two minutes later there was an eruption of shrill Curlew calls.

Looking in the direction of the commotion we could make out three birds: a pair of Curlew mobbing a male Hen Harrier! Judging by their intense reaction, they must have been protecting chicks from the raiding raptor.

All in all, an excellent morning!

Until later.

Summary: 1 Hen Harrier (imm male), 10+ Buzzard, 1 Hobby, 2 Kestrel, 1 Raven, 2 Curlew, 12+ Whinchat, 4+ Stonechat, 4 Wheatear, 5 Grey Wagtail, 5+ Tree Pipit, 3 Red-legged Partridge, 1 Bullfinch.

Hobby

It was a muggy, damp and overcast when I arrived at Thursaston Shore this morning, about one hour before high water. The tide had reached the edge of the marsh and the birds were busy jostling for position – noisily so, in the case of a gross of Curlew.

There were plenty of hirundines feeding on the insects over Heswall gutter; Swallows mostly with a handful of Swifts and House Martins.

Unfortunately for these birds, a Hobby had also clocked-on to this gathering and proceeded to cause chaos as it unsuccessfully tried to catch a meal.

‘Hobby’ would also have been the name of Subbuteo had its inventor Peter Adolph’s application for such a trademark been granted. Defeated, he turned to the latin name of the Eurasian Hobby: Falco Subbuteo!

There seems to be two clusters of sightings of this elegant raptor on the Dee Estuary this year: around Inner Marsh Farm and Burton and then a little higher up the coast at Neston. Perhaps there are two pairs breeding locally this year?

Further up the beach an extremely tatty looking Kestrel was doing its best to hunt in the increasingly heavy rain, whilst simultaneously fending off a mobbing Carrion Crow.

Apart from these two falcons, there was very little else to report, despite a good two hours in the field between Sheldrake’s restaurant and the Dee Sailing Club.

Until later.

Seeing Double

The hand of Noah was evident at Inner Marsh Farm last night as the birds appeared two-by-two. And, with the Environment Agency postulating that 1/6 of Britain could be at risk of serious flooding due to climate change, even an Arc or two might come in handy!

Climatic change now seems to dominate the entire ‘green debate’ to the expense of equally important issues such as habitat destruction, unsustainability and over-population. It is also spurious to attribute the increased risk of flooding to a rise in temperatures, when the increasing amount of concrete and the meddling with waterways are crucial factors too.

A brace of Spoonbills feeding on the Border Pool were the highlight of the evening and they were joined by two Spotted Redshanks, a pair of Oystercatchers and a duet of Redshank on the hide pool.

In other news, the Little Tern colony at Gronant seems to be doing well with around one hundred and twenty nests marked. Fingers crossed for a good breeding season.

Until later.

Denbigh Moors

Glorious weather in Mynydd Hiraethog today - and not bad birds to boot! A pair of Whinchats feeding young on Cefn Du started the ball rolling, although I would have been more than happy listening to the masses of Meadow Pipits and Skylark.

Another Whinchat was seen – a single male – at the end of the bridleway near the ruins of the old shooting lodge at Bryn Trillyn. At this point I should have double-backed across the moor following the bridleway that passes over Moel Bengam, but perhaps driven slightly mad by the strong sun, I decided to extend my walk by heading for Pont y Nant.

This diversion took me along a series of minor roads, and although I did find a small number of Lesser Redpoll in a copse next to a small farm, the lanes were generally poor for birds.

After an exhausting walk across two steep valleys, I eventually met the Clwydian Way and the Afon Aled at a small farm called Hendre-Aled Cottage. As with many rural Welsh farms, it was unkempt, ramshackle and guarded by irascible sheepdogs. It is surprising how few actual farmers you see though; perhaps the isolation causes them to develop Robinson Crusoe-like fears of fellow man!

Once I had passed through the farmyard, I was instantly in picture-postcard Wales: a picturesque river valley cloaked in ancient woodland. Right on cue a Cuckoo began to call and very close it was too. This was followed by the curious bubbling trill of a female, but try as I might to find them, they remained hidden from view.

Eventually I emerged at the top of the dam at Aled Isaf. A family of Pied Wagtails, a clutch of Grey Wagtails and a pair of Wheatears were among the many birds using the pool under the causeway to drink and bathe.

The lake was also a hive of activity: a pair of Common Sandpipers was making a commotion; three Great Crested Grebes were busy fishing and two families of Wheatear were grooming the stones around the shoreline for insects.

Until later.

Grebe Expectations

Up to seven Black-necked Grebes have been present on Birchwood Pool at Moore Nature Reserve for a couple of months now. Probable overspill from nearby Woolston Eyes, the birds have so far failed to breed. Nevertheless, they have given superb close-up views of their exquisite plumage, the stand-out element being the fantastic ‘flame’ around those blood-red eyes.

Five birds were present this morning, although it took me a considerable amount of time to be certain; for all the individuals to be on the surface at the same time is akin to waiting for all the planets to align! Two other species of Grebe also on the pool were circa ten Dabchicks and a singe Great Crested.

The Pumphouse Pool was quiet, with the pick being a brief view of a Kingfisher darting above the legions of Common Blue damselflies and a pair of loafing Tufted Duck. Currently, these wildfowl appear to be on nearly every watercourse in Cheshire - perhaps it is an organised garrison system!

For the afternoon’s entertainment I drove over to Inner Marsh Farm. Had I been two hours earlier, I would have seen two Spoonbills, a hunting female Peregrine, a Little Ringed Plover and a herald of southerly migration in the form of a Spotted Redshank rather than a cohort of moulting Mallard, Teal and Gadwall. Ho hum.

Until later.

Moss Bros

Fenn’s and Whixall Moss straddle the English/Welsh border around five miles west of Whitchurch. The area was formerly plundered for its peat, but now under the ownership of English Nature, the bog is managed as a nature reserve.

Birding can be a frustrating business here; the unique environment holds little treasure, but the focus is very much on quality rather than quality.

Five minutes after setting-up my scope and I am on to a pair of Hobby in full-on acrobatic display flight – the first time I have ever seen this. Being in close proximity to one another, the size difference between the sexes is also clearly apparent. My encounter is all too brief though as circling higher and higher, they soon disappear in to the ether.

Up to five pairs now breed in the vicinity with even higher numbers congregating on migration. This is s bird that seems to be going from strength to strength in the UK, no doubt aided by the increasing number of dragonflies present in our cleaner waterways. This population increase mirrors the inexorable rise in the numbers of other raptors – fantastic!

Curlew - on the other hand - face tough times. Many of their traditional breeding sites have been drained and as a UK breeder they face an uncertain future. Thankfully, the moss is a stronghold for my favourite wading bird. I never tire of hearing their delicious calls, and their rising trill sounds just at home on a lowland bog as it does on a cold and dank winter morning on an estuary. Up to twenty birds are present today, only outnumbered by the Black-headed Gulls.

Also adding to soundtrack is a Cuckoo, several Reed Buntings and the quintessential song of British summertime: the Skylark.

Before hitting the road, I head for a non-descript ‘L-shaped’ pool in the middle of the moss. It is home to one of the UK rarest insects: the White-faced Darter. As the skies cloud-up, the critters seem unwilling to show themselves. Close inspection of the bank comes up trumps though as one is located perched on a stick. It won’t budge, so for the first time in my life, the scope comes out for an insect. And boy was it worth it – beauty and poise personified.

Until later.

Not As Daft As I Look

Projected north-westerlies of 20mph+ were enough to coax me up the Little Orme today for a spot of seawatching. Unfortunately, when I rocked-up the wind was so weak even Emile Heskey would think twice before falling over. Not much chance of a Stormie, Manxie or Bonxie then.

Two pairs of Fulmars had nested since my last visit and afforded great views through my scope, as did a trio of Ravens on top of the ridge.

Out over Davey Jones' locker, a mass of gulls had descended on a shoal of fish and were joined by a brace of Sandwich Terns, Cormorant, Shag and good numbers of Guillemot.

The Guillemots were demonstrating a bit a nouse too - something I wouldn't normally credit an auk with! Many of them appeared to be mitigating the effect of the headwind by flying directly in the slipstream of the Cormorants. I have never observed this behaviour before and would be interested to know if this strategy is common. Not all the birds were doing this, but enough for it not to be coincidental.

Keen for some second helpings, I drove over for a nose around Morfa Madryn. The tide line had receded further than Wayne Rooney’s hair, so the answer to a question posed by a local graffiti wag reading “Can you see any pritty birdz?” (sic), was a definitive ‘Nada’.

I lumbered over to the furthest hide where things were a little more interesting. Three hopelessly cute Lapwing chicks – the first I have seen this year – were taking their first steps under the watchful eye of a nervous mother.

Out on the scrape a distinctly Mediterranean attitude was being adopted in the face of the strengthening sun. A moulting drake RB Merganser, a Little Egret, a sitting Oystercatcher and a handful of Lapwings were all dozing

Until later.

Primrose Wood

One of the last areas in Cheshire to hold breeding Turtle Dove, Primrose Wood is still worth a visit anytime of the year. It is essentially a conifer plantation, but large areas of clear-fell have been allowed to re-grow with a more mixed range of trees.

The wood occasionally holds some interesting birds. A Green Woodpecker has been resident in the area around the Sandstone Trail for a couple of years now, and last spring I found both Pied and Spotted Flycatchers.

The young trees are excellent for Warblers. This morning the first bird I heard was a Garden Warbler and it was soon joined by Willow Warbler, Blackcap and Chiffchaff. Lesser Redpoll must be breeding in the area too; the air was full of the bird’s “chi-chi-chi-chi” call.

Yellowhammers also have a strong presence here. I counted up to six at various points, even though the habitat doesn’t seem ideal. Bird of the day though, had to be an extremely handsome male Bullfinch that I watched perching on a young birch tree.

Nightjar is a bird that is believed to be extinct as a breeder in Cheshire, although I must confess that I find this surprising. Cheshire does not have much heath remaining, but it does have plenty of areas of cleared woodland on areas of sandy soil, including two such habitats at Primrose Wood. Surely, they are just waiting to be found again by an intrepid birder!

Until later.

Tales Of Herring-Do

It was through new eyes that I looked at the Herring Gulls breeding on a small island at Llyn Brenig yesterday. After hearing that these birds are now in decline, I was pleased to see three new additions had been made to the clan of chip-stealers. A quintessential sound of the British Coast, it seems inconceivable that these birds could disappear, but stranger things have happened.

There was more evidence of successful breeding yesterday: Meadow Pipits were ferrying food back to their nests; a female Cuckoo was prospecting for a victim; a Great Crested Grebe struggled back to its hideaway with a giant fish and a new family of Pied Wagtails probed the shoreline for lunch.

It is absolutely freezing on Mynydd Hiraethog today and I feel like Captain Scott as I leave the comforts of the lakeside hide to complete the survey of my tetrad for the British Trust for Ornithology Atlas.

If I’m truthful, the area I have selected has not been the most exciting. If anything, it has reinforced my low opinion of conifer plantations in relation to wildlife. Whilst birds such as Goshawk, Siskin, Crossbill and Lesser Redpoll have benefited, it is hard to ignore the birds that would be present if the land was returned to damp moor and natural woodland.

Nonetheless, I have recorded Red Grouse, Cuckoo, and Goosander and watched a male Hen Harrier on an adjacent tetrad. Not bad.

Until later.

Foiled Again

I hit the road early this morning as I had decided to pay my first visit to the RSPB’s Leighton Moss reserve near Carnforth.

After an hour and a half of the M6 during morning rush hour I was in serious need of some valium, but I soon began to unwind after I had plonked myself down in the Griesdale hide and clocked a male Marsh Harrier gracefully quartering over the reed bed. It was soon joined by a larger adult female and the duo seemed to delight in spooking the over-summering Black-tailed Godwits.

Bearded Tit is a bird I am yet to see and is a specialty of this reserve. They are, however, notoriously difficult to observe and today was no exception, although I did see every Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler and Reed Bunting at Leighton Moss in the process of trying to find one!

Early in the afternoon I headed over to the Eric Morecambe and Allen pools where the previous day both Pectoral Sandpiper and Temminck’s Stint has been logged. The Allen pool was very quiet with an Avocet and a few of the commoner waders.

There was a little more activity at the EM pool. A couple of birders pointed me in the direction of the Pectoral Sandpiper, but the bird in question was suspiciously similar to a Knot, in that it was actually, a Knot. No sign of the Temminck’s Stint either, although three Little Gulls were decent compensation.

What was required was a raptor to stir things up a little and right on cue an immature male Marsh Harrier appeared on the scene. The resultant pandemonium sent all the waders into the air in panic, including two belligerent Avocets that mobbed the bird remorselessly. Once they had all settled, a few more Redshanks has been flushed out, but if there were any Sandpipers and Stints around, then they remained hidden.

Until later.

Duck And Cover

I was out this morning doing my WeBS count at the White Sands area of the Dee Estuary. It is nearly a year since I first started helping out with this task and one that I increasingly enjoy.

June is a quiet month with most of the wildfowl and waders having migrated to their breeding grounds; today only 9 species of water birds were recorded.

Shelduck were the most numerous birds with thousands currently gathering on the estuary prior to their annual moult. A very handsome bird they are too and amongst the 250 on my patch today was a Ruddy Shelduck/Shelduck hybrid that has been in the area for a few years now. The only true wild Ruddy Shelducks I have seen where at Rishikesh in India - a pair powering down the River Ganges.

Also moving into eclipse plumage were forty or so Mallard and a pair of Shoveler. I only managed to pick out the Shoveler when the biting easterly wind forced me to retreat inside a gorse bush in order to steady my telescope!

Not surprisingly there were few waders; 3 Oystercatcher, 2 Curlew and a pair of Redshank the sum total and added to 7 Little Egret, 3 Grey Heron and the above wildfowl, this represented my entire count.

Worryingly I saw just one Common Tern today when I would normally expect to see hundreds commuting to the large breeding colony at Shotton Steelworks. They seem to have completely abandoned the site this year and one can only speculate as to the reason why. I remember a few weeks ago watching 300 to 400 Common Terns plucking food from the exposed sand and mud flats at Connah’s Quay. At the time I assumed the terns were taking advantage of an unexpected food source. Now I suspect it may have been out of desperation due to a lack of their normal food – Whitebait fished from the river.

Until later.

For Whom The Cuckoo Clock Tolls

Today I was treated to an increasingly rare sight: two Cuckoos – presumably a pair – flying across Frodsham Marsh.

It seems this area is a bit of a hotspot for Cuckoo, no wonder considering the legions of Reed Warblers nesting in the phragmites. It is sad to note the decline of this once relatively common migrant, but perhaps it will take a major event like the extinction of the Cuckoo as a British breeding bird to awaken the general public to the lamentable condition of our countryside.

I wouldn’t bet on it though; as long as there is a clutch of nasty and vindictive television programmes to watch and a retail park within driving distance of home, then why does it matter? Springwatch deserves lots of credit for highlighting this worrying fall in numbers, although I do feel they are preaching to the converted.

Plenty of parent passerines this afternoon busy carrying food for young, including Whitethroat, Reed Bunting and Meadow Pipit. Lots and lots of Swifts about too, brought down no doubt by the increasingly heavy rain.

Walking around number 6 tank, I noticed some ‘landscaping’ had taken place in the sandy, sparsely vegetated north-west section. Three entrances measuring about ten feet across had been bulldozed into the bank, and then tonnes of sand had been dumped along the edge, forming a strip about 5 metres wide and 150 metres in length.

All this had occurred at the exactly the location numbers of Lapwing, Skylark and Ringed Plovers would have been nesting – how crass! Congratulations Peel Holdings.

Until later.

Red Kite

Nothing too much out of the ordinary at Connah’s Quay this morning: building numbers of Shelduck and a few hundred Black-tailed Godwits being the pick.

I decided to re-focus my attentions towards the marsh and instantaneously picked up a large bird flying a hundred feet or so above the ground. My initial impression was of a male Marsh Harrier, but as the bird banked on to its side it revealed itself to be a Red Kite – my first for the estuary. It was in no mood to hang around and after no more than two minutes the raptor had drifted towards Hilbre and out of sight – perhaps to investigate the reported Paddyfield Warbler!

A single Spoonbill was the pick at Inner Marsh Farm today, although as per usual the bird was in the land of nod. Most of my time was spent watching a pair of Lesser-black Backed Gulls attempting to feast on an eel. Their bills did not seem sharp enough to pierce the skin of the fish and an attempt by one individual to swallow the meal was aborted when the gull realised asphyxiation was the most likely outcome! They must have been British birds mind you; French Gulls would probably have braised the eel in cider, added a little cream and then served it with a freshly baked baguette!

It is still strange to see the reserve so bereft of breeding birds, although the Oystercatchers are still brooding eggs on one of the islands. Bon chance!

Parliamentary Affairs

My sister and I headed up to Nercwys forest last night to look – or should that be to hear – for Nightjars. Several other midge-hardy souls had had the same idea too - perhaps it was the Springwatch effect!

First bird of the evening was a fleeting glimpse of a Woodcock rising into the murk from the forest floor.

We tried an area of clear-fell first but by 10:15 we had failed to hear, let alone see, any Nightjars, just a lone Tawny Owl hooting in the distance.

A change of tactic was needed and we returned to an area of low trees near the south car park. This area has always been productive for me in the past, although it does appear to be coming too overgrown for our Nighthawks.

They certainly would not be short for food. The night air was thick with insects, particularly moths, and a few local bats were taking full advantage.

It was now nearing 10:45 and there was still no joy with the Nightjars. My sister then heard an ‘Oh-Ohing’ from some close by conifers – a Long-eared Owl! A few minutes later and yet another species of Owl joined the night chorus – a loud screeching sound from a farmyard revealing the presence of a Little Owl.

At 11:00 we decided to call it a night and return next week for another go. On the way back home more local wildlife was active in the shape of a fox cub dashing across the road. All in all, a relatively successful evening!

Until later.

Mad Dogs And Englishmen, But Not Owls

Good old Flaming June. The sun had brought out my first Common Blue Damselflies of the year – flying over Birchwood Pool at Moore Nature Reserve. One male had already succeeded in ‘hooking-up’ with a female – no longer in distress!

Three species of Grebe on the water too: a single Great Crested, numerous Little and four, possibly five rather secretive and discreet Black-necked. The Gull count is still considerable, although mostly immature birds remain now and the majority of those were Lesser-black Backed.

A quick look at the Pumphouse Pool produced another two Great Crested Grebes and little else, so I decided to stroll over to Upper Moss Side.

The rough grassland on the left of Lapwing Lane was the focus of two hunting local raptors – a hovering Kestrel and a more cumbersome Common Buzzard attempting to perform the same feat. Hungry mouths to feed?

Nearing the hide overlooking Norton Marsh I noticed a large white blob standing at the entrance to one of the nest boxes. Through my bins I could just make out one, probably two Barn Owls! They must have been desperate to get outside into the breeze as conditions inside the box must have resembled the Black Hole of Calcutta!

The fields surrounding the box were looking absolutely glorious too – teeming with wild flowers including the magnificent Northern Marsh Orchid (I think?).

I had a really good look around the reserve for Spotted Flycatcher today, but I failed to turn up any birds despite the habitat looking suitable. I have also noticed that the sightings page contains no historical records for this species either. I wonder when/if they were recorded?

Until later.

Blue Monday

Every spring hundreds of visitors migrate to Gronant beach near Prestatyn in order to mate. These noisy, sometimes quarrelsome visitors then proceed to spend the summer in purpose built fenced-off areas, dashing to and fro in order to tend their demanding offspring, before returning to their winter territory come the end of summer. But, the hordes of scousers that annually congregate at Presthaven Sands are not the only visitors to this part of the world.

Gronant beach is also host to Wales' only Little Tern Colony. Wardened and cordoned the birds generally - weather permitting - do well and the number of breeding pairs has increased gradually since the scheme began in the 1970s.

As I approached the viewing platform a sign indicated that around 100 pairs of Little Terns were present. It was a glorious morning: the clear blue skies and shimmering air were more reminiscent of Goa than North Wales!

Little Terns are extremely hyperactive and today they were busy bringing back fish and settling personal disputes. Not much evidence of any nesting yet, although an Oystercatcher and a Ringed Plover seem to have taken advantage of the security arrangements and nested in the midst of the colony.

Returning through the dunes I saw my first Common Blue butterflies of the year, but the highlight of the morning was watching a Painted Lady feeding from a beautiful Marsh Orchid – the contrast between the subtle singular colouration of the flower and the more intricate patterning of the insect was wonderful to observe.

I also stopped at Garth Wood on my way to Gronant. Highlights were a singing Garden Warbler, a Treecreeper, a Dipper and 3 Yellowhammer.

Until later.