Spring Migration

Due to an imminent move into North Wales I have decided to discontinue this blog and start blogging on the new site http://theblackgrouse.blogspot.com/ - after all ‘chesterbirder’ would have been of a misnomer!

The site and its content will be very similar to this one, but given that practically all my birding and nature watching will be focused on North East Wales I felt that a change of name was the order of the day.

I wanted to pick a name that was synonymous with the area and after some thought there is no more an iconic bird for Clwyd than the Black Grouse. It also means that if I move in the future it is less likely that I will have to change name again!

I would like to end by thanking all the regular readers of this blog over the last nine months, particularly people like Keith, Ash, Phil, Denzil, Andy, John, 'The Gents' and 007 who have been kind enough to post numerous comments. Thanks guys.

Hare Krishna.

Instruments of Torture

The release of the methods of torture Binyam Mohamed was subject to may have made the news headlines today, but my own personal instrument of torment was a set of bathroom scales I had a nasty encounter with a couple of days back.

In fairness the warning signs have been evident for a while, but the reading was still an unwelcome shock – I half expected the scales to quote the line from Get Carter “You’re a big bloke, but you’re out of shape”.

With the Welsh Uplands open for business in a couple of months, I decided some urgent action was required. After all, and to get back on the Mohamed theme again – “If the mountain won’t come to Mohamed…” well you know the rest and I’m not going to get a trip of Dotterel in my back garden am I?

So it was that ‘Operation Fighting Fit’ began in earnest today with a thirteen mile walk around Lake Vyrnwy – somewhere flat to ease me in!

I didn’t anticipate much on the birding front and I didn’t get much. Waterfowl seem to be able to smell a man made reservoir from a mile away and generally avoid them like the plague.

This rule rings true as much in India as it does in Wales – the massive Lake Periyar in Kerala has one species of duck on its list – Garganey – and that’s it.

All that I could muster today from six miles of open water was a Little Grebe, a Cormorant, and rather bizarrely a Shelduck that I kept telling myself must be Goosander, despite it being fairly obvious that it was not.

The woodland was not much better with a few roving tit flocks and a handful of Siskins – giving their distinctive wheezing call – all I could muster.

Walking around the lake at least provided me with the chance to look at the reserve close up and personal as well as affording me the opportunity to feel smug every time somebody passed me in a car.

What struck me about the area is how few stands of ancient woodland there actually are here – well over three quarters of the trees are non native and awful conifers to boot, whilst the invasive Rhododendron is rife.

Still, it’s a very scenic valley regardless, all that is needed is a good dose of spring migrants…

Until later.

Marsh Matters

Lots of activity at Burton Marsh this morning, including a large skein of Pinkies and a small RSPB chain-gang engaged in a spot of fence mending – all that was missing was the prison issue boiler suits!

Still hundreds of waterfowl on the numerous flashes, including large numbers of Wigeon and Lapwing – the recent high tides and resultant flooding really has produced a superb spectacle.

Good numbers of birds are not just restricted to the marsh though, with a large flock of finches feeding in the fields behind the Decca Pools. Flying overhead, at least one Brambling was calling (one bird I can pick-up in flight, unlike the characters in the next paragraph!) but the bulk of the numbers seemed to be made up of Chaffinch and Linnets.

Crossing the bridge near Neston Old Quay I had a quick scan for Water Pipits, but before I had a chance to look properly three birds shot up from the stream and flew off towards the sewage works. All giving off single calls, it seems likely that they were either Rock or Water Pipits, but I’m afraid my level of competency does not extend to telling the difference between a ‘pseep’ and a ‘weest’ yet!

Try as I might, I could not find one single Harrier on the outer marsh today, just a couple of blokes with Alsatians - trying their damnedest to disturb every bird within two miles of Denhall Old Quay - and a returning wildfowler.

On a positive note, I heard my first singing Chaffinch of the year – yet another sign that spring is not too far away now. Let’s hope this latest does of cold weather is the last medicine we have to take this winter!

Until later.

Have I Got Smews For You

Having waited for the best part of five years for a Red-necked Grebe or drake Smew to turn up somewhere reasonably local, my patience finally evaporated yesterday and 007 and I motored over to east Nottinghamshire to try and net both these elusive species.

First port of call was Hoveringham Gravel Pits where after some searching the resident Red-necked Grebe was located at the far corner of the water. Busily fishing for sticklebacks it all but ignored us as it moved to about forty yards from us - stood on the shore - affording cracking views in the ‘scope.

Not the best name for a bird really ‘Red-necked.’ Hick Grebe, Deliverance Grebe, Dungarees Grebe, or my personal choice ‘Cajun Swamp Grebe’, are all far less sinister.

With the bird drifting away from us as it slept off its fish breakfast, there was just enough time for a quick scan of the lake that netted both Kingfisher and Goldeneye, before setting course for Attenborough NR near Nottingham to try and catch up with the drake Smews.

The most handsome of ducks was an absolute nightmare to find and it took two laps and three hours of the area before we eventually found a pair of drakes skulking in an inaccessible corner. They were fairly distant, but with the scope trained on them, we enjoyed excellent views. A genuinely stunning bird and well worth the wait!

Attenborough unquestionably possesses some excellent habitat, but the massive area of flooded gravel pits serve more as a park for local people, than an actual nature reserve, with no attempt by the wildlife trust to delineate between the two.

Most of the ‘wild’ birds seek refuge in the quieter regions of the site (of which there are few) whilst the ‘domesticated’ birds (including worryingly tame Tufted Ducks, Ruddy Shelduck, Egyptian Goose and Red-crested Pochard) besiege the area near the cafeteria.

The result is an unholy mess if I am honest. Conservation organisations only need to look at the WWT reserve at Martin Mere to recognise that it is fairly straight forward to keep the wild and captive parts separate and cater for birders, casual observers and day-trippers alike.

That aside, there were still many excellent birds to enjoy including well over fifty Goosander, Goldeneye, Kingfisher, Green Woodpecker, Tree Sparrow and even a handful of Ruddy Duck that have managed to evade the guns of the Environment Agency.

Until later.

It Was Dark, Okay?

They say travel broadens the mind, but not everything you experience and learn abroad is necessarily of use – especially when you are standing on a lane north of Garth Wood looking at a silhouette in the top of an oak tree.

My brain was screaming “IT’S A BARBET”, which was a perfectly reasonable conclusion to draw had I been walking around the arboretum in Darjeeling, not a hillside in Flintshire.

Minor geographical anomaly notwithstanding, I had to agree with the old grey matter – it did indeed resemble a Barbet. Mistle Thrush was the next best guess, but the bird looked too chunky for a thrush and the tail was too stubby.

Fortunately the bird soon clocked me and took off flying directly away from me. Within a nanosecond I realised what I had been looking at - the clear yellow rump and dipping flight meant it was obviously a Green Woodpecker – how could I have been so obtuse? Too much knowledge is indeed a dangerous thing.

Other than my Lineated Woodpecker, Garth Wood was well stocked with commoner birds today. No sign of any of the rarer tits today or indeed a Lesser Spot. The habitat looks good for all three, but as of yet Marsh Tit is the only species I have bagged.

On a disturbing note, Flintshire Council had placed a notice about a “POISIONING INSIDENT” (sic) in the woods that had led to a fatality. Reading between the lines I inferred that some poor mutt must have eaten some laced meat. I’m not sure what’s more worriying: learning that this sort of sickening and reprehensible activity still goes on, or that somebody working in a reasonable position of authority has such piss-poor spelling.


Until later.

It's Grim Up North

I don’t know about you, but I am seriously considering stuffing my face with McDonalds three times a day (grim, I know, but theses are desperate times) and then finding the nearest cave where I will hunker down and set the alarm clock for April.

Despite the minging weather at Inner Marsh Farm this afternoon, I did at least enjoy an excellent hour and a half at lunchtime over at Connah’s Quay with thousands of waders feeding very close to the west hide on an advancing tide.

The numbers of shorebirds at Connah’s Quay has been fairly modest over recent weeks, so it was a real treat to see big flocks of Dunlin and Black-tailed Godwit probing, prodding and drilling their way through the gloriously gloopy mud.

Interestingly, at least twenty Bar-tailed Godwits were mixed in with their taller and drabber brothers. Given that they favour hanging with Grey Plovers and Sanderling on sandy shores they are fairly unusual on the muddier flats off Oakenholt – I can’t recall seeing more than the odd one or two before.

I just had enough time left to squeeze in a visit to Inner Marsh Farm where again there was plenty of wildfowl on the reserve, but with very few birds on the hide pool. With the sleet driving through the windows I didn’t hang around long, but I was cheered slightly by the appearance of a few snowdrops near the car park – spring can’t to be too far away now…..surely!

It was interesting to note two more Sparrowhawks today; just based on my observations, I wager these efficient little hunting machines have been filling their boots this winter. They seem to be very conspicuous at the moment and I wonder if the weakened state of many songbirds during the freezing temperatures has increased hunting success and reduced the hawk’s attrition rate?

Anyway, I’m off to find a cave. Nothing on the websites of Rightmove or Beresford Adams…..perhaps I should try Cave-ndish Ikin.

Connah’s Quay 03.02.10

2,000 Dunlin
1,000 Black-tailed Godwit
300 Oystercatcher
200 Knot
50 Redshank
20 Bar-tailed Godwit
2 Sparrowhawk

Until later.

Vanishing Point

An exceptionally high tide at the Point of Ayr this morning produced an excellent crop of birds, with the pick being an incredible count of ninety five Brent Geese that arrived in two equal sized skeins about twenty minutes apart.

The water practically covered the spit today – the first time I have seen this happen. A tide of 10.1m had been predicted – lower than yesterday – but the combination of falling atmospheric pressure and a strengthening wind conspired to produce a big ‘un.

I had started out the morning with a seawatch - hoping to locate a small flock of Long-tailed Ducks that had been reported over the last couple of days. No joy, but plenty of Red-throated Divers past and a couple of Guillemots too.

I needed little encouragement to pack the seawatching in as he birds were not flying very close to the shore and when I spotted a Short-eared Owl cruising along the beach I sensed things must have started to get interesting on the marsh, so I headed over to near the café.

To my astonishment the water was already up to the embankment with an hour still to go. Pintail, Teal, Shelduck, Redshank and Curlew comprised the lion’s share of the birds, but a few goodies were present too in the form of a Red-breasted Merganser and a Spotted Redshank, whilst the first flock of Brent Geese soon touched down.

Closer scrutiny of the waders revealed a lone Bar-tailed Godwit – a nice addition to my Flintshire list – but the arrival of more Brent Geese had me trying to get an accurate count of their numbers. Ninety five in total – including at least two Dark-bellied Birds - and perhaps a record count for this site?

Point of Ayr 02.02.10

1 Short-eared Owl
95 Brent Goose (inc 2 Dark-bellied)
15+ Red-throated Diver
2 Guillemot
1 Spotted Redshank
3+ Rock Pipit
3 RB Merganser
2 GC Grebe

Until later.

Surf's Up

Tantalising reports of a pair of drake Surf Scoters at Pensarn on Friday had 007 and I powering down the A55 yet again, whilst Batman and Robin were in absentia - spending the Sabbath confined to the Batcave.

Upon arrival we received news that at least one birder had found a Surf Scoter, which was remarkable considering the vast majority of the birds were bobbing up and down like a pneumatic prostitute, in poor light and a fair distant offshore.

Needless to say a two hour session failed to turn up any Surfs, but there were at least three Velvet Scoters about, with two picked up in flight - plus a drake on the drink that was just about discernable from the Commons.

Good numbers of divers slaloming around the wind turbines today too, with all but one cast iron Red-throats. The other bird displayed all the telltale signs of a Great Northern, but truth be told it was a good distance from the shore – albeit during a spell of good light.

When shower number three piled in we decided to up sticks and take a punt at Llanddulas. Not many scoters knocking about, but at least four Fulmars arched gracefully into the wind and a showy Red-throated Diver loafed reasonably close in.

With the weather finally beginning to improve and the sea starting to flatten out, we opted to return to Pensarn and this time our luck was in: two drake Surf Scoters had been found amongst a large raft of ducks just to the left of the wind turbines.

After ten frustrating minutes I eventually got on to both birds – so close together they could have been Siamese twins. Once on them it was advisable to stay on them, because they were surprisingly elusive, as they either sunk into the swell, dived down to feed, or swan quickly off with frustrating regularity.

Conversely - and somewhat surprisingly - the few Velvet Scoters in the flotilla were much easier to locate, with their large size and more upright stance(?) making them stand out markedly from the Commons.

After bagging my first Gannet of the year, we headed over to the Afon Clwyd to try and sniff out the Bar-headed Goose that has been hanging around with a small number of Canadas. Sure enough it was not too far from its usual haunt and regardless of being as plastic as they come (no tick 007 – it didn’t take a wrong turn at K2!!) it is hard to deny that it is one handsome looking bird…

Pensarn & Llanddulas 31.10.09

2 Surf Scoter (drake)
5+ Velvet Scoter
2500+ Common Scoter
1 Great Northern Diver
40+ Red-throated Diver
4 Fulmar
1 Gannet
5 GC Grebe

Afon Clwyd

1 Merlin (1st winter male)
4 Goosander

Until later.

Huffing and Puffin'

Glorious unblemished sunshine greeted me at the Point of Ayr this morning, where I was joined by John Cureton for a spot of wardening.

I was nearly late starting, courtesy of the surly and curmudgeonly security guard at the BHP station who inexplicably sat on his fat arse and ignored me pressing the buzzer for a good ten minutes before resentfully getting to his feet.

I have been wardening here for a few winters now and I have never enjoyed it more; after all it is really just an excuse to do even more birding whilst providing an important helping hand to the very things that bring us so much pleasure.

The seawatching at the POA can be superb in all seasons - and it didn’t disappoint today: the star bird was unquestionably a Puffin flying out of the estuary mouth about half an hour after high tide.

Two Great Northern Divers were notable too, as were a pair of Common Scoters that were drifting unusually close to the shore.

The spit was quiet, holding far fewer waders and wildfowl than is typical with only Curlew present in decent numbers, although a hunting female Peregrine revealed a few hundred Oystercatchers hiding from view.

Not many people on the beach today despite the barbeque winter, just a couple of families and a pair of fisherman ‘practising their casting’, so John and I were reduced to entertaining ourselves by childishly planting sticks in the sand to measure how fast the tide was receding.

The only fly in the ointment of a cracking day was my little faux pas when returning to the car park. Taking a short cut across the top of the marsh I failed to see some birders scrutinising the vegetation. Unfortunately, I then flushed the very birds they were watching to their obvious displeasure. So, if you are reading this – sorry guys. Four hours trying to prevent disturbance and I commit the very same sin myself!

Point of Ayr 30.01.10

1 Puffin
2 Great Northern Diver
6+ Red-throated Diver
5 Common Scoter
6 Red-breasted Merganser
7 Brent Goose
1 Peregrine (female)

Until later.

Hello, Dave.

With a brisk northerly wind blowing in from the Irish Sea, I thought it about time to pay an overdue visit to the north Wirral coast.

Armed with lashings of piping hot Winter Warmer, I set off to Leasowe Gunsite in the hope that some goodies had been blown into the corner of Liverpool Bay.

After no more than twenty minutes and two cups of WW already deployed to stoke the coals, I was ready to pack it in until two very distant Kittiwakes encouraged me to maintain the vigil a little longer.

Sadly things didn’t improve and I was soon scoping some brave soles out on Crosby Beach. I was intrigued as to why they appeared not to be moving and indeed one plucky individual seemed to have ventured out for a paddle.

Sharper tools than me will have already realised what I was looking at, but my own Triggeresque powers of deduction meant it was a good ten minutes before the penny dropped – they were figures from Anthony Gormley’s Another Place!!

With my mental faculties needing to thaw out, I headed over to seek refuge in the hide at Inner Marsh Farm.

A few Spot Reds had been logged in the morning, but were nowhere to be seen when I rolled up early afternoon and with number two pool holding very few birds, I was reduced to watching the increasingly frequent, blustery and bone-chilling snow flurries blasting swiftly through.

Going to be a tad unpleasant wardening at the Point of Ayr tomorrow me thinks – would rather be part of 007’s dawn raid to Gigrin – will need gallons of WW!

So, in the absence of any bird sighting to report and if anybody is venturing out over the weekend who fancies a change from soup, tea, or coffee – try some Winter Warmer!

Winter Warmer

Makes one litre:

Juice of one Lemon
A thumb’s length of ginger – crushed
One tablespoon of honey

Until later.

A Guten Morgen

Bags of birds down at Inner Marsh Farm this morning, reflecting the excellent numbers of wildfowl currently present at the base of the estuary.

Wigeon in particular seem to be around in very good numbers, with flocks well into the hundreds at White Sands, Connah’s Quay, Burton Marsh and IMF.

Good news on the Shortie front too – I bumped into ‘a source’ at Denhall Lane this morning and he said that twenty-one were counted on Burton Marsh during Saturday afternoon – makes my maximum of seven this winter look paltry!

Teal and Lapwing are also legion and it was the large flock of circa 750 plovers that provided the most entertainment by seemingly entering a new higher state of neurosis in spending the best part of two hours in alarm and in the air at IMF.

There were a couple of foxes prowling the margins and a Sparrowhawk through, but it wasn’t until a male Peregrine zipped past that there was any hint of an explanation for their continued nervous behaviour.

A Greenshank and a couple of Spotted Redshanks were next on the scene with both species giving me a refresher in wader call identification by announcing their arrival audibly before dropping into number two pool.

The only disappointment this morning was the no-show of Herr Bittern, but superb close views of a ringtail Hen Harrier harrying Woodpigeons as I returned to the car park was a decent second prize…

Inner Marsh Farm 27.01.10

1 Peregrine (male)
1 Hen Harrier (ringtail)
1 Sparrowhawk
6 Ruff
2 Spotted Redshank
1 Greenshank

Until later.

Finch Fiesta

Following a long walk this morning it was pleasant to end the day with an amble around Connah’s Quay.

A good skein of restless Pinkies over the White Sands area started the ball rolling and continuing the goose theme, a couple of Brent Geese were busy chewing up Oakenholt Marsh in the company of the feral Canadas.

This species seems to be putting in more and more regular appearances down at CQ – an indeed all along the North Wales coast – fifteen were recorded here last week.

Nine hyperactive Twite kept me company on the way to the bunded pools, where I disturbed the resident Kingfisher fishing in the channel before the first hide.

The bunded pools were buzzing this afternoon with hundreds of grazing Wigeon, whilst the pair of Ruddy Shelduck/Shelduck Hybrids that have been knocking around for ages even managed to put in their first appearance of the year.

Spot Red also present, but it was when I left the middle hide that things took off with a mixed flock of Lesser Redpoll carrying a few Siskin dropping down to feed in the alder trees.

They were extremely confiding as they hurriedly stuffed their faces with seed, hanging around for a good ten minutes until they were off again, giving that distinctive ‘miniature machine gun’ call.

A quick mooch around the nature trail produced a good flock of Brambling and continuing on the finch theme, a superb pair of Bullfinch.

An excellent couple of hours and 100 up for my Flintshire list too – now for the hard part: the next 100!

Connah’s Quay 25.01.10

Brent Goose 2 (hrota 1st winter)
Pink-footed Goose c275
Spotted Redshank 1
Ruddy Shelduck/Shelduck Hybrid 2
Wigeon c600
Little Grebe 3
Kingfisher 1
Lesser Redpoll 10+
Siskin 1
Twite 9
Brambling c30

Until later.

All Together Now

Yet more evidence of spring at Inner Marsh Farm this morning, with a Lapwing tumbling and spiralling in display flight over the set aside.

You could have forgiven it for just roosting with the other birds at the back of number one pool as the dull, wet and windy conditions that comprise the continuing unacceptable face of January presided over affairs yet again.

Plenty of birds though this morning, with good numbers of Wigeon, Teal and Lapwing on the reserve, although virtually all were only subject to scrutiny by telescope as only a handful of birds were on the hide pool.

Despite the very high water levels there were a few small groups of Dunlin, Redshank, Black-tailed Godwit, Redshank and Ruff on number one pool and it is heartening to think during this bleak month that it won’t be too long before the first Avocets return.

Connah’s Quay almost held a mirror-image of the birds at IMF, with the addition of a few hundred Canada Geese. Two decent flocks of Pinkies way off towards Gayton Sands were a welcome sight, whilst a Peregrine perched on the edge of White Sands – in the face of modest competition – easily claimed its status as bird of the day.

It looks like the ‘wild’ swans have finally made it to the Shotwick Fields this winter as I clocked around forty birds grazing close to the roundabout near the new petrol station.

Last winter, counting them for my WeBS survey was as easy as kicking a blind man’s stick as they generally stuck to one large mixed flock off White Sands, but this time they seemed to have been much more itinerant appearing all over the estuary in varying numbers and species – awkward beggers!

Until later.

From Halkyn to the Heart of Darkness

A circular walk starting from Halkyn, taking in coeds Llys, y Cra and Felin, looked a synch when I plotted it out from the OS map, but this five-miler - that’s purpose was to bag both Willow and Marsh Tit for my Flintshire list – rapidly descended into an episode of Bear Grylls.

It all started so well in the serene setting of the old churchyard at Halkyn, where I hoped against expectancy to find Hawfinch. This used to be a traditional site for the big-honkered finch, but they seem to have vanished in recent years.

It’s a mystery really because the habitat looks ideal – lots of tall deciduous trees surrounding a graveyard dotted with glorious old yew trees. I always think it ironic to plant a species that can live for thousands of years in a human cemetery, it just seems to emphasise how brief our lives are…

With not much doing I headed off towards Northop where I planned to meet the Afon Clwyd near the Welsh Agricultural College and follow it upstream back towards Halkyn.

When I picked up the river it was obvious walking was going to be a nightmare as it was absolutely saturated underfoot. It was tricky trying to stay on my feet, let alone keep my eyes and ears open for Marsh & Willow Tits, but when I eventually entered Coed y Cra I finally heard the explosive call of a Marsh Tit.

I found what I thought to be the bird preeening, but it was fairly obscured in a birch tree. With no more calling, it was impossible to rule out the possibility of Willow Tit and after a few seconds it flew off into some ivy leaving its identity unconfirmed – bugger!

It was at this point that things all went a little pear-shaped. With the hope of finding a Dipper I opted to follow the stream rather than take the footpath and despite the little voice telling me this was probably unwise, I was off and merrily hacking my way through the thick vegetation.

It was hard initially but I continued to tell myself things would get a little easier. They didn’t and as the foliage became denser, so did the sides of the small valley become steeper. I wasn’t lost, but I was beginning to realise that it was going to be tricky to get out.

After weighing up my options I decided to scramble up the bank rather than turn back and after to my considerable relief after a good thirty minutes or so of slipping, sliding and heaving up the slope, I rejoined the original track.

Understandably I had had enough now, so I cut short the rest of walk and headed back towards Halkyn and a hot bath. Coed y Cra is definitely worth further exploration though. It’s the best area of wood I have found in Flintshire – almost exclusively native trees and lots of dead and dying branches too making for some superb habitat. So, in the immortal words of Arnie, “I’ll be back.”

Halkyn Circualr Walk 22.01.10

1 Woodcock
3 Great Spotted Woodpecker
75+ Pheasant
3 Nuthatch
2 Treecreeper
1 Marsh/Willow Tit

Until later.

A Pleasant Surprise

With the column next to the wader section of my Flintshire 2010 list looking like a pools coupon, I nipped over to Connah’s Quay this lunchtime for the high tide.

I bumped into a few familiar faces today including a couple of veterans from Sunday’s slick and successful ‘Operation Bonaparte’ and a fellow member of the Point of Ayr diaspora.

Feeling energetic I walked down to the reserve again from the gate and was rewarded with a brief view of the now resident Red-legged Partridge scurrying across the marsh about a chain short of the west hide.

A Ruff and a good count of twelve Snipe on the perimeter of the Ash Pool were notable, but the mudflats were only sprinkled with modest numbers of Redshank, Blackwit and Dunlin.

Turning my attention to the small strip of marsh that runs along the road I was surprised to see a ringtail Hen Harrier hunting near the bunded pools – my first ‘pukka’ one for the reserve, as all my previous sightings had been of birds the other side of the river over White Sands.

There was just enough time left before the tide topped-out to pluck out a Ringed Plover from the assorted shorebirds – number 97 for Flintshire – before the rising water level forced the waders over towards Flint to roost - signalling it was time to call it a day.

Connah’s Quay 20.01.10

1 Hen Harrier (ringtail)
1 Red-legged Partridge
1 Ruff
12 Snipe
300+ Black-tailed Godwit
100 Dunlin
250 Redshank

Until later.

Mr 10 Percent

After demolishing more spare ribs last night than I thought humanly possible in one sitting, I thought it best to stretch my pegs a little this morning, so I had a walk along the River Dee between the Higher Ferry and Queensferry bridges.

Pancake flat – presumably reclaimed – arable fields flank the east side of the river here, whilst the west side of the channel plays host to several industrial complexes. All this combined with the arrow straight canalised river creates a fairly austere environment that I have to say I will be in no hurry to revisit!

Nevertheless, the farmland in particular at least provided me with the opportunity to bag some birds for my Flintshire list that favour this type of environment – notably species such as Yellowhammer, Tree Sparrow, Grey Partridge and Stock Dove. I had also been given some fairly specific instructions as to the location of Little Owl too.

As it turned out, the agricultural practices of the farms didn’t exactly look like they were sympathetic to wildlife, but aside from the usual corvids there were a few modest flock of Lapwing and eventually a quartet of Stock Doves too.

The Afon Dyfrdwy (well it is technically in Wales here!) however was a little more productive than I had anticipated playing host to Grey Wagtail, Little Grebe, good numbers of Redshank, and last but by no means least – a Kingfisher near the Airbus dock.

After Becks had become a little irritated at having to keep dodging members of a rather sprawling geriatric dominated pelaton we decided to about face and go and search for the Little Owl.

I had been warned he was a little on the shy side and that my chances of seeing him were no more than one in ten. Hardly great odds, but given that I think I may struggle for Little Owl in Flintshire, worth a shot.

The tree that is his regular haunt I found with little difficulty, but all too predictably Mr 10 Percent was nowhere to be seen…

River Dee 19.01.10

Kingfisher 1
Little Grebe 1
Wigeon 3
Redshank 30
Cormorant c15
Grey Heron 2
Buzzard 4
Kestrel 1
Stock Dove 4

Until later.

Signs Of Spring

The first hints of spring added some interest to an otherwise fairly quiet WeBS count at White Sands this morning, which also included the added bonus of watching three different foxes out on the prowl.

Indications that the sap is starting to rise included a pair of Ravens busy displaying over the power station, the first singing Skylarks of the year and the tentative appearance of the first flowers on the gorse bushes.

Flintshire seems to be the Brambling capital of the UK at present and there were even more today with around ten in a larger flock of Chaffinch that were busy bouncing around from tree to marsh to tree.

It was noticeable today how the recent cold weather has affected the Little Egret and Grey Heron numbers. Typically I record at least a score of both these species, but today I was restricted to a distant view of one Egret.

I hope that most of the birds have simply moved to more favourable feeding areas, but the freezing temperatures must have claimed a fair few victims too – and talking of victims, the Peregrines have obviously been enjoying some success with the local Woodpigeon population in recent days as the path was littered with their remains.

White Sands WeBS count 17.01.10

Wigeon 119
Teal 61
Shelduck 56
Mallard 5
Greylag Goose 8
Canada Goose 137
Mute Swan 47
Whooper Swan 8 (All adults)
Cormorant 1
Little Egret 1
Redshank 75
Black-tailed Godwit 25
Curlew 15
Lapwing 5

Plus, 10+ Brambling, 2 Raven and 1 adult female Hen Harrier


Shotwick Fields 17.01.10

Bewick’s Swan 5
Whooper Swan 5 (2 adults, 3 juveniles)


Until later.

Creeping Woodlark, Hidden Bonaparte's Gull

The Lark hat-trick was duly completed at Glanwyddan on Friday, with very close views of around fourteen Woodlarks creeping their way through a stubble field

Great to see good numbers of these birds - fairly locally too - and if they continue to increase in population and range then winter visits of these subtly attractive birds will hopefully become a more regular occurrence in the future.

The Woodlarks were only part of the story though, as myself, J-Bo and 007 (clearly suffering after a week of swinging the lead on nights at Vauxhall) decided to try for the Bonaparte’s Gull reported from Traeth Lligwy the day previously.

As is often the case, a fairly reasonable day took a turn for the worse once we had crossed the Britannia bridge – nowhere does cold, grey and windswept quite like Anglesey – and following some dodgy navigation from my co-passengers we eventually rocked-up at Traeth Lligwy.

The scene that greeted us was hardly encouraging – the beach was devoid of birds and after a quick scan we moved over to the adjacent Traeth Dulas that disappointingly was similarly very quiet.

With a few hours of light remaining, we decided to head over to Llanbedr to try and connect with the Hawfinches that had been logged in good numbers recently. After passing the Black Bull – that looks to be suffering the economic consequences of J-Bo’s less frequent patronage - we pulled in the village and started to scrutinise the treetops.

There were a few birds about, but they were typically shy and it wasn’t for a good thirty minutes until I got decent views of a female bird perched atop of an oak tree.

With 007 now flagging badly there was just time for a brief visit to Caerhun. No Hawfinches, but with the mountains cloaked in snow, the Conwy valley looked a picture…

Until later.

Crouching Shorelark, Hidden Woodcock

An absolutely stonking few hours birding at the Point of Ayr this morning, with a Shorelark feeding along the strandline behind Presthaven Sands the undoubted highlight. (SJ104848)

It had been pretty quiet along the beach, with the only birds of note a handful of barely visible divers flying through the fug way offshore. Then I noticed a small passerine crouched over some washed-up seaweed and as I inched a little closer I realised it was a Shorelark!

I watched the bird for about a minute, until a Redshank clocked me and flew off calling hysterically. This disturbed the Shorelark that took off too, tailing the wader as it flew off into the dunes – I could have happily strangled that Redshank!

Before today, I was probably the only birder to have not seen a Woodcock this year, but as Becks and I walked through the small wood behind the horse paddocks at Warren Farm at least four birds – possibly up to six – were flushed along with a couple of Snipe for good measure.

Some cracking birds on the marsh at high tide too, with a Kingfisher in its usual winter billet – the small pool next to the hide path – and a few Brambling in a flock of around sixty Chaffinch.

Raptors were well represented too with stunning views of a hunting female Merlin; probably the largest one I have seen too, approaching the size a small male Peregrine.

It didn’t have the manor to itself though: an adult female Hen Harrier seemed to appear from nowhere and after a brief scuffle it eerily vanished as quickly as it had arrived.

Quite a morning and some highly prized ticks for my Flintshire quest too!

Point of Ayr 14.01.10

1 Shorelark
4+ Woodcock
1 Kingfisher
1 Hen Harrier
1 Merlin (female)
5+ Rock Pipit
3+ Brambling
90 Sanderling
35 Grey Plover

Until later

P.S - Going for the Woodlarks again tomorrow, so inshallah, it could be a lark hat-trick this week!

Winter Warmer

With the wind chill factor set to really feckin’ cold, and visibility as poor as it gets, it was perhaps not the best idea to sit in the ice box that is the west hide at Connah’s Quay this morning.

It was not that I had not been warned; when I was closing the gate, I noticed that my car had decided to inch its way down the road over the frozen surface and I just managed to get back in time in order to avert a slow speed impact with the barrier!

Undeterred, I decided to park-up at the top and walk down and within ten freezing minutes I was safe in the refrigerator.

It was quickly apparent that there were far fewer birds than yesterday with only a smattering of waders feeding along the tide line, plus some modest flocks of Teal and Wigeon on the water.

Nevertheless, I quickly picked up a Ruff and a Spotted Redshank feeding near the end of the stream and then amongst a group of Redshank I noticed the unmistakeable feeding action of a Long-billed Dowitcher!

Probably one of the brace that were hanging around late autumn, it was nonetheless thrilling to relocate one and I watched it feeding slap bang in front of the west hide on the river channel side for well over half and hour before it was flushed by a rather weak looking Kestrel.

All things considered an excellent morning and three new additions to my Flintshire year list!

Note: Due to the hazardous road, the E.ON security-wallah has put an additional lock on the gate until the track clears up. Therefore, if you plan to visit the reserve you will need to park at the top and go on foot.

Connah’s Quay 12.01.10

1 Long-billed Dowitcher
1 Spotted Redshank
1 Ruff

Until later.

Rambling & Brambling

With the road down to CQ Reserve more suitable for a toboggan, I decided to leave the car outside the barrier and go ‘en pied’ as our neighbours across the channel say.

Perhaps this was just as well, for today I had opted to leave the scope at home for a change and instead of just flopping down in the west hide, have a good poke around the whole site.

After slipping and skidding my way to edge of the marsh with just a handful of thrushes to show for my efforts, I hit the jackpot with fifteen to twenty Brambling perched in a bush next to the helipad – my first this year and an excellent addition to the Flintshire list that I am compiling this year.

A brief visit to the hide revealed hundreds of the commoner estuarine birds feeding on the mudflats with Shelduck, Teal, Redshank and Black-tailed Godwit all present in excellent numbers.

Oakenholt Marsh also held good numbers of birds with a massive flock of Canada Geese over towards Flint and nearer the hide a female Merlin harried a male Sparrowhawk until it eventually succeeded in chasing it off.

Heading towards the bunded pools it became evident that hundreds more Teal and huge flocks of Wigeon were in the river channel, plus a trio of Bewick’s Swans that dropped in from the White Sands to complete an excellent hour or so - especially given the horrible dreech weather.

Connah’s Quay 11.01.10

15+ Brambling
1 Merlin (Female)
2 Sparrowhawk
3 Bewick’s Swan
Plus shed loads of Wigeon & Teal.

Until later.

Up With The Larks

Following a report of five Woodlarks from a stubble field at Glanwyddan in North Wales, 007, SS, Jo-Bo (a male and much, much uglier version of Su-Bo) & I decided to head over the border and take a punt.

It was potentially a landmark bird too; Woodlark is a new bird for 007 & me, but I had the added incentive of it being potentially the 1,000th species for me worldwide.

After receiving the obligatory chiding from the local farmer for daring to pull-up near one of his gates we set off along the footpath and into the stubble field where they had last been observed.

A few birders were already present and we were soon joined by a couple more, in assiduously working our way through an impressive flock of circa four hundred Skylarks.

They were extremely flighty – especially when they were the subject of the attention of a local Sparrowhawk – but also extremely confiding with some birds feeding no more than ten yards away.

A couple of fellow birders were satisfied that they had had fleeting glimpses of Woodlark and headed off, but despite searching through the group again and again none of us were satisfied that we had found one.

Ninety minutes later we opted for a time out and when we returned to the car we bumped into the chap whom had located the birds yesterday. He put us on to a spot in the opposite corner of the field where he had photographed them yesterday – separate from the main flock of larks.

Encouraged we traipsed over for a look, but again no joy. For a last roll of the dice we changed tack completely and ambled over to the opposite side of the road to another area of stubble.

The number of birds present was phenomenal with approximately four hundred Skylarks, about the same number of Linnet and around one hundred Chaffinches – all being closely watched and periodically attacked by yet another Sparrowhawk.

Again, no sign of any Woodlarks but by now we had pretty much given up the ghost…

Glanwyddan 10.01.10

Skylark c800
Linnet c400
Chaffinch c100
Redwing 50+
Sparrowhawk 3+
Curlew c25
Snipe 7

Until later.

Escargot al Fresco

It was a little parky, but the Afon Clwyd at Rhyl was a picture this morning, beautifully framed by the Clywdians to the east and the Carnedds to the west.

The river looked as if was on the point of freezing-up with hundreds of small sheets of ice floating down river from further upstream.

Close to the mouth of the Gele, a large flock of four hundred Lapwing cowered in the marsh making any attempt to locate a Golden Plover I could hear calling nye on impossible. A few Little Grebes fished at the mouth of the river, but there was no sign of the Slavonian Grebe reported from this location over the last couple of days.

Skylark, Meadow Pipit and particularly Song Thrush were very evident this morning, with the majority of the thrushes feeding on snails – these birds must be utilising every second of daylight at the moment in the pursuit of life sustaining calories.

After crossing Rhuddlan bridge, I headed back down the east bank on the river passing the now resident Bar-headed Goose munching away with a group of Canadas.

Closer to the railway bridge good numbers of Goldeneye were in the channel along with five RB Mergansers and a few more Dabchicks, but, again, no sign of the Slavonian Grebe – this species in intent on giving me the run-around this year!

Fifty yards short of my car – parked near the building merchants near the road bridge – I thought my birding was over for the day until a Water Rail decided to pop out from a hedge and perform quite a convincing Roadrunner impersonation as it sprinted across the tarmac and into cover on the opposite side of the road!

In completely unrelated news, fact is indeed stranger than fiction. Have you noticed that the wife of the Northern Island First Minister who had an affair with a nineteen-year-old is called Mrs Robinson?

Afon Clwyd 08.01.10

7 Goldeneye
5 Red-breasted Merganser
5 Dabchick
1 Water Rail
1 Bar-headed Goose
75+ Wigeon
1 Raven
1 Little Egret

Until later.

Snow Patrol

After an early wrap at Arrowe Park this afternoon, I decided a trip to Parkgate was in order. I thought I had left it a little late, but the clear sky and light reflecting from the snow covered marsh meant visibility was excellent well past sunset.

Short-eared Owls were the first to put in an appearance – up to seven possibly. It looks like the recent cold weather may have prompted a mini influx of Shorties with a whisper of a good count of birds further down the marsh.

A Barn Owl was next to show, possibly revelling in the fact that for once it was perfectly camouflaged during daylight hours as oppose to sticking out like a sore thumb. It didn’t take too long to locate food either – after a mere two minutes it was freighting a vole over the trees and into the paddocks.

On the outer marsh a couple of Ravens feasted on a carcass in front of a backdrop of a large flock of flighty Pinkies, whilst closer in a Merlin whizzed past in pursuit of a small passerine.

As it began to get really dark good numbers of Fieldfare started to fly-in from the marsh and just before the light went completely, a ringtail Hen Harrier slunk into the roost.

As I was about to leave, I overheard a couple of teenagers chatting whilst walking a dog.

“That’s Wales over there, innit?
‘Fink-so.’

Who said standards are declining.

Parkgate 07.01.10

6/7 Short-eared Owls
1 Barn Owl
1 Hen Harrier (ringtail)
1 Merlin
3+ Kestrel
300+ Pink-footed Geese
2 Raven
2 Little Egret

Until later.

Coed y Garth

With the aim of kick-starting my assault on Flintshire this year, I headed over to Coed y Garth late this morning to see if I could tickle-out some woodland species.

I am very fond of birding in woods as it requires a little more skill by my reckoning; rather than just relying on sight, aural skills come in to play as do two things I am not over blessed with – patience and a sharp eye (I’m as colour blind as they come!).

The modest snowfall yesterday made the woodland picture perfect inside creating a magical atmosphere. I was not the first to leave tracks in the snow though – a fox had been on the prowl during the night leaving its telltale footprints in the freshly powdered footpath.

Five minutes into my walk I was on to a decent sized mixed flock that despite being dominated by the commoner tit species contained two Treecreepers and a brace of hyperactive Goldcrest.

A little further up the trail I added Nuthatch and another Treecreeper to the list and then encountered a large flock of Long-tailed Tits. This species of passerine seems to be particularly unsociable, appearing to prefer the company of its own and not generally joining mixed flocks.

It was interesting to note today how many birds had little grubs in their bills. I would have thought any tasty morsel excavated from beneath the bark would be eaten instantly, but a Nuthatch, a Goldcrest and two Blue Tits all seemed to be carrying food today?

Just as I was about to leave the wood I picked-up the ‘pitchouing’ call of a Marsh Tit, but despite looking for a good ten minutes – and it not really moving – the pesky little tyke would not show itself…probably my rubbish fieldcraft again…

Until later.

Polling Day

After receiving a wire from Duckers News International concerning the reappearance of the Slavonian Grebes at Flint on Sunday evening, I nipped down to the point for a quick look over lunch.

Conditions were a touch on the inclement side to say to least, but the emergence of the Wirral shore through the murk and sleety/snowy/rainy stuff (where’s an Eskimo with one of those twenty words for different types of snow when you need one) provided encouragement of improved conditions to come.

After getting intimate with a silver birch, I began to scan the incoming tide which produced a good count of one hundred and fifty Teal, four Little Grebes, one Great Crested Grebe, a survey vessel, but no Slavs.

Some loud chu-chu-chuing then alerted me to a passing rabble of circa twenty Lesser Redpoll moving through the treetops, tailed loosely by a small number of Chaffinch.

Unfortunately the weather that had earlier promised to perk up suddenly worsened and the previously visible Thurstaston cliffs vanished behind a wall of snowfall powered by a strengthening north-easterly. One final cursory scan across the channel again failed to produce the goods, so I admitted defeat and returned to the motor.

It looks like the ‘widespread frost’ that developed into a ‘cold snap’ before morphing into a ‘big freeze’ is now being referred to as the ‘deep freeze’. I wonder what the next phrase in the cold weather escalation scale is – any ideas? Answers on a postcard…

Until later.

We Are Family

There was the potential of a superb high tide watch at Connah’s Quay this morning with thousands of waterfowl – including a family party of Whooper Swans – on the Dee channel, no doubt forced to congregate on water’s edge by the frozen marsh.

Until, that is, two wildfowlers appeared from the White Sands area and proceeded to walk along the tide line and take pot shots at the assembled birds. Given the freezing temperatures, their lack of willingness to take cover and the fact that they had no dogs made the whole episode somewhat crass and distinctly unsporting. It reminded me of the rather deranged Amon Goeth in Schindler’s List, whom delighted in taking random shots at the concentration camp prisoners.

Not wanting to witness anymore of this rather unsavoury spectacle I decided to move to Inner Marsh Farm for the afternoon. The pools were of course completely frozen and for the first thirty minutes I was restricted to watching a couple of hale looking foxes prowling around the margins.

Then, a cracking adult female Hen Harrier cruised over the back of number one pool flushing up a number of Snipe – including one possible Jack Snipe. It remained for ten minutes or so when it was joined by a juvenile Spoonbill that flew in from over the wood and circled over the pools as if looking for a spot of water to land on, before eventually settling for the causeway.

A few other bits and bobs included a Stonechat and a handful of Pinkies with a brace of Whooper Swans behind the border pool. The ‘big freeze’ or ‘winter’ as I seem to remember it being called is certainly engendering big movements of birds currently – surely something really exciting is just around the corner…

Connah’s Quay NR 04.01.10

Whooper Swan 7
Wigeon c3,000
Teal c2,500
Raven 2
Kingfisher 1

Inner Marsh Fram 04.01.10

Spoonbill 1 (Juv)
Pink-footed Goose 7
Whooper Swan 2
Hen Harrier 1 (Adult female)
Stonechat 1
Snipe 15+
Linnet c50
Siskin 1

Until later.

Brunch in Flint

No, not my can, I got the picture off the internet – honest. More of a Tennant’s man myself.

Not been out much over the last two days apart from a couple of hours on Saturday looking for the Slavonian Grebes found by Ash Cohen at Flint on Friday that frustratingly refused to show – unlike Ash!

Very little else on the waterfront, although I did stumble across seven or eight Twite feeding on the north flank of the castle a couple of hours before high tide.

It was bloody cold too and a couple of middle-aged locals had decided to fortify themselves on their early morning dog walk with a four-pack of special brew that they swiftly guzzled down before launching the empty cans into the river.

Good numbers of swans on White Sands though; I could see approximately thirty in the distance from the castle and there was another thirty too at the base of the marsh near the bridge viewed from my motor through a heavy shower.

An hour this evening at Caldy Valley Park was also pretty quiet, although the radical conservation work being carried-out continues apace. I hope they know what they are doing as at least an acre of phragmites has been uprooted in the construction of a new scrape – any Reed Warblers returning in May may be in for a shock; fancy flying all the way from sub-Saharan Africa to find that your home in now a climbing frame.

Still, if it remains a little too bare they could always try replanting the score or so of Christmas trees unceremoniously dumped next to the car park.

Until later.

Common Sense

After shivering under my duvet for a good half an hour, I finally managed to summon the mental strength to get up, dressed and make it down to Moore NR for nine thirty.

I began my 2010 year list assault at Upper Moss Side and quickly got into my stride bagging Tree Sparrow and surprisingly Willow Tit - alongside some of the commoner species - before setting up camp at Norton Marsh. No sign of any Yellowhammers this morning though – there were fifteen plus over-wintering here last year.

On the Mersey there was very little apart from legions of gulls roosting on the sandbank, but I did manage to add Kestrel, Buzzard, Shelduck, Redshank, and a small herd of flyover Curlew to the list as the tide came up the river.

Apart from a pair of Reed Buntings, there was very little evidence of any passerines feeding on the marsh. No Stonechat, Linnet, Skylark, Meadow Pipit or even any Starling – I assume the hard frost has forced most ground feeders closer to the milder coastal areas.

After thirty bone-chilling minutes I decided to head over to Birchwood Pool cutting through the woods, where I intercepted a small flock of Lesser Redpoll and Siskin on the alders near the feeders.

The Tawny Owl was next on the hit list, but I was left staring at a blank space – I guess since they are meant to be so wise it had decided to mover to warmer climes! Nevertheless, Nuthatch and Coal Tit were ticked as I searched to see if the owl had moved to a nearby tree.

Birchwood Pool was nearly completely frozen over when I arrived – not encouraging news for my list that was already showing some glaring omissions. A female Pochard and a Grey Wagtail was the best I could manage, until one last scan of the water’s edge revealed a Common Sandpiper feeding on the water’s edge?

Surely some mistake I thought – must be a Green, so I cleaned my lens and shouted back a couple of chaps who had just left the hide. After the two blokes and I had fruitlessly trying to relocate it for ten minutes, I eventually found it feeding in a corner and in a few ticks it flew onto the small island giving cracking views.

Quite an odd record for Moore I would have thought – especially at this time of the year when any wintering Common Sandpipers would surely favour unfrozen rivers?

With the sun sinking down there was just time to visit the Bittern Enclosure - a dangerous task it was too with the metalled track resembling the cresta run! It was worth the trip though, with superb views of one of THREE Bitterns seen during the day.

And it didn’t stop there with cracking views of a hunting Barn Owl, plus a flyover Peregrine making it just about worth leaving the warm confines of my comfortable bed this morning!

Moore NR/Upper Moss Side 01.01.10

Bittern 1
Pochard 1
Shoveler 20+
Peregrine 1
Barn Owl 1
Common Sandpiper 1
Grey Wagtail 2
Willow Tit 1
Tree Sparrow 10+
Redwing 40+
Lesser Redpoll/Siskin flock 30+
Bullfinch c10

Total Species: 64