The Dark Side Of The Estuary?

I have been birding the Dee for a number of years now and being based at Chester I find myself equidistant from both the Flintshire and Wirral sides of the estuary.

Initially, I favoured sites such as Hoylake, Red Rocks and the shore at Heswall, but I found the more I explored the Welsh side, the more my affections turned to this side of the river.

What struck me early on is how under-watched and neglected the entire area is considering the relative abundance of good birdwatching sites.

Arguably the Wirral side is the more attractive having not suffered from the same level of industrialisation as its opposing bank, but as far as I am concerned the crown jewels of the Dee Estuary lie firmly in Wales’s hands.

The Point of Ayr probably offers the birdwatcher the greatest variety of birds on the estuary with the possible exception of Hilbre Island. A broad range of waders and wildfowl can be seen at this location with the added appeal of good seawatching, plus the chance of the unexpected – I once witnessed an aerial tussle between a Pomarine Skua and a Marsh Harrier! The nearby wild and desolate Gronant beech with its breeding Little Terns is also a cracking destination.

A much underrated spot is the scruffy Garth Wood, tucked unassumingly behind the village at Ffynnongroywy. A wonderful signposted trail leads one around a three mile circuit of the wood and surrounding farmland where last spring I found Dipper, Marsh Tit, Wood Warbler, Pied Flycatcher, Garden Warbler and Redstart in just two visits.

White Sands is an area of the marsh unfamiliar to many, but the section that lies directly behind the rivetment running out from Corus Steel Works holds some fascinating birds - particularly over-wintering families of Whooper and Bewick’s Swans. Sadly, access is restricted, but in winter there is a no better spot to scan for Short-eared Owls or find flocks of over-wintering Twite.

Also close-by and difficult to gain entry to is the colony of Common Terns that breed on the pools lying directly under the shadow of the steelwork’s buildings; the boating lake at Shotwick that can hold interesting birds from time-to-time and then, of course, there is the rifle-range area…!

Finally there is Connah’s Quay NR. I have been a member for two years now and find myself coming with increased frequency. I think the best time to visit is over a high tide, when I can watch the waders being pushed on to Oakenholt Marsh to roost. The autumn of 2009 was particularly memorable with a massive flock of up to 6,000 Black-tailed Godwits present and the only thing more astonishing is that I very rarely had any company in the West Hide! Where are the birders?

Infact, from my experience there seem to be very few birders along this entire stretch of coast, evidenced by the fact that there are relatively few sighting submitted to the various local websites vis-à-vis other areas. This is probably down to nothing more than a comparatively small local population.

It’s not all rosy as there are drawbacks, notably the lack of freshwater or brackish pools and – Connah’s Quay nothwithstanding – very few formal viewing facilities. However, all things considered – it’s Wales for me!

Until later.

My Two Cents Worth

I have just watched the news and discovered that 7bn euros of our hard earned folding has been pledged to ‘developing’ nations to help them tackle climate change.

Whilst I do not deny that mans’ activities has contributed to the acceleration in the heating of the earth’s atmosphere, I am sceptical as to its status as the number one environmental issue.

It is also ironic that had human beings been as technically advanced as we are now a mere 14,000 years earlier at the ending of the last ice age, then the symposium at Copenhagen may have been over how to proliferate the production of carbon rather than reduce it.

Without exception, climate change is universally considered to be a negative phenomenon as far as wildlife and birds are concerned. In the United Kingdom, failing seabird colonies are cited as evidence that warming sea temperatures are to blame for forcing the main prey of sand eels further north into cooler waters resulting in reduced breeding success.

This may very well be the case, but surely the ocean temperatures have been in a constant state of flux for millions of years and in times past the very same species of seabird we have today must have faced similar challenges and survived.

If this is true then surely the birds will just eventually move to a more productive area? It is always worth remembering too in these hysterical times that one bird needs only to reproduce once on average during its life cycle to retain the same level in population – breeding is a capricious occupation.

My feeling is that the real threat to the natural world is man in general. Any one – let alone two or more - from habitat destruction, rampant over-population, the pillaging of the sea and the ecological holocaust that is modern agriculture are far more dangerous to biodiversity than the warming of the earth’s atmosphere will ever be.

Until later.

Carbunkle

Not much to report on the birding front today despite a decent day of good weather. I had a fruitless search around Neston Old Quay for Water Pipits and spent two quiet hours at Inner Marsh Farm attempting to develop frostbite in my toes.

Despite the pipit no-show there was plenty of other activity on the marsh with decent sized flocks of Woodpigeons, Starlings, Lapwing and Wigeon too, who were busy whistling like a group of deranged P.E teachers.

Inner Marsh Farm held good numbers of birds too with a couple of Ruff and a male Peregrine bombing through late on the highlights of what was otherwise standard fare.

More notable news in the recent proposal by Peel Holdings to build twenty one, one hundred and twenty five metre high wind turbines at Frodsham Marsh. Link: http://www.chesterchronicle.co.uk/chester-news/local-chester-news/2009/10/22/peel-energy-unveil-image-of-what-frodsham-marshes-wind-farm-could-look-like-59067-24989446/

What a truly dreadful prospect that such an eyesore could be built on what is potentially a beautiful, austere and wild area. Incredulously, a spokesman from Friends of the Earth has claimed that given the site is of no significant scientific importance for wildlife then this is an ideal site for such a development. This is probably true, but the marshes have been trashed by industry – can he not see the potential?

Wind Farms are grossly ineffcient to boot as they require massive subsidies and don't work during periods of weak or very strong wind.

In short, to use a quote I heard this afternoon: would you buy a fridge from Comet that worked for only three days a week and you didn't even know which three days that would be?

Until later.

Here Come The Girls!

Having watched the Dee Estuary for a number of years now, it has started to become apparent that there appears to be an imbalance between the numbers of female and male raptors, with the fairer sex apparently in the ascendancy.

This is most marked with the populations of over-wintering Hen Harriers that, in general, tend to be adult females. This seems odd when I consider that all the birds I found on the Welsh Uplands in the spring (8/8) were male and even if you take into account that the females will generally be guarding the nest and the males are more visible, it seems strange that ‘grey’ birds are uncommon on the Dee. This is further supported Hen Harrier sightings from Ynys-Hir, that tend to be almost exclusively adult male birds.

Similarly, in the case of another wintering visitor, the Merlin, it is very seldom that I see an adult male bird; again, the Marsh Harriers that pass through and occasionally winter on the marshes are mostly adult females or immature birds.

The situation with Peregrines is less clear. I would speculate that female birds do outnumber male birds, but the ratio is less acute than is the case with the Harriers and the Merlin.

For obvious reasons, Buzzard, Osprey, Hobby, Red Kite are difficult to sex, with the added difficulty that all but the former are rare or uncommon. Kestrels and Sparrowhawks may demonstrate a bias one way or another but I am guilty of not paying the falcon or the hawk enough attention, so I cannot comment!

Obviously it is hard – but possible - to determine the gender of young raptors such as Harriers and Merlin, but even taking into account a certain degree of error I believe that for some reason the Dee Estuary holds an unusually high number of female birds

It would be interesting to know if anybody else has had similar observations, or perhaps this is a ‘natural’ imbalance – this would be understandable in the case of Marsh Harriers where I believe males often service more than one nest.

Any Comments?

Until later.

Turdus van Merula?

Keith Duckers e-mailed last week with an interesting theory relating to British common bird migration theory, and here in his own words it is (with some very minor adjustments! - Ed). Thanks, Keith.

I believe 75% + of our common garden birds go south for the winter and are replaced by their continental cousins. I know we have migrants coming from mainland Europe in winter, but I think there are a lot more than first realised.

In October it is quite difficult to see blackbirds, finches and robins as most have departed south, whilst in November these common species seem to re-emerge. Some items to consider regarding my theory:

A female blackbird found in the Newton catching box on Hilbre Island by Colin Jones had a Dutch ring with the words ARNHEM HOLLAND on it. (Truly fitting that it was found on Armistice day!!) http://hilbrebirdobs.blogspot.com/2009/11/11th-november-2009.html

Have you ever noticed that many robins seen in the garden in winter have an extra blue fringe around their red breasts? I noticed that there seemed to be about six of these particular birds at the Inner Marsh Farm hide, Burton, last winter, whereas in the Spring/Summer the red breasted variety exists.

I am pretty sure these are of the Scandinavian/Germanic species. - I have read this somewhere and I would appreciate any readers comments

A lot of work is done for uncommon birds regarding ringing, but I feel somebody needs to do some research with the common birds too (if they are not already). I feel sure that results from this research would reveal some surprising statistics.

Some questions for us all:

1 Where do our common garden birds go for the winter?
2 Are our Dutch friends already doing this type of research?
3 Do the 1st year young common birds follow their parents south?
4 Why did the Dutch blackbird make an epic trip to Hilbre Island?
5 Was it 'lost'?
6 Was it a young bird?

Food for thought?

I hope this has inspired readers to start inquiring about the current birding rhetoric (thinking outside the box!!!) rather than accepting the usual birding doctrine that has been passed down over the years - after all we all need something to think about during these dark and inclement winter months.

I would appreciate any comments...

Keith Duckers.

P.S - If anyone else wishes to contribute any articles (250-500 words) on anything interesting relating to birds or birding then I will consider them for publication. You can email me at pdshenton@yahoo.co.uk

Excellent...

It was news that would have delighted all the C. Montgomery Burns’ across the United Kingdom. The government recently proposed to build ten new nuclear facilities across the country - all on or near existing sites.

As somebody who is passionate about wildlife, I must confess that I could not be happier, especially if this controversial form of energy reduces the need for not only carbon releasing oil and gas power stations, but the necessity for wind, tidal and wave power too – the so-called ‘renewables.’

These supposed ‘green’ sources of energy are anything but. Climate change is a hot topic, but unfortunately it is drowning-out other equally critical issues, particularly habitat destruction and over population.

To the general public, building a tidal barrage across the Severn estuary would appear to be an excellent clean solution to our energy needs. However, those of us who strive to take a deeper interest in such matters know the trade-off of such a project in relation to wildlife would be calamitous – our estuaries are amongst some of the most important natural habitats in Europe.

One particular government-wallah, the permanently tanned Peter Hain once defended this proposal claiming that bio-diversity would increase. He is actually correct, the number of species would increase, but any intelligent person recognises this argument is specious.

For example, this argument holds true if one critically endangered species was lost, but three others that are very common elsewhere are gained. Biodiversity has indeed increased, but the cost is to lose an extremely important species of flora or fauna.

Wind and wave power seem less inimical to the interests of wildlife, but as with tidal energy I would be quite glad to see the back of both of them. My objections to wind power are largely aesthetic; wind turbines are as ugly as sin and very cost ineffective. Additionally – as is the case with wave power – many installations are close to coastal areas, where the affects on sea-dwelling and pelagic birds have not been fully researched.

Nuclear Power is expensive and produces dangerous by products that are difficult – if not impossible – to dispose of safely. However, they are largely passive, take up little space and produce carbon-dioxide free energy. Hooray for Nuclear.

Well that what a little heavy wasn’t it. No worries, back to the birds, bad puns and light-hearted quips tomorrow - I promise!

Until later.

(Major Parus) Hilton

Great Tits - real ones at that and probably in possession of a greater vocabulary too! They were everywhere this afternoon and I wasn’t even reading Nuts magazine or scanning one of those dodgy websites I’ve heard so much about.

It all started when I bumped into a large winter flock of passerines when out walking my dog at the Gowy Meadows CWT reserve this afternoon. I decided to search through the group to see if it contained anything interesting, but I soon discovered bar the odd Blue Tit or Goldfinch it was Great Tits all the way – about fifty in total.

Quite interesting as Stephen Fry might say, but hardly earth-shattering. I continued my walk towards the river Gowy, but I had to turn back when I noticed the cows had been moved to graze the pasture I needed to cross. I decided to drive to the woodland park at Mickle Trafford instead.

When I entered the park I encountered another large winter flock in the birch and willow scrub, and after scanning this gathering I found that it too was dominated by Great Tits – probably seventy of a flock of eighty or so.

It was then that I remembered that the level in my peanut feeder had been dropping quicker than the pants of a certain vacuous hotel heiress recently – a food source favoured by Great Tits.

I wonder if there has been a large influx of Great Tits this autumn. I have had a look on the interweb and cannot find much on the irruptions of this species, just one article alluding to increased breeding success following a good crop of beech nuts.

Has anybody else noticed similar numbers of Great Tits? Drop a comment if you have.

Until later.

The true Maharajas of Snowdonia

Walking in the welsh uplands is one of my favourite pastimes. The remoteness, abundant wildlife and sheer beauty of the many ranges are a constant draw.

There is however a missing element: the absence of Golden Eagles. The mountains of North Wales must surely be one of the wildest places in Europe without a population of these majestic raptors.

The indigenous population has of course long-gone - presumably shot and poisoned in less enlightened times – but there seems to be a compelling case for their re-introduction.

With numbers in Scotland being pretty stable, surely there is scope for utilising the four hundred or so breeding pairs to produce chicks for release in the Snowdonia area. There is also the experience gained from the White-tailed Eagle release programme to draw upon.

Authorities such as the RSPB and the Countryside Council for Wales should also be encouraged by the success story of the Red Kite, now returned to many of its previous haunts. Similarly, Goshawk, Peregrine and Hen Harriers also seem to be more abundant than for along time, so what about the final piece of the jigsaw?

The only possible objection would predictably come from the farming fraternity. Sheep would be lost – there is no point in denying this fact – and many farmers would need to be compensated for the financial loss. This would be small beer though in comparison to the huge amount of money additional eco-tourism (I hate that term!) would generate.

In truth, I am also tired of listening to moaning farmers given the damage that most have done to the land they supposedly protect. Given that many see themselves as custodians of the countryside, it is surprising how many see nature and wildlife as something to fight against rather than work with.

The case for bringing the Golden Eagle back seems extremely strong and I am a little surprised no conservation body has mooted or proposed this policy. And why stop with Golden Eagles – the coast of Gwynedd, Anglesey and the Lleyn Peninsula is surely perfect for its larger cousin the White-tailed Eagle too!

Until later.

P.S - Inner Marsh Farm quiet this afternoon; two Kingfisher, two Ruff and a Water Rail the only birds of note.

Rainham Marshes

Today I have seen the future of birding - and I'm not sure I like it. I took a trip to the RSPB's Rainham Marshes and I'm not impressed.

The habitat is magnificent - a huge ancient grazing area adjacent to the River Thames that manages to seem extremely wild, despite its close proximity to the city of London.

The problem is that there is only one hide and that overlooks a scrape - one that is still being constructed. Considering the vast sums of money that have been spent on the visitor centre (that looks like a lego spaceship on stilts) and the hundreds of metres of boardwalks, there are very few facilities for the the birdwatcher whom looks to have been sidelined yet again in favour of the tea and sandwich brigade.

For example, it was a complete waste of time taking my telescope and hide clamp as I had to lump it 2 1/4 miles around the trail without being able to deploy it. There are numerous viewing points, but they are open air platforms with no areas to attach clamps and moreover, I would not wish to stand on them in bad weather. Crucially, this arrangement is also extremely inconsiderate to the birds as they can clearly see you looking at them and understandably stay at a distance. No good if you only have binoculars!!

There is also a huge tract of rough grassland you cannot see because of a lack of elevation. A tower hide overlooking this western section of the reserve would be incredible and provide cracking views of hunting raptors.

I can understand the RSPB wants to be as inclusive as possible, but it should remember that its core ethos should be to not only safeguard the future of wildlife, but also allow those of us who are serious nature watchers to actually see it.

With the towers of canary wharf clearly visible in the distance, it was difficult not to remember what happened to certain institutions when they grew so large that they become arrogant and forgot the original reason why they were set up in the first place. And we all know what happened to them.

Until later.

Splitters

Katona’s Gull (Larus Atomicus Kittenoides)

Previously a race of Iceland Gull, Katona’s Gull is best identified by its slightly larger size and prodigious breeding rate. It is also in possession of a much darker mantle than Iceland Gull having been continually exposed to regular sun showers that are common to its locality. The bill is also heavier than the Iceland Gull allowing the bird to tackle the remains of large discarded cheap supermarket food items that are its staple diet (unlike Caspain Gull that feeds exclusively on the remains of Donar Kebabs). There is one record annually, usually around the Merseyside area.

The paragraph above is clearly drivel, yet having read news of the Azorean Yellow-Legged Gull at Didcot, the boundaries between science and parody are becoming increasingly blurred. Forgive my ignorance, but this hitherto unknown species/race of Gull has failed to register on my radar. Now, I like a Glacous Gull or an Iceland Gull as much as the next person, but is it just me or is this relentless and obsessive categorisation of Laridae going too far?

Then there is also the predilection some birders have for the mind-numbing activity of spending hours searching through thousands of gulls – often near rubbish dumps - for that something a little different. No little skill is involved in this, but with the rich variety of bird life available I simply cannot be bothered – especially when it involves a long drive with no guarantee that the bird will be present. Surely it would be easier going to the Azores?

Until later.

What did the Gujaratis ever do for us?

I'm taking a break at the moment, so I shall not be posting for another couple of weeks.

I am also in the process of writing a guide to birding in Chester and the surrounding area. I am familiar with a few sites, but I would appreciate any information on hidden gems that I may have overlooked – you cannot get everywhere!

It would be particularly useful to garner some hints and tips as to reliable sites for less common birds such as Green Woodpecker, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Marsh Tit, Willow Tit, any of the commoner Owl species, or perhaps something a little more unusual.

Comments on the content of the blog would also be gratefully received: don’t be shy! For instance, did you, Keith Duchess finally manage to find the blog?! Somebody out there is reading it, as I managed 1,000 hits last month - a number that almost makes it worthwhile!

In the meantime, I shall leave you with a quote from the half-naked fakir himself: “Nature can satisfy all of our needs but none of our greeds”.

Until later, well two weeks anyway.

Dowitchers & Howitzers

Being what you might call a ‘wader-man’, I took a diversion to Marshside this morning to grab a look at the latest vagrant shorebird from stateside. Nel’s hide was rammed when I arrived, so I had to settle for a back seat until one of the front benches was vacated.

When I finally sat down, the Long-billed Dowitcher could be seen dozing in the middle of a flock of Godwits and Redshank that it had chummed-up with. No more then twenty yards away and affording superb views through the scope, it revealed its wonderful chequered plumage. It reminded me of a Snipe, although considerably more stately – a lovely bird.

Predictably the paparazzi were present and whenever the bird initiated any sort of movement it was blasted with a torrent of semi-automatic shutter; the snipers bring aroused into action by the emergence of its bill and practically orgasmic at the flap of a wing.

A few Pink-footed Geese, a sprinkling of Wigeon and my chilling hands were a few timely reminders of autumn. No doubt the Pinks will be arriving in greater numbers throughout this month and October – let’s hope us denizens of the Dee Estuary are treated to another over-wintering flock this year.

Swans, ducks and waders are all indictors of the onset of winter, but to me it is the large skeins of Geese commuting volubly across the darkening skies that are the true sign that: times, they are a changin’.

Apparently up to ¼ of a million Pink-footed Geese were counted in Iceland a couple of weeks ago, the majority of the world population. It is heartening that in todays over populated earth such magnificent spectacles of nature can still be witnessed. The venal bankers and slippery politicians may play havoc with our material welfare, but providing the birds are back for winter, then everything is okay with me. Amen.

Until later.

All in the best possible taste

I’ve not been out birding but something has got my back up, so time to editorialise. I have been reading an excellent blog for some time by a chap called John Dempsey whom seems to be based somewhere around the coffin-dodging area of Southport.

A few days ago he wrote a post accompanied by a picture that rather took me aback: it was an image of several dead seabirds under the caption “Everybody say Cheese.”

Following the gales last week, it is not unexpected to see casualties washed-up on the beach; indeed one could argue that such extreme weather is nature’s way of culling the sick and weak. Far larger wrecks of seabirds are regrettably a regular occurrence as too are oil spills, so the relatively modest losses last week are mere bagatelle.

What surprised me was the lack of respect shown to the dead birds. After all, you would hardly take a picture of a drown person on a beach and write a similar caption underneath (an extreme example, I know, but I’m just trying to get a point across).

A few obtuse individuals who read my post rather misunderstood what I was trying to say (my fault quite probably) and inferred that I was of a rather sensitive disposition and could not take nature complete in tooth and claw – they could not be more wrong.

Anyway, enough whinging. Time to go and maintain my sixteen-hour vigil in the back garden to ensure no Sparrowhawks eat any birds from my back garden. There will be no death on this planet.

Until later.

Goosed

A Sabbath outing to Inner Marsh Farm produced very little bird wise – a cruising juvenile Peregrine and a couple of Greenshanks being the only birds of note.

So quiet in fact – if you ignore the hundreds of feral geese – that time was passed gossiping with a fellow birder.

Recently, a Short-toed Lark was located near Shotwick Boating Lake by a local birdwatcher whom has special permission to drive around private land adjacent to Inner Marsh Farm.

Given that important agrarian activities were going-on, a decision was made to suppress news of the bird so as not to disturb the workings of the farm.

Fair enough, really. But why bother to announce news of the bird at all if people can’t actually see it?

It irks even more that a few birders were allowed to see the bird as this creates the impression that an elite group of people are party to privileged information, whereas the rest of us are left out of the loop.

Anyway, grumble over, back to the wildlife.

Actually, no. It seems that one of the two rams tasked with impregnating the ewes is a little confused. Both have a paint bag attached to their stomachs so that when they mount a lady sheep a mark is left on back. Needless to say, one of the rams has been getting fresh with the other.

Until later.

Life through a Lens

When I first started birding, I was led to believe that bird watchers were generally a grumpy, cliquey and taciturn bunch with little time for novices. After a few years in the business now, I can say that this is largely unfounded – in fact in most cases the complete opposite is true and I have met many informative, interesting and friendly people.

There is however, one large blue bottle hovering menacingly over the ointment: the selfish behaviour of some photographers, and yesterday, I witnessed yet another example of crass behaviour from another wannabe Lord Snowdon.

Keen to photograph a Black-tailed Godwit close to the right-hand side of the hide he walked over and shoved himself in between myself and two other people sitting to my right without uttering a word. Still not satisfied that he was near enough – despite having a lens the size of a nuclear warhead – he then proceeded to ram himself in the corner of the hide forcing myself and the other two birders to move.

Happy that he was now as close as humanly possible, he fired approximately 2,000 frames over the next fifteen minutes and exclaimed loudly to everybody in the hide (obviously assuming us all to be idiots) how the bird was clearly a juvenile – it was an adult moulting. When I explained this his response was “Well, it’s not red like the rest is it.”

This is by no means a unique incident. Recently a photographer had to be removed from the Hen Harrier roost at Parkgate – evidently unconcerned about the distress he would cause the birds. The over-wintering Waxwings at Wepre Park also suffered from intruding paparazzi and must have been more photographed than Princess Diana was in her entire life.

Such actions are difficult to explain and raise many questions. Like a heroin addict some snappers seem only able to focus on one thing - getting a hit - or in this case a picture (or 2,000) - with no regard paid to the object or fellow observers. When in possession they then proceed to overdose heavily – how is it possible to look through all the frames properly, and how many pictures does the world need of Waxwings?

Digital cameras are largely to blame for this phenomenon as people do not have to be judicious in the use of their clicking finger. It seems the ‘art’ of photography has now been reduced to the law of averages.

Possession of a massive lens also seems – in some delusional minds at least – to transport the owner to a new high caste of nature watcher where no etiquette or rules need to be observed and where everybody else’s needs are secondary.

I do not wish to tarnish every photographer with the same brush and I do appreciate some of the wonderful images that are taken, but sometimes I think some of you need to take a step back and look at the wider ‘picture.’

Until later.

Half Term Report

Now that things are a little slow on the bird front – yesterday’s Cranes notwithstanding – I thought I’d have a trawl through my records and compile a list of my personal wildlife highlights for the year so far…

10. Great Grey Shrike

Following about ten blanks and additional trips to Fenn’s/Whixall Moss, I finally managed to find a ‘Butcher Bird’ at Cloclaenog Forest. The floodgates were then opened and I saw the bird twice more: at the top of Bron Banog and next perched on a telegraph wire adjacent to the main road to Denbigh.

9. Garth Wood

This humble and scruffy woodland hidden behind the village of Ffynonngroyw near Prestatyn barely gets a mention on the Dee Estuary website, yet this spring I have recorded Pied Flycatcher, Wood Warbler, Marsh Tit, Garden Warbler and Dipper.
It’s only small, but its composition of mixed woodland provides an excellent habitat.

8. Lesser Spotted Woodpecker

They are not a myth! Persistence paid at Moore Nature Reserve when I eventually found our most wee woodpecker.

7. Twite

A flock of c30 Twite over-wintering in the Connah’s Quay area was an absolute joy to observe. I first saw them near the West Hide, but they were most confiding when roosting in one of the small trees along the breakwater between the River Dee and White Sands, where they provided me with both company and entertainment during my WeBS counts!

7. The Back Garden

Still no finches, but a large number of squabbling House Sparrows, wintering Blackcaps and breeding Blackbirds, Robins, Blue Tits and Dunnocks have all utilised the dining facilities at Casa Del Shenton this year.

6. Point of Ayr Seawatching

A couple of days seawatching at the back-end of March on the dunes at Talacre produced a mega flock of 6,000 -7,000 Common Scoter blown close to the shoreline by a strong northerly wind. I also nailed a bogey bird – the Black-throated Diver and enjoyed excellent views of a Glaucous Gull and a flock of Snow Buntings. A Harbour Porpoise was another added treat! Let’s hope the hide is replaced at my top birding site on the Dee.

5. Black Tern

It always seems ludicrous to go birding in foul weather and I was asking myself some pretty serious questions regarding my sanity during a ferociously wet mid May’s evening at Inner Marsh Farm. Bad weather brings in the birds though and this night was no exception – a heavy downpour downed a cracking Black Tern on passage!

4. Painted Ladies

I’m still not exactly a world authority on insects, but this spring my eyes have opened to the beauty and variety of our non-feathered flying friends. This year’s incredible irruption of Painted Lady butterflies has been a joy to behold.

3. The Welsh Uplands

I have been on a number of superb walks through the moors and mountains of Wales this spring and seen some fabulous birds: 3 male Hen Harriers; legions of Whinchat and breeding Dunlin on Cadair Berwyn; eight Cuckoos; and Redstarts virtually everywhere!

2. Burton Marsh’s Short-eared Owls

Whether it was down to an excellent breeding season, an unusually high influx of migrants from the continent or a high vole population, the mass of Short-eared Owls on Burton Marsh was incredible. My highest count was 27 birds at the end of February, but there may have been up to 50 across the entire estuary.

1. My First Otter

No doubting the star turn so far this year – cracking views of Otter hunting in broad daylight on the River Severn at Dolydd Hafren in Montgomeryshire. Enough said!

Until later.