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.

Shotwick Refugee Camp

With nothing much doing at Connah’s Quay – apart from an ingenious Song Thrush rooting out snails from down a rabbit hole – and the onset of hyperthermia a distinct possibility, Stan Skelton and I decided to call it a day and use the last half an hour of good light to run the rule over Shotwick Boating Lake.

Just before leaving a quick scan across White Sands revealed good numbers of Whooper Swans and a family of six Bewick’s Swans being shunted around the marsh by the wildfowlers, plus a ringtail Hen Harrier and a pair of tussling Short-eared Owls.

No sign of any significant numbers of Twite this winter and Stan suggested that it may be a good idea to seed an area near the West Hide – especially given the success of a similar project in North Wales. Perhaps this could coax the Twite out of exile and even tempt a Black Redstart or Snow Bunting…

When we arrived at the Boating Lake it seemed to be playing host to the Inner Marsh Farm crowd with good numbers of Wigeon, Shoveler and Mallard on the water -presumably forced over here by the frozen pools at the adjacent RSPB reserve.

A pair of Scaup was a good find and other interesting wildfowl included a female Goldeneye and most surprising of all a drake Common Scoter. As with most areas on the Welsh side of the estuary, the lake is probably under-watched – especially on calm winter’s days when the lack of wind and plummeting temperatures deter disturbance by the sailing club members.

There was also plenty of activity in the surrounding stubble fields with good numbers of Pied Wagtails, Skylarks, various Thrushes and a flock of circa 100 Linnet.

Until later.