Red Letter Day

Pennington Flash was deserted this morning save a few hardy souls solemnly escorting their dogs around the park. Not surprising really, the weather was grim.

I had hoped to catch of glimpse of the Slavonian Grebe that had been hanging around recently, but after a good search across the water nothing was doing – it must have slunk off to Ljubljana.

A flock of lapwing then suddenly took to the air – scared of their own reflection these birds – but just as I thought it had been yet another false alarm, I caught a glimpse of a large brown raptor disappearing into the trees to the right of Horrocks hide.

Initially, I assumed it must have been a young Sparrowhawk, and I thought nothing of it. Ten minutes later, the Peewits panicked again and I this time I could see why – a large bird of prey was flying towards me head-on. The first thing that struck me about the bird was how muscular it looked around the chest area.

Luckily it landed on the spit about twenty yards from the hide. Focusing on the bird, my jaw almost hit the floor – it was a Goshawk! Its large size, brown plumage and powerful build suggested a young female.

Regaining my composure, I began telling myself that it must be a young female Sparrowhawk, but the massive size and piercing orange eye meant that it must have been a Goshawk.

Having only seen these impressive hawks displaying at distance over Cloclaenog forest it was a real privilege to see one so close – especially in such an unlikely location. Unfortunately, after about half a minute the bird took to flight and headed west across the flash.

It was at this point that doubts began to creep in as I remember having read somewhere that when gliding Goshawks don’t lose altitude like Sparrowhawks, and this bird appeared to drop slightly when coasting. Then again, thinking about it now, this appears to be contrary to the laws of Physics!! – and having seen the bird up close I have very few doubts.

The raptor action didn’t stop there either. I popped down to Parkgate on the way home and bagged my first ‘grey’ male Hen Harrier this autumn. Plenty of other action too:

Parkgate 10.11.09

3 Hen Harrier (1 sub-adult ‘grey’ male, plus 2 adult females)
3 Short-eared Owl
2 Barn Owl

Until later.

Billy No Mates

The fog seemed to follow the tide in at Connah’s Quay this afternoon. Thick it was too – the sort that would have a salty old sea-dog of a captain quivering in his timbers at the prospect of his vessel being dashed on the rocks.

Not much goings-on from the west hide as a fairly low high tide meant that the majority of the waders and wildfowl were spread far and wide across the sand and mud flats.

The bunded pool viewed from the middle hide was better – two Spotted Redshanks flew in, a ringtail Hen Harrier quartered over the Dee embankment and a Kingfisher delighted in dive-bombing three Little Grebes. This behaviour seemed a little odd at first, but I suppose they are rivals for the same food source.

I must say that the repairs made to the sluice this year have definitely assisted in the retention of much more water on the bunded pools, with the consequent benefits for the birds.

Just as I was about to leave a small finch dropped onto the grass next to a handful of Starlings. A yellow bill and darkly streaked back revealed it to be a Twite. It also had that classic colouring on the face and underside that bird books describe as ‘mustard-yellow’ or ‘buff’.

For my penny’s worth they are wrong. Twite look like they have just had their beaks buried in a chicken tikka masala or a lamb bhuna. Curry-coloured it should say, but then again this description may go over the heads of our Collins reading vindaloo-dodging continental neighbours!

It's also strange to see a single Twite - like teenagers, these small finches tend to bounce around in large groups making lots of noise and generally not able to keep still for longer than three seconds.

Until later.

Shotwick Rifle Range Area

Just look what happens when you type Goldeneye into Google images - bloody Pierce Brosnon everywhere. I wonder if Google would produce an entire gallery of ducks if you typed Goldeneye when searching for the film?

Anyway, enough of derivative talkies produced by creativity-challenged Hollywood players, what about the birds?

I took a trip to Shotwick rifle range pools this evening - a pair of female Goldeneye, a brace of female Pochard, a Dabchick and a Grey Wagtail were on the pool, but my main aim was to head to the embankment and scan the marsh for Short-eared Owls.

No owls at first, but I was entertained for a while watching a female Merlin tracking a ringtail Hen Harrier, presumably hoping to pick-off any small passerines the larger raptor may flush out.

I eventually found the first owl way out towards Neston and this was soon joined by another two having a scrap. Very belligerent these birds - they don't seem to be able to pass each other without having a little contretemps!

Moving right I located a further one near Neston reedbed – this individual trying to shake of the attentions of a corvid – and then another possible close to Denhall old quay.

Just when I thought I would be restricted to long-range views, two wildfowlers flushed two birds from the grass a few hundred yards away. Then, one of the spaniels managed to unearth a third bird close by. Definitely seven, probably eight, either way my highest total this autumn!

Shotwick Rifle Range Pools 08.11.09

7/8 Short-eared Owl
1 Hen Harrier (ringtail)
1 Merlin (female)
2 Buzzard
16 Golden Plover
2 Goldeneye (female)
2 Pochard (female)
1 Grey Wagtail

Hopefully the Short-eared Owls will build up this month; I think it was November last year when the numbers began to rocket. Here's hoping, after all: Tomorrow Never Dies!

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.

A Hint of Cinnamon

The rains continued today, but I was hardly going to stay in and watch Loose Women or Antiques Under The Hammer was I?

Connah’s Quay was my port of call – thousands of the commoner waders were roosting on Oakenholt Marsh, including 29 Golden Plover and a single male Ruff – uncommon over here.

Interestingly, a very rufous female Teal that I clocked a few weeks ago was present again on the channel in front of the west hide. I had a closer look today at the bird that is certainly a curiosity. It is a little larger than the other females and aside from the reddish colouration the bird also has a heavier bill than a Common Teal.

Having done some research on the internet, the colouration of the plumage, the head pattern and the shape of the bill would suggest elements of a Cinnamon Teal, but this individual resembled a Common Teal in every other aspect of its appearance down to the pale patch near the tail.

Perhaps this bird is a hybrid, or more likely just an aberrant Common Teal, but intriguing nonetheless.

Connah's Quay 06.11.09

Lapwing 2,500
Oystercatcher 2,000
Black-tailed Godwit 1,500+
Redshank 1,000
Knot 600
Dunlin 500
Golden Plover 29
Greenshank 4
Spotted Redshank 1
Ruff 1
Kingfisher 1
GC Grebe 2
Little Grebe 3
Teal 800

Until later.

Swansong

A large dose of what makes our land so green at Inner Marsh Farm this evening had the majority of the wildfowl milling around despondently on number one pool.

The notable exception was two Whooper Swans – probably newly arrived – looking absolutely cream-crackered on the hide pool.

They looked about as likely to move as an Israeli settler on the West Bank, but after a few verses of tuneless trumpeting they were off and over the marsh using what was probably their last drop of fuel.

Having stayed under the flight path to Heathrow over the last few days, I am always incredulous to think that less than twelve hours ago, some of these giant aluminium behemoths were flying over exotic far flung lands.

But to me, some of the incredible journeys migrating birds make under their own steam is in many cases and to use the most overused superlative: unbelievable.

I have heard a few whispers and seen a couple of reports of both Bewick’s and Whooper Swans from all over the estuary during the last couple of days – winter is truly just around the corner.

Until later.

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.