Hugh’s News – 4 October 2021

Numbers of Egrets have been increasing at Burton Mere Wetlands over the last month, with 5 Cattle Egret plus at least 30 Great Egret on 28th September!  There are also 3 Spoonbill still around, mostly seen on the flashes at Parkgate.

You may remember that in June I suggested that you kept a look out for Rosy Starlings, following an influx into the UK.  Well, Bill Wonderley indeed found a juvenile Rosy Starling on a trip to Llandudno in September.  It is more difficult to pick out from the Common Starlings it usually associates with when it is in this plumage, so a good scan is required to identify one.  This species seems to like north Wales, with several birds having been seen over recent years.

Bill also caught this nice image, at Conwy RSPB, of a Grey Wagtail in typical feeding mode, picking little insects off the water and vegetation.  I think they are really smart looking birds.

However, the most impressive photos have to be the flight shots of the now famous Black-browed Albatross.  The pictures were taken by Alison Davey’s sister Rachel Lowry, when they visited Bempton Cliffs together recently. Given the name “Albert” by birders, this magnificent bird has been present there for several weeks amongst the numerous Gannets.  Well known for wandering around the southern oceans, Albert is clearly lost here in the northern hemisphere, but seems to be surviving well. As the Gannets now desert their cliff nest sites, Albert is also likely to move on – but where to? And will he return next year?

Hugh Stewart