Hugh’s News – 7 February 2022
Martyn Jamieson has sent in an interesting snippet on Little Egrets on South Uist, where he lives. Still not a common species there yet, there have been 3 birds present over the winter. It was found that one bird was ringed, and investigations showed it was originally ringed in a nest at Penrhyn Castle on 6th June 2021! I would guess this site is beside the Spinnies reserve near Bangor that we have visited frequently. It is a small world!
Bill Wonderley’s camera has been very active! First, he captured the popular male Snow Bunting that has taken a liking to the rocks by Hoylake Lifeboat Station. It occasionally moves away, to Hilbre for example, but was still present there at the time of writing.
He also saw a Tree Sparrow whilst on a Northumberland trip. These dapper birds look so much smarter than their House Sparrow cousins – do you agree? The latter are arguably more characterful though. Unlike the House Sparrow, both sexes of the Tree Sparrow look similar.
Bill also photographed a Twite on Southport beach. It was one of around 40 birds, but this one was more approachable for snapping. Twite is the upland version of the Linnet but they come down to the coasts for the winter. Sadly numbers are falling in the UK.
Peter Ham managed to grab this image of a Cetti’s Warbler at Burton Mere Wetlands. Notoriously secretive, these birds are more often heard than seen, when they give out their powerful song. But occasionally one can settle momentarily before disappearing into the scrub again. I particularly like this photo because it captures the bird in its typical habitat so nicely. Numbers are increasing around the Dee estuary in damp areas with scrub.
Hugh Stewart
