Hugh’s News – July 2018
Those of you present at the last Indoor meeting will know that I didn’t have any announcements to make! As many of you are possibly aware, birding can sometimes become a little quiet at this time of year, as we move between the breeding season and the peak autumn migration period. The ongoing high temperatures we are enduring do not help either, as many birds seek shade to avoid the worst of the heat. Already adult birds are starting to moult their feathers and become (even more) skulking as they hide from potential predators!
There are still young birds to be seen though, such as this cute juvenile Pied Flycatcher we saw at Elan Valley; and a young Great-spotted Woodpecker (with the red cap) that was being fed by mum at a peanut feeder at Burton Mere Wetlands. The young bird soon learned to feed itself! Goldfinches have been coming to my own garden for a few days now.
Small numbers of waders are starting to return to the Dee from their summering quarters, either to stay for the winter or as a staging post before carrying on further into southern Europe and Africa. These early birds are often failed breeders but may still show some or all of their breeding plumage, like the Turnstone with some remnant chestnut feathers I saw on Hilbre. You can of course be in the right place at the right time. A Green Sandpiper dropped into BMW Reception Pool and gave great views. A Song Thrush sang heartily from the conifers where we parked at Cynwyd on Tuesday. This species seems to me to be very elusive while breeding but starts singing again for a while when the young have fledged, as if to celebrate raising another brood successfully!
While it can be difficult to find birds just now, there is a still lot of other wildlife to seek out. Orchids including a single Pyramidal Orchid have been showing at BMW. Butterflies are around in good numbers too together with dragonflies and damselflies.
A couple of events for your diaries:
Firstly, the annual Exhibition of Wildlife Art is on again at Gordales from 27th to 29th July. Free admission, and open Friday and Saturday from 9.30am until 6pm; Sunday 10.30am until 5pm. Well worth popping in if you are passing by.
There will be a Hen Harrier Day event at the Old Baths, Parkgate on Sunday 12th August from 12 noon until 2pm. Speakers will include Iolo Williams and Jeff Clarke. This event is to publicise the ongoing plight of Hen Harriers specifically and other wildlife in general that are suffering badly from illegal persecution. It should be entertaining and informative.
Finally, you may have heard that Mersey Ferries and the RSPB are hosting a ‘Liverbird’ Bird Watching & Nature Discovery Cruise on the River Mersey and out into Liverpool Bay, on Sunday 19th August. Sadly this cruise is sold out already! If we hear of additional dates, we will let you know a.s.a.p.
Hugh Stewart
