The past three months have provided some quite excellent bird watching on the Reserve. Peak bird counts from Clwyd Monitoring records show from the Connah’s Quay Bridge to the Pandy stream.
On high water Nov. 5809 Dec. 4363 Jan. 6093 Feb. 4070
Surprisingly the biggest count of the quarter was a low water count at 7580. The advantages of low water observations are the nearby concentrations of waders and wildfowl which occur on the mudflats off the approach road to the West hide. All of these counts exclude gulls and passerines.
The following peak wader/ wildfowl counts of note have been recorded this quarter
| Black tailed Godwit | 3042 |
| Redshank | 526 |
| Dunlin | 3000 |
| Lapwing | 3172 |
| Curlew | 220 |
| Teal | 499 |
| Wigeon | 400 |
| Mallard | 169 |
| Shoveler | 17 |
| Knot | 3000 |
Less common birds of the Reserve (December-February 2008)
Snipe Reed Bunting Common Sandpiper Stonechat
Raven Ruddy Shelduck Avocet Long tailed Tits
Merlin Greylag Goose Bewick Swan Red legged Partridge
Mute Swan Peregrine Brambling Kingfisher
WETLAND BIRD SURVEY 2005/06
This 207 page survey report is now available from
WeBS Office, BTO, The Nunnery, Thetford, Norfolk. IP24 2PU
or for the blessed try www.bto.org/webs
The main source of information for this report is the data sent by recorders
from 200 wetland sites around the country.
The purpose of the survey is to assess the size of the non breeding waterbird
populations in the UK, to assess trends in their numbers and distribution
and to assess the importance of individual sites for waterbirds.
These results form the basis for informed decision making by conservation
bodies, planners and developers and contribute to the sustainable and wise
use and management of wetlands and their dependent waterbirds.
The Dee Estuary is of international importance for the following species
- Shelduck, Pintail, Oystercatcher, Knot, Dunlin, Redshank, Black tailed
Godwit, Bar tailed Godwit.
Ray Roberts
2007 was an excellent year for the reserve. New Sightings recording books were put in all the hides, and over the year 106 species were recorded on (or from the hides on) the reserve. I wouldn't be surprised if there were a few more species that were either not recorded or even seen.
Click Here to a see a list of the birds recorded in 2007
Some members were kind enough to donate photographs taken of some of the birds on the reserve, a number of these are included below. If you would like to submit a picture please E-Mail the Webmaster.
Andrew Wallbank
Peregrine Falcon (male and Female)
Copyright 2008
Julie Chicken
Kestrel
Copyright 2007
Andrew Wallbank
Scaup
Copyright 2007
Andrew Wallbank