Trip reports

Connah's Quay Reserve

Saturday, 18 October 2008

After so much rain this year, we were lucky to have plenty of sunshine and the accompanying blue sky for our field trip to Connah's Quay reserve. A highlight was an excellent view of a peregrine falcon, and also buzzard and raven.

Those who went to the hides to await the high tide were not disappointed either, particularly in the Western Hide, a two storey hide, so with very good views over the Dee. The numerous little egret gleamed white in the sunshine. Amazing how quickly we have come to accept them/expect them to be there when, say, ten years ago there was no sign of them in this part of the country! Flocks of knot and redshank wheeled and turned in the sky. A lovely sight!

Black tailed godwit massed in their hundreds on the far bank, along with huge numbers of redshank, with some greenshank and spotted redshank mixed in. On the same side as the hide, we could see large numbers of oystercatcher and lapwing. There was not so much on the water: dabchick and great crested grebe, a possible sighting of a long tailed duck, and five sorts of gull which could be compared, offering "a lesson in gull identification".

The bird count for the trip was 51 and the human being count for the group was 21. Among the latter were some new faces, who we hope enjoyed the experience. Thanks go to Norman Sadler for laying on both the field trip and the good weather.

MP

Postscript:
As Mary says, this was an excellent field trip with a large turnout of members on a beautiful autumn day. Whilst the wader and duck flocks were noteworthy, for me the highlight of the day was a flock of 50 or more goldfinches which sparkled their way to and fro across the bushes and grassland. A real treat!
- The Newsletter Editor