On
3rd November eighteen of us gathered for the opening of the new hide
at Point of Ayr. We were joined by RSPB
Dee Estuary staff, Colin Wells and Geoff Robinson and RSPB volunteer Mike
Ratcliffe. We had moved barely a metre
onto the embankment on the western margin of the marsh when Geoff pointed out a
dark-bellied Brent goose resting on the marsh.
Apparently, it had been there since 1st November. For some of us this was an exciting first
sighting of this species. The landward
edge of the embankment is bounded by willow (Salix spp.), poplar (Populus
spp.) and hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) trees
which are currently providing food sources for a range of birds. These included blue tits, coal tits and a
very active group of long-tailed tits.
The
light that morning was good so the blue-grey cushions of sea purslane (Halimione portulacoides) contrasted well
with the now senescent yellow-brown of the sea aster (Aster
tripolium). The sea aster when in
flower allows a heady scent to pervade the marsh, but now sports seed heads
which will provide a valuable food source for birds in the coming weeks. Both these species thrive because the marsh
is not grazed. The ‘trash line’ on the
seaward edge of the embankment witnessed to the recent high tides. This apparent waste material also harbours a valuable
seed source for birds during the winter.
We progressed
along the embankment at a leisurely pace with much to see helped by Colin and Geoff explaining many
features to us.
Eventually,
we reached the new hide where Paul Brady (also of RSPB Dee Estuary), several
BHP Billiton staff and Stan Skelton, another RSPB volunteer greeted us. Whilst some opening ceremonies may feature
champagne and canapés, the treats for us were tea, coffee or hot chocolate
accompanied by flapjacks and brownies, all veggie friendly and Fair Trade and
the cups would be recycled: yay! Once
refreshed everyone was keen to start searching for the bird life, but first
there was the opening ceremony and the speeches. The ribbon was cut by one of the BHP Billiton
representatives who stated their commitment to the Deeside environment and
their pleasure at contributing to the construction of the new hide. Colin thanked other partners including the
Environment Agency, Flintshire County Council and ENI. The hide is an open design thus, hopefully,
deterring the antics
of the vandals who destroyed the previous one. It is a robust design with views to the
estuary and the roost sites and the RSPB hopes that with the help of volunteer
wardens it will have a long life.
Finally,
we could get down to the serious business of the day seeking out the birds of
the estuary. We were not to be
disappointed. The rising tide was
providing an excellent panorama of birds easily visible from the hide. The varied roosting niches of different
species resulted in oystercatchers (c.2000) roosting on the shingle ridge,
while the redshank preferred the banks of the creeks and the bar-tailed godwits
played ‘chicken’ with the encroaching tide seemingly daring it to move them
back to the marsh. Soon we witnessed one
of the dramas of the site as we watched a merlin take off in pursuit of a skylark. Despite its renowned acrobatic skills, the
merlin was unsuccessful in catching its prey and the skylark escaped: it was
gripping stuff. The merlin returned to
perch on a fence post on the marsh where it remained for some time, but did not
participate in further pursuits. Waders present
in large numbers included dunlin, knot, redshank, grey plover, snipe, and
curlew alongside duck species including pintail, shelduck, wigeon and teal. We stayed for some time in the hide and by
sharing our viewings, apart from those species mentioned already, the tally for
the day included meadow and rock pipits, linnet, starling, mallard, peregrine,
grey heron, little egret, black-tailed godwit, cormorant, snipe, and common
gull.
Do
visit the Point of Ayr hide: it will be well worth your time, especially if you
can be there at the time of the rising tide.
The embankment leading to the hide forms part of the Welsh Coastal Path
so you could combine your bird watching with a walk. The Coastal Path is 870 miles long so don’t
try to do it all in one day!!
Jen
RSPB Dee
Estuary website: http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/d/dee-pointofayr/index.aspx
Welsh
Coastal path website: http://www.walescoastpath.gov.uk/default.aspx
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