MoD agree to limit low flying over rare bird breeding site

Ospreys laid a clutch of eggs on a nesting platform at the Llyn Brenig reservoir on the Denbigh Moors last year

Ian Cooper

22:03, 25 MAR 2019

UPDATED10:15, 26 MAR 2019

One of Britain's rarest birds which set up home in Denbighshire is being given a helping hand thanks to some much larger flying beasts.

It is 12 months since a pair of Ospreys laid a clutch of eggs on a nesting platform at the Llyn Brenig reservoir on the Denbigh Moors. 

Now the Ministry Of Defence has agreed to limit low flying between the months of April and May - the main period of sensitivity in terms of disturbing the birds.  

It comes as a unique bird hide has been developed to allow photographers to capture images of the birds from a perfect vantage point. 

Nick Kite, attractions manager for Welsh Water, who has been instrumental in developing the hide, said the facility designed by Gilleard Bros Ltd has been positioned 150 metres from last year's nesting site.

It is unique in that is has one way glass, gimbles to allow heavy camera lenses to be kept in the perfect position and even comfy office chairs for snappers.

Mr Kite , who has been in the role since 2012, added: "Pretty soon I realised that we might be able to attract Osprey's to this site, we started putting up telegraph poles with ready-made nesting platforms on and over the course of two or three years we had five sites. Finally last year, they decided to breed."

"The only platform over water  is very similar to the location the nine-year-old female bird  (known as Bird 24) was born at Rutland Water. Perhaps she thinks shes found somewhere that looks a bit like home!' And the team at Brenig has also looked to a skies for a helping hand (or wing) of a much different kind, in the form of the MOD. 

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Why the arrival of this bird on the North Wales coast is causing excitement

Birdwatchers have gathered to try to catch a glimpse of the rare visitor

By

Jez Hemming

18:07, 8 JAN 2019

UPDATED21:38, 8 JAN 2019

A rare bird with a wintering population of about 400 has been spotted by sharp-eyed watchers on the Denbighshire coast.

There are only between 19 and 44 pairs of black redstarts to be found breeding in the UK and approximately 400 wintering birds between October and March.

The bird, which was spotted near Rhyl harbour on Tuesday, was formerly considered a member of the thrush family but has since been classified as an Old World flycatcher.

Keen ornithologists made the trip to see the unusual find, which likes to winter in coastal regions.

Amanda Fiddler said she made the trip with Warrington's New Cut Heritage Trail Bird Club, after seeing news of the bird on social media.

She said: "I've only ever seen one before, and I saw on Facebook it was here. It's out on the twitchers' network now."

Around half a dozen birdwatchers managed to get down to Rhyl's harbourside to see the bird, including Terry Egan, also from the Warrington club.

He said: "It's nice to see one, and especially when you see it within a few minutes of arriving."

The black redstart is a robin-sized bird with black, grey, red, orange and white plumage and, despite its limited numbers, can be found in various parts of the UK all year round.

According to the RSPB, it is on the red list of birds of conservation concern, and is also a Schedule 1 species according to the Wildlife and Countryside Act. This means "it is an offence to intentionally or recklessly disturb at, on or near an 'active' nest".

They typically forage for insects, spiders, worms, berries and seeds and tend to look for mainly urban areas like Greater London, Birmingham, Nottingham, Liverpool, Manchester and Ipswich when breeding.

Some pairs have been spotted at cliff sites, power stations and coastal areas between Suffolk and Dorset.

In winter, you will find them in coastal areas of Ireland, Wales, England and the east of Scotland.

Source

A record year for Denbighshire's terns ... but will the picture be so rosy after Brexit?

Bird Notes columnist Julian Hughes of RSPB Cymru reveals what birds have been spotted in the past week and lists some upcoming birding events

By

Andrew Forgrave Rural Affairs Editor

23:40, 17 SEP 2018

Supporters of Wales’ only nesting colony of Little Terns are celebrating another successful breeding season under the watch of wardens from Denbighshire County Council .

Despite 89 nests being lost to Storm Hector’s metre-high tidal surge in June, a record 171 pairs reared 192 young on the beach at Gronant .

Wardens saved 27 nests from the waves by moving nests up the beach, and numbers were boosted by influx of birds whose nests failed in Ireland, Cumbria and the Isle of Man.

Every year since 2014 each pair has fledged a chick, enough to grow the population, making Gronant the second biggest Little Tern colony in Britain & Ireland.

Wardens have witnessed some chicks refusing food, an indication of good supplies of small fish offshore.

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Duck oil spill rescue continues in Glyndyfrdwy

A rescue operation to save up to 500 ducks caught up in an oil spill on a lake is continuing in Denbighshire, says the RSPCA.

Nearly 200 have been rounded up so far following the incident in Glyndyfrdwy, between Corwen and Llangollen.

Most of the birds are heavily coated in engine oil and are being taken to the RSPCA's wildlife centre in Taunton, Somerset, for treatment.

The rescue started on Monday after last week's oil spill.

Natural Resources Wales (NRW) said the spill was confined to the lake and there was no impact on the wider environment.

The agency was called out to investigate the incident on Thursday and Friday and advised the landowner how to clean up the oil.

The ducks were originally reared for shooting but had been signed over to the RSPCA, said its officials.

It said they would be rehabilitated and survivors released back into the wild.

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