It’s been a good week for raptor sightings, with two scarce visitors recorded, alongside good counts of our commoner residents. On Wednesday Dave Riley watched a Goshawk fly through No.1 bed, while Saturday saw a Merlin flying east from No.4 bed. Both species have estimated UK breeding populations in excess of 1,000 pairs, with the Goshawk population steadily expanding. While we see the odd Merlin most years, Goshawks are much scarcer as they are a more sedentary species, with juveniles tending to establish territories close to their natal areas. In contrast, Merlins are more migratory, often moving from breeding grounds on upland moorlands to winter in coastal areas. In addition, Merlins from Iceland often move to winter in the UK. In terms of our resident species, three or four Marsh Harriers are a daily presence, while warm weather regularly sees Sparrowhawks displaying over all four beds, with over 20 Buzzards soaring around the perimeter of the Reserve and the odd Kestrel again on all four beds. Other sightings from Saturday included: 2 Swallows, 50 Sand Martins, 40 Black-necked Grebes, 1 Little RingedPlover, 1 Egyptian Goose and 3 Goosanders. Photo of a male Marsh Harrier Cheers David Bowman (with Dan Owen)

Photo looking east over No.4 bed Cheers David

Photo looking NW over No.4 bed Cheers David

Photo of a singing Wren Cheers David

Photo of a Little Grebe Cheers David

A bit of variety this week, with the annual Woolston Eyes jaunt to Wales to look for lekking Black Grouse and displaying Goshawks on Wednesday, followed by a session looking for visible migration on No.4 bed the following day. We were fortunate with Wednesday’s weather, in that it was dry though cold and overcast. Eight male Black Grouse were at the usual lekking site and it’s always evocative to hear the males giving their distinctive bubbling call as they duel with each other for dominance. Other sightings at the lek included our first Wheatear of the year, plus Red Grouse and Ravens. Then it was over to Llyn Brenig to search for Goshawks. The nearby Clocaenog Forest is a hot-spot for breeding Goshawks and we were quickly treated to very close views of a large female, perched at the side of a forestry track, followed by more distant views of a hunting bird. Thursday’s session on No.4 bed brought warmer weather and counts included: 1 Little Ringed Plover, 1 Willow Warbler, 3 Swallows, 10 Blackcaps, 220 Sand Martins, 40 Black-necked Grebes, 2 feral Barnacle Geese and 4 Oystercatchers. Photo of an Oystercatcher Cheers David Bowman (with Dan Owen, Dave Steel and John Ireland)