Local birding.

The atrocious weather has put paid to any ringing or birding activity apart from walks around the patch and staring out the windows at the pond opposite the house and checking gull flocks for anything unusual.

As usual the pond is attracting a small number of wildfowl with Mallard and Teal being the commonest species but, as in other years, it's attracted some others as well. The highlight so far this year has been the presence of up to 9 Shoveler!

Its great to see these beautiful ducks from the comfort of the study window!
Two male Wigeon graced the pond for a few days before moving off - presumably to the Dee Estuary or Burton Mere Wetlands RSPB.

Another local pond (one we can't see from the house) has hosted up to 5 Tufted Ducks adding to the variety.

One of the more unusual records was the presence of Pink-footed Geese. Normally these are seen in flight heading inland from their roost on the Dee but for about a week good numbers were settling in the field with a maximum of 250+ being recorded. Initially there was a small flock of 8 but this gradually increased. Whether these were 'local' birds or ones that had moved into the area from another part of the UK I'll never know but it coincided with reports of Pinkfeet on the move.

Quite a few Greylags and Canada Geese were also present with a maximum count of 73 Greylags. A patch record.

Another early spring arrival are a pair of local Mute Swans that, as in other years, tend to come  and go spending a few hours on the pond and then moving off. Neither of these birds are colour ringed so theres no way of telling where they come from.

Unfortunately we have a local farmer who has zero affinity with wildlife and whose animal husbandry is appalling.  In a previous year I've witnessed him driving his pickup at the swans and throwing rocks at them to drive them off as he claims the 'geese' gives his sheep worms. The fact that the field is flooded half the time and the only water his animals have access to is the pond which has had dead sheep in seems to escape him.

This year he's gone a step further and actually started shooting the birds. So far as I know he's only shot two Canada Geese (I've seen him load a rifle by the field gate and chase off on his quad bike) and he probably doesn't even know about the new General Licence requirements. My main concern is if he identifies Mute Swans as 'geese' he obviously doesn't know what he's shooting at! I've taken professional advice on the situation and will be watching very closely.

Another early spring feature is the large number of gulls we get on the wet fields searching for earthworms. In previous years I've managed to unearth a Med Gull or two and this year was no exception. A single adult turned up with large numbers of Black-headed Gulls behind the house enabling to view from the comfort of the conservatory.

Its great having such a variety of wildlife locally and being able to view from the comfort of the house when its lashing with rain outside.