The Swifts are back!

Swift (Michael Thackeray)

After nine months of flight since they left their nest, Swifts were over Corwen, Llanfair TH, RSPB Conwy and Aber Ogwen at the weekend. They use the same nest site in roof spaces each year, but scaffolding can prevent access to their homes. The RSPB has reminded householders and building companies that active nests of all species are protected by law and encouraged people to report screaming parties of Swifts and nest sites on the swiftmapper.org.uk website. Records can also be added to North Wales Wildlife Trust's Swift Recovery Project on the Cofnod website. 

Meanwhile, the Senedd Petitions Committee urged Welsh Government to take a cross-departmental approach to a call by more than 10,000 people for Swift Bricks to be mandatory on all new buildings in Wales.

In other migration news, Ring Ouzels have been seen from more sites than usual away from their Eryri breeding areas. These are probably birds moving farther north, but as we move into May, any Ring Ouzels showing evidence of breeding behaviour should be reported to county recorders, especially in Denbighshire where summer records are now scarce. Yellow Wagtails adjacent to the River Dee near Sealand include at least one of the continental Blue-headed form.

Groups of Whimbrels rested on their journey to breed in Iceland; larger groups included 80 on Traeth Lafan at Wig, 42 at Carmel Head and 30 on the Glaslyn from Porthmadog Cob. While most waders pause at the coast, one prefers the high life. Six Dotterels were on the western slope of Carneddau Llewelyn, the second highest summit in Wales, on Sunday, en route to Scotland or Scandinavia.

A White Stork flew over RSPB Burton Mere Wetlands from across the Welsh border and six Cattle Egrets remain beside the main road north out of Valley on Monday. Most winter visitors have departed, although the Menai Strait’s Kumlien’s Gull and Black-necked Grebe were at Aber Ogwen last week, from where an Egyptian Goose departed north over Penmon Point on Monday.