Chatty thrushes are sound of the north

Redwing (Tony Pope)

Finding a calm and dry weather window to make the December visit to my BTO Winter Bird Survey above Conwy has been a challenge, but it was wonderful to hear the chatty, bubbling subsong of Redwings when I did. You may be familiar with the high-pitched “tseep” calls made by these thrushes as they migrate at night, but fewer hear the song associated with their taiga breeding habitat in the Arctic. Friday’s sunshine prompted some enthusiasm for next spring. Afterwards, a scan of Conwy Bay revealed almost 250 Red-throated Divers, also seeking refuge from northern ice, and many dozens of Razorbills, unusual here in midwinter.

Other winter refugees included seven Slavonian Grebes and six Great Northern Divers in Beddmanarch Bay and Inland Sea, a Long-tailed Duck at Llyn Penrhyn, at least one Surf Scoter off Old Colwyn and several Velvet Scoters off Pensarn. A Black Redstart is at Point Lynas and a Scaup in Foryd Bay, while a Firecrest foraged at RSPB Conwy and a Red-necked Grebe in Holyhead harbour at the weekend.

Meanwhile, Swifts that scream over our villages in ever-diminishing numbers feed somewhere high over central African rainforests. Swift supporters in Wales reacted angrily to Welsh Government’s rejection of a proposal to require new buildings to incorporate hollow “Swift brick” nest sites, backed by North Wales Wildlife Trust and RSPB Cymru among others. Senedd members pushed again for action during the Committee stage of new Welsh environmental legislation last week, as MSPs voted in favour of mandatory legislation in Scotland.
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To celebrate the first anniversary of Cudyll Cymru, BTO Cymru’s raptor monitoring initiative is inviting people to its inaugural Wales Raptor Convention at Aberystwyth on 31 January. Topics include plans for the reintroduction of White -tailed Eagle, raptor monitoring in the uplands, a workshop on identification of birds of prey and a talk by the National Wildlife Crime Unit. Tickets are just £10, available from the BTO website.

As the Daily Post is not published on Christmas Day, this is the last BirdNotes until the New Year, so my opportunity to thank readers for their comments, and especially the photographers who have kindly let me use their images during 2025. I wish you all a peaceful and enjoyable break if you have one, and good birding in 2026.