E-lek-tric display by Hiraethog grouse

Black Grouse (Dave Parry)

Black Grouse surveyors in northeast Wales will hope that the high-pressure system with its clear weather holds through April. Counting birds requires a calm dawn to locate a lek – the gathering that is often a precursor to mating – by the male’s characteristic bubbling call. One bird in Mynydd Hiraethog took the unusual step of displaying on top of a pole carrying low voltage powerlines, caught on video by Dave Parry. Scroll to the bottom of this page to see the clip. Some have speculated that the Black Grouse, which roost in trees to avoid predation, was responding to its own reflection in the glass insulators. Survey volunteers will be scouring the forests and moors, rather than electricity poles, this month to see whether last year’s population increases have been maintained.

Three Hoopoes on Bardsey and one in an Anelog garden were among at least 150 reported in southwest Britain and the south coast of Ireland in recent weeks; a Wryneck on seacliffs across Bardsey Sound made a similar journey from Africa. These overshot their breeding areas in mainland Europe during recent warm weather, as did a Black Kite that flew over my head beside Anglesey’s Llyn Penrhyn on Friday, where the Red-necked Grebe is developing its colourful summer attire. A White Stork wandered widely over Anglesey on Monday and Tuesday, and being unringed was also likely to be a European breeder. Multiple Ring Ouzels were at South Stack and the Great Orme. Other summer migrants included the region’s first Reed Warblers at RSPB Conwy and Gronant on Monday, Sedge Warbler at RSPB Cors Ddyga on Sunday, while Saturday brought a Yellow Wagtail to the Clwyd estuary, Whinchat at Aberffraw and Pied Flycatcher at Llanberis. Common Sandpiper, Tree Pipit and Whimbrel were also recorded in North Wales last week, and eight Little Ringed Plovers paused at RSPB Cors Ddyga. Three Glossy Ibises that flew along Nant Llugwy near Capel Curig were not relocated.

Last week’s call for dog-owners to protect nesting birds by using a short lead prompted readers to remind owners to deposit dog hair in the bin, not to leave it for birds to use as nesting material if dosed with insecticide tick and flea treatments. A study by the University of Sussex showed that several types of insecticide were found in more than 90% of Blue Tit and Great Tit nests sampled, and that a higher number of dead chicks or unhatched eggs were found in nests exposed to the pesticides. Previous studies have highlighted the toxic effects of pet treatments on aquatic life from dogs treated with spot-on, spray or shampoo flea treatments containing chemicals such as fipronil, which was banned for use in agriculture more than a decade ago.