Spring migration stutters but a Bardsey raptor flew from Iceland

Merlin - not from Iceland (Tony Pope)

Cold, blustery weather suspended northbound migration for many birds, but small numbers of Swallows, House Martins and Willow Warblers are around North Wales, and increasing numbers of Sandwich Terns pass our coasts. Scarcer spring migrants included a pair of Garganey on RSPB Burton Mere Wetlands’ Border Pool and an Osprey over RSPB Conwy. Lingering visitors include Lesser Yellowlegs on the Clwyd estuary, Water Pipit at Morfa Aber, Slavonian Grebes on the Inland Sea and another with a Black-necked Grebe off Aber Ogwen. Satellite data shared on Movebank's Animal Tracker app shows that a Merlin on Bardsey and the tip of Pen Llŷn since late October originated in Iceland. Although long suspected, this is the first proven movement of an Icelandic-race, subaesalon, Merlin to Wales. You can view the animated movement on my BlueSky account.

Almost as rare were four Tundra Bean Geese grazing near Anglesey’s Alaw estuary, the region’s first record since 2012. They are heading towards Siberian breeding grounds, having probably wintered somewhere in western Europe as part of a continent-wide movement earlier in the year that saw reports from Ireland, Brittany and even Spain, in response to cold weather.
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Wildlife Poisoning Research UK has recently published a map of deliberately poisoned birds, which it believes to be just a fraction of the true number. During 2012-23, 88 birds were killed in Wales and along the border, mostly birds of prey and Ravens; the report highlights the Dee Valley and multiple incidents in Powys as areas of particular concern. WPRUK remarks that “the enforcement regime… is not preventing this ongoing criminal activity” and considers that licensing the release of gamebirds would deter wildlife crime, prevent habitat damage caused by over releasing and limit the risk of disease spread. Welsh Government recently commissioned Environment Platform Wales, a collaboration of Welsh universities and government, to review the evidence of impact of releasing non-native Pheasants and partridges.