Welsh uplands wait for the Whinchats

Whinchats (Andy Davis) - winner of the WOS 2023 Photographic Competition

Across Africa, changing day length away from the Equator alerts some birds to set off on migration soon. German even has a word for it: Zugenruhe, a restlessness that occurs ahead of movement. Given the right weather, by the end of February the first Sand Martins and Wheatears could be arriving here. In the second half of April, Whinchats will arrive, but for now they are in the savannah and forest mosaics of central Africa.

Whinchats have disappeared as a breeding species from much of lowland Britain, and are not doing so well in the uplands either. They favour unenclosed grasslands, and in Wales have always been associated with lightly-grazed ffridd/coedcae, on the upland fringe where vegetation of varied structure is interspersed with scattered trees, especially Rowan and Silver Birch. Bracken is important for Whinchats, especially in south-facing upland valleys. Have a read of this blog about a recently-published study by the RSPB Centre for Conservation Science for more details.

With luck, each pair of Whinchats will raise several young each summer, illustrated by the winning image in the Welsh Ornithological Society annual photographic competition. Mold-based photographer Andy Davis caught a male serving a freshly-plucked Bilberry to a chick not yet ready to fly. Check out the WOS website to see the other fantastic photos that were shortlisted.

While our summer visitors build up their fat reserves, winter visitors are doing the same before trekking north or east. The Waxwing flock at Halkyn grew to over 150, the largest in North Wales since January 2017. Elsewhere in Flintshire, a Smew remains at Talacre, Snow Buntings at Point of Ayr and over 30 Twite at Flint Marsh. A Great Grey Shrike was near Llyn Brenig and a Snow Goose at Llay on Sunday, while there are Black Redstarts on the north coast at Kinmel Bay and Holyhead. A Ring-necked Duck remains on Llyn Tegid, a Glossy Ibis feeds near Pwllheli Cob and a Firecrest was at Morfa Madryn, near Llanfairfechan.

Farmers are encouraged to take part in the Big Farmland Bird Count before 18 February. Details at bfbc.org.uk