White Storks seen across North Wales

White Stork near Criccieth (Kevin Hitch)

White Stork (Kevin Hitch)

The release of captive-bred White Storks at multiple sites in southern England is somewhat controversial, given doubtful historic evidence that the species was ever a regular breeder in Britain. One near the Dwyfor estuary, and later over Criccieth, at the weekend was released last summer on the southern edge of Exmoor. Another from the same release was recently near Cardigan, while the origin of White Storks at Aberdyfi and the Dee estuary in recent days are unknown. Earlier this year, one spent a couple of months in the Cain valley, Montgomeryshire, having apparently escaped from a collection in Cumbria.

The first Pied Flycatchers arrived in Wales at the weekend, with individuals in Chirk and on breeding territory near Betws-y-coed. Osprey pairs were reunited at nests at Glaslyn and Cors Dyfi in recent days, while a female at Llyn Brenig awaits her mate. A Ring Ouzel on the Great Orme was a passage migrant, whereas several in Cwm Anafon are already on breeding territories. Projects by RSPB Cymru and the National Trust start next week to survey Ring Ouzels across Eryri, funded by Welsh Government through the Local Nature Partnership and the Nature Networks Fund as part of Natur i Bobl Nant Ffrancon.
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A Great Grey Shrike found on the slopes above Llyn Padarn this week may be the bird reported intermittently from several locations east of Caernarfon over the winter. Four Tundra Bean Geese remained in fields near the Alaw estuary throughout last week, with a smaller Pink-footed Goose in attendance. A couple of European White-fronted Geese over Shotwick should be making their way back to Siberia for the summer while Whooper Swans over Waunfawr were heading north to Iceland. Penmaenmawr’s Surf Scoter was seen again in Saturday’s choppy seas and a Long-tailed Duck was off Fairbourne. At least 190 Eiders were off Penmon Point on Monday, several Slavonian Grebes fed off Traeth Lafan and a Water Pipit is at Morfa Aber. 

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