Dowlais scrape area, migration and breeding in full swing

 Despite the continuing cold weather; migrant birds such as this Wheatear have been passing through. This bird was one of a flock of 6 that stayed a few hours this weekend.

It looked like the local swallows had arrived en-masse when 4 one day became 24 the next all on wires along Strode Road, then just as suddenly most of them vanished.

Bar-tailed Godwit numbers have decreased but there are still Whimbrel moving through and these use all of the Dowlais fields, not just the scrape showing how important it is to keep as much habitat as possible for them and Curlews as both species are in serious decline.

This video was taken from a gate in Strode Road itself when the birds happened to be much closer than normal

Today a rarer wader graced the scrape. This was a Little Stint. It is really small as the name suggests and this could be seen when it fed next to a Dunlin and a Ringed Plover at one point. Both of those are small waders themselves.

This was an excellent find by Steve from Yatton, one of several birders to visit the area regularly

It spent most of its time on one of the remaining small patches of water left

Other migrants included several species of warbler such as this Sedge Warbler

As far as breeding goes it is very tricky to accurately assess numbers from the perimeter fences but one Lapwing nest is clear and others are suspected

Lapwing on nest at Dowlais

I am hoping that the water levels are maintained high enough for the Redshank and Snipe chicks to have plenty of wet places to feed away from the predatory Crows etc.

In fact I have tried to engage with North Somerset Council to find out their plans for the area, both short and long term.

Together with colleagues I have offered to do surveys into the biodiversity of the area as there are several knowledgeable people in and around Clevedon with expertise in a variety of insect and other groups.

Initially the Council were very enthusiastic and said to expect important good news soon but since then there has been no concrete contact which worries me slightly.

Hopefully this is just due to the relevant people being very busy due to the pandemic as it is a crucial place for local breeding waders.