Dance of the Lapwings

One of the highlights of our spring is the displaying Lapwings, as Conwy is one of only a handful of sites along the North Wales coast where these once-common waders now nest, following a serious decline across Wales.  Last autumn, we scalped the islands on the lagoons, removing all the vegetation so that when the Lapwings returned in March, they'd have short grass on which to nest (they like it short so they can keep an eye on what's happening around them). At this time of year, Sarah's alarm clock goes off extra early so that she can count the nesting waders and waterbirds. The cold weather has rather messed up the Lapwing's breeding season, but we currently have four Lapwings sitting on eggs, and there are several more pairs that haven't quite got round to it yet. Their aerial display flight, captured so well in Aled Williams' photo, involves them swooping to the ground from height, shouting their 'pee-whit' call which gives them their old English name. Their Welsh name Cornchwiglen is also onomatopoeic, the 'chwig-len' sounding like their call.  Fingers crossed for a successful breeding season.

Many of our summer migrants are now with us: there are now lots of Chiffchaffs, Willow Warblers and Whitethroats around, though Blackcaps still seem a bit scarce.  The first Garden Warbler arrived on Thursday (25th) and our first Whinchat was here the same day, though unlike the others, it won't stay to nest. There were also up to 30 Wheatears and a Yellow Wagtail that morning. The most surprising spectacle of the week came with a slow-moving weather front of drizzle on Thursday morning, dropping at least 32 Common Sandpipers on the reserve, of which 17 were feeding in a single flock on the Paddock! The same day brought a good arrival of Sedge Warblers, holding territory despite the slow growth in the reedbeds.

A few waders have been moving through: a small group of Dunlins this morning, Greenshank, Knot and Whimbrel on Wednesday and Thursday. Several Arctic terns were seen earlier in the week, and there have been plenty of Swifts, Swallows and House Martins.  A dead Bottle-nosed dolphin was, sadly, washed into the estuary on Tuesday morning. On a more positive note, Cowslips are abundant around the Coffee Shop and if you're walking along the estuary track, look out for Lady's Smock and Dog Violets growing along the bank, part of which we cut over the winter to encourage a wider variety of plants and insects on this southwest-facing slope. Like the management work we do for the Lapwings, we're working hard to give nature a home. Enjoy it!