Woolston Eyes Nature Reserve
An S.S.S.I. Managed by Woolston Eyes Conservation Group
Woolston Eyes Monthly Sightings
2026-04-03
Photo looking east over No.4 bed Cheers David
Submitted by: David Bowman
2026-04-03
Photo looking NW over No.4 bed Cheers David
Submitted by: David Bowman
2026-04-03
Photo of a singing Wren Cheers David
Submitted by: David Bowman
2026-04-03
Photo of a Little Grebe Cheers David
Submitted by: David Bowman
2026-04-03
A bit of variety this week, with the annual Woolston Eyes jaunt to Wales to look for lekking Black Grouse and displaying Goshawks on Wednesday, followed by a session looking for visible migration on No.4 bed the following day. We were fortunate with Wednesday’s weather, in that it was dry though cold and overcast. Eight male Black Grouse were at the usual lekking site and it’s always evocative to hear the males giving their distinctive bubbling call as they duel with each other for dominance. Other sightings at the lek included our first Wheatear of the year, plus Red Grouse and Ravens. Then it was over to Llyn Brenig to search for Goshawks. The nearby Clocaenog Forest is a hot-spot for breeding Goshawks and we were quickly treated to very close views of a large female, perched at the side of a forestry track, followed by more distant views of a hunting bird. Thursday’s session on No.4 bed brought warmer weather and counts included: 1 Little Ringed Plover, 1 Willow Warbler, 3 Swallows, 10 Blackcaps, 220 Sand Martins, 40 Black-necked Grebes, 2 feral Barnacle Geese and 4 Oystercatchers. Photo of an Oystercatcher Cheers David Bowman (with Dan Owen, Dave Steel and John Ireland)
Submitted by: David Bowman