godwit

Smaller numbers, but no less special, of black-tailed godwits and bar-tailed godwits are heading south, a good opportunity to tell them apart - spotting the tail colour is never easy, but in summer, the orange on bar-tailed extends right underneath, whereas it stops half-way down on a black-tailed godwit, giving way to a pale belly.

RECORD numbers of blacktailed godwits are making the Dee Estuary a mecca for wader enthusiasts.

Black-tailed Godwits at RSPB Conwy and Spotted Redshank at Connah's Quay are a foretaste of the "big fortnight" of southbound wader passage due in the first two weeks of August.

Beyond the garden other birds to see include two North American long-billed dowitchers at Connah's Quay NR, where up to 13 spotted redshanks and 5,000 black-tailed godwits feed.

Aside from Whimbrels, migrating waders have been scarce, but 20 Bar-tailed Godwits were a nice find at Beddmanarch Bay.

Other scarce birds include a Great White Egret, 11 Spotted Redshanks and 2,000 Blacktailed Godwits at RSPB Oakenholt Marsh, and a Black Redstart on the edge of Holywell.

The geese have started to move around, we're seeing wintering species such as black tailed godwits start to arrive on the reserve.

An estimated 600 wading birds on reserve have seen their nests and breeding attempts destroyed, including almost two-fifths (37%) of England and Wales' lowland snipe, as as redshank, lapwing and rare black-tailed godwits.

The lagoons fill with sea-water on particularly high tides and have been restored to help wetland wildlife such as black- tailed godwits, whimbrel, curlew, redshank, greenshank, spotted redshank and little egret.

Up to eight spotted redshanks, with their clean plumage and needle-thin bill, were at DNS Connah's Quay (and a superb 3000 black-tailed godwits), with others on the Clwyd, Morfa Madryn, Foryd Bay and RSPB Point of Ayr.

Fifty pink-footed geese were on Oakenholt Marsh, while 500 black-tailed godwits roosted at nearby Connah's Quay.