Bird Surveys

Rangers from the Council’s Countryside Service have been working in partnership with staff and volunteers from the RSPB to carry out a series of bird surveys across some of the key countryside sites in the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

The surveys are a great way to gather baseline data about what birds are living in the areas we manage and what their distribution is. This information will help us plan up-coming habitat management and allow us to be more strategic in how we approach the work.

Baseline data is really important as it can highlight potentially sensitive areas and also areas that are of less concern. Continued surveying also allows us to evaluate the success of projects as any beneficial impacts will have a positive impact on bird numbers and distribution.

In order cover a larger area, we split into pairs and each pair had a section of the country park to focus on. As a Ranger I’m usually so busy that I don’t have the time to stop and take in the fantastic surroundings in which I work. The bird survey gave me a very welcome opportunity to visit some of the quieter areas and take the time to enjoy the beauty of the place.

Bird surveys can be very weather dependant, especially at Moel Famau Country Park. Luckily for us the conditions on the day were favourable and sightings included Red Kite, Skylark, Yellowhammer, Peregrine Falcon and lots of Meadow Pippets, among others.

The highlight of the day for me was seeing two Cuckoos – at two o’clock! You couldn’t make it up.

Further bird surveys are planned and if you would like to be involved, please contact the centre at Loggerheads on: loggerheads.countrypark@denbighshire.gov.uk

Saul Burton (Ranger)