
	World Birding British Birding Miscellany & Fun Birdnews Travel Library Bird Families Ornithology Sight & Sounds Equipment/Supplies

birding...

Wales Flintshire (visit this page on fatfisherman.com)

Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe �Nigel Blake http://www.nigelblake.co.uk/

Flintshire is blessed with a wide range of habitats including sand dunes, beach, tidal estuary, wooded valleys, moors, hills, rivers and rich farmland. The northern most point of the county is the Point of Ayr, a good place for both sea and migrant watching. Inland from the estuary lie the coastal hills, full of wooded valleys and streams alive with bird song in the spring.

The whole of the northeast border of the county runs down the middle of Dee Estuary, an internationally important site for many species of waders and duck. The middle and upper reaches of the River Dee pass through Flintshire and this is excellent riverine habitat. A spectacular view of the Dee's wooded valley can be had from the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct at Trevor, a few miles east of Llangollen.

top sites

Flint Castle

(SJ247735) The castle is an ancient ruin that affords excellent views over the marsh and mud flats of the Dee Estuary. Get here two hours before high water to see a good selection of species including Black-tailed Godwit, Pintail, Teal and Shelduck. Both Little Egret and Spoonbill have been seen here in recent years.

Point of Ayr and Gronant

(SJ092843) This area of sand dunes, willow scrub, beach and salt marsh attracts a wide range of birds. Terns and Ringed Plover nest on the shingle at Gronant and Snow Bunting and Shorelark winter here. The Point of Ayr is great for sea-watching during strong north-westerly winds. Look southeast from the Point to see the vast stretches of the Dee Estuary with its teeming masses of duck and waders. Go south along the embankment from Talacre car park to reach the RSPB hide that overlooks a large high tide roost.

contributor

Richard Smith
http://www.deeestuary.co.uk/

county recorder

Ian Spence
43 Blackbrook, Sychdyn, Mold, Flintshire CH7 6LT
01352 750118
ianspence.cr@btinternet.com

useful reading

Best Birdwatching Sites in North Wales

by Alan Davies & Owen Roberts Nov 2007 Buckingham Press �15.95p
See Fatbirder Review
ISBN: 9780955033940
Buy this book from NHBS.com

clubs

Clywd Bird Ringing Group

http://www.cbrg.org.uk
The objects of the Group are to contribute to the conservation of biodiversity in North-East Wales by undertaking and promoting the systematic study and recording of the occurrence, distribution, and breeding of bird species occurring in North-East Wales (being the Watsonian vice counties of Denbighshire and Flintshire).

trip reports

Travelling Birder
http://www.travellingbirder.com
The Travellingbirder.com birding trip report search engine guides you to 7,000+ birding trip reports on the Internet. You can search for trip reports from a specific country and time of year. Not all these reports are in English. So, if you can�t find the trip report you want on this Fatbirder page� give them a try!

places to stay

Northop Hall Country House Hotel

http://www.flintshire.org/northop.html
Set in secluded grounds near to Snowdonia, yet close to all the wonderful amenities of nearby Chester...

Clwyd Birds Web

http://www.desadams.co.uk/
Clwyd offers the birdwatcher a wide and diverse range of habitats. Sand and shingle beaches on the North Wales Coast between Conwy and Talacre join the tidal estuaries of the Rivers Conwy, Clywd and the Dee.

Dee Estuary Birding

http://www.deeestuary.co.uk/
The Dee Estuary, on the North Wales / North-West England border, is one of the United Kingdom's premier birding locations for wetland and shorebirds. This Web site describes the best Dee Estuary birdwatching areas with detailed maps and latest bird news for dedicated twitchers and casual birdwatchers alike...