BIRD WATCHING
The collection of meres around Ellesmere is a focal point for winter wildfowl and gull roosts. This is the nearest we get to sea watching, especially when gales blow in Leach`s Petrel, Manx Shearwater or Gannet. In this large, under watched county rarities tend to disappear - the only Bluethroat for the county was found dead under a bungalow window! A number of sites are good for waders especially the Shropshire Ornithological Society`s reserve at Venus Pool, also the Shropshire Wildlife Trust reserves at Wood Lane near Ellesmere and Chelmarsh, near Bridgnorth.
Situated on the border between England and Wales, Shropshire has a wide range of habitats from upland moorland, down to the fertile valleys of slow flowing rivers. There is coniferous and deciduous woodland, some remnant lowland heathland and extensive areas of farmland, from small upland hill farms to the large fields of the lowland farms in the east of the county.
The last vestiges of moorland on the Shropshire Hills are the place to see Red Grouse, Ring Ouzel, Stonechat and even an occasional Merlin. Pied Flycatcher and Redstart are mostly confined to the hill country of the southwest but Raven and Peregrine have increased their range in recent years and may be encountered on the Shropshire plain.
The largest habitat is farmland and can still produce Yellow Wagtail, Corn Bunting and Skylark. Lapwings cling on but are becoming scarcer by the year. The conifer woods of the southwest occasionally produce Crossbills and Siskins whilst Goshawks lurk in the shadows.
Long Mynd
(SO420920) Dominating southern Shropshire is the upland mass of the Long Mynd. Some 13km by 6km, the National Trust largely owns it. Although the pressure of sheep grazing has influenced the varied habitats this is still a good area to see Red Grouse, Ring Ouzel, Stonechat, Whinchat and Wheatear. The steep valleys contain Grey Wagtail and Dipper whilst Raven and Buzzard are often seen overhead. For the lucky a fleeting glimpse of Merlin may be a bonus.
Stiperstones
(SO365985)To the west of the Long Mynd, the Stiperstones is another upland site, with more rocky outcrops and more heather among the boulder-strewn ridge. A National Nature Reserve with interesting geology and botany in addition to its upland birds. Attempts are being made to return this ridge to a continuous tract of heather moorland and many of the conifer plantations are being removed. For more information see the Shropshire Wildlife Trust Site (below).
Animals of significance include red grouse, stonechat, upland wood ant, grayling and pearl-bordered fritillary butterflies, while plants to note are cowberry, crowberry, yellow mountain pansy, moonwort and stag`s horn clubmoss...
Visit the Natural England and Shropshire Wildlife Trust websites for more information on Shropshire wildlife.
The Red Kite in Shropshire
The Red Kite was last recorded nesting in Shropshire near Ludlow in 1876. Their extinction in England was the result of sustained persecution but a few pairs remained in Wales. However, regular sightings of this attractive raptor in recent years raised hopes that they might return to breed in Shropshire again. Eventually two nests were found in the south Shropshire Hills in 2005, the first known instances of the species breeding in the County since 1876. Incubation at both sites started in late April. Unfortunately, both nests failed - one very early during incubation, and the other much later. It is believed chicks hatched in the second nest, but it is not certain, and failure probably occurred shortly after hatching. The nest failure rate of Welsh Kites is still high, around 40%, particularly amongst birds breeding for the first time, so this outcome was disappointing, but not surprising.
In 2006 birds were seen in the vicinity of both nest sites and one pair finally managed to raise young, the second pair probably nested back in Wales. In 2007 six nests were found in South Shropshire and five young were fledged from three of these nests.
Red Kites are now seen regularly around the pub and immediate area, at least one pair are now nesting further up the Clun Valley around Duffryn Farm/the Anchor area.
Visit Gigrin Farm "Red Kite Feeding Station" at Rhayader and watch the red kites perform breathtaking feats of aerial piracy competing with buzzards and ravens for choice pickings.
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