Natural England

Do you wish you knew a bit more about birds? Then why not come to Fenn’s, Whixall & Bettisfield Mosses National Nature Reserve, near Whitchurch, on the Wrexham/Shropshire border for a look at the birds of the Mosses?

On Sunday, 27 April at 1.30pm for a 2pm start, Natural England’s Voluntary Warden Estelle Hughes and Reserve Manager Pete Bowyer will lead a guided bird walk from the Manor House National Nature Reserve Base, near the Waggoner’s pub in Whixall, onto Fenn’s and Whixall Mosses. Do book now to make sure of your place.

Natural England and the Countryside Council for Wales have been restoring the Mosses raised bog back to an internationally important watery wetland wilderness where waders and wildfowl can now thrive. Birds flying over the Mosses no longer see a black bone-dry drained bog being mined for garden peat, but a lush mix of pools & cotton sedge and bogmoss.

Bird watching at the Mosses NNR is getting quite exciting. You never know quite what will turn up as more and more of the Mosses is restored.

The walk will lead through the outer wooded areas of the Moss where all three species of British woodpecker might be spotted, with typical woodland birds such as the beautifully coloured raucous jay.

Then visitors will pass through more open scrubby areas with flocks of tits, yellowhammers, linnet and the beautiful little reed bunting, a breed of bird currently under threat.

Further out on the open Moss, the bubbling call of curlew and trilling skylark might be heard, as they soar above the bog, and flocks of mallard and teal will be seen on the pools with snipe darting up and away like arrows.

Recent newcomers to the restored Moss include greenshank, green sandpiper, golden plover, ruff, whimbrel, dunlin, redshank, spotted redshank, turnstone and oystercatcher. Shoveller and teal now are breeding well and pintail are appearing.

The increased bird population now supports many raptors, such as peregrine, sparrowhawk, and buzzard are frequently spotted soaring in thermals above the bog. Merlin, long and short-eared owl, marsh and hen harriers have also been seen recently. And all summer long, hobby can be seen acrobatically catching the clouds of dragonflies which thrive now the Moss is no longer being drained for cutting peat.

Natural England’s Site Manager Joan Daniels said, “I hope we can encourage more people to come & see and then record the birds on the Moss. Volunteers like Estelle Hughes and Eric Marsh monitor the birds all year round on transects – perhaps after the walk more people will offer their help. Or people might want to come back on one of our twice monthly Fenn’s Volunteer Groups, on the second Sunday and fourth Thursday every month to help and restore the Moss, and make it even better for wetland birds.”

“It’s a good time now to show people how good bogs can be for birds, as it’s when everyone is going to their local garden centres and buying compost. Peat extraction for use in our gardens is now wrecking even the pristine bogs of Eastern Europe, which so many birds depend on. All of us can help by just asking for alternatives to peat this spring. ”

Anyone wanting to book on the walk should ring Caroline Evans at Natural England on 01743 282000 (weekdays) or Joan Daniels on 07974 784799 at weekends, or email caroline.evans@naturalengland.org.uk

Notes for editors:

NATURAL ENGLAND

Natural England was established by the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006. Its purpose is to ensure that the natural environment is conserved, enhanced and managed for the benefit of present and future generations, thereby contributing to sustainable development.

THE COUNTRYSIDE COUNCIL FOR WALES

The Countryside Council for Wales champions the environment and landscapes of Wales and its coastal waters as sources of natural and cultural riches, as a foundation for economic and social activity, and as a place for leisure and learning opportunities. We aim to make the environment a valued part of everyone's life in Wales. More information about our work is available on www.ccw.gov.uk

For further information please contact: Dr. J L Daniels, Telephone: 01948 880362, Email: joan.daniels@naturalengland.org.uk

For further information about Natural England please visit: www.naturalengland.org.uk