One of the great attractions of Blackpill is that it can introduce common bird species to common people - no disrespect to birds or people. Blackpill is also well known for throwing up some very exciting surprises in the form of rarer bird species, such as the Ivory gull (29th Nov-6th Dec 2002). The combined result is a site that attracts birdwatchers of all levels of experience, from the casual observer to the avid birder.
Blackpill holds a variety of
birds throughout the year but here we will focus primarily on some of the birds
seen over the last 5 years during the period the Blackpill Wildlife Centre is
open (Oct to March). The 2 main bird groups to be seen at Blackpill are gulls and
waders and this is an excellent site at which to learn to identify these
species and the best time to watch them is 1-2 hours either side of high tide.
The figures quoted here refer to maximum counts from Blackpill over the last 5
years, but not necessarily on days when the Blackpill Wildlife Centre was open.
In addition to the usual species of black headed gull (< 5000), common gull (< 1500), lesser & greater black backed gulls (< 80/70), herring gull (< 3700) and kittiwake (< 10) there are other gull species usually seen on a regular basis. These include up to 30 Mediterranean gulls (3rd Oct 2004), adult and immature ring-billed gulls (the first British record for this species was at Blackpill in 1973) and single numbers of little, glaucous and Iceland gulls are seen most years. A Ross's gull was seen on 10th Feb 2002. It's not difficult to see how Blackpill has gained a reputation for being an excellent gull watching site.
Several species of waders can be observed
at Blackpill on a regular basis. These include the unmistakable oystercatcher
(< 4800), ringed plover (< 427), sanderling (< 616), dunlin (<
3200), grey plover (< 92), knot (< 106), curlew (< 214) bar-tailed
godwit (< 24), redshank (< 36) and turnstone (< 74). Other wader
species are usually observed on passage migration. These include whimbrel (<
40) with single numbers of little stint, ruff and curlew sandpiper seen during
autumn passage. A variety of species can also be seen on the sea from
Blackpill. red-throated, black-throated and great northern divers are recorded
regularly, as are great crested grebes (< 90). Wildfowl seen also includes
shelduck (< 21), wigeon (< 24), teal (< 23), mallard, eider (< 11)
and occasional red-breasted merganser (< 3). Other species of interest seen
at, or from, Blackpill include sandwich, common, Arctic and little terns as
well as little egret, Arctic skua, common scoter and Slavonian grebe. Pipits,
wagtails and finches are often seen on or around the foreshore as are a variety
of crows.
This
list is not exhaustive but gives a clear indication of the range of bird
species to be seen at Blackpill, and highlights just how important this site is
for the bird life it supports. This is reflected in its status as a SSSI (Site
of Special Scientific Interest), a fact often greeted with considerable
surprise by those who learn of it for the first time. However, too many people
are still unaware that, what is to them simply a beach or stretch of sand, is
in fact one of the richest habitats in Swansea.
Please
come and support the Blackpill Wildlife Centre, whether it's to enjoy the bird
life, enhance your bird watching skills, enlarge your year list or to help
educate others to the importance of this site. We can all play a valuable part
in promoting and protecting this Blackpill site so that it can be appreciated
by future generations of birds and people alike.
Alistair Flannagan
birds and people alike.