Ceredigion Birds

With supposedly a day's break from the dreadful weather, Bob and I began our day at the Clettwr. A Dipper was by the footbridge and then we got soaked in an ice-cold squally shower. We dried off in the Clettwr cafe and started out again, this time walking upstream from the mouth of the Leri in fairly bright sunshine. Highlights were 6 dark-bellied Brent Geese, 96 Pintail, 28 Knot, 4 Grey Plover, a Peregine and Water Rail. A quick visit to the point at Ynyslas produced 3 Sanderling and flocks of Golden Plover circling overhead.
(Kev, great shot of the Skua at Ynyslas.)

Visitor from the Emrald Isle
Interesting news about the Hen Harrier from Ireland seen in Pembrokeshire. I've been wondering too Liz how long it will take before one of the re-introduced Welsh kites to Ireland will return to their homeland here in Wales. Do you think they feel that 'hiraeth' which affects the Welsh when they visit far flung places?! This afternoon above my home near Machynlleth I saw 23 kites this happens each winter when we get these high winds and then they generally roost in trees opposite my home which allows me the opportunity to read the details of the wing tags through my scope I pass the details of these tagged birds to Tony Cross of the Welsh Kite Trust. Today I had 6 tagged kites and interestingly there were 3 birds which were related. Year 2007 'W' and 'Z' were there with their mother 'A'. She is a 2002 bird originating from Llangurig or Llanidloes cant remember which. I have christened her 'Anwen' for obvious reasons. She has a nest not to far away from my home. Over the last 3 years 2 of her chicks have gone to Ireland. She is an excellent breeding female and regularly rears two chicks. She is a prize bird for whom I have great affection and I was pleased to see that she is still with us and looking well. Her nest is in a most odd location its in a fallen ash tree which has lodged against an oak tree. This presents a major challenge to Tony Cross when he climbs the tree to ring/tag the chicks or to remove them for the Irish project. This year he was assisted by a chap from Ireland who was a 'tree surgeon' by trade and he shimmed up that tree like a monkey! They took a chick out of that nest which went to Ireland. I always feel rather sad to lose my chicks this way but I know the importance and significance of the Irish release project. It is at least 200 years since kites nested in Ireland. The way I look at it is that its a kind of insurance policy, should our native stock be wiped out or seriously depleted for one reason or another then its possible that Wales could be resupplied from the Irish stock. It was rather amusing or quite touching this year as a couple of my landowners whom I know very well refused to allow 'their' birds to go anywhere out of Wales or in one case to be even ringed or tagged by Tony Cross! I respect and admire them for adopting this view. Not so many years ago the red kite was relentlessly persecuted by the farming community. On one farm belonging to a very well known Welsh family there was a serious debate about whether one of 'their' birds should go to Ireland or not the lady of the house said 'no' but the head of the household said 'yes' and I guess his word was final! So that was the result one of the two chicks was taken to its new home in the Emerald Isle.
// posted by Elfyn Pugh

Our neighbours in Pembs have been busy ahead of the national Atlas and have just published their book costing £10. Bound to be a great buy if you visit there. See their blog.
Also on their blog is the story of a wing-tagged harrier that turned up on Skomer then Marloes Mere which flew in from County Clare! Wondering if our kites might come back?!

I have just been informed of a record of a harbour porpoise stranding on the Ceredigion Bird Blog.

I would be extremely grateful if you could add strandings.com to the Links on your site. We record all stranded cetaceans (dolphin, whales & porpoises), seals, marine turtles and basking sharks, whatever their condition, to monitor levels of mortality. Suitable fresh carcasses will be collected and undergo a full post-mortem examination within the government funded project.

I have recently found the National Reporting line for Wales (01348 875000) was not working so somebody may have already tried and failed to report this carcass.

Alternatively, digital pictures to confirm species can be sent to me via info@strandings.demon.co.uk

Many thanks in advance.

Rod Penrose.

This afternoon Kev Joynes saw a pale-phase Arctic Skua at Ynyslas.
It could well be the same bird seen last Friday by Helen Herbert when it was briefly on South Beach at Aberystwyth before it flew off northwards.
On Sunday Bob and I had remarkable views of one at Borth. We were at the southern end when the skua flew low over the beach, from behind us, and settled just beyond the start of the wooden groynes. After a while it was chased off by Herring Gulls and instead of flying off out to sea or along the beach, we watched it heading north,low over the roof-tops and chimneys along Borth High Street. Quite possibly the best and most unusual views of an Arctic Skua that either of us had ever enjoyed.

Early this morning, Harry Pepper noted that their numbers have now increased to 12.

This pic was supposed to be in my last blog. Teeth confirm porpoise, double click for gory detail.
I'm really envious of all the snow bunt pics. I must move on from corpses!

Sounds like the same animal Liz, will photograph it next time, was looking for snow buntings at the time, silly me! The 3 were flying around the area at the time, but extremely flighty. Just one distant shot.

Labels: Terry Hobson

15 Nov

Cross Inn Forest 14.15 – 15.50