Wild goose chase

 Started at Celtic Lakes fishing resort (Temple Bar). The 11 Goosanders were still present on the first pond but other more extensive lakes exist there. It was my intention to seek permission for a quick walk round but at the car park a man with a rottweiler told me to leave.

Later; 450 Lapwings still in the Llansantffraed/Ty Gwyn pools area and also at the church in Llansantffraed a very large flock of 1200 Golden Plovers. Otherwise, a similar mix of birds to last week with good numbers of waders (10 species) inc. 6 Grey Plovers, 24 Redshank, 40 Turnstones 15 Snipe and a Bar-tailed Godwit. A tractor was spraying slurry in the fields putting things up all the time and too late I realised that there was also a Pink-footed/Bean/White-fronted Goose present too but it got up and went before I could attempt an id. Crossing the Peris where it meets the sea I discovered that the water level was higher than a pair of wellies.

Hen Harrier

 After trying a misty and birdless Llyn Fanod, Chris B found 10 Goosanders on Llyn Eiddwen, but what made his outing worthwhile  was seeing a low-flying male Hen Harrier fron the car as he was driving home.

Then he had the nerve to complain to me that he hadn't seen a ringtail for a long time.

Cold rain

 I think that I mentioned recently that there seem to be no birds on Pant Pool (Llanddewi Brefi). Not few birds or no interesting birds, no birds at all. There looks to be something on the surface and I can't help but think that there has been a pollution leak from the farm/slurry tank adjoining it. Hopefully, I'm wrong, but in my experience it seems unprecedented for this site.

There was a GW Egret on the marsh immediately to the north of the pool. At Pont Gogoyan, 19 Mute Swans (5 more at Pont Einon) and a male Goosander. Three more male Goosanders at Maes Llyn pool with a pair of Gadwall and a Coot. At Pont Einon, 2 Little Egrets, a female Goosander and 60 Lapwings.

Llyn Frongoch Whoopers

 Lynne Pollock, the local resident who spoke to John and me on Wednesday, has contacted me to say that there are now six Whoopers on the lake.

She also mentioned that last Christmas there were seven there.

Firecrest and a waxwing

A walk through Pengalis wood this morning produced this lovely firecrest just at the side of the path. Meanwhile a friend of mine had a waxwing fly north over Ynyslas this morning.

Aberystwyth today

 Nothing new but 30 turnstones by the pier, 10 ringed plovers on South beach, a rock pipit at castle point and 7 purple sandpipers by the harbour. Good numbers I think. 

Eryl Selly

THE TRISANT WHOOPER SWANS

 

More Whoopers

 A call from Chris Bird after I arrived home to say he'd found four Whooper Swans and six Snipe on Llyn Blaenmelindwr, then nine Wigeon on Nanteos lake on his way home.

Trisant lakes.

 A rare outing with John Davis this afternoon to the Trisant lakes, a former local patch of his.  Two Whooper Swans on Llyn Frongoch, along with two Snipe, two Cormorants, a Grey Heron and a Moorhen.  A local resident told us there were four Whoopers until a few days ago.

On Llyn Rhosrhydd,  a  fem. Goldeneye and a Moorhen and we couldn't see anything on Glandwgan.  We encountered a couple of small parties of Fieldfares on the way back to the car.

Llansantffraed again

 Hoped for another good visit like Monday and wasn't disappointed. Ten sp of wader present. I had already counted 250 Lapwings at Ty Gwyn pools on the way and a further 200 were near the church. Wader highlights; 600 Golden Plovers, 7 Grey Plovers, 20 Redshank and 50 Turnstones. A Dark-bellied Brent Goose (in contrast to 3 PB Brents on Monday) was present and also 6 Little Egrets and a Chough.

Many years ago when it was being established I saw a large flock of Goosanders at Celtic Lakes fishery, near Temple Bar. I have gone back once or twice but they politely refuse to let me walk round as their patrons have paid good money for some solitude apparently. Which is a shame. As I drove past today I noticed a few ducks on the small westernmost pond. I managed to pull up on the side of the main road under a CCTV camera and counted 7 male and 4 female Goosanders. Clearly a location with potential for birds and birders alike. I shall persevere trying to persuade them.