On the subject of moths- non feathered flying creatures.

Good Lord Liz we have got ospreys, nightjars, hen harriers, bittern, grasshopper warblers etc; etc; at Dyfi junction and its environs and you are concerned about 'moths'! (he, he!)
Actually you make a good point though there are an awful lot of extra lights on the extended platform at Dyfi junction which must surely affect the delicate balance of the Eco-system. Do you and Brian fancy coming up one summers evening with your moth trap? We could make it a birding group field outing for those creatures of the night! (no intended pun John Valentine!). Birdwise we should surely get nightjar and perhaps grasshopper warbler and sedge warblers which tend to sing at night like those other beautiful and famous nocturnal songsters, the nightingale, which I once heard on a spring evening on my honeymoon in Majorca with the aromatic scent of the 'maquis' wafting the air. Ahhh....halcyon days indeed! You never know guys you just might get some rare moths in your trap!

A proper hide

You lot on the Dovey get all the goodies! At last an elevated bird hide and provided by a lowly wildlife trust...are you looking CCW? We could have had several like that on Cors Caron for the price of the 'waiting room'.
On the other hand are you sure Elfyn that its not the shelter for the vast new platform at Dovey junction? And what impact will all those lights along the new platform have on the moths on William Condry's reserve?
2 woodcock on Cors Ian today and the green sand is still a daily visitor to our pond.
Glad I don't play bridge with JV...old birds indeed!

Bird or Beast!

I agree with John Valentine. Kev's photos of the Peregrine are fantastic. Looks a real 'beast', like a 'Hannibal Lecter' character really, maybe its not the 'big cats' which are killing the sheep on the plains and pampas of Ceredigion!! When next in the Ystwyth Valley keep looking over your shoulder for a dangerous and efficient predator may lurk close by!

Tremendous writing and photos

I thought that there were some tremendous entries in the blog yesterday (Friday). Elfyn's piece on the hide overlooking the ospreys' nest platform fills me full of anticipation and the Key Joynes photos of the peregrine were fantastic. Moi, been playing bridge tonight. Mainly old birds there!

'No' Ring of Bright Water

Some of us were at Ynys-hir today with high hopes of seeing the otter family reported by Moira Convery but alas to no avail. Ah well that's nature observation for you isn't it? Its not like watching it on the telly is it? Such special moments are spontaneous and all the more memorable when they occur. In frustration I took a walk down to the saltings hide. My tally of birds included Treecreeper, Reed Bunting, Teal, Goldeneye and Shoveller. Whilst at Ynys-hir the report came in from Jim Marshall (Ty Bont) about the Bittern flushed from a ditch by railway workmen at Dyfi junction. When disturbed the bird flew in the general direction of the Montgomeryshire Trust reserve at Cors Dyfi so on my way back to Machynlleth I called by the reserve and spoke to the guy who was constructing the impressive elevated hide on the reserve. The hide is coming on well and I'm told should be completed by the end of February. From here there are good views across the reserve and to the Osprey nest platform on the pole situated a few hundred yards away on the adjoining William Condry reserve. I can tell you folks that if these birds return and breed at this location this year or the next then it will prove to be a 'major' tourist attraction to this area with a knock on effect not only for the Montgomery Wildlife Trust but to the nearby RSPB reserve too. It will of course entail serious competition in relation to the RSPB's Glaslyn Osprey Project near Porthmadog.

Cors Dyfi possesses other interesting attractions too such as nightjars during the summer months and the placid water buffalo which draw a great deal of interest.

I took the above photo of the elevated hide under construction earlier today. I'll submit an updated image upon completion. Apparently the site is so boggy that the steel piles supporting the hide go down a depth of 18 metres and the structure still rocks! It 'rocks' in more ways than one as far as I'm concerned!

Peregrine

Taken on 28th, one mile inside county border!! I did put Powys on Birdguides to put folk off,but it was in the Ystwyth Valley in truth-looked like a very full crop, with bloodstains down the front! Tasty!

Kev Joynes

PURPLE SANDPIPERS at BORTH

Early afternoon there were 6 Purple Sandpipers on the rocks at the southern end of the beach.

Field Trip Saturday 7th February

Hi Bob

I’ve just had an email from someone who wants to go to the field trip on the 7th and says that the grid ref is in the sea! Red has checked it and it should be 579807 or people will need scuba gear or a snorkel.

Peggy Liford

Bittern

Approx 11.45 today a report of a Bittern disturbed by railway workers at Dyfi Junction.
The bird flew upstream towards Cors Dyfi.

2007 CEREDIGION BIRD REPORT

I forgot to mention that the Report can also be obtained from Bob Relph when Bob's Monthly Ceredigion Birdwatchers' Walks take place.

Otters at Ynys-hir

Some visitors to Ynys Hir during the last couple of weeks have had a bonus sighting. There has been an otter with two well grown cubs in the Visitor Centre Pool around mid-day giving excellent views from the front or window of the centre. Today I watched them on the opposite bank grooming each other. She appears to have settled into a pattern which may persist for a bit longer so anyone visiting Ynys Hir in the next week or two - keep a lookout for them.

Moira Convery

2007 CEREDIGION BIRD REPORT

The 2007 County Report is now available and can be obtained from:

1) RSPB Ynys-hir visitor centre.

2) Ystwyth Books in Aberystwyth (Princess St, off the top end of Bridge St. This bookshop has the biggest selection of books on ornithology in the area.)

3) It can also be obtained by post from me, at Pant Llidiart, Trisant, Aberystwyth, SY23 4RQ, on receipt of a cheque made payable to J Davis for £5 +70p p&p., or direct from me if you see me out and about by my red Land Rover.

(Also from the Teifi Marshes visitor centre, when it re-opens on 4th April.)

In addition to the detailed Systematic List which contains several line drawings, the 2007 Report includes Rarity Descriptions of the 2 County 'firsts', the County Bird Ringing Report for 2006 and 2007, a section on the Earliest and Last Dates of Summer and Winter Visitors and some articles giving a personal view of birdwatching in Ceredigion.

The Report is well worth the £5 for just the high quality colour photographs which cover a range of rare and typical Ceredigion birds seen in 2007.

For resident and visiting birdwatchers, this is surely an essential purchase.

Little Egret & Teal

A Little Egret and 20+ Teal in the ditch(?) in the fields behind Tanybwlch at 1pm today.
Andy Morris

Recent sightings

Sorry these postings are a bit late, I've just returned from a five-day birding trip to Norfolk. Thanks to all those who sent the following -

Today there’s a pair of Goldeneye. (Male and Female) they were also there on Friday 23rd as well.
Matt Potter 26th Jan.

Could you post a message on the blog to the effect that there was a singleGrey Phal in Aber harbour this morning, down near the lifeboat.Nice to see it on a bit of flat water for a change :
Simon Cox 25th Jan.

I, too, finally got to see the 2 grey phalaropes off the kiosk at lunchtime today: really exciting viewing. Was it you that I met there, Elfyn?! [Someone was there with a scope and a grandson who found the phalaropes for me on the scope.]

Regarding the red-legged partridges - I have only seen them once before in the garden. I suspected that they came from the farm, as I often see pheasants in my garden in Tre'r-Ddôl; but thanks for the confirmation, everyone.
Jean Morgan 24th Jan.

2 Kingfishers on the rocks by the Pier this afternoon. One chased off the other, a fishing rights dispute?
2 Grey Phals still by the kiosk.
Philip Ellis 23rd Jan.

Mwnt

This morning 5 Red-throated divers inshore, patchy fog obscured the view further offshore. Also 1 black redstart on the headland and the usual resident pair of chough were foraging in the car park.

Tagged Scottish Kite at the Nant-yr-Arian Forest Centre

Regarding the tagged Scottish Kite I saw at Nant-yr-Arian today I received information from Tony Cross of the Welsh Kite Trust that this bird has been seen about quite a bit recently. It was ringed near Contin, Ross-shire North Scotland on the 12th June 2008 in a brood of two. It first appeared at Nant-yr-Arian on the 13th January where it was photographed by Tony Walker. Great wanderers these Scottish birds!

My thanks to Tony Cross of the W.K.T. for this information.

Ynyslas - Leri

At the time of a short visit to Ynyslas this afternoon the mist which Elfyn had experienced earlier in the day had cleared, perfect sunshine! The calm conditions and low tide were not conducive to a lot of bird activity. A lot of Curlew on the sand banks and on the flood water on the fields behind the dunes, the usual small groups of Oystercatchers and Redshank, the resident Mute Swans and a Great Crested Grebe.

Birding on the Clettwr, Borth and Nant-yr-Arian

It was an odd day today weather wise with patches of fog interspersed with bright sunshine. I walked along the banks of the Clettwr where there were 2 Red-legged Partridge sunning themselves. Not much of interest just a few Redshank, Little Egret, a Dipper (the ringed bird). On Morfa Cyf? there were lots of Curlew, Lapwing and Dunlin. Saw 2 hares. Lots of Redwing in the fields. There were lots of Fieldfare in pastureland between Treddol and Ynyslas. I did some sea-watching off Ynyslas and Borth but there was a great deal of sea mist hampering my field of vision. I saw a single Sanderling at Ynyslas which had spotted a gull devouring what looked like a 'scallop'. The Sanderling, I think, was trying to cadge any bits not eaten by the gull. Only saw one R.th.Diver at Borth. There were a few Common Scoter offshore as well as a single Harbour Porpoise. I visited the Nant-yr-Arian Forest centre in the afternoon to witness the kite feeding there were only about 60 kites today but a bird of interest was a tagged Scottish bird Blue/Black tag bearing the letter 'Y' which may originate from the Black Isle region but this is to be confirmed with The Welsh Kite Trust. There were Goosander on the lake (3 drakes & 2 ducks) a pair of Goldeneye and 3 teal (2 drakes & 1 duck). The Goosander (following in the footsteps of the Mallard) were gobbling down pieces of beef offcuts put down for the kites! Talk about being opportunists!

Barn Owl

Whilst driving early Monday morning a Barn Owl flew across the A487 nr. The Plas Morfa Hotel, Llanon.
(Adrian R.)

Borth

Four purple sandpipers under the cliffs at Borth this afternoon.

Aberystwyth - South Beach and Harbour

An early morning visit to the Prom and harbour - just after high tide, produced no sightings of interest. Later - after lunch two Purple Sandpipers on the rocks and concrete groynes alongside the wooden jetty

RSPB Garden birdwatch

12 species in my pocket-handkerchief sized back garden:
Blackbird 2, Starling 8, House sparrow 5, Jackdaw 2, Collared dove 2, Dunnock 2, Great tit 2, Blue tit 1, Chaffinch 1, Robin 1, Wren 1, Siskin 1. (nothing scarce I'm afraid).

Good numbers of Lapwing and Golden plover in the fields by the Clettwr this afternoon - very mobile, due to the attentions of a Peregrine! The light was exceptionally clear after last night's rain, with stunning vistas up and down the Dyfi estuary, but no sign of the Whitefronts today.

Garden Birds

The odd siskin usually seen in spring, and chiffchaff seen briefly throughout any winter month.









Some birds seen in my mums garden over the last year, changes have occured, however. Far fewer great tits, blue tits and house sparrows. Not as many greenfinches, but more long tailed tits, a regular jay and g s woodpecker, odd sightings of overwintering blackcaps. Lots of other birds noted and photographed on my regular visits. The garden is near Aberystwyth, on the east facing side of wonderful Pen dinas.

RSPB Garden Birdwatch

Hi Guys- Did any of you 'Cardies' take part in the RSPB's annual (30th) Garden Birdwatch this weekend? Of course I'm in the adjoining County but here is my list anyway. Blackbird (2), Blue Tit (8), Coal Tit (4), Great Tit (3), Greenfinch (4), Chaffinch (16), Robin (2), Goldfinch (1), Song Thrush (1), Nuthatch (2), House Sparrow (9), Magpie (2), Great Spotted Woodpecker (2), Long-tailed Tit (5). The Long-tailed Tits have only appeared with me this year after many years of feeding birds at my home I suppose its due to the exceptionally hard weather this winter. I took a photo which is attached but it isn't much good I'm afraid as it was taken through my kitchen window and the little beggars don't keep still for long! They are delightful birds and I am so pleased that they are now visiting my garden. I would be interested to know if any of you have carried out this survey and have had any scarcer birds in your garden.

Around the north of the county

On the Dyfi fields From Afon Clettwr - around 50 Greenland White-fronted Geese. Also a female ringtail Harrier and a large flock of over 500 Golden Plover and Lapwing.

Aberffrwd - a very pale Buzzard, possibly that photographed at Capel Bangor on yesterdays blog.

Cwm Rheidol - a pair of Goldeneye, 3 Litle Grebes and 4 Cormorants but no sign of the Ring - necked duck. A dipper by the bridge.

Pond Rhosrhydd - 3 Goosander (2 red heads, 1 male). At least 2 brambling with a Chaffinch flock of around 200 in a stubble field.

Llyn Frongoch - 1 Tufted duck.

Upland Dippers

Tetradding today along the Camddwr found 2 dippers just above and below the 350m mark (7km between them). I was surprised that they are still up there given the freeze up. Two days ago in Cwm Berwyn 1hour 30mins produced just 2 birds: an immature cormorant and a raven!
Also on the Camddur was a female Goosander and nearby 2 goldfinches with a blue tit and 2 reed buntings attracted to a cattle feeder which I thought was an odd combination.

Ynyslas

4 turnstone and over 1000 golden plover attempting to roost at Ynyslas Point.

Dipper on the Clarach River

Yesterday I went to the Clettwr to look for Dippers and was duly rewarded. But today was even more pleasing for, much to my surprise, when looking out of my study window which overlooks the garden and is bordered by the Clarach river, I saw a Dipper on the river bank. I managed to get a few pics but was hampered somewhat by the overhanging branches.The bird remained around for at least a couple of hours - regularly diving and feeding on aqautic insect. This is the first Dipper I have seen for over thirty years on this river and is an encouraging sign of an improvement in water quality. Pollution by sewage and sheep dips has decimated the insect and fish population in this past. I would be interested to know if any one else has records of Dippers on the Clarach or its tributaries.

Sunset and Song thrush

A beautiful sight over borth on the 2nd, and equally so of this song thrush on the castle ramparts. Terry Hobson.

Early January

Just a few pics from the harbour, purps and ringed plover. Ynyslas Brent geese just before they flew up the estuary, and a nice pale buzzard near capel bangor in very dull drizzle. Terry Hobson

Ynyslas/Dyfi

A merlin seen 2 days running by the Aberleri boatyard and a Little egret just about managed to find sufficient airspace to take off amongst the 100's of Canada geese on the Dyfi marshes.

Llanrhystud

A Merlin was flying around the fields behind the shingle bank early afternoon.

Clettwr and Ynyslas

Following a recent discussion with John Davis and Sion Davis about Dippers, this afternoon I paid a visit to the Clettwr. Sure enough -down below the footbridge, in spite of the flood, there were three - one of which was ringed. Further on downstream were several parties of Mallard. A large flock of Lapwings followed the railway line down the estuary. On the fields alongside the river was a mixed flock of redwings and thrushes. Travelling down through Llancynfelin was at a very slow crawl because of a Red Legged Frenchman who persisted in running down the centre of the road! ( See the recent blogs on Partridges in this area). In the ditch alongside the road bordering the NNR were two Moorhens. At Ynyslas there was little to be seen except a large flock of Golden Plover winging their way up the estuary.

Unusual Birdwatching Sites

At this time of year from Monday to Friday my birdwatching is limited to the drive to work and then looking out of my classroom onto an enclosed quad (about 80m by 40m) which is totally surrounded by 2 storey buildings at Penglais School. Today I added a new tick as about 12 redwings came into feed. Given that 5 minutes before there had been about 200 noisy children in the quad it was quite a surprise.

What's grey, purple and blue?

Phalaropes still at Aberystwyth South Beach. 7 Turnstones and 3 Ringed Plover at Castle Point, two groups of 3 Purple Sandpipers roosting and feeding round the corner, together with a Kingfisher on the small amount of rocks showing at high tide late afternoon.

BTO Training Day

Hello All
I hope this will be of interest to many of you. There have been a lot of requests for training for the Atlas and BBS so I hope it can be well supported.

BTO Training Day

There is a BTO Training Day on Saturday, 28th March 2009 at 10:00 at the Longhouse, Gilfach Nature Reserve near Rhayader, Powys.
The morning session will feature a presentation by Kate Risely BTO BBS national organiser on Survey Techniques for BBS and Atlas surveys followed by a question and answer session aimed mainly at less experienced surveyors.
The afternoon will be practical field exercises in small groups on the Gilfach Reserve under their Team Leaders on identification and survey techniques using the lessons of the morning. This will be followed by a final session in the Longhouse.
The course is free but will not supply food. Tea and coffee can be purchased in the Longhouse.
This is a good opportunity to brush up on identification and the latest techniques of surveying. Names of those planning to attend should be given to Brian Jones jones.brn10@virgin.net or 01547 560175 or by post at Lower Thorne, Presteigne, LD8 2NN by 28th Feb 2009. Any extra information an also be obtained from Brian.

Moira

Teifi, Common Sandpiper

The wintering Common Sandpiper at Jewsons.
Waders from the Railings, 21 Ringed Plover & c70 Dunlin the best, along with 1 Little Egret. Both Teal & Wigeon numbers appear to be falling.

Redwing, Phalaropes & Porpies!!

I confess to tresspassing on Jean's patch today. I watched 8 Redwing, 5 Mistle Thrush & 7 Blackbirds (as well as Wood Pigeon) feeding in a field opposite the Maes Clettwr estate in Treddol. There must be good foraging in this field and the Redwing were easier to spot against a verdant green field than they are rummaging about on a woodland floor. This field has its uses apart from providing grazing for sheep and the occasional car boot sale!
Like Janet Baxter I too watched the gorgeous (2) Grey Phalaropes in the sea near the kiosk from the New Promenade road Aberystwyth. I counted 6 Red-throated Divers offshore but there were probably more. I also watched 3 Harbour Porpoise from here. Further along the road on the rocks below the war monument there were 9 Ringed Plover and 2 Purple Sandpiper. The plovers were resting but the pipers were actively feeding. Busy little things these pipers! There was a Turnstone and a couple of Oystercatcher on the rocks opposite the Old College.
On my journey home to Machynlleth I stopped off at Glandyfi. There were 6 Goldeneye feeding in the Dyfi just before Station House (1 drake & 5 duck). Also a Little Grebe and Little Egret.
Referring to the Red-legged Partridge again. I actually first saw them about 3 years ago near Granger's farm when I was birding on the Clettwr and I was told by a local that Granger had released the birds for sporting purposes so there's your answer John!

Grey phalaropes and fieldfares

A few more photos of the two phalaropes opposite the kiosk in Aber between 11.30 and 14.00 today.

Yesterday a group of 50 plus fieldfares and 1 redwing arrived on the field bordering the road down to the sand dunes at Ynyslas. Stayed most of the day feeding on worms.

Red legged partridge and war on Canada

I was interested to see the reports of red legged partridge in Machynlleth. I recorded two on the way to the lower Clettwr last year, (14 March) and at the time thought that they, and two others that I saw on the back road from Bow Street to Penrhyncoch many years ago, buried deep in my records, were released birds. So thanks Elfyn, must delete the Clettwr records at least from my 2008 list!

Grey partridge has got scarce nationally, they depend on cereals and insects, so intensive practices have been very damaging.

Following my comments on George Bush, I was amused to see a letter in The Independent yesterday saying that should investigators find that the cause of the near-calamity in the forced landing on the Hudson river was Canada geese, that it was hoped that George Bush, as a last hurrah, doesn't start bombing Ottawa.

Red-legged Partridge

Regarding Jean Morgan's surprise at finding Red-legged Partridge at Treddol it's not as surprising as me seeing one a couple of years ago near my home in Aberhosan Machynlleth! Last year I was told of a couple of them regularly visiting a garden near Darowen Machynlleth. I actually saw these birds myself last year near the property concerned. The answer my dear Jean lies on your own doorstep as I am led to believe that David Granger of Glan Clettwr Treddol has released a few birds on his extensive land in recent years (no doubt to provide some good sport!) Its a nice looking bird nonetheless and of course in Norfolk/Suffolk they call them 'Little Frenchmen'. As a matter of interest when did anyone last see our 'endemic' Grey Partridge in Ceredigion? The last ones I saw in Wales were near Buttington Welshpool a good few years ago.
Charles the II made attempts to introduce the Red-legged to Britain but it wasn't until a century later in 1770 that the Earl of Hereford imported large numbers of eggs from France and put them under his brooding hens on his estate near Orford Suffolk. The rest is history as they say!
Red Legs often make two nests and lay two clutches, the cock bringing up one brood, the female the other.

Ynyslas

This morning at Ynyslas, there were large numbers of birds feeding in the fields inland from the area of the slipway - c100 Redshank, 50 Curlew and 40 Lapwing in one field and 9 Mute Swans perilously close to the shooters along the Leri, c60 Wigeon and 20+ Shag close to the point. This afternoon as well as the birds still feeding in the field, 4 Red-breasted Merganser and 1 Great-crested Grebe on the estuary.

Grey Phalaropes

There are two Grey Phalaropes opposite the kiosk at 1pm. Further along the beach there were approx 17 – 20 Turnstones, 8 – 10 Purple Sandpipers, 20 Oystercatchers, 1 Rock Pipit and 3 cormorants at College Rocks, and 15 Ringed Plovers at the start of South Beach adjacent Castle rocks.

Matt Potter and Charly Morgan

Goosanders

Some sightings from yesterday.
Pair of Goldeneyes at Llyn Yr Oerfa along with 3 Goosanders. (1 male 2 female)
Male Hen Harrier at Cors Caron
This morning there were 5 goosanders (1 male and 4 female) at Llyn yr Oerfa

Matt Potter

Goodbye to George

The nearest that I have come to birding today is seeing John Davis in Morrisons! Pleased to hear that there is a little gull down in South Beach and hope to get there tomorrow.

In advance of the Obama's inauguration tomorrow, I thought how lucky we are that George Bush is going. Otherwise following the bird strikes that brought down the plane in New York last week, amazingly and mercifully with no loss of life, he would be declaring a war against birds. And then we wouldn't get green-winged teal, American wigeon or ring-necked ducks.

Llanrhystud

In the partially flooded field behind the shingle spit at Llanrhystud this afternoon there were 152 Curlew and 48 Oystercatchers but none of the Lapwing and Golden Plover usually there.
Some year’s back there were Snow Buntings at the little car park. Anybody seen any this year?

Good to meet you, Bob and other enthusiasts watching the Phal off South Beach.

Philip Ellis

Red-legged Partridge

I was surprised to see a red-legged partridge in my garden in Tre'r-Ddôl this morning.

Jean Morgan

Grey Phals at Clarach

Sunday 18th Jan

Chased the 2 errant Phals to Clarach-even more difficult than Aber. Further off beach and just as cold and wild as yesterday. Still ,they continued to perform: you have to admire such tiny birds winging their fraught paths down watery valleys with hills of 15 foot waves on either side; yet they perform with such nonchalance-complete mastery of wind and water-I feel a fraud , complaining about the cold!

Grey Phals

A couple more from Saturday-wild and windy,but worth it!

Phalarope etc;

Great shots of the Phalaropes!! Single bird still by the kiosk at midday today as well as a Little Gull and a Kittiwake. Spoke to a 'regular' visiting birder who had travelled down from the midlands by train. The Aber Phalarope is getting quite famous!
Great walk on Saturday I was amazed to see so many people turn up. Well done Tony it was a good choice. A personal thanks too to Red & Liz for your efforts in trying to find the Hawfinch for us. Now I know where to look I can take a spin up to Llanelltyd in my own time. While we were all doing that some lucky folk were watching Waxwings in Machynlleth it seems!

Tregaron Bog

Don't know if this is of any use to you but I had a cracking afternoon at Tregaron Bog yesterday.

Highlights were 8 Whooper swans in 2 groups of 4. A lovely male Hen Harrier hunting over the bog - the swans and the harrier were all seen from the footpath north of the raised hide. Also good number of Redwing and Fieldfare in the fields.

The website is great - keep up the good work.

Regards

Nick Edge

Aber Phalarope

A Grey Phalarope still riding the waves at 0915 this morning - waiting for the ice cream kiosk to open!

Aberystwyth/Clarach Phalaropes

I can't say how impressed I am with the standard of photographs we are being sent.

Here are some more from Kev Joynes.

OOPS

They are prob inner primaries!
Great pics from Janet, particularly the one showing size difference with BHG

Two phalaropes at Clarach

The two grey phalaropes at Clarach reported on Birdguides this morning were at the north end of the beach, beyond the breaking high waves. To me, they seemed smaller than little gulls - notable by their absence - but according to Collins, there is only a centimetre difference.

There was a redshank on the farmland behind Tanybwlch beach this morning and a pair of stonechats at the beach edge.

Hawfinch, what we missed

Although we didn't see the Dolgellau Hawfinches this is a wing from one I found in Bulgaria,as John Cleese would say 'recently deceased' or 'dead'.
The extraordinary secondaries are iridescent blue but who can tell me why they are shaped like that?
Unfortunately I didn't have the means to spread and pin the wing...must go back there!

Grey phalarope

The grey phalarope at Aberystwyth today. Much more at home in the bit of tide and spray than the assembled paparazzi.

Golden Plover

We made a quick visit to Ynyslas with the grand-children this afternoon.
At about 4.00 c1000 Golden Plover came wheeling across the sky from the direction of the Leri.

Field Trip Report

Yesterday's trip to Morfa Mawddach was very well attended, 27 of us turned up despite a non too promising weather forecast. After lunch 18 of us carried on hoping to see Hawfinches. It was not to be but spirits remained high and I think we all enjoyed the treck. Thanks to Tony Allenby and Liz Snell for guiding us.
As usual, Moira recorded the birds seen -
Raven, Carrion Crow, Mistle Thrush, Robin, Magpie, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Heron, Shelduck, Curlew (30), Bullfinch, Lapwing, Cormorant, Reed Bunting, Red-breasted Merganser, Oystercatcher, Great Black-backed Gull, Mute Swan, Redshank, House Sparrow, Blackbird, Nuthatch, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Chaffinch, Goosander, Song Thrush, Fieldfare, Redwing, Jackdaw, Teal, Wigeon, Mallard, Dunnock, Herring Gull, Little Egret, Bar-tailed Godwit, Meadow Pipit, Canada Goose, Wood Pigeon, Little Grebe, Rook, Siskin

Please don't forget, I'm not sending Field Trip information via email any more.
Details are posted on the Field Trips page of this blog.

MORE ABERYSTWYTH NEWS

Harry Pepper tells me that in addition to the Phalaropes and Black Redstart he watched a Great Skua pass by offshore. Meurig Williams once again noted 13 Purple Sandpipers.

Waxwings @ Machynlleth

Although outside of the county, I thought this might be of some interest. There were 4 Waxwings today in a couple of roadside Rowan trees on the A489, just on the way out of Machynlleth heading towards Welshpool.

Aberystwyth

There are now 3 Grey Phalaropes showing well from the ice-cream kiosk on South Beach, also 1 Male Black Redstart on the Castle ruins and at least 8 Purple Sandpipers on the college rocks at high tide.