Sanderling from Mauritania

See Pembsbirds for the details of this colour-ringed Sanderling, seen on the Teifi.

COMING SOON!

PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPETITION

The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales is running a Nature Photographic Competition sponsored by Celtic Optics of Narberth with a really good prize.
For details visit: www.welshwildlife.org

FIRECRESTS

As I was watching a Kingfisher on Castle Rocks at Aberystwyth this morning, just where Harry and Pete pointed one out to me on Thursday, Andy James called to say that he was watching 2 Firecrests in Cross Inn Forest!!

TURTLE DOVE

Len Kersley tells me that early yesterday morning a Turtle Dove was feeding in his Aberystwyth garden. Excellent record.

Otters in Aber...

All quiet on the bird front – but spent 15 minutes watching a pair of otters in the river between Aberystwyth Marina and Trefechan Bridge this morning. Superb views as they passed under the bridge and headed upstream in only a few inches of water.

John Woodruff

Mermaids and lobster on the Teifi

I went round most of the spots on both sides of the Teifi Estuary yesterday (Friday) described in Wendy J's very informative map - see her 15th September blog. I must have been the Ceredigion side of the river when John Davis was at St Dogmaels.

A lot of Oystercatchers and Curlew from down the road from the Webley Hotel. Various morphs of white to dirty cream geese among the flying Canada Geese Possibly there was a knot but it was too far to be sure even at the higher end of my zoom. Saw wigeon, little egrets, lapwing and bar-tailed godwits from St Dogmaels Quay. The special treat was a kingfisher catching a 'minnow'. I thought of Elfyn for some reason when I read the mermaid story on the wood carving. Broke off for lunch at the Webley hotel - half a small lobster, too much salad and chips for £12. Perhaps it was the excellent glass of Chilean Sauvignon Blanc, but I start thinking of what was the better side of the estuary and that perhaps we should have a friendly bird race competition between Ceredigion and Pembs birders.

In the afternoon black-tailed godwits from the railings back in Ceredigion and about 40 mute swans. Twelve of these swam round the spit to in front of the rocks at Patch. Dunlin and ringed plover on the rocks. It would have been great to see John's squirrel land. It is certainly a good estuary with many accessible watching spots.

All this didn't help my bridge tonight - came 9th!

TEIFI EST.

I found myself across the border at St Dogmaels this afternoon and from the slipway could see, on the northern shore, 76 Wigeon and 38 Curlew + 21 seen later downstream. A Kingfisher hovered a few times and dived into the water close by.
5 Little Egrets could be seen. From the railings on the northern shore; 8 Bar-tailed Godwits.
The most amazing sight was watching a Squirrel swimming across the river. It was on the muddy foreshore opposite the St Dogmaels slipway and seem to spend a while contemplating getting over to the other side. It eventually made its way into the water and after a good 10 minutes made it safely across.
The last time I watched something like this was at Ynyslas when a squirrel attempted to swim from the Point to Aberdyfi. It soon drowned in a savage tide race.

CORS CARON

Hen Harrier seen this afternoon by Harry Pepper and Pete Scott.

Clettwr and Ynyslas - Leri

A pleasant walk down the Clettwr yesterday morning, before the tide started flowing produced very few sightings - a couple of BH gulls and a flock of Goldfinch together with the usual medley of Corvids. From the railway bridge - too muddy and the tide had turned to safely venture out on to the estuary - three Curlew and a skein of seventeen Canada Geese.

Back to Ynyslas/ Leri - almost as many birdwatchers as birds - a Little Egret, two Mallard and a mixed flock of Dunlin and Plover, accompanied by two Sanderling.

Llanrhystud

A fairly quiet but pleasant morning. Still 2 Med. Gulls about and 2 Sandwich Terns. Also 2 Bar-tailed Godwits were amongst the more regularly seen waders species.

Red-throated Diver at Tan-y-bwlch

A Red-throated Diver just starting to moult from summer plumage was close in Tany-y-bwlch bay today. also there were 6 wheatear on and around the beach, 3 Stonechats (but no whinchats today), 2 Rock Pipits and 2 Chough feeding in the field with the horses one of which had a large white ring on its right leg but it was too far away to read the number if indeed it had one.

Tom Wells

Tany-y-Bwlch

9 Wheatear and 1 Whinchat showing well on the bank between the beach
and the fields, at Tan-y-Bwlch today (20th Sep).
Also, we saw a female Merlin pursuing a Meadow Pipit, before flying
off in a southerly direction.
There were 2 adult Med Gulls with the Black-Headed Gulls on the Old
College rocks. 1 of which, we noticed, had a white coloured ring with
3H47 written on it. We have reported this to BTO.

Ian Lycett & Rachel Davies

Ynys-hir

Paid another visit to Ynys-hir this morning. Good light and beautiful sunshine made it a delightful experience. Roy & Vicky Bamford and John Davis and guests joined me in the Breakwater hide. Birds seen included -
6 Knot, 3 Ruff, 26 Bar-tailed Godwit (only 2 Black-tailed) and several Dunlin.
An Otter put in an appearance right in front of the Breakwater hide and entertained us for a few minutes before simply disappearing!
Harry Pepper made contact to alert us to an Osprey and Little Stint seen from the Saltings Hide.
3 Barnacle Geese also showing well.

News regarding ringed Brent Goose

I've received an email regarding the ringed Brent Goose that Ian and I
spotted at Aberystwyth's Castle Point, on Sep 11th.
Here is a copy of the email. I have also attached the resightings
database for this particular Brent Goose.

Rachel Davies & Ian Lycett

------------------------------------------------------------------

Hi Rachel,
Really pleased to get this record of T4WB (T right leg, 4 left leg, W
hite right leg-ring colour, B lue left leg-ring colour).
You'll see from the attached that we ringed this bird down on the
Wexford Slobs in February this year, so it hasn't had much of a back
history yet. However, it is interesting in that it has made a backward
movement since you had it, as I read it a couple of days ago up here
on the east side of Strangford Lough.
This is our first record from Wales this season, and the first ever
from this area. Normally our records from Wales come from Anglesey,
Foryd Bay or Milford Haven, with a few of a single bird from
Porthmadog. Would therefore be interested in whether you regularly get
pale-bellied brent in your area? If you do, it is well worthwhile
checking them out for rings, as we have now caught over 3,000 birds,
mainly by canon-netting here in Ireland and on spring migration in
Iceland. About 200 were also caught on the breeding grounds in High
Arctic Canada in summer 2007.
We have a Website (under construction!) at http://www.irishbrentgoose.org/
Hope you find this of some interest, and that you'll keep your eye out
for any further ringed birds.
Many thanks again,
Graham

Sorry, can't publish attachments.
Bob

High tide at Ynys-hir

I took myself off to the Breakwater hide at Ynys-hir for the higher than usual tide this morning and was rewarded with -
Black-tailed & Bar-tailed Godwit. Very mobile so difficult to count but about 7 or 8 of each.
Ruff 3
Dunlin 16-17
Curlew Sandpiper 1
Little Egret 10
Curlew 100+
Wigeon c50
Kingfisher 1
Willow Warbler 1
As I was leaving the hide I saw a Sedge Warbler close by.
Making my way back to the car park via the path beside the railway track I stopped to watch a mixed flock of Linnet, Goldfinch, Meadow Pipit and Reed Bunting.
A Snipe flew over, there was a Pintail on the flooded field behind Breakwater hide and I saw my first Shovler of the season.

The Teifi today.......!!!!

Wendy strikes gold again!!!!!
9 More Glossy Ibises today, the original visiting Glossy Ibis refound (Jon),....& the Spotted Crake calling!
See PembsBirds for the un-folding day, from Bardsey to ........... Teifi magic...
& for tomorrow?

A prime County for raptors

I had two clients on my bird tours today. I took them on a journey of discovery up the picturesque Rheidol Valley to Devils Bridge and then onto Cwm Ystwyth where I was able to show them a Peregrine Falcon perched on the stunning rock face above the old lead mine workings. If I were to ask an artist to paint me a picture of a Peregrine in its element then this would be it. This 'King of Falcons' perched on a rock surveying its territory with a stunning waterfall portrayed in the same picture. In spite of its industrial past I love this place for its wild ruggedness. Here too we watched a Buzzard and a couple of kites. A guy and his wife stopped wondering what we were looking at and I was able to show him his first view ever of the majestic Peregrine and he was absolutely thrilled. That's what I love about what I do to see the pure joy on people's faces when I show them wildlife which they haven't seen before. I am sure John Davis gets the same satisfaction when he introduces people to our wonderful 'Welsh Delights' on his bird tours.From Cwm Ystwyth we travelled onto Nant-yr-Arian for the Kite feeding and today there must have been about 120 birds including a partially leucistic Kite. So with Tony's Merlin and Hen Harrier and Cors Caron's Hobby's I reckon we are pretty well blessed with raptors in this part of Wales!

Gull Cull Part 2

Looks like the Gulls are saved! And the people responsible are to be targeted!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/mid/8242668.stm

Matt Potter

Various

Firstly,thanks for your thoughts and ideas on the House Martins.
Went out last night to listen for Tawny Owls in my BTO tetrads-just heard two near Llangeitho. En route I almost ran over a very animated Polecat at Llwn y Groes. Sitting in a layby at Llanio I was fortuneate enough to hear a Barn Owl calling off in the distance,towards the river.
This morning I popped in briefly to Cors Caron hoping that the water levels had dropped sufficiently to expose some muddy areas. Though they still seemed quite high there was a Spotted Redshank on the river above Pont Einon at the southern end of the reserve.

Borth Bog

A session ringing swallows on Borth Bog last night with Jane Kelsall and Paul & John Leafe had more than the usual surprises. About 200 odd swallows and at least 1 Sand Martin gathered to roost and attracted the attention of a few other interested parties! An adult male Hen Harrier made two passes along the Leri followed by a swarm of swallows and then at dusk a mad dash (by me!) to the net produced this stunning juv female Merlin and a juv female Sparrowhawk. Water rails were calling in the reeds and a late juv Reed Warbler was also retrapped.

Nant-yr-Arian

Seven Crossbills seen feeding in the conifers around the lake at Bwlch
Nant-yr-Arian today (17th Sep).

Also, to everyone's surprise, a fox appeared on the kite-feeding area
(after the Kite's had finished) and started to eat the meat baits!

Ian Lycett and Rachel Davies

BORTH and YNYSLAS

The usual adult Mediterranean Gull was on the beach and, following on from what Elfyn mentioned, there was a very noticeable northward movement of 100+ House Martins.
At Ynyslas Turn,where Ian Boyle and Meurig joined us, there were 4 Red-throated Divers offshore and several Common Scoters. On the beach, a Black-tailed Godwit and 5 Sandwich Terns.
On the Leri side, there was the nice sight of 8 Stonechats and 2 Whinchats on a fence. 9 Golden Plovers passed overhead.
By the Leri rail bridge: 50 Linnets, 5 Wheatears and a Kingfisher. 25 Lapwings overhead.

House Martins

I was interested to read about Ian' s house martins he saw on the coast appearing to fly in the wrong direction. At Strumble Head at this time of year there is quite a movement of hirundines which appear to be flying in the wrong direction but in actual fact they probably make their way from Ireland to the UK mainland. I was wondering if this is what Ian saw, a passage of Irish birds making for the UK to 're-fuel' in order to continue their long journey south. Just a thought!

I saw a comic thing in the car park in Machynlleth yesterday, a rook hanging upside down on the tip of an oak twig in order to grab an acorn! Having succeeded it flew off with it. The jays were benefiting from this feast too near my house this morning. Apparently they remember months ahead where they've stored them. Oh for a Jays memory I often cant remember what I did the day before!

Ynis-hir

I had a walk around Ynys-hir this morning. Three Barnacle Geese were nibbling away between the Saltings and Breakwater hides, also 3 Tufted Duck, 3 Goosander and lots of Wigeon - c170 in one raft. Lots of Curlew, 5 distant Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Grey-lag and 100s of Canadas.

Gull cull?

I read in last weeks Cambrian News that there was a meeting council to be held to discuss gull ‘problems’ and refuse bags. This confirmed what I had heard locally from residents in the centre on Aberystwyth.

I do hope this doesn’t mean a Gull cull just because residents put out bin bags which get torn open by gulls when a simple solution would be for the council to actually provide plastic wheelie bins or similar like all other councils do!

I don’t think I have ever seen much of a gull issue in town or rubbish spread around because of gulls.

Matt Potter

House Martins

Went for a walk along the coast path south of Aberaeron this morning and was pleased to see 4 Choughs, the first I've seen this year I think. Also watched a small but steady stream of House Martins(maybe 100 in an hour) proceeding purposefully.....but northwards. To my way of thinking this seems like the wrong direction at this time of year! But what do I know compared with the birds themselves,the experts? Perhaps as there was a light northerly breeze they were using it to gain a little extra lift and were still feeding up prior to their eventual flight southwards.I'm really not sure.

Ynyslas

Mixed flock of about 250 Dunlin (90%) and Ringed Plover at the Point
included two Curlew Sandpipers and one Knot. There was previously a
Curlew Sandpiper near the mouth of the Leri but the two mixed flocks
probably amalgamated.

Rhiannon Thomas

Ynyshir and the Clettwr

3 Barnacle geese with the Canada's on the saltmarsh at Ynyshir this morning.
A dipper and Kingfisher on the Clettwr.
100+ kites at Nant-yr-Arian during feeding time (3pm) including a couple of this years chicks (pink wing tags on right wing). 2 Little Grebes on the lake.

Foel Fawr

A party of four Willow Warblers and two juvenile Stonechats seen this afternoon on Foel Fawr. The Willow Warb's looked very fresh, young ones I think.

Canada Geese

Over 250 Canada geese in a stubble field next to the A487 just north of Aberarth yesterday evening.

John Woodruff

Glossy Ibis, Teifi estuary

A single Glossy Ibis was seen flying from the direction of St Dogmaels quay this evening. It landed on the foreshore below the St Dogmaels to Poppit road near Bryn - du (SN163476) at 19.40.

This potential roost site is best viewed from Coronation Drive on the Ceredigion side of the estuary.
See map on the guide to the Teifi estuary

ABERYSTWYTH & LLANSANTFFRAED

The 2 pale-bellied Brent Geese were on Castle Rocks this morning and were still there this afternoon according to Harry Pepper when there were 23 Ringed Plovers, 9 Turnstone, 4 Redshank and a Dunlin.
A Wigeon was just below Trefechan Bridge and 7 were on Nanteos Lake.
Met Bob at Llansantffraed and noted 14 more Wigeon, 17 Sandwich Terns, a Knot, 7 Turnstones, 4 Mediterranean Gulls and the albino Oystercatcher. A few Gannets offshore and a Dipper in the stream.

Teifi Marshes

Very good views of a Water Rail at the Teifi Marshes Reserve today - after a bit of a wash and brush-up he had a good long nap, in view for about half an hour - plus 10 Snipe, some Little Egrets and a Grey Heron which caught an eel and ate it in open view. I arrived in the Creek Hide at about 08.00, another birder had already been there for an hour, I stayed until noon. No trace of the Spotted Crake!
I joined John Davis and guests at Lansantffraed for some more birding in the afternoon.
Later Lulu, Buster and me took our afternoon walk close to home and had a very close encounter with an adult female Sparrowhawk.

Aberystwyth

Two sites provide the most spectacular views in this area, Pen-Dinas and Constitution Hill. On clear, warm, sunny days, I think, hard to beat. Last week was ideal along with their own spectacular bird life. Chough, Peregrine, Raven, Kestrel, Buzzard, Sparrow hawk and Kite all within a few hours, not bad anywhere you go! The Brent geese showed well on saturday, still 3 wheatears on tanybwlch along with 50+ swallows and a swift going north on wednesday8th. On Llanrhysted beach on thursday 9th, 2 greenshank, 7 c sands, 6 med gulls of note.

Teifi marshes

No sign of Spotted Crake c5pm to dusk.
(See PembsBirds for yesterday's times of sightings etc)

COLLEGE ROCKS, ABERYSTWYTH

Lots of us saw the 2 Brent Geese yesterday. I was told that eventually they were seen drifting out to sea and this morning I could find no sign of them. However, this evening Chris Bird and Harry Pepper noticed that they were back on the Rocks together with some other winter visitors, 4 Wigeon and a lone female Pintail.

Pale-bellied Brent Geese

Thought you would be interested to know that on the evening of Friday 11th September there were seven pale-bellied Brent Geese, feeding on Castle Point in Aberystwyth. One of the birds, we noticed, was colour-ringed (Left leg, blue ring with white 4. Right leg, white ring with black T). We have reported this to BTO and shall let you know any details received.

Ian Lycett and Rachel Davies

Spotted Crake, Teifi marshes

Monday morning - the Spotted Crake came into view from Creek hide at 7.15.
(Rich D)

Glossy Ibis & Spotted Crakes on the Teifi

In summary,
1 Glossy Ibis flew past Creek Hide c1700 seen by Howard Thomas.
1 Spotted Crake found by Paul Mahiques in front of Creek Hide, then a presumed 2nd bird seen by Wendy James in front of Kingfisher Hide.
See PembsBirds for further details.

Cwm Rheidol Walk

A very pleasant walk in the warm autumn sunshine, around Cwm Rheidol Reservoir, was enjoyed by 15 members of the CBG this morning. A total of 22 - or was it 23 - species were seen:- Red Kite, Grey Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, Buzzard - including one rather pale specimen, Mallard, Wood Pigeon, Blue Tit, Coal Tit, Great Tit, Jay, Goldfinch, Chaffinch, Nuthatch, Tree Creeper, Raven, Crow, Blackbird, Robin, House Martin, Kingfisher, Dipper, Sparrow Hawk and a pair of raptors displaying above the horizon which two members thought could be Goshawks - another two thought they were Sparrow Hawks and the majority could not reach a decision!

PALE-BELLIED BRENT GEESE at ABERYSTWYTH

Early this morning I met Harry Pepper on the front at Aberystwyth and he pointed out two pale-bellied Brent Geese on College Rocks. Really early winter visitors, they were still there late pm according to Chris Bird.

College Rocks Aberystwyth

12 Ringed Plover and 7 Turnstone on the College Rocks Aberystwyth this afternoon and a number of black headed gulls basking in the sun and who can blame them!

Ynys-hir

I visited Ynys-hir this afternoon. Strolling around the reserve in this fabulous weather was a delight. I didn't see many birds - 3 Black-tailed Godwit, a pair of Stonechats and a Little Egret were the most interesting until, standing outside Marion Mawr Hide and looking across the estuary I saw a male Hen Harrier. Unfortunately he was in the next county so he doesn't really count. But perhaps he will nip over the Dyfi into Ceredigion in the next day or two. If you're in that neck of the woods keep your eyes peeled...........

Ynyslas

2 Yellow Wagtails, 5 Wheatears and 5 Stonechats with some Meadow Pipits along the little track on the west side of the Ynyslas boatyard at Aberleri

Also Painted Ladies and a Southern Hawker dragonfly.

Philip Ellis

Ceredigion Bird Group Bay of Biscay Trip

Just now and again it can do us all good to broaden our horizons and extend our wildlife watching outside familiar places. And so it was that 30 of us ( the greater part from Ceredigion) boarded the P & O ferry the 'Pride of Bilbao' at Portsmouth on the 5th of September on an exciting 4 day whale watching mini-cruise to Spain. We had booked our holiday via the Shetland based eco-tour company known as 'The Company of Whales' operated by my good friend Hugh Harrop. Our highly experienced and excellent guides were Dylan Walker and Judd Hunt. We were indeed in very good hands. Unfortunately we didn't get off to a good start as the ferry was delayed coming into Portsmouth due to the horrendous weather encountered on the previous outward journey to Bilbao which then threw everything out of sequence so we were left with a 'long' wait in Portsmouth. We killed a bit of time by enjoying the delights of the 'Gunwharf Quay' and we wined and dined at various establishments. If it wasn't for the delay we may not have had the pleasure of discovering this area of Portsmouth with its vibrant atmosphere. Anyway we eventually got 'under way' at 2.30am! From there on things just got a 'lot' better and the weather was just superb and the sea was kind to us.
The wildlife sightings across the Biscay and on the walk in the Serrantes foothills above the port of Santurtzi in Spain enthralled everyone. Every one of us on the trip got something out of it whether it was their first sighting of a whale or a 'lifer' in terms of the birds we saw. I have crossed the Biscay a few times now and the highlights for me personally on this trip were gaining excellent views of a rare Little Shearwater flying close to a 'Manxie' which provided excellent size comparison, a 'dainty' little bird as Judd one of the guides described it. I was also thrilled to see a fish 'boil' when scores of silverfish, probably pilchard or sprats, attempted to escape from Yellowfin Tuna which occasionally breached clear of the water. I also saw my 1st 'Preying Mantis'. The vast majority of us too witnessed the 'Green Flash' immediately following the magnificent setting sun as it dipped below the Biscayne horizon.
During this voyage we encountered no less than '10' species of cetacean! Which included, Common Dolphin, Striped Dolphin, Bottlenose Dolphin and Risso's Dolphins, Fin Whale, Sperm Whale, Minke Whale, Cuvier's Beaked Whales and Pilot Whales (which are called 'Blackfish' and actually form part of the dolphin family). We also saw many Harbour Porpoise. We also saw 2 Ocean Sunfish. Apart from the Little Shearwater we also recorded Great, Sooty and Cory's shearwaters. Other highlights were an adult Sabine's Gull. We had a count of 32 'Bonxies' (Great Skua) and 1 Arctic Skua. A number of Grey Phalaropes were seen too. The greatest surprise of all was the sighting of a Short-eared Owl by 'hawkeye' Harry Pepper in the channel approaches (then of course they are migrants). Jeremy Moore spotted a falcon species. Raptors were well represented on the walk in the foothills in Spain with sightings of a Honey Buzzard, Short toed Eagle, Griffon Vultures, Kestrel and a Sparrowhawk. A Weasel was also spotted by Angie Polkey being harassed by birds. This was a 'first' recorded by 'The Company of Whales' on their walks in Spain.

For more detailed information of all the wildlife encountered during this trip please see the 'Latest News' section on 'The Company of Whales' website http://www.companyofwhales.co.uk/

Every trip across the Bay of Biscay is different and in my view that's what makes it challenging. Of course the weather does play a major part in terms of what you can see and anyone crossing the Bay will have to prepare themselves for every eventuality. Even in summer the weather can turn stormy as it did on the previous voyage but the Biscay's bad reputation is not really justified as the weather can be glorious as our group can testify!

We held a raffle on-board with some fantastic prizes on offer and as a result of that we raised an excellent sum of £180 for the marine charity ORCA (Organisation Cetacea). I wish to acknowledge my immense gratitude to the following organisations who donated the prizes for the raffle:- Hugh Harrop, Director of 'The Company of Whales', Stephen Marsh, Corporate Manager of the marine charity 'ORCA' (Organisation Cetacea), Steve Hartley of the 'Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre' at New Quay. Lyndon Lomax- Naturalist Guide for the Pembrokeshire based boat tour operators 'Voyages of Discovery' and 'Thousand Island Expeditions' who both donated vouchers for boat trips. Lyndon was supposed to join us but sadly he was unable to due to ill health. I'm sure we all wish him a speedy recovery.

But I reserve my most heartfelt thanks to every member of our group for their participation, their good company, their generosity and their keen observation which ensured that our adventure across the Bay of Biscay was a memorable one.

If anyone has any images of our group trip which they wish to attach to this article then please e-mail them to me.

Ynyslas today

At 1pm today at Ynyslas there was a Red-throated Diver offshore in summer plumage as well as 3 Bottlenose Dolphins which occasionally breached clear of the water sometimes simultaneously (they must have escaped from SeaWorld!).
4 Wigeons flying North (3 ducks & a drake) probably heading for the Dyfi estuary.There were a small number of common scoters offshore.

Teifi Marshes

Outstanding and prolonged views of Water Rails yesterday morning (Sept 10th) from the Kingfisher Hide (a pair) and Mallard Hide (single).

Also a Great White Egret in the creek which flew off in the direction of the Teifi.

Jeremy Moore

WILLOW TITS and WHINCHATS

Surprised and pleased to come across a couple of Willow Tits by the river Ystwyth downstream of Pontrhydygroes near the CCW Grogwyion reserve entrance. Also a couple of Crossbills.
Later, more Willow Tits, as expected, at Cors Caron by the hide to the north and also between the two boardwalk entrances to the south-east.
4 Whinchats at Rhos y Gell near Devil's Bridge.

COLOUR-RINGED OSPREY

On Tuesday we saw an Osprey from the Breakwater hide at Ynys-hir with a yellow ring on its right leg, which according to Roy Dennis, means that it is either an English or Welsh bird.

Stress Relief

A Spotted Flycatcher on Monday at Croeslan and a Marsh Tit on a feeder in Capel Dewi(Llandysul) yesterday provided some much needed light relief from the current bitter and stressful industrial dispute at work. With a day off today I headed to Llanrhystud where there was a good selection of birds to see. Highlights for me were 5 White Wagtails and a single Knot. Also around were 7 Med. Gulls and the leucistic Oystercatcher, which is presumably the same bird that has been around for a few years,though I can't say I've checked it that carefully. A forlorn looking Razorbill was paddling about just 5 yards from the shore and was very approachable,perhaps because it was injured or sick.

Llansantfraed

The highlight of a short visit to the coast at Llansantfraed/Llanon this morning was a flight of 15 Oystercatchers being led by the leucistic bird - is this the same bird that has been seen for the last couple of years further south near Aberaeron? Also present were 75 Curlew, 10 Ringed Plover, 2 Dunlin and 7 Turnstone.

More to do with birds being disturbed by dogs...........

With regard to the recent debate on birds being disturbed by dog walkers at Ynyslas/Borth etc I would be grateful to receive any experiences or input on the matter which, as part of the general item of dogs in the countryside, is a major topic of the Wales National Access Forum on which I sit representing the Welsh Ornithological Society. There is an inland water access consultation out at the moment from the Assembly which is also very relevant to birds and their habitats along rivers etc.

Pete Jennings Rads(VC43) Recorder petejelanvalley@hotmail.com

Sunday's Field Trip

If anyone coming from or through Aberystwyth would be willing to give Ros Jones a lift to the Field Trip on Sunday she would be grateful. Please contact her directly: rgj06@aber.ac.uk

Cors Caron raptors

Yesterday a ringtail Hen Harrier was being harried over the boardwalk pond by a raven.
Today, over our garden, a Hobby dive bombing a peregrine (which was also being mobbed by swallows) was joined by 2 kites which also took to flying at the pere and showing talons.....all in one binocular width!
Same binoculars that are just recovering from seeing Sabine's gull and Minke whale plus loads more on Elfyn's Biscay trip.

Ynyslas Sunday 6th September

Plenty of waders around this morning at high tide on North Point including roughly 100 Sanderling, 200 Ringed Plover, 200 Dunlin, 4 Turnstone, a few Knot and some White Wagtails.

Towards the Saltmarsh there was a Curlew, 7 Sandwich Terns sat on the wooden posts, a Little Egret and 2 Med Gulls.

Andy Bramwell, Ynyslas Warden

DRAMA at NEW QUAY

This morning Meurig Williams and I spent a couple of hours at the shell-fish plant. 4 Arctic and 2 Great Skuas were chasing Terns and Kittewakes and a Manx Shearwater, quite close in, was lucky to escape from persistant attacks from a Greater Black-backed Gull. Less fortunate was a Sandwich Tern which a Peregrine was determined to catch. After a prolonged chase, with the falcon itself being attacked by other terns and gulls, it grabbed the tern but when flying back to the shore was so harried by five immature Herring Gulls, that it dropped its, by now dead prey onto the water.
Chris Bird rang to tell us about the 10 Glossy Ibis at Pembrey in Carmarthenshire and we just had to go down there.
I know that birds outside of Ceredigion do not count, but perhaps these deserve some space on this web site. Some were ringed,apparently in the Carmargue in southern France.

LATE SWIFT

Sadly, I found this Swift,freshly dead, at Llanerchaeron this afternoon.

house martins

Last year my house martins stopped feeding young on 27th Sept and called them out on 28th! Red has swallows on eggs up at Cwmystwyth.
Today a Hobby flew over the garden and spent some time over the larch wood.
Interesting to see large white and red admiral flying during heavy rain shower. Chiff chaff singing in the willows!
Adults feeding 3 little(literally) grebes on boardwalk pond.

Anyone interested in coastal passage this time of year should look at the Pembs bird blog where Graham Rees has been making some interesting observations.

Re Late House Martins

Bob, not necessarily in Ceredigion but I have several times seen House Martins still in the nest in October and Swallows well in to September so perhaps it isn't all that unusual. Perhaps we are all just a bit keen to see the end of another terrible summer!

Late Brood of House Martins

My neighbour's house has a nest with young House Martins still in it.
A bit late aren't they?!

Late Brood of Swallows

A second brood of Swallows fledged today from a nest in our barn. After a few flights around they decided not to venture out because of the inclement weather so instead took up residence in a two year old nest!

New Quay Head

Dropped Tomos off for his first full day at school, nerves jingling,(mine not his),then headed off to New Quay for what turned out to be a wonderful hour of birdwatching. All heading south; 2 Great Skuas,3 Arctic Skuas,300 Kittiwakes,50 Dunlins and a single Common Scoter. Couldn't help but wonder what a more skilful seawatcher than myself might have seen,especially if they'd been there from early on in the morning.

Sanderling Ynyslas

About 100 sanderling between Ynyslas Turn and the Point this morning plus 1 turnstone

Late Brood

Perusing the bog from on high, looking for any patches of mud (as if!)suitable for wader feeding, I became aware of a faint high pitched whinnying. Scoping the big boardwalk pond I was pleased to see 2 ad Little Grebes feeding 4 new chicks! I reported nest building on the pond way back in early summer but had not seen any chicks. They might have a chance now the herons have dispersed(there were over 40 adults feeding young!)and other predators likewise.

Autumn is here

One of the first real signs of autumn is when the Swallows and Martins start collecting on the electricity or telephone wires prior to their migration. This morning there were 178 - mainly House Martins - on the electricity lines outside the house with a similar number - as far as could be estimated - over our adjacent fields.