Clarach Valley

A trip down to Clarach this morning - approxiamately 350 Lapwing on the Nantsiriol fields together with at least 125 Wood Pigeon. At Clarach, a lone Curlew and OysterCatcher on the field behind the amuesment park, a couple of Oysters on the beach and the usual medly of gulls. No sign of the Divers seen by JD - further north.

A timely reminder - now is the time to buy a copy of the 2010 Ceredigion Tide Tables - an essential asset for coastal birdwatching and a most fascinating read for those odd moments and well worth the £1 it costs!

Happy New Year to all.

TANYBWLCH and WALLOG

210 Lapwings were on the meadows behind Tanybwlch beach this morning. A Little Egret was in the flooded ditch and it was good to see that at least 3 Stonechats were surviving the cold weather. Later, at Wallog to the north of Clarach, there were at least 40 Red-throated Divers, all on the shallow water above the sarn.
Happy New Year, Peace,Good Health and Excellent Birding to everyone.

Dipper

Pleased to see a dipper late this afternoon near the bridge in the middle of Tregaron. The river has been heavily disturbed for most of the year with the construction of a flood prevention scheme and I thought its food supply would have disappeared along with one of its nest sites.
Bri had to despatch a buzzard that had wrecked its wing getting caught on the barbed wire along the railway line on Cors Caron this morning, which was most unpleasant as it couldn't be detached because it had swung around and 'tied' itself to the wire barbs. This has happened before on that line but then the bird hung until it succumbed.
More cheerfully there was a male Hen Harrier on the NW bog Xmas day and a green sand on our pond on 29th.

Barn Owl

My final visit of the year to Ynyslas this afternoon and I was hoping that I might see the Hen Harrier that has been frequenting the area. No signs of him at the Aberleri end so I drove along the track towards the car parking area. As I was about half way along the track I caught sight of a Barn Owl which was flying in the same direction and only a few yards away from me. I stopped and scrambled up onto the dunes to see if I could get a better look and saw it for a couple of seconds before it disappeared behind one of the buildings on the caravan park.

Ring-Necked Duck

I was delighted to find that the ring-necked duck was still there this morning and with no waves the views were excellent. A lifer on the last day of the year. Thanks to everybody who has been tracking its movements. Unfortunately I don't have any digiscoping kit. (Do any of you digiscope with simple £100 type digital compact cameras or are the wonderful photos taken with SLRs? I don't want to spend a fortune and will probably have to make my own adaptor for my scope.)
Would you believe that I got stung by a dead wasp today! It was at the end of the finger of an old pair of gloves and I must have forced my finger on to its sting. 2 hours ago and still throbbing.

Black Redstart and Little Egret

Black Redstart observed at 1 and 2 PM on the Old College Building in Aber. Little Egret flying around Blaendolau Fields about 2.45 PM.

On the matter of polecats

Funny you should mention polecats Richard it reminded me of something which happened to me many moons ago. One night when I was on duty as a cop driving my 'jam sandwich' outside Machynlleth a polecat ran (or bounded) in front of me in the middle of the road so I stopped the car and left the lights on full beam and ran after it. I thought because it was wearing a 'mask' it may have been burgling! Or should I say I smelt a rat (or a polecat!) OK I'm being daft again! Anyway I wanted to see how this little 'mustelid' would react to being chased by the law and do you know what he did? He stopped dead turned about and faced up to me baring its teeth, hissing and making rather frightening noises for such a tiny beast! In fact it actually came towards me so I took my hat off to fend him off! No wonder polecats have got a fierce reputation. I should have arrested the little blighter for threatening a police officer! This is a true story folks.
On another night I was in the 'panda' and came across a cat in the road which appeared quite dead so I went up to it with the intention of putting it on the verge whereupon it sank its teeth into my gloved finger inflicting a rather painful bite. Needless to say the air was blue with language unbecoming of a police officer!
On the matter of 'animal' stories if you want to hear about the one and only 'Ram' raid I ever dealt with then ask me when you next see me.

Polecat -- Ffostrasol

Driving up North for a "birding" drink! with Arfon W. At 18:30 this evening a good looking Polecat bounced /ran across the road. It ran across, hillside to seaside c400m before Ffostrasol.

Todays birds

Brrrrr............. it was a wintry one today with a bitterly cold easterly and wet with it. I On my way to Aber I took a detour via Ynyslas and Borth. I stopped on the roadside before reaching the Ynyslas railway crossing to scan the pastureland and towards the bog for birdlife. I had no intention of relinquishing the cosy warmth of my vehicle. There were lapwing, starlings and fieldfare probing in the fields and a female harrier (ringtail) quartering the bog in the distance close to the river embankment. A low flying sparrowhawk put everything up before it and a snipe flew in to join the lapwing and the sheep on the pastureland. There were lots of golden plover, curlew and canada geese in the fields behind 'JB's' house at Ynyslas.

Ring-necked duck

The female Ring-Necked Duck is still on the Rheidol dam lake today, together with 9 Tufted Ducks. Not so easy to watch, bobbing about amongst the waves, but thank goodness that the lake's so easy to view from a car (layby near the Statcraft visitor centre) - the rain and sleet mixture was very unpleasant!

3 Goldeneye upstream near the power station itself; snow visible on the hilltops around the valley. No sign of buzzards of any hue - all sheltering from the weather!

Christmas day

A fine walk on Christmas day from Pendam, around to Blaenmelindwr, Craig-y-pistyll and back. Virtually bird free as you might imagine, but a couple of ravens flew over, there were a few red kites floating around, a small group of meadow pipits near the dam at Craig-y-Pistyll, and a ringtail hen harrier hunting around the forestry between there and Blaenmelindwr.

Jeremy Moore

Chough

I see from the bird blog that someone has spotted a pair of chough at Ynys Las so I thought you would like to know that they are still there. Today (Monday 28th) my husband Peter and I walked past the visitor centre and along the boardwalk. As were approached the large dune slack on the other side of the centre we saw a pair of chough busy feeding. We were able to get fantastic views of them probing the soil, they were only about 20 feet away and didn't seem bothered by us. They flew off when a large group of people came by only to fly back again. Judging by the disturbance of the soil in the slack they have found a good food source. It was well worth braving the icy wind to see them.

Karen Gregory

Llanddewi Brefi

Blackcap -- Blaenporth

Jon Green was watching a female Blackcap in his garden today, he does occasionally bird... & sometimes in the county of his residence!

Little Auk - Teifi estuary

While scanning the small wader flock late afternoon at Patch, a Little Auk was spotted off the end of the spit. It swam around for 5 minutes to both sides of the estuary so has found its way into the Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion records!
The record shot was grabbed from a video.

Snipe and Golden Plover

After the snow thawed overnight, 75 Golden Plover back in the big field behind my house near Tynygriag.

Also 5 Snipe on a warm and sheltered patch of field across the road, usually some every year in hard weather.

Philip Ellis

Christmas 2009

A belated Happy Christmas to all.

It was good to see 12 house sparrows on a tree in the garden on the 23rd. We are getting up to three jays visiting. We had our meal on Christmas Eve which allowed me time to go down Cwmrheidol Christmas Day afternoon and observe leucistic buzzard ("Whitehead"), the female ring necked duck , 4 tufted ducks, 2 male goldeneyes, 1 female and 2 male goosanders and redwings.

Today, down the Clettwr where we saw 2 dippers (one at least with ring), kingfisher, peregrine and glimpse of male hen harrier. Walking back weighed down by turkey sandwiches and Dundee cake (won by guessing weight of 5lbs 2oz in the Abermad fete). Flock of golden plover on the way back at Ynyslas Turn.

I see the BirdWatcher's Yearbook 2010 says that fewer people are contributing their little bits and pieces to the world-wide web. It quotes an American satarist 'Life is like a sewer. What you get out of it depends what you put in'.

Ynyslas

There was a Great-crested Grebe looking magnificent at Ynyslas this morning. A flock of Lapwings were in the air as I approached from the railway crossing and 35 Curlews got up near to Aberleri.
There were a few Ringed Plover and Redshank about and a Peregrine swooped over some Wigeon on the water near the point.

Ynyslas

Buster, Lulu and I shared Ynyslas beach with 3 Grey Plovers this morning. There were also 2 Red-breasted Mergansers on the water and c100 Wigeon huddled in the salt grass. Away in distance, towards the Clettwr, 100s of Golden Plover took to the air with Lapwings mixed in amongst them.
Merry Christmas everyone.

Merry Christmas

Wishing everyone all the best for Christmas and the New Year.

Sightings Ynyslas Borth Cwmrheidol

A late post thanks to Windoze problems.
Chough - a pair has been hanging round the dune slack next to the bit fenced off for ringed plovers not to breed in since Sunday.
Purple sandpipers - on Monday 2 by the wooden jetty in Aber about midday, and 3 under the cliffs at Upper Borth about 2 pm with the oystercatchers.
Barn owl - by the caravan site at dusk on Sunday
Today at Cwmrheidol 3 pale buzzards, 2 as in previous post plus this one, not quite as leucistic as the other 2. Also ring-necked duck spotted by John swam round in circles in the middle of the lake for 3 hours. If anyone has an 800mm lens it would be the proverbial sitting duck, but since I can't see Santa fitting that paricular lens down the chimney I will have to make do with the record shot.

Costa Ceredigion for Xmas

I'm staying on the Costa Cardi for Xmas - not jetting off and leaving a large carbon footprint !

A Happy Christmas and New Year to all,

Mike H

white hills red kites

What a glorious few days around Cors Caron. All the birds look good when uplit by sun on snow and none better than our own kites. Several soaring with the snowy Teifi hills in the background: fantastic. Its easy to take them for granted around here and forget all the long years of hard slog by the stalwarts of the Kite Trust so I for one will be raising a glass to them this Christmas.

RING-NECKED DUCK

On my return from a snow-bound north-east Essex and having had to leave my car a mile from home, I subsequently noticed that the lakes here at Trisant were completely frozen over. Chris Bird suggested I visit Cwmrheidol and this morning I found that the female Ring-Necked Duck was now on Cwmrheidol dam lake, in close company with 5 Tufted Ducks. 5 Goldeneyes were upstream towards the power station.
This afternoon, from Aber Clettwr, there were almost 1000 Oystercatchers on the Ceredigion side of the Dyfi estuary, an unusually high number.

Hi all

A good few days on Cors Caron - from the WeBS count 21/12), an atlas count (22/12) and a walk round the bog with Angie, I've had the following sightings:
ringtail hen harrier, a merlin, 6 whoopers and about 50 teal chasing a meadow pipit from the observation building, dipper and kingfisher on the Fflur, by the smaller hide, several woodcock, a grey wagtail by Alltddu Farm (the one right by the railway line), 4 goosander seen from Pont Einon, peregrine over the river South of pont Einon, 10 whitefronts flying north over the A485 just East of Pont Einon, 20+ lapwing around too.
It's worth checking from Pont Einon during this frozen weather as all the pondas on the bog are frozen, so there are a lot more birds on the river at the moment.
Merry Christmas!
Andy Polkey

Starling and Lapwing

In amongst the frantic Christmas preparations I was delighted this morning to see at least 20 lapwing settle in the field on the other side of the Rheidol river .They were accompanied by 3 times their number of starling.They seemed to be feeding but they were very restless and lifted and moved several times but they came back and remained there for at least an hour.I don't think I have ever seen lapwing here before but this cold spellmust have encouraged them to forage elswhere.It will be interesting to see if they return.

I also had two good sitings of a male bullfinch in splended colour ,he was close to the house but not brave enough to feed with the other visitors to the table.He had his eye on the currants but they were soon devoured by the blackbirds.Its so rewarding to see the birds feeding this time of the year.

Can I be the first to wish you all a happy Christmas and very succesful birding in 2010.

Best wishes Lis Collison

Aberystwyth 22nd December

At 1.45pm yesterday there were 11 turnstone feeding on the shoreline by the pier and 2 ringed plover resting on the college rocks. On the way home I saw a partridge in a pear tree (only joking!).

Hen Harrier

This afternoon at Ynyslas I was treated to another wonderful sighting of a male Hen Harrier.
He floated over the saltings close to Aberleri, heading south. With the sun behind me I was able to see him very well. A few minuted later I picked him up again close to the railway line to the north.
There were a few Curlew, Redshank and Wigeon about but not much else.

Leri saltings

At high tide this morning a lot of Redshank and Teal along the edge of the saltings. Further out - Widgeon, Mallard, Shelduck and a few Curlew.

Weekend sightings

A few weekend sightings from Ystumtuen. 4 Whooper Swans flying north overa frozen Llyn Oerfa towards presumably the Pendam area looking for water! A flock of several Bullfinches, 2 Snipe flying out of ditches, and lots of Red Kites.

Matt and Charly Potter

Cross Inn woods

Male Hen Harrier this morning to the South of the road from Cross Inn to Bethania.

Aberystwyth

There was just 6 Purple Sandpipers on the sea wall at Aberystwyth at high tide this morning, the Black Redstart was in the same place as yesterday although there was no snow this time.....

Tom Wells

Sandwich Terns

This afternoon, on my way to the starling roost, i saw two sandwich terns
off south beach/college rocks. They were patrolling up and down the coast
so might hang around. At the roost there was a starling with
creamy-white primaries and a pale tail - maybe one to look out for in the
day to see where our birds feed.

Simon Cox

Birds in the snow

There was a male Black Redstart feeding in the melting snow at the back of the smaller building of old college early this afternoon, on the otherside were 13 Turnstones, there were 8 Shags in the area as well as a couple of Cormorants

Tom Wells

Starling stars

With regard to Elfyn's sighting of a cameraman at Aberystwyth on Friday, I had a Iolo Williams, plus supporting cast, there on Thursday......

Jeremy Moore

Me too.........

Bob Relph

Winter Birds

It was indeed a fine crisp winters day today and I too like Bob and Tom gravitated towards Ynyslas but not before I stopped off in a lay-by between Furnace and Treddol to peer into Pant Coch wood to see what was about. On the woodland floor a cock pheasant was surrounded by redwing blackbird and thrush rummaging around in the leaf litter for grubs. In the leafless branches above blue, great and long-tailed tits as well as goldcrest and treecreeper actively searched for the minutiae of insect life. I intended to walk the banks of the clettwr but because the 'shooters' were at large disturbing the equilibrium of life I decided otherwise and continued my journey to Ynyslas. A crow and a blackbird alerted me to the presence of a stoat bounding across a field towards a ditch where I lost sight of it. There were hordes of lapwing and golden plover in the fields between Treddol and Ynyslas and the odd fieldfare too. I did the same as Bob and Tom and drove down to the estuary where I saw the same birds. I've nothing to add only the wigeon which were initially resting on the shore but then took to the water. I spent the afternoon in Aberystwyth searching the college rocks for purple sandpiper but didn't see any. There were shags and cormorant on the rocks and a diver offshore. There were about 8 turnstone on the shore adjacent to the pier. A single black redstart flitted about the rooftops of the old college. I returned in the late afternoon to watch the magnificent starling roost. There was a guy on the beach with a rather fancy looking camera filming the arrival of the masses. Looked like a professional set up but I didn't speak with him. By the time of my departure every ledge, step, stanchion, cable and railing of the pier structure was thronged with an incredible number of chattering starlings. Absolutely fab!

Merry Christmas everyone and good birding in 2010!

Ynyslas & Borth

Just to add to your sightings on the sea off Ynyslas/Borth this morning as well as the red throated divers i also saw 25 Common Scoters and 6 Great Crested Grebes. In the field next to the caravan park were 460 Golden Plover, 10 Curlew, 7 Lapwing, 5 Dunlin and a couple of Oystercatcher. On the beach in Borth were 4 Sanderling a Redshank and a Dunlin.

Tom Wells

Ynyslas

It was a beautiful, crisp, clear morning at Ynyslas so I looked at the sea for a bit longer than I had intended. Flocks of Golden Plover and Lapwing flew over as I approached the turn car-park. I didn't count the Red-throated Divers but I estimate there were probably 30 or 40 out there. A probable Black-throated flew past but I couldn't say for sure and a Porpoise put in a brief appearance. Moving on there were two Buzzards feeding on a dead rabbit near the visitor centre with two Red Kites in close attendance and closer to the Leri there were Curlew, Redshank, Oystercatcher and Skylarks feeding on the saltings.

Pale Buzz

I agree Janet-and yes the second one stayed well back in what looks like the same spot.Cheers Kev.

Another pale buzzard, Cwmrheidol

Saw 2 pale buzzards on a quick trip through Cwmrheidol today. The one I photographed on Sunday was still very approachable - don't know what you think Kev but it looks like the same bird you photographed on Saturday. The second bird is much more wary , these photos were long distance shots across the other side of the valley.

Ynyslas and Clettwr

This morning, on the fields adjacent to the Caravan park at Ynyslas - about 350 Golden Plover, 120 Curlew and 40 Lapwing. On the Leri, 35 Wigeon, 10 Mallard and 3 Redshank. A quick visit to the Clettwr, - one of the resident Dippers, a Little Egret (not of the 'Golden Variety' ) flying around and a lone Redshank. On the fields alongside, 20 or so Lapwing.

disappointments,pleasant surprises

The little Woodland Trust reserve at Llanio is often worth a quick visit for anyone in the area(633559 .there is a laybay on the main road virtually opp. the entrance). Today I saw a Willow Tit,2 Woodcock a small flock of Redpoll and a Treecreeper.
Headed off to nearby Allt Olmarch where we went on an a club trip,last winter I think. However, there were some big keep out signs up and cctv notices etc. Liz, if you're reading this I know you were in contact with the owner(who escorted us on the trip in fact). Are we still allowed in here? I'd be interested to know.
Sat in the car pondering. An amazing, small, white and brown bird suddenly appeared in the lane. For 3 seconds I relished the discovery of Llangybi's first ever Snow Bunting. But it was a Robin.
Thought I'd go for a quick hike round the conifers at the Llangybi end of Long Wood. A brief burst of strangely beautiful notes were those of a Crossbill in song and nearby very high in the canopy of some very tall conifers I could hear a Marsh Tit. Thought I must be mistaken(Coal Tit?) but fortuneately it dropped down in to the bare understorey to allow me to definetly identify it.

TRISANT LAKES

This morning the female Ring-necked Duck was still on Llyn Rhosrhydd.

(Directions: WALK for 1/4 of a mile to the lake along a public track which starts at the lane to the north-east of the lake by a cottage called Plynlimon View. Park off the lane, just to the north. View the bird from the track and NOT from the lakeside.)

The duck is rather shy and wary.
4 Whooper Swans still present. Also a female Goldeneye. A drake Mallard took ages to swallow a large frog. 10 noisy Crossbills flew over.
On nearby Llyn Glandwgan, 5 Tufted Ducks and 5 Pochards and on Llyn Frongoch a drake Goldeneye.

Penrhyncoch lakes

A trip around the Penrhyn lakes this morning - four Mallard on Pendam, 4 Goldeneye on Llyn Syfydrin and 6 Goldeneye on Llyn Rhosgoch.

green sandpiper

Flushed from our pond up the hill from Cors Caron a green sandpiper. How many are wintering?

Hen Harrier

A male Hen Harrier quartering the NW sector of Cors Caron flushed 5 Snipe.

Resident Kestrel hovering.

Philip Ellis

Egret on College Rocks

Rounding off an interesting day on Sat. I happened on this chap fishing : couldn't believe my luck with the late aft. light-pure liquid gold-needless to say I got through a "few" shots!!

BORTH - YNYSLAS

This morning Meurig and I saw 94 Red-throated Divers and 65 Common Scoters on a calm sea off Borth. On the rocks at the southern end of the beach were a couple of Purple Sandpipers.
Best of all, close in, to the north of the Turn car park, there was a Black-throated Diver. 5 Sanderling and 26 Ringed Plovers were on the beach there.

Happy Christmas from Kev & Sue Joynes

Leafie

Dear Liz ,
I am sure " Leafie " will reply , but in case he doesn't notice ,as he spends all night every night out ringing with Tony Cross, he is Paul Leafe , founder of the blog and the most enthusiastic birder in Radnor : although still a young man , he has done more to put us on the map than anyone-as you probably know Radnor and Montgomery are the cinderellas of the bird world, but as you have shown us in Ceredigion the internet is the future and Paul is trying hard to get us there.
Cheers Kev.

Re "our pale phase Buzzes

First : Well done Janet on those beaut Starling shots and the Buzzz on poles in Rheidol.

Here are a few more : this is an interesting line : I reckon at least 3 , but probably more pale Buzzards are in the area passing on the genes.

On Sat. following the Trisant interlude (coffee next time John), we descended into the Rheidol Vale and sought out the leucistic Buzzards.

Found either a pair ,or siblings mewing at each other in between worming the fields and perching up-they are very similar, but not the one I shot earlier on.

A kite joined in after the worms .

This is one of the Buzzes, t'other was out of shot.

Serious probs publishing posts!

Hopefully here are the pics:

TRISANT

Try again. This is for John and if you EVER find another Ring necked Duck , PLEASE don't tell me. They are hopeless-this is the 3rd one in Ceredigion and I still can't get near !

However , whilst lugging the 600mm round the lake , Kites and Whoopers came to see me , so at least I got something !

hen harrier

Ringtail harrier on the bog late afternoon. A chap from Derbyshire who birds the bog in winter had seen a male as well so the roost must be 2 birds! Otherwise a beaut bullfinch and odd redpolls. No sign of any short-eareds yet.

Radnor blog is interesting; check it out. Who is 'leafie'?!

Pale buzzard, Cwmrheidol

A pale buzzard posed in the afternoon sun at Cwmrheidol, it looks different from the one John posted last Friday, the head is much lighter.

Pendam/Blaenmelindwr Sunday 13th

Single Whooper Swan, with a female Tufted Duck and four Mallard on Blaenmelindwr. Two Kestrels chasing each other around calling incessantly.

5 Crossbills and 3 Ravens over Pendam.

A scan for Great Grey Shrike was not successful in finding one, though the conditions looked ideal.

LAPLAND BUNTING

A Lapland Bunting was at Llansantffraed earlier today. It was calling as it flew back and forth low over a coastal meadow between the village and lime kilns. It is a very characteristic call but one I do not hear very much so, having made a few scribled notes, I got home and played both a DVD and CD and listened to the flight calls and it confirmed my sighting. The bird never settled and eventually disappeared over the meadows towards the church.
A few Wigeon and Teal were on the sea and a couple of Red-throated Divers. 100 or so Golden Plovers and 4 Grey Plovers were on the pebbles, plus the resident albino Oystercatcher.

Birds Seen during the Ceredigion Birding Group field trip

Here is the list of birds seen during the Birding Group Field Trip on Saturday, recorded as usual by Moira -

Barnacle Goose, Black-headed Gull, Blackbird, BlueTtit, Bullfinch, Buzzard, Canada Goose, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Coal Tit, Common Gull, Common Sandpiper, Cormorant, Curlew, Dunnock, Golden Plover, Goldeneye, Goldfinch, Great Black-backed Gull, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Great Tit, Grey Heron, Greylag Goose, Hen Harrier, Herring Gull, Jay, Kingfisher, Lapwing, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Little Egret, Little Grebe, Magpie, Meadow Pipit, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Nuthatch, Oystercatcher, Peregrine, Pheasant, Pied Wagtail, Pintail, Pochard, Raven, Red Breasted Merganser, Redshank, Redwing, Robin, Rook, Shelduck, Shoveler, Song Thrush, Starling, Stonechat, Teal, Treecreeper, Wigeon, Woodpigeon, Wren.

College Black Redstart again

A Black Redstart on the Old College roof in Aberystwyth again this morning, enjoying the sun.

BIRDING GROUP FIELD TRIP REPORT

Yesterday, about 25 of us enjoyed a great visit to RSPB Ynys-hir, led by Bob. It was a bright sunny day and 60 or so species encountered. Amongst the highlights were Treecreeper, good views of Barnacle Geese, a Kingfisher perched out on the saltings close to a Peregrine, a hunting male Hen Harrier, good views of several Goldeneyes and also Pintail, Shoveller and Teal.
A female Pochard may not have been the most exciting-looking bird but it is a surprisingly scarce species in Ceredigion and was probably the same bird found earlier in the morning by Harry Pepper. It was on the sea, close to Aberystwyth's pier, before it took off and flew north along the coast.

After the walk, Harry and I stopped off at the Clettwr where there were at least a couple of Dippers. On the adjacent damp meadows were a large number of Lapwings and a couple of Black-tailed Godwits. A male Hen Harrier, probably the one seen earlier, hunted nearby before moving off downstream,possibly to the roost site on Cors Fochno. We also had some distant views of the Greenland White-fronted Geese.

As Harry said, one of the best days we had enjoyed for ages.

BLACK REDSTART

Yesterday, Chris Bird found a Black Redstart on Pantycellyn Hall of Residence, by the entrance way to the National Library. Also a Chiffchaff there and a Little Egret on College Rocks.

Blackcap

one female blackcap in garden in Llanon - Sunday 13 Dec 9.30 am


Terry Barry

Sun, sea and starlings

Aber starling roost this evening

hen harrier

Friday morning male harrier on SW bog.

Golden plover

About 250 golden plover on the beach at Aberaeron this afternoon and 8 turnstone.

Ynyslas and Leri

A visit to the point at Ynyslas this afternoon at high tide was marred by the presence of an apparently lost dog running the tide line. Needless to say there were no birds to be seen other than a bunch of Oystercatcher disappearing in the distance. The dog later appeared to belong to a couple about half a mile away!!

Back along the saltings about 120 Widgeon and a few Curlew along with the usual five Mute Swans. A Hen Harrier made a sortie over the Spartina before disappearing up the estuary.

As the sun dipped towards the horizon a further walk up the Leri towards Borth searching for the possible Starling roost - but without success. The only Starlings seen were clearly going for a night out on Aber pier. However a couple of Redshank, some flighting Canada's and the flushing of two Common Snipe from the side of the path made up for the absence of a roost.

Pont Gogoyan,Llanddewi Brefi

A good spot for Green Sandpiper,birds have overwintered here for many years and a single was present this afternoon. Also, single Dipper and Goosander,14 Wigeon and 12 Teal. Not much at nearby Pant pool.

RING-NECKED DUCK at TRISANT

The female Ring-necked Duck was still on Llyn Rhosrhydd at Trisant this morning, viewed from the east side of the lake from the public path/track, which starts from the lane opposite the cottage called Plynlimon View, to the north-east of the lake.

The 4 Whooper Swans were still there, plus 3 Goosanders. On nearby Llyn Frongoch, there was a male and female Goldeneye.

PALE BUZZARDS in the RHEIDOL VALLEY

The other day Roger Bray was lucky enough to see a couple of pale Buzzards, close together at Cwmrheidol. I photographed one there last week and it looks different to the one by the Rheidol gorge, near Ponterwyd, which was put on the blog a while ago. So, there are certainly two extremely pale ones in the area, quite possibly more.

Sanderling and knot

This morning at Ynyslas 7 sanderling and 1 knot

WADERS,PIPITS and GULLS

Bob and I began the day at Llanrhystud where we found 8 Grey Plovers on the rocky foreshore by the caravans and, more surprisingly, 3 Purple Sandpipers. Oystercatchers, Redshanks, Turnstones and Ringed Plovers also present. Where the river enters the sea, there were many Rock and Meadow Pipits and a Water Pipit. 2 Red-throated Divers were offshore.
Down the coast at Llansantffraed about 140 Curlews were on the cliff-top meadows and about 130 Golden Plovers circled overhead. One adult and one first winter Mediterranean Gulls where there. At adjacent Llanon, some of Chris Bird's numerous Med. Gulls were loitering on the sea.
Back at Aberystwyth, Rachel, Ian and I reckoned there were 8 Purple Sandpipers infront of the Old College. I watched an impressive Starling gathering at the pier and finally headed back to the hills.

Cors caron and nearby

4 whoopers on the flooded bog all day and visible from the boardwalk.
Peregrine, 6 kite, 4 ravens, 2 buzzards overhead. kites and ravens in formation flying so love must be in the air!
Green sandpiper on our pond at 4pm.
2 greylag very early yesterday on Maes Llyn.

tetrads

Whilst out today covering some tetrads south of Talgarreg was lucky enough to get a good long look at a Merlin which in turn was taking a good long look at the hundreds of Starlings foraging in the fields in front of it. Also a Dipper at Pontsian.

PIED WAGTAIL ROOST

Aberystwyth's Pied Wagtail roost site looks as if it has move from Morrisons to the Argos car park. Chris Bird was there this evening and noticed 100+ Pied Wagtails in the bushes on the Craft side and on the roof of the empty Bathstore building.

Wildlife Trust Information

To receive information and updates from the Wildlfie Trust in the form of a monthly email letter please send your email address to Lyndsey Maiden at L.maiden@welshwildlife.org. as soon as possible

A hard copy of the e-newsletter will be available at our local groups meeting for those who do not have access to the internet.

Eagle owl...keep a look out.

I have just learned that the Penuwch eagle owl went missing from its home some time in September. It had previously decapitated a barn owl, leaving the remains on its usual ledge even tho' it was being fed by its human neighbours. The BTO are anxious to know the whereabouts of escaped Bubos (in view of their impact as predators) so if anyone sees or hears about a very large owl please blog it or tell our County Recorder.

Welsh Kite Trust has just produced its winter mag with details of the breeding season and news of the Welsh honey buzzards. Its a good read so join up now and support kites and other raptors in our county.

COUNTY BIRD REPORT

Since its publication just a couple of months ago, sales revenue has already accounted for half the printing costs and at this rate the Report will be sold out before too long. Details of how to obtain the Report can be found by clicking on 'News and Events'.

LITTLE GULL

An adult Little Gull feeding with Black-headed Gulls over the breaking waves at Aberystwyth's South Beach made a shopping trip to town much more enjoyable.

More Weekend Sightings

This afternoon there was a gathering of 28 Mediterranean Gulls at Llanon, seen by Chris Bird.As before, most were non-adults.
Yesterday he noted 3 male Goosanders on LLyn Eiddwen and on nearby Llyn Fanod another Goosander and, very unusual for this lake, an adult and juv Mute Swan.
Meurig Williams caught sight of a couple of Goldeneyes, including an adult male, on Llyn Syfydrin.

Ring-necked duck etc

This morning, the female Ring-necked duck was still on Llyn Rhosrhydd with 4 Whooper swans and 2 Goosanders . A female Goldeneye still on Llyn Frongoch.
At Aberystwyth, 7 Purple Sandpipers were dodging the breakers on the sea wall in front of the college.
On the flooded field behind the beach at Llanrhystud there were 2 adult Med gulls.

COLOUR-RINGED BLACK-TAILED GODWIT

Just had some belated feed-back about a colour-ringed Black-tailed Godwit which Chris Bird and I saw on a flooded coastal field at Llanrystud on 29th July 2009.
It had been ringed as a chick in southern Iceland on 10th July 2000 and was next seen in western Holland in March 2005 and again in October 2006 and then in north-west France in January 2007.

RING-NECKED DUCK

Chris Bird was right when he thought he saw a female Ring-necked Duck on Blaenmelindwr last Monday. This morning it was on Llyn Rhosrhydd, just down the road from my home at Trisant. (SN 703 757)
There is NO vehicular access down the track to the lake. There is limited parking off the road just to the north of the start of the track. Keep to the track and view the lake from the dam at the southern end. (The local landowner can be easily upset.)
4 adult Whooper Swans also present and a female Goldeneye on nearby Frongoch.
(Any querries, call me on 07967408360)

Crossbills

Saw a flock of approximately 40 Crossbills this morning, in foresty around Glaspwll, unfortunately I can't be more specific about the location as I'm unsure myself!

David Bratt

PURPLE SANDPIPERS at BORTH

3 on the rocks at the southern end of the beach, late morning.

Maesycrugiau

This morning surveyed a couple of tetrads near Maesycrugiau,not an area I'm familiar with. Though much of the area is intensively farmed one or two pockets held good birds. Highlights were;
3 Dippers,2 together on the Teifi and a third on a sidestream, 2 Marsh Tits and a Woodcock.
My most enjoyable sighting of the day though was of Arfon Williams, an increasingly elusive species that appears to be evolving crepuscular habits that allow it to creep up on unwary Jack Snipe after dark.

goldeneyes and little egret

Maes llyn pond this morning; 3 female goldeneye plus the widg, teal and mallard.
Last night there was a fem goosander there but no goldeneye.
This afternoon on Pant pit a little egret, 2 mute swans, 3 coot, 3 tufties and solitary mallard and little grebe.
Woodcock on Cors Ian.

News from the Cors Caron wardens is that the Fflur hide which replaced the tower hide is to have screens so the little pond is not used, as at present, as a dog bath and the rails and moorhens will have some privacy.

Starling roost

At the beginning of the year I mentioned about large numbers of Starlings that I sometimes see first thing in the morning passing over Rhydlewis/Brynhoffnant,numbering many thousands. I was wondering where they had come from exactly and there were various suggestions at the time. Anyway, I've just been rereading through back copies of the annual report and I noticed that in December 2007 there was a record of a Starling roost containing 120000 birds at Mydroilyn. The Starlings pass over Rhydlewis heading SW and Mydroilyn is about 10miles NE of there so this seems a likely candidate for my birds. 120000 Starlings! I like the idea of that!
I should also like to publicly apologise to a Great Tit that I ridiculed on Sunday. Suffice to say that it was all my fault. I realised today that I set up the feeder wrong.That's why the sunflower hearts didn't fall out. That's why you were bashing your little head against the side of the feeder for so long in a futile attempt to get at the seed. It's me who's the stupid one. Apologies. Ian.

Ynyslas

There were some good birds to be seen at Ynyslas between 9.00 and 10.00 this morning.
Meadow Pipits gathered on the track between the car-park and Aberleri, 30 or 40 Redshank on the saltings with a similar number of Curlew and a few Shellduck, 20 or so Wigeon on the water and c 1,000 Golden Plover flew over. The star of the show though was a superb male Hen Harrier giving marvelous views as he bobbed and weaved over the saltings.

Clarach Valley and ? Ford Wood?

This afternoon there were seven Mallard, four Wigeon and a Little Egret on flood water in the valley near Llangorwen.

Re: the report on Ford Wood sightings on Monday - is this the woodland at the ford on the road from Aberstwyth to Gogerddan? If so its correct name is Pwll Crwn!

Cors Caron

On the little lake by Maes-Llyn on the East side of Cors Caron 130 Widgeon, 30 Teal, 16 Mallard, 5 Tufted Duck, 2 Moorhen and a Coot.

Nothing on the lakes actually on Cors Caron except a solitary Mute Swan. 4 Bullfinches eating willow buds.

Philip Ellis

Brambling

Dec 1 our first Brambling sighting and on our feeding station feeding with the chaffinches on spilt Niger seed, a male, what a handsome bird. Our usual visitors were busy eating us out of house and home! - resident Goldfinches who have kept their numbers up 20+ by introducing their young throughout the summer, also Siskins ditto. Have not noticed Bullfinches for a couple of years but a male has already started on the Blackcurrant buds - no jam next year then!

David and Anne Lucas

Whooper Swans

I forgot to send this record in at the time...

4 whoopers at Llyn Pendam, November 16th.

Jeremy Moore

Leucistic Common Gull

Today after counting a band of 10 long tailed tits raiding the willows and a male adult greater spotted woodpecker trying not to be seen,I was sufficiently enthused to remember my bins and take them with me on an errand to town.It was not the weather to stay out long on the south promenade but I couldsee that the tide was out and that I might be lucky and see the purple sandpipers.I saw 6 oystercatchers ,2 rock pipits and loads of common gulls with a few Med gulls I think.Just as I was about to drive off I noticed someone trying to draw my attention and I stopped .It turned out to be a gentleman whose name I have read on the blog and was thrilled when he told me that the leucistic gull that has been returning here since 2002 was amongst the gulls.Thanks Chris for sharing your knowledge with a novice.It was well worth braving the elements for,and great meeting you too.

Lis Collison

LATE TERN AT ABERYSTWYTH

I saw a tern at Castle Rocks today for about 30 seconds at 12.30 pm. It was arctic/common size with dark trailing edges to the primaries. I wonder if anyone else has seen it as it might have been something exciting as it is so late for terns!! Keep a look out along the coast - it headed north towards the pier and although I walked along to the pier I didn't see it again.

PALE BUZZARD,again

This morning, near Ponterwyd on the Devil's Bridge road, I had a "Kev Joynes moment" and a wonderful photographic opportunity. Two vital ingedients were missing; Kev Joynes and his camera. However, below is my effort with my little compact Panasonic.

LEUCISTIC COMMON GULL

This afternoon, Chris Bird once again found this unusual but regular winter visitor to Aberystwyth on College Rocks.
Yesterday he was sure that he had found a female Ring-necked Duck on Lyn Blaenmelindwr but fading light handicapped the identification. There was no sign of the bird on any of the lakes off the Pendam Mountain Road today. However, especially in view of the male Ring-necked which spent two recent winters in the county, Chris feels that any female Tufted Duck is worth a second glance.

Tan-y-Bwlch

Flocks of 11 Curlew and 12 Teal in the fields at Tan-Y-Bwlch today.
Also, two Goosanders on the Ystwyth river and two on the Rheidol - all
female.

Rachel Davies and Ian Lycett.

Dyfi Sightings

It's been a while since I put any sightings on the blog. Today I spotted a chough foraging in the grass in front of the visitor centre at Ynyslas while on the phone (me not the chough!). It had a pale blue or purple ring but I didn't get the chance to get the number.

Also I've been regularly seeing a male hen harrier over Cors Fochno, while a few weeks ago on Sunday 15th Nov I saw a Kingfisher flying over the sea at Borth making a dash for land before the next gale.

Andy Bramwell