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.
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.