Bank Holiday Morning Birdwatching

Harry Pepper, Meurig Williams and myself began at Aberystwyth where there were 3 Mediterranean Gulls on College Rocks and a good selection of waders on South Beach, near the War memorial: 29 Ringed Plover, 6 Turnstone, 4 Dunlin, 2 Sanderling and 1 Knot. Harry had seen all theses birds at the same spot the previous morning.
Then on to Ynyslas where Bob joined us at The Turn car park. A few Common Scoters were offshore and 13 Sanderling on the beach.
Next, the Clettwr by the Dyfi and from the footbridge we had good views of 4 Greenshank, 2 Green Sandpipers,1 Common Sandpiper and a Kingfisher.
Then on to Ynys-hir and a good mixed flock of small birds including Pied and Spotted Flycatchers whilst on our way to Marion Mawr hide. From there views, of an adult and juv. Peregrine, Curlews and Black-tailed Godwit and best of all, good, prolonged views of an Osprey, often perched, often flying about low and also bathing.

cors caron

Small groups of willow warblers and tits moving south along the railway track,with parties of swallows(mixed adults and young)overhead this afternoon. Odd chiffchaffs and spotty flies in our garden. House martins fledged last 3 on Friday.

SEDGE WARBLERS - NOT FOR THE SQUEAMISH!

A ringing trip to the edge of Borth Bog yesterday with Paul Leafe and Jane Kelsall produced a very reasonable catch of 22 Reed, 12 Sedge and 2 Grasshopper Warblers despite the lateness of the season. Two of the Sedge Warblers in particular were memorable and worth sharing. The first, slightly gruesome photo, shows a young bird with no bill. It probably hatched like this as it didn't appear to be a recent injury. Weighing 9.1 g it was a bit lighter than the other juvs caught that day but not desperately so, so was seemingly able to cope with its disability. On a lighter (or rather heavier) note the second shows an adult which weighed in at 20.6 g (they usually weigh around 9 - 12g). Looking a bit like a golf-ball with wings, it clearly had its bags packed ready for its autumn migration although it did have a bit of difficulty getting airbourne when released!

Dogs, people and birds

If you had an opportunity to speak to a local dog-training club, what advice would you give trainers regarding dogs and minimising the disturbance/damage they can cause to wildlife, particularly birds?
I have contacted the local club, and it looks like I am going to get that opportunity.
I'm hoping that we can foster good relations and start getting the message across to dog owners who choose to go to classes with their pets.
I already have some ideas of my own but I am interested in hearing from anyone who has any ideas that maybe I haven't thought of.
If you have any serious thoughts on the subject contact me via email please - robert.relph@btinternet.com

Llanrhystud

Plenty to see this morning.15 Ringed Plovers, 23 Turnstones, 4 Wheatears, 40 Sandwich Terns, 5 Dunlins and 4 female Red-breasted Mergansers flew south. Also the 'almost white'Oystercatcher. I only counted 5 Med. Gulls.I've noticed that a lot,or maybe all, the high counts of this species in this area refer to evening visits. Where do the birds disperse to during the day? Or am I just not looking in quite the right place?

MED. GULLS AGAIN

This evening, Chris Bird had an amazing 96 Med. Gulls on fields at Llanrhystud, busy feeding on worms, plus 4 at Aberystwyth, confirming that this area is one of the very best in the UK for this species!

Hobby at Aberaeron

1 Hobby flying south over Aberaeron at 20.30 on Monday 24th.

Ian Harrison

Hobby at Cors Caron

I finally got out to Cors Caron yesterday afternoon,having also been relinquished from childcare duties.Its always a great pleasure to take a stroll over the bog and the recent sitings this summer of the hobbies made it really extra special .Would we be lucky ?The weather was not as warm as I had been led to believe however we decided that waterproofs were not needed as it was a short distance.The silence was soon broken by an RAF hawk followed closely by another.The sky was looking rather black over Bronant but I didn't think it would come our way for a while.Just as I was watching the few dragonflies darting and giving up on seeing much else I was alerted by another birder that he had his sights on an adult hobby sitting happily on a branch in what looked like a dead birch.This was a first for me and I could hardly contain my excitment as I struggled to locate the said tree.Eventually it moved its head slightly just enough to display his very white cheek and as he was so far away we could just about make out its red trousers.We waited hoping that the 6 swallows that seemed to be mobbing it would get him up. No, not even when another or perhaps the same hawk flew directly overhead did it budge.The rain finally caught up with us and we all retreated,some of us sooner than others However wet we were it was definitely worth it.

Lis Collison

MORE ON MED. GULLS

Marc Hughes was back on holiday here for a while and reported on the large numbers of Med. Gulls still in the Llansantffraed area.
Chris Bird tells me that yesterday there were 3 adult Meds on Blaendolau playing fields near Morrisons, one of them carrying green ring MO8, a bird reared in northern France in June 06 and seen in Aberystwyth in July 08 and here again since last month. Another had red ring 5P5 , a Polish bird, also 3 years old and seen in Aberystywth in August and September 08.
Chris also saw an adult in the harbour and another on Castle Rocks.

High tide - Ynyslas - Leri

At high tide - about 25 Sandwich Terns and a lone Common Tern on the tide line together with the usual congregation of Black Headed gulls. Three small flocks of waders - mixed Dunlin and Ringed Plover and a group of six Redshank headed off towards the point. A single Little Egret and Curlew on the saltings

Bumper Barn Owl Brood

Heads or tails?

Last night I ringed what might be my last brood of Barn Owls for the year in Ceredigion, near Tregaron, and was surprised to find, that despite the wet weather, they had managed to hatch all seven eggs. The smallest chick was a bit runty but no reason why it shouldn't eventually fledge. This is the biggest brood I've ever recorded in Ceredigion but follows a probable brood of 7 near Cwmystwyth earlier in the year (5 large young in the box plus two owls that flew off which I'm pretty sure were also youngsters). They are clearly having a very good season with over 70 chicks ringed in the county so far this year. Anyone know of any more?

Ynyslas High Tide 25th

It was quiet at high tide this morning, with 100 Ringed Plover and about 160 Dunlin and 5 Sanderling.

Right on high tide though 5 Redshank and 1 Greenshank arrived, calling as they landed. There were also 4 Turnstone amongst the shingle.

About 20 Sandwich Terns, and a Greater and Lesser Black Back Gull.

Andy Bramwell

Assistant Reserve Manager, Dyfi NNR

YNYSLAS PEREGRINE

Here is the culprit Bob refers to in his earlier posting today:




Where did all the waders go?





















Perhaps I should just sit here infront of those birdwatchers.

Green Woodpecker

Had a close encounter with a juv. Green Woodpecker whilst working early this morning just over the border in Llanfihangel(Carms). Sounds like there's lots of good stuff 'up north' at Ynys Las and elsewhere. I've been on childminding duties over the school holidays and haven't been out much. Roll on September!

Foel Fawr

On my Buster walk over Foel Fawr this afternoon I encountered a mixed flock of tits, Blue, Great, Coal and Long-tailed with at least 2 Goldcrests amongst them at the bottom of the Foel. Later we watched a juvenile Peregrine quartering the hillside (looking very menacing) and saw a juv Whinchat and a Whitethroat.

WOS/BTO/RSPB CYMRU CONFERENCE Saturday, 7 November 2009

Do come and enjoy the day in the company of fellow bird-watchers in a friendly atmosphere. Maybe you will win a prize in the raffle.

Conference programme Woodland birds in Wales

09.30 Registration

10.00 Welcome by WOS Chair Derek Moore

10.05 Annual General Meeting of the Welsh Ornithological Society

10.30 COFFEE

Chair: Julian Hughes

10.55 Opening address Iolo Williams

11.00 Introduction Tim Stowe

11.15 What’s happening to our woodland birds? Ken Smith

11.55 Birds and forestry Rod Leslie

12.35 LUNCH

Chair: Ian Spence

13.45 Nightjars in Welsh cloud-forest Tony Cross

14.10 Hawfinches -commoner than you might think Jerry Lewis

14.35 Double trouble for woodland migrants Graham Appleton

15.15 TEA

Chair: Geoff Gibbs

15.45 The Goshawk in Wales Paul Toyne

16.15 BTO issues and developments in Wales Graham Appleton

16.25 Quiz Peter Lansdown

16.55 Raffle and close of conference Derek Moore

There will be sales tables with goods from: the BTO, Subbuteo Natural History Books, Birdguides, Dee Doody (paintings) and John Barnes (second hand books)

The conference will be held at Glasdir, Llanrwst, Gwynedd, LL26 0DF. Details of the location of the venue will be sent to you with the confirmation of your place at the conference. The conference fee is £20 per person, inclusive of coffee, lunch and tea.

Send this form with payment as soon as possible, but no later than Thursday, 29 October 2009, to:

WOS, c/o RSPB, Sutherland House, Castlebridge Cowbridge Road East, CARDIFF, CF11 9AB

Name(s)......................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Please print clearly and include your first name(s) so that we can prepare name badges.

Address .....................................................................................................................................................................................................................

...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

I enclose a cheque for conference fee £......... (please make your cheque payable to ‘Welsh Ornithological Society’).

We have vegetarian and non-vegetarian options for lunch. If you require vegan food, please contact us before the conference.

Ynyslas

A gathering of local and visiting birders at Ynyslas were treated to very good views of a Peregrine this morning. The falcon put all the waders up and attempted to grab one before settling on the pebbles in front of us with what can only be described as a defiant look about him.
Prior to his arrival we had been looking at around 250 small waders - Dunlin, Ringed Plover, Sanderling, 1 Knot and 1 Turnstone. There were also c25 "kericking" Sandwich Terns just off shore. Earlier I counted 193 Canada Geese feeding in stubble at the Aberleri end. I also noted 1 Little Egret, 2 or 3 Wheatear and a couple of Curlew.

It was very encouraging to see Aline, one of the summer wardens, at the point for the high tide. She spoke to several dog walkers who were heading towards the area where the birds were, as a result of which they altered course. This simple measure - having someone in authority regularly at that particular location when a high tide is due - would I'm sure be very VERY welcomed by the birding community and the birds.

The last Swift???

A lone Swift over Aberystwyth Marina this morning.

John Woodruff

YNYSLAS

Good too see Andy at the high tide period this morning doing one of his excellent walks withy visitors. Always nice to see Aline, another CCW warden who was there before I arrived doing one of her 'dog patrols'.
Total counts: Ringed Plover 450, Dunlin 330, Sanderling 16, Turnstone 3, Black-tailed Godwit 1, Sandwich Tern 42, plus the late Swift which was first seen by Andy.
One of the Sanderlings was colour-ringed, with a slightly different colour-ring combination to the one seen there on 27th July by Janet and ringed in Iceland. (I will send the details to the ringing group.)

Sunday 23rd Ynyslas

Thanks to John Davis for his help with a bird watching event at North Point. Plenty of waders around again today including a Black Tailed Godwit, a few Turnstone, and a Sanderling ringed in Iceland. We also spotted a very late Swift heading south to a warmer winter, while about 20 Sandwich Terns complaining noisily about the weather...
...over towards the saltmarsh was a Redshank and a Curlew along with a juvenile Med Gull.


Andy Bramwell,
Assistant Reserve Manager, Dyfi NNR

saturday 22nd ynyslas

High tide 9. 45. produced at least 500 waders, mainly r plovers and dunlin. One curlew sand, 7 sanderling, 1 turnstone, 2 whimbrel, 8 knot and 3 sand terns. A superb hobby through the dunes heading south was a great bonus. The assistant wardens do a sound job directing dogs and fishermen from the main roosting and feeding area. However, one made his way across to the island disturbing everything, the jet skiers made their base there also. Why is this valuable of habitat not fully protected at these important times? Fence posts and large signs, common sense restrictions to stop these ignorant idiots who think they can go anywhere, is anyone in charge!

Hobby -- Tregaron

Tregaron yesterday pm;-
Took me 1.5 hours to find a Hobby, but when found this bird, a 1st sum. perched very nicely & remained until I left.

Friday 21st Ynyslas

An amazing rain storm, thunder and lightening at 8. 30. till about 9.00. However, this must have brought down a superb close little tern near the entrance at the waters edge along with sandwich and common tern. A dog walker of course put these up. Minutes later an arctic skua flew over and out into the estuary. When the rain cleared a flock of 18 black tailed godwits flew up the estuary and landed on the path near the leri, when i located them dogs ran them to flee for their lives again! Lots of dunlin and r plover along the tidal edge also 2 curlew sands. Common scoter looked exhausted and great skua mobbing gulls was a good find. Lots of waders busy feeding as tide receeded but what disturbance! Sanderling 15 Knot 28 lots of dunlin and r plover. P.S. Yesterday on the field behind the caravans a flock of at least 700 canada geese, amazing sight, also lots of meadow pipits at least 30 near the boatyard.

Llanrhystud

This am, 83 Med. Gulls at least, juv. Yellow Wagtail in ploughed field, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, by kilns.
& 20+ Turnstones, 18 Ringed Plover, 5 Dunlin, & Whimbrel.
(Arfon)

hobbies on cors caron

2 Hobbies still hunting dragonflies over our house and the S.E.bog. Wheatear, blackcap,willow warbler,spotted flycatcher on railway line. Parties of swallows moving South down the bog.

Another day, another soaking........

Yesterday at about 7.30pm Mervyn Lloyd and I visited Ynyslas to see what birds the high tide might bring in. When we got to the "point" the wind was whipping up quite a sand-storm. There were fair numbers of Ringed Plover, Dunlin and Oystercatchers, and a couple of Turnstones hunkered down in the pebbles but as the incoming tide pushed them further up the beach, rather than withstand the sandstorm they took off to search for shelter.
When I got home I was alarmed at the amount of sand that had found its way into the eye-pieces of my binoculars and telescope.

This morning I took Lulu & Buster along the track leading to Dyfi Junction Railway Station. When we reached the platform we were forced to take shelter from the downpour of rain and hail. Eventually though, we had to trudge back through the continuing deluge.
When we got home - drenched - I put my dripping binoculars on the kitchen table and it occurred to me how much punishment our optical equipment is subject to. I decided to give my bins and scope a well overdue mucking out. It's amazing how much better they perform now they've been cleaned.

Many thanks for posting my 1st message re the swan I forgot to include this very far away snap but it gives you some idea Since posting my 2nd message I caught a glimse of the grieving swan this afternoon very briefly coming a little way down stream May be she was coming back just to make sure that she was now left all alone.This afternoon also turned out to be active There was an incredible display of aggression between the local buzzard and a very bedragled Kite.The buzzard saw him off.

Lis Collison

Ynyslas

Summer plumage Grey Plover, Whimbrel, 283 Ringed Plover, 6 Sanderling and 100+ Manx Shearwaters reported by Marc Hughes at Ynyslas this morning.

If you go down to the woods...

I told you there was a free flying but sedentary one in the county!

HOBBY

A Hobby was dashing back and forth, low over the fields between Bow Street and Llandre this morning, near the hotel and railway line.

Re Mistle Thrush counts

In reply to Philip Ellis the record count for mistle thrushes in the county stands at 75 at Cwmystwyth on 16th September 2005. Cwmystwyth is the place to be for high counts of mistle thrush with 60 there on 30th September 2004 and 56 there on 24th September 2001. It is probably a record count for Tyn-y-graig though beating the 29 there on 11th July 2005!

Russell Jones

Warden
Ynys-hir RSPB reserve
Gwarchodfa natur Ynys-hir

Cors Caron

According to Ian Tillotson and my experience over the past few years Marsh Harriers tend to fly in,hunt a bit and fly on! As I regularly see one in late summer I imagine it might be a regular route and given the relatively brief time I spend looking, there are probably more passing through.

Mistle Thrush

A flock of 30 Mistle Thrush feeding on Rowan berries at Tyn-y-graig.

Is this a record?

Philip Ellis

HOBBYS

At Cors Caron this afternoon I had hoped the Marsh Harrier might have been about which Liz was so fortunate to see yesterday. It was not to be, but 4 Hobbys put on a great show.

Dolphin & Bird walk at New Quay

Hi Everyone- The Dolphin & bird walk that ORCA (Organisation Cetacea) and The Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre organised over the weekend went off well despite the few hitches that you would normally encounter when you organise these things! During the weekend we had about 34 participants some local but the majority were holiday makers and it gave me so much pleasure to see a number of children managing to walk the whole route along the coastal path from New Quay to the glorious little cove at Cwm Tydu. We endeavoured to enthrall everybody with the delights of our beautiful bay and its wildlife and they were not disappointed. Obviously a walk in spring or early summer would have been better from the point of view of the seabird cliff nesting colonies which were now deserted apart from a few shags. But as Liz said we had great views of those dashing denizens of the skies the adult and juv peregrines and the kestrel mentioned by Liz of course. It was quiet bird wise really and I was disappointed not have seen (or heard) any choughs. But of course the seals below bird rock got everyone excited when folk got over their bout of vertigo! There were seals at Cwm Tydu too where we were joined by Bert and Beryl Moore for the weekend who do a cracking job trying to ensure the well being of the seal pups born on that beach each autumn. And talking of autumn what a great time to be out and about with all this 'movement' taking place. I hope I can now find the time to get a few hours of 'local' birding in.

MARSH HARRIER

Just as I was sulking over not being on the coast to enjoy those waders this afternoon what should come flying south down the east side of Cors Caron bog but a large dark brown,golden foreheaded marsh harrier which then spent some time hunting the SW bog affording good scope views to me on the hill (but unfortunately unseen by the couple of birders on the boardwalk). As a bonus a full adult hobby made a spectacular stoop showing deep rusty thighs in the foreground of my view.
The bad news is that my spotted fly has been sitting on a single egg for over a week and has now abandoned it..well 2 young fledged to independence from the first brood so all is not lost.

Re the dead swan's identity

We were abe to find the remains of the swan on the bank of the Rheidol.It was difficult to ford the river after the rain and all the generating but eventually it was possible as the river is quite low .The swan had been dragged a metre or so behind some vegetation and the abdomen had been entered.Unfortunatelt there was no identification ring to help us determine the age.

Lis Collison

Dolphin walk at NewQuay

A drizzly start soon cleared up and excellent views were had of an adult female and one young peregrine hunting over the sea at Bird Rock; the target was a juv kittiwake(of which there were precious few)which escaped by downing in the sea three times before the peres thankfully turned their attention elsewhere. Rafts of adult kittiwakes sat on the sea and occasional fulmars and gannets passed by. Near Cwm Tydi a kestrel was terrorising some small creature on the cliff edge...no,not Elfyn.

MEDITERRANEAN GULLS and more

Harry, Bob and I met on the sea-front at Aberystwyth this morning. Our first birds were 18 Ringed Plovers, 3 Turnstones and a Dunlin on Castle Point Rocks. On College Rocks was an adult Med. Gull, colour ringed Green MO8, a 3-year old bird, ringed as a nestling on the coast in northern France and seen at Aberystwyth in July 08 and present since July this year.
We then made for Llanrhystud where there were 22 Ringed Plovers and a Dunlin. An adult Med. Gull passed by and some Kittewakes and Fulmars and a juv. Kestrel.
At Llansantfraed, there were more waders; several Curlews and Dunlin, 1 Sanderling, 1 Turnstone, 2 Common Sandpipers and 29 Ringed Plovers. Amongst the large gull flock were 80 Med. Gulls, including 17 juvs.Two of the adults had green rings, showing they had been ringed in either France or Belgium and one had a red ring, showing that it had originally come from one of the east European countries. (Chris Bird noticed one at Aberystwyth recently which had come from Hungary.)
Inland, at Ty Gwyn pool there were 58 Lapwings, 1 Green and 3 Common Sandpipers and 1 Black-tailed Godwit. There were lots of House and Sand Martins overhead and a fine-looking Goshawk perched on a pine tree beyond the pools.
Overall, not a bad local trip!

Update colour ringed sanderling Ynyslas

I have had a reply on the colour ringed sanderling seen at Ynyslas on 28th July. This bird was ringed in Iceland as an adult on 26th May 2009. Relatively little is known about sanderling movements but a review on current knowledge of African-Eurasian flyways for those of you interested is available as a pdf from John Davies who has kindly agreed to forward it if you email him. His address is available under the Contacts/sightings link on the blog.

Goosanders and Swans

I have been meaning to mention that we have a resident breeding pair of gossanders and that this year they have done really well .I last saw their offspring flying low up stream in perfect formation but making quite a stir,all 6 of them. Mum has obviously gone on a well earned holiday!Dad always has one!

On a sadder note we have had our fatalities and the most upsetting was discovered last evening around supper time .I noticed a single mute swan gliding up stream and then disappear out of sight I had not expected to see her a few minutes later come back down stream and get out onto the stone beach and up into the field where she seemed to be grazing in a strange manner.

Later after supper whilst washing the dishes I spotted something white on the side of the river but thought perhaps it was some plastic. I went down as far as I could to check and to my horror saw another swan but this one was most definitely dead.I checked on the first swan and she was still in the field tugging at the long grass in a very strange way.

This morning we were about to try and retrieve the dead swan or at least check its identity, if it had one but it had vanished.I looked up stream and there was the other swan gliding slowly out of sight.I don't know what caused this tragedy but we think perhaps the electricity pilon situated nearby might have been responsible.

Elizabeth Collison

Ringing on the Clettwr

Myself and Tony Cross decided to try our luck at catching some Greenshanks on the Clettwr this morning, despite not catching any we had a vey successful morning with the highlight being this Belgium ringed Sedge Warbler.

Other birds trapped and ringed this morning included 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Starling, 1 Pied Wagtail, 2 Reed Warblers, 7 other Sedge Warblers and 19 Meadow Pipits.

hobby and peregrine

Late this afternoon Mike Hayward and I watched as a hobby dive-bombed and hit a passing peregrine over our property at Plas Treflyn;the pere flew away strongly but the difference in size was clear as was the intent! Same happened last year but no evidence of breeding so far.
If you want to see the hobbies(4) then get down to the Cors Caron bog boardwalk soon as they will be joining the outflow shortly.
2 swifts yesterday. Also our first and only small tortoisehell on the buddleia. A purple hairstreak wing found on the lawn ..well short grass..may have been the work of our resident spotted flys still on the nest.

Sightings at the Leri

Green Sandpiper and Little Egret towards north end of River Leri. Some very obliging Sedge and Reed Warblers around Aberleri generally. Fair number of Gannets offshore, some quite close, but very few Shearwaters.

Rhiannon Thomas 9th August

Some more late postings

Well, our family of swallows fledged yesterday. It's taken about four weeks since incubation started.

The adults stopped bringing food in on Sunday, on Monday morning the first youngster was in flight, and by lunchtime the nest was empty. I know the young are supposed to roost in the vicinity of the nest for a while, but it looks like ours couldn't wait to get away!

I'll miss them.

Jeremy Moore

Five green sandpipers together at Ynys-hir today on a small ditch near the Breakwater hide. Also a hobby and a few whinchat passing through the main section of the reserve (breeds on Foel Fawr and Allt-ddu sections of the reserve). A few clouded yellows near the Saltings hide.

Russell Jones

Warden
Ynys-hir RSPB reserve
Gwarchodfa natur Ynys-hir

This is the bird list for Llanrhystud 9^th August

Turnstone 8, herring gull, cormorant, swallow, carrion crow, rock pipit 3, gannet, manx shearwater, common scoter, mallard 6, buzzard, linnet, wood pigeon, jackdaw, rook, ringed plover 35+, sand martin 20 to 25 nest holes, pied wagtail, whimbrel, oystercatcher 54, wheatear, black-headed gull, common sandpiper 2, Med. Gull 25, sandwich tern 2 adults and 1 juv, curlew 48, dunlin 18, sanderlings 3, green sandpiper, common gull 2 adults and 1 juv, great black-backed gull, chough 8, skylark, shelduck

Does anyone know if the terns and common gulls travel as families?

Moira Convery

Some late postings...........

I've been away for a few days so unable to post some of your sightings.
Appologies to those concerned but better late than never..........

Wednesday, 5 August

Aberystwyth

2 adult Med Gulls on the college rocks and 2 adult Med Gulls on the playing fields. One with a red ring on the left leg 5P5 (I last saw this bird on 25/07/2009).

From Chris Bird

48 Lapwings with about 20 Starling in large field behind my house nr Tyn-y-Graig.

At Ynyslas, a dozen Sandwich Terns, mixed flock of Dunlin and Ringed Plover but also a Spotted flycatcher hawking from power line by the road.

Good numbers of butterflies, mostly Gatekeepers and Common Blues but also Painted Lady, Tortoiseshell,

Wall Brown, Meadow Brown, Small Heath, Small White and Small Copper.

Philip Ellis

Jays

Forgot to mention the 2 juv jays and g s wood anting. They looked in ecstasy, covering themselves in small black ants, moth of the night was a very worn drinker.

Tanybwlch

Went down on the 10th but was dismayed to see dogs everywhere so had a quick walk yesterday, the 11th. At least 6 young wheatears, one stonechat, one whitethroat, buzzard, kite, kestrel and raven. A small group of sand martins over the river and a large shoal of mullet splashing around. Lots of common blues and painted lady butterflies. A perfect warm, sunny morning, and no dogs. My mums garden in penparcau still has the g s wood and juv jays coming to the feeders, also a nice comma on the buddlea.

goshawk

Gazing up at the purple hairstreaks in our oaks at 6.30pm I was surprised to see a gos flying determinedly NE. 2 swifts flying south, spotted fly sitting in box on the garage and house martin also feeding newly hatched young. A freshly devoured jackdaw and a large imprint on the kitchen window would suggest a female sparrowhawk around.
Birdwatch want last sightings of swifts..go to BTO website.
Red Liford still wants sightings of inland kestrels...see earlier blog.

EARLY GREY PLOVER

This morning at Ynyslas, on the Leri saltings, was a Greenshank and a very early Grey Plover, in almost full breeding plumage. (The first August sighting in Ceredigion since 2005.)
Later, at Ty Gwyn pool, 2 Green and 2 Common Sandpipers. Even Arfon's presence could not elicit anything else!

A date for your diary - Bird Group Walk - September

We will meet on Sunday 13th September for a walk around Cwm Rheidol Reservoir. Meet at the Rheidol Visitor Centre - SN 697 795 - at 1000 for a gentle stroll of a couple of hours around the reservoir in search of the phantom Gyr Falcon - Osprey- aka - White Buzzard! If the weather is bad one can always have a taste of the tropics by visiting the nearby Butterfly House.

Sunday bird walk report

12 of us met on the shingle at Llanrhysted in cloudy and cool conditions yesterday. A very high tide made for sparse birding but once past the limekilns there were some nice sights: juv sandwich tern was the prettiest thing on the beach begging from its moulting parents whilst around 30 Med gulls in various plumages kept us on our toes. Waders too were interesting with some juv ringed plovers among the 50+adults,whimbrels called and were also easily picked out by size when flying with a group of curlew. Over 50 oystercatchers piped away (no young seen)putting up small groups of dunlin,sanderling,common sandpiper and turnstone still looking smart in their almost breeding plumage. A very dark backed sandpiper was vigorously preening having had a bath: a green in an unusual salt- water habitat.
Red thought he heard a yellow wag but we looked in vain as the grass was easily long enough to hide one. As the sun came out a party of chough flew by and numerous sand martins busied themselves feeding young in their cliff face nests. Out at sea gannets and manxies were joined by small groups of scoter and closer to shore a couple of young shelduck joined the meds. Finally,on our way back, 2 early common gulls accompanied a colour ringed juv and 3 wheatears reminded us that summer is over for them.
Many thanks to those who showed up and a reminder that next Sat 15th Elfyn is in Newquay:details see blog for June.

Ynyslas Sightings

As we opened the front door of the centre this morning we were greeted with the sight of a Peregrine sitting on top of the wooden snail/wheel.

At high tide today 15 Ringed Plover, 5 Sanderling and 10 Dunlin.

There was a Little Egret on the saltmarsh towards the Leri

Andy Bramwell, Ynyslas Warden

Sandpipers

At Ty Gwyn Pools this morning - 6 Green Sandpipers and 3 Common Sandpipers. Also 2 Snipe.
There are a lot of Wood sandpipers around the country at the moment. With that number of Green Sands passing through, this must be the most likely spot in Ceredigion for one to turn up. Well worth a look if you're nearby.

Llanon beach - 1 Common Sandpiper, 6 Dunlin, 3 Ringed Plover and 1 Little Egret. At least 10 Med Gulls on the sea.

birdwalk tomorrow

Apologies. The beach carpark at Llanrhysted is at gr:526698 not as previously advertised. The other gr is nowhere near a beach so hopefully you won't be going there!

Med gull Aberaeron

Med gull coming to bread yesterday evening, Aberaeron north beach car park. By the way if you decide to feed the parking meter gulls aren't the only things swallowing bread.

Storm Petrels and Nightjar

A day fishing trip out from Aberystwyth today produced one, or possible two Storm Petrels near the Patches buoy. We had a small audience of Fulmars, Kittiwake, Herring and Lesser Black-backed gulls waiting for our fish scraps, while Manxies flitted past periodically in ones and twos - very pleasant in the summer sunshine. A couple of Common Terns passed by, but surprisingly hardly any Gannets. 2-3 Bottle-nosed Dolphins not far out from the harbour, on both outward and return journeys.

This evening there was a Nightjar churring at the SE end of Llancynfelin Common, near the Ty Craig Holiday Park. (First I've heard in this location.)

Ynyslas - evening

This evening at the point - about an hour or so before high tide, there was just a flight of approx 35 Dunlin and 5 Ringed Plover, with 5 Oyster Catchers on the tide line. Not a lot really - still a good sprinkling of the mid-summer influx of grockles even at that time!

Dogs and Petrels

Same problem here with dogs, herds of them running through resting birds and people! Thought you might be interested in our Petrel ringing at Filey Brigg. If any of you are up here next year, July/Aug let me know, great night out, Flamborough do a moth/petrel night, even better. Last night was warm, with a light westerly and a superb moon. Three storm petrels and a superb Leachs. Terry Hobson. Quite different to seeing them in gales of Aber!

Tregaron and Ynyslas

Tempted by Liz's description of the rural idyll that is Tregaron Bog I left the madd(en)ing crowds of Ynyslas to find a pair of redstarts, 2 spotted flycatchers, and 2 very distant hobbies early this morning. Also saw a single hobby around midday, on both occasions the hobbies were hunting over the SE section of the bog. Meanwhile, back at Ynyslas this evening were many swallows and swifts feeding on clouds of flies over the dunes. A group of starlings chased off the swallows, then they in turn were driven off by a large flock of around 100 black-headed gulls displaying their fly catching skills until the rain came down.

Another Hobby

Saturday, 1 August At home near Trefenter there was a Hobby chasing Swallows again over here this morning. And at Blaen Dolau playing fields Aberystwyth there were 4 Med Gulls. From Chris Bird

Cors Caron - Hobbys

Upto four Hobbys at a time hunting dragon flies high over the south east area of the bog this afternoon watched by Philip Ellis and self without a dog nuisance in sight. Bit too high to get some good photos - or as an Irish colleague once said "they were a little bit close to being a long way off"!

Dyfi/Clettwr

This morning, Bob, Harry and myself spent some time along the Clettwr. There was a very good variety of butterflies to be seen, including masses of Painted Ladies, attracted by flowering thistles and a very striking Clouded Yellow.
Lots of Swifts and Swallows overhead and 3 Common Sandpipers along the river.
On the Dyfi saltings were a Greenshank and a Whimbrel and along the water's edge was an impressively large flock of Curlews; over 700
(And it was dry, sunny and almost warm!)

Ynyslas issues and 'Birds Rock'

Its good to know that the issue on bird disturbance at Ynyslas has generated an
intelligent debate it seems that it may initiate the desired effect with some new initiatives proposed by CCW. I'm sure this matter can be dealt with in a tactful way and that the majority of dog walkers will come on board with it. Its not asking a lot of them they have miles of open beach between Ynyslas and Borth to exercise their animals. It is the fundamental right of all us to be allowed to enjoy the freedom of that activity 'myself included'. No doubt there will be the occasional individual who will choose to undermine the desires of the majority and possibly 'flout' the law by allowing their animals to 'recklessly' disturb the birds that being the case then they should feel the full 'wrath' of the law!

On a lighter note I paid a brief visit to 'Birds Rock' New Quay yesterday there were just a handful of guillemots left on the cliffs but lots of kittiwakes still. I was so pleased to see many juveniles. I understand Liz Allen and her team have done a count of young birds it would be good to know the result.
A young Peregrine was doing what every aggressive young adolescent does giving everyone else around some grief! However he is not yet as fearsome as his ma and pa!

Other blogs/news

Jo Milborrow is doing a great job on the Islands reporting all sorts of interesting news on her Skomer Island Blog, try it!
Other news about wildlife from all round the world can be accessed on www.wildlife extra.com
Camddwr lake on the mountain road from Tregaron has a Little Grebe with 2 very young chicks. On June 3rd she had 1 small chick so I'm inclined to think she lost that one and these are a second brood.

Ynyslas

I hope that we are getting somewhere with Ynyslas. It's more than I thought possible when I blogged disturbance from jet skiers and walkers on the point on 1st June, echoed by John Davis who is really doing so much for birding in Ceredigion. How good to see that we are an active group with a voice that is concerned with wider issues.

I had five swifts over the garden earlier in the week but didn't get the evocative pleasure of hearing them shriek as they fly past.