Shrike Grid Ref

In the previous two winters I have always located a/the Shrike at grid ref 570650 though I haven't been up there this year to look for it.

Starlings at Aberleri

As a result of Mike Bailey's info re the Starlings at Aberleri I went to have a look this afternoon.
Bang on 4.30 we saw a massive flock in the air somewhere near the level crossing - we were at the far end of the track beside the boatyard. By the time we drove along to the level crossing it was pouring down and I guess the birds had gone to roost.

Roy Bamford informs me that he has seen a Black Redstart up Cwm Einion.

Lapwings etc.

108 Lapwing in a field SN 685662 half a mile west of Swyddffynnon just north of the road to Tregaron.

A favoured field for Lapwing but much higher than normal count.

Searched for the Shrike at Cross Inn unsuccessfully. Is there a grid reference for its favoured perch please?

No shrike but 20 Crossbills, 4 Reed Buntings, 20 Fieldfare, 200 Redwing, 2 Bullfinch, 6 Goldcrest, 6 Longtailed Tits, 2 Treecreepers, a Great Spotted Woody and the usual Robins, Wrens etc

At Llansantffraed 31 Turnstone, 2 Redshank, 4 Ringed Plover and the second time I’ve seen a pair of Widgeon in eclipse feeding in the surf by the Afon Peris outfall, this time with a Mallard Drake, very odd.

Philip Ellis

Starling roost at Aberleri

Thursday 30th October

At around 4.35 pm I noticed a large number of starlings on the electicity wires near the northern end of Aberleri fields. Many more birds were wheeling around over the fields before flying over the Ynys and landing in the pasture just west of the Leri boatyard. At one point the restless black band of birds some 15-30m wide spanned length of the boatyard. 40,000 birds is probably a conservative guess-timate.

Eventually the flock lifted and flew back over to Aberleri, and began to settle in the reeds beside the Leri at around 5.05pm. Part of the flock flew around for a further 4-5 minutes before decending to a separate strip of reeds a short distance along the Leri borrow pit.

I'm unaware of any previous starling roost here although there was a roost in the willow scrub beside Searivers caravan park in the ealry 1990's.

Mike Bailey

News from the front line

Aye, it's a grand life being a postie.If you don't mind being bullied by the management or intimidated by the unions there be pleasures a plenty! One good thing about starting early in the morning is that,whilst the rest of you are still in dreamville, you often see Tawny Owls.Last week there were two calling outside my house in Llangybi,I had a perilously close encounter with one at the crossroads in Horeb and I passed a fourth in Cwmsychpant. Better still, on Tuesday morning I spotted a Brambling amongst some Chaffinches in Croeslan.
In the next exciting episode......
I bravely cross the picket line on Saturday morning and as a "reward" for my heroism I discover an incredibly rare North American warbler whilst delivering the post in Brynhoffnant.Well,you gotta keep dreaming, eh.....

More Redwings

Continued movement of redwings over aberystwyth yesterday evening, difficult to count birds in the dark but i'd guess at about 50 from the level of calls, also this morning around 200 were flying west over the town at around 8:45. there was a flock of 15 long tailed tits in penglais wood today

Tom Wells

Cors Caron bird info

Hi all

I've finally got registered on the blog (thanks Bob). Here are a few records from the past week or so, some mine, some from visitors:
Maesllyn Pool: pochard, tufted duck, 24 wigeon, moorhen
Small hide: 3 moorhen, water rail
Big hide: kingfisher
merlin seen somewhere N of the boardwalk loop, ringtail hen harrier crossed railway line ~1km S of Teifi on Fri 23rd
lots of redwings about and the 1st fieldfares too today, plenty of finches (gold, green, bull, redpolls, siskins) about along the railway line.

Forgot to put my contact details on the last posting (British Birds)
Andy Polkey, Cors Caron NNR Reserve Manager
ph: 01974 298697, e-mail a.polkey@ccw.gov.uk
Any bird records appreciated!!

Set of British Birds free to good home

Hi All

due to CCW's Aberystwyth office changing location, they have been shedding files and publications. so they have what appears to be a near complete set of British Birds from the very early 1970s to at least December 2008 available.
If not claimed by November 20th, they'll go for recycling.

Cheers
Andy

Cors Caron

Kingfisher near the big hide on Cors Caron yesterday, and some visitors (good birders) saw a merlin to the N of the boardwalk loop too. Ringtail Hen Harrier flew across the railway line about 1km S of the Teifi at 2ish on Friday too. Lots of bullfinches calling along the railway line N & S of the car park

Andy Polkey

One of our students returns............

I have been fortunate enough to visit Aberystwyth this last week so I just thought I'd fill you in on my sightings.
22/10 - A pair of Wheatears on Tan-Y-Bwlch beach and a Kestrel and 3 Chough up on the hill at the far end of Tan Y Bwlch
23/10 - We took a trip to Ynys-Hir and walked almost the entire reserve. The place is currently overrun with grey squirrels! Among the birds sighted were the Snow Goose who clearly thinks its a Canada, Lapwing, Teal, Moorhen, Little Grebe and at least 4 Shoveler (3 females and a male), my first ever sightings and as I understand it, rare visitors to Ceredigion! We also got a lovely view of a pair of Great Spotted Woodpeckers so a good day of birding all in all.

Maria Gill

Tanybwlch - at high tide

A quiet walk in the warm afternoon sunshine yielded good sightings of 4 Stonechats - all in very good colour, 3RockPippits, 2 Meadow Pippits, and 12 Oystercatchers, also a pair of Mallard on theYstwyth.

Great-grey Shrike

I visited Cross Inn Forest again this morning, hoping to see the Great-grey Shrike seen by others recently. After searching for about 30 minutes I found it showing very well.
Also seen were a couple of Stonechats, Reed Bunting, Crossbill and lots of winter thrushes.
Later, at Llansaintfraed I saw our resident white Oystercatcher and was puzzled by a duck swimming in breaking waves very close to the shore. It looked to be in a daft and dicey location but seemed quite happy bobbing up and down. I made some field notes and I've now consulted my Collins Guide but I'm still not sure what it was. I'm trying to convince myself that it was a not a Garganey, but that's what it looked like!

HEN HARRIER

A male Hen Harrier was seen by Chris Bird, late afternoon, between Llyn Fanod and Llyn Eiddwen.

LATE MIGRANTS

Andy James watched a Swallow at Aberaeron this morning and Bob, Harry and I saw the Greenland Wheatear which was still looking good at Tanybwlch. Also 5 Goosanders in the Ystwyth there.

Wildlife Photographer of The Year

In case any of you have not noticed, The Wildlife Photographer of The Year Exhibition is currently on in The Arts Centre at Aberystwyth University. We've just been to see it, it's stunning.
It finishes on November 8th, admission free.

Redwings in the night

When walking home along bridge street in Aberystwyth at 2 this morning i heard at least 20 Redwings flying fairly low over the town calling to each other.

Tom Wells

Ferrogenous Geese?!!

Seen yesterday heading up the Dyfi Estuary - where did they land, is it a new record for the County?

East coast migration part3

Fairly quiet today, S.E. winds, dull. Birds at Filey included trapped juv firecrest, chiffchaff, and a long winged acredula willow warbler. Just a few blackbirds, thrushes, robins, greenfinches and goldcrests. Red flanked bluetail at Bempton, Pallas, yellow browed, dusky, and raddes warbler at Flamborough. Migration still on the go!

GREAT GREY SHRIKE

Sorry to miss Jon Val and Roger Merry at Cross Inn Forest. The Shrike was a real treat. Also 20 Crossbills, some Bullfinches, lots of Redwings and some Fieldfares.
The finale was a Tornado, the lowest I have ever experienced, right above me, and I had the silly thought as it passed over that I was going to be blown away or toasted by the jet exhausts!

WHEATEARS

2 Wheatears at Tanybwlch this morning!

Aberystwyth

This afternoon at about 3.20 I noticed a very light coloured Greenfinch feeding with others on Rose-hips at Tan-y-Bwlch. Probably a juvenile/immature bird, it was milky-grey but without any noticeable streaking. I've not seen one like it before.
A fine, plump Wheatear sat staring at me from the concrete wall and a Kestrel was hunting over the hill-side opposite.
I carried on to look at college rocks hoping to see the poss. Little Auk but didn't see any auks at all. However, 3 Red-throated Divers passed close by and there were Turnstones and Ringed Plovers feeding on the rocks.

Great Grey Shrike at Cross Inn Forest

Roger Merry and I had a good morning round Cross Inn forest today. Highlight was a great grey shrike. I note someone else has seen it this afternoon and put on Birdguides. Other birds included 2 separate male bullfinches, redwings, fieldfares mistle thrushes, goldcrest and great spotted woodpecker.

Afterwards we sojourned to the Harbourmaster for large glasses of Sauvignon Blanc, with Roger having the tasty skate and myself enjoying the spinach, perl-las and pumpkin risotto, both today's specials.

Tany-y-Bwlch

Just to say i also saw a wheatear on the beach at Tanybwlch yesterday with all its greenland colours, presumably the same one seen by john davis. it does seem quite late for summer visitors to still be around although there were plenty of insects on the beach yesterday! the greenland birds seem to have quite a different seasonal migration to our birds which are long gone and could be back as early as february whereas the bird i saw yesterday may not return to its breeding grounds till may/june. Also on and around the beach were 16 Turnstone, 2 Grey Wagtail, at least 25 Meadow Pipit and 2 Rock Pipits. Still waiting on the first Purple Sandpiper to return.......

Tom Wells

Bullfinches at Ystumtuen

We now have two male Bullfinches visiting the rowan berries in our garden in Ystumtuen.

Matt and Charly Potter

GREEN WOODPECKER

This is quite a rare bird in Ceredigion and Chris Bird, having heard one on and off in the Trefenter area was delighted to see one there today.

TURTLE DOVE,AGAIN!

Len Kersley, from Aberystwyth, writes: Our young Turtle Dove was back again feeding below the seed feeder about 9am this morning for a few minutes before it was chased off by a much larger Collared Dove. Presumably it is a late season juvenile that has taken a wrong turn somewhere on migration and is now lost.

WHEATEAR

A Wheatear was at Tanybwlch this afternoon. Given its colourful appearance and the late date, I assume it was one of the Greenland sub-species.
This morning, 54 Golden Plovers
amongst the pebbles at Ynyslas

House Martin at Ynyslas

At about 2.45 this afternoon, as I was driving inland from Ynyslas I saw a lone House Martin close to the railway crossing.

More re the Auk

Just popped out again 10.30 am - saw an auk but now way out , no chance with binocs but have now checked 2008 ceredigion bird report (having rushed out to buy it from Ystwyth books!)and note one little auk sighting in Feb 2008 off Borth. I have rechecked my fieldguide and RSPB webpages and the sighting does seem to match their descritions of little auk in winter plumage.

Terry Barry

Auk Sighting

22 oct - 9.45 am direct off old college rocks, about 250 metres out, a small single auk was bobbing on waves at high tide, sunlight was strong and only had binocs but beak appeared very small - too small for guillemot - little auk? Checked ceredgion bird report 2007 and no reports of this species.

Terry Barry

Ynyslas - AM High Tide

At high tide this morning along the Leri saltings - 165 Mallard, 45 Widgeon with more rafts of duck visible further up the estuary, 2 Common Snipe, about 35 Curlew flighting off then back on to the saltings as the tide dropped, 45 Lapwings, lone Redshank, Heron and a Little Egret. Quite a number of Redwings and other Thrush sp: flighting around together with Meadow Pippits and the odd SkyLark.

Llangybi

There seem to have been Redwings in the sky all day here being blown about in the blustery wind,though I haven't had the opportunity to count them. However, this morning about 2000 Starlings passed over my head in three waves during the brief time it took me to get the washing on the line! These too were heading east.

CEREDIGION BIRD REPORT 2008

The County's Bird Report for 2008 is now available and can be purchased from these outlets:
1) RSPB Ynys-hir visitor centre. (Open daily 9-5 until end of the month and Wed-Sun 10-4 during November.)
2) Wildlife Trust for South and West Wales visitor centre at the Teifi Marshes reserve (Welsh Wildlife Centre) near Cardigan. (Open Wed-Sun 10-4.)
3) Ystwyth Bookshop, Aberystwyth. (7 Princess St, off the top end of Bridge St.)
Also by post from John Davis, Pant Llidiart, Trisant, Aberystwyth SY23 4RQ. (Cheques for £6 + 80p p&p payable to The Wildlife Trust for South and West Wales).
Also from Bob on the days of the Ceredigion Birdwatchers Monthly Walks.
The 2008 Report has more colour photographs than ever before, more articles from local birdwatchers, plus the detailed systematic list of all the birds recorded in Ceredigion during the year, rarity descriptions of the species added to the County's list and the early and late dates of summer and winter migrants. Also included is a tribute to HWR.
Once again, the Report is essential reading for all resident, student and visiting birdwatchers and at £6 remains great value for money.

winter thrushes

Hundreds of redwings with song thrushes, blackbirds and some fieldfares were flying south along the eastern escarpment of Cors Caron early this morning. For days we have had large numbers of mixed thrushes in our oaks making a lot of noise...probably they can't believe how many rowan berries are here!

Yesterday at New quay dolphins cavorting close to shore plus 3 scoter and a guillemot. 2 Chough at Cwm Tydu, striped green ring and double white.

Migration in Action

There was a heavy movement of redwings through my valley near Aberhosan, Machynlleth this morning which started at daybreak with a steady flow of birds up until just after 9am when it eased off. In that time I must have seen about 2,000 birds. One early morning flock must have numbered hundreds of individuals. There was the odd blackbird and thrush amongst them too. Its a very still sunny morning here with crystal clear visibility. I reckon the birds were flying from a N or NW direction possibly following the coastline and heading up the Dovey valley and thence into my own valley. They were generally heading in an easterly direction. They were very restless some redwing alighted on trees but did not remain for long. They were intent on continuing their journey. Did anyone else experience this movement of 'Turdus' species in Ceredigion this morning?

Ystumtuen

A stunning male Bullfinch is becoming a fairly regular visitor to the trees next to our garden, eating berries and brambles. Large numbers of Redwing and Fieldfares flying over too.

Matt Potter

Golden Plover

Flock of c100 Golden Plover in ploughed and re-sown field in Bryn Hoffnant (18th October)

Roger Watkins

Ceredigion Birding Group Field Trip

Despite thy early start and the nip in the air 18 of us turned up at the Ynyslas turn car park this morning. Thanks to Mervyn Lloyd who led us on a walk along the Leri and to Moira who kept tabs on what we saw -

Up to the pill box.

Stonechat, wren, chaffinch, kestrel, house sparrow, dunnock, golden plover, herring gull, Canada geese, mallard, wigeon, meadow pipit, shelduck 58, oystercatchers 583, redshank 20, curlew 120, heron, little egret 4, mute swan 4, pintail 63,. snipe,, jackdaw. We didn’t get a count for every species because the light was very poor but Golden plover and Canada geese, lots and lots. (plus Skylark.)

Sea at Ynyslas Turn.

Red-throated diver, cormorant, 1 late sandwich tern, common scoter, gannet, great black-backed gull and Russell saw lots of auks before we arrived.

ANOTHER TURTLE DOVE IN ABERYSTWYTH!

Len Kersley tells me that another Turtle Dove, a juv, was in his garden in Aberystwyth this afternoon, albeit briefly. Amazing!

Greenland& Golden

Sat 17th.

As usual I read John's report and decide we need another trip to Aber !

2 gorgeous Greenland wheats on Tan y Bwlch , 1 dolphin sadly way offshore , a Stonechat and then the Golden Plovs on the point @ Ynyslas, about 50 , despite the canine influx.

Lowest tide I have seen ! Nearly jumped over to Aberdovey .

Further Golden Plovs from car park , out beyond the old groyne-about 80+.

Long Wood,Betws Bledrws

A beautiful morning for a walk and lots of birds about, notably about 1500 Starlings and 350 Redwings. I also counted 20 Jays. There are often a lot about up there at this time of year and I presume they are local birds but maybe not all? I'm not sure. Also a Marsh Tit near one of the iron age hill forts.

MORE NEWS from ABERYSTWYTH

This morning there were 2 (unringed) adult Mediterranean Gulls on College Rocks and the usual collection of waders (8 Turnstones and 17 Ringed Plovers according to Harry P who counted them earlier). A Bottle-nosed Dolphin entertained us, close in off Castle rocks.
3 Greenland Wheatears were on the beach at Tanybwlch and a Dipper was in the Ystwyth nearby.
Chris Bird noted 5 Shoveller on Nanteos Pool.

Fieldfares

Fieldfares were among the redwings on Cors Ian yesterday.

East coast migration part2

Up to 100 blackbirds caught today at Filey with lots of redwings and song thrushes with a sprinkling of other common species. Best birds were these lesser redpolls and ring ouzel. Dull, misty and drizzle kept 2 yellow browed warblers and jack snipe in the area. Roll on easterlies and rain!

Thirsty water rail!

Clearly this bird is not aware of the town's licensing hours! Anyway there was no chance that Harry would buy it a drink!

URBAN WATER RAIL

On his way to work this morning, Harry Pepper was passing The Varsity pub in Terrace Road, Aberystwyth at 7.50am when he noticed a Water Rail in the disused doorway, opposite Boots. It was flapping its wings and jumping up and down, tapping its bill on the pub's glass window. Harry bent down to pick up the bird but it strutted to the pavement, ran down the street for a short distance and flew off towards the sea!

Cwm Reidol

In Cwm Reidol this morning, 3 very obliging Jays were seen along with a Grey Heron in a field with 25 – 30 Red Kites in a field opposite, and a sighting of a mainly white Buzzard sat on a telegraph pole above the field of Kites.

Charly Potter

Little owl Ynyslas

Little owl screeching in my garden at Ynyslas last night

Redwings but no mermaids

Hundreds of redwings flying over as we met for the Wildlife Trust fungus foray at Hafod this morning. Beats the four I saw down the Rheidol valley yesterday, though four brent geese flew up valley but could not be found again. Thought that a big splash in the reservoir might be a mermaid but I think that those are strictly marine.

East coast migration

Birds coming in off the sea today in good numbers, many flocks of redwing, blackbirds, mistle thrush flock, song thrushes, wigeon, goldeneye, s e owl, brambling, redpoll, bullfinch, chiffchaff, blackcaps, starlings. Best of all, yellow browed warbler, and hawfinch.

CORS CARON

Meurig Williams had a good day there today with sightings of a male and a ring-tail Hen Harrier and also 2 Kestrels, plus 46 Wigeon and 7 Tufted Ducks on Maesllyn.

Snipe etc

Whilst taking a walk around a farm near Llangwyryfon this morning 13 Common and 1 Jack Snipe flushed from a peice of wet - boggy ground. Five skeins of Canada Geese of between 2 and 120 birds went over, heading for Llyn Eiddwen or points further south. Other birds seen included Heron and TreeCreeper but surprisingly none of the autumn migrants.

More from Matt Potter

In the berry trees next to our garden, there is a flock of Redwings, a few Greenfinch and Chaffinch, and Goldcrest and a stunning male Bullfinch.

Matt Potter

Dinas Reservoir

Well a fruitless fishing trip got me several hundred Fieldfare flying over, with a few hundred Redwings too. A Dipper, Kestrel, Red Kite, Buzzard, lots of Siskins and a possible flock of Twite.

Matt Potter

Dovey photos

Also included, kite from nant yr arian and l t field mouse on nut basket high up on a lilac.

Golden Plover

30 + out on the point yesterday (12th) with5 Dunlin @ Ynyslas.Later 8 Golden Plover out from car park.

On Borth Bog along path from hide :1 Kingfisher and a Kite hunting.

On way home on Eastern extremities of Ceredigion 1 Peregrine.

Sightings from Philip Ellis

Walking from the north end of the old railway track 10.30 this a.m., 36 Snipe flew over and 2 redhead Gossander by the Teifi bridge.

Large flocks of Goldfinch plus some Redpoll, 11 Reed Bunting, a Kestrel and a Stonechat with many Ravens, Buzzards and Red Kite soaring overhead.

Philip Ellis

Dovey estuary

Wednesday 6th was quite exciting from the old pill box at high tide. 150 pintail, 500+ o catchers, 150 curlew, a few dunlin and redshank, 50+ shellduck, 4 dark b brents, 300+ wigeon, mallard and sitting near by, a male peregrine. An amazing sight occured while watching the settled flocks, a first for me on the Dovey. The birds became unsettled and suddenly a large dog otter started chasing groups of them, amazing through the scope. A bird new to me here was a suprise when a jack snipe jumped up from my feet on the way down, it flew into the boggy sheep field. Nice to see about 20 skylarks and 4 wheatears feeding on the high tide line around the stone bank. On Thursday 7th, same place but few birds. Best birds were 2 late swallows heading for aberdovey, 1 willow warbler, 1 distant hen harrier, merlin and kestrel. The juv sabines gull on sunday at 12. 15 blogging at half distance, headed out towards Bardsey! a 1st for me in ceredigion, ring billed gull next! Some photos to follow, computer probs. Terry Hobson

SABINE'S GULL, MED GULL and LITTLE OWLS

Terry Hobson, on one of his visits over here, saw a juv. Sabine's Gull off Aberystwyth on Sunday. Chris Bird also tells me that there were Redwings between Trisant and Devil's Bridge on Sunday and that one of Aberystwyth's regular Mediterranean Gulls is still about and seen this afternoon on College Rocks. It is an adult, ringed as a chick in northern France at Seine-et-Marne in June 2006 and first seen here in July 2008. This year it was back at Aberystwyth by 26th July.
Matt Potter's sighting of a Little Owl in the uplands is interesting, all the more so given some news I received last week from Brian Kington, a regular visitor from the Midlands. On mentioning that he had been seeing Little Owls in the Borth area he added that someone who rings Buzzard chicks in Oxford and Buckingham noted that in all of his 20 nests, there were the remains of Little Owls!

And More Redwings

Just had a small flock of Redwings going up to the Henrhiw in Ystumtuen. Also in the flock was Chaffinches, Goldfinches, Greenfinches and a Goldcrest.

Matt Potter

Little Owl

Just a few observations from the weekend!

The early hours of Saturday morning we saw a Little Owl on the road to Pendam from Penryn Coch. And On Saturday a large Thrush Flock over the hills of Ystumtuen. Hard to ID without bins but am pretty sure they were Fieldfares.

Matt and Charly Potter

More Redwings

I saw about 35 Redwings on my morning walk in Eglwysfach this morning.

Redwings

16 Redwings in our garden near Tyn-y-Graig today, first of the year.

Golden Plover have been back in the big field behind our house last week, 85 on Saturday.

Immature Kestrel hunting in surrounding area and one near the Hendre quarries beyond Ystrad Meurig.

Philip Ellis

Firecrest

10.30 am while on the phone to Liz Snell I saw a small 'crest' in the hawthorn. This turned out to be the first firecrest for our garden. I wonder if the misty weather up here forced it down into the garden while on migration.

TRISANT, DOTTEREL HOTSPOT!

6.45am, light rain and low cloud and as I put the dog outside I heard a Dotterel overhead. After the calls ceased I dashed indoors and put on a CD-ROM and listened to the Dotterel flight calls to confirm what I had just heard. Amazingly, this happened on 12th October last year, although then it was lighter and clearer and I saw the bird flying over. In April 2007, I heard one over the garden late at night.

Aberystwyth

9.30 old college rocks 9th Oct - saw 2 lapwings, 2 great black-backed gulls and 2 rock pipits.

Terry Barry

Ynyslas - High Tide am

At the pointof the estuary this morning at high tide there were about 60 Golden Plover, a similar number of Dunlin and one lone Ringed Plover along with the usual administration of Cormorants. Along the Leri saltings, 13 Mallard, 5 Curlew, a large raft of Widgeon up the estuary. Six Redwings came down the estuary and headed for the dunes - or beyond.

A(nother) Message from Moira

Anyone interested?

---

From: Kate Jones [mailto:kate.jones@wwbic.org.uk]

Dear all, would you mind circulating this one last time please?

Thanks very much

Kate

There is still places available on this FREE course organised by WWBIC.

An introduction to bird recording and identification led by Derek Moore

21st October 2009 at Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust Centre, Llanelli

Please phone Kate on 01994 241468 to book a place.

Kate Jones

Senior Species Data Officer

West Wales Biodiversity Information Centre

Tel. 01994 241468

In Bushes and Trees

Hi Jean. Certainly in our garden they dive headlong into bushes or trees & what happens is exactly as you describe, birds fly out in all directions. We have also watched a sprawk hopping around inside the bush & a small bird hopping around in the same bush, trying to keep as far away as possible without heading out. If the small bird then makes a dash for it the sprawk is often right on it's tail very fast.

Mark Wilson

MERLIN

I was glad to suggest to Kev where he should access Borth Bog and should be delighted that while we were seeing absolutely nothing there, he was busy photographing a Merlin!
However, today having watched a fantastic display by Dolphins, just off Aberystwyth harbour, we had great views of a Merlin at Clarach. Initially it was perched on a cliff-top post and then we watched it chasing a Meadow Pipit round a hillside and later saw it chasing a Starling low across Clarach Bay. (I just wish I had Kev's camera.)

Pipits in the harbour.

3 Rock Pipits enjoying a spot of sun yesterday in the harbour @ Aberystwyth.

All quiet apart from Wheatears

Not much to report either from Aberaeron yesterday(single Wheatear) or Llanrhystud today(single Wheatear and a small flock of Golden Plovers). Strangely, I also saw a single Wheatear on the way home today very close to where I live, in Betws Bledrws,which because of the location seemed so much more exciting than the other two.
Regarding Sparrowhawks Ithink the answer is yes they do get stuck in to the bush like that quite often. I was watching Autumnwatch on the telly last Friday and Chris Packham was describing exactly the kind of behaviour that you described. However, I don't know much about these things myself so I may be wrong.

Sparrowhawk

This morning I was standing by myself at the farm gate in Tre'r-Ddôl village waiting for the Aberystwyth bus. Near there - about 2 yards away - is a small, very compact holly tree. There were about 15 or 20 sparrows on the berries.

Out of the corner of my eye I saw a sparrowhawk zoom down the hill into the holly tree - it looked like a juvenile as it was very brown still, but large, so if not a juvenile, a female.

As it zoomed into the tree, the sparrows already there shot out in all directions like bullets.

The sparrowhawk was diving into the tree itself: it tried to nab one, and didn't succeed; tried a second, didn't succeed, went deeper in and there was silence.

I crept round the back of the tree, and the sparrowhawk emerged with a sparrow in its talons.

Then it flew away.

What I want to know is - do sparrowhawks usually dive into the midst of trees like that? I have only seen them zoom onto prey that was on the outside branches of a tree or on the ground or fence etc.?

Jean Morgan

Aberystwyth

A group of 32 Canada geese and 1 Pink-footed Goose flew north past Castle point at around 17.15. Also 1 Red-throated Diver off Castle point. On Old College Rocks 1 Ad.Med Gull, 1 Common gull, 8 Ringed Plover and 2 Turnstone.

Ian Lycett.

Following John's instructions,we went on the bog @ Borth on the path by the hide and saw a Hen Harrier in the distance,but an obliging Merlin was busy hunting and decided to have a rest/kip on a post about 50 yards away-not ideal, but it made our day! Cheers John.

Ynyslas

I went to Ynyslas this morning where I bumped into John Davis and guests. When I arrived at about 9.30 a group of 5 Swallows flew over heading roughly south. There was a flock of c130 Golden Plover on the rocky shore-line near the point with a few Dunlin and Ringed Plover mixed in. Also single Wheatear and Reed Bunting with a dozen or so Meadow Pipits on the sand. Two Red-throated Divers on the sea and small flights of auks passing by. Also a feeding frenzy way out on the horizon, too far to make positive indentifications apart from a couple of Gannets.
John picked up on 3 probable White-fronted Geese which flew over as we left the point at about mid-day.

YNYS-HIR

A bit wet, but views of at least 258 Barnacle Geese and 82 Pintail.

A Message from Moira

Hello All
Anyone out there who would be interested in setting up a team for remote
areas?
Moira




Dear Moira

Expenses for Atlas fieldwork expeditions

As in previous Atlases, BTO will be offering some expenses towards
expeditions to cover remote or difficult to access areas for Timed Tetrad
Visits and Roving Records. We have expenses available for trips in winter
and the breeding season for the final two years of Atlas fieldwork.

The expenses will cover mileage and in winter we have set aside money for
reasonable accommodation whereas in summer we hope there might be a bit of
camping involved!

We are interested to hear from anyone who can set up a team (hopefully of
four skilled birdwatchers) to visit the more difficult areas in Scotland and
Northern Ireland. There are many target areas in Scotland such as mainland
Argyll, Mull, Islay, Coll, Wester Ross, upland parts of Moray and the
Western Isles. In Northern Ireland the target areas are Co. Londonderry, Co
Tyrone, Co Fermanagh and Co Armagh. There are some differences in priority
areas between winter and the breeding season.

We would expect a team to primarily undertake Timed Tetrad Visits.
Typically an individual can cover between 4-5 tetrads per day for one hour
counts in winter, perhaps slightly more in the breeding season, depending on
the weather, terrain and accessibility. Working in a team there will be an
element of dropping off and picking team members up at the start and end of
the day. The ideal scenario would be for a team to make a round of early
visits to an area and for the same team or another team to make a round of
late visits. In some areas which are difficult to access then single visits
of two hours will be acceptable. The timing of these single visits,
especially in the breeding season, is crucial and we recommend that visits
are made between the end of May and the end of June. Timing in the winter
is less crucial.

We are advertising these expenses initially through Atlas Regional
Organisers and we ask you to pass on this email to your keen helpers who
might be interested. If you are keen to organise a trip and have some
willing volunteers to join you, please get in touch with us in the first
instance to discuss locations and timings.

We look forward to hearing from you.

With best wishes

Dawn Balmer & Bob Swann

Another late posting.........

Still a few Swallows about, saw two by the crossroads nearPlas Gogerddan this afternoon (2nd October).
John Woodruff

Late postings............

I've been away for a few days. Couldn't access my emails or the blog so appologies to the following contributors for late postings.

Last night (27th Sept) we saw a Barn Owl hunting over the Henrhiw. I suspect they breed up here as we have seen them a few times now.

Similarly, we see Kestrels on the Henrhiw and believe them to breed somewhere up there.

In the garden we have the usual Chaffinch, Goldfinch and Greenfinch, Nuthatch and Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Blue and Great Tits with visiting Coal Tits and a large party of Long Tailed Tits too. Siskins seem to have disappeared for the moment!

Matt and Charly Potter

TREGARON BOG PATH CLOSURES

On the following dates the RIVER WALK will be closed to the public because shooting rights are being exercised(and you thought it was a National Nature Reserve!).

21st OCT,21st NOV,5th and 12th DEC.

9th,16th,23rd JAN.

Good news is that it moves the birds around so the South bog sees some ducks and the owner of the shooting rights runs a superb wildlife friendly farm and feeds on one pond which brings in the ducks and is a life-saver in a hard winter. We probably wouldn't see the whoopers without that either.

On the coast south of Llanon

Razorbill x 1. 3 Med gulls.10 golden plover flying N. 2 curlew. 6 pied wags which were all pieds.

More bog news

2 male hen harriers over the west bog late this afternoon plus a green sandpiper in front of the 'waiting room'.
Geese were calling at 6a.m. but no sightings.
The little grebe chick, sole surviving offspring this year, is on the boardwalk pond with mum but feeding happily. Not sure if it can fly yet and dangers still abound as witnessed by a polecat scat full of bones.
A lone coot has turned up on the same pond and up at Maes Llyn pond a lesser black back has taken up residence on the far bank. Every autumn an LB comes to the same place. Some wigeon have also arrived with 6 tufties.

CORS FOCHNO/BORTH BOG

Rhiannon Thomas writes: Male Hen Jarrier towards south end of Borth Bog late yesterday afternoon, put up a group of 7 Snipe as it flew south and last seen towards the top of the hills in the direction of Dol-y-bont. Shortly afterwards a ring-tail Hen Harrier appeared briefly in roughly the same area of the bog.

BORTH-YNYSLAS

Richard Knight and Steve Jones had a very fruitful visit to our coast yesterday. Amongst their sightings at Ynyslas were a Merlin, a 2nd winter male Hen Harrier, 2 Brent Geese, 80 Wigeon, 97 Lapwings, 8 Golden Plover, 2 Knot and 1 Sanderling. Several Pied Wagtails on Borth golf course, most quite possibly White Wags.
Off Borth; 24 Common Scoter, 1 Common Tern and 5 Manx Shearwaters.
Later, Chris Bird noticed a few Manxies off Aberystwyth and I saw one off New Quay where several Gannets and Kittewakes were far offshore. Otherwise none of the hoped for storm-driven sea birds. Should have gone to Ynyslas!

BARNACLE GEESE

There are now 250 newly arrived Barnacle Geese at RSPB Ynys-hir according to Matt Potter.

Swallows and geese

Whilst I was watching a small group of swallows feeding over the mire at Cors Ian (GR 670695)this morning Bri was alerted to a flock of geese calling as they flew south down Tregaron bog. Settling on a big muddy patch(which unfortunately cannot be seen from any public access) there were around 90 greylags and 6 pink-feet. I managed to scope them from 150m but they were quite nervous, shuffling into a ditch but re-appearing for some good views. They also ganged up on 5 canadas which then kept their distance.

We have just come back from watching the migration in Bulgaria and witnessed on several occasions tight flocks of starlings turning on and chasing a variety of raptors: the bait ball bites back! Something to watch for at Aber pier this winter.

MERLIN

Another report from Matt Potter, this time of a Merlin, seen from the Pendam Mountain Road south of Llyn Blaenmelindwr early this afternoon.

NEWS from YSTUMTUEN

Matt Potter reports increasing sightings of Barn Owl and Kestrel.
Last month I saw more Kestrels during my travels in the north of the County than I usually see.

REDWINGS

Possibly the first Redwings of the winter, 3 of them, were in Sue and Terry Reeves' garden yesterday pm, just to the east of Capel Sion.

HOBBY

Will 'Tregaron' Davies reported seeing a late Hobby at Cors Caron yesterday.

Some late news from last week: Meurig Williams saw a couple of pale-bellied Brent Geese on the Leri at Ynyslas on 23rd Sept.