Monday, 30 November 2009
WHOOPER SWANS at TRISANT
Kingfisher
Sunday, 29 November 2009
Owls at Ponterwyd
Like we used to say about buses, you wait ages for one to come along and then.........
28th Nov - Llyn Blaenmelindwr
Friday, 27 November 2009
downed kite
As it turned out the kite had been picked up by a concerned farmer and delivered to CCW and is now safely on its way to the specialist bird rescue centre at Much Wenlock; pity really as I had hoped to deliver it myself and acquire a couple of delicious pork pies!
The best bit about all this is the concern shown for the kite by the farmers and builders I met, and they don't even know that the European population is crashing! Never let anyone think that the battle is won. We may have a sky full of them but there are dangers a plenty.
Aberystwyth Waders
Tom Wells
The bleak uplands
Ever wish your politicians would do more for wildlife?
Hi everyone,
As you probably know, 2010 will be the International Year of Biodiversity, a time to celebrate the variety of life on Earth. The plant and animal species that make up our wildlife and their habitats are important for so many reasons, whether it be social, cultural or economic. A healthy natural environment enriches our lives and makes vital contributions that we often give little thought to. In addition to the many practical reasons for conserving biodiversity, there is also a very strong ethical case for not destroying other forms of life that share the planet with us.
In 2001, EU Heads of State set a target to halt the loss of biodiversity by 2010, and at this time, the Welsh Government set out its own aim to meet this target. As we approach 2010 it is now widely acknowledged that this ambitious commitment will not be met and we are still losing biodiversity at an alarming rate.
As the International Year of Biodiversity draws closer, it would be a tragedy to let it pass without questioning why we have been unable to meet these targets and stop this tragic loss.
How you can help
RSPB Cymru is calling on the National Assembly for Wales to hold an inquiry looking at the reasons why the 2010 target will be missed and to make recommendations to the Welsh Assembly Government on how Wales can meet its future targets, including the Wales Environment Strategy target to have brought about recovery by 2026.
By following the link below and adding your name to the petition, you can help us make the Assembly Government face the fact that we are still losing our wildlife and urge them to ensure we meet the target to have recovery of biodiversity underway by 2026
http://www.assemblywales.org/gethome/e-petitions/epetition-list-of-signatories.htm?pet_id=426&prncl_ptnr=RSPB%20Cymru&clsd_dt=10/01/2010
Sightings from Tom Wells
Tom Wells
Thursday, 26 November 2009
Juvenile Cormorant on the Rheidol

curlew and goosander
2 pairs of goosander on the Teifi at Pont Einon, Tregaron.
20+ snipe at Ty Gwyn pools; very jumpy but who could blame them!
Wednesday, 25 November 2009
Little Gull - Aberaeron
Tuesday, 24 November 2009
Ceredigion Bird Report 2008
Lis Collison
Great birds in Taiwan


Alright, I know it's not Ceredigion but thought you might enjoy a change. While this was a work trip sponsored by the National Science Council of Taiwan in connection with the work that we do at IBERS on the giant energy grass Miscanthus, I did get a chance to see a few birds and identify the birding hot spots. Birds included Malaysian Night Heron and Black -collared starlings (above) in the impressive Chang Kai Shek Memorial Park in Taipei, varied tits and black-crowned night herons at the Endemic Species Research Institute, firecrests and crested mynahs coming down from a cold and wet night at 3190m, and 92 wintering Black-faced spoonbills (too far for my camera so I have photographed a poster), caspian terns, cattle, little and great white egrets, kentish plover, Eurasian curlews at the lagoons outside Tainan in the bottom of the island. They are very proud of their black-faced spoonbills, around half of the total world population around 2000 wintering in Taiwan, and one of the five if I remember rightly species of spoonbills.
Bought a book entitled Birdwatchers Guide to the Taipei region and have literature and DVDs on the lagoons of Tainan, the black-faced spoonbills, ferns and so on which could be used as the basis of a birding holiday with great food and culture thrown in. Flight available for around £500.
Monday, 23 November 2009
LEUCISTIC COMMON GULL
Earlier, Bob and I saw an unseasonal Gannet, very close in at Llanrhystud.
Ynyslas - Leri

med gull
On Friday and lunchtime Sunday there was a second winter med gull with commons and black-headeds in the flooded field at Llanrhysted. Interesting that the flocks of meds have consistently been seen Llanon end.
On Fri also 67 goldies and 43 curlew plus over 35 turnstones and a lone grey plover.
The leucistic oystercatcher had been joined by a strange looking rock pipit.
Sunday, 22 November 2009
FLOCK OF MED. GULLS
I could only find 7 Purple Sandpipers at Aberystwyth this morning. This afternoon I came across the albino Oystercatcher at Aberaeron.
Friday, 20 November 2009
DYFI ESTUARY SIGHTINGS
(Kev, great shot of the Skua at Ynyslas.)
Thursday, 19 November 2009
Visitor from the Emerald Isle
Interesting news about the Hen Harrier from Ireland seen in Pembrokeshire. I've been wondering too Liz how long it will take before one of the re-introduced Welsh kites to Ireland will return to their homeland here in Wales. Do you think they feel that 'hiraeth' which affects the Welsh when they visit far flung places?! This afternoon above my home near Machynlleth I saw 23 kites this happens each winter when we get these high winds and then they generally roost in trees opposite my home which allows me the opportunity to read the details of the wing tags through my scope I pass the details of these tagged birds to Tony Cross of the Welsh Kite Trust. Today I had 6 tagged kites and interestingly there were 3 birds which were related. Year 2007 'W' and 'Z' were there with their mother 'A'. She is a 2002 bird originating from Llangurig or Llanidloes cant remember which. I have christened her 'Anwen' for obvious reasons. She has a nest not to far away from my home. Over the last 3 years 2 of her chicks have gone to Ireland. She is an excellent breeding female and regularly rears two chicks. She is a prize bird for whom I have great affection and I was pleased to see that she is still with us and looking well. Her nest is in a most odd location its in a fallen ash tree which has lodged against an oak tree. This presents a major challenge to Tony Cross when he climbs the tree to ring/tag the chicks or to remove them for the Irish project. This year he was assisted by a chap from Ireland who was a 'tree surgeon' by trade and he shimmed up that tree like a monkey! They took a chick out of that nest which went to Ireland. I always feel rather sad to lose my chicks this way but I know the importance and significance of the Irish release project. It is at least 200 years since kites nested in Ireland. The way I look at it is that its a kind of insurance policy, should our native stock be wiped out or seriously depleted for one reason or another then its possible that Wales could be resupplied from the Irish stock. It was rather amusing or quite touching this year as a couple of my landowners whom I know very well refused to allow 'their' birds to go anywhere out of Wales or in one case to be even ringed or tagged by Tony Cross! I respect and admire them for adopting this view. Not so many years ago the red kite was relentlessly persecuted by the farming community. On one farm belonging to a very well known Welsh family there was a serious debate about whether one of 'their' birds should go to Ireland or not the lady of the house said 'no' but the head of the household said 'yes' and I guess his word was final! So that was the result one of the two chicks was taken to its new home in the Emerald Isle.
// posted by Elfyn Pugh
New Atlas of Pembrokeshire birds
Also on their blog is the story of a wing-tagged harrier that turned up on Skomer then Marloes Mere which flew in from County Clare! Wondering if our kites might come back?!
Wednesday, 18 November 2009
Request for information re stranded or deceased Cetaceans
I have just been informed of a record of a harbour porpoise stranding on the Ceredigion Bird Blog.
Alternatively, digital pictures to confirm species can be sent to me via info@strandings.demon.co.uk
Tuesday, 17 November 2009
Skua

Watch out, there's an ARCTIC SKUA about!
It could well be the same bird seen last Friday by Helen Herbert when it was briefly on South Beach at Aberystwyth before it flew off northwards.
On Sunday Bob and I had remarkable views of one at Borth. We were at the southern end when the skua flew low over the beach, from behind us, and settled just beyond the start of the wooden groynes. After a while it was chased off by Herring Gulls and instead of flying off out to sea or along the beach, we watched it heading north,low over the roof-tops and chimneys along Borth High Street. Quite possibly the best and most unusual views of an Arctic Skua that either of us had ever enjoyed.
ABER'S PURPLE SANDPIPERS
Monday, 16 November 2009
porpoise again
Porpoise
Firecrests at Cross Inn Forest
15 Nov
Cross Inn Forest 14.15 – 15.50
Sunday, 15 November 2009
Cetacean teeth
Ynyslas snow bunting - revisited
porpoise
Rain and more rain so have been watching willow tits on feeder and blueys searching for spiders under the eaves.
Purple Sandpipers at Aberystwyth
There were 7 Purple Sandpipers on the wall at castle point today at 16:30, high up closer the pavement than the sea! i have attached a couple of photos taken in the fading light. there were also 10 ringed plover and 8 turnstone in the area. in the harbour was a redshank, 3 cormorants and at least 8 Mute Swans. Didnt manage to see the dipper though and there was no sign of the black redstart on old college although it may have roosted by the time i was there.....
Tom Wells
Porpoise/Dolphin/Ladybird
New species for county !
Dipper
Great Northern Diver
PURPLE SANDPIPERS
Whooper Swans
Today on Llyn Oerfa we saw 9 Whooper Swan consisting of 6 adults and 3 juveniles.
Matt and Charly Potter
Ynyslas & Borth
Teifi
A Light bellied Brent and the regular Bar- headed goose were with the Canada Geese.
Saturday, 14 November 2009
Ladybird ID & stranded cetaceans
(Adalia bipunctata).
I've read a couple of blogs lately making reference to dead strandings of a porpoise and a dolphin. If you come across these and you wish to report them then please contact Rod Penrose of the Marine Environmental Monitoring project on 01348 875000. Information required for a dead stranding are a clear description of the location, species if known, overall lenght and condition of the animal, for example: fresh; slightly decomposed; moderately decomposed; advanced decomposition. In the event of a live stranding contact the RSPCA 'as soon as possible' on 0300 1234 999. For more information on this subject go to
http://www.strandings.com/
November 11th









Friday, 13 November 2009
Visiting Birder's Sightings
On the rocks near the pier in Aberystwyth this morning we saw 5 Turnstone, a Curlew and an Oystercatcher.
Couldn't locate the Black Redstart which was a shame as it is a bit of a bogey bird for me.
On the Road to Borth, 2 Red Kites. At Ynys-las Dunes, a male and female Stoenechat.
3 Purple Sandpipers on the concrete jetty at the harbour in Aberystwyth this afternoon along with about 5 Rock Pipits, a Grey Wagtail, 2 Shags and a female Goosander on the river. Then the rain set in. Hopefully it will clear up tomorrow so we can try and find 2 other bogey birds of ours - Chough and Red Breasted Mergansers (which we did not manage to see at Ynys-hir). So, if you are able to give us any tips as to where we could find these species we would be really grateful.
Roland
Late Swallow in Aberystwyth
Snow Buntings at Ynyslas
TRISANT SIGHTINGS
On nearby Llyn Frongoch there was a Goldeneye and a drake Pochard, the latter being a really scarce bird in Ceredigion.
SKUA at ABER
Sorry,more Blackbirds
Glad to see some records from Tregroes.I have to drive down the Cerdin valley once a week for work and it's a nice way to finish a round. Higher up the valley,nearer to Bwlch y Groes, is a good spot for Marsh Tit.The road squeezes between Pont y Bargoed and Lestys and I've seen Marsh Tits on their garden feeders a few times, indeed just a week or two ago I did.
Thursday, 12 November 2009
Blackbirds
Blackbirds
Doing a timed tetrad around Tregroes north of Llandysul (SN44C) I was also surprised at the number of Blackbirds, 40 in all and 90% male as reported by Ian Morris. Where are the hens?
Sightings included a Kingfisher and 8 Redpoll.
Philip Ellis
Absolutely no twitchers within miles
Idiots.................
yesterday to "twitch" the Brown Shrike in Surrey. We had a very successful day and saw not only the shrike but Rose-ringed Parakeet, Green Woodpecker and Water Pipit as well. The purpose of this posting though is not to brag but to relate a rather sad and annoying aspect of "twitches".
Despite the obvious congregation of birders gathered by the river-side to view the bird at a reasonable distance from it's favoured territory, (we three from Wales were not the only ones who had come to see it) the bird, and our enjoyment of it was constantly disturbed by 3 idiots who were tramping around on the other side of the river in it's territory. They had binoculars and cameras and had obviously come specifically to get close to and photograph the bird without any regard for other birders or, more importantly, the bird's well being. They were too far away to shout at so we had to make do with cursing and muttering to ourselves.
I do hope their photographs are rubbish, and they become bored with birds and take up some other hobby and go to it and annoy someone else and their hair falls out.
Ahhh, I feel better now.
Wednesday, 11 November 2009
Cwm Brefi,Llanddewi Brefi
A walk above Llanddewi this morning produced another Woodcock but also 2 Kestrels hovering very close to one another(less than 10m),which seemed a bit strange to me. "Formation hovering," a new Olympic sport maybe?
There seem to be quite a lot of Blackbirds hereabouts at present.I've noticed these last three winters when out surveying that the vast majority of those wintering appear to be male birds. Do more males migrate here in winter than females?
Ynyslas snow bunting etc
Tuesday, 10 November 2009
Starlings, Teifi....news
Sat & Sun, c20,000 flying to roost in Ceredigion over the Marsh, with c5000 roosting in the Marsh, in reeds near to the river.
Bittern;-
No sign of the Bittern on Sunday or Monday
Seen very well (kingfisher hide) on Saturday.
Firecrest;-
Still present calling on Monday, try around Kingfisher Hide / Badger Trail.
Pied Wagtails;-
The usual winter roost developing, 34 ringed on Monday.
(Teifi RG)
Roosting Starlings
Missing Ceredigion
I am currently in Oklahoma, with a group of us from IBERS discussing energy crops. Colleagues reckon I devoured a 16oz t bone steak like a veloraptor. The security guards that pick us up in the morning have a sidearm. I look out from my room and see a lake with Canada Geese! But I have also seen red-winged blackbird (a favorite), great-tailed grackles, dark-eyed juncos, blue jay, eastern bluebird, male cardinal, killdeer, gt blue heron, American kestrel, eastern peewee, gt white egret and a stuffed roadrunner. No scissor-tailed flycatchers as yet. Back down to Texas end of the week and then some of us are joining others in Taiwan.
Posted by John Valentine at 16:45
Monday, 9 November 2009
Sightings at Ynyslas
Mike Bailey
MORE FROM CHRIS BIRD
whoopers and grid refs
On the bog(cors caron) today 5 ads + 2 young whoopers flying south and calling from Cruglas ponds on the west side of the bog. Care! There were also Mutes.
2 peregrines and 11 stock doves on north-east side.
BRAMBLING and more WHOOPER SWANS at TRISANT
I was delighted that my first Brambling of the winter in Ceredigion was in my garden.
Request for a map reference............
Another request for precise location details of the 3 Snow Buntings at Llansantffraed. I have never been there, or know where the lime kilns are! My wife’s bogey bird is Snow Buntings, so getting them would be great! Gives us more chance before we go to
Matt Potter
Sunday, 8 November 2009
Birding Group Field Trip Report
BLACK REDSTARTS AT LLANARTH
At New Quay, Chris saw a second winter Mediterranean Gull and a flock of 7 Chough on the cliff above the shell-fish plant.
'Autumnwatch' moment on the bog
Wouldn't have been that much more exciting if Packham himself had been there to hold my cocoa!
On the way back 5 water rails in the ditches, 2 snipe calling as they flew in and a constant accompaniment of seeps as I disturbed roosting redwing.
Back at the ranch Mrs Tawny was noisy but no sign of low flying woodcock yet. No sign of dinner either.
Llansantffraed
Llansantffraid
Saturday 7th November
Very wild and showery conditions. Three snow buntings on the shoreline between Llansantffraid and Cilgerran Lime Kilns, presumably those that Liz Snell saw on Thursday. 60 curlews and 50 + oystercatchers (including a leuchistic one). Large flocks of gulls (greater and lesser black backed, herring and black headed) on the field but didn’t get close enough to see if there were any Meds.
Found some Blewits for my tea which made the morning even more pleasurable!
Roger Merry
Llanio et al.
On Saturday morning there was a single Marsh Tit on a feeder in Tregroes.
Cross Inn woods
Saturday, 7 November 2009
Ynyslas Leri Saltings



SNOW BUNTINGS
Cross Inn Woods
Friday, 6 November 2009
Starling roost, Ynyslas
Leucistic Bird sightings
This morning in one of the fields near the lime-kilns at Llansantffraed I saw a starling with a white-rump among a flock of about 30 other starlings. Then this afternoon near our garden I noticed a male blackbird with white wing patches. Presumably these are both leucistic birds? (having never see anything like this before, I am wondering if seeing two on one day is some sort of an omen, or if I should just get my eyes tested!)
Aline Denton
PHOTOS
(Am I the only one not to realise this?)
PEREGRINE AT THE PIER STARLING ROOST
HARRY'S PROM SIGHTINGS
Black Redstarts on the Old College Building
Black Redstarts
Little Egret
Coming back from a lunchtime walk I’ve just seen a little egret walking round the old county council harbour (just off the Rheidol below Trevechan Bridge).
Ynyslas
A visiting birder told me he had seen a male Hen Harrier a couple of times over the past week close to the car park and over the bog.
Thursday, 5 November 2009
SNOW BUNTINGS
Flighty in the near storm conditions but exactly where the Polkeys saw one couple of years ago.
29 turnstones, 2 redshank, 12+ curlew, oystercatchers and couple hundred gulls but not close enough to check out for meds.
I also acquired a fresh curlew skull and bill from a probable peregrine kill.
whoopers on cors caron
Ynys-hir
I couldn't get to the Breakwater Hide, the path was under quite a lot of water. Instead I spent some time looking at the flooded field behind it where there were hundreds of Teal and masses of Starlings. I also saw Curlew, (I counted 125 in one group, but there were more) Lapwings, Wigeon, 4 Little Egrets and 1 Snipe. I stopped on the mound by "Poggles Bench" to look at a couple of Greylag Geese and 18 Barnacle Geese on the saltings. Whilst I was watching them another 180 Barnacles flew over heading up the estuary. There were 4 Shoveler on the pond viewable from the cross roads. From the Saltings Hide I saw 3 very handsome male Pintails and more Wigeon, Curlew, Barnacle Geese and one more Greylag.
Wednesday, 4 November 2009
Pendam woodlands
Recent sightings from Lis Collison
Purple Sandpipers
Lost in Llangeitho
Despite the showery weather some interesting things on my first tetrad visit of the winter for the BTO. As well as a Hare sheltering under a hedge, there were 2 Marsh Tits,a Woodcock and on the tiniest of streams, a Dipper .
Tuesday, 3 November 2009
black redstarts
GREEN WOODPECKER
YET MORE BLACK REDSTART NEWS
Black Redstart
Nothing much at Tan-y-Bwlch either, except 60 or 70 Starlings close to the scrub on the beach. We weren't able to see if they were behaving like those described by Kev Joynes but they were very tightly grouped together. When they flew off we went to where they had been and could see evidence that they had been probing the sand in an area about the size of a table-top.
Although we didn't see it, we imagined the arrival of an Ivory Gull to feast on the carcase of a Porpoise located a few meters away from the Starling hot-spot!
Odd behaviour

WHOOPER SWANS
So, Trisant maintains its position as one of Ceredigion's Whooper Swan hot-spots!
Monday, 2 November 2009
Sightings from Gareth Herbert
| I have just returned from an unusually long stay in my home town of Aberystwyth (I visit often) and walked my local patch at least once a day, sometimes more often if time allowed. Here are the more interesting birds that I saw during my 9 day visit. 23rd Oct 9 a.m. Castle Point: 2 distant Gannets. The small patch of rocks left of the breakwater held 1 drake Mallard, 10 Ringed Plovers and 1 Redshank. Just beyond the furthest rock I briefly glimpsed an auk which I believe was a Razorbill. Later in the day there was a female Wigeon on the Rheidol by the football ground. 25th Oct. There was 1 female Wigeon still on the Rheidol. 1 Red Kite flew above the river by the police station. 26th Oct. 9 a.m. There were at least 11 Rock Pipits on South Beach near Castle Point. 27th Oct. There were 2 Goosanders (2 male, 1 female) by Aber town football ground. A Kingfisher flew upriver. 28th Oct. There was 1 Sparrowhawk over the football ground. 30th Oct. Castle Point at 9 a.m.: 15 Ringed Plovers & 5 Turnstones. A probable Red Throated Diver just off the furthermost rocks at Castle Point which gradually made its way further out to sea (by diving) until no longer visible. (This was a 1st for me and although I only had compact bins with me at the time I was able to eliminate Cormorant, Shag and Great Crested Grebe). 31st Oct. Castle Point at 9 a.m: 16 Ringed Plovers, 12 Turnstones and 1 Purple Sandpiper (is this the 1st this Autumn?). Late afternoon there were 2 male Goosanders and 4 female Goosanders just upriver from the police station along with 1 Moorhen and 1 Grey Wagtail. |
MORE BLACK REDSTART NEWS
Also, a Little Egret in the harbour, just below Trefechan bridge; an unusal sighting there.
BLACK REDSTARTS
Last Friday a male Black Redstart spent the day in Brian Wiley's gaden at Comins Coch.
Brian Kington, a regular visitor from the Midlands, watched a female Black Redstart on the railway line as he waited for a train at Borth station, towards the end of last week.
(Yesterday I enjoyed the sight of numerous migrating Red Kites and Common Buzzards flying west over my daughter's house in France near Lake Geneva.Probably aiming for the Rhone valley and on to southern France and beyond.)
Nant-y-Moch Windfarm
CAMBRIAN NEWS ON-LINE POLL ON NANT-Y-MOCH WINDFARM
Visit: http://www.cambrian-news.co.uk/
The poll is in a yellow box a little way down the right-hand side of the page.
At the time of writing, there have been 3200 respondents, with votes in favour of the windfarm exceeding those against by a small margin
(This note has come courtesy of The Cambrian Mountain Society)
Purple Sandpiper........
| This is the 1st time for me to submit sightings although I read the blog every night. Had no internet access during my visit to Aber hence the late submission. Looks as though the Purple Sandpiper has come back a day earlier than last year. Helen Herbert |















