10 Common Swifts over Aberaeron this morning, 30 April, at 10.00. I see
that others have also noted what appears to be a movement/influx. About
time!
During my chat survey - just north of the Urdd Centre at Llangranog - on
Saturday 28th, a total of eighteen wheatears. Three pairs, with one singing
male. The other twelve birds were an interesting mix - four females and eight
males, three of which were cracking Greenland Wheatears. The females were
loosely consorting with the oenanthe males but no obvious pairing. The
three leucorhoa stood out in terms of size and colouration but seemed
to be part of the 'flock'. All the wheatears in the flock (i.e. not the three
pairs which were clearly separate) were generally feeding or flying from field
to field. No particular direction noted.
One Peregrine also seen flying along the cliffs.
A Hobby over Aberaeron on Saturday 29th, 14.15, generally flying
northwards, is an early record - particularly in view of the recent weather
patterns in southern Europe and the UK. That said, the strong southerly winds
further south may have contributed? An excellent view - flew more or less
overhead as we were changing ends in between games on the tennis courts.