Choughs and Seals

Yesterday evening a flock of 21 Choughs between Aberystwyth and Llanrhystud. Also saw 14
Grey Seals hauled out on the beach and a suspicious looking character paying them close attention!

pied wags

At a moth trap event, part of Llanerchaeron's Bioblitz, we released a beautiful Purple Thorn which winged its way into the grey skies and over the roof of the Mansion House except that on the roof were a pair of 'dishwashers' ....thankyou very much! They then positioned themselves in a tree overlooking our traps but we were more careful with the rest of the trapload!
The carpark chaffinch was a cheeky chappie instantly appearing on sight of my marmalade sandwich but mindful that John Val might be watching I denied it... until it threatened me.
At home a blackcap was competing at evensong...I told it to choose Tom Jones.

Llanrhystud

8 White Wagtails and a single Swallow at Llanrhystud this afternoon. Another Swallow with approx. 50 Sand Martins at Llyn Pencarreg (Carms) this evening.

Sightings Friday late afternoon

Along the coast from Wallog to Borth were 3 Red Kites, 1 Peregrine, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Choughs, 1 Greater Black Backed Gull mobbed by 3 Herring Gulls.

Also earlier in the morning on way to Work my first swallow over Uni Penglais Campus and chiffchaff singing behind Edward Llwyd building.

Penri James

Ring-billed Gull - Teifi

The 2w Ring-billed Gull;-
- 9am bathing with the other gulls upstream of Priory Bridge.
10:30 am on the mud between the Indian restaurants from the Co-op car park.

A walk around the Reserve produced Chiffchaffs singing all around the circuit. 4+ Willow Warblers and 4+ Blackcaps singing at various points too.
c30 Teal still.
(Wendy J & Rich D)

nanternis 28/march

My wife heard our first willow warbler of the year near the bridge in Nanternis on wednesday.

Alun Hill

Abergwesyn Road - Thursday 29th

Nice adult male Hen Harrier heading north across the hillside near the telephone box/road junction four kilometres or so from Diffwys, the old outdoor pursuits centre. Also a lot of displaying Meadow Pipits and one male Wheatear.

Ian Harrison

Fieldfares

Reading about the Fieldfares made me think I should record a Penglais School first for me when I heard some fly over at 8am on Wednesday. Its a rather specialist tick list when you just look out on an enclosed quad!

Fieldfares

Interesting that Philip had a group of fieldfares flying East as he lives across the bog from me, and at 7ish we had over a dozen in our ash tree before departing east uphill.

No Curlews

For the first time in 20 years there are no Curlews round our house. For the last decade there have been 2 pairs but the last large chick was about 15 years ago.
I think both Curlew and Lapwing can live to about 20 so I fear the Curlews have finally died without heirs. 3 Lapwing are still back displaying at the field by Gwnws Church with half a dozen crows watching from fence posts.
A sadly silent spring with neither the usual Misltle and Song thrushes singing in the garden. To continue this depressing theme, not a single Wheatear on the mountain road to Rhayader, perhaps a bit early.
24 Fieldfares heading noisily East at sunset.

Philip Ellis

Willow Warbler

My mother told me that virtue will be rewarded so this morning I forced Bri at gunpoint to clean the east-facing windows before the sun got to them and Lo! a willow warbler in full song in our willow scrub!
Yesterday,not a sight or sound of one at Poppit and Cemaes Head.

Golden Plover

Headed over to ynyslas point this morn after a visit to see Nora - around 40 goldies flew across the mouth of the Dyfi to Aberdyfi from the Leri - just after noon


Mark Wilson

Records from Ian Harrison

Two Barn Swallows over Aberaeron Tuesday 27th.

Regarding the Egyptian Vulture, the owner of the petshop in Pengarreg, Aberaeron, was very helpful in discovering the provenance of my best garden bird ever, Hooded Vulture, a couple of years ago, and indeed also in catching it. Better than my efforts with a gardening glove and a few dead day old chicks on a string. I seem to remember that it came from somewhere up the A44.

Ian Harrison

Goldcrest

As we sat having our breakfast in Pentrebach this morning, we were delighted to see a very busy goldcrest in the Christmas tree outside the window. My sister-in-law- says she hasn’t seen one in the 3+ years they have been here, so that was a lovely start to the day.
Lyn Martin

Tregaron Bog

A case of out with the old and in with the new at Tregaron today. The single remaining Whooper Swan at Ystrad Caron will surely be gone in a few days time, especially if this weather lasts, whilst a nervy Little Ringed Plover on the reserve was a real sign that spring migration is under way.

curlew

Ian, I regularly recorded curlew calling in the valley below Bryn Gwyn when I was kiting in March as there is a little bit of rough boggy stuff viewable from the lane to Rhiwonnen. They keep trying in traditional places like the lapwing but its very time consuming to discover whether they are successful or not. I'm assuming they can live for 10+ years so maybe still trying for that first chick!

House Martin

A house martin high over the house this afternoon in Pontrhydfendigaid

Andre Marsh

wake me up I must be dreaming

Arfon, did you say you'd had an Egyptian Vulture in your garden or did I just imagine that? Perhaps I've been hitting the homemade elderberry too hard? Where could it have come from? I wonder how many people keep them? Not many surely.
Heard two Willow Tits this morning at Denmark Farm, one calling on one boundary and an hour later another singing on the opposite near to where one was singing last week. Perhaps by June it will be clearer if there are one or two territories around the site. Also heard a Curlew to the north west of DF near Bryngwyn, just as we did last year on a guided walk round I think. Looking out from across from the bottom field you can only see "improved" pasture and hedges but presumably some suitable breeding habitat exists just out of sight.

Whooper Swans at Llyn yr Oerfa

On Sunday afternoon, five of the six Whooper Swans on Llyn yr Oerfa were giving a good demonstration of their formation swimming.

Laurie Wright

Lower Rheidol Valley Gossanders

The summer weather has taken us all by surprise!This male Gossie in his splendid plumage has managed to attract two females! Earlier in the morning we spotted the dipper that seems to have set up his territory here too,and was busy feeding in the river.Later a kite descended into the river and seemed to be enjoying the dip!

Lis Collison

One Swallow has a Summer made.....

At last - my first Swallow of the year appeared in glorious sunshine whilst I wasn't looking for it at Upper Borth today. I was just checking a couple of buzzards through my binocular and the little blighter just barged into my field of vision. I also saw 4 Bottle-nosed Dolphins quite a long way off-shore, but not a lot else.

Bore da. Bob has been kind enough to allow me to tell you about an evening event this coming Wednesday at the Tabernacle, Machynlleth. It's an evening with the Dyfi Osprey Project Team, an opportunity to share information about the project with everybody and learn more, if you fancy it, about volunteering.

We would like to hear your views, good or bad, so that we can continue to improve the project. Everybody is welcome and it's free. You can view more information about the event here



Hope to see you soon.

Owls and others.

Short-eared owl at Ynyslas appears to have become more nocturnal with the influx of visitors, seen most nights between 9 and 11pm hunting over the golf course. Barn owl early this morning at Coed y Cwm, Clarach. Another swallow yesterday at Ynyslas Turn by the roadside pool. 11 purple sandpipers again off the wooden jetty in Aber. Wheatears, stonechats, 1 sparrowhawk and 4 chough along the coast path from Upper Borth.

Wheatear and whoopers at Teifi Pools

Another trip up to the Teifi Pools produced a female kestrel, 3 whoopers at Llyn Hir and a wheatear at Llyn Egnant. 3 or 4 skylark singing and about a dozen meadow pipit. Also 60 curlew flying over, high up in an easterly direction

Andre Marsh

black tailed godwits

This morning 2 flew north along the east ridge beside Cors Caron calling as they went. I've never heard Blackwits make any noise in Britain being usually way off or got their heads down in mud or their feathers but we did spend a magical night camped in the middle of their breeding meadows in Sweden....
ps. it was legal, you can park a camper on their reserve carparks but you'll be alone if its in May.

The eagle has landed - well not quite!

Yesterday's excitement was provided by an immature Egyptian Vulture that flew over the garden. Despite having obvious jessies and a bell the site of this exotic tangling with the local buzzards and kites was quite something. At one stage it even landed in the tree at the end of the garden - this is when the cat decided to head indoors.

Today's fare was a little more expected with White Wagtails, Wheatears and Med Gulls at Llanrhystud, a pair of Shovelers off shore were a little more unusual. Five Sandwich Terns at Aberaeron were my first of the year and the 2 winter Iceland Gull was still at New Quay fish factory.

Snipe and Hummingbird Hawkmoth

3 Common Snipe in a boggy field nearby.
A Hummingbird Hawkmoth in the garden. On the Butterfly Conservation website it’s about the 5th sighting in Wales this year but I’ve never seen one here before mid summer.

Philip Ellis

Nanternis

Took Tomos to the beautiful and enchanted Cwm Silio this morning. Armed only with a plastic shield and sword we managed to see a pair of Choughs, a Kestrel and a Dipper.

Blackcap at Ynys-hir

Still no hirundines during our visit to Ynys-hir this afternoon but I was delighted to hear then see a male Blackcap singing his little heart out near the railway bridge.

Aberaeron

4 Sandwich Terns and 4 Wheatears this morning.

Choughs

I thought you may be interested in a record of a flock of 14 Choughs rather half-heartedly mobbing a Buzzard on the coastal path about a mile south of Borth today. It's by far the largest number I've seen here and perhaps bodes well for the coming season

Nigel Barratt

Purple sandpipers, Aberystwyth

11 purple sandpipers sunning themselves off the wooden jetty this morning. Welcome back, Nora!

Someone special has arrived back from Africa.. 

Nora, the Dyfi female osprey returned to her nest late this afternoon. She looked in good condition but with an empty crop.
She was mobbed by crows as soon as she alighted her usual perch and quickly flew off down river probably to fish.

Croeso adref cariad - welcome home.

Bog and Hill

On the Cors Caron bog this morning 2 pairs of redshank and a displaying curlew, singing pipits and skylarks,paired up teal,wigeon and goosander. Frogs taking a hammering from the herons and a very fresh otter poo was full of their bones also.
Later a walk up the Afon Groes in Blaencaron was very quiet but enlivened by 5 wheatear among the lichen covered rocks. An old friend put in an appearance: this kite has been around for at least 4 years recognised by both wings missing all its inner primaries.

Redwing & Fieldfare

Friday at the back of my house in Pontrhydfendigaid there were 5 redwing. The mistle thrush has been sitting for over a week now and the brambling seem to have left the garden. Later on, high up near Teifi Pools, just as the light was fading, 25 fieldfare flying eastwards. Also a chiffchaff at Oakford.

Andre Marsh

redwings

Redwing was a bit of a surprise in my garden outside Tregaron today but 2 days ago there were about 30 Fieldfares just up the lane. Strange to watch a winter bird whilst listening to a chiffchaff in full voice!
On the Nest Record Scheme forum there are country-wide reports of nesting even, in Norfolk,blackbirds being big enough to ring! Everyone praying there won't be a dramatic return to winter which would scupper the lot.

In anticipation of hirundines at Ynys-hir

I've still not seen any hirundines at Ynys-hir (apart from a single Sand Martin on Sunday) but Chiffchaffs are about and the Green Sandpiper is still showing very nicely in front of the visitor centre. Last Saturday there were at least 25 White-fronted Geese viewable from Marian Mawr hide and today there was a single dark-bellied Brent Goose there.
I'm thinking there is a wonderful abundance of Goldcrests about this year. This afternoon at Ynys-hir I watched one for five minutes or so above the footpath close to the railway bridge. Yesterday I was enchanted as I watched one on the path to the Saltings hide - I stood stock still and it came so close I could almost have reached out and touched it. On Tuesday I saw another at a different location. Last week I saw five on a single Buster walk and I've heard lots more - I'm delighted that I can still hear them!

Redwing at Llansantffraed

I was surprised to see a Redwing near the church at Llansantffraed this morning.
Andre Morgan

Sightings from Matt Potter

The family group of 5 Whooper Swans on Pond Yr Oerfa was joined this morning by another adult and two further juveniles! Also two distinct pairs of Canada Geese.

At the University on Penglais Hill, a Chiffchaff was singing away, and another was singing in the woods on the other side of the road near the new health centre.

On the prom this morning, 5 Purple Sandpipers were clinging to their usual high tide spot on the wall at Castle Rocks.


Matt Potter

Satellite-tagged Ceredigion Woodcock

A male Woodcock satellite-tagged by Owen Williams near Llanilar on 22nd Feb as part of a research project by the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust, assisted by the Woodcock Network, has yet to commence his spring migration back to breeding grounds somewhere in Scandinavia/Russia? Since christened Aderyn, his progress can be followed online and there is an opportunity to sponsor him in order to fund future research. 11 other Woodcock, including a Carmarthenshire bird, have also been satellite-tagged

Pictures of the bird when caught can be seen at http://midwalesringers.blogspot.com and his migration can be followed at http://www.woodcockwatch.com

Rouge Gorge

................which, the french gentleman who is giving me a hand in the garden tells me, is the french for robin, whose nest I inadvertently discovered on the remains of another ancient robin's nest, among the stored plant pots, containing 4 eggs. I have a feeling the old one may have been robbed out, shall keep our fingers crossed.

David, Felinfach

Swallow, Ynyslas

Swallow at Ynyslas Turn yesterday evening and a flock of about 60 linnets at Wallog.

whooper and Sony HX9V

Yesterday on a private farm lake, near our house, a whooper surprise!
The second pic is a zoom from the first and has not been enlarged on the computer which it can be without losing sharpness...not my little Lumix but a little Sony almost as amazing as this lovely bird. Chiffchaffs have reached the bog and our garden near Tregaron.

SWALLOW

Chris Bird was delighted to see a Swallow at Aberystwyth this afternoon, flying over the road between Penparcau and Trefechan. Later he saw a 2nd winter Mediterranean Gull on College rocks.

Also at Aberystwyth, Kevin McGee noticed a male Blackcap at the Llanbadarn campus and I counted 8 Purple Sandpipers at high tide this morning. Later we saw the family of 5 Whooper Swans which are still at Ystumtuen.

Chough etc

A pair of chough at Llanon yesterday and at Clarach this evening. A male wheatear at both Llanon and Mwnt yesterday and most days at Ynyslas. Lots of stonechats along the coast which is a nice change from the last couple of years.
10 sanderling feeding frantically at Ynyslas on Saturday and Ringed plover are back on the foreshore.

YNYS-HIR and elsewhere

The Green Sandpiper was still at RSPB Ynys-hir today, beside the wetland viewable from the car park and visitor centre.

Close by was this rather fine-looking Little Egret.

Beside the nearby Clettwr was a Greenshank with several Redshanks.

Yesterday at Ystumtuen, the family of 5 Whooper Swans were still on Llyn yr Oerfa, 4 of which are in the picture below. 

At New Quay it was great to see so many of the sea-birds on their cliff-ledges, plus some Wheatears on the adjacent pastures, including a female.

The Great Grey Shrike at Cross Inn forest was showing brilliantly, especially after finding and swallowing a mouse, when it remained motionless on the top of a small  tree for absolutely ages. In fact it was still there when we left.

received with thanks

Once upon a time....Red made a load of protective bird box plates. He gave them to Liz, who gave them to Angie, who gave them to Mara, who gave them to me and I gave them to Kelly outside school this morning. He's running a bird box building group with the children at Ciliau Aeron primary on Friday. Thanks for those Red and thanks too for the Long Wood map.
When you see a bird out of context the easily confused can be easily confused. A bird was singing this morning at the very top of a mature Beech tree in our garden. The song seemed scratchy and strange. I couldn't place it. I was thinking "badly out of tune Greenfinch maybe?". I could only view it from underneath so couldn't really see it. I waited until it flew off in to the field next door and then the white rump gave it away. Wheatear. A surprise garden tick.

ring-bill

I put a ring-billed gull onto the Pembs blog yesterday, & have realised that it was the Ceredigion side of the Teifi. My mistake; just not thinking!
From the riverside "Co-op" car park, Cardigan; one ring-billed gull.

Moira's list for last Saturday

Sorry this is a bit late but it is the list for Saturday morning at Llangranog. Moira

Buzzard, herring gull, dunnock, robin, chough (pair carrying nesting material), great tit, collard dove, jackdaw, house sparrow, wren, blackbird, dipper, grey wagtail, woodpigeon, greenfinch, blue tit, chaffinch, razorbill, fulmar, shag, lesser black-backed gull, starling, meadow pipit, pied wagtail, wheatear, cormorant, Canada geese, skylark, stonechat, carrion crow, peregrine (pair) red kite, raven, oyster catcher, rock pipit, guillemot (c100 sitting in rows on cliff), goldfinch, coal tit, great black-backed gull.

Chiffchaff by the Leri this morning

There was a chiffchaff singing this morning by the Leri between the Animalarium and the sewage works.


Dave Purdon

'Blush Breasted Marauders' and other garden birds

Each spring, as soon as our Snowy Mespilus (Amelanchier) starts to bud - in come the Bullfinches to strip the flower buds. Haven't seen any for several months but now they have appeared in force. Other garden birds at the moment include some of the finches - Chaffinch, Goldfinch and Siskin

Aberystwyth 18th

Sightings from yesterday in Aberystwyth when I was visiting my old home town from my current home in Bath; apologies for the late posting. At least seven wheatears in Tanybwlch; four (3m, 1f) on the steep bank to the south, and three in the field of sheep. Also several rock pipits and stonechats, and a dipper about half a mile upstream in the Ystwyth.

About 20 turnstones and two ringed plovers on College Rocks. Finally two peregrines flying (probably a courtship display) above the Welsh Books Council towards Consti made my day.

Attached are pictures of a wheatear on Tanybwlch and a very obliging dunnock - a much under-rated bird.

Nigel Johnston

Teifi Marsh

Teifi Marsh, Ceredigion bit I think; 5 black-tailed godwits & 6 curlew. Also a male sparrowhawk sat on a post for a while.
Over the marsh in general, so both counties, 40+ sand martins.

Iceland Gull

The 2 winter Iceland Gull was still at New Quay this evening.

Chough at Clarach

Spent a lovely day at Clarch Bay today. One highlight being the Peregrine on Consti Hill having a mid air battle with a Rook, but then spent most of the day watching a pair of chough.

Greg Jones

Ystumtuen

The two adults and 3 juv Whooper Swans are still on Pond Yr Oerfa this afternoon, joined by the Grey Heron and a few Mallards. Yesterday there was a pair of Goosanders.

Yellohammers have been singing locally and there are at least 3 - 4 males. I will go out this week and check if they are around the usual territories.

Last Weekend there were 3 flocks of 80 - 100 Fieldfares, but they havent been seen since.



Matt Potter

Tregaron Bog

There are days when Tregaron Bog can seem devoid of birds. Today wasn't one of those days. The highlights included 2 drake Gadwall (first seen by Liz a couple of days ago), a Little Egret, a ringtail Hen Harrier, 2 Black-tailed Godwits and an amazing (by Ceredigion standards) flock of 10 Ruffs, some of which were starting to get their ruffs! Also of note were two Cormorants one of which was a sinensis (continental race), identifiable by its white head but more importantly the shape of the patch of bare skin at the base of the bill.

Wheatear

3 Wheatear (1m, 2f) at Tanybwlch this afternoon in the sheep field on the southern end.

Steffi Meier

Sand Martin

At last...
I nipped into Ynys-hir again this afternoon, hoping to see my first Sand Martin of the year. Bumped into John Val and chatted for a while and then a single Sand Martin came into view over the pond in front of the visitor centre and fluttered away heading north. Also on the pond was a lone Green Sandpiper, another nice bird to see, but the martin made my day.

Great Grey Shrike

The Great Grey Shrike was still at Cross Inn this lunch time; sat and watched it for about one and a half hours during which time it made several kills.

Rhys Thatcher

Denmark Farm Conservation Centre

Whilst I was working in Long Wood yesterday someone from Llanfair mentioned that they'd seen a Merlin a couple of times recently. Perhaps it was this bird that flew over DF this morning. Also first Chiffchaff of the year. A Willow Tit was singing a couple of hundred yards down the road from the farm but hopefully it will fly on to the site sometime so that I can plot it on the CBC map! Then back home to play rugby in the garden with Tomos and relive those glorious grand slam moments, with me playing the part of perpetual loser. One of us had to be England and France.

Gulls are all white!

Being a little preoccupied with Wales righting a terrible injustice yesterday's the following is 24hrs late.

3 wheatears and 2 chiffchaffs at Llanrhystud also 14 Med Gulls of various ages including a couple of very smart adults in full summer plumage.

A second winter Iceland Gull at Aberaeron and 5 x 1st year Meds, one of which was a partial albino with lots of white primaries, but only in the left wing.

Another second winter Iceland Gull at New Quay. This bird has a completely dark tip to the bill unlike the Aberaeron bird which has the very tip of the bill noticeably pale. A second white-winged gull at New Quay turned out to be an almost pure white Herring Gull with a faint brown wash to the tail and primaries. This may have been the bird seen on the Teifi a couple of days earlier. As soon as I'm able to download photos of this bird I'll put them on the blog - well worth seeing.

Cross Inn

The Shrike was showing well again today on its usual perch in the middle of the clearing.
Near to Hafodwnog farm, on the edge of the woods, there was a Pink Footed Goose (feral from Ty Gwyn pools?) with 2 Greylags and 2 Canadas.

Peregrines and no Iceland Gull

In light of the Iceland Gull spot at Clarach yesterday, I thought I'd have
a look for it today (Saturday 17th.) Of course, it had long gone but the trip wasn't
fruitless as I managed great views of an adult and immature Peregrine
sitting on the cliffs just below the Consti summit and a male Sparrowhawk
also shot past. Plenty of Raven, Shag, Shonechats, Buzzards and Red Kites
about. On the way back, I caught the immature Peregrine further round on
the Aber side of the cliffs, tearing into an unrecognisable victim.

Mike Waller.

Ynys-hir

Yesterday on the flooded fields near the Breakwater hide there was a greenshank and a ruff feeding with the other waders and ducks there. This morning the ruff was still there and a spotted redshank had replaced the greenshank. These fields are looking good now with lapwing, curlew, dunlin, snipe and redshank along with mallard, teal, shoveler, pintail and wigeon. The Greenland white-fronted geese were on the edge of the salt marsh and a pink-footed goose was on the grassland with a minima Canada goose (these two have been seen intermittently on the reserve since 2007 and both are presumably escapes).

Aberystwyth to Borth

A coastal walk from Aberystwyth to Borth this afternoon (Friday 16th) was disappointing regarding seawatching just cormorants, 2 shelduck and 3 shags to report, but the walk was saved by the sighting of a 1st winter Iceland gull consorting with the herring gulls at Clarach beach, a flock of 7 choughs north of Clarach and 2 male wheatears close to the monument before you drop into Borth. Along the walk we had several stonechat pairs, and at Borth itself a porpoise was feeding close to shore in the southern end of the bay.

Female Black Redstart on old college, plus 7 ringed plover and 1 purple sandpiper at castle rocks.

Steffi Meier

Willow Warbler

Friday 16th: We had a Willow Warbler in our garden on the Buarth, Aberystwyth, today.

Pete and Jenni Hyatt

SWANS and GULL

Matt's Whooper Swans at Ystumtuen today began the morning on Bwlchcryws Pond, a little to the south and near Trisant.

Richard's posting of yesterday of the leucistic Herring Gull at the Teifi infront of the Curlew hide at the Teifi Marshes must surely be the bird Bob and I saw at Llanrhystud on 1st March. Viewed from that hide today were 5 Black-tailed Godwits perched on a tree-trunk in mid-stream.

Ystumtuen

Around Ystumtuen today, there are three probably Stonechat territories, all in similar places to previous years. I have just signed up to the Wales Chat survey run by the BTO.
On Pond Yr Oerfa, there was a nice return of the 2 adult Whooper Swans and 3 young. Plus one Grey Heron and 6 Mallards.


Matt Potter

A Barn Owl calls

The CD Suomen Pollot - Owls of Finland starts with the blood curdling screech of an adult barn owl recorded on 2.8. 88 in Cardiganshire by Victor C. Lewis. Track 2 of 4 is 'pre-nesting calls: croak of male and hiss of female'. For the record, there are 12 Finnish owls with 61 calls on this CD. If I make it to the meeting tomorrow, I will bring.

Ynyslas and Borth

A look off Ynyslas turn this morning produced only 5 common scoter and 2 great crested grebe at first but on scanning north I saw a long-tailed duck fly in which proceeded to feed in the breaking waves just off the turn car-park. Also a nice male wheatear perched on the groynes. At Ynyslas around 100 golden plover calling in flight and at Upper Borth 3 purple sandpiper on the rocks.

Barn Owl song flight

Re: Jon Turner’s barn owl song flight....

Last spring while atlasing after dark around Llyn Blaenmelindwr I witnessed what must have been the same thing. A convenient verbal shorthand for the sound it made was a “warbling shriek” and I found it so described in one of the field guides. It made the sound at very regular intervals and could be heard covering quite large distances over the forestry. It appeared to be doing a circuit up to a mile across.




jerry moore

Time to go....

I notice the starlings are hanging around in groups, flying to and fro, rather than off to their usual feeding grounds; a sure sign that they will be returning to the continent any time, confirmed by the sight of them plundering the ivy berries with gusto to build up their reserves.

Talking of building up reserves, our resident male robin is feeding his mate assiduously, so much so that when she was perched in the hedge, at the very tip of a twig, he fed her while hovering humming bird style, twice that I saw. She is not as much in evidence so I suspect she is laying or sitting, as he takes food and returns 'empty billed' to repeat the trip.

David, Felinfach

Barn Owl "song-flight"?

I was walking the dog along a farm road near Capel Bangor at about 7.30 this evening, when I was startled by a weird call and looked up to see a Barn Owl flying high overhead - just about discernable in my head-torch. It was making a continuously repeated hoarse screech/ hissing call, and continued to call as it disappeared over trees at the far side of the field. At that point a 2nd bird called a couple of times in the distance - but using the more typical barn owl screech.

Although the Poyser barn owl monograph states that "males may indulge in a 'song-flight' immediately on emergence [from the roost], flying steadily over their territories....screeching every few seconds", I've never encountered this sort of behaviour before. Has anyone else? I wasn't particularly near any farm buildings, and the calling didn't seem to be an alarm reaction aimed at me or the dog. It's possible that the owl may have been chasing another male I couldn't see in the dark, I suppose...

Will keep my eyes and ears peeled next time I walk the dog along there.

Another "white gull" on the Teifi

This gull, thoughts are a likely leucistic Herring Gull, was photographed by Tommy from Curlew hide yesterday (Weds) at 1645.

Aber and Ynyslas

A peregrine was flying low along the beach at Ynyslas this morning. The Short-eared owl demonstrated how it got its name when it was mobbed by a pair of Herring gulls on the golf course this evening. In Aber at lunchtime I got a 5 second view of a female black redstart on Old College roof and 4 purple sands were on the wooden jetty. At Tan y Bwlch a pair of Goosander were on the Ystwyth and a knot was on the beach with the oystercatchers.

wheatear at Morfa Mawr

Having picked up a sack of that coily tangled brightly coloured fishing line which ends up round the legs of young gannets on Grassholm I felt virtuous enough to deserve sight of a good bird and there it was: a splendid male wheatear on a post near Morfa Mawr farm. Lifted the spirits on a dull grey day.
Otherwise a distant GC grebe and RT diver upstaged by a close in male red breasted merganser looking very smart. Meanwhile Bri was watching 2 kites having a tangle which usually means courtship but this was aggression with one bird pulling a clump of feathers from the other...over a stick apparently! I suppose it might not have been the right colour and kite 1 was sent back to B&Q.

Lift needed to Llangrannog

Please could anyone give me a lift one way to Llangrannog for the field trip this Saturday morning? Ideally from Ystrad Meurig / Bont / Tregaron area.
Thanks ever so, Angie Polkey 01974 831300

Cymtydu

while walking the dogs in a field above cwmtydu ,a large flock of skylarks 50-60 at least.

alan.hill

Re: Sand Martins

Slightly out of the county spotted my first two Sand Martins over Clewedog
this afternoon despite the blanket of mist and a struggling 2 degrees C
they appeared on the scene around lunch time feeding over the water nice
to see them; incidently a few ago I found a Sand Martin fledgling in a 5
pound Trout I was cleaning; not all danger comes from above it seems.
Closer to home I watched a slendid display by a male Rook tonight on
Clarach beach it took on the shape of a Red Grouse with fanned tail and
arched wings bobbing and fanning it was quite something to watch; Mrs Rook
gave him a slight nod and continued sifting the beach debris obviously not
as impressed as I was!

Tony Clark

Ynys-hir and Leri

Thanks again for the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker! Afterwards we spent a few hours on the reserve and saw 2 White-fronted Geese, Greenshank, Peregrine, 2 Stonechat, 2 Goldeneye, 4 Red-breasted Merganser (2f, 2m) and 3 Sand Martins over the pools below the Marian Mawr Hide.

Then we went on to the mouth of the Leri and had fabulous views of a hunting Short-eared Owl, a Merlin and a male Wheatear.

Yesterday (Wednesday) we went to Cross Inn Forest and saw the Great Grey Shrike. Thanks again to John Davis for great directions!

Steffi Meier

How many Aber starlings?

Has anyone tried estimating how many there are in the current roosting flock?

Lesser-spotted Woodpecker at Ynys-hir

A group of five of us had splendid views of a male Lesser-spotted Woodpecker at Ynys-hir this morning. Just before we saw the lesser-pecker we were surrounded by various tits and a Goldcrest showed nicely. Still no Sand Martins yet though.

Ynyslas Shortie

The Short Eared Owl is still in residence - hunting over the Ynyslas sandunes this evening. Lucky to get any photo at all considering how dark and murky it was!

Aber starlings

Starlings in the gloom (again) tonight, so black and white conversions! Peregrine took a bird early and then left, so long display and nearly dark by the time the birds went in.

Misty Weds.

The vagaries of our weather!!!Left L'dod in mist-Cwmystwyth dozing in glorious sun-hopes high...few miles out of Aber and the grey clag had entombed the town. Great! Plas Crug(found it at last) revealed no Kingfisher , but a Water Rail not 6 feet away , but too quick for the camera.Wooden jetty :still two lovely Purple Sands-sea like an oil slick.

Black Redstart...s ! Yes , as Chris thought :2 males one ringed ,one not-they had a brief skirmish , then a female appeared , but never came off the college tops.Great to meet Chris as per.

A few miles out of Aber , guess what:glorious sunshine bathing the hills.

Black tailed godwits

Early afternoon, there were four black tailed godwits on a pool in the wet field at Llanrhystud. Easily identified by long straight orange and black bill, long legs, orange neck, and in the case of two individuals strong barring.

Hundreds of gulls in the fields, some following plough, mostly black-headed with fewer Meditterrean and some herring gulls.

Alas, no wheatears. Nor warblers at lime lilns or godwits on the way back.

Finally, a redhead was power-walking along the shingle beach to Llanrhystud and back to Llanon. She said she did it in 25 mins, I hope that she meant one way, whatever she must have bigger muscles than Molly Malone.

Sightings at New Quay

Birds seen on a walk to BIrd Rock, New Quay this afternoon included Guillemots, Razorbills, Kittiwakes, Shags, 2 Chough, a Raven and a Chiffchaff in song. 2 Seals made the walk even more pleasurable.

Andre Morgan

Pond yr Oerfa

For the last few days there has been up to seven goosanders on the pond. This
morning as I left the house I counted five and noticed that they have been
joined by a male goldeneye. On my way home I am pretty sure I saw two more
goldeneye on the small lake at Nant yr Arian.


Elaine Izett

Goldcrests

Just back from our walk along the wall at the side of the woods at the foot of Foel Fawr. I was hoping that I might get an early Chiffchaff, unfortunately nothing doing. But I did see two pairs of smart little Goldcrests. I also saw one this morning during our Wednesday Walk at Ynys-hir.

more Willow Tits

I've been out searching/re-searching sites for Willow and Marsh Tits. Two Willow Tits were at Waun Garthenor, the little Woodland Trust reserve between Cockshead and Llanio yesterday and today I located another just off the Stags Head-Llangeitho road. This was a new site for me and one which I've searched several times before without luck. A good time of year to count Treecreepers. I counted 8 at six different locations. I've also been trying to spot a Goshawk over Long Wood without having to leave the comfort of my garden but alas I'm just too far away and distant dots frequently remain just that.

ABERYSTWYTH'S STARLINGS

The evening gathering really is a must-see spectacle. The whole roost flock of countless thousands is still tending to circle low over the sea-front for 40 minutes or so before they all descend under the pier.

Yesterday their relatively leisurely displays were interupted by a Peregrine which came in low from the sea and the whole flock condensed into a solid black mass of birds just above us. An amazing sight and sound. If you have not been to see them, you must!

(Get there by about 5.30pm)

Hi All
Cors Caron WeBS count on Monday - this includes the Teifi South of the NNR down to Pont Goch on the Lampeter road:
Mute Swan 9, Greylag 18, Canada Goose 138, Dark Bellied Brent 1 (bit of a surprise!), Pink footed goose 1 (also a bit of a surprise!), Mallard 46, Teal 98, Wigeon 117, Goosander 2, Tufted duck 14, Cormorant 5, Moorhen 4, Snipe 3, Curlew 8, Lapwing 6, Green Sandpiper 1, Redshank 2, Heron 6, Little grebe 2, Herring gull 2, Lesser black back 1, Black headed gul 2 and still a ring tail harrier about.
Andy Polkey

Tir Sisial, Llanrhystud

1st Chiff Chaff of the year singing at 7am this morning. Dippers and
Mallard are very active on the River Wyre, although the latter generally
nest up on the valley slopes. Still flocks of 1-200 Siskin/Goldfinch
feeding on Larch. Flocks of 100+ Jackdaws at dusk. GS Woodpeckers
drumming. Calling Crossbill and Redpoll.
Dippers were also vocal on the Wyre down in Llanrhystud, where another
Mistle Thrush was also gathering nesting material whilst emitting a very
strange staccato call I'd not heard before...

Keith Burdett

Brambling

I've had Brambling in the garden (Pontrhydfendigaid) since early January and numbers have slowly grown to a current 5 birds (3m). Also noticed a pair of mistle thrush collecting dried grass and depositing it into the cruck of a beech tree just 30m from the house

Andre Marsh

Wheatear

One male wheatear in the fog at Llanon this afternoon (Monday 12th.)

Arthur Chater.

NEWS FROM ELSEWHERE

After the breeding season, some of the Mediterranean Gulls which visit our coast come from Belgium. 1000 or more are already back at their breeding area at Antwerp.

From the Essex Recorder: 'our' Glossy Ibis has settled in a small horse paddock near Maldon which is supplying a constant supply of worms!

sand martins

4 above Teifi river near Cilgerran but def in Ceredigion!

sand martins

Turnstones

Ten Turnstones bathing in rock pools opposite Old College at lunchtime today (Sunday).
Pete and Jenni Hyatt

Field Trip on Saturday

I'm wondering if anyone can give my wife and me a lift from Aberystwyth on Saturday?

Daniel

--
=======================================
Dr. Daniel Burgarth

Institute of Mathematics and Physics
Aberystwyth University
Physical Sciences Building
SY23 3BZ Aberystwyth

Email: daniel@burgarth.de
Mobile: +44 (0) 79 1548 2210

LLYN EIDDWEN

Late yesterday afternoon Chris Bird counted an amazing 28 Tufted Ducks on the lake. The 2 Whooper Swans are still there.

Gulls galore

An afternoon of gulling produced 10 Med Gulls at Llanrhystud with single Meds at Llanon, Aberaeron and New Quay. A striking white 2nd winter Iceland Gull also at New Quay amongst the hundreds of Herring Gulls feeding below the fish factory. Sadly no sign of the Ring-billed at Cardigan but the day ended on a high with a cracking biscuit coloured 1st winter Glaucous Gull in with the roosting large gulls at the Teifi estuary.

Cross Inn woods Shrike

Great Grey Shrike still there this morning. Lovely warm day, tadpoles swimming in the puddles and newts filling themselves up on them. I wonder when the shrike will decide that winter is over and it is time to return to the North? I think about 3 years ago it stayed until 2 April.
Good to see a pair of stonechats as they have not been very visible recently.

Shortie, Ynyslas

Short-eared owl hunting over the golf course at Ynyslas as light faded this evening and 9.00 last night.

WHOOPER SWANS

Yesterday there were 2 adult Whooper Swans with 3 youngsters on Blaenpentre farm pond at Trisant. The mist here was even worse today but it did not look as if they were still there.

I wonder if they were the family of 5 which had been seen at Ystrad Caron and Cors Caron this winter and are now beginning their return to Iceland. Wonderful to think they left the breeding grounds at the end of last summer, spent the winter here and are now still together and facing the long flight back.

GULLS

Just before 3pm this afternoon Chris Bird was watching a first winter Iceland Gull which was offshore at Aberaeron.
Earlier he noted 4 adult Mediterranean Gulls on the meadow by the beach car park at Llanrhystud.
(Cant have the Teifi getting all the decent gull sightings!)

March Field Trip

A reminder to you all that the March field trip will be next Saturday the 17th
at LLangranog. Red will be helping us in a search for spring migrants. Full
details can be found in the field trips section of the web site. I look forward
to seeing plenty of members there and hope that we will be blessed with some
suitably spring like weather.

Elaine Izett

Ring-billed Gull - Teifi

The 2w Ring-billed Gull back at Priory Bridge in Cardigan(Ceredigion).
There from 0730, still present 1300.
Chiffchaff singing on the Reserve.

Short-eared Owl

A pair of Short-eared Owls on private land at Cwmystwyth.


Tony Ware
Freelance Photographer

Glossy Ibis

Of interest to all who saw 8J9 in Borth-he's been photographed down in ESSEX yesterday!!!

Sightings from Angie & Andy Polkey

Lovely to hear 2 bullfinches calling against each other at Denmark Farm this week. They were in the scrub either side of the tarmac path where the trail begins - this area is particularly rich for breeding birds by the way.

There's also a chance to see Denmark Farm's ponds this Saturday afternoon as part of the Big Spawn Count. See web site for details and to book a place www.denmarkfarm.org.uk

Angie Polkey

Red-throated Diver

I was looking for an early Wheatear this afternoon at Tanybwlch (not successfully) when I spotted this Red-throated Diver quite close in. I got really good views of it fishing up and down along the shore. It made my day.

Steffi Meier

starlings, Aber

Another good display on Tuesday night, again thanks to a peregrine.