A few garden birds

Making the most of the fine bright weather of Ceredigion. A few photos of some of the garden birds this morning.

WHOOPER SWANS

A pair of Whooper Swans with 3 youngsters were on Llyn Blaenmelindwr beside the Pendam Mountain Road late this afternoon.

DARTFORD WARBLER

Simon Cox reported a Dartford Warbler in scrub beside the Rheidol by the footbridge at Trefechan, Aberystwyth this morning. Also a Common Sandpiper by the river.

I joined him as soon as possible but the warbler was nowhere to be seen. However, we did see a Kingfisher and a singing Dipper.

I then went to the prom to see the 7 Purple Sandpipers. The ringed male Black Redstart was again on the Old College.



Llannon

In a field about 1km beyond Ty Gwyn pools towards the coast, there was a motley selection of Geese; 52 Greylag, 5 Pink footed and 5 maybe 6 Snow Geese. Couldn't locate the Lapland Bunting in the coastal fields south of the village but 2 Water Pipits were present along with 4 Stonechats and the leucistic Oystercatcher. Near the car park were 3 Grey Plovers and 2 Red-throated Divers.

Purple Sandpipers

Saturday morning just before mid-day and as the tide was close to turning we were lucky to see x7 skittish sandpipers on the prom wall ledge.They flew off towards the pier in the end as the tide was high. A wonderful sight in the glorious November sunshine! 

Lis Collison

A day in the sun!

If we could afford it, we would MOVE! After several days immersed in gloom we looked at the forecast and headed for Aber. As we emerged from Cwmystwyth, the sun broke through and we looked down on Aber bathed in glorious sunshine! The Black Redstart was atop the Old College ( too high for pics), but no sign of the Purp Sands-tide too high?At Ynyslas the Oystercatchers were playing golf with the Curlews and Lapwings. No sign of waders out on the point save for a few Ringed Plovers. I hear Aber has enjoyed a WEEK of sunshine!

Peregrine Peregrinations!

A talk of interest

All Welcome

Wildlife Trust South & West Wales,

North Ceredigion Group.

Monday 1^st December

7:00 pm

 Lecture Theatre C22,  Hugh Owen Building,  Penglais Campus,  Aberystwyth University.

Peregrinations: satellite tracking of migratory peregrines,

(with an update on the Welsh Peregrine Project)

by Andrew Dixon, International Wildlife Consultants, Carmarthen

Starlings and Xmas cards.

A few starlings were arriving around the pier this afternoon in the late afternoon sun but I couldn't wait to see if they built up to previous numbers.  The roost near Swyddffynnon has not appeared this year.

I did, however, see marvellous murmuration patterns in the sky on Janet Baxter's cards for sale in the Craft Fair at the Arts' Centre open until Xmas and worth a visit.
And as Xmas has now been mentioned Nant Arian has stocks of Welsh Kite Trust cards featuring pictures by our own Jerry Moore and Mike Hayward, excellent value for money and worth a visit anyway at kite feeding time.

Black Redstart

The Black Redstart is still hanging around the Old School in Eglwys Fach this morning.

Black Redstart Eglwys Fach

I'm just back from a twitch - as a result of a phone call from Mervyn Lloyd I went along the road to my next door but one neighbour's house, The Old School, to look at a Black Redstart on their roof.

High Tide.

At the time of high tide this morning there were large numbers of Mallard, some Wigeon and a few Teal along the Ynyslas /Leri salting together with a dozen or so Redshank a similar number of Curlew and a lone Egret. On the Ynys Tachwedd fields as well as the usual flock of Canada Geese there must have been at least 1000 Golden Plover - impossible to count!
On the Clettwr - the resident Dipper and two more Little Egrets.

Great Grey Shrike?

Some nice birds at Cross Inn Forest this morning inc 19 Reed Bunting, 5 Crossbills, Sparrowhawk and Stonechat. I couldn't locate the recently seen Shrike. I was wondering where exactly it was seen? I checked the block where it was seen last year then went through the gate at the Tjunction and scanned the cleared area straight ahead. Finally, I looked round the area nearer the centre where they have been seen in previous years. As I stared into the pale, wintry sun every single little blob on top of every single little conifer began to look like a Shrike. Time to come home for a coffee.

Lapland Bunting

Following last weekend's 2 Twite at Llanrhystud this bit of the county came up trumps again today with a Lapland Bunting in the first stubble field to the south of the small beach car at Llanon.

Waun Garthenor

A Willow Tit was calling this morning on the Woodland Trust reserve between Cockshead and Llanio.

Cors Caron

2 chiffchaffs in the willows along the boardwalk early this morning and a male goosander on the river.
Lot of reed bunts and a few lesser Redpolls around plus marsh and willow tit near the carved arch.

Be warned:  the boardwalk is being mended/replaced so a complete circuit is not possible; this is due to finish on 28/11.
Exercise of shooting rights also closes the river walk on 29th Nov and 20th Dec plus some dates in New Year I'll post later.

Morning delivery

A Little Egret was a surprise low over the rooftops in the centre of Penrhiwllan village this morning. Love that Firecrest.

Kestrel near Aberaeron

A Kestrel over the fields near the cliffs on the way down from Ffosyffin to Aberaeron this afternoon (Thursday 20th).

Ian Harrison

Firecrest -Teifi Marsh

A Firecrest was caught on the Ceredigion side of the Teifi Marsh reserve this morning.

Having caught five Firecrests on the reserve since 2009 it wasn't totally unexpected but the big surprise was that it had a Brussels ring on it! We look forward to hearing where it was ringed.
(Teifi Ringing Group)

afternoon collection

Very approx 300 Golden Plover and 100 Lapwing at Post Bach and later very very approx 5000 Starlings east over Talgarreg.

Aberaeron

There was a little egret, 200golden plover, and 4 shelduck  from the north beach Aberaeron today 20/11/14.

David Price.

Rheidol Tawnies

I just love this time of year especially as this autumn there is evidence of at least two tawnies a male and a female calling and responding at regular intervals at dusk.

Lis Collison

Saving Welsh Nature campaign

S'mae Ceredigion birders, Welsh Government is currently consulting on its Nature Recovery Plan and last week RSPB Cymru wrote to campaign supporters asking them to write in and tell Welsh Government to put action for nature in its Nature Recovery Plan, so some of you may already have heard about this campaign. The reason for the campaign is to show Welsh Government that a large number of people in Wales care about nature and will not accept the lack of action in the proposals. For the sake of Welsh wildlife we need the Nature Recovery Plan to deliver on its promise of recovery, and for that Government is being asked for four key things: • Fully fund a plan of action that meets nature’s needs (don’t just integrate plans and policies as currently suggested) • Commit to improving our network of protected sites and priority species and habitats • Invest in gathering the scientific evidence we need to see how recovery is going (or not going!) • Enshrine in law through the Environment (Wales) Bill a strong duty for public bodies to further conservation and enhancement of biodiversity in their activities and specific targets that promise to reverse declines in nature Please help to support this campaign by writing a letter of your own and sending it to Welsh Government from your personal email account by 3 December. To find out more on how you can get the key points across visit RSPB’s blog at http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/getinvolved/wales/b/wales-blog/archive/2014/11/12/nature-needs-your-help.aspx Diolch Arfon

Merlin and Goldeneye at Ynys-hir

 Highlights of a visit to Ynyshir today were a female Merlin perched on the telegraph pole by the cattle grid to the north of the Visitor Centre and a female Goldeneye seen from the Domen Las hide.

 

Andre Morgan

THE 'WHITE' OYSTERCATCHER

This interesting-looking individual was at Llanon this afternoon. It has been frequenting the shore between Aberaeron and Llanrhystud since early 2006, but never recorded during the breeding season which it must spend elsewhere.

Ynyslas

C.B. saw 2 whooper swans flying up the estuary this afternoon, also seen up from the Leri were 5 dark bellied brent geese and 93 lapwing.

Purple Sand

A lone Purple Sandpiper on the rocks alongside the harbour wooden jetty at lunchtime today

Llangeitho

A walk from the village, down the valley, across the Aeron and back up the other side, yielded 37 species and large numbers of birds. If Corvids are your thing then this area comes highly recommended. A Kingfisher was perched next to the river, a mile from Llangeitho. A Peregrine shot overhead and I later caught up with it again perched in a tree near the village. A brief detour in to some woodland flushed a couple of Woodcock.

Tree Sparrow

Just south of Llandysul & just over the border, but great to have a tree sparrow appear in the garden this morning. It's my first one in Wales so especially pleased.

SNOW BUNTING

 I was on holiday in Llanon for a week from the 8th untill the 15th of November bird watching and walking. On the 9th Nov was walking back towards Llanon along coastal walk and see a pair of snow buntings in ploughed field .  Just found link for Ceredigion Birds on birdforum and thought I would drop you a email. Please find attached picture of male Snow Bunting .

KEV SMITH

Swans Rheidol Valley

8 ? Bewick swans flew over saturday lunchtime in the direction of Devils bridge hesitating before flying south east .

Lis Collison

Little Egrets at Llansantffraed

 

Birds seen on Llansantffraed beach this afternoon included 2 Little Egret, 3 Grey Plover and a female Sparrowhawk perched on a nearby fence post.

 

Andre Morgan

GOLDENEYES

3 Goldeneyes including a male were on Llyn Rhosrhydd at Trisant this afternoon.

LATE SWIFT

Feeding high above our house in Clarach this morning  (14^th November!) at about 8.00 am for 15 minutes – grid reference SN 599837 – drifted off west towards Clarach Bay.  Checked it with bins and couldn’t say it was anything other than a Common Swift.

Roger Matthews

Ynys-hir

The Green-winged Teal was on the Breakwater fields again this afternoon - found after much searching from Ynys Feurig hide. Also 9 Black-tailed Godwits, and another 8 on the river bank at Domen-las. The Great Northern Diver was on the river again nearby earlier (but not when I got there...!) 

Twite at Llanrhystud

Russell sent me a text message this afternoon but unfortunately I'm away from home in an area where my mobile connection is very poor.  The message, sent at 12:35 was about a Twite seen in the car park at Llanrhystud.  Let's hope it's going to hang about....

Mobile

Good to hear you are out & about again; & the time you get out is usually best time of day:-)

On the road again

With leg connected back to hip roughly as God intended and pain killers gulped down it was a joy this morning to go out birding once again. The forestry blocks way above Llanddewi Brefi were surprisingly active, with lots of common birds still around, presumably due to the mild weather. I saw several small flocks of Bullfinches feeding on young conifer buds as well as a fair number of Meadow Pipits and Reed Buntings. 6 Crossbills included a singing male. Other interesting birds included Woodcock, Stonechat and Sparrowhawk.

Pembs bird conf

I'm sorry the post below did not copy correctly but I hope you can see enough to want to go!

All the full details are on the pembs bird blog and you will be made very welcome by our neighbours as I can testify from last year's excellent conference.

PEMBS BIRD CONFERENCE

The Conference starts at 10.00am, finishing around 4.45pm; Registration from 9.30 am please. In response to feedback after last year's conference, there will be morning and afternoon coffee/tea breaks and a longer lunch break. The price for this excellent day is £15 (including lunch and teas/coffees)by cheque or cash, or £16 if paying by PayPal (to cover the PayPal charge). Concession price of £7.50 for under-18's or full-time students up to 25. To book your place print off the Booking Form HERE. Acknowledgements will be sent out by email. The Picton Centre is a single storey brick building located to the front of the County Council Buildings, and is accessed from the Freemens Way dual carriageway. There is ample parking in the County Council Office Car Park. It is only a short walk from the bus and railway stations. For a map click HERE. If you need any further information please ring 01646 636970 or email pembsbirdconf@orlandon.co.uk The conference is very kindly being sponsored by Valero. The funds generated by the conference will be used to support birding and wildlife conservation in Pembrokeshire.  

Indoor meetings take place at The Patch Community Centre, Furzy Park, Haverfordwest and start at 7.30pm.  Click map  for location. All members and non members are welcome. There is a £1 admission fee to cover the cost of teas, coffee and biscuits.

Outdoor Meetings 
Occasional outdoor meetings take place with the Mid Pembs Group of the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales and will be advertised on  the Pembrokeshire Birds Blog as well as on the Pembrokeshire Bird Group Blog, and in the Bird Group Newsletter.

Blog Archive

 Blog Archive September (1) August (5) June (1) May (1) April (1) March (3) February (3) January (2) August (1) July (1) 

Teal etc.

The green winged teal was present from the Ynys Feurig hide at RSPB Ynys-hir again today. Also there was two greenshank, a spotted redshank and a little stint with the 20 or so dunlin. On the river opposite the hide the great northern diver was fishing again and the water pipit is still on the Marian Mawr pools. Still two gadwall on Ynys Edwin pool and 14 black-tailed godwit from Domen las. A grey seal also caught a very large salmon on the river there.

EXCEPTIONALLY LATE WHIMBREL

Probably the latest ever in Ceredigion, a Whimbrel was seen by Harry Pepper yesterday morning at Ynyslas.

Great northern diver

A quick scan of the Dyfi whilst carrying out salinity readings on the saltmarsh reversion at RSPB Ynys-hir revealed a very nice great northern diver fishing quite close to the Domen las hide.

Green-winged teal

A rather smart green-winged teal was on the flooded field below the Ynys Feurig hide at RSPB Ynys-hir this morning; it may be the same bird that was there briefly at the end of May this year. Also seven greenshank on the field along with 1200 lapwing. The water pipit is still on the pools from the Saltings hide too.

Dyfi WeBS count

Highlights from the coordinated count of waders and wildfowl carried out by RSPB Ynys-hir staff on the estuary were as follows: Ynyslas section: 1 male long-tailed duck. Leri section: 1040 wigeon, 171 shelduck, 870 oystercatcher, 173 pintail and 3 greenshank. Clettwr section: 481 wigeon, 110 shelduck. RSPB Ynys-hir section: 2 gadwall, 21 little egret, 807 lapwing, 3 greenshank, 1 spotted redshank, 15 black-tailed godwit.

YNYS-HIR

Encouraged by Russell's recent posting I went to Ynys-hir at high tide this morning and started at the new hide overlooking the Breakwater fields. There were masses of birds on view including a couple of Greenshanks, the Spotted Redshank and a juv. Peregrine perched on the railway line.



I then went to the Saltings hide and eventually found the Water Pipit by the pools behind the hide, together with several Meadow Pipits.

Well worth the visit!

 

FIELD TRIP CANCELLATION

Just a reminder and apologies that I cannot lead the walk on Sunday. If you know of anyone who may occasionally attend walks and have their contact details I would be grateful if you could let them know in order to save them an unnecessary journey. Thanks. Ian

Water pipit etc.

The water pipit was again feeding right in front of the Saltings hide at Ynys-hir RSPB reserve this morning. Also this morning from the Ynys Feurig hide the high-tide pushed numerous waders onto the flooded field; this included a spotted redshank, a greenshank, 36 black-tailed godwits, 19 bar-tailed godwits, 500 plus curlew and 125 redshank. The Greenland white-fronted geese (20 in now) were feeding on Penrhyngerwin and visible from the Breakwater hide.

CEREDIGION BIRD REPORT

Sales of the 2013 Report, published in July, have meant the almost total repayment to our local Wildlife Trust of the printing cost, initially and very generously paid by them.

Some copies of the Report, price £9, are still available from the visitor centres at the Trust's Teifi Marshes Reserve near Cardigan, RSPB Ynys-hir and the Red Kite and forest site at Nant yr Arian and also from Clive Continental Menswear in Terrace Road, Aberystwyth.

The Report can also be obtained by post from me at Pant Llidiart, Trisant, Aberystwyth SY23 4RQ and cheques for £9 + £1.17 for postage should be made payable to The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales.

Thanks to everyone who have ensured that the Report remains on a sound financial footing ready for Andre Morgan to take over as Editor.

FIELD TRIP CANCELLATION

Unfortunately, I am unable to lead the walk on Sunday as I have damaged my right hip and can scarcely walk at present. Apologies to anyone who was hoping to attend. Ian Morris.

EVEN MORE BLACK REDSTARTS

This afternoon Chris met up with Brendan Sheils and others for the spectacle of 5 Black Redstarts on the Old College: the ringed male, another adult male, an imm. male and two females. Amazing!

ANOTHER BLACK REDSTART

 This morning Chris Bird noticed a male Black Redstart on the Old College at Aberystwyth. It had been ringed and we wondered if it was the bird seen there last year and the year before.

 Meanwhile, Harry Pepper was watching the Cross Inn Forest Great Grey Shrike.

Black Redstarts

 

There were two female/juvenile Black Redstarts on the Aberystwyth Old College building this afternoon, high above the main entrance. 

 

Andre Morgan

water pipit

A very nice water pipit was feeding right in front of the Saltings hide at RSPB Ynys-hir this afternoon, also 9 little grebes, two kingfishers and 14 black-tailed godwits from Domen las hide.

WOS Conference

Re lift to Ruthin next Saturday, forgot to include my phone number 01545 571022. 

Ian Harrison

Monday 3rd

C.B. had views of his first greenshank for a few years along with 1 knot, 6 brent geese, 9 grey plover all near the Leri mouth. A single purple sandpiper in Aber was also seen.

More Golden Plovers

A large flock of Golden Plover in the south of the county too. We counted over 1,000 flying south over Mwnt.
Following them, some landed in farmland near Ferwig as another downpour arrived and the rest flew towards the Preselis.

Around The Teifi estuary 6 Bar-tailed Godwit and Wigeon numbers increasing.

No sign of the Whooper Swan that Jon G found yesterday afternoon. 

Post Bach

Very approx. 400 Golden Plovers and 50 Lapwing between here and Capel Cynon, divided in two flocks.

WOS Conference - Ruthin Saturday 8th November

Lifts offered to the WOS Conference - at the moment I am on my own! Alternatively, if anybody has a spare seat from Aberaeron/Aberystwyth areas, grateful for lift!

Ian Harrison

Geese and things

A few escapees at RSPB Ynys-hir today, a cackling goose and a pink-footed goose both feeding together (they first turned up in July 2011 and have been seen together regulary since) and an Australian shelduck with the normal shelduck. Wild birds included a flock of 18 black-tailed godwits and a greenshank on the Breakwater fields, a peregrine and two kestrel and 47 little egrets roosting in trees on the Merionethshire side of the estuary.

Woodcock

Flushed the first Woodcock of the season whilst walking the dog around our woodland garden this morning.