I went down to the coast yesterday to cover two sections for the
Non-Estuarine Waterbird Survey (NEWS). Fairly quiet overall but it made me walk
along a section of coast where I don't usually go. On the banks of the Afon Wyre
in Llanrhystud two very photogenic Redshanks and a Dipper. It was also
interesting to watch a Carrion Crow which, over the course of at least an hour,
flew up in order to repeatedly drop and crack shells on the rocks below, while
the Herring Gulls gave a Grey Heron a good chase. Turnstone camouflage is truly
amazing, I virtually stepped on them before I saw them. One ringed bird with a
metal ring (see picture) but not clear enough to read (I was surprised to see
the ring so high up on the bird's leg). Aberaeron South Beach was firmly in the
talons of a large group of Rooks but there were also nine Oystercatchers, also
including a bird ringed with a metal ring but too far away to get a clear
picture. On Saturday, a male unringed Black Redstart was showing well along the
rood of the Old College. The Pied Wagtails gave it some trouble and repeatedly
chased it away towards the Castle.
Silke Einschuetz