Ring-necked Duck

The Ring-necked Duck was on Llyn Pendam again this afternoon, accompanied by a pair of Mallard.  No Whooper swans on Pond Lywernog but 4 on Penycefn pool, above Penrhyncoch on the Bontgoch road. Also a pair of Wigeon here.

All quiet at Glandyfi

I spent 40 mins in the lay-bye this morning. Generally very quiet, and no raptor sightings at all.
Highlight was 2 crossbills and a couple of redpolls overhead. 24 curlew and 7 oystercatcher were the only waders. other sightings included 5 goosander, 2 little grebes and 6 little egrets.

Slavonian Grebes

Scanning the sea from Castle Point this morning I noticed a small black and white bird on the water, which on closer inspection turned out to be my first Slavonian Grebe here for quite a few years.  Then about 20 yards away, another one.  The first bird then got up and flew to join the other one.  As I was watching them a passing diver distracted me, after which I couldn't find them again.
That was the highlight of a session which also included a Gannet, nine Red-throated and one Great Northern Diver and a Greylag Goose.
Three Purple Sandpipers in the roost and 13 Turnstones on the stone breakwater at the point.

Turnstones

Typical view of a Purple Sandpiper

Borth and Ynyslas

In the high tide roost at Ynyslas point this morning were 95 Dunlin, 37 Knot and five Grey Plover.  At least 12 Sanderling also there when I arrived but they flew off before I could count them.
I had a very similar count of Common Scoter from the turn car park to the WeBS count, plus another 90 off Borth.
Also on the sea off the north end of Borth were three Brent Geese (I wonder if these were the birds seen on the WeBS count), plus a female Velvet Scoter, a Great Crested Grebe and three Red-throated Divers.

Whooper Swans

Thursday: There were 6 whooper swans on Llywernog lake (still there this morning), plus a pair of coot, 5 tufted and a little grebe. On the Nant yr Arian lake 13 goosander, 12 mallard, and 3 moorhen. The mallards have started joining in the with the kite feed, a bit unusual?

Andre Marsh

Whooper Swan and Kestrel

Saturday 23rd 16. 00. A single Whooper Swan at Ty Gwyn pools and approximately 400 Mallard (difficult to count since birds constantly flying in and flying off elsewhere). Prior to that a fairly dark and dismal walk round Cross Inn produced four Goldcrests, a Willow Tit and numerous Coal Tits (10). 

Wednesday 27. A kestrel over Aberaeron harbour. 

A Marsh Tit on the feeders yesterday morning, 28th (outskirts of Aberaeron). 

Ian Harrison

WeBS and some geese

Tom Kistruck counted the Clettwr section of the Dyfi WeBS count today and saw 19 Greenland white-fronted geese and a bean goose with the flock. To avoid any disturbance issues, if birding down the Clettwr please keep to the public footpath and avoid breaking the skyline too much.
At the Leri section were three brent geese and there were three velvet scoter with 480 common scoter from the brick-house.
At RSPB Ynys-hir 578 barnacle geese was the highlight.

Aberystwyth prom

There was a black redstart (female/juv) on the beach at the Consti end of the prom this morning. Other sightings from the prom included a purple sandpiper on the sea wall below the castle, plus 8 turnstones, and a heron on college rocks.
 
Aline Denton and Chloe Griffiths

Ynyslas

I took a stroll around the Ynyslas area this morning whilst the tide was high. There were plenty of waders at the North Point including over 100 oystercatcher, a good mix of sanderling, golden plover, dunlin, turnstone, curlew and ringed plover plus at least ten grey plover. Not much on the Estuary but over on Ynys Tachwedd fields were 100 plus golden plover, similar numbers of Canada geese with a goodly smattering of curlew and lapwing.

Dave Thomas

Ring-necked Duck update

Still present on Llyn Pendam this afternoon. But never nearer than 100 yards.

Meurig Garbutt

Ring-necked Duck

It was pretty misty when I arrived at Llyn Pendam around 9.30 but the Ring-necked Duck was there and I had reasonable views.  Andre Morgan turned up soon afterwards and had good enough views to nail it before the mist intensified and enveloped everything.
I decided to  hang on after Andre left but it was after 11.00 before the weather cleared and  the bird became visible, eventually showing well and at fairly close range..  I would say it's a 1st w male, judging by the plain dark head and breast.
No sign of the Goldeneye so before leaving I drove up to Llyn Syfydrin and there was------a female Goldeneye.
Crossbills were calling early on and I got good views of a feeding male.  A flyover Sparrowhawk was one of the few other birds seen.

Llanrhystud

A solid sort of a morning.
BH Gull 600, Med Gull 2, Common Gull 40, RT Diver 1, Curlew 90, Oystercatcher 24 inc leucistic, Turnstone 18, Redshank8, Lapwing 33, Wigeon 5.

RING-NECKED DUCK

  Late afternoon found me watching a very obliging f/imm Black Redstart on The Old College at Aberystwyth. 

  Chris rang to say he had found a Ring-necked Duck on Llyn Pendam and that I had just enough time to get up there before the light disappeared. Sheila and John Gettins happened to arrive and I drove us all up to the lake.

   Chris was still there and pointed out the duck which tended to keep company with a female Goldeneye.

    In very poor light and at some distance this is just a record shot:

Ring-necked Duck

John Davis tells me that Chris Bird has found a female Ring-necked Duck on Llyn Pendam.  Further details to follow.

Aberystwyth and Ynyslas

Six Purple Sandpipers in the roost this morning and a Peregrine on Constitution Hill, then I met up with Helen at the point.  Black-headed Gulls were heading north in good numbers, otherwise just a few of the usuals, i.e. five Red-throated Divers, six Common Scoter and a Gannet.
A Grey Plover and a Great Crested Grebe were all that turned up at Ynyslas on the falling tide, then from the turn car park at least 200 Common Scoter, through it was difficult to see anything through the rain and sea spray.

Pochard

A female pochard was on the Marian Mawr pools at RSPB Ynys-hir this afternoon ( now a local rarity). Also there were 5 gadwall (2 males, 3 females), two kingfishers and a peregrine out on the salt marsh.

Merlin at Aberystwyth

A birding lesson for me at Castle Point this morning.  In my scope was a dark bird  rapidly flying head on towards us from the north, very low over the sea.  As I was going through the probables Helen, who was standing next to me (using binoculars) announced " it's a Merlin".  She was right, and we enjoyed good views as it sped past the point.
Otherwise, single Red-throated Diver and Shag and a little raft of 24 Common Gulls.

Trinity St Davids, Lampeter

Not a bad spot. Yesterday, two stock doves flew into a tree by the brook, a goldcrest and a nuthatch. And turkey in the Sunday Carvery in the University Refectory.

The notorious tetrad J

I last came this way 5 years ago and I remember having to use secateurs and a billhook to chop my way through the public footpath. Today, on the spur of the moment I decided to investigate another nearby public path which I've not been on before. Stepping over a stile and through a hedge, a wonderful, overgrown, boggy vista materialised. Marked on 1:25000 maps as the upper part of Nant Brynmaen (SW of Stags Head), it was about a kilometre long and maybe 300m wide. The walking was difficult to put it mildly, but occasional yellow and green arrows showed that some intrepid member of the council or the ramblers maybe, had been here before me. Six Willow Tits were present at four places and I also saw 3 Woodcock and an unlikely Crossbill in a row of pines.

Aberystwyth prom

It was so dark and gloomy this morning that it was difficult to see anything out at sea, so I was pleased to see a passing Gannet and two Red-throated Divers (another one on the sea off the point).  The highlight was a female Peregrine which circled over the outer rocks before flying inland, low over the castle.
Not much around yesterday, either.  Just 10 Ringed Plovers, a Kingfisher and a juvenile Shag.
Three Red-throated Divers and a Common Scoter were all I could find offshore.

Ynyslas, etc.

Yesterday at the high tide at Ynyslas there wer 32 Dunlin, 12 Knot and 18 Golden Plover, then c460 Common Scoter off the turn car park.
A couple of checks during the week of the Portland Street Pied Wagtail roost revealed a maximum count of 68.
On Wednesday John Gettings found at least six Purple Sandpipers roosting on the sea wall.

Chris Bird

Green Woodpecker

I had a very good close-up view of a juvenile green woodpecker on a telegraph pole as I drove to work on Saturday 16th. It was just before Devils Bridge (from Pontrhydygroes) close to the community woodland. It's quite a few years since last seeing or hearing one in Ceredigion.

Andre Marsh

Binoculars for Sale

Swarovski EL 8.5 x 42.

Great bins in very good condition, still with box. £1200. Email catdecarle@gmail.com. Can deliver locally to Aber.

Caroline deCarle

Aberystwyth

Another two fruitless visits to the Old College/St Michaels for Black Redstarts this morning.  I'm obviously going at the wrong time of day.
In between I had a seawatch for an hour which proved more successful.  A total of 31 Red-throated Divers passed by (30 south, 1 north), also 11 Common Scoter, c20 auks and a Teal.  A Curlew was on College Rocks.

Pond Gorddu

A quick visit on Monday to this abandoned reservoir produced 15 wigeon and a few teal (plus moorhen and coot).  .Worth visiting for those who are in the Bont Goch/Penrhyncoch area.

Jerry Moore

Great Northern Diver on Llyn Egnant

Just a couple of sights from the Teifi Pools. Last Thursday 14th a single Great Northern diver on Llyn Egnant.

On Friday three whooper swans on Llyn Teifi who flew off towards Cors Caron, also a single cormorant. Then on Sunday a single diver on Llyn Teifi, presumably Thursdays bird still in the area. Nothing else around apart from the odd Kite and Crow.

Also on Sunday the first Woodcock this winter flushed by the dog in our field in Ffair Rhos

David Campion

Borth Bay and other WeBS counts

Highlights of Borth Bay WeBS count yesterday: 401 Common Scoter, five Velvet Scoter, one Stonechat, four Oystercatchers, 16 Sanderling, and a Kingfisher on weedy rocks near the RNLI station.  The sea was like a millpond.
Just a couple of Tufted Ducks, a Coot and a Grey Heron at Pond yr Oerfa, then at Pond Llywernog were five Coot, four Tufted Ducks and two Little Grebes.

Steve Davies

Llyn Eiddwen

Chris's Sunday afternoon visit to his local lakes produced 18 Goosanders, two Goldeneye, three Tufted Ducks and two Kestrels at Llyn Eiddwen, but nothing on Llyn Fanod.
Yesterday he saw both Black Redstarts around the Old College.

Cross Inn Forest

Highlights of a visit to Cross Inn forest yesterday afternoon were a willow tit, and a drumming great spotted woodpecker (heard and then seen – I wanted to check it wasn’t just a creaking tree!)  - this seems very early?

Aline Denton

It is very early.  They usually drum from January onwards.  I don't know for sure, but it could be for the same reason why some birds sing on calm sunny days in winter, Confused?

Black Redstart Again and Free Travel

This afternoon, the Black Redstart flew from the Old College to the church, then over the church to the back. Perching on a gutter, it flew up and down just like a spotted flycatcher, really showing its red tail. And I note from several sources that it is now classified as an Old Flycatcher, in the Muscicapidae rather than as a thrush, so Collins Bird Guide is already out of date.

I have noted that the new concessionary bus pass also includes free rail travel between Machynlleth and Pwllheli and on the Heart of Wales line (October to March), So the world is our Oyster(catcher)!!!

Congratulations to Tony Cross

Many congratulations to Tony Cross on receiving a WOS Lifetime Achievement Award, presented to him by Iolo Williams at the annual conference in Aberystwyth yesterday.  Very well deserved.  I won't go into a list of Tony's activities and achievements, but I'm sure many of us have tales to tell of coming across him in the field over the years.
Nice to meet up with some old faces at the conference as well, and to put faces to names of others.

Black Redstart

Single female/imm Black Redstart flitting round the rooftops of the Old College again late morning, viewed from the church carpark side, along with Rock Pipit, Robin and Pied Wagtails (one in song).

Ynyslas

Very little to be seen at Aberystwyth; best I could manage was 20 Turnstones.  Then to Ynyslas turn car park, where 460 Common Scoter were mostly close in, though no sign of Velvets. A Red-throated Diver on the sea and a Great Northern Diver flew north.
On to Ynyslas, where I met up with some of the people who had attended yesterday's very enjoyable WOS annual conference in Aberystwyth.  They were on a fine Great Northern Diver, over towards the Leri mouth.  Two in one morning!  The tide had pushed up two Grey Plovers and a Sanderling.
On the sea, three Great Crested Grebes and a Red-throated Diver.

Llanio/ Comins Capel Betws

5 Willow Tits this morning at 3 locations; 628577 621577 627564. Other birds seen inc plenty of Redwings, a Sparrowhawk and half a dozen Treecreepers.

Ynyslas

A late afternoon stroll around the point at Ynyslas produced a few sightings of interest. There was a solitary great northern diver in the channel near the estuary mouth; a flock of over 300 golden plover flew up the beach from the south; the usual scoter spp were offshore; a pair of chough flew over the point heading south; and on the Aberdyfi side of the river were a flock of around six swans which could well have been whoopers. Too distant and not quite enough light for a positive id.

Dave Thomas

Black Redstarts

Chris Bird has just rung me with news that he and John Gettings have been watching two female type Black Redstarts.  The birds are around St. Michael's and the Old College, but very flighty.

Cors Caron

At least 76 Greylag Geese on Ystrad Caron fields this morning.  Almost certainly more, but my view was obstructed.
As with my last visit, nothing on Maesllyn until a single Teal appeared. A couple of Fieldfares in the hedgerow.  Best birding of the day was at the north end of the bog, where I watched a ringtail Hen Harrier and a male Kestrel hunting in close proximity to each other.

Glanyrafon,Cwm Rheidol

Sightings from yesterdays walk from the industrial estate to Plascrug, finishing with a quick scan by the pier. Highlights of the morning included a water rail, 2 chiffchaffs (one near Plascrug school, the other close to  Morrisons), 30 redwing, 2 siskin and 2 redpolls.
At the pier the morning was rounded off nicely with 24 turnstone and 2 rock pipits.

Cwm Rheidol

I thought Cwm Rheidol might be more sheltered than the coast, but it didn't feel like it.  Just three Tufted Ducks and 24 Mallard on the river, a Dipper flying upstream and lots of Red Kites around.
Earlier, at Aberystwyth a Curlew went south and four Gannets north. 
First snow of the winter at home last night, but it had turned to rain by the morning.

Velvet Scoters

Two Velvet Scoters were close inshore off the turn car park at Ynyslas yesterday.

Chris Bird

Peter Davis

It is with great sadness that I have to pass on the news that Peter Davis, known to many as The Kite Man, passed away at Nevill Hall Hospital, Abergavenny, on 28th October. Peter was a true giant in ornithological circles being, at various times, warden of Fair Isle Bird Observatory, Lundy Bird Observatory and Tregaron Bog. He later became senior ornithologist for NCC in Wales and played a huge part in saving the Red Kite from extinction in Britain and received an MBE in 2006 for his services to Red Kite Conservation. He was also Ceredigion Bird recorder for a great many years and jointly wrote the Birds of Ceredigion with the late Hywel Roderick. Peter leaves a huge legacy and will be very sorely missed. 

His remains will be cremated at Gwent Crematorium, Cwmbran, Monmouthshire at 2pm on Monday 25th November, and afterwards there will be a buffet lunch at the adjacent Greenmeadow Golf Club. Attendance by those who knew him would be most welcome. There will also be a Memorial Service with internment of ashes to be held hopefully at Aberarth Church, Nr Aberaeron at a date yet to be determined, probably in the New Year which may be more convenient for many.  If anybody wishes to attend the funeral could they please contact me privately and I will let the family know for catering purposes.

Sightings from Chris Bird

There was a Goldeneye on Llyn Syfydrin last Friday, but Chris should have gone back there on Saturday when his niece found eight Whooper Swans.
At least 110 Pied Wagtails at the roost on Portland St, yesterday using two trees instead of the usual one.
60 - 80 Fieldfares by the lane to the house yesterday and hundreds of winter thrushes in the vicinity.

Chris Bird

Chris lives less than three miles from me as the crow flies and the Fieldfares and Redwings are largely absent from here so far.

Ynyslas this morning

We had a rather late start this morning, our lovely dogs didn't get their walk until about 10:45.  As we left the Turn Car Park heading north I heard the distinctive call of Chough, and sure enough three birds came into view.  Last seen heading south.

Llyn Fanod, etc.

Four Tufted Ducks on Llyn Fanod this afternoon with 20 Lapwings nearby.  Just the two Goldeneye on Llyn Eiddwen and an influx of Redwings to the Trefenter area, with hundreds of birds involved.

Chris Bird

SCOTERS and BLACK REDSTART

   Jill and I went to the brick-house at Ynyslas this morning where 350 Common Scoters could be seen and 2 drake Velvet Scoters. They were all gradually drifting north.

  From the north end of Borth prom we then saw a further 87 Common Scoters and 2 close female Velvets.  Also, 11 Sanderling.

   Chris then rang to tell us that John Gettings had seen a f/juv Black Redstart on the Old College at Aberystwyth. We looked for it without success but saw the usual Pied Wagtails and surprisingly, a Grey Wagtail on the building.

Cors Caron

A short-eared owl circling high up with a kite, before heading off to the north, was the highlight of a walk around Cors Caron this morning. On the lake, almost 100 wigeon, 40 teal, two tufted duck and a pair of gadwall. Single willow tit and redpoll from the boardwalk.

On the way home I stopped at Tynybedw (to look for pine grosbeak - without success!), where there were more redpoll including a partially albino bird with an almost completely white head.

Cwmtydu to New Quay

We were greeted by a pair of Choughs as we stepped off the Cardi Bach at Cwmtydu this morning. Then a very endearing Wheatear gave a close display 20 mins later. Several Dunnocks & another pair of Choughs rounded off a lovely walk on a sparkling day. (Please use the Cardi Bach or lose it)

 Dave Taylor

CROSSBILLS

  This afternoon there were at least 8 Crossbills just a short walk from The Arch car park (between Devil's Bridge and Cwmystwyth). We could 'scope several feeding on pine cones together with Siskins, Goldfinches and Coal Tits.

Purple Sandpipers return

Not 1, not 2, but 3 Purple Sandpipers on prom wall in front of Cor y Castell.

Helen Herbert

And about time too.  In recent years the first purp has arrived in the last week of October though during the nineties they regularly turned up in September.

Great White Egret on Cors Caron again.

Last Thursday late afternoon( Oct 31st) Steve Mcfall found a great white in one of his fields near to Cors Caron. Being familiar with the species from his world travels he was nevertheless surprised that
one should come and visit him!









Bri's photo of an earlier visitor Sept 2018

Aberystwyth prom

Helen joined me at Castle Point on a bright and chilly morning. On the rocks were 10 Ringed Plovers and two Turnstones.  90 auks, 75 Gannets and two Common Scoter went north and two Red-throated Divers were on the sea off the point.

Ducks, thrushes and rails

Goosanders now up to 17 on Llyn Eiddwen, along with two Goldeneye.  This afternoon there was a passage of Fieldfares over the workshop: at least 400 between 4.30 and 5.00, all at high level with small parties continuing overhead as it went dark.
Yesterday two Water Rails were calling at Nanteos Pool.

Chris Bird

Aberystwyth

This morning I was treated to the sight of a Kingfisher, a Turnstone and a Ringed Plover posing nicely together on a rock at Castle Point.
Two Gannets flew south.

Fieldfares

A noisy flock of at least 300 Fieldfares dropped into the bushes and trees along the lane near Chris's house today and stayed for a short time before flying off to nearby fields.

Llanrhystud

There was a large flock of golden plover this afternoon on the point between Llanrhystud lime kilns and Llansantffraed (I'd estimate at least 500). Also a kestrel above the fields to the south of the car park.
 
Aline Denton

Tregaron

A two hour walk earlier yielded 43 species, despite missing such things as Canada/Greylag Goose, Bullfinch/Goldfinch. Sadly, no Greenfinches either, on the garden feeders in town. A Goosander and a Sparrowhawk were present there however. 15 Stock Doves were at a Pheasant rearing site south of town where there were also 2 Green Sandpipers (Abercoed).

Glandyfi Sunday at dusk

Spent just over an hour from the lay-bye. Highlights on what was a fairly quiet visit were 2 green sandpiper, 1 common sandpiper, 15 lapwing, 3 mute swans and 5 goosander.  The only raptor was a single buzzard.  There was a kestrel hunting over Foel fawr during the afternoon.
There are still large numbers of fieldfare on Foel fawr ( eg 200+ this morning), with smaller numbers of redwing. On the edge of the forestry above Furnace were 7 crossbill.

Ynyslas yesterday

On a fairly low high tide were c30 Dunlin, two Knot, two Grey Plovers, a dark-bellied Brent Goose and a distant Great White Egret.
From the turn car park around 200 Common Scoter and unexpectedly, five Tufted Ducks.
Later there was a Kingfisher and two Mediterranean Gulls on College Rocks.

Chris Bird

Richard's Pipit

 News from Arfon of a Richard's Pipit seen by Mark Carter on Constitution Hill yesterday morning then possibly same bird seen by Paul Leafe at Tanybwlch.

Cross Inn Forest

No sign of a Shrike. A Goshawk was over the NW corner. 11 Crossbills, inc a fantastically close view of a group of 7, two of which seemed to be singing a little in between mouthfuls of seed.

TANYBWLCH

  No sign of the Wheatear but the Snow Bunting was still there this morning. Also quite a reasonable count of 38 Oystercatchers.

Llyn Eiddwen etc.

Chris Bird's usual Sunday afternoon visit to his local  lakes produced 12 Goosanders and the first Goldeneye of the winter on Llyn Eiddwen, with a Kestrel nearby, then another Goldeneye on Llyn Fanod.
Chris also received a report of a Little Owl calling on the outskirts of Bow Stree ton Thursday.

TANYBWLCH SNOW BUNTING

Here are some of the excellent photos taken by Michal Dulinski yesterday:

Aberystwyth

Good views of Kingfisher and c19 Turnstones on College Rocks this morning and brief  views of Willow/Chiff by Trefechan Bridge

Nigel Starnes

Blackcap

A male Blackcap in our garden this morning

Jerry Moore

SNOW BUNTING and WHEATEAR

  I went to Tanybwlch early this morning to check if the Snow Bunting was still there. Before seeing it on the track by the furthest flooded meadow, a Wheatear settled on a nearby post. It then moved onto the beach. A Few Wheatears are seen in October but very few of these summer migrants are seen in November. 

   Without my telescope I had to use just my little compact camera to get these shots:

   Michal was also there (with a proper camera!) photographing the Snow Bunting which he had originally found up on nearby Allt-wen on 26th October It moved onto the flooded meadow, more the habitat of a Water Pipit than Snow Bunting.

    His charming wife came along, armed with coffee and supplies for him. How good is that!
Later on: 29 Turnstones at Aberystwyth.

Comins Capel Betws, near Llangeitho

I always enjoy walking in this area. There always seem to be plenty of birds about. After the storm, in the bright sunshine, this was certainly the case this morning. Among the commoner fare were Willow Tits at 617575 and 617570.

Rheidol Valley Whooper Swans

Spotted 7 whooper swans on Friday in fields near the River Rheidol.  Nice to watch from the living room but about a mile away.  They are about 1 mile west of Capel Bangor in fields between the railway and the river, SN635807. Took a grainy record shot.

Jeff

Aberystwyth

Visibility was pretty poor this morning so all I could pick out offshore were three Red-throated Divers on the sea and another one flying south.
Two Kingfishers on College Rocks added a splash of colour.

Snow Bunting still at Tanybwlch

Snow bunting still showing well at Tanybwlch on the wet fields near the fence line. Wader numbers starting to build too; 30 oystercatcher, 13 curlew, with 30 teal, 3 GBB gull, B-h and Herring gulls in good numbers.

Naomi Davis

Velvet Scoters

There were two Velvet Scoters at Ynyslas yesterday afterrnoon.

Arfon Williams