Nanteos

Yesterday Chris visited Nanteos and noticed an unusually large number of birds on the.park.  He did a count and came up with an incredible total of 87 Meadow Pipits and also 22 Pied Wagtails.
On the lake at least 12 Moorhens were gathered at the far end.

Both-eared Owls near Ynyslas

Last night whilst ringing waders at Ynyslas I caught a female Short-eared Owl that has been hunting the high-tide roost at the point since at least 24th January and may have been the same one seen in the dunes opposite the caravan park in December.

Last week I also caught this Long-eared Owl whilst ringing Woodcock near Llancynfelin.



Hopefully neither will be taken out to dine by an Eagle Owl!!

PENDAM LAKES

   This afternoon I started off at Llyn Blaenmelindwr: a pair of Tufted Ducks, a pair of Mallard, a Cormorant and a Grey Heron.

   Then Llyn Rhosgoch: 1f Goldeneye, followed by Llyn Syfydrin: 2f Goldeneyes, 2 pairs of Mallard and 3 pairs of Canada Geese.

   Finally Llyn Pendam where Helen and Gareth were looking at the male Ringed-necked Duck. Also a pair of Tufted Duck and a pair of Mallard and we heard a Crossbill. Icy cold up there with snow on some nearby hill-tops.

   Then, heading for Ponterwyd and after about a mile a Merlin flew off from a roadside post. It settled some way away and plucked and ate its prey, probably a Meadow Pipit. I managed a digi-scoped shot just for the record:

Little Gull, south beach

One of the little gulls still present on south beach today.  The bird was moving between the southern end of south beach and the harbour entrance, accompanying black-headeds.  No sign of a second bird though.  Also, checked for purple sandpipers shortly after highest point of tide and no sign of these, either on the wall or rocks adjacent to the pier.  Twenty or so turnstones there.  Nothing else apart from a grey heron out to sea, fighting its way in to the wind.

Chris Forster Brown

Ring-necked Duck update

Chris confirmed Ring-necked Duck still present on Llyn Pendam this afternoon, exactly three months since he first found it there.

Aberystwyth Gulls

After a phone call from John I hurried to Aberystwyth for the Little Gulls.  Birds still showing well and John joined me for a while.
Later I decided to check the gulls on College Rocks and found at least 25 Common, nine Lesser Black-backs, four Great Black-backs and a Med Gull with the Herring and Black-headed, plus a Shag and a passing Grey Seal.
Then it was back to South Beach, only to find Chris Bird with John and Sheila Gettings, who I hadn't previously met.

LITTLE GULLS

  Another year tick from the lounge today:  2 imm. Little Gulls just off South Beach, Aberystwyth, 1pm.

 Digi-scoped later this afternoon, between meeting Harry and then Chris, John and Sheila, making it a really good afternoon.

Llanrhystud

Not fresh and bracing. Raw and unpleasant. The only birds of note were 2 Med Gulls (one in breeding plumage, the other nearly so) and a single Knot. As I walked along the shoreline waiting for spring to arrive, I thought about something I read last week in the WOS bird report. A Whimbrel was ringed in May 2012 at Llansantffraed. Six years later it was taken by an Eagle Owl. Not taken out for a spot of lunch. Eaten.

ABERYSTWYTH

  At last, another year tick: a Kittewake in the harbour with several Black-headed Gulls early this morning.
  Remains very stormy here!

Ynyslas

A typical winter collection of waders on the falling tide this morning: ca400 Golden Plover, 15 Dunlin, four Ringed Plovers and six Oystercatchers on a sandbank near the tern posts, and  24 Curlews  over by the Leri mouth.
There was a single Redshank again on the flood by the approach road, which itself is seriously flooded.  I think if we have much more rain the beach will become inaccessible.

Herons and Green Woodpecker

The Lovesgrove heronry is starting again. Approx 5 herons there on Sunday.

Green Woodpecker called again on Friday in Ystumtuen but still can't find it! 

Matt Potter

Llyn Eiddwen. etc.

Chris had a sparse haul of three Goosanders and a Tufted Duck on Llyn Eiddwen on Sunday afternoon. A scan through the Black-headed Gulls in South Bay, Aberystwyth yesterday produced a Kittiwake.
Chris also tells me that he has heard of Little Owl(s) near Llandre, which he intends to check out as he is friendly with the landowner.

Cwm Einion

More crossbills yesterday with a flock of 5 feeding in larches above Ty'n y cwm. The slopes on the south side of the valley up towards Pemprys produced peregrine, and a single snipe. 30 fieldfares were on the ffridd at Pemprys on Saturday.

Nant yr Arian

A rare visit to Nant yr Arian this afternoon.  On the lake were a Coot, two Moorhens, two Goosanders and 13 Mallards.  Perhaps the floods have provided an abundant food supply for our local Red Kites as my best count at feeding time was around 60. Otherwise, a Peregrine flew down the valley and it was nice to see several Greenfinches on the feeder.

Pendam Lakes, etc..

Chris Bird found the Ring-necked Duck still present on Llyn Blaenmelindwr this afternoon, along with a pair of Tufted Ducks. Up the road on Llyn Syfydrin were two female Goldeneye.
He ended up on the prom and counted Six Purple Sandpipers coming to roost in the fading light.

CWM RHEIDOL

  This morning: a pair of Goldeneye on the reservoir near the dam and 2 pairs of Goosander upstream. Otherwise just a pair of Teal, 2 pairs of Mallard, a Dipper and a Grey Wagtail.

Time travel

Very little wildfowl to be seen. At Pont Gogoyan, apart from 4 Goosander, just a handful of Wigeon (sometimes a hundred or more). Likewise at Maes Llyn pool-not a dickie bird.  I also went to Cors Caron on Sunday, when the water levels were very high, waves lapping against the boardwalk. Comparing the views from the bog hide to the pictorial display inside, suggested we had travelled back in time to the "reed swamp age," 7500 years ago. This impression was reinforced when I saw what appeared to be a primitive hunter gatherer lurching towards me, but was in fact the highly esteemed editor of the Ceredigion Bird Report. Arfon told me about the large flock of Stock Doves he had seen. I did not see them then but did today, at Llanio, at the Stags Head turnoff. I counted approximately 330 along with about 50 Linnets.

Forestry birds Cwm Einion

A couple of hours in extreme weather yesterday afternoon at the top of Cwm Einion. Highlight a  flock of 60 chaffinches and a single brambling feeding on one of the tracks up. Breeding crossbills at one sight with singing and alarm calling male, and then in different location 3 birds, and another singing male. Open moor on the edge of the forestry had a reed bunting and 2 meadow pipits.

Green Woodpecker

Green Woodpecker heard again in Ystumtuen, this time very close to the house. I went outside to see if I could see anything and thought I may have caught a very brief albeit binocular free sighting! I'll keep looking!

Matt Potter

Coastal Moorhens

Chris found a Moorhen today at Clarach Bay where the river Clarach  runs under the footbridge.  Also Llinos Spenser told him there was one on the Ystwyth  near the sheds yesterday: probably the bird that was seen in the harbour.

ABERYSTWYTH MARINA

There was a Moorhen in Aberystwyth marina this afternoon
John  Woodruff

I opened John's message this morning which follows last week's report from Chris of a Great Crested Grebe in the marina, another common bird but hardly ever seen there. Must be the weather.

Aberystwyth gulls

This afternoon Chris picked out an adult Kittiwake from among the many Black-headed Gulls in South Bay.  Later he found an adult Med Gull and two colour-ringed 1st w Black-headed in the roost. By that time the light had faded so he was unable to read the numbers.

ARCTIC SKUA

  At last, having been scoping the sea daily from my lounge during this stormy period, something to report.

   Around midday once again I was going through the numerous Black-headed Gulls which were just off South Beach, Aberystwyth when a dark type Arctic Skua appeared, almost filling my scope view. The Gulls scattered and the Skua headed towards the castle and was lost to view behind the life-boat station.

Winter visitors

Chris braved the weather to visit his local lakes this afternoon.  Just five Goosanders on Llyn Eiddwen and 10 Lapwings near Llyn Fanod, then a search through Chaffinches eventually produced a female Brambling.
Also in the Llyn Fanod area, a flock of around 40 Redwings and later, accompanying a large flock of Starlings were ca 70 Fieldfares.

TURNSTONES

36 on the beach by Aberystwyth castle this morning.
(Just had to report something during this awful period!!)

216 Stock Doves

 A flock of 216 Stock Doves in a field of roots near Tregaron yesterday.

Arfon Williams

Bonxie at Ynys-hir

Ynyslas on the rising tide produced two pale-bellied Brent Geese, 215 Golden Plover, 25 Dunlin, a Turnstone and a Red-breasted Merganser.
I carried on to the Glandyfi layby, where the first bird I saw was the Smew, drifting upriver on the tide, along with a pair of Goldeneye.  Soon afterwards a commotion among some Herring Gulls over the other side of the saltings near the railway line attracted my attention.  Scanning through them I picked out a Great Skua, which then dropped onto the river right in the corner of the first bend.  The weather soon closed in but I could just about make out the bird in the gloom.  Eventually it got up and flew off downriver.  Soon afterwards Dick turned up and my heart sank when I realised I'd forgotten to text him.  He was very understanding and accepted my apologies. 

Pale-bellied Brent Geese

Cwm Einion

Day started well with a brambling calling and then singing briefly,  and then a merlin  over Furnace.
Not so good later when I saw Harry Pepper in Glandyfi lay-bye to be told I'd just missed a bonxie and a smew!

Ring-necked Duck

Chris tells me that the Ring-necked Duck was back on Llyn Pendam yesterday.  Must be worth a drive up there for anyone who hasn't seen it yet.

Green Sandpiper

Green Sandpiper off the Domen Las hide from the Glandyfi lay by yesterday afternoon.

Andy James

Teifi - Cardigan: Patch railings

Apart from the usuals on the estuary flats there was a very sprightly Greenshank giving any redshank that came close a hard time yesterday afternoon (12/2/20) (SN16634822).

There was also a single greenshank, same place (same bird??)  24/1/20.

+2 Little Egret, and 19  Lapwing before hail stopped play.

Richard Williams

Cwm Einion

A single brambling today at Pandy (lower Cwm Einion).
Other good sightings recently were a kestrel on 10th, hunting over the south side of Foel fach, and a dipper on 3rd on the Einion. This is the first I have seen here for over a year.

COLOUR-RINGED GULLS AT ABERYSTWYTH

 Last week Chris noted two more colour-ringed Gulls on College Rocks. One was Black-headed Gull, White 2042, ringed as a pullus on 10th June last year on Lough Ree, County Longford, Republic of Ireland to the north west of Dublin.

 Here is the info. received from Brian Burke:

  We're really thrilled to get this sighting - the first of our Black-headed Gulls to be seen outside Ireland! We've had a few resightings on the east coast of Ireland - more than we expected - so it's great to have one from across the Irish Sea! Please pass on our thanks to Chris, and let us know if anyone sees 2042 again.

   Our ringing project is based in the midlands of Ireland on Lough Ree (which translates from Irish as the ‘Lake of Kings’). Black-headed Gulls nest across several islands on Lough Ree, forming the largest breeding meta-colony in the Republic of Ireland. We colour-ringed 298 pulli across three islands in June 2019 as part of this project, which is a collaboration between local ringers and National Parks and Wildlife Service staff.

  Chris' other gull was more typically a Mediterranean Gull and one with a long history. White 3E71 was ringed in its third calendar-year in June 2005 near Antwerp.  Until December 2015 it was frequently seen near Antwerp and outside the breeding season in Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion.

  The bird then lost its colour ring but wearing its original little metal ring, it was recaptured at the Antwerp colony in May 2017 and ringed as White 372A. It then continued its commuting between there and Pembrokeshire, again often seen by Sam Baxter and others and in Ceredigion by the usual suspects including myself.

Aberystwyth harbour

Four Med Gulls in the harbour today; three adults and a 2w.  Also sheltering from the storm was a Great Crested Grebe, probably the bird which has been in North Bay recently.
A pair of Mute Swans still on Nanteos Pool.

Chris Bird

Redwings

A flock of 25 Redwings has just flown past my window and settled in trees across the valley.

Television birding

A few minutes ago I was watching a report of the storm on BBC Breakfast from  Aberystwyth prom when two Purple Sandpipers fluttered up into the air behind the reporter.

PS.    Having just read the Radnor blog, I'm glad to see that Kev Joynes saw the same news report.
(Added Mon eveining)

Re: 2018 Ceredigion Bird Report

If anyone would like me to send them a copy of the Report send me a cheque (made out to A Williams) for £7 and include a postal address.  My address is Abernaint, Ffarmers, Llanwrda, Carmarthenshire, SA19 8JR

Arfon Williams

Teifi Marshes

A number of different birds seen yesterday at The Welsh Wildlife Centre, but highlights were 3 Black-tailed Godwit and a Shoveler.

Shoveler

Black-tailed Godwit

Paul and Lesley Taylor

Wildfowl

Yesterday,  2 long-tailed ducks at Ynyslas and a female Velvet off Borth

Arfon Williams

2018 Ceredigion Bird Report

The 2018 Ceredigion Bird Report is now available at Ynys-hir and NatureQuest in Aberystwyth market hall.  Hoping to get copies down to the Teifi this weekend.

Arfon Williams

RSPB Ynys-hir closed Sunday

Due to an amber warning for strong winds and the fact that the reserve has much woodland the RSPB Ynys-hir reserve will be closed to all on Sunday 9th February for safety reasons. Many apologies.

Nant yrArian

So we failed again with Mr RNduck: why doesn't he like us???

Oh well, back to Nant yr Arian for a drink and then some consolation with the Kites-so common these days and thus much neglected! Loadsa Goosanders too: they seem to like there and L'dod lake!

Llansantffraed

As I arrived at the coast this morning someone was walking along the bay so there were no waders in evidence, until a flock of ca30 Lapwings took off from the point, followed soon afterwards by at least 40 Curlews. The only others were nine Redshank and five Turnstones which flew onto the beach later.
A short stop at Llanrhystud on the way produced only a single Med Gull.

Whooper Swans

2 on Llwyernog pond, Nant yr Arian yesterday afternoon with 11 tufted ducks.

Eryl Selly

That Ring-necked Duck

In an attempt to get a decent photograph of the ring-necked duck I went up to the Pendam lakes yesterday afternoon and again today. I believe it was on Pendam about 3.30 pm yesterday. This morning it wasn't on Pendam when I arrived (or so I thought) but when I had another look about an hour and a half later it was there, with a pair of mallard; I suspect it just goes into hiding somewhere. In the meantime I had checked all the other lakes without seeing it. Most of the other ducks on Blaenmelindwr yesterday had disappeared, leaving only one male tuftie and a female goldeneye. (yesterday at least 8 mallard and 2 male tufties). I left Pendam this morning with it roosting at the edge of the lake (the far end) with the mallards. No I didn't get the photo. It still seems very wary.. I can see now that it clearly is a 100% ring-necked.

Jerry Moore

Revisited Ring Necked duck yesterday  in much improved weather. Duck had moved to Llyn Pendam, but due to lovely light it was plain to see how it gets it name.

Meurig Garbutt

Ynyslas

A short visit this cold and sunny morning.  On the estuary the highlight was a male Red-breasted Merganser.  A wet area of the turn car park attracted 15 pipits (mostly Meadow, a few Rock) four Pied Wagtails and a Skylark, and on the sea, apart from around 60 Common Scoter were just two Red-throated Divers. Finally, 14 Sanderling were on the beach.

P.S.
Thanks John.  I was thinking of going to Cors Caron tomorrow: will probably try Llanrhystud instead.

CORS CARON

  There were 220 Wigeon grazing beside Maesllyn this morning, a good number when looking back at recent Bird Reports.
   From the boardwalk there was a flock of 21 Reed Buntings, and that was it!

Obituary

I just wished to reiterate John's remarks about the obituary for Peter Davis written by Tony Cross. For  myself, having never known Peter Davis or known much about him, it was both very interesting and, dare I say it, enjoyable.

Around mid and north Ceredigion

Highlights from around mid and north Ceredigion today. 20+ Fieldfare between Llyn Fanod and Llyn Eiddwen. Later a Bar-tailed Godwit seen from the Glandyfi lay by. A Water Pipit on the Cletwr. An hour out on the Dyfi finally produced a male Red-breasted Merganser and two female Long-tailed Ducks. The day ended with a lot of activity already coming from the Heronry at Cors Caron.

Andy James

New Quay

A gathering of auks again today with hundreds on the water including this ‘tight’ group of razorbills. There was also a group of kittiwakes on the water. A female stonechat was taking advantage of a good midge hatch. A flock of nine reed buntings still present near the lookout.

Stonechat

Razorbills

Viv Evans

Water Pipit - Teifi estuary

A Water Pipit at the outflow by Swallow Boats this afternoon, the regular location for the species on the Teifi estuary, Cardigan.

No Ring neck!

Promise of calm and sun drew us to Blaenmelindwr...EMPTY! Apart from a Heron and Little Grebe-just our luck as the lake was like a mirror. Tried Pendam -nogo-such is birding!

Off to Aber and no Redstart on the college-at least we saw 20+ Turnstones under the pier and another Heron out on the rocks.A lovely stroll round however and finally, a spot of luck on the end of the old stone pier : a solitary Purple Sandpiper ; the first one that has deigned to pose for me this winter.

On the way home in Cwmystwyth, 100+ Fieldfares at Tyllwyd farm with Starlings.

CROSS INN FOREST

  At least one pair of Crossbills gave me the run-around this morning, flying noisily but unseen overhead.  I finally caught up with them, got three separate views and was able to digi-scope the female:

   Other birds seen in the relatively small area I covered included a pair of Stonechat and several Bullfinches. I heard Lesser Redpolls and also Willow Tits from two separate locations.

PETER DAVIS

  A really good obituary for Peter Davis, written by Tony Cross and impressively and appropriately comprehensive, is in the current edition of 'British Birds'.

(Tony, would it be possible, if you wished, to give it wider coverage, including here?)

Marsh/Willow Tit separation

The other day Gary Reynolds sent me a photo he'd taken at Cilgerran of one of the above asking if I had any views on its id. The picture was great but alas without any sound my own field skills were too limited to help. An article in British Birds magazine in 2014 states; numerous identification criteria have been proposed in the past 50 years, based primarily on information gained of birds in the hand, although none are judged to be wholly reliable. The best separation feature for birds in the field is considered to be voice, yet the vocal repertoires of both species have not been fully documented.
  This morning I went for a wander along Nant Brynmaen near Stag's Head. Arriving at a ribbon of mature woodland (marked on 1:25000 map) I came across a pair of the above. But which? They were calling very loudly at close range but I just did not recognise the call. Lack of pale panel in the wing suggested Marsh but it was not until after about 5 minutes that they changed their tune, frequently repeating the distinctive "pitchuu" call (Marsh Tit). Immediately upstream of here, stretching for a kilometre or so, are numerous fields, marked on the map as bracken, heath and rough grassland, but now rapidly reverting to willow/birch scrub. Five singing Willow Tits responded to the RSPB playback device that I was using. However, my views of each were far from perfect and without the magic machine I would have struggled to locate and identify any of these birds I think.

Ring necked duck now on Lyn Pendam

Ring-necked Duck

Took a trip up to Llyn Blaenmelindwr today 4/2/2020, and had lovely views of the Ring-necked Duck. Though always a bit too far away in very poor weather the Neck ring is beginning to show nicely. Also present were 4 Tufted Duck, 4 Mallard, One Grey Heron, One Little Grebe and numerous Crossbills were heard in the area.

Meurig Garbutt

Meurig's photo shows how the duck has matured into an adult male since Chris Bird found it 10 weeks ago on nearby Llyn Pendam.

Around the lakes

On Saturday there were three Wigeon, at least eight Moorhens and five Little Grebes on Nanteos Pool.  Later, five Mediterranean Gulls in the roost at Aberystwyth.
Yesterday on Llyn Eiddwen, 18 Wigeon and a female Shoveler, with four Goosanders over on Llyn Fanod.

Chris Bird

Llyn Blaenmelindwr

Ring Necked Duck still on Llyn Blaenmelindwr. Very close in with a few mallard. 9 Tufted Ducks also on the other side of the lake.

Male Merlin too by the windfam in Ystumtuen.

Matt Potter

Talybont/Staylittle

Walking about near Talybont/Staylittle this morning there were two great spotted woodpeckers drumming. More unusually perhaps, a snipe flew out of a very wet ditch near the road beneath Allt y Crib

Dave Thomas

Falcons

Female Merlin still present at Llanrhystud. On the way home, a male Kestrel along the back road between Talsarn and Betws Bledrws, seemed more unusual.