Llangeitho birds

Hawfinch on the feeder. Fantastic. And what happened to the Golden Oriole?
To Martin who has just moved to Llangeitho; the area bounded by the village/Stag's Head/Llanio/Cockshead/Comins Capel Betws, is good for Willow Tits. Maybe 10-15 pairs. However, they are not usually roadside and require wellies and exploration of the frequently overgrown footpaths to find them. They are often easier at the little Woodland Trust reserve at Waun Garthenor which can be accessed from the A485 at 633557. Do you have grid references for the Grasshopper Warblers? I've been studying the birds within OS square SN65 for several years and they might fall within...just.

Recent Talybont Sightngs

Wanderings around Talybont of late have produced a large number of young birds - blackbird, robin, dunnock, blue tit, great tit and willow warbler to name but a few. Swallows and swifts are about but not in great numbers. There do appear to be a number of active house martin nests around the area though. A pair of pied flycatchers on the village outskirts yesterday was a nice surprise especially as they were clearly looking for insects to feed young. This morning there were six red kites following a tractor as it cut grass in one of the local fields. Strange to think that once upon a time not so long ago (and in my lifetime) that would have constituted the whole Welsh red kite population never mind one small field in Ceredigion

Dave Thomas

Furnace Hawfinch

Superb views of an adult  male hawfinch on the feeder at 11.15 this morning. Bird feeder has been teeming these last few days, mainly with finches. Small flocks of siskins and goldfinches with young, and included a pair of  greenfinches with at least 4 young.
4 crossbills over the garden on Thursday 28th was not surprising  - they've obviously had a very successful breeding season with small flocks common in forestry at Cwm einion, Nantyrarian, Pendam etc.

Llangeitho

I am new to the area having arrived just before lockdown so am limiting my sightings to walking the lanes around Llangeitho.

And don't really know what is scarce or not having moved from the north of Scotland but 3 singing grasshopper warblers yesterday was nice.

Hope to learn more and get out a bit after lockdown!

Martin Perry

The road to Cwmtydu

Yesterday we found a pair of wood warblers singing also a spotted flycatcher in the same area.

 

alan.hill

Golden Oriole in Llangwyryfon

Chris Bird has just called me to say he has heard a Golden  Oriole  singing about 200 yards from his house.
Further details to follow.

Common Sandpiper

Yesterday I found a Common Sandpiper on a shingle bank on the Ystwyth, a short distance upstream from Llanilar.  The first one I've seen there.

Pied Flycatchers

A pair of pied flycatchers on the river Aeron at Llanerchaeron, also being joined from time to time by a second male. 

Shane Jones

Little Grebes

News from Chris Bird that the Little Grebes on Maesllyn farm pond have two fully-grown young and a second brood of three which are now half-grown.
In the same area, a neighbour of Chris's was treated to a daytime fly past from a Barn Owl.

Recent sightings

At Llyn Mynydd Gorddu on Wednesday were four male tufties and one female. I wonder if three females are incubating at the moment? Also present were coot, moorhen, canada goose, mallard (quite a few males and one family with six ducklings), and little grebe. The garden warbler was still noisily present and there were a very few swallows and one house martin overhead. 

The red kites at Salem have one chick, and there is a small colony of swifts around the chapel. I found a pair of pied flycatchers feeding young yesterday.

Jerry Moore

Aberystwyth seawatch

A look at the sea before shopping this morning. The south-westerly gale had brought hundreds of Manx Shearwaters, many of them shearing past close inshore.  Lots of Gannets around too, though the highlights for me in a seabird-starved spring were two Fulmars and a party of eight Guillemots.

Nightjars etc..

Nightjars seen and heard last night in NRW forestry, with a pair on the south side of Llyn Nantycagl, and a churring male in forestry at the top of Cwm Einion. A snipe was chipping in a bog just below Llyn Nantycagl. Earlier in the day I had a pair of peregrines soaring over Foel fawr, perhaps failed breeders?

Sightings from Chris Bird

Yesterday there were three Cuckoos around the hillside by Llyn Eiddwen, with three Wheatears keeping an anxious watch.  Another two Wheatears were nearby. A Whitethroat was singing at Trefenter.
A friend of Chris's reports two Cuckoos from an area of clearfell near Bronant.

More Hoopoes?

As well as the bird Ian mentions in Dihewyd there may be others about. On Facebook (Ceredigion Birds and Wildlife) there is mention of a bird seen in Clywedog Plantation above Llanfair Clydogau. In the comments section re the Dihewyd bird, someone has also said that there was one near Newcastle Emlyn. And of course, one was reported near Aberystwyth a few days ago.

Ystwyth Valley

This morning's walk was along the old railway line from Llanilar towards Trawscoed.  I can't remember a spring with so many singing Wrens, and the usual warblers were in good voice. A light passsge of Swifts down the valley was accompanied by a few House Martins and Swallows.
I was pleased to find five Stock Doves in the surrounding fields as I see them more regularly to the west of Llanilar.

Hoopoe in Dihewid

Ian Harrison has contacted me with news of a Hoopoe in Dihewid this morning.

Grey Plover at Llansantffraed

The Grey Plover which remained behind on Llansantffraed beach after the other grey plovers left may be staying for the summer. It was at the mouth of the Peris earlier this afternoon, displaying its semi-developed breeding plumage.

A cycle ride to Parson's Bridge

I took myself off on the bike to Parsons Bridge yesterday in the sun. On the ride over towards Pendam (whose original name is Pond Pant-rhyd-ebolion, I recently learned), there was a whitethroat in full song at the "summit" (380 m or 1250 feet), then at the pond itself was a common sandpiper. At Pond Blaenmelindwr was a group of male mallard, and a bit further along a garden warbler sang by the road. It is worth noting that the areas east of Pendam and Blaenmelindwr where nightjars were regularly heard are now quite thickly wooded (natural regen) and may become unsuitable if they aren't already. There were two cuckoos quite close together at the northern edge of the forestry on Banc Craignant Mawr. Again on the forestry edge a bit further along were tree pipit and redstart and there was a scattering of stonechats all along the mountain road.

In the gorge below Parsons Bridge were dipper and grey wagtail. It looked like they both had nests nearby. In the woodland there were several pied flycatchers and wood warblers singing. A cuckoo was calling from the hill slope above the gorge on the eastern side. Finally a brimstone butterfly cruised downstream above the river.

Jerry Moore

Hobby

Chris tells me that John Gettings had a Hobby at Llangwyryfon yesterday.

Rock pipits in Aber

Young Rock Pipit

The Old College rock pipits have successfully reared at least 2 youngsters (one pictured). Male is now displaying again.

War memorial rock pipits are still a bit quiet, so assume still busy with chicks.

Naomi  Davis

Some home birds

During a lazy day at home I still managed good views of Chiffchaff, Blackcap and Spotted Flycatcher, as well as a just about annual Sparrowhawk and best of all, my first ever calling  Cuckoo from here.

Around Salem yesterday

A walk around the Salem area yesterday gave me a good selection of birds, including the following -

A spotted flycatcher and garden warbler in the pinewood near Broginin and a raven's nest there.

Redstarts and a tree pipit along the northern edge of Coed Troedrhiwseiri. There usually seems to be a big flock of jackdaws and other corvids in that woodland, even at this time of year.

A few swallows seemed to be passing through and a very few swifts.

As usual there were stock doves to be seen around Salem. 

Too many kites to even mention and a few buzzards. It is a delightful area!

Jerry Moore

Winked at by a Raven (possibly)

On my way home from the co op I called in at Falcondale Lake. A pair of Willow Tits were in the scrubby area between the lake and the main road. Higher up the lane and higher up the slope there was a pair of Marsh Tits, one of which was carrying food, perhaps to a nest. A Crossbill flew over. A man was fishing. About 50m from him a Raven was very quietly rummaging through his sandwich/bait box. I looked at the Raven. The Raven looked at me. I carried on walking and didn't let on.

Hoopoe at Llanbadarn

I've had a report from Danny Ardeshir of a Hoopoe, found by Brian Swaddling last Friday, 8th May, at a location just east of Llanbadarn Fawr.
Danny tells me he was given a convincing description of this very distinctive bird.

Glandyfi on a rising tide

Very nice flock of 19 whimbrel the highlight this morning. Other birds included a steady stream of swallows heading north, 2 little egrets and 2 male goosander.
Great lock down birding from the garden at Pandy with regular kites, up to 4 ravens, single sparrowhawk and goshawk, and garden warbler, blackcap and chiffchaff all singing close to the house. Siskins, including a few juvs, still coming to the feeder.

Beach walk Llanrhystud - Llansantffraed

This morning I came across  a scrape with two oystercatcher eggs, at the back of the shingle beach between 'the point' and Llansantffraed.
Other sightings included a mixed group of 30 Ringed Plover and dunlin, a single redshank and a group of 6 whimbrel. There were around 20 sand martins in the bank at the back of the beach near the lime kilns, plus a few passing swallows and one house martin. Also a breeding pair of stonechat in a hedge near the large shed.

Aline Denton

Long Wood Community Woodland

Lucky enough to have this wonderful site within walking distance of home. So much to see and hear again this morning except, sadly/worryingly, Wood Warblers. Only one singing in a six mile circuit, usually 6-10. Temporary compensation in the form of a Hobby which was tracking northwards along the ridge between the two hillforts.

Cors Ian

This morning at last, a Cuckoo, weeks after everyone else.  Seen and heard at close range,  as was a Garden Warbler later.

Waders at Ynyslas - Borth

At least 300 dunlin at Ynyslas at high tide the day before yesterday,  35 or more oyster catchers flying north in a single flock and lots of ringed plover in small flocks of between about 7 and 20 birds.

There are still whimbrel about between Borth and Ynyslas - 11 on the golf course this morning, 7 feeding with a group of dunlin yesterday.

One sandwich tern the day before yesterday,  but the gannet and manx shearwater activity close to shore has quitened down.

Rachael Davey

Llansantffraed

There were around 300 Gannet (rough estimate) at some distance offshore from Llansantffraed beach this morning. Two Guillemot flew south quite close to the shore. 

Swifts

Some of you will remember that last year I shared news and photographs of swifts nesting in a box on our house here in Eglwys Fach.  Today I saw a swift swoop in the right direction and when I changed location so that I could see the boxes I saw another bird enter one of the three boxes we now have on our house. 
So I'm hopeful that I will have the pleasure of watching them raise youngsters again this year.  Photographs to follow soon - I hope!

Talybont

Plenty to be seen or heard on Talybont Common this morning including cuckoo, whitethroat, garden warbler, house martins and a cruising goshawk. The latter was a very pleasant surprise.

Dave Thomas 

Brongest - Bryngwyn

I spotted yesterday a Grey Wagtail on a bridge going over the river Cerry on one of my afternoon runs with my dogs. The location being between Bryngwyn and Brongest. 

This male Sparrowhawk was photographed by a local resident recently.

Nigel Jones

Lledrod

As I was sitting outside in the sun earlier a Spotted Flycatcher flew into a nearby tree.  First appearance here on 8th May for the second year running.
Then a party of ca 15 House Martins turned up, accompanied by two Swifts.

Llangybi

A walk this morning along the lane from the golf course to the common and a bit beyond to where the road crosses Nant Meurig. Spotted Flycatcher, 2 Pieds, 12 Garden Warblers, Grasshopper Warbler, Tree Pipit, Sparrowhawk, Stock Dove and LT Tits at 4 locations. I've had Marsh Tits several times before near the golf course and last weekend my wife and I saw a pair at the top of the lane. However, the main area of deciduous woodland is the very overgrown common itself, so probably more present. Further exploration required. A lovely walk, so close to home. Wondering why I've never strolled down this lane before. It only took 14 years and a global pandemic for me to discover it!

Aberystwyth prom

Before shopping this morning I treated myself to a short seawatch.  Just like normal times as ca 190 Manx Shearwaters flitted past over a flat calm sea.  Also around 40 Gannets, a few of which were feeding off Castle Point.  Three Common Scoter also passed by.
Still five Purple Sandpipers roosting on the wall, where they were joined by 16 Turnstones.

Glandyfi

At last some birds yesterday morning from Glandyfi. Nicest was a summer plumage grey plover,  with 2 ringed plover and 4 dunlin. 1 displaying redshank over the saltmarsh. 3 male goosander, 2 common sands on the river. Singing stock dove in the castle grounds.

Ringed Plover - Not added to my list.

We decided to take our exercise and walk Buster and Dolly at Glandwr this morning.  Not far along the track beside The Leri we came upon this. 

Aberaeron Swifts

3 Swifts over Aberaeron Monday 4 May, again on Tuesday and today, Wed 6 May. 

Later than usual - normally 25-27 April. Also fewer. Of concern??

Ian Harrison

Llyn Syfydrin area

May 6th. Heard a Greenfinch wheezing as i walked through the masses of Gorse flowers in Cwmsymlog, then saw about 6 Sand Martins flitting around their nesting area by the lake & then Swallow, Wren & Pied Wag all nesting in Bwlchystyllen - all on a wonderful May Morn. However I would have expected to have seen more Swallows around by now. 

Dave Taylor

Sightings from Chris Bird

Two more Cuckoos from Chris: one near Llangwryfon and one along the road towards Abermad.
He has also been told of a Green Woodpecker in the Rheidol Valley, between Pisgah and Aberffrwd.

Talybont bits'n bobs

There was a very vocal family group of 6 or 7 ravens over Allt y Crib woods this afternoon (Weds). Swallows, swifts and house martin all seen or heard this morning as well as a couple of cuckoos. Garden warbler, wood warbler, dipper and redstart all in evidence now as well.

Dave Thomas 

Green Woodpecker

Just had good views of Green Woodpecker, Llangrannog, a couple of fields away from Urdd Camp.

Dave Haslam

Felinfach

Spotted a fly-over Cuckoo (heading north-west) yesterday evening around 7:30pm during a walk round Felinfach.
I also had a count of 12 Swifts flying high above the village post office.

Rhys James

White Wagtail at Llansantffraed

There was a White Wagtail at the mouth of the Peris this afternoon. This reminded me to record also that I'd seen 4 White Wagtail on Llansantffraed beach on 11th April.

Borth update

Whimbrel still around early this morning.

There have been more ringed plover than usual on the beach too in bigger flocks than I'm used to seeing. I guess there's just less disturbance. 

The Sandwich Terns are gone,  and gannets and Manx Shearwater haven't been showing up in big numbers over the last week though they are still about . 

My first Cuckoo of the year was calling on Cors Fochno on 26th April.

Rachael Davey

Passage waders at Borth

Sanderling

Ringed Plover

Dunlin

Whimbrel

Photographs by Andrew Chambers

Some of the waders currently passing through Borth.  A reminder to many of us, I suspect, of what we are missing during the current lockdown

Tresaith Monday 4th

Gannets diving close to shore included some of the very beautiful sub adults with the piano keyboard wing pattern.  Odd razorbills were floating about and much further out a few Manxies were flying south at 6pm.

Bow Street Swifts

I had three Swifts back in the boxes yesterday I pair, that’s the first time that’s happened (back at the same time) and one single in another box they are one day earlier than normal.

 Tony Clark

Swift and a plug

......for those that are interested this is the link to my bird photography gallery

https://www.wild-wales.com/v/photos/26419htf

This is the link to my "Bird/land" gallery

https://www.wild-wales.com/v/photos/20794rws

Bird/land was my exhibition at Aberystwyth Arts Centre about three years ago.

There is also a link to my blog on the website.

A swift flew over the house just now, and it was very nice to go outside and hear a skylark overhead.

Jerry Moore

As I've said before, I don't usually use the blog to advertise but in this case am quite happy to give a plug to Jerry, a long-term local resident.

Gannets at Patch

Excellent views of gannets yesterday morning where the Teifi joins the open sea. From the beach at Patch at low tide I could see at least four birds dive-bombing remarkably close to shore.


John Ramm

Bontgoch area today

Just a few sightings from my cycle ride today.

Llyn mynydd gorddu

2 pairs tufties

3 little grebes

2 coot

moorhens, canadas, mallard.

Sedge warbler, garden warbler and reed bunting.

In the Upper Leri valley above Bontgoch a cuckoo was calling.

On Llyn Syfydrin there were 6 tufties (4 male and 2 female) plus 11 herring gulls and a few mallard.

Garden Warbler

Jerry Moore

Readers will know that Jerry is a regular contributor to the blog.  Some of you may not  know that he is a professional photographer, specialising in wildlife and landscape. Look up Jeremy Moore to see his work.

PEN DINAS

One of the many Common Whitethroats in song early this morning at Pen Dinas:

Llyn Eiddwen, etc.

On Saturday Chris found his hoped-for Cuckoo at Llyn Eiddwen, along with no fewer than eight Great Black-backed Gulls; three adults, five sub-ads.
He also found a Garden Warbler in the same bit of woodland as the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker near Llangwyryfon.
Also worth mentioning, a few days ago Chris was told about a Yellowhammer on a hillside near Abermagwr.

And more Whimbrel

35 whimbrel roosting on the shingle near ynyslas turn las night  and 47 on the golf course early Saturday morning.

Rachael  Davey

WHIMBRELS STILL PASSING THROUGH

There are still loads of whimbrel on or around Borth Golf Course, yesterday we saw 42 whimbrel and 5 bar tailed godwits on the fairways. 

Dave Purdon

SWIFTS

A pair of swifts have just flown over the house (Llanrhystud) 1pm
John Woodruff

Window casualties

I believe that Stephen Forster is correct in saying that it is the more unusual birds that hit windows and I also believe that it is because these bird casualties are on unfamiliar ground, in other words visitors. This was illustrated to us by a robin that hit the window, it was placed in a warm box to recover. When it was released it was immediately attacked by the resident robin as an intruder. I also believe that these birds on unfamiliar ground are the birds most likely to be taken by predators.

Alastair Proud   

I don't believe in using the blog to advertise as a rule, but readers might like to take a look at Alastair's wildlife paintings.

along the road

A circular walk along lanes from our house this morning yielded some surprises. A Goshawk was at Derry Ormond Park and a pair of Marsh Tits and a singing Grasshopper Warbler at Llangybi Common.

This morning's exercise

A walk from the Vicarage lake in Llanilar to Pont Pant-mawr and back.  Highlights were a Dipper, surprisingly my first of the year, and five  Stock Doves in a field with a Lesser Black-backed Gull.

Why is it always the special ones?

Like many we have the occasional bird hit our windows. I do wonder however why it is that many are the less common species, at least that is my experience. Yesterday it was a Goldcrest found dead on the path, today a bright male bullfinch round the other side of the house, albeit he flew off unsteadily to collect his thoughts in the silver birch. Before it has been Goldfinch and Great Spotted Woodpecker that lived to fly another day. Why is it never the Sparrows, Blackbirds Tits and Robins that breed in the garden and are seen in much greater numbers?

Goldcrest

Stephen Forster

More Aberystwyth seabirds

My fortnightly trip to Lidls provided the chance of a brief stop-off at the prom enroute this afternoon, to remind myself what the sea looks like. 22 Turnstones on College Rocks were starting to come into breeding plumage, and 2 Purple Sandpipers were roosting on the wall by Castle Point.
Several parties of Manx Shearwaters feeding well offshore were my first of the year, with a lot more on the far horizon. Also a handful of distant Gannets and 4-5 Kittiwakes, the latter associating with a Manxie flock that seemed to be feeding on a fish shoal.
While watching these a dark phase Arctic Skua appeared from the south, moving out towards them - at which point a couple of passers-by stopped to ask me what I was looking at, and I lost it...  A profitable stopover though!

New Quay summary

A summary of the last two weeks . In the bay and close to the harbour Gannets been very active for many days. Some were diving around the (empty) leisure moorings and sometimes in very shallow water. I counted 10 this morning when checking up on my mother. A local chap who is interested and observes all things marine thinks that the shoals of baitfish (probably the young of herring) are in the tidal stream that circulates this area and the almost total lack of boat movements is not disturbing the shoals or the birds.

Up on the headland more swallows turning up, a grasshopper warbler churring in hedgerow and another sighting again of a (or the) sedge warbler at Ty Rhos pond. I hope this will stay- not seen one there in previous years. The usual suspects- ravens, chough, stonechat, whitethroat, linnets, goldfinch and the resident kestrel always around. I can see ‘lines’ of auks on the water and can hear them on the ledges but have not broken the rules to go and have a look (sadly).

Viv Evans

Field Trips

I'm in the early stages of organising some meetings for when covid 19 restrictions are lifted. If anybody would like to lead a walk please do get back to me. Also if you know of a good birding location then I'd like to hear about it even if you're unable to lead a walk yourself.

Tim Rayner

Tim's contact details can be found in Field Trips under CONTACTS.