Purple Sandpiper

 Tanybwlch this morning: 

I had my first purple sandpiper of the autumn this morning, flying over the sea, fairly close in, heading SW. There was also 2 curlew on the beach and a 2nd winter med gull in the harbour. 

Ewan Turner

Llanon and Cors Caron

 A lot fewer birds south over Llanon today.  From 7 – 9 am: 308 Chaffinch, 19 Linnet, 48 Meadow Pipits, 11 Siskin, 75 Skylark, 152 Wood Pigeons, 2 Brambling, 3 Goldfinch, 1 Grey Wagtail, 22 alba wagtails, 2 Lapwing and c. 3000 Starling.  One Lapland Bunting and c. 250 Linnets in the stubbles.  The highlight of a quick stop and scan of the southern end of Cors Caron was a Shelduck.

 

Shelduck

Arfon Williams

Llanon vis migging

 Big viz mig session with Marc Hughes at Llanon this morning (30^th October) from  8 – 11.45.  All birds south - Chaffinch 7451, Brambling 74, Siskin 584, Skylark 275, Starling 20,000, Meadow Pipit 191, Linnet 230, Redwing 379, Wood Pigeon 481, alba wagtail 17, Reed Bunting 14, Mistle Thrush 26, Great Tit 9, Blue Tit 1, Coal Tit 1, Redpoll 2, Golden Plover 27, Greenfinch 2, Lapwing 24.  Following a quick coffee break we then had a wander around the stubble fields and saw approx. 250 Skylarks, 1 Lapland Bunting and a RICHARD’S PIPIT.  If that wasn’t enough we then found a 1^st winter Red-backed Shrike at the edge of the furthest stubble field from the Morfa beach car park.

Red-backed Shrike

Arfon Williams

Llanon Red-backed Shrike

 Just enjoying a nice toastie this lunchtime when the phone peeped and I read of a Red-backed Shrike at Llanon. Wow, grabbed my stuff and jumped in the car, toastie in mouth. Bumped into Marc Hughes at the Carpark at Llanon who pointed me in the right direction S/W of the carpark where I soon found Arfon who was still on the bird. What a beauty. We were then joined by Andre Morgan.. Big thanks to Marc and Arfon for finding the bird and for Arfon for waiting till I got there.

Red-backed Shrike

Martin Creasser. 

Cors Caron and Pant Pool

 Just been out to Maesllyn lake for an afternoon stroll and found 2 Tufted Ducks, 2 Teal, 2 Coot and 1 Cormorant. Few Redwing and Fieldfare about also.

On Pont Einon it was very quiet with just 2 Snipe, 1 Gooseander, 7 Wigeon, 6 Mute Swans and 1 Meadow Pipit.

At Pant lake there were 4 Coots and 7 Little Grebes.

Will Davies

Red-backed Shrike and other goodies

 I've just had a phone call from Chris that Arfon and Marc are having a field day (literally) south of Morfa, Llanon.  Among birds found  are a Red-backed Shrike, a Richard's Pi.pit and two Lapland Buntings

More info to follow.

Bramblings at Nant yr Arian

 A small flock of Bramblings at Bwlch Nant yr Arian this morning, up to 12 birds. Also 8 Greenfinches. On the lake, we currently have 14 goosanders, all female/juv

André Marsh 

After the rain

 Checked out a few pools and flooded places this afternoon. I guess it must be the mild weather; there seemed to be little wildfowl about. Just 50 Wigeon at Pont Gogoyan and none at Maes Lllyn. Still lots of Little Grebes at Llanddewi Brefi with 4 on the river and 8 at Pant Pool. There were 2, maybe 3, species of damselfly still on the wing at Cors Caron, where the only ducks that I saw were a couple of good ones fortunately; 2 Gadwall at the bog hide.

Sightings from Chris Bird

 The Gadwall was still on Nanteos Pool this afternoon and then on College Rocks, Aberystwyth, a colour -ringed Black-headed Gull, yellow 2EVO ,,,details to follow.

Later at Ynyslas there were 340 Golden Plovers and a Sanderling.  Up the estuary toward s the pillbox a Great White Egret flew across with a Little Egret.

Chris Bird

Re: binoculars needed for Syrian birder

 Re My request for binoculars for Ahmad Aidek - four pairs offered!

Many thanks to the following people who have very kindly donated binoculars to send to Ahmad Aidek, SSCW, Damascus. All very much appreciated. 

Steve from NatureQuest, formerly based in the Old Market in Aberystwyth, contacted me last night and offered a brand new pair of 8X32 armour plated, nitrogen filled binoculars. Extremely generous - thank you NatureQuest. 

Dave Taylor phoned while I was driving up to Aber to collect the above bins to say he had two used pairs - now collected.

Finally, Jeremy Moore has just offered a used pair of 10X42 bins surplus to requirements which I'll pick up in Aber tomorrow.

Again, many thanks for helping out. All going to a good cause.

Ian Harrison

Urgent request for binoculars

 Pair of binoculars needed for Syrian birder

Today (Wed 27) I received the following email from Ahmad Aidek, a Syrian now living in Damascus who works for the Syrian Society for the Conservation of Wildlife (SSCW). 

I first met Ahmad in 2007 when I arrived by chance at the small hotel in Deir El Zoor in eastern Syria, where he moonlighted as Night Manager. He saw me with my field guide and started talking about wildlife - he was clearly very knowledgeable. I returned in 2008 with two friends, one British, one Syrian and he showed us the manuscript of a book on the wildlife of the Deir El Zoor area (in Arabic). We subsequently helped to find an Arabic proofreader and sourced a few photographs for him as well as helping to get some funding from, for example, OSME - the Ornithological Society of the Middle East. 

After the 2011 debacle, he managed to escape across the Euphrates from Deir El Zoor in  which was then held by ISIS - although his son was shot in his arm. 

We have kept in contact over the years and I have helped him in various ways since 2011. I will be sending a Collins FG but have no spare pair of binoculars to give him. If anybody can help, please contact me fairly soon since I will have to send them to his friend in Glasgow. 0785 782 5169 or 01545 570604.

Ian Harrison

Dear Ian, 

How are you and your family, I hope everything well. 

As you now, I lost everything in my home in Deir ez-Zor. I would like to ask if are there any body donate a binocular and bird guide (COLLINS) to me. 

My friend will be in Glasgow (UK) today then come back to Syria in 11 days. 

I will be grateful for that. 

Best wishes 

Ahmad 

Away with the fairies

 According to the book I'm reading, it is said to be possible, from the village of Llanon in Ceredigion, to see the lost land of the Tylwyth Teg. Not far offshore, its dim green form half awash in the tide and rippled with white waves. I was at Llanrhystud this morning but I didn't see anything. But then I failed to clinch id on an "interesting looking" gull and later 4 "interesting looking" ducks. So maybe I just overlooked that too. Otherwise, 400 Golden Plovers, 350 BH Gulls and 6 Med Gulls. Very few passerines about.

Brent Geese

 Aberaeron North Beach 25.10

5 Pale-bellied Brent Geese flew west over shore in Newquay direction c1740.

About half an hour later 8 flew up the coast and were lost to sight beyond Aberarth. This group contained a tight group of 5 and one of 3, loosely associated. So, presume the group of 5 were the ones that passed earlier.

Phil Baber & Pam Buckle

Teifi Marshes

 An excellent morning at the Mallard hide - until the young mums with the freelance children arrived..........

At least four water rails were seen, there were at least two flying visits from kingfishers, and the ring-necked duck was still present.

The best bird for me was a jack snipe. It was keeping a very low profile but occasionally walked or fluttered a short distance. Some of the time you could just see it bobbing but a lot of the time it seemed to be asleep.

 Jerry Moore

Cwm Einion and Dyfi

 Interesting day on Sat, with massive movement of redwings (1500+ over Furnace), male hen harrier and goshawk from the garden, 2 bramblings at Ynys-hir, and a merlin on Foel fawr. 

Sunday on the Dyfi had 250 golden plover and a green sandpiper at Leri, and a merlin, 2 chough, and 2 Cetti's at Aberleri.

Llyn Eiddwen

 Chris's regular visits to Llyn Eiddwen paid dividends yesterday with a fine male Hen Harrier.  On the lake were 10 redhead Goosanders, 24 Mallards and a Little Grebe.

Little Gull @tanybwlch

 A good passage of Gannets and auks off castle point, Aberystwyth, this morning, many of the gannets quite close. A few Med Gulls moved south, and several congregated with the BHGs off Tanybwlch. When I got closer I realized that there was a 2nd winter Little Gull amongst the flock feeding in the surf.

I must have just missed Harry at Ynyslas yesterday. To add to his list: a lone golden plover by the tern posts, with 50+ circling high overhead, a greenshank, several more snipe and a merlin.

From the Glandyfi layby yesterday, two vocal green sandpipers, a good flock of thrushes in the yews across the road, mostly Mistle,  and an otter in the river.

Ring-necked Duck

 Paul Bennett tells me that the Ring-necked Duck was still present at the Teifi Marshes yesterday morning, viewable from the Mallard Hide along with nine Curlews and two Water Rails.

Aberaeron Golden Plovers

 North beach 17:15 to dark

Many large flocks coalesced in the sky over the sea and shore. Combined and did several circuits of a huge area before heading north up the coast until out of sight towards LLanon. (Est. 500+)

Some 10 minutes later, a large flock got up off the shore, where they had been unseen and began doing circuits. These were joined by other flocks coming in directly from the north across the sea. Again numbers got up into the 100s quickly (Est. 400+)

It was unclear if this was a new set of Golden Plover, or some of the original flock. Most then settled among rocks near the shore, where they were almost inpossible to pick out in the gloomy and dark conditions.

It was unclear as to how many were actually involved in all this and what was actually going on. But when the flocks were up, it was certainly an impressive sight.

The usual female Grey Seal we often see further up, was off the seafront briefly. Head only visible. Doing her breathing before another long dive for seafood.

The male Mandarin was roosting with the Mallard flock again in the sheltered harbour, on the slipway by The Cellar Restaurant (We almost trod on him in the dark the other night. Luckily he sleeps with one eye open!)

Redwing passage opened for business as night fell.

Earlier near Dihewyd some Siskins were moving over, and the Red Kites are becoming easier to see from the kitchen window, as the recent winds rip the leaves from the big Beech trees.

Phil Baber & Pam Buckle

Constitution Hill vismig

 Highlights of a couple of hours vismig was 2 whooper swans seen heading south over the sea past Aberystwyth and a total of 9 brambling overhead. Also seen was 418 chaffinch, 43 meadow pipit, 2 goldfinch, 49, Siskin, 1 Great spotted woodpecker, 7 mistle thrush, 3 Alba wagtail, 6 house sparrow, 8 auks, 3 linnet, 3 bullfinch, 24 woodpigeon and 600+ starlings heading towards the coast. On the way back a merlin briefly seen flying low over the fields near the back of the gold course.

Ewan Turner

Nant yr Arian Bramblings

A brief stop at Nant yr Arian this morning produced 2 Bramblings amongst the finches and tits around the feeders.

Ynyslas

 A quick stop on the prom at Aberystwyth this morning, where all I saw was a flock of about 20 Turnstones flying past Castle Point; probaably part of John's 38 in the harbour.

Not a lot at Ynyslas on the rising tide.  Ca230 Wigeon at the Leri mouth and six Little Egrets scattered across the saltings.  Waders were represented by 17 Curlews, a Grey Plover and a flyover Snipe.

ABERYSTWYTH

 38 Turnstones were in the harbour at high tide this morning.

Ynys-hir

 A classic autumn morning at Ynys-hir. Two whooper swans on the saltmarsh as well as three great egrets, eight black-tailed godwits, common and green sandpipers on the reserve and a brambling calling all morning outside the visitor centre. If that was not enough there were hundreds of redwings passing through too. An otter and two hares gave really good views at Domenlas first thing while I counted 58 cormorants leaving the roost. 

Dave Anning

Ring-necked Duck - Teifi

 A 1st winter male Ring-necked Duck on Mallard pond, Teifi Marshes, this morning. 

Found by Jen and Tommy Evans

Photo - Tommy Evans

It was still on Mallard pond at 16.45

Starling roost Aberystwyth

 Quite a display yesterday evening over the pier and university building.

(Estimated over 8,000, but still doing a methodical section count from photos of the flock.)

Peregrine came in from the town direction, at great speed, and made two attempts at snatching a Starling supper.

Unsuccessful, it was brutally escorted off the premises by Herring Gulls. Its cover well and truly blown.

Soon after the Starling murmuration spilled, in sections, down to roost under the pier.

Heavy Redwing passage after dark, all south-west, and some spectacular wave action.

Phil Baber & Pam Buckle

Aberystwyth seawatch

Slight computer problem yesterday: this is from yesterday morning.

Large numbers of gulls moving north into the strong wind were predominantly Black-headed, with Herring, Common and Kittiwake mixed in.  Many Gannets also passing; at least 150 while I was there, though difficult to count as some lingered to feed.

Odds and ends included a couple of Common Scoters, a Red-throated Diver and a Goosander. Highlight was a dark-bellied Brent Goose heading south close inshore.

Aberaeron

 Aberaeron - Evening in the Rain 20.10

No sign of the Argentatus Herring Gull from a couple days ago. A few Argenteus knocking about and one Lesser Black-backed Gull.

250+ Mediterranean Gull (sports pitch and main beach - pre-roost.)

47 Turnstone on Beach Parade beach, waiting out the very high tide from car park end.

Curlew in front of main beach shelter - colour ringed. White lettering on red, left tibia. White lettering on green, right tibia. Metal ring left tarsus. Couldn't read inscriptions through bins in pouring rain, nor take a decent photo!

Good Redwing passage after dark. On a heading south-west.

Colour-ringed Curlew

Phil Baber & Pam Buckle

Ibis Volumes 119 & 120

 Clearing out my shelves!

Two volumes of Ibis (1977 & 1978) available free to anybody who may want them.

Contact me on 07857 825169

Ian Harrison

Glandyfi etc

 Juv/female marsh harrier over the marsh this morning. Other birds included 3 goosander, 12 grey lags, 3 little egrets and a single great white. Small numbers of redwing, song thrushes and mistle thrush over, but low numbers compared to during the week over Cwm Einion, eg 1200 redwing in 2 hours on 18th.

Swallow

 Swallow over road near Mydroilyn yesterday afternoon, in a hurry due south.

Phil Baber

Presumed Argentatus Herring Gull

 Aberaeron 17.10

A real bruiser of a Herring Gull on the beach sports pitch this evening. Appreciably larger than all the other Herring Gulls, very little black in the primary tips and a slightly darker grey on the mantle. Very darkly streaked around head and upper neck, and a less rounded head - long sloping forehead, angled at the rear crown.

All the other Herring Gulls treated it with great respect, as it hogged a large food item. When first seen on a roof top in silhouette, its size and bulk made it look different to the other HGs.

Bit dull and distant for a photo tonight. But a bird worth a look at, if it sticks. Feedback welcomed.

Whether it's an Argentatus or not remains to be seen. But it certainly ticked the boxes.

Otherwise, it was high tide and the only waders pushed up, north along the beach, were around 30 Gurlews, 25+ Oystercatchers, 5 Turnstones and 2 Redshanks.

The sea, as usual, was peppered with Med Gulls.

Phil Baber & Pam Buckle

Coed y Bont NR, Pontrhydfendigaid

 I counted 370 Redwings earlier, over or in the reserve.

Ynyslas Great Skua

 Friday evening .Re the Great Skua post, there was a Great Skua on the edge of a gull feeding frenzy near the green channel buoy off the sand dunes at around 6pm. The gulls flew off first and later the Skua showing pale wing flashes. I was viewing with scope at the platform on top of the dunes. It flew off northwards, not harassing any gulls, towards the estuary mouth and river, then disappeared behind the dunes. I have no doubt it was a (the) Great Skua.

Andy Sims,  

Pembrokeshire birder on holiday

The Redwing influx continues

 Good numbers of Redwing and Starlings around our cottage just outside Llanddewi Brefi . Having stripped our  Rowan berries they will now start on the Hawthorn. Rather surprised  there were no other thrushes with the Redwing .

  Re Golden plovers in Aberaeron they appear to favor  roughly the same place every year and unless the sun is on them they are very difficult to see. I would like to know where they go at high water.

 David Price

The Golden Plovers that winter between Aberaeron and Llansantffraed can be quite mobile.  I remember years ago finding good numbers of them in the fields near Ty Gwyn Pools during a winter inland wader survey, just a short distance from that stretch of coast.

|A few more Redwings

 After getting back from the coast and before going off to football I sat out in the garden (Llangybi) and had about 250 Redwings heading SW over 30 minutes.

Redwings

 A flock of circa 50 Redwings flew over my house this morning. First I've seen from the house this autumn.

Martin Creasser.

Castle Point

 Very little movement out to sea this morning; just around 55 passing auks.  On the rocks were 14 Ringed Plovers and seven Turnstones.  A Small Tortoiseshell flew in off the sea at the point and landed on the ground just a few feet away from me.

Llanrhystud

 Hoped to see some passerine migration this morning but didn't. A smattering of commoner wader species present included 240 Golden Plovers among the rocks. 50 Gannets working not far offshore and 300 auks north over the course of an hour or so.

Great Skua?

 This picture was taken at Ynyslas yesterday evening, from the golf course car park. The bird was preening but seemed unsteady on its feet and didn't move off when people walked fairly close by. 

My best guess is a juvenile great skua, but it's not at all confident guess.

Rachael Davey

Anyone have any different ideas?

Cors Caron

 A pleasant morning on the bog with Paul B.  At Pont Einon just a a Moorhen and a Little Grebe with Mallards until a distant Great White Egret flew across.  Next to Maesllyn where we found 34 Wigeon, 10 Teal and a Coot, plus 36 Lapwings on the field at the far side of the lake.

Vary few thrushes around apart from a solitary Fieldfare in a tree; just flight views of a few Redwings.  Nothing to be seen from the hide until Paul had a flypast of ca30 Teal then to finish the outing as we had started, the Great White Egret perched in a tree near the boardwalk.

 

Golden Plover - Aberaeron North Beach

Yesterday,  224 Golden Plover, in a tight flock, huddled between the rocks and beach boulders at north beach. Close to shore.  Found near dusk. Most were tired and sleeping.

Very hard to pick out and, if we hadn't been grilling the gull flock there we would've just walked past them. On the way back we had trouble finding them again. But they were all still snoozing until dark when, one imagines, they were to carry on migrating. Poor record shots of part of the flock were taken.

The physical count may have missed some amongst the beach rocks.

Otherwise, 17 Turnstone (probably more), 30+ Curlew (including flock of 20), 30+ Oystercatcher.

80+ Med Gulls. Good Redwing passage after dark, as the night before.

Earlier at Dihewyd a flock of around 27 Redwing over house and a female Sparrowhawk shot through.

Golden Plovers

Phil Baber & Pam Buckle

More Redwings

 Earlier this evening Chris had 10 Redwings over Llangwyryfon.

Glandyfi this morning

 Spent half an hour at the lay-bye this morning. Highlights were 3 green sands, 2 common sands, single ruff, 2 black-tailed godwits, and several flocks of redwing (130+). 250 over Glandyfi yesterday pm. 

A few more pics from t'other day

Just filling in the gaps -interesting looking back at the Egret's feet-just love 'em -but why? And if they are of some benefit why doesn't the Great Egret cash in?

Redwing influx

 Nice to see our winter thrushes arriving this morning. I did see an individual on rowan a few days ago.

Mass Redwing arrival: Between 500-1,000 moving westwards over Bwlch Nant yr Arian visitor centre this morning, flock sizes generally between 50 and 100.

André Marsh 

Teifi marshes and Cilcennin

 Yesterday enjoyed a pleasant walk along Teifi riverside path.  Checked out each of the hides which resulted in single Black-tailed Godwit, nine Curlews,five Little Grebes, 13 Teal, Kingfisher and Water Rail heard.

This morning at Cilcennin 56 Redwings over and a single Fieldfare; my first for the autumn.

Paul Bennett

Nanteos Pool

 Chris later called in at Nanteos Pool where he found that the male Gadwall has returned after an absence.Also on the lake: two Wigeon, two Teal, at least six Little Grebes and a good number of Moorhens.

Whooper Swans

 A report just in from Chris Bird of two Whooper Swans on Llyn Pendam.  Very little else up there except for a lone male Tufted Duck on Llyn Blaenmelindwr.

Borth to the brickhouse

A look at the flat calm sea this morning.  Hundreds of auks were passing offshore, many in long lines of up to 40 or so. The auks which were on the sea within i.d. range were almost all Razorbills;  at least 110 between Upper Borth and Ynyslas  with the biggest concentration, of 65, off the brickhouse.  The only Guillemots I could find were a few at the south end..There were also 50 plus Common Scoters and 13 Red-throated Divers. 

Looking out of the window as I write this, there is a Grey Wagtail on the roof of my car.

Vismig: Constitution Hill

 Highlight of vismig from constitution hill this morning was a juv Marsh harrier heading south, high over the golf course, then passing over Aberystwyth town. Also seen was 392 redwings along with lots calling as they passed over whilst it was still dark. Along with 11 Alba wagtail, 166 meadow pipit, 105 chaffinch, 1 bullfinch, 3 linnet, 6 reed bunting, 54 Siskin, 1 great-spotted woodpecker, 3 skylark, and one of each of lapwing, curlew and lesser redpoll.

Juv Marsh Harrier

Ewan Turner

ABERYSTWYTH

  A Great Northern Diver was on the sea, some way off from the harbour this morning.

Ynyslas ,Cletwr & Tanybwlch

A lovely day in the sun and we finally caught up with a few birds (It's been a long time!) . Also great to see John making great progress. The Dipper was showing well on the Cletwr-first time I've managed a pic there  in 2 years! 2 Little Egrets on the beach at Ynyslas at near full tide; 3 redhead Goosanders on the Ystwyth ; several Rock pips and 3 Stonechats further down-not remarkable , but most enjoyable.

Visible migration

 Constitution hill Vismig yesterday morning: 

125 meadow pipits, 113 chaffinch, 136 Siskin, 2 redwing, 10 linnet, 26 alba wagtail, 86 jackdaw, 19 skylark, 6 lesser redpoll, 2 bullfinch, 2 grey wagtail, 9 Canada geese, 3 mistle thrush.

Ewan Turner

From the garden, Llangeitho

 Late Chiffchaff singing yesterday in the garden, gone by the afternoon.

And 2 Whooper Swans flew lazily north presumably following the Aeron.

Martin Perry

Llangrannog to Ynys Lochtyn

Monday 11th.

 Plenty of Choughs. Probably 14 or more towards dusk as they came together to roost. Some spectacular aerial displays overhead and close fly-bys.

4 Ravens. 4 Linnets. 4 Stonechats.  Plenty of migrant Meadow Pipits.

Tawny Owls very vocal in Llangranng valley at dusk.

No obvious movement on the sea, or unusual migrants.

Mammal highlight was a Harbour/Common Seal in the cove of Carreg Ifan. Later seen motoring out to the tip of the island. First we've seen in Ceredigion.

Earlier, near Dihewyd, 4 Ravens and a small party of Swallows passing through.

Phil Baber & Pam Buckle

Some unusual behaviour on the Ceredigion coast

 There were about 300 Golden Plovers at Llanrhystud this morning. Considerable numbers of gulls and at least 200 Gannets offshore feeding. Among the throng, about a quarter of a mile out, were 2 darker, robust looking birds swooping and diving about. I was hoping they were Great Skuas but were in fact a couple of crows. There were also a few Turnstones along the shore. For several minutes I watched as two of them became engaged in what looked like a very serious and determined struggle with each seemingly attempting to push the other under the water. Not really sure what was going on there.

At Llanon I had very close views of two Red-throated Divers taking it easy and not diving at all during a 20 minute watch. Preening/relaxing? Small flocks of M Pipits/Linnets/Skylarks in the fields. Back at the car park, a car pulled in as I was about to leave. A man about my age (pretty old) wearing a loud Hawaiian shirt got out clutching a small teddy bear. He placed it on the rocks, photographed it, picked it up again and drove off. And people will tell you that birdwatching is weird.

ABERYSTWYTH

 31 Turnstones in the harbour at high tide late morning.

Cors Caron

 A walk on Cors Caron mid afternoon we saw 50+ Wigeon, 8 Teal, 2 Moorhens, 1 Coot and a single Cormorant on Maesllyn Lake.  A walk around the southern broadwalk revealed 5 Stonechat, 2 Reed Buntings,  2 Meadow Pipits a 7 Goldfinches. At the South end on Pont Einon there were 4 Mute Swans, a flock of around 30 Linnets, a single Little Grebe and 1 Gooseander

Will Davies

Castle Point

 After 3 extremely quiet mornings at Castle Point - 1 Curlew, a few Gannets, Med Gulls and 24 Turnstones were all I saw, today (Sunday) was much busier. Hundreds of Auks were going north - 1 close enough to be identified as a Razorbill - with a few Gannets mixed in with them. No doubt there were other species of birds in with them, beyond the reach of my binoculars. As I was leaving, a Red Throated Diver headed south fairly close in.

Helen Herbert

A big day

 Yesterday me and a small team from our newly formed Aberystwyth University Ornithological Society took part in Global Birding’s Global Big Day. We managed to see a total of 86 species in the north of the county.

Some of the highlights:

Early morning, whilst still dark in Aberystwyth, I heard the call of a redwing overhead. At Ynyslas - Jack snipe, 73 golden plover, 10+ dunlin, 1 knot, a number of Alba wagtails moving overhead and a juv kittiwake flying down the estuary towards the sea. Whilst walking along the Leri we heard 2 water rail calling, a Cetti’s warbler and juvenile Marsh harrier was flying over the reeds close to the golf course. A short seawatch from borth produced a few auks, common scoters and a close in red-throated diver. And finally Ynys-hir added 3 black-tailed godwit, 103 barnacle geese, a peregrine and great egret to the day list. 

Red-throated Diver

Ewan Turner

A gentle, northerly breeze

 Saw a single Redwing at Clywedog plantation earlier.

Aberaeron North Beach

Friday 8th

Tideline fresh Guillemot corpse found after the stormy weather. Emaciated and with water-logged plumage.

Also 4 Stonechats new in.

Phil Baber & Pam Buckle

Morfa Bychan

 A few days at Morfa Bychan

Tues 5th  5 Manx Shearwaters, 50+ Gannets, 10 Common Scoter all south

Weds 6th  19 Curlews, 26 Oystercatchers, 2 Turnstones, 8 Choughs, Peregrine

Fri 8th  Brambling, male, Red-throated Diver, 5 Golden Plover, 7 Skylarks, Peregrine, 16 Choughs, 3 Bottle-nosed Dolphins, Grey Seal.

Ynyslas 7th 26 Golden Plover, Redshank, 2 L Egrets

Pete Hackett

Med.Gull Green ALHA

Seen in Aber harbour 5th and 7th from my balcony. Details just received: ringed before fledging June 2013 by the Elbe,west of Hamberg,Germany and reported there during some subsequent breeding seasons since 2014. Most winters seen in Spain or Portugal. Other post-breeding sightings: Aberystwyth July 2016 (Chris Bird), Newport, Pembs Oct 2020 (Sam Baxter), Cei Bach and then Llanon Sept 2021 (Arfon Williams) and Aber. this month. Largely restricted indoors with my very new replacement knee,I am resigned to just viewing the harbour and wishing that sea-watching could match that at Mwnt down the coast.

Merlin at Glandyfi

  A female/juv merlin was the highlight at high tide this morning. 

The leucistic Oystercatcher

 Yesterday I was pleased to see the leucistic Oystercatcher in Llansantffraed Bay at high tide.  This bird was first seen in August 2005 and has returned to this stretch of coast every year since, to spend the autumn and winter with us.  Some of us have often wondered where it goes in the breeding season.  The roost only held a few more Oystercatchers and 17 Curlews.  The only other birds of note were 27 Med Gulls which flew south close inshore in about 10 minutes.

At Ynyslas on the rising tide this morning, just five Golden Plovers, two Ringed Plovers and three Dunlin.

Near Tregaron

 Went for a walk this morning through receding flood waters beside the Teifi and flushed a total of 58 Snipe. I've no doubt that more lay ahead but the water was starting to lap at the tops of my wellies so I turned back. I'd scarcely walked a dozen paces through a patch that I'd surely just crossed when a cracking Jack Snipe went up from under my feet and down silently about 20m away. At such close range the very brief impression I had was of the beautiful, bright colours. Later, from the Cors Caron boardwalk, females of Hen Harrier, Kestrel and Sparrowhawk. Felt elated. Stuck The Clash into the car CD player and cranked up the volume. Forgot to call in at Pant pool on the way home.

Aberarth to Llanon

Yesterday;  started at high tide with a Red thoated diver off the river mouth and had a day of just too far offs. 3 skua types went south, 3 terns looked like Arctic, 30 medium waders went north and landed at Llansantfraed point, steady trickle of larks south over the sea were silent. Resident Peregrine did a couple of flypasts as did a couple of Chough. Tide was out on return, so plenty of gulls at river mouth which included one Med and several Common,

Martin Perry

Mediterranean Gulls

After a birdless tour of the Pendam lakes this afternoon Chris B ended up at Aberystwyth where he counted 92 Med Gulls coming to roost on College Rocks.  Several were ringed but it was too dark to read any. 

Whoopers over Ynyslas

An unexpected sighting at Ynyslas this morning as their flight calls alerted me to five Whooper Swans flying north, high over the estuary.  Otherwise very quiet, with 100 plus Wigeon, at least 30 Skylarks with  50 plus Linnets and a Peregrine heading south along the Leri.

A look at the sea from near the YHA produced only two Red-throated Divers and about 35 Common Scoter: all males as far as I could see.

Also a report from Phil Baber and Pam Buckle yesterday of a Peregrine hanging in the wind above Constitution Hill before stooping towards the north..

ABERYSTWYTH

In the harbour at noon today: 543 Herring Gulls, 239 Black-headed Gulls, 5 Mediterranean Gulls (incl. a colour-ringed bird seen there on Tuesday. Details awaited) and 3 Great Black-backed Gulls.

Mwnt seawatch

 Highlights of a sea-watch from Mwnt yesterday (5^th Oct) were 17 Arctic Skuas, 5 Bonxies, 4 Leach’s Petrels, 1 Grey Phalarope, 20 Arctic Terns, 7 pales-bellied Brent Geese, 5 Red-throated Divers and 2 Grey Plover

Arfon Williams

 

Pale-bellied Brents - Aberaeron

 Late afternoon to dusk:yesterday

3 Pale-bellied Brent Geese flew over harbour mouth in New Quay direction. Moving through.

2 1W Ringed Plover. 1 Redshank. 2 Curlew. A few Oystercatchers.

25+ Turnstones  (2 with colour rings.) 1 very distant Gannet.

96 Med Gulls in one flock, as a sample count. But, as usual they were everywhere, and many more were obviously moving up and down the coast.

The male Mandarin was having his photo taken in the harbour, and a Robin was pretending to be a Dipper along the raging Aeron with 2 Grey Wagtails.

Yesterday, a cow Grey Seal was snoozing, head above the waves, midway up coast to Aberarth. We usually see her from there.

Phil Baber & Pam Buckle

Colour-ringed Great Black-backed Gull

 

On Sunday afternoon I found a 1st winter colour-ringed Great black-backed gull on the beach at Clarach. I reported the ring number and got a quick reply, it was ringed as a chick on the Calf of Man on the 6/7/21.

Ewan Turner

Deja Vu

 A Little Egret dropped down onto the field opposite the coop as I was queuing at the till a little while ago. Exactly as 19/01/21.

Llanrhystud

 Clearly plenty of stuff far out to sea; Gannets, auks, a few geese, but too far away for me to identify. On shore there were 150 Golden Plover and 20 Curlew at the point. Also present were 13 Med Gulls, 9 Stonechats, 2 Wheatears and a Sparrowhawk.

Pant Pool and Pont Einon

 Pant pool this afternoon: 5 Coot, 7 Little Grebes, 2 Mute Swans, 2 Moorhens and 6 Swallows still around. Pont Einon afternoon: Circa 60 Teal, 30 Mallard, 12 Widgeon, 7 Goldfinches. 

Will Davies

Aberystwyth seawatch

 Castle point: 

Arctic Skua, 1037 auks, most fairly close in and almost all heading north, 54 gannets, 2 red-throated divers, 13 ringed plover, 1 swallow south, around 10 med gulls .In the harbour a further 3 med gulls and one colour ringed herring gull. 

Colour-ringed Herring Gull B:057 green

Ewan Turner

Llanrhystud

 An early visit to Llanrhystud beach this morning showed an increased area of standing water in the flooded field but only a Canada goose in occupation, which flew off to the south. A little later a small party of Canada geese flew over northward accompanied by a single barnacle goose. A little later again a single barnacle goose flew south very low and close in. 

Out at sea there were distant views of parties of auks - the few that were close enough to attempt ID all looked like razorbills, gannets, kittiwakes and 2 Arctic Skuas worked together chasing down gulls.

On the point south of the lime kilns were a few curlew and oystercatcher, a flock of med gulls, around 80 golden plover. A single swallow passed south and at least one wheatear was on the beach. 2 drake wigeon also flew south.

John Woodruff 

Flooded waters

 Pont Gogoyan; 30 Wigeon, 50 Teal, 2 L Grebe

Pant pool; L Grebe 7 Coot 3, Swallow 11

Pont Einon; 400 Teal

Ystrad Caron; 30 Lapwing, 90 LBB Gull

Blackcap

 Today, as I was checking the lakeside walk at Nant yr Arian, I found a couple of chiffchaffs, and then I found a male blackcap in the willow scrub, it seems late for an inland 1,000ft up site. The numbers of goosander have steadily built up to 9 now, all females or juveniles.

André Marsh 

Aberaeron 1.10 pm

 Tight flock of c15 Common Scoter, early evening, mid-distant from beach.

1 Ringed Plover juv and up to 30 Turnstone scattered between the groynes.

4 Curlew. A few Swallows still around. (One flew up Bridge Street low over the traffic before turning right into Sgwar Alban!)

Quite a few Med Gulls around. Most seeming to be heading north towards dusk.

1 Great Black-backed gull feeding on a large Spider Crab.

Drake Mandarin with the Mallard flock in the harbour at dusk.

Phil Baber & Pam Buckle.

Mwnt seawatch

 Highlights of this morning’s seawatch at Mwnt (with martin Creasser) were 16 Bonxies, 26 Arctic Skuas, 1 juv Sabines Gull, 2 Balearic Shearwaters and 3 Red-throated Divers.

Arfon Williams

ABERYSTWYTH

Early this morning a lone Manx Shearwater passed by, heading south and close in. (A contender for the last one of the year.)