John Holmes, a birder from Abergavenny, was in Aberaeron today. During his visit a flock of gulls went up from the outer harbour and he noticed one of them had no dark markings on the wings. The bird settled on Holy Trinity church tower and John was able to approach close enough to decide it was probably a 1st w Iceland Gull despite being without bins.
Anyone in the area, please check the gulls. After all white-wingers are very scarce these days.
Chris B had a drive up to the Pendam lakes today and found two Whooper Swans on Llyn Pendam. He was able to see that neither was ringed.
Then to Nanteos Pool where just 14 Teal and a couple each of Little Grebe and Moorhen.
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker drumming behind the old station cottage, Aberaeron this morning.
Andy James
As usual Chris visited his local lakes on Sunday afternoon and found five Goodanders, 12 Wigeon, four Teal and four Lapwings on Llyn Fanod.
Afternoon walk south past the lime kilns at Llanrhystud - 2 little egret, 4 redshank, oyster catchers ~12 and the first Golden Plovers of the year for us. Lost count at 38 in the fading light.
High tide this morning: 45 Common Scoter, 1 Red-throated Diver and 3 Great Crested Grebes. (Another poor show.)
A lovely walk along the lanes with an exciting 5 minute spell. First, a Green Woodpecker, calling, then in flight, heading uphill. Then, the shrill cries of a raptor had me frozen to the spot, and a fabulous Goshawk blasted out of the conifers in front of me, heading downhill towards Cellan. A little later on the open ground under some beech trees was a large flock of perhaps 400 Chaffinches, but I couldn't find a Brambling among them.
Thursday.
Three Goosanders (2m, 1f) flew past Castle Point early on. Later six Purple Sandpipers in the usual area and 36 Turnstones north of the pier. Two Moorhens on the Rheidol near the football club.
Saturday
Again six purps, joined by four Ringed Plovers on the rocky platform by Castle Point. A Rock Pipit was displaying on the castle/prom and two Canada Geese flew south offshore.
Helen Herbert
Having heard a green woodpecker calling on and off over the last 3 weeks and unsucussfully looking for it on both ours and neighbours land. On Wednesday it was calling a lot in our woodland, while we were clearing some bramble it flew right over our heads, then a few minutes later it was calling again from the our woodland or was it a second bird ????
The other evening Chris Bird and I were discussing Bullfinches and wondering about the largest flocks recorded in the county. Chris had a trawl through the records and came up with 20. This afternoon he went to Llyn Pendam and came across a sizeable flock and counted at least 18. They were in an area of clear fell near the turnoff to Llyn Syfydrin so if anyone wants to to break the record the opportunity is there.
On the lakes, just 2m and 1f Tufted on Pendam and a fem Wigeon on Blaenmelindwr.
Purple Sandpipers at Castle Point, Aberystwyth this morning. 8 in total.
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Yesterday Chris watched a ringtail Hen Harrier being mobbed by a Peregrine. On the lake were just six redhead Goosanders.
Yesterday Adrienne Stratford, Jack Slattery and I replaced or installed a couple of new Chough nest-boxes in North Ceredigion. The first site, between Borth and Aberystwyth, which was used successfully in 2022 (rearing a brood of 4 chicks) was considerably the worse for wear with the top completely collapsed in. Not surprising though as I originally installed this with Mick Green back in the early 1990s! If it lasts anywhere near as long as the first one it won't be me replacing it next time!
Unfortunately the local Peregrines have expensive tastes. No starlings or pigeons for them - Chough, Woodcock and Golden Plover seemed to be on the menu sadly. Hopefully the Chough concerned was a yearling and not one of the breeding pair 🤞
This morning; 6 Mediterranean Gulls among about 550 Black-headed Gulls with approx 400 Golden Plovers out at the headland.
An early morning visit. Tide still well up so few wildfowl around; closest were two Pintail. At least 300 Oystercatchers roosting over towards the point and three Grey Plovers were near the Leri mouth. 10 Little Egrets on the far bank of the Leri and two Great Whites flew south .
A couple of Crossbills and a Willow Tit at Clywedog plantation again. Nice to hear several Skylarks singing on the open moorland above the forestry.
A little earlier at work I was just about to get back in the van having just dropped the mail in at Llanfair Mansion, when I noticed a cracking Goshawk, not far above on the wooded slope, giving a couple of Buzzards a bit of grief.
A solitary cattle egret feeding in the fields around Y Ferwig this morning. As one drives from Gwbert to Y Ferwig the egret is easily seen in the last field on the left as one is about to enter the village. There is even a convenient bench close by affording excellent views.
John Ramm
This afternoon five Goldeneye (two males, both displaying intermittently) and a pair of Tufted Ducks on Syfydrin; a second pair of Tufties (and a dead sheep) on Pendam; c25 Snipe feeding on the near shore of Blaenmelindwr, and three Teal; and a RH Goosander on Rhosgoch, serenaded by a Skylark.
It was off to Ynyslas for Chris Bird this afternoon. On a rising tide he noted two pairs of Red-breasted Merganser, two redhead Goosanders and a surprise male Common Scoter among the Wigeon. A female Merlin landed on the river edge and a distant Greenshank called.
A ring ouzel was spotted by Josh Pedley on New Quay head on the 11th. I managed to find it and enclose a grainy record shot. The bird was still there yesterday (14th).
The auks have been back on a transient visit and in good numbers. The female eider is still around the Carreg Walltog area. At the quarry several turnstones and 2 purple sandpipers at the harbour. Out in the bay a single great crested grebe and a few red throated divers.
Viv Evans
Sadly it's been ages , but the weather was so nice we couldn't resist!Of course the Redstart refused to appear along with the Purp Sands , but The Turnstones were having fun racing in and out with the waves by the pier and re 7/8 Ringed Plovers on the rocks dozing until the tide ebbed sufficiently. Finally on the way home a flock of Fieldfares in Cwmystwyth, but Couldn't get close.
We have just been watching a female Hen Harrier across the field opposite the house for a few minutes before moving out of sight.
Sheila Gettings
An unusually high count of 12 Cormorants on Chris B's visit to Llyn Fanod yesterday. Also a pair of Wigeon and a male Goldeneye.
A site that has recorded Lesser Spotted Woodpecker more than once in the past but despite my best efforts no joy today on a beautiful, still, sunny morning. Otherwise, one, maybe two pairs of Marsh Tits, 3x2 LT Tits, 6 Treecreepers.
Black redstart at Urdd camp Llangrannog yesterday.. On roof of new building nearest to ski slope.
Dave Haslam
Two Whooper Swans were the highlight of a visit to Llyn Frongoch this morning. Not much else on there, just ca10 Mallard, three Cormorants and a Moorhen.
Dipper on the Aeron this morning. Also a Greenfinch calling from the bottom of Goetre Lane.
Andy James
A female Black Redstart briefly at Borth this am, highlights of a sea watch from the lifeboat station were 25 Common Scoters and 4 Red-throated Divers. A hunting Barn Owl viewed from the train station 15:30.
Tony Ware
This afternoon Chris B enjoyed an Otter at the mouth of the Leri. Apart from large numbers of Wigeon and Teal there were two Greenshanks and at least 30 Redshanks.
After finding an adult Med Gull at Upper Borth Chris continued to Nanteos where he found five Herons, three of them standing on nests plus 28 Teal and five Wigeon.
About 100 Curlews and 35 Oystercatchers (inc. the leucistic bird) was the most I've seen there this winter. Out at sea; 5 RT Divers, a Common Scoter, a few auks, plus a couple of Little Egrets drifting south along the shoreline.
The thick fog slowly lifted this morning at Pont Einon to reveal the Cattle Egret, albeit distant and a very close Common Snipe.
Was present at Pont Einion at 08.15. Flew over my head at the bridge heading south. A singing Willow Tit at the boardwalk was joined/confronted by two others which flew in together.
Yesterday, Short-eared Owl, 20+ Snipe and 2 Jack Snipe at Cwmystwyth. Cattle Egret still present at Cors Caron, also 2 Gadwall.
Tony Ware
A phone call from Chris B to say he had a male Merlin fly across the road in front of him just outside Trefenter this afternoon.
From the Clettwr bank this afternoon, Hen Harrier and Water Pipit, and a single Greylag with the Canadas. Then on to the Leri bridge at Ynyslas, where the Barn Owl was already performing at 4.30. Also Merlin, Sparrowhawk and two Kestrels. Two White-fronted Geese were with Canadas across the road, towards the pillbox.
Following up on Arfon's sighting of the Cattle Egret yesterday evening. I went out early this morning and it was still here at 7.30 a.m., but up at Maesglas flash with 11 Little Egrets. Then moved up the reserve towards Maesllyn.
Will Davies
Cattle Egret just downstream of Pont Einon at southern end of Cors Caron this evening.
Arfon Williams
PS For anyone who's not sure, it's the one on the left.
A flock of some 42 Common Scoter (roughly 50/50 male - female split) dropped on to the sea just off Aberporth this morning. A single great crested grebe fishing in the bay also.
Dave Tudor