Christmas deliveries

 Two Marsh Tits were on a feeder in Capel Dewi, Llandysul earlier. Later, a male Sparrowhawk got in front of my van and I followed it for perhaps 300m doing a steady 21mph, skimming over the tarmac.

Black Redstart, Borth

There was a smart male Black Redstart around the rooftops of the first few houses north of Borth coastguard station this morning. Exactly the same territory as last winter's juvenile - maybe the same individual now moulted into adult plumage? 

Only a single Barwit and a handful of Oystercatchers at Ynyslas Point. I was told that the rest of the waders had been flushed by two other birdwatchers before I got there and had flown off up the estuary.  Three Grey Plovers and c.30 Redshank on the edge of the emerging Leri saltmarsh as the tide started to fall. 

Ynyslas Point

Plenty of interest in the high-tide roost at Ynyslas this morning: Barwits (10), Knot (9), Grey Plover (6), Sanderling (3), Golden Plover (1), and around 60 Dunlin and 850 Oycs.  A smart male Red-breasted Merganser flew upstream.

Dark-bellied Brent Goose

 The usual Golden Plover,  Lapwing and Curlew Ynys Tachwedd,  Ynyslas today and a few Wigeon on a very high tide on the estuary. 

Also a surprise Moorhen and this afternoon at low tide on the seashore was a vocal Dark-bellied Brent Goose. 

I don't think it liked the HerringvGulls so close.

David Williams 

Nice weather for ducks?

 Quite possibly, but I didn't really see big numbers of them on a visit to a few sites around Tregaron/Llanddewi earlier. No sign of any Egrets either. A Gadwall was at Maes Llyn pool. About 300 Fieldfares dropped into the trees at the Cors Caron car park when I arrived but soon moved on. 140 Lapwings were at Ystrad Caron.

Beauty in Borth

 I had good views this morning of a male marsh harrier near the River Leri,  seen from the platform of Borth railway station. 

Such a magnificent beast. 

Dave Purdon 

Ynys-hir

 Good few days with at least 4 marsh harriers and a male hen harrier.  In addition, 3 goldeneye,  2 great egrets, green sandpiper and a few woodcocks.  Nice murmuration of 5000 starlings in front of visitor centre.

Dave Anning 

Blackcaps

 We had one in our garden for a few days earlier in the month feeding on Crab Apples, until 17th. Somebody told me earlier that they too have had one in their garden, in the centre of Tregaron. This last week just gone, also attracted to Crab Apples.

Dyfi Circus

I ventured beyond the railway bridge at the Clettwr this morning. Four Marsh Harriers were perched on the saltmarsh: three fem/imm birds together and, c100m away, a male. Also a couple of Grey Plover on the mud, and six Barnacle Geese with the Canadas.

From the Glandyfi lay-by another fem/imm Marsh Harrier, three Goldeneye, three Common Sandpiper and one Green Sandpiper.

Four swans flying north over Llanbadarn yesterday afternoon may have been Whoopers, given how few Mutes we get in Aberystwyth now, but too far away to be sure.

Ty Gwyn pools

 Extremely quiet at Llanrhystud at low tide but inland at the pools were 300 Lapwings and 500 Golden Plovers.