Smew still at Ynys-hir

Smew and Green Sandpiper on Marian Mawr pools as we speak - spotted by Iolo Williams.

Bev Dimmock

Bev's email received at 12.37 so good chance birds still there.

Lapwings

Chris tells me a neighbour of his reports at least 300 Lapwings circling over fields about a mile north of Llangwyryfon today.

Glandyfi/Cletwr

I just had to get out of the house yesterday and the thought of smew and bean goose was very tempting.

Needless to say I didn't see either the smew or the bean goose. . Spent a long time by the river at Glandyfi, and did see a green sandpiper and a couple of goldeneye. Just upstream of the old station building a kingfisher flew across the river and a cetti's warbler called from some reeds. 

Along the Clettwr there was a dipper, and downstream a large flock of canadas/barnacles. I met a chap named Scott Squires (no relation) who had a telescope and he couldn't find the whitefronts let alone the bean goose. According to staff at Ynyshir the bean goose was no longer with the whitefront flock anyway. Scott saw a peregrine take a crow and fly over the railway onto the estuary with it.

Jerry Moore

Pendam Lakes, etc.

Interesting to read about Chris Bird's sightings.  I too went to Llyn Pendam this morning and the only bird present was a female goldeneye.  However, at Syfydrin, there were four whooper swans (obviously the same birds).  Also, at Blaenmelindwr, there were at least 20 bullfinch in willows on the east side of the lake.  Unusual to see so many together. 

At Nant yr Arian, were 8 goosander, 3 greenfinch and several siskin at the feeder and (also unusually) a dipper at the side of the lake.

Chris Forster Brown

Llyn Pendam

Chris Bird went to Llyn Pendam this afternoon to check if the Ring-necked Duck was still around.  No luck, but there were four Whooper Swans and a female Goldeneye. Nearby was a party of  Bullfinches, including at least four males.

Tanybwlch bird walk

I'm leading a bird walk next week on behalf of the Penparcau Wildlife Forum, Everyone is welcome, no experience needed!

Monday 16th December 2pm, meeting Tanybwlch beach car park for a walk down the coastal path to the wet fields at the base of Allt Wen.,

This walk was originally scheduled for tomorrow 12th, but the weather forecast has forced a postponement.

Naomi Davis

Cors Caron

 Two Short-eared owls (or 2 separate sightings of the same bird) and a ringtail hen harrier on Monday at the northern end of the Bog.

Nick Edge

Smew at Ynys-hir

A smew was seen on Sunday on the river from Domen las hide (picture provided by Tony Gordon) plus Black-tailed godwit, pintail, goosander, hen harrier, bean goose (with the white fronts) and flocks of lapwing, teal, wigeon, etc.

Smew and Goosander

 Bev Dimmock

Apologies for late posting of this and the previous report, but I've been away for a few days.

Pendam

A quick cycle up to Pendam this morning was well worth it, and not just for the exercise!

The ring-necked duck was there. At first I took it for a tufted but then very bright white band towards the tip of the bill became obvious. However the head shape looked like that of a tufted to me and not peaked like a pochard. So I wonder if it is actually a hybrid rather than a fully-blown ring-necked.

While I was watching it I could hear crossbills calling, a sparrowhawk was present and a woodcock flew over

Jerry Moore

It's XMAS

For all you guys in Cereg and the Borders, especially those who maintain this lovely site and manage our postings...even if we live over the BORDER! It's been a luvly year and let's hope for even better in 2020!