Med Gulls

On Blaendolau playing fields today there were 82 Med Gulls, among which were 10 juveniles.

Chris Bird

High tide from Ynys Feurig hide

Spent an hour this morning. Pool below the hide was disappointing as no water, & thus no waders.12 pied wagtails, a reed bunting, 4 meadow pipits, 4 mallard and a grey heron were all I could find. The estuary was fairly quiet too , though a flock of 360 black headed gulls,120 oystercatcher, 61 curlew were nice. Other birds included 4 little egret, a bar-headed goose, and  a flock of 120 starling. An impressive flock of 160 swifts were hunting very low over the saltmarsh. The only raptors were single red kite and buzzard.

Whimbrel at Aberaeron

A single Whimbrel calling at Aberaeron North beach this morning and nine Med Gulls on the playing fields.

Andy James

Swifts

Still here at 12:30 today. 
Looking out at the rain, perhaps thinking of staying put for a bit longer...

TANYBWLCH

 At least 6 Wheatears (all bar one were juvs.) and a Whinchat were present there this afternoon.

Swifts

Not a very good shot I'm afraid, but a real delight for me to see at least two young Swifts peeking out of my nest box. 
I believe they will fly soon, good luck little swifts.

Manx Shearwater sightings

I was interested to read John Davis's descriptions of manxie sightings off Borth.

On Monday last (15th July), I was returning from Dublin on the afternoon Stena ferry. From about half way across the Irish Sea, we passed through what seemed to be an endless stream of shearwaters heading south towards the tip of Llyn and Cardigan Bay. Numbers easily ran into the thousands. The 'conveyor belt' only seemed to stop when the ferry was a couple of miles west of South Stack.

Dave Thomas

Every year at this time we Ceredigion birders hope to find the huge flocks of manxies which occur in some years in Borth Bay.  

Dave's email reminded me of a talk at a WOS conference which was illustrated with charts showing large numbers of manxies from Skomer using the northern and western Irish Sea for feeding, particularly the area between Dublin and Dundalk. 

Nightjars at Cors Fochno

After visiting the Nightjar site at Cors Fochno last year I went again last night.  Had three birds in the air on several occasions, with some really close flight views and towards twenty good sightings in total.

Chris Sturges

Aberaeron Swifts

17 Swifts hawking above as I stepped out of the door yesterday evening, Aberaeron.

Andy James

MANXIES at BORTH

The conditions appeared very similar to yesterday but only around 1000 Manx Shearwaters were present and the only Gannets we saw were a few distant ones flying north.