Sunday 9 September 2012
I pitched up a few minutes late this afternoon at the Llanrhystud car park all gung-ho for Aline's beach cleanup. Pity it was six days early. So did some birding instead.
Llanrhystud – Llanon – Craig Ddu (the wooded valley at the foot) and back again.
Some evidence of migration but not much! Total of 13 Northern Wheatears, 1 Osprey, very small movement of hirundines – 20 Barn Swallows and 2 Sand Martins flying south. Didn't see any Starlings at all in Llanon/Llansantfraid so don't know if the Rose-coloured S is still about. No warblers.
Llanrhystud - Llanon
Curlew 42
Turnstone 23
Ringed Plover 7
Oystercatcher 24
Med Gulls c290 including c95 juvs/1st winters.
Sandwich Tern 3
Northern Wheatear 9, including 2 flying south about 10 metres offshore – and which continued flying until they were out of sight.
Yellow Wagtail 1 (Llanon)
1 White Wagtail among the Pieds feeding on the muck heap near the Llanrhystud car park.
Whinchat 1
Llanon – foot of Craig Ddu
Osprey 1
Northern Wheatear 4
Stonechat 2
Ian Harrison