STAR BIRDS: Ceredigion enjoyed a share of the winter
influx of Glaucous Gulls from the far north. Last month’s Aberystwyth’s
Glaucous Gull was seen (to 2nd) and another, paler bird was found by
Edward O’Connor at Ynyslas (9th) and then another by Tom Kistruck at
Tre’r ddol (20th – 24th). That one was just across the
road from the Clettwr cafe. It was back to Ynyslas (24th) where it
was seen by Pat Heming and it or another was seen by E O’C at Ynys-hir (26th)
whose boundless energy enabled him to see one at New Quay that same day!
Borth’s charming Snow Bunting lingered into March. It
is generally by the prom opposite the golf club.
A female Ring-necked Duck was a great find by E O’C at
Llyn Glandwgan (16th). The next day Bob Relph and I saw it on nearby
Llyn Rhosrhydd where seven Whooper Swans were present,
A Great Northern Diver and 127 Kittewakes passed
Aberystwyth and three Bewick’s Swans and two Little Gulls were reported by Russell
Jones at Ynys-hir (23rd). A Little Gull was seen flying south at
Borth on the last day of the month.
DYFI ESTUARY SIGHTINGS: There were peak counts of
eight Black-tailed Godwits (1st), 3000 Wigeon, eight Shoveller, 1000
Oystercatchers, 72 Grey Plovers, 12 Bar-tailed Godwits (2nd), 370
Pintail and 500 Dunlin (16th). Present throughout were up to five
Brent Geese, only 14 Greenland White-fronted Geese, a Marsh Harrier, a Hen
Harrier, a Greenshank and two Green Sandpipers. At Ynyslas 50 Common Scoters were
offshore (6th).
SIGHTINGS FROM OTHER LOCATIONS: Four Whooper Swans
were at Llyn Gorsgoch (4th), a Scaup was again at Llyn Eiddwen (5th),
two Jack Snipe at Llanon (11th), 28 Gannets at Aberystwyth (13th)
where the Black Redstart and nine Purple Sandpipers remained. 23 Red-throated
Divers were at Aberaeron (13th),
At Cors Caron there were counts by Andy Polkey of 190
Wigeon, 498 Teal, 180 Lapwing, a Jack Snipe and a Merlin (14th).
At the Teifi estuary there were 600 Lapwing and a Purple Sandpiper (18th), a good find by
Richard Dobbins, one of the Pembrokeshire stalwarts.