Eight of us turned up for the first field trip of the year, with Liz leading. It was dark, dull, cold, wet and windy as we gathered at the beach car park, and the original plan to walk along the bay then inland and back along the river was modified. We decided to take the cycle track along the base of Pendinas then back along the river.
A good start with five Purple Sandpipers on the stone jetty, followed by two Choughs near the concrete bunker on the south side of the harbour. Both ringed; Red will forward details to Adrienne.
Luckily the rain stopped, the wind eased and we enjoyed a pleasant stroll, picking up most of the species we would expect or hope for in this area, including Dipper and Grey Wagtail. Lots of thrushes in the fields, mostly Redwings (60+) and Blackbirds, Mistle Thrushes (4) and the odd Song Thrush. The coastal fields held 21 Curlews and 17 Oystercatchers with good numbers of mostly Black-headed and Common Gulls on the flooded areas.
Many thanks to Liz for stepping in at short notice for Elaine.
Bird list, in order of appearance:
Herring Gull, Purple Sandpiper, Mallard, Chough, Turnstone, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, House Sparrow, Blackbird, Robin, Song Thrush, Dunnock, Starling, Red Kite, Buzzard, Meadow Pipit, Curlew, Oystercatcher, Black-headed Gull, Goosander, Rook, Magpie, Pied Wagtail, Woodpigeon, Goldfinch, Redwing, Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Nuthatch, Blue Tit, Siskin, Chaffinch, Treecreeper, Mistle Thrush, Raven, Grey Wagtail, Dipper, Common Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Stonechat,