Sunday 13 October 2019

Llanrhystud - Llansantffraed

Sunday 13 Oct
9.45-12.00. Llanrhystud – Llansantffraed – Llanrhystud

Was hoping for more passerines but apart from a 1W Northern Wheatear, which I tried but failed to string as an Isabelline, only a few Linnets (6), Meadow Pipits (10), Rock Pipit 3, Pied Wagtails (3). Seven Blackbirds, six Robins and four Dunnocks round the lime kilns and nearby hedges may have indicated a (very!) small influx. No tits, finches or other thrushes.

450+ gulls on the flooded field and surrounding area when I arrived had dwindled to c225 when I left a couple of hours later. All BH Gulls except for a handful of Med Gulls (15) and maybe 25 Herring Gulls. A single Oystercatcher there also.
2 Common Scoter and two Cormorants flying out to sea.

Beyond the lime kilns:

7 Grey Herons – two  on the rocks and a group of four in the fields plus a single.
The Little Egret at his/her usual place near the point.
375 very skittish Golden Plover first seen from the lime kilns and then subsequently at the point, wheeling out to sea. Difficult to ascertain if the 85 on the rocks seen subsequently were part of this large flock or not – probably since some of the flock appeared to split off and then dive down out of my line of sight.
6 Grey Plover flew north plus 4 Ringed Plover.
32 Oystercatchers including the leucistic individual.
37 Curlew on the rocks and the fields.
30 Turnstone flew N.

21 Med Gulls on the rocks by the point, plus three G Black-backed Gulls.

[Also, for the record, two Swallows flying over the river at Cardigan. 2 Oct.] 

Ian Harrison