Blackcaps

 We had one in our garden for a few days earlier in the month feeding on Crab Apples, until 17th. Somebody told me earlier that they too have had one in their garden, in the centre of Tregaron. This last week just gone, also attracted to Crab Apples.

Dyfi Circus

I ventured beyond the railway bridge at the Clettwr this morning. Four Marsh Harriers were perched on the saltmarsh: three fem/imm birds together and, c100m away, a male. Also a couple of Grey Plover on the mud, and six Barnacle Geese with the Canadas.

From the Glandyfi lay-by another fem/imm Marsh Harrier, three Goldeneye, three Common Sandpiper and one Green Sandpiper.

Four swans flying north over Llanbadarn yesterday afternoon may have been Whoopers, given how few Mutes we get in Aberystwyth now, but too far away to be sure.

Ty Gwyn pools

 Extremely quiet at Llanrhystud at low tide but inland at the pools were 300 Lapwings and 500 Golden Plovers.

Talk by Arfon Williams

 Wildlife Trust of South & West Wales North Ceredigion Local Group. 

"Woodcock Ringing in  Ceredigion & Carmarthenshire",

A talk by Arfon Williams  (RSPB Cymru. 

Monday 1 December 2025, 7pm, Theatre C22, Hugh Owen Building.  All welcome.

Goldeneye at Llyn Eiddwen

There was a male Goldeneye at Llyn Eiddwen this morning. Also a male Goosander.

Cors Fochno harrier roost

 It was a beautiful evening to go and check out the harrier roost on Cors Fochno with Dave Purdon.

There were probably three marsh harriers,  to our surprise.   Visibility was excellent bur it was difficult to work out what was what.   It looked like there were two juveniles/,females and another bird which may have been an  immature male.  - it seemed to have a large pale grey panel underneath the wing but otherwise looked like a juvenile.   Marsh harrier id is really complicated.!  Much easier was a lovely male hen Harrier which appeared to still be hunting after the other harriers had gone to roost.   Also a kestrel. 

Jerry Moore 

Tanybwlch Brent Goose

 

The dark-bellied Brent was still feeding on the fields at Tanybwlch this afternoon, looking very settled.

Hooded Crow

 Had a Hooded Crow south end Cors Caron this evening along with 70+ Greylag Geese,  also 1 Great White Egret and 1 Little Egret,  30+ Fieldfare. 

Will Davies 

Llansantffraed

 Regular numbers present for November; 80 Curlew, 30 Oystercatcher, 20 Turnstone. 8 Little Egrets were huddled tightly together under the lime kilns at the bottom of the tiny waterfall.

Woodcock

 1 Woodcock at Longwood this evening. 

Gérard Fordham 

Ynyslas

 On the fields there was probably about 200+ Golden Plover with at least about 50 Lapwing  and a dozen or so Curlew.

Well over 100 Wigeon on the estuary with probably two dozen Shelduck.

Good day for birds of prey with Peregrine,  Sparrowhawk and Kestrel.  Other highlights were a Kingfisher and a Great Crested Grebe.

Thomas Simpson 

Brent goose @ Tanybwlch 2

Guess it was Mr Simpson below who alerted me to the Brent as I passed them pm today on the Tanybwlch path-I almost missed it and had to retrace my steps before spotting it with a group of rooks!! I realised that one of the crowd had a white spot and that was it! Also there , a pair of Oystercatchers and 2 Rock Pips. The Turnstone was near the pier with 5 more .

Ynys-hir

 Sightings over the past couple of days include 10 Greenland white-fronted geese,  2 marsh harriers,  barn owl,  2 water rails and Cetti's Warbler.

Dave Anning 

Brent Goose at Tanybwlch

 A Brent Goose gave some very close views on Tanybwlch fields.  There was also a Ringed Plover on the stone jetty.

Thomas Simpson 

Teifi valley

 Great Egrets present at Pont Einon and Ystrad Caron. Wigeon; 160 at Cors Caron and 70 at Pont Gogoyan. Coots; 10 at Pant pool and 3 at Cors Caron. Also at Cors Caron; 7 Goosander and 5 Gadwall.

Hen Harrier

 This afternoon we saw an adult male Hen Harrier coursing from Cors Fochno over the Leri and towards the back of Borth.

Sue  Dalton

Hawks

 Yesterday we took a walk in the sun in valley above Cwm Ystwyth.   The cold breeze seemed to have kept the birds at home as there was little about, a Coal Tit nosing about in fallen beech mast was the only one we saw.   Turning round at the top of the hill by the clump of conifers  we started down the hill .  A dark "buzzard " flying strongly and directly across the rough field by the road caught my eye but just didn't look right.   Through binoculars as it landed on a wall the noticeable thing alongside its large size and strong head was a prominent white patch on the flanks behind/under its wings and as it moved on up the hill it was definitely a very large muscular hawk not a harrier or buzzard.   Now I have never knowingly seen a Goshaawk before but I was left with a clear impression that that was as it dived into the conifers. 

Strangely enough the only other notable birds we saw as we drove back home to wards Aber were two separate Sparrowhawks flying along the road and then hopping over the hedge and into gardens in Devil's Bridge  and near Pant-y-crug.  These were clearly something different and more delicate than our earlier sighting. 

Stephen Forster 

Willow Tits and Marsh Tits above Llanfair Clydogau

 Very happy to see both species this morning not too far from each other (a few hundred metres) at locations where I have recorded them before now and again over the last 20 years. Both were responding to playback for Willow Tits as used in the national survey. The Willow Tits were along Nant Clywedog Uchaf 646517 in a marshy field that is gradually reverting to willow scrub. The Marsh Tits were along Nant Clywedog Ganol 646510 in a ribbon of mature deciduous woodland. On 02/11 I heard a Willow Tit singing not so far away within Clywedog plantation 643503 in an area of very boggy forest that was cleared about three years ago I think. In my experience at least, these two species are invariably found in quite different habitat niches and this separation seems well demonstrated in this particular area.

Ynys-hir

 Yesterday the highlights were a brief but good view of a Hen Harrier, a Great White Egret, Green Sandpiper and a male Goldeneye. All from the Domen Las hide.

Thomas Simpson 

ABERYSTWYTH

  Early this morning the interesting sight of 53 Rooks foraging on South Beach. Later, low over the sea infront of the lifeboat station, a couple of Peregrines, one with prey, had a brief scrap.

Shag and Med Gull

 There was a juvenile Shag on the Ystwyth at Tanybwlch today and a late Mediterranean Gull  flew over.

Thomas Simpson

Great Egret at Pant Pond

 Today there was 1Gteat Egret perched in a dead tree at Pant Pond.  Also 7 Coot, 6 plus  Little Grebes. 

At Pont Gogoyan there was 1 Dipper and in fields just north of bridge 3 Little Egrets,  16 Wigeon,  about 30 Teal, 12 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 1 Great Black-backed Gull.

Gérard Fordham

Salem

 I saw a woodcock in woodland near Salem this morning and heard a brief burst of  Mistle Thrush song!

Jerry Moore 

Rainy day

 5 Little Egrets were in flooded fields at Henllan.

Ynyslas

 It was good to see a flock of over 100 golden pover flying over North Point at Ynyslas this morning. 

Elsewhere, besides the regulars, there were at least four grey plover on the saltmarsh along with several egrets,  couple of greenshank and a grey heron.   Back at Ynyslas Turn, a late wheatear flew in front of the car. 

Dave Thomas 

Pont Einon

 A male Hen Harrier, 3 Great White Egrets  and 2 Little Egrets at Pont Einon, south end of Cors Caron this evening. 

Will Davies 

Ynyslas

An enjoyable tramp around Ynyslas this morning, before the rain started in earnest. At the mouth of the Leri there were three Greenshanks, two Great Egrets, 15 Pintail, and a Snipe over. At the point, 7 Grey Plover, 1 Knot, 1 Ringed Plover and 28 Dunlin. In the willows, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, and a Great Spotted Woodpecker. On my way back past the tern posts, a Pale-bellied Brent Goose was with the Wigeon.

Yesterday there was an altercation between a Goshawk and a Buzzard over Llanbadarn, much to the alarm of the Herring Gulls.

Quick visits in the Teifi valley

 I saw a total of 4 Great Egrets earlier; at Pont Einon, Ystrad Caron and two at Pont Gogoyan. There was also a Green Sandpiper at the latter, close to the bridge.

Pont Einon

 Early morning visit to Pont Einon produced 30  species including 27 Greylag Geese,  3 Great White Egrets,  30+  Collared Doves, 4 Snipe, Blackcaps plus the usual.

Will Davies 

Hen Harrier

 Amale Hen Harrier gave some stunning views outside Ynyslas boatyard (Aberleri).

A flock of 6 Pink-footed Geese also flew overhead.

Thomas Simpson 

Curlews

 There were 11 Curlews on Tanybwlch fields today. 

Thomas Simpson 

Great White Egrets

 An early afternoon visit to Pont Einon produced 9 Great White Egrets together with 3 Grey Heronsand 2 Little Egrets.  

A further visit ro Naesllyn Lake produced Greylag Geese, Canada Geese, Teal, Coot and a few Moorhens.  On the railway walk there were Long-tailed Tits,  Great Tits, Goldctest, Chiffchaffs and a few Blackcaps.

Will Davies 

Black Redstart

 Urdd Llangrannog 

Fem/imm black redstart on roof of first set of buildings  on left along driveway.   Seems to be a regular occurrence over past few years. 

Dave Haslam 

Clywedog plantation

 A longish walk from above Llyn y Gwaith (birdless as always) down to Clywedog. Some good birds were present in the morning sunshine including Goshawk and Green Woodpecker. A singing Willow Tit was well over a km away from where I saw a pair a few weeks ago along Sarn Helen, so possibly/hopefully different birds. Also seen; Woodcock, Snipe, Stonechat, Reed Bunting, Treecreeper.

Cors Caron

 This evening on the south end of  Cors Caron from Pont Einon produced Merlin, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Fieldfare. Snipe, Stonechat and Kingfisher. 

Will Davies