SEPTEMBER RECORDS from CEREDIGION

 

Highlights: A Great Shearwater was seen a few miles off Aberystwyth (25^th). Sea-watching at New Quay produced four Arctic and two Great Skuas (3^rd 5^th). An Osprey was seen at the Dyfi estuary from Ynys-hir (8^th,20^th and 21^st) where a Scaup was noted (26^th). A late Turtle Dove was in an Aberystwyth garden (25^th), a Wryneck was found dead at Ynys Lochtyn (13^th), a Yellow Wagtail was at Ynyslas (11^th) and two Firecrests  at Cross Inn forest (26^th).

 

Dyfi estuary: At Ynys-hir there were peak counts of 258 Barnacle Geese (28^th), 220 Teal (28^th), 650 Wigeon (23^rd), a Whimbrel (18^th), 26 Knot (25^th), 48 Black-Tailed Godwits (8^th) and 26 Bar-Tailed Godwits (20^th). Also present was a Hobby (16^th), a Merlin (30^th), an early Grey Plover (8^th), two Greenshank (25^th), a Curlew Sandpiper (19^th), a Little Stint (20^th), three Ruff (19^th-25^th) and two Green Sandpipers (16^th).

At Ynyslas there were peak counts of nine Golden Plover (17^th), 240 Ringed Plover and 320 Dunlin (7^th) and 100 Sanderling (1^st and 6^th). Also seen were two Whimbrel (12^th), two Curlew Sandpipers (17^th), two White Wagtails (7^th) and two Whinchats (17^th).

 

Teifi estuary: 40 Barnacle Geese were present (16^th), seven Black-tailed Godwit (5^th), one Knot (7^th and 16^th) and two Common Sandpipers (21^st). There were peak counts of 65 Wigeon (29^th), 48 Ringed Plover (5^th), 59 Curlew (25^th) and six Bar-tailed Godwits (25^th-29^th). 600 Swallows passed over (16^th) and 10 Blackcaps were at the nearby Teifi marshes (26^th).

 

Coastal sites: A maximum 14 Red-throated Divers were off Borth. Up to seven Brent Geese were viewable at close range from the prom at Aberystwyth (11^th-14^th), as was a Ruff (3^rd) and White Wagtail (15^th). A late Swift (8^th) and Whinchat (20^th) were at nearby Tanybwlch.

At Llanrhystud were two Bar-tailed Godwit (24^th), one Knot (10^th), two Greenshank, seven Common Sandpipers, six Mediterranean Gulls (9^th), two late Sandwich Terns (24^th) and five White Wagtails (10^th).

At Llansantffraed there were three Brent Geese (30^th) and a peak counts of 75 Curlew (9^th), 38 Turnstone (19^th), one Grey Plover (8^th), five Whimbrel (19^th), one Knot (15^th and 19^th) and four Mediterranean Gulls (15^th).

 

Other Locations: A Merlin and Hen Harrier were at Cors Fochno (17^th). A Hen Harrier was at Cors Caron (8^th and 25^th) where a Hobby was seen (4^th and 9^th) and a Spotted Redshank (18^th). A late Spotted Flycatcher was at Croeslan (7^th) and seven Crossbills were at Nant yr Arian (17^th).

 

OCTOBER 2009 RECORDS

 

HIGHLIGHTS: A Sabine’s Gull was an excellent sighting by Terry Hobson from Aberystwyth (11^th). Greenland White-fronted Geese returned to Ynys-hir but only numbered 59 by month end. Four Brent Geese were a remarkable sight for John Val., as they were flying down the Rheidol valley, well inland at Cwmrheidol (14^th). A Firecrest was a good find by Red Liford at Cwmystwyth (11^th) and a Great Grey Shrike returned to Cross Inn Forest (23^rd), seen initially by John Val., Roger Merry and John Davis.

There was a late Hobby at Cors Caron (1^st) seen by Will Davies (nice to have you back in Ceredigion) and other late migrants were a Manx Shearwater at New Quay (23^rd), a Gannet and Sandwich Tern at Ynyslas (18^th), Common Tern at Borth (3^rd), a Turtle Dove in lucky Len Kersley’s Aberystwyth garden (18^th and 22^nd), Sand Martin at Ynys-hir (7^th), House Martin at Ynyslas (22^nd), Swallow at Aberaeron (25^th), White Wagtail at Borth (3^rd) and a Wheatear at Tanybwlch  (25^th)

 

DYFI ESTUARY: At Ynsy-hir there were peak counts of 25 Little Egrets (17^th), 269 Barnacle Geese (14^th), 1650 Teal (30^th), 16 Shoveller (19^th), 2200 Wigeon (28^th), 800 Golden Plovers (19^th), 1200 Lapwing (28^th), 11 Black-tailed Godwits (5^th), 27 Bar-tailed Godwits (27^th) and 4000 Redwings (26^th). Also on the reserve were a Common Sandpiper and 12 Chiffchaffs (12^th) and a Green Sandpiper (7^th and 20^th).

At Ynyslas there were two Sanderling (3^rd), two Knot (3^rd), 20 Linnets (22^nd) and 40,000 Starlings (30^th). Four Brent Geese were also recorded (7^th) and a Jack Snipe and 5000 Oystercatchers (6^th).

 

TEIFI ESTUARY:  There were peak counts of 238 Wigeon (24^th), 30 Ringed Plovers (17^th), 10 Bar-tailed Godwits (5^th), two Black-tailed Godwits (17^th), 18 Redshanks (24^th), two Brent Geese (24^th and 25^th), a Greenshank (5^th) and Common Sandpiper (24^th).

 

COASTAL SITES: There were peak counts of 82 Common Scoter at Ynyslas (21^st), 400 Razorbills at Borth (12^th) and 21 Red-throated Divers there (8^th). 300 Golden Plovers were at Llansantffraed (24^th) and 40 Turnstones at Aberaeron (7^th). Two Hen Harriers were seen regularly at Borth Bog where a Merlin was also noted (7^th and 13^th) and one at nearby Ynyslas (3^rd).  A Black Redstart was seen from Borth railway station (29^th).

 

OTHER SITES:  At Cors Caron, six Pink-footed Geese was a good sighting (4^th). 36 Snipe were noted (12^th), a Green Sandpiper (5^th), 50 Goldfinches (15^th) and two Hen Harriers all month. A Merlin was at Llyn Blaenmelindwr (1^st), a Black Redstart at Cwm Einion (30^th) and a Jack Snipe at Llangwyrfon (14^th). The first Redwing was at Capel Sion (1^st) and there was a report of just one Brambling, at Croeslan (27^th). 20 Crossbills were at Cross Inn Forest (23^rd and 30^th).