Cross Inn Forest

 An earlier visit than usual ( May 23 last year) so many birds yet to arrive no doubt. However, Willow Warblers 87 (88 in 2023) and Chiffchaffs 52 (52 in 2023), very much in evidence. Other sightings included a Cuckoo, 3 Tree Pipits, 9 Redpoll and a Grasshopper Warbler. After twenty years of visits I saw my first ever Whinchat here, but passing through I would imagine.

Cuckoo

  I am staying at Ynyslas for the week. Just a few minutes ago I heard a cuckoo calling in the dunes 6.25am. 

David Williams

Stock Doves

 I am surprised that all of a sudden there is an increase in stock dove records for the county. I comprise the bird report from all records sent to me and without sent records then the reporting will be slim. I gather all data from emails, Birdtrack, ebirder, etc. but unless records are sent then the bird report is only comprised of what I can find.

Please send in records to me at russellbronygan@outlook.com.

Russell Jones

First Swift back

 First Swift returned tonight around 6.00pm that’s nine days earlier than expected and it returned to the usual first box back after a bit of a scramble by me to pull out the bungs.

Tony Clark 

Whimbrel, Wheatear and Lesser Whitethroat on our side of the Teifi

 Friday morning at Gwbert I had the pleasure of seeing 1 Whimbrel with 7 Curlew and c35 oystercatchers on the rocks at high tide though nothing else!

At the coffee stop on the Cliff Road a Lesser Whitethroat flitted up the slope and sang its opening few bars before deciding it was too damn cold to continue or perhaps that was just me.

Today on fields inland from Mwnt there were 2 male Wheatear and 5 Meadow pipits on a dung heap, and some Goldfinches and Linnets in the hedges; best of all was a singing Yellowhammer in this area of intensively farmed arable where a few years ago there was the largest number of breeding Yellowhammers in the County. Skylarks were singing away but over fields where the plough reached to the very edge of every field, some of which had been weed-killed as evidenced by drift onto the banks.

On the Aberporth cliffs the Chough couple are present but only one pair of Oystercatchers seem to be sitting. I'm hoping its a late start to their season occasioned by the many storms of March/early April.

A brief visit to Cross Inn forest last Sunday was very pleasant with Willow Warblers singing in the sunshine and my first Redstart of the year.                      

Stock Doves

 I totally agree with Jerry's remarks about Stock Doves. I find them to be quite regular away from well watched hot spots. I have been studying bird populations in SN65 since 2007. Initially, I found 30 pairs in 13 tetrads but my most recent estimate in 2023 was for there to be 71 pairs in 18 tetrads, being absent only from the highest ground. This correlates well with the BBS index for Wales which has shown a 118% increase in numbers over the same period. Stock Doves are green listed because populations appear to be doing well at present. At work, driving around, I saw a pair yesterday at Dolhaidd Mansion near Henllan bridge and two or three weeks ago a small flock of 14 was present for a few days between Croeslan and Tregroes.

Cors Caron

 Didn't see any scarcer waders but summer visitors increasing despite the cold, inc. a pair of Cuckoos and my first Swift. Three Little Egrets still present as well as 14 Mute Swans, 9 BH Gulls and 6 Goosanders (3 male/3 fem). Also what appeared to be a different Marsh Harrier to the female of a few days ago, an imm. bird I think.

Purple Heron

 RSPB Ynys-hir

A rather chilly stroll around the reserve again today. Quite a few redstarts singing and a few garden warblers in too. Five swift were over the Ynys Feurig pool with three white wagtails and four Greenland type wheatears. Interesting to see a pair of shoveler at the Marian Mawr pools and another two drakes elsewhere so breeding may occur hopefully. Sorry to say but I have heard rumours that this species is going to be added to the quarry list for shooting on the estuary which is a great shame. On the Marian Mawr pools was a late wigeon and a great crested grebe which is the first I have seen on there in 33 years.

Later, following a phone call from Tom Kistruck I drove to Tre'r Ddol and got picked up by land rover to twitch a purple heron seen at Lodge Farm an hour earlier (found by Tom and David Anning). After patiently scoping reeds for 45 minutes the heron flew out of a ditch and gave great views as it flew slowly into another ditch.

Russell Jones

Aberystwyth prom.

 Three Whimbrel at Castle Point this morning and a Common Sandpiper on College Rocks. A small party of Swallows went north, but all I could see offshore was a Gannet.

Three Turnstones and a Purple Sandpiper also at the point then along at the harbour anther five Turnstones and six Purple Sands  by the wooden jetty.

Glandwr

 I've had a couple of queries asking for the location of Glandwr Pool  so here goes. It's  just to the east of the River Leri,  a few hundred yards upriver from the road and railway bridges at Ynyslas.

From Borth on the B4353, head north, do not turn off to Ynyslas but continue on the main road.  Cross the Leri then immediately after the railway level crossing there is a swing gate on the right hand side of the road.  

Go through and along the footpath to the railway.  Take the footpath along the left side of the river until you reach the main pool at Glandwr.  It's just before an old grain hopper, but very difficult to view as it's surrounded by reeds.  We used to climb up the riverbank but now hardly any water is visible even from the top.

Of course, you can cross the railway bridge and walk along the opposite bank for better views of Aberleri Fields and Cors Fochno.