Damn. sorry everyone. Cheers Chris. Ynys Hir. Great reserve.
Chris Harper said
Mon Apr 29 8:09 PM, 2013
Nice,where did you visit in Wales?
Dennis atherton said
Mon Apr 29 10:56 AM, 2013
Our bolton RSPB local group visit.
All target species on show. Present and correct
3 Wood warblers 5 Redstart Multiple m/f Pied flycatchers 2 Red kites 1 Osprey The usual Siskins and finches on the feeders 1 goldcrest 2 treecreeper Bonus bird a very vocal active Tree pipit
High numbers of Curlew on the water. Shelduck. 5 Sandwich terns, Sorry edit, terns Terned out to be Sandwich not common, Pardon the bad pun,
Great time to visit. All target birds present singing and easy to see as the trees are still not full of leaves
-- Edited by Dennis atherton on Monday 29th of April 2013 08:24:36 PM
Matt Potter said
Mon Apr 26 9:30 PM, 2010
yeah shame we missed each other! It is a big place, but a fantastic place! And you have the Osprey set up next door too! Its a real gem of an area!
Dennis atherton said
Mon Apr 26 7:20 PM, 2010
Ah gutted, missed you, it is a large place though, some good birds there too
Matt Potter said
Mon Apr 26 9:16 AM, 2010
Dennis atherton wrote:
bolton rspb group trip today, high lights were.....
single osprey flying over, tree creepers, nuthatch, gs peckers, wheatear, lots of pied flycatchers, redstart, blackcaps, lots of warblers today, chiffchaff, willow warbler, great looking wood warblers, also reed warbler and grasshopper warbler heard but not seen, nice flocks of siskins at visitor center, redshank, common sandpipers and a few little egrets
Dennis, we saw your coach as we were there yesterday too! We kept an eye out for you, but didnt see you!!
Its a great reserve isnt it!!
Dennis atherton said
Sun Apr 25 8:08 PM, 2010
bolton rspb group trip today, high lights were.....
single osprey flying over, tree creepers, nuthatch, gs peckers, wheatear, lots of pied flycatchers, redstart, blackcaps, lots of warblers today, chiffchaff, willow warbler, great looking wood warblers, also reed warbler and grasshopper warbler heard but not seen, nice flocks of siskins at visitor center, redshank, common sandpipers and a few little egrets
declan savage said
Sun May 31 12:37 PM, 2009
We had a whistle-stop tour of mid-Wales yesterday, making the most of the great weather.
Started off at 5.30am around Lake Vrynwy, where a female Hen Harrier and 2 (distant) male Black Grouse made the early start worthwhile. Also present on the hillsides we had a bit of a chat-fest with several Whinchat, Redstarts, Wheatears, and 4 newly fledged Stonechats, plus Tree Pipit, Red Grouse, Kestrel and a family of stoats. There was plenty of birdsong in the woods, including several Wood Warblers, more Redstarts, Siskins and a male Pied Flycatcher just by the car.
Our next stop was the Ynys-hir reserve on theDyfi estuary - I've been coming here every spring for years - really great spot. Red Kites (up to 4 at once) were a fairly constant presence on the hills behind the reserve. Other raptors included Sparrowhawks, Kestrel, plenty of Buzzards (including an occupied nest a few miles from the reserve) and a Peregrine. Pied Flycatchers were in abundance, and we also added Cuckoo, Marsh Tit, Jays, more Redstarts and Wood Warblers, Spotted Flycatcher, and Grasshopper Warbler. A Green Woodpecker was unsually showy and very vocal. Little Egrets, Herons, Shelducks and a male Goosander were on the estaury. The feeders at the car park had Coal Tits, Nuthatch, GS Woodpecker and lots of very tame Siskins. Loads of Painted Ladies everywhere.
A short drive from the reserve took us to the Osprey watchpoint. Nice place- very friendly staff and a fine new tower hide - 2 Ospreys gave excellent views on the nest platform, engaging in courtship behaviour and attempting to mate a few times. Lots of warblers around the reserve included Sedge, Reed, Garden and Whitethroat, plus dozens more Painted Ladies and plenty of dragonflies.
2 Red Kites flew right overhead as we were leaving and on the road home we added a few more, plus loads of Buzzards and Kestrels.
Excellent day - well worth the drive and the sunburn.
-- Edited by declan savage on Sunday 31st of May 2009 12:39:05 PM
Matt Potter said
Thu Feb 5 10:01 AM, 2009
Rob Smallwood wrote:
Hi Matt - what about Hobby? I've twice seen them there in summer - the first time I assumed it was a wanderer but the second time made me wonder if they are more regular?
Is the pale leucistic Kite still around?
We saw two leucistic Red Kites yesterday!! They are really nice to see and almost look like a new species!!!
Matt Potter said
Mon Jan 19 9:02 AM, 2009
Mike Chorley wrote:
You're lucky Welsh Buzzards don't seem to share the same tastes as their Cornish counterparts (Check your e-mail)
Haha cheers Mike, I got the pics!! Later that day though, another one turned up with so two were bobbing up and down on the sea!
Hopefully the Red Kites wont notice them either!!
Mike Chorley said
Sun Jan 18 9:28 AM, 2009
You're lucky Welsh Buzzards don't seem to share the same tastes as their Cornish counterparts (Check your e-mail)
Matt Potter said
Fri Jan 16 1:24 PM, 2009
Just twitched the Phalarope again. I took my missus down there too for her first, twitch!!
Matt Potter said
Fri Jan 16 9:06 AM, 2009
There was a Grey Phalarope at Aberystwyth South beach yesterday. It was quite close to the shore!
I got the text off the local county recorder and within 10 mins i was at the beach looking at it!!
Sadly I also found a Woodcock road kill in town as well near a ditch at the playing fields. Quite a shame!
Matt Potter said
Fri Jan 9 9:16 AM, 2009
I found a Little Egret on the playing fields today. Normally it would be quite a nice find, until i let you know that one was at the same place this time last year for a few weeks and they breed 9 miles up the coast at Ynis - hir RSPB reserve!
Still its a nice bird and i will wander down later to get a closer look!
Matt - Oldham Birders Welsh Division.
Matt Potter said
Mon Jan 5 11:08 AM, 2009
Tony Coatsworth wrote:
Most winters there's Purple Sandpipers roosting in Aberystwyth harbour wall - they usually all zoom out at first light. There also used to be a big Starling roost in the pier with a Peregrine patrolling round
The starling roost is still there and is growing all the time. We are getting some large Pied Wag roosts as well!
Re Kites over Nant Yr Arian must have got to well over 100 birds over the cold snap!
Tony Coatsworth said
Mon Dec 29 1:23 PM, 2008
Most winters there's Purple Sandpipers roosting in Aberystwyth harbour wall - they usually all zoom out at first light. There also used to be a big Starling roost in the pier with a Peregrine patrolling round
Steve Collins said
Sun Dec 28 11:42 PM, 2008
Saw 5 Hawfinch this morning at a usual site of Llanbedr-y-cennin in the Conwy valley. Went looking for GG Shrike in the Cloccaenog Forest but no joy. Made my day to come across a Red Kite cruising along beside the A5 on the way towards Betwys-y-Coed. Happy New Birding Year to all Steve
-- Edited by Steve Collins at 23:43, 2008-12-28
Matt Potter said
Wed Dec 10 9:09 AM, 2008
4 Purple Sandpiper down at the harbour the last few days. Along with a few Rock Pipits. Apparently there is a wintering Black Redstart at the Castle, I will have a mooch later!
Matt Potter said
Fri Nov 28 10:37 AM, 2008
Our 9 Whooper Swans seem to have consolidated themselves and are there everyday now!
Matt Potter said
Tue Nov 25 11:01 AM, 2008
Henry Cook wrote:
Where is your lake by the way Matt? What's it called? Thanks. Henry.
Our local Lake is Llyn Yr Oefra, just off the A44 near Nant Yr Arian forest centre and Red Kite Feeding, about 12 miles out of Aberystwyth. Its high up in the start of the Cambrian Mountains and we get some wild weather!
And the Whooper Swan collection has now risen to 9 this morning along with 1 Grey Heron and 1 Cormorant
Henry Cook said
Mon Nov 24 5:13 PM, 2008
Where is your lake by the way Matt? What's it called? Thanks. Henry.
Matt Potter said
Mon Nov 24 8:15 AM, 2008
The 4 Whooper swans have turned into 6 whooper swans!! Yay!
Matt Potter said
Wed Nov 19 2:24 PM, 2008
4 whooper swans and 2 goosanders on my local upland/mountain lake!! I was quite chuffed with that!
Matt Potter said
Mon Nov 3 12:27 PM, 2008
About 8 million Red Kites over the weekend! I think they will be upto culling status soon!
Matt Potter said
Thu Oct 30 9:03 AM, 2008
Whoo hooo!
I got my first Brambling in the garden today with a flock of Chaffinches!
I hope it hangs around for a bit!
Matt Potter said
Wed Oct 1 8:48 AM, 2008
Rob Smallwood wrote:
Interesting.
Breeding Hobbies can be incredibly illusive and I suspect overlooked.
I've had a third in the general area, but that one was probably passing through, and autumn immature bird picked up flying south over the sea at Aberdysyni during a seawatch - nearly put it down as a Skua at first!!
That info came from the RSPB guy who sends out monthly sightings records. You could be right though and sightings have been put down to passing birds.
I will certainly keep an eye open next summer!
Rob Smallwood said
Tue Sep 30 11:27 AM, 2008
Interesting.
Breeding Hobbies can be incredibly illusive and I suspect overlooked.
I've had a third in the general area, but that one was probably passing through, and autumn immature bird picked up flying south over the sea at Aberdysyni during a seawatch - nearly put it down as a Skua at first!!
Matt Potter said
Tue Sep 30 8:30 AM, 2008
Rob Smallwood wrote:
Hi Matt - what about Hobby? I've twice seen them there in summer - the first time I assumed it was a wanderer but the second time made me wonder if they are more regular?
Is the pale leucistic Kite still around?
I have found out that the Hobbys at Nant Yr Arian are only passing through. There are usually 4 knocking about around Cors Carron as well but passing through. Well done on spotting them on two occasions!!
Matt Potter said
Wed Sep 17 3:36 PM, 2008
Rob Smallwood wrote:
By some bizarre coincedence someone has posted a photo of the leucistic Kite on BirdGuides this week, taken at Nant-y-Arian - so it looks as though it is still around.
ooo excellent, I will defo keep an eye out for it! cheers for that!
Rob Smallwood said
Wed Sep 17 3:04 PM, 2008
By some bizarre coincedence someone has posted a photo of the leucistic Kite on BirdGuides this week, taken at Nant-y-Arian - so it looks as though it is still around.
Matt Potter said
Mon Sep 15 10:41 AM, 2008
Mike Chorley wrote:
Matt Potter wrote
Its costing a furtune in black sunflower seed!!
You could try growing you own
I think I will have to for next year!!!
Our cats have only had one avian casualty though luckily! On the other other hand, the common shrew and field mice populations have taken a hammering!!!
Mike Chorley said
Sun Sep 14 5:22 PM, 2008
Matt Potter wrote
Its costing a furtune in black sunflower seed!!
You could try growing you own
Matt Potter said
Fri Sep 12 12:01 PM, 2008
Rob Smallwood wrote:
Hi Matt - what about Hobby? I've twice seen them there in summer - the first time I assumed it was a wanderer but the second time made me wonder if they are more regular?
Is the pale leucistic Kite still around?
I have never seen Hobby here, but never looked for them. Again, I havent seen the Kite but havent been looking cos I didnt know about it. I will keep an eye out for them next summer though. I am getting to know on email who is who around here in terms of regional reps etc, so I can ask the question.
Our bird table is getting a hammering! Loads of blue and great tits - 30 to 40 birds, 20+ chaffinches, coal tits, nuthatch, sparrows, gs woodpecker and a single yellowhammer!
Its costing a furtune in black sunflower seed!!
-- Edited by Matt Potter at 12:02, 2008-09-12
Rob Smallwood said
Fri Sep 12 10:46 AM, 2008
Hi Matt - what about Hobby? I've twice seen them there in summer - the first time I assumed it was a wanderer but the second time made me wonder if they are more regular?
Is the pale leucistic Kite still around?
Matt Potter said
Fri Sep 12 10:13 AM, 2008
Yup, its Nant Y Arian. There are a few wind turbines nearby!
Lots of birds about!
We walk the dogs around the lake there. Its an amazing place. The other night, there must have been 100+ bats out skimming the water and taking insects!
amazingly, I see a Kestrel every so often and Kites every day. I get my Kestrel fix when i visit manchester!
Rob Smallwood said
Thu Sep 11 8:26 PM, 2008
Sounds like Nant-y-Arian to me - love the spot - stumbled across it once on the way back from Tregaron not knowing there was a feeding station there.
Saw a few kites in the air so pulled in to the lay-by - by chance around 3:00 when feeding took place - the sky soon filled with Kites (some dodging the turbines indeed) and have visited many times since.
Not quite Gigrin Farm standards, but a great spot non the less - and a great place to be able to look down on Kites rather than just look up at them.
Steve Suttill said
Thu Sep 11 5:14 PM, 2008
Is that the place where they have to dodge through all the wind turbines to get to the food?
Forgot to mention Cors Caron (Tregaron Bog) as a place to visit. There weren't many birds there when we visited but it's a wonderfully atmospheric place.
You've certainly found a good place to live, Matt.
Steve
Matt Potter said
Thu Sep 11 4:34 PM, 2008
We live just outside Abersytwyth near a Red Kite feeding area, and you can see up 60 red kites at feeding time!! Its a great spectacle!
Steve Suttill said
Tue Sep 9 6:29 PM, 2008
Just had a wet week in Wales (though it seems to have been pretty damp here as well).
Highlight was my first Sooty Shearwater from the seawatching shelter on Strumble Head (nr Fishguard). You needed the shelter - without it you couldn't hold bins or scope steady in the gale that was blowing! Choughed (there were quite a few of those around) to find the Sooty myself though I got one of the regulars to confirm the ID.
If you're in the area, other good spots were Parrog (near Newport, Ceredigion) at low tide for waders, and Mwnt (other side of Cardigan) for Choughs and cracking views of Dolphin.
Red Kites almost everywhere - real Welsh ones, not these foreign imports!
Saw a cracking exhibition of wood-engravings (another passion of mine) at Fishguard called "An Avian Alphabet" by Colin See-Paynton. All the pictures are based on collective nouns for birds - Unkindness of Ravens, Hill of Ruff, Deceit of Lapwings, Knob of Pochard, etc. If you get the chance, go and see it - it's touring England and Wales.
Steve
All target species on show. Present and correct
3 Wood warblers
5 Redstart
Multiple m/f Pied flycatchers
2 Red kites
1 Osprey
The usual Siskins and finches on the feeders
1 goldcrest
2 treecreeper
Bonus bird a very vocal active Tree pipit
High numbers of Curlew on the water. Shelduck. 5 Sandwich terns, Sorry edit, terns Terned out to be Sandwich not common, Pardon the bad pun,
Great time to visit. All target birds present singing and easy to see as the trees are still not full of leaves
-- Edited by Dennis atherton on Monday 29th of April 2013 08:24:36 PM
Dennis, we saw your coach as we were there yesterday too! We kept an eye out for you, but didnt see you!!
Its a great reserve isnt it!!
single osprey flying over, tree creepers, nuthatch, gs peckers, wheatear, lots of pied flycatchers, redstart, blackcaps, lots of warblers today, chiffchaff, willow warbler, great looking wood warblers, also reed warbler and grasshopper warbler heard but not seen, nice flocks of siskins at visitor center, redshank, common sandpipers and a few little egrets
Started off at 5.30am around Lake Vrynwy, where a female Hen Harrier and 2 (distant) male Black Grouse made the early start worthwhile. Also present on the hillsides we had a bit of a chat-fest with several Whinchat, Redstarts, Wheatears, and 4 newly fledged Stonechats, plus Tree Pipit, Red Grouse, Kestrel and a family of stoats. There was plenty of birdsong in the woods, including several Wood Warblers, more Redstarts, Siskins and a male Pied Flycatcher just by the car.
Our next stop was the Ynys-hir reserve on theDyfi estuary - I've been coming here every spring for years - really great spot. Red Kites (up to 4 at once) were a fairly constant presence on the hills behind the reserve. Other raptors included Sparrowhawks, Kestrel, plenty of Buzzards (including an occupied nest a few miles from the reserve) and a Peregrine. Pied Flycatchers were in abundance, and we also added Cuckoo, Marsh Tit, Jays, more Redstarts and Wood Warblers, Spotted Flycatcher, and Grasshopper Warbler. A Green Woodpecker was unsually showy and very vocal. Little Egrets, Herons, Shelducks and a male Goosander were on the estaury. The feeders at the car park had Coal Tits, Nuthatch, GS Woodpecker and lots of very tame Siskins. Loads of Painted Ladies everywhere.
A short drive from the reserve took us to the Osprey watchpoint. Nice place- very friendly staff and a fine new tower hide - 2 Ospreys gave excellent views on the nest platform, engaging in courtship behaviour and attempting to mate a few times. Lots of warblers around the reserve included Sedge, Reed, Garden and Whitethroat, plus dozens more Painted Ladies and plenty of dragonflies.
2 Red Kites flew right overhead as we were leaving and on the road home we added a few more, plus loads of Buzzards and Kestrels.
Excellent day - well worth the drive and the sunburn.
-- Edited by declan savage on Sunday 31st of May 2009 12:39:05 PM
We saw two leucistic Red Kites yesterday!! They are really nice to see and almost look like a new species!!!
Haha cheers Mike, I got the pics!! Later that day though, another one turned up with so two were bobbing up and down on the sea!
Hopefully the Red Kites wont notice them either!!
I got the text off the local county recorder and within 10 mins i was at the beach looking at it!!
Sadly I also found a Woodcock road kill in town as well near a ditch at the playing fields. Quite a shame!
Still its a nice bird and i will wander down later to get a closer look!
Matt - Oldham Birders Welsh Division.
The starling roost is still there and is growing all the time. We are getting some large Pied Wag roosts as well!
Re Kites over Nant Yr Arian must have got to well over 100 birds over the cold snap!
Made my day to come across a Red Kite cruising along beside the A5 on the way towards Betwys-y-Coed.
Happy New Birding Year to all
Steve
-- Edited by Steve Collins at 23:43, 2008-12-28
Our local Lake is Llyn Yr Oefra, just off the A44 near Nant Yr Arian forest centre and Red Kite Feeding, about 12 miles out of Aberystwyth. Its high up in the start of the Cambrian Mountains and we get some wild weather!
And the Whooper Swan collection has now risen to 9 this morning along with 1 Grey Heron and 1 Cormorant
Thanks. Henry.
I got my first Brambling in the garden today with a flock of Chaffinches!
I hope it hangs around for a bit!
That info came from the RSPB guy who sends out monthly sightings records. You could be right though and sightings have been put down to passing birds.
I will certainly keep an eye open next summer!
Breeding Hobbies can be incredibly illusive and I suspect overlooked.
I've had a third in the general area, but that one was probably passing through, and autumn immature bird picked up flying south over the sea at Aberdysyni during a seawatch - nearly put it down as a Skua at first!!
I have found out that the Hobbys at Nant Yr Arian are only passing through. There are usually 4 knocking about around Cors Carron as well but passing through.
Well done on spotting them on two occasions!!
ooo excellent, I will defo keep an eye out for it! cheers for that!
I think I will have to for next year!!!
Our cats have only had one avian casualty though luckily! On the other other hand, the common shrew and field mice populations have taken a hammering!!!
Its costing a furtune in black sunflower seed!!
You could try growing you own
I have never seen Hobby here, but never looked for them. Again, I havent seen the Kite but havent been looking cos I didnt know about it. I will keep an eye out for them next summer though. I am getting to know on email who is who around here in terms of regional reps etc, so I can ask the question.
Our bird table is getting a hammering! Loads of blue and great tits - 30 to 40 birds, 20+ chaffinches, coal tits, nuthatch, sparrows, gs woodpecker and a single yellowhammer!
Its costing a furtune in black sunflower seed!!
-- Edited by Matt Potter at 12:02, 2008-09-12
Is the pale leucistic Kite still around?
Lots of birds about!
We walk the dogs around the lake there. Its an amazing place. The other night, there must have been 100+ bats out skimming the water and taking insects!
amazingly, I see a Kestrel every so often and Kites every day. I get my Kestrel fix when i visit manchester!
Saw a few kites in the air so pulled in to the lay-by - by chance around 3:00 when feeding took place - the sky soon filled with Kites (some dodging the turbines indeed) and have visited many times since.
Not quite Gigrin Farm standards, but a great spot non the less - and a great place to be able to look down on Kites rather than just look up at them.
Forgot to mention Cors Caron (Tregaron Bog) as a place to visit. There weren't many birds there when we visited but it's a wonderfully atmospheric place.
You've certainly found a good place to live, Matt.
Steve