WALES
Highlights
On 26 January, a Red-flanked Bluetail was found at Wern Ddu, Caerphily, Glamorgan. The bird remained from then to well into February (at least), increasing the likelihood that the bird had been wintering there (having arrived during the autumn migration season).
ANGLESEY
HOLYHEAD AREA: A Yellow-browed Warbler was at Soldiers Point (1st). Trearddur Bay held four Long-tailed Ducks, a Great Northern Diver and four Purple Sandpipers. The Inland Sea had a Black-necked Grebe, 14 Scaup, a Mediterranean Gull and Woodcock. Beddmanarch Bay held two Slavonian Grebes, two Great Northern Divers, six Mediterranean Gulls and a Black Guillemot. On the Alaw Estuary, there were two Green Sandpipers, nine Greenshanks, 105 Pintails, a Kingfisher and Merlin. Holyhead Bay held a Black-throated Diver, Great Northern Diver, three Red-throated Divers, a Glaucous Gull and 25 Great Crested Grebes. Valley Wetlands logged a Yellow-browed Warbler (2nd), Short-eared Owl, Marsh Harrier, Common Sandpiper, Greenshank, 2,000 Lapwings and 250 Snipe. Holyhead Harbour held a Glaucous Gull, five Black Guillemots and ten Red-breasted Mergansers. OTHER SITES: Five Cattle Egrets and nine Little Egrets were at Pont Marquis. Malltraeth Marsh held a Bittern, Marsh Harrier, Hen Harrier, Merlin, 12 Whooper Swans, a Water Pipit, Water Rail, Cetti’s Warbler and ten Black-tailed Godwits. Red Wharf Bay had eight Jack Snipe, 275 Snipe and a Water Rail. Cemlyn had a Whimbrel, Golden Plover, Grey Plover and Kingfisher. Two Little Gulls were off Point Lynas. A Spotted Redshank was at Malltraeth. A Red-necked Grebe was in the Menai Straits. Llyn Llywenan held a Long-tailed Duck and Marsh Harrier. A Hooded Crow was at Llanfachraeth. In Lligwy Bay, there were eight Great Northern Divers, 25 Red-throated Divers, a Slavonian Grebe, 11 Brent Geese and nine Sanderling. Ken Croft
BRECONSHIRE
HIGHLIGHTS: Ten Whooper Swans flew up the River Wye at Pipton (1st). A Siberian Chiffchaff joined two Common Chiffchaffs at Brecon STW (from 15th). A Great Grey Shrike was in Talybont Forest (20th). Waxwings included 33 around Brecon Hospital, ten in Llangynidr, nine in the Cnwch area (Elan) and six in Llanwrthwl. LLANGORSE LAKE: There were two Shelducks (1st), four Great White Egrets, four Little Egrets, 85 Snipe, a Jack Snipe, Green Sandpiper, 30,000 Starlings, 247 Wigeon, 51 Gadwall, 41 Shovelers, 29 Goosanders, 190 Tufted Ducks, 51 Goldeneyes, six Pochards, a Pintail, Scaup (15th), 105 Herring Gulls, a Common Gull and Yellow-legged Gull. At Pennorth, nine Red Kites, 11 Skylarks and four Reed Buntings fed in stubbles. Llangorse village attracted 130 Yellowhammers, 40 House Sparrows, 30 Chaffinches, 20 Reed Buntings and ten Dunnocks (18th). OTHER SITES: Woodcocks were at Tirabad (two), Halfway Forest, Pencelli, Allt-yr-esgaer and Stockley Wood. Flocks of up to 30 Lesser Redpolls were at Brecon and Allt-yr-esgaer in the first week. Twelve Bramblings frequented Buckland Wood. Two Little Egrets in the Wye Valley were noted at Llyswen, Pipton and Ffordd Fawr. Fifty Golden Plovers were on Llandefalle Hill mid-month, with 77 Snipe, a Green Sandpiper and four Crossbills on Mynydd Illtyd. Twenty Mandarins and 13 Goldeneyes were at Dolymynach Reservoir (20th). Pontsticill Reservoir attracted 3,400 Herring Gulls (27th). Two Dippers and 65 Linnets were at Llangenny (23rd). Andrew King, Keith Noble and Mark Waldron
CEREDIGION
HIGHLIGHTS: A Ring-necked Duck was on Maesllyn, beside Cors Caron, with a Great Grey Shrike nearby (1st). Another Great Grey was at Cross Inn Forest (19th). An Iceland Gull was near Aberaeron (2nd) and at the Teifi estuary (3rd). Ynyslas held a Short-eared Owl (17th). A Great Northern Diver was off Aberystwyth (26th) where a Glaucous Gull took up residence (from 21st). Two Snow Buntings were at Borth (19th), with one there (from 30th) and one at Llanrhystud (28th). DYFI ESTUARY: There were counts of 1,000 Wigeon, 400 Pintails and 54 Grey Plovers. Ynyslas held six Black-tailed Godwits, 22 Sanderling, a Merlin (4th), 800 Golden Plovers, 300 Lapwings (16th), five pale-bellied Brent Geese and a Hen Harrier. Ynys-hir had a Green Sandpiper (5th) and two Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers (17th). OTHER SITES: Eight Purple Sandpipers and a
Black Redstart remained at Aberystwyth. Seventy Common Scoters were there (28th), with 130 at Borth (17th). Llanrhystud held 650 Golden Plovers (11th) and a Merlin (8th and 26th). Twelve Red-throated Divers were at New Quay (14th). Cors Caron logged 220 Wigeon, 250 Lapwings, 50 Snipe, a Green Sandpiper (26th), three Hen Harriers and three Whooper Swans. A Merlin (18th) and Scaup (30th) were at Llyn Eiddwen. Four Whooper Swans were by Nant yr Arian (3rd-5th) and six at Llyn Pendam (12th). John A Davis (johndavis@midwalesbirdwatching. co.uk)
CLWYD
HIGHLIGHTS: Two Surf Scoters, two Velvet Scoters and 200 Common Scoters were off Old Colwyn (19th-28th). A Great Northern Diver was off Rhos Point (29th). Two Scaup were off Llanddulas (25th), with a Long-tailed Duck there (20th). Six Eurasian White-fronted Geese were at the River Clwyd, Rhyl (7th). One or two Black Redstarts were there, at Kinmel Bay and at Rhos Point (7th-15th). There was a Scaup on the nearby Brickworks Pool (12th-19th). A Long-tailed Duck and 12 Bewick’s Swans remained throughout at Shotwick Fields and Boating Lake. The Hen Harrier remained at Fenn’s Moss. Waxwings were widespread and included 190 in Denbigh, 150 at Kinmel Bay, 64 at Rhyl, 60 in Ruthin and 50 in Wrexham. COASTAL SITES: Kinmel Bay had a Glaucous Gull, Towyn an Iceland Gull and Rhos Point two Little Gulls plus a Slavonian Grebe (all 14th). Penrhyn Bay had five Scaup, a Slavonian Grebe and Firecrest (7th). Sixty Twite and 10 Spotted Redshanks remained at Connah’s Quay, with a Common Sandpiper also there (6th), Marsh Harrier (22nd and 29th), Merlin, Peregrine, Greenshank and Kingfisher and large numbers of Wigeon. INLAND SITES: A Yellow-legged Gull was at Gresford Flash (27th), with a Glaucous Gull there (29th). Shovelers, Goosanders and Tufted Ducks were there, with Mandarins on nearby Gresford Lake. Twelve Crossbills were at Bod Petrual, Clocaenog. Alyn Waters CP had a Dipper. Garden birds in Wrexham included six Dunnocks displaying and several Blackcaps. Burton had two singing Song Thrushes. Norman Hallas, Rev Hugh Linn and Richard Smith
EAST GLAMORGAN
HIGHLIGHTS: A Red-flanked Bluetail at Wern Ddu, Caerphilly (from 23rd) was the first county record. Two Siberian Chiffchaffs and a Glaucous Gull were regular at Cardiff Bay, with an Iceland Gull there (8th). Fourteen Barnacle Geese were on Sker Point (3rd). A Bearded Tit was at Kenfig Pool (17th). Waxwing flocks included 66 at Newport Road, Cardiff, and 26 in Barry, and there were ones and twos at Porthcawl, Bridgend and Merthyr Tydfil. OTHER SITES: Brent Geese were at Ogmore Estuary (two) and Gileston (12). Scaup were at Cardiff Bay (eight), Kenfig (four) and Cosmeston (one). A Long-tailed Duck remained at Cardiff Bay and also visited Cosmeston. Twelve Goosanders were at The Wilderness Lake, Porthcawl, with two Great Northern Divers offshore. Bitterns were at Cardiff Bay, Cosmeston and Kenfig. Little Egrets were reported from Ogmore Estuary, Waterton and Forest Farm. Waders included a Common Sandpiper at Ogmore Estuary, Bar-tailed Godwit at Porthcawl and 68 Snipe on the Ely floodplain. Cardiff Bay held six Yellow-legged Gulls. Another was at Ogmore Estuary, where a Water Pipit was wintering. Black Redstarts were at Cardiff Bay, Cardiff University, Riverside (Cardiff), Church Village, Gileston and Southerndown. A Marsh Tit was at Cardiff Bay. Dunraven held 60 Yellowhammers and 20 Reed Buntings. Paul Roberts
GOWER AND WEST GLAMORGAN
HIGHLIGHTS: Up to 35 Waxwings visited three sites in the Llansamlet area. Some were also seen in the Cwmfelin area of Swansea. Two Surf Scoters were in Rhossilli Bay (22nd). A Snow Bunting was at Whiteford. OTHER SITES: Oxwich had 60 Snipe, three Jack Snipe and 60 Teal. The Burry Inlet held 319 Brent Geese, 336 Wigeon, 121 Shovelers, 35 Scaup, 460 Dunlin, 625 Black-tailed Godwits, 83 Bar-tailed Godwits, 230 Knot, four Greenshanks, two Great White Egrets and a Green Sandpiper. Rhossilli had four Long-tailed Ducks, a Hen Harrier and two Red Kites. Mumbles had 58 Turnstones and a Purple Sandpiper. Llanrhidian had Hen Harriers and a Marsh Harrier. There were 15 Teal on Tir John pond. Crumlyn Bog had 500 Starlings, 200 Jackdaws, a Buzzard and ten Redwings. Nine Purple Sandpipers and ten Shags were at Porteynon. Neath saltmarsh held 15 Wigeon, 104 Canada Geese, 200 Black-headed Gulls and two Little Grebes. Terry Tovey
GWENT
HIGHLIGHTS: Ten Waxwings were at Bulwark (7th-8th), with six at Cwmbran (16th-25th), six at Monmouth (19th-21st) and one at Griffithstown. Two Black Redstarts were at Newport Wetlands (2nd), with a Great White Egret there (13th). Bitterns were there (23rd) and at Betws Ponds (30th) NEWPORT WETLANDS RESERVE: There were seven Bearded Tits (6th), three Avocets (7th), three Water Pipits (14th), a Merlin (18th), dark-bellied Brent Goose (21st) and a Marsh Harrier (22nd). OTHER SITES: Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers were at Llandegfedd Reservoir (3rd), Llantilio Pertholey (3rd) and Llanelen (21st). Short-eared Owls were at Waunafon Bog (7th and 28th), Sluice Farm (16th) and Rogiet (20th). A Marsh Harrier was at Redwick (22nd). A Scaup was at Peterstone Gout (4th), with a Jack Snipe there (15th). Two Bewick’s Swans were at Llangybi (20th). A Barn Owl was seen at Ebbw Vale (20th). Chris Hatch
MONTGOMERYSHIRE
Waxwings were widespread and numerous throughout, with a biggest flock of 50 in Newtown. Many were reported from private gardens. A Hen Harrier was recorded on the Cors Dyfi reserve (5th) and a Great White Egret was in the area (7th). Records from private gardens included Blackcaps, Bramblings, Lesser Redpolls, Redwings, Fieldfares and many Siskins. At Llyn Coed y Dinas, a Bittern appeared (23rd), staying for several days, and what may have been the same bird was seen at Dolydd Hafren a few days later. The star record from this site was a Bearded Tit (31st), a new record for the county. Other sightings here included Goosanders, a flock of 50 Wigeons, 40 Curlews and several reports of Chiffchaffs. A male Marsh Harrier was noted (16th). Brayton Holt
RADNORSHIRE
ELAN VALLEY: Mandarins were present in unprecedented numbers, with 67 shared between Dol y Mynach, Garreg Ddu and Caban. Sixteen Goldeneyes, eight Teal, three Jack Snipe, a Merlin and Hen Harrier were also seen. Five Red Grouse were on Moelfryn Mawr. Elven Goosanders were on Penygarreg Reservoir. Thirty Crossbills, three Woodcocks, 35 Redpolls, 40 Siskins and 75 Chaffinches were in Gwaelod Plantation. A Dipper and Kingfisher were at Llanerch y Cawr. Green Woodpeckers, Barn Owls, Marsh Tits and Bramblings were at Glannau and Tynllidiart. RADNOR FOREST: Black Mixen held a Merlin, Hen Harrier, three Red Grouse and 15 Golden Plovers. Willow Tits, 35 Crossbills, Woodcocks, 70 Redpolls and 140 Siskins were at Fforest Fach and Woodgate. Rocky Wood held Woodcocks, 20 Crossbills, 60 Chaffinches, five Bramblings and 15 Redpolls. Harley Dingle had a Stonechat, Yellowhammer, Dipper, Barn Owl, Merlin and Marsh Tit. WYE VALLEY: Green Sandpipers were at Glasbury, Llowes and Pwll Patti where 65 Wigeon, 80 Teal, 70 Mallards, Tree Sparrow, Coot and Little Egret were also seen. A Great White Egret was at Glasbury, Llowes and Bronydd. Cwmbach logged Meadow Pipit, Yellowhammer, 12 Snipe, 350 Fieldfares, 80 Redwings, Red-legged Partridge and Peregrine. Little Grebes were at Fforest Fawr, Llowes and Clyro where a Merlin and Whooper Swan were seen. Twenty Goosanders were at Glasbury and six at Boughrood. Little Egrets were at Aberedw and Newbridge. Mandarins were at seven sites totalling 33 birds. Bronydd held 180 Canada Geese and 44 Mute Swans. OTHER SITES: Kingfishers were at Knighton, Penybont, Newbridge and Llanstephan. Waxwings were at 12 sites including Newbridge (66), Llandrindod/howey (60) and Knighton (70). Llyn Heilyn held 23 Wigeon, 25 Teal, four Goosanders, a Stonechat, Snipe, Coot, Reed Bunting, Kestrel and Grey Wagtail. Green Sandpipers were at Penybont and Llanbister. Flocks of Golden Plovers were at Llanbister, Maelinydd, Begwyns, Red Hill, St Harmon, Ireland Moor and Aberedw Hill. Rhosgoch had 120 Snipe, 15 Jack Snipe, 18 Reed Buntings, a Hen Harrier, Water Rail, 80 Redpolls and 45 Siskins. Water Rails were at Llandrindod Lake, Pentrosfa, Newbridge Bog, Cors y Llyn, Glasbury, Penybont Lake, Howey and Nantmel Tip. Blackcaps were recorded in gardens at Llanbister Road, Llandrindod and Presteigne. Pete Jennings (01588 680 631)