Ceredigion Bird Report 2019 Final

Home , Aberarth, Abermagwr, Brongest, Brynhoffnant, Capel Bangor, Cors Caron

Ceredigion Bird Report

2019 0

CEREDIGION BIRD REPORT 2019

Contents

Editorial and submission of records, Arfon Williams page 2 Systematic list, Russell Jones 5 Earliest and last dates of migrants, Arfon Williams 51 Ceredigion rarity record shots for 2019 52 The Ceredigion bird ringing report, Wendy James 54 The Definitive Ceredigion Bird List, Russell Jones 62 Spectacle off Ynyslas, Edward O’Connor 71 Swifts, Bob Relph 72 Bow Street Swifts, Tony Clark 73 Gazetteer of Ceredigion places 74

County Recorder and Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS) Organiser: Russell Jones, Bron-y-gan, Talybont, Ceredigion, SY24 5ER Email: [email protected]

British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) Representative: Naomi Davies Email: [email protected] Tel: 07857 102286

Front cover: Barn Owl by Tommy Evans 1

Editorial

A total of 217 species were seen in Ceredigion in 2019, a slightly higher than average annual figure. There were no new county firsts, however Ceredigion’s first King Eider, initially seen in 2017, returned for a third year. Other rare and scare birds included the county’s fourth Bean Goose, a male Ring-necked Duck (6th record), a female Smew, two calling Quail, Ceredigion’s 7th Cattle Egret and Purple Heron, a Glossy Ibis (4th record), three Spoonbills, a Honey Buzzard, Spotted Crake, Common Crane (6th record) and Temminck’s Stint (9th record), the county’s third Alpine Swift (and first since 1993), a Great Grey Shrike, two Yellow-browed Warblers, two blue-headed Yellow Wagtails, a Richard’s Pipit and a single Lapland Bunting.

Whilst some species are appearing more frequently e.g. Great Egret, including a flock of five at Llanrhystud, several once widespread breeding birds appear to be undergoing a continued decline such as Kestrel, Green Woodpecker, Cuckoo and Yellowhammer. It would be extremely helpful if more observers submitted records of species of conservation concern to assess their status in the county. More on this ‘ask’ from Russell Jones, our County Recorder in the following Submission of Records section.

On a more positive note Hobby was found to have bred for the first time in the county with two breeding pairs located, one rearing two young to fledging in late August and the other fledging one young in early September.

Ringers operating in county continue to make an important contribution to the BTO’s ringing scheme. The 2019 total of 7,577 birds ringed is slightly up on last year and far above recent years. The Ringing Report, provided by Wendy James highlights some of the valuable information this amazing effort provides, including work done by Tony Cross and the Mid- Wales Ringing Group and by the Teifi Ringing Group.

Included in this report is the updated Ceredigion Bird List (produced by Russell Jones) and is correct to the end of 2019. The list now represents the definitive list of all the bird species recorded in Ceredigion, which now stands at 311 species. It will continue to be updated at least annually to reflect new species and changes in distribution and occurrence.

The Ceredigion Bird Blog (ceredigionbirds33.blogspot.com) continues to be a valuable and well supported means of communicating local bird news, and a special thanks to Harry Pepper for managing this site. To give a flavour of the type of information posted this Report includes personal accounts (from the Blog) about a large movement of terns at Borth and breeding Swifts in the north of the county. The Ceredigion Birds and Wildlife Facebook page, run by Shane Jones, provides another popular means of communicating about the county’s birds and nature.

Many people contribute to this Report and make it possible and I would like to thank the following photographers whose images (posted on various public sites) have been repeated here: Meurig Garbutt, Tony Gordon, Edward O’Connor, Tommy Evans, Shane Jones, John Davis, Colin Dalton, Michal Dulinski, Tom Kisstruck, Kathy James, Marc Carter, Josh Hill, Wendy James, Kev Joynes and Brian Snell (plus some of my own).

Arfon Williams, December 2020

Submission of records

The following contributed the 2019 records and where included in the systematic list are generally acknowledged by their initials. Without their efforts there would be no Report:

Tony Allenby, Abigail Amos, David Anning, Mike Bailey (MB), Mark Baptiste, Peter Barnes, Nigel Barratt, Janet Baxter, Bernie Beck, Paul Bennett, Chris Bird (CB), Nigel Bird, Rhodri Blakeway, Ian Boyle, Keith Burdett, Ian Burgess, Sue Burrow, Pete Buxton, Debbie Camp, David Campion, Mark Carter, Steffi Carter, Arthur O Chater, Tony Clark, E Coleman, Ray Collins, Lis Collison, Edward O’Connor (EOC), Moira Convery, Simon Cox, Debbie Cramp, Martin Creassar, Tony Cross (AVC), Dave Cuniffe, Mark Cutts, Andrew Dally, Steve Davies, John A Davis (JAD), Peter E Davis, Naomi Davis, Dave Denney, Phil Dennis, Aline Denton, Richard Dobbins, Tom Doidge, Jasmine Donahaye, Diana Dorrell, Michal Dulinski, Nick Edge, Silke Einschuetz, Philip Ellis, Dr Viv Evans, Kendall Evans, Lyn Evans, Tommy Evans. Gerald Fordham, Chris Forster- Brown, Wayne Foster, Lyn Gander, Meurig Garbett, John Gettings, Chris Goding, Tony Gordon, John Gorman, Mick Green, Jon Green, Karen Gregory, Neil Groves, Ian Harrison, Dave Haslam, Mike D Hayward, Helen Herbert, Alan Hill, Josh Hill, Terry Hobson, Nick Hudson, Geraint Hughes, Marc Hughes, Jenni and Peter Hyatt, Elaine Izett, Andy James, Kathy James, Wendy James, Andy Jones, Chris Jones, Pat and Gary Jones, Russell Jones, Shane Jones, Judith Johnston, Nigel Johnston, Kev Joynes, Len Kersley, Andrew King, Brian Kington, Tom Kistruck, Paul Leafe, Red Liford (RGL), Mervyn Lloyd, Lyndon Lomax, Alan Lyne, Steve McFall, Paul Mahiques, André Marsh (AJM), Roger Matthews, Kevin McGee, Elliott Monteith, Jeremy Moore, Ian J Morris (IJM), Lisa Morris, André Morgan (AM), Brian O’Shea, John O’Sullivan, Carlton Parry, Ewan Parry, David Parsons, Barry Penney, Harry Pepper (ASP), Andy Polkey (AP), Angey Polkey, Ben Porter, Matthew Potter, David Price, Liz Probert, Alastair Proud, Dave Purdon, John Ramm, Sue & Terry Reeves, Bob Relph (RR), Gary Reynolds, Ian Scott, Pete Scott, Liz Snell (ES), Dick Squires (RS), Nigel Starnes, David Taylor, Teifi Ringing Group (TRG), Rhys Thatcher, Dave Thomas, Ian Thompson, Jon Turner, Basil & Rhiannon Twigg, John Valentine. Mark Waldron, Graham Walker, Mike Waller, Roger Watkins, Arfon Williams (HAW), Brian Wiley, Paul Wilkins, Colin Williams, Iolo Williams, Marc Williams, Richard Williams, Annette Williamson, Peter Wilmott, Andy Wise, John Woodruff, David Wooley, Laurie Wright, Andy Young, Steve Young. Apologies to anyone whose name has inadvertently been left out.

Wildfowl counts (WeBS/Wetland Bird Survey) were carried out at the Dyfi estuary by RSPB staff and volunteers, at the Teifi estuary by Wendy James and at Cors Caron by Andy Polkey.

Some observers may be uncertain as to what records to submit to the County Recorder. Hopefully a look at this Bird Report will give some idea as to what is recorded in the archive, but here are some basic guidelines: • Scarce and rare migrants/visitors (see list below). • Breeding records of scarce and rare birds. • First arrival dates of summer migrants or winter visitors and departure dates. • Visible migration, cold weather movements. Counts of winter or passage wildfowl and waders. • Counts of seabirds or other colonial nesters e.g. Sand Martin. • Counts of finch and bunting flocks.

If in doubt, please submit sightings to Russell Jones (County Recorder and Wetland Bird Survey Organiser) who also notes the contributions to the Ceredigion Bird Blog:

Russell Jones, Bron-y-gan, Talybont, Ceredigion. SY24 5ER. Email: [email protected]

Records of national rarities are considered by the British Birds Rarities Committee. (See their web site (www.bbrc.org.uk) for a list of species.)

There is a second tier of species which are scarce in Wales and records need to be assessed by the Welsh Rarities Panel. These scarce species are defined as those occurring on average five times or fewer annually in Wales and as of 1st January 2018 are as follows: Bean Goose, American Wigeon, Green-winged Teal, Ring-necked Duck, Ferruginous Duck, Lesser Scaup, Surf Scoter, Smew, White-billed Diver, Cory’s Shearwater, Great Shearwater, Wilson’s Petrel, Night Heron, Cattle Egret, Purple Heron, White Stork, Glossy Ibis, Red-necked Grebe, Black Kite, White-tailed Eagle, Montagu’s Harrier, Rough-legged Buzzard, Golden Eagle, Spotted Crake, Corncrake, Crane, Stone-curlew, American Golden Plover, Kentish Plover, Temminck’s Stint, White-rumped Sandpiper, Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Pectoral Sandpiper, Red-necked Phalarope, White-winged Black Tern, Ring-billed Gull, Caspian Gull, Alpine Swift, Bee-eater, Red-footed Falcon, Golden Oriole, Red-backed Shrike, Woodchat Shrike, Penduline Tit, Bearded Tit* Shore Lark, Short-toed Lark, Red-rumped Swallow, Greenish Warbler, Pallas’s Warbler, Radde’s Warbler, Dusky Warbler, Barred Warbler, Icterine Warbler, Melodious Warbler, Blyth’s Reed Warbler, Marsh Warbler, Rose-coloured Starling, Nightingale, Bluethroat, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Citrine Wagtail, Olive-backed Pipit, Common Rosefinch, Common Redpoll, Arctic Redpoll, Parrot Crossbill, Serin, Cirl Bunting, Ortolan Bunting, Little Bunting, Corn Bunting. Scarce races are considered on the same basis. e.g. Black Brant.

A description might also be requested from our Recorder for other species which are scarce in Ceredigion, or particularly difficult to identify, or a common species reported out of season. The BBRC, WRC and our County Recorder may not accept a record if insufficient information has been provided to substantiate a record. In such cases it is generally not a question of disbelief, but simply that the description may have been a bit scant.

The more records which are sent into our County Recorder, Russell Jones, the more useful and comprehensive our annual Reports will become. Many send their records to Russell on a monthly basis via email (address above). Otherwise the plea is for Russell to receive all records as soon after the start of the following year as possible.

Bar-tailed Godwit at Llanrhystud on 13th October, Shane Jones. 4

SYSTEMATIC LIST FOR 2019 A code letter prefixes each species, as follows: (A) all records are given. (B) a summary of records are given. (C) selected records are given, e.g. first arrival date, weather movements, census results etc. (D) recorded during the year but no significant change in status.

(B) BRANT GOOSE GWYDD DDU Branta bernicla Uncommon winter visitor to coasts and estuaries.

At Teifi est. there was one on 6th January. At Ynyslas there was one on 12th January, two from 12th to 22nd February and one on 25th April. In autumn, there were three at Ynyslas on 7th October, two on the sea between Llanon and Morfa Bychan on 20th October, one at Ynyslas on 4th November, three at Ynyslas on 29th November, eight there on 4th December and one there on 16th December.

Pale-bellied Brent Geese at Ynyslas on 14th February, Meurig Garbutt

(B) GREATER CANADA GOOSE GWYDD CANADA Branta canadensis Resident breeder throughout the county.

Dyfi estuary, Teifi estuary and Cors Caron WeBS counts were as follows:

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Dyfi est 1582 702 336 661 931 855 544 Teifi est 180 25 8 300 850 40 C. Caron 91 196 170

(B) BARNACLE GOOSE GWYDD WYRAN Branta leucopsis Two feral populations based on the Dyfi (from the Derwent water breeding population) and Teifi estuaries.

The flock on the Dyfi had departed by Boxing Day 2018 with only a few stragglers remaining into the first winter period of 2019 with five in January, 23 in February and 29 in March. The first back were 32 on 26th August with 386 in September, 378 in October, 608 in November and 530 in December. On the Teifi est. the maximum count was of 110 on 14th February with fluctuating counts on the estuary intermittently throughout the year. The only record away from these two sites was of one at Llanrhystud on 1st March. Forty nests were counted on Cardigan Island on 15th May.

(B) GREYLAG GOOSE GWYDD WYLLT Anser anser Recorded in small numbers throughout the year. Birds re-established in parts of Britain from 1930’s onwards, are well-established in the county, ranging widely at times. Some records may relate to birds from southwest England and south Wales pausing on their moult migration to and from the Glasgow area.

Recorded in every month of the year from numerous locations. As usual, the peak counts were from the Cors Caron/Ystrad Caron areas with peak counts of 66 in January, 42 in February and 76 in November. Notable counts elsewhere were 13 at Llyn Eiddwen on 15th September and 24 over Aberystwyth on 30th September.

(A) PINK-FOOTED GOOSE GWYDD TROEDBINC Anser brachyrhynchus Scarce winter visitor

There was one at the Clettwr on 20th January (SC), two on fields near Gwbert on 27th April (WJ), twelve over Aberleri on 2nd October (RGL) and four at Ynyslas on 28th October (ASP).

(A) BEAN GOOSE SP GWYDD Y LLAFUR Anser fabilis Rare winter visitor

There was one with the Greenland white-fronted goose flock on the Dyfi on 4th and 8th November (RJ, TK).

(B) GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE GWYDD DALCEN-WEN Anser albifrons Greenland race is a declining winter visitor to the Dyfi. Eurasian race is a rare winter visitor.

Greenland race: In the first-winter period the 13 present on the Dyfi since 2018 were joined by an extra four on 15th February with all 17 remaining to 5th April. These 17 contained the tagged birds WHIT01, V0J, V3J, V5J, V8J, V9J and one other neck-ringed bird whose code could not be read. In the autumn there were eight at RSPB Ynys-hir on 8th November, twenty at the Clettwr by 29th November with 21 there on 4th December to the end of the year. There was a juvenile in fields near Gwbert on 6th January and one on 27th April.

(B) MUTE SWAN ALARCH DOF Cygnus olor Resident breeder in small numbers. Some immigration.

Presumably bred along the lower Teifi and elsewhere with two pairs were present at RSPB Ynys-hir during the breeding season. The highest counts were from the Teifi est with 15 on 15th September and 19 on 12th October, Cors Caron with 14 on 21st January, 20 on 15th February and 24 on 25th March and there were 11 at Lampeter on 11th February.

(A) WHOOPER SWAN ALARCH Y GOGLEDD Cygnus cygnus Winter visitor in small numbers.

Only a few records in the first winter period: seven at Llyn Frongoch and one on a small pool near there on 6th January, one reported at Trisant on 13th January, seven at Llyn Syfydrin on 20th January and three at Cors Caron on 21st January. There was a feral bird at Ty Gwyn pools on 18th August. The first back were at Pond Yr Oerfa with one on 5th October and widely reported at suitable locations to the end of the year with double figure counts of 12 flying east over Ynyslas on 29th October, 17 (three juveniles) at Pond Yr Oerfa on the same date and 18 at Cwmystwyth on 11th November.

(B) COMMON SHELDUCK HWYADEN YR EITHIN Tadorna tadorna Breeds at the Dyfi and Teifi estuaries where winter visitors arrive in good numbers. Scarce inland.

In 2019 bred at Dyfi est., Cors Fochno and Teifi est.

Dyfi and Teifi WeBS counts were as follows:

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Dyfi est 404 187 116 28 214 195 Teifi est 26 29 46 2 3 2

Elsewhere, there were two at Pant pool on 24th February, two at Llanrhystud on 27th February, two at Aberystwyth on 30th March, three at Llanrhystud on 10th and 30th April and four there on 31st December. 7

(B) NORTHERN SHOVELER HWYADEN LYDANBIG Spatula clypeata Mainly a winter visitor, has bred.

On the Dyfi reported in good numbers at RSPB Ynys-hir with up to 19 in the first winter period and 27 in the second winter period. Elsewhere on the Dyfi there were three at the pill-box (Leri) on 24th January, two at Ynyslas on 26th April, seven at the pill-box on 29th October and three on 29th November. Away from the estuary there was one at Llyn Eiddwen on 14th January, one at Cors Fochno on 11th February, a male at Pant pool on 19th February, four (2 males and 2 females) at Llanrhystud on 27th February, one at Teifi est on 23rd March, one at Aberleri on 20th May, one at Llyn Eiddwen on 12th October and one there on 22nd December.

(B) GADWALL HWYADEN LWYD Moreca strepera Scarce and irregular winter visitor.

There were up to four at RSPB Ynys-hir from 14th January to 1st April and two on 7th and 12th May, two at Cors Caron on 9th and 21st January and 27th March, two at Teifi marshes on 23rd February with one on 5th April, a pair at Nanteos pool on 22nd and 25th March and again on 8th and 13th April, two at Ynyslas on 6th and 16th April and two at Aberystwyth on 10th April. In the second winter period the only records were two at Cors Caron on 10th Nov and up to six at RSPB Ynys-hir (three males and three females) between 25th Nov and the end of the year.

(B) EURASIAN WIGEON CHWIWELL Moreca penelope Numerous winter visitor to Dyfi and Teifi estuaries and Maesllyn pool. Small numbers at other inland and coastal sites.

Peak counts for selected localities were as follows:

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Dyfi est 2308 703 95 610 1629 2038 1584 Teifi est 192 184 19 50 85 225 264 Cors Caron 232 184 63 100 80

Notable counts elsewhere were 15 at Pencefn pond, Mynydd Gorddu on 20th November, 60 at Pont Gogoyan on 8th December and 15 at Llanrhystud on 19th December.

(B) MALLARD HWYADEN WYLLT Anas platyrhnchos Common resident and winter visitor

WeBS counts were as follows:

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Dyfi est 124 109 66 387 129 97 177 Teifi est 76 34 22 80 38 87 38 C Caron 321 216 108

Counts elsewhere included 1000 at Ty Gwyn pools (which are almost certainly released birds) 24th January with 400 there on 23rd November and 42 at Llyn Eiddwen on 3rd February.

(B) NORTHERN PINTAIL HWYADEN LOSTFAIN Anas acuta Winter visitor mainly to the Dyfi, scarce elsewhere.

On the Dyfi the peak counts were 226 on 24th January, 49 on 22nd February, 208 on 29th October, 112 on 29th November and 272 on 16th December. There were no records away from the Dyfi.

(B) EURASIAN TEAL CORHWYADEN Anas crecca Common winter visitor with small numbers breeding at wetland sites.

Peak counts for selected localities were as follows:

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Dyfi est 710 500 95 932 317 514 401 Teifi est 126 46 62 30 36 59 80 C Caron 599 562 145 40

Less than forty were widely seen elsewhere in both winter periods.

Bred at RSPB Ynys-hir, Cors Fochno, a pair was on Llyn Llygad Rheidiol on 7th May, 2 males and a female were on Llyn Y Figyn on 13th May and a female with 6 chicks was at Maesnant, Plynlimon on 26th July.

(A) COMMON POCHARD HWYADEN BENGOCH Aythya farina A rare winter visitor nowadays, now red-listed due to decreasing numbers throughout Europe.

There was a male on Llyn Eiddwen on 3rd January (AMO), a female at Teifi marshes from 14th to 23rd May (WJ) and a male at RSPB Ynys-hir on 25th November (RJ).

(B) TUFTED DUCK HWYADEN GOPOG Aythya fuligula Small numbers at many inland pools throughout the year and a winter influx. Regular breeding species in recent years.

Bred at Llyn Blaenmelindwr, Llyn Pendam, Llyn Nant Yr Arian and at Cors Caron with possible breeding attempts at Llyn Mynydd Gorddu, Llyn Frongoch and Llyn Syfydrin. Regularly seen in both winter periods on many pools and lakes in the county with double figure counts of 15 at Maesllyn pool on 13th January and ten at Llyn Eiddwen on 18th March.

(A) RING-NECKED DUCK HWYADEN DORCHOG Aythya collaris Rare winter visitor

An immature male found at Llyn Pendam on 27th November (CB) was seen there on many dates to 15th December. See record shot on page 53. 9

(A) GREATER SCAUP HWYADEN BENDDU Aythya murila Scarce winter visitor

There was a male and two females at Borth on 20th January (EO’C), a female on a small pool near the Leri pill-box on 24th January (RGL), six at Ynyslas on 25th February (EO’C) and a female flying south at Ynyslas on 31st March (EO’C).

(A) KING EIDER HWYADEN FWYTHBLU FAWR Somateria spectabilis Extremely rare visitor.

The female found at Aberaeron in June 2017 was seen at Ynyslas on many dates from 1st January to 5th May (MO). See record shot on page 52.

(A) COMMON EIDER HWYADEN FWYTHBLU Somateria mollisima Scarce visitor off-shore.

There were three (two females and an immature male) at Aberystwyth on 10th January (JAD), six flew north off Borth on 21st January (ASP), there were twelve (eight females and four sub- adult males) at Ynyslas on 25th March (RJ) and there were two at Teifi est (a female and first- winter male) on 27th March (WJ).

(B) COMMON SCOTER MOR-HWYADEN DDU Melanitta nigra Present off-shore in all months.

Seen off Borth/Ynyslas in most months with peak monthly counts of 247 in January, 220 in February, 70 in March, 200 in April, 60 in May and July, 70 in August, 221 in September, 300 in October, 460 in November and 340 in December. Regularly seen off-shore elsewhere with notable counts of 58 at Mwnt on 11th August and 120 at New Quay on 25th September.

(B) VELVER SCOTER MOR-HWYADEN Y GOGLEDD Melanitta fusca Scarce but regular winter visitor.

There were small numbers off Borth and Ynyslas in the first-winter period with seven off Borth on 30th January the highest count with one still present on 4th May. In the second-winter period there was a female at Aberystwyth on 24th October, one flying north off Llansantffraed on 30th October and up to five were off Borth/Ynyslas from 30th October to the end of the year.

(A) LONG-TAILED DUCK HWYADEN GYNFFON-HIR Clangula hyemalis Scarce winter visitor

There was one at Ynyslas on 29th October (RJ), an adult male there on 5th December (SY) and one at RSPB Ynys-hir on 21st December and at Glandyfi the next day (RS, JT). 10

Male Long-tailed Duck at Ynyslas on 5th December, Tony Gordon.

(B) COMMON GOLDENEYE HWYADEN LYGAD-AUR Bucephala clangula Winter visitor in small numbers.

Seen in winter on most large lakes and ponds and in both major estuaries. Up to five were at Llyn Eiddwen in both winter periods and there were five at Ynyslas on 29th October.

(B) GOOSANDER HWYADEN DANHEDDOG Mergus merganser Resident.

Bred on the Ystwyth with a female and three large chicks seen at Llanilar on 13th June. Double figure counts were as follows: 13 at Llyn Fanod on 27th January, 14 at Llyn Eiddwen on 14th February, 10 at Glandyfi on 12th May, 18 at RSPB Ynys-hir on 21st June, 22 at Glandyfi on 21st August with 12 there on 2nd August and 42 on 23rd August, 18 at Glandyfi on 28th September, 12 at Llyn Eiddwen on 3rd November with 18 there on 17th November, 13 at Llyn Nant Yr Arian on 28th November and 14 at Teifi est on 14th December.

(B) RED-BREASTED MERGANSER HWYADEN FRONGOCH Mergus serrator Formerly resident in the Dyfi estuary area. Irregular elsewhere.

Seen in the Dyfi up to 16th April and from 29th September to the end of the year with peak counts of 11 in February and 12 in October. Elsewhere, the only records were from the Teifi est with two on 24th February, one on 19th March and two from 23rd to 31st March.

(A) SMEW LLEIAN WEN Mergellus albellus Rare winter visitor

There was a red-head at RSPB Ynys-hir from 8th to 19th December (T Gordon et al). See record shot on page 53.

(A) WILLOW PTARMIGAN (RED GROUSE) GRUGIAR Lagopus lagopus Scarce in the uplands of the North and East.

There were six at Pengarreg Gopa on 29th April (B Porter) and there was one at Pumlumon on 7th and 10th May (IH, A Proud).

(B) RED-LEGGED PARTRIDGE PETRUSEN GOESGOCH Alectoris rufa An introduced species, scarce and local except where reared for shooting.

Seen regularly in the Tre’r ddol area and RSPB Ynys-hir following the release of over 50 for shooting. Elsewhere the only records were of one at Cnwch Coch on 11th June and six at Penrhiwnewydd on 19th August.

(A) COMMON QUAIL SOFLIAR Coturnix coturnix Scarce and irregular summer visitor.

There was one calling nr Llyn Llygad Rheidiol on 23rd July (MG) with two calling there on 26th July (RGL).

(B) COMMON PHEASANT FFESANT Phasianus colchicus Resident with numbers hugely inflated following releases for shooting.

Widely recorded throughout the county.

(B) RED-THROATED LOON (DIVER) TROCHYDD GYDDFGOCH Gavia stellata Regular winter visitor and passage migrant.

Highest monthly counts from selected localities were as follows:

Jan Feb Mar Apr Sep Oct Nov Dec Borth/Ynyslas 1 3 4 7 25 7 3 3 Llant-A’aeron 1 18 2 1 1 Aberystwyth 22 3 2 2 5 31 1

Very few records elsewhere with small numbers (less than four) at New Quay in January and September, Teifi est in January and December, Aberporth in February and Mwnt in October.

(A) BLACK-THROATED LOON (DIVER) TROCHYDD GYDDFDDU Gavia arctica Rare winter visitor and passage migrant.

There was one at Ynyslas on 1st January (EO’C), one at Teifi est on 20th January (WJ) and one at New Quay on 30th January (A Wise).

(A) COMMON LOON (GREAT NORTHERN DIVER) TROCHYDD MAWR Gavia immer Uncommon winter visitor and passage migrant.

At Ynyslas there were two on 1st January, one on 6th April and one from 15th to 17th November, at Aberystwyth there were singles on 23rd February, 23rd June, 8th October and 30th November, there was one at Llyn Egnant on 14th and 17th November (only the second inland record following one at Nant Y Moch reservoir in November and December 1990) and one at Gwbert on 5th December.

(A) EUROPEAN STORM PETREL PEDRYN DRYCIN Hydrobates pelagicus Scarce summer/autumn migrant.

There was one at Mwnt on 10th August (EO’C) with three there on 11th August (EO’C).

(A) LEACH’S STORM PETREL PEDRYN DRYCIN FFORCHOG Oceanodroma leucorhoa Scarce autumn migrant.

Following strong westerly winds there was one at Mwnt on 1st September (HAW), ten passed Mwnt (HAW) and two passed Teifi est (WJ) on 4th September and there were two passed Mwnt on 5th September (HAW).

(B) NORTHERN FULMAR ADERYN DRYCH Y GRAIG Fulmarus glacialis Resident, breeds in small numbers.

Seen in small numbers throughout the year with small numbers breeding. There were few movements noted with 53 passed Mwnt on 11th August the highest count. A ‘blue phased’ bird flew passed New Quay on 27th April.

(B) MANX SHEARWATER ADERYN DRYCIN MANAW Puffinus puffinus Common spring to autumn visitor.

Two passed Aberystwyth on 6th April were the first ones reported. The highest numbers were seen off Borth/Ynyslas with 9,000 in July and again in August with 20,000 on 3rd August. Other large flocks seen were 1,000 off Llanrhystud on 16th July and 1,000 off Aberaeron on 10th August. Three passed Mwnt on 6th October was the last record of the year.

(A) BALEARIC SHEARWATER ADERYN DRYCIN MOR Y CANOLDIR Puffinus mauretanicus Scarce autumn passage migrant

There was one passed Aberystwyth on 9th and 10th August (MC, JAD) with two passed Mwnt on 10th August (EO’C).

(B) LITTLE GREBE GWYACH FACH Tachybaptus ruficollis Breeds widely on lakes and ponds. Small groups in the estuaries in winter.

Breeding season records came from RSPB Ynys-hir, Denmark Farm, Llanerchaeron, Llyn Nant yr Arian, Nanteos pool and Llyn Mynydd Gorddu. More widely reported in winter with records from Nanteos pool (max. six in May), RSPB Ynys- hir (max. six in January), Teifi est (max. three in January and December), Cors Caron (max five in March), Llanerchaeron (max. two in May), Llyn Nant yr Arian (max. four in March), Denmark Farm (max. two in July), Llanrhystud (max. one in August), Bray’s pool (max. three in September), Pond Yr Oerfa (max. three in September) and Glandyfi (max. six in January).

(B) GREAT CRESTED GREBE GWYACH FAWR GOPOG Podiceps cristatus An irregular breeder. Small numbers wintering off the coast and in estuaries.

There were no records during the breeding season.

Although widely reported from many coastal locations outside the breeding season numbers were very low with the highest counts just three at RSPB Ynys-hir in February and December and just three at Borth/Ynyslas in November. The only inland reports were of two at Bray’s pool in February with presumably the same two at Llyn Nant yr Arian in March.

(A) SLAVONIAN GREBE GWYACH GORNIOG Podiceps auritus Scarce winter visitor

Two off Aberystwyth on 30th November was the only record (ASP).

(A) WESTERN CATTLE EGRET CREYR Y GWARTHEG Bulbulcus ibis Rare migrant

The bird present in November and December 2018 was seen feeding in cattle fields on the north side of the Teifi est on many dates from 1st January to 31st March (WJ et al).

(B) GREY HERON CREYR GLAS Ardea cinerea Resident.

Reported widely throughout the county, apart from the uplands.

(A) PURPLE HERON CREYR PORFFOR Ardea purpurea Scarce passage migrant

There was one along the course of the old Leri river channel on 2nd May (EO’C) which was then seen at Aberleri to 6th May.

Adult Purple Heron at Aberleri on 4th May, Edward O’Connor.

(A) GLOSSY IBIS CRYMANBIG DDU Plegadis falcinellus Rare passage migrant

There was one at Glandwr on 10th and 11th May (EO’C, ASP). See record shot on page 52.

(A) EURASIAN SPOONBILL LLWYBIG Platalea leucorodia Scarce passage migrant.

One flew over the Teifi marshes at dusk on 17th April and landed on Heron pond (WJ). One was at RSPB Ynys-hir/Glandyfi from 9th to 14th May (RJ et al) and one was at RSPB Ynys-hir on 21st June (ASP).

(B) GREAT EGRET CREYR MAWR GWYN Ardea alba Scarce, but increasing, vagrant

Another increase in records again this year; so much so that only a summary of records is possible. Single birds were seen at Lampeter in January and February, Cors Caron in February and October, Pant pool in April and May, at a fishing lake near Llanddewi Brefi in April, Aberaeron in May and Aberystwyth in October. On the Dyfi there were singles in March, April, May and November with up to four in September and there were five at Llanrhystud on 30th October. For record shot see page 53.

(B) LITTLE EGRET CREYR BACH Egretta garzetta Resident though no longer breeds in the county.

Seen daily on the Dyfi with a peak count of 23 in September. Also seen in good numbers on the Teifi est with a peak count 20 in September. Up to five were seen at Cors Caron with five feeding in a ploughed field at Tre Taliesin. Away from these sites seen at Lampeter in February, Aberystwyth in February, August and September, Pant pool in May and Llanrhystud in September and October.

(B) NORTHERN GANNET HUGAN Morus bassanus Off-shore all year, though only a few winter records.

One off Aberystwyth on 4th January and one at New Quay on 13th January were unusual records with no further records until five off Aberystwyth on 30th March. High counts included 270 off Ynyslas on 11th July, 200 off Aberystwyth on 20th July, 450 off Borth on 18th September and 250 off Ynyslas on 20th September. One at Aberystwyth on 30th November was the last record of the year.

(B) EUROPEAN SHAG MULFRAN WERDD Phalacrocorax aristotelis Resident with scattered small colonies along the coast.

No breeding counts were received. Very few high counts this year no records of more than seven birds.

(B) GREAT CORMORANT MULFRAN Phalacrocorax carbo Present all year. Several breeding colonies along coast.

No counts from breeding colonies were received. The highest count was of 84 at Ynyslas on 23rd September. The roost at the Domen las hide at RSPB Ynys-hir held up to 43 birds. A notable inland count was of fifteen at Llyn Fanod on 14th January.

Cormorant at Teifi Marshes on 1st March, Tommy Evans.

(B) WESTERN OSPREY GWALCH Y PYSGOD Pandion haliaetus Regular spring and summer visitor with numerous sightings on the Dyfi.

On the Dyfi recorded between 1st April and 11th September with numerous sightings of the breeding pair at the Dyfi Osprey Project and other ospreys inspecting the area. Elsewhere, there was one flying north at Aberystwyth on 1st April, one at Teifi marshes and estuary on 3rd and 4th April, one Aberaeron on 11th April and one at Tanybwlch on 7th May.

(B) EURASIAN SPARROWHAWK GWALCH GLAS Accipiter nisus Breeding resident

Reported widely in suitable habitat throughout the year.

(B) NORTHERN GOSHAWK GWALCH MARTH Accipiter gentilis Scarce breeding resident.

There were a few sightings, mainly in the north of the county with breeding suspected at a few sites though no confirmed breeding records were reported.

(B) WESTERN MARSH HARRIER BOD Y GWERNI Circus aeruginosus Scarce but annual migrant recorded in all months.

There was one at RSPB Ynys-hir on 23rd January, one south at Ynyslas on 8th April, one at Teifi marshes on 7th May, two at Ynyslas on 9th May, a juvenile at Ynyslas on 23rd and 24th July and at RSPB Ynys-hir on 27th July, a juvenile at Cors Caron on 3rd August and one at RPB Ynys-hir on 20th August.

(B) HEN HARRIER BOD TINWEN Circus cyaneus Regular winter visitor, primarily to Cors Caron and the Dyfi area.

At Cors Caron there were up to two ringtails to 31st March and up to two reported in the second winter period from 12th October. In the Dyfi area up to six (a 2nd winter male, a first winter male and four ringtails) were seen up to 3rd April and up to three (adult male and two ringtails) from 28th September to the end of the year. Elsewhere there was a male at Llyn Eiddwen on 5th January, a ringtail there on 3rd February, one nr Abermagwr on 17th February, one near Bow St on 6th April, a male at Pumlumon on 12th and 25th May, a female at Cymerau on 13th July, a female at Maesnant on 12th August and one in Cwm Einion on 17th September.

(B) RED KITE BARCUD Milvus milvus Common and widespread resident

Widely reported with up to 250 reported from the regular feeding stations. Breeding numbers remain good with a steadily increasing population.

(B) COMMON BUZZARD BWNCATH Buteo buteo Common and widespread resident.

Seen widely throughout the county.

(A) HONEY BUZZARD BOD Y MEL Pernis apivorus Scarce passage migrant

There was one in Cwm Einion on 7th September (RS).

(B) WATER RAIL RHEGEN Y DWR Rallus aquaticus Scarce breeding resident with some influxes in cold weather

The only breeding season record was of one at Aberleri on 25th May. Recorded from Cors Fochno (peak of five in January), Teifi est (peak of five in September), Cors Caron in January,

Ynyslas in February, RSPB Ynys-hir from October to December, Nanteos pool with two on 6th November and near the industrial site at Plas Crug, Aberystwyth with one on 15th November.

(A) SPOTTED CRAKE RHEGEN FRAITH Porzana porzana Scarce passage migrant

There was one at Teifi marshes on 22nd October (WJ).

(B) COMMON MOORHEN IAR DDWR Gallinulus chloropus Widespread breeding resident.

Bred widely at many suitable locations in the county. There were 18 at Nanteos pool in January and 20 at Teifi est in September.

(B) EURASIAN COOT CWTIAR Fulica atra Scarce breeding resident.

Possibly bred at Llyn Mynydd Gorddu with two there in June. Still very scarce with one at Teifi marshes on 18th March (unusual here), up to five at Bray’s pool in winter, up to three at Trisant lakes, up to three at Pant pool in winter, and singles occasionally at RSPB Ynys-hir, Llanerchaeron and Pond yr Oerfa.

(A) COMMON CRANE GARAN Grus grus Rare migrant

There was an un-ringed adult at RSPB Ynys-hir from 23rd to 30th April (RJ, TK et al). See record shot on page 52.

(B) EURASIAN OYSTERCATCHER PIODEN Y MOR Haematopus ostralegus Breeding resident and numerous winter visitor.

Bred at New Quay, near the Leri and at RSPB Ynys-hir (three pairs), though there were presumably other scattered pairs breeding along the coast. Dyfi and Teifi WeBS or peak counts and peak counts from Llanrhystud/Llansantffraed (Llanrh/Llans) and Aberystwyth/Tanybwlch (Aber/Tan) were as follows:

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Dyfi est 577 297 129 378 452 739 428 Teifi est 14 47 32 45 77 8 12 Llanrh/Llans 53 39 38 24 Aber/Tan 19 10 38 38 19

The only other count of note was of 25 at Mwnt on 1st September. The leucistic bird seen for a number of years now was reported from Llansantffraed in January and Llanrhystud in October.

(A) PIED AVOCET CAMBIG Recurvirostra avosetta Scarce passage migrant.

There was one at Glandyfi on 6th March (RS) and one at RSPB Ynys-hir on 18th April (D Haslam).

(B) NORTHERN LAPWING CORNCHWIGLEN Vanellus vanellus Scarce and declining breeder. Good wintering numbers at a number of localities.

Breeding season records came from RSPB Ynys-hir where 38 pairs reared 24 young to fledging and from Cors Caron and Llyn Eiddwen.

Peak counts Dyfi and Teifi estuaries were as follows:

Jan Feb Mar Oct Nov Dec Dyfi 1628 1000 53 645 1192 774 Teifi est 1000 1500 200

Other notable counts were 400 at Synod Inn in January, 1000 at Ty Gwyn pools in January and 300 at Llangwyryfon in December.

(B) EUROPEAN GOLDEN PLOVER CWTIAD AUR Pluvialis apricaria Small numbers may still breed in the uplands of the north-east. Common passage migrant and winter visitor.

No breeding records were received. On the Dyfi seen up to 1st May and from 9th September to the end of the year with peak counts of 1100 at Ynys Tachwedd in February and 450 there in October. Other large flocks included 500 at Teifi est on 13th February, 500 at Post Bach on 1st March, 320 at Llanrhystud in March and April with 600 there in October and 500 in November.

(B) GREY PLOVER CWTIAD LLWYD Pluvialis squatarola Passage migrant and winter visitor, mainly to the Dyfi and Teifi estuaries and Llanrhystud/Llansantffraed.

Low numbers on the Dyfi again this year with a first winter peak of 10 on 22nd February and 10 in November. The only spring passage records were of four at Glandyfi on 20th April with eight at Ynyslas on 18th May and four there on 19th May. Higher numbers were seen at Llansantffraed/Llanrhystud with up to 16 in January, eleven in February and nine in October. There were none reported elsewhere.

(B) COMMON RINGED PLOVER CWTIAD TORCHOG Charadrius hiaticula A few pairs breed on beaches in the north of the county. Numerous spring and autumn passage migrant. Small parties dispersed along the coast in winter. Scarce inland.

Present during the breeding season at both Borth and Ynyslas with displaying pairs at both sites but no confirmed breeding records were received.

Small numbers were present at Borth/Ynyslas in winter with 42 at Ynyslas on 24th January and 38 in late October. There was a good spring passage there with 250 on 17th April and 400 on 18th May and a reasonable autumn passage with 340 on 15th August and 110 on 13th September. Elsewhere on the Dyfi, there were 420 on 23rd August at RSPB Ynys-hir. At Llanrhystud/Llansantffraed up to seven were seen in both winter periods with a spring passage peak there of 48 on 24th May and a peak of 110 on 19th August with 22 in September and twenty in October. At the Teifi est. up to 12 were seen in the first winter period with up to 13 in the second winter period. Spring and autumn passage peaks there were 35 in May and 31 in September. Elsewhere, regularly recorded in winter at Aberystwyth with up to 10 in both winter periods and a peak count of 29 on autumn passage in September.

(A) LITTLE RINGED PLOVER CWTIAD TORCHOG LLEIAF Charadrius dubius Scarce passage migrant and summer visitor, occasionally breeds.

In spring there were two at Cors Caron on 28th March with one on 6th and 20th April. There were two at RSPB Ynys-hir on 1st April, one on 3rd April, nine on 6th April, two on 8th April and one on 10th April. One was at Glandyfi on 6th April and one at Ynyslas on 23rd April. One at RSPB Ynys-hir on 1st September was the only autumn record.

(A) EURASIAN DOTTEREL HUTAN Y MYNYDD Charadrius morinellus Scarce but regular passage migrant, mainly in spring and mainly on Pumlumon.

There were four near the summit at Pumlumon on 5th and 7th May (IH, SJ).

Dotterels at Pumlumon on 5th May, Shane Jones.

(B) WHIMBREL COEGYLFINIR Numenius phaeopus Regular spring and autumn passage migrant, mainly along the coast.

The first spring migrant was seen at Llanrhystud on 7th April with one at Llanon on 24th May the last on spring passage. There was another widespread and heavy coastal passage this year with peak numbers on the Dyfi at Ynyslas with 68 on 25th April and 77 on 28th April with good numbers at Llanrhystud/Llansantffraed too with 29 on 25th April and 28 on 1st May. Elsewhere notable counts included nine at Aberystwyth on 17th April, 14 north at Aberaeron on 30th April and 15 at Teifi marshes on 7th May. The only inland records were of two at Cors Caron on 30th April and one on 1st May Return passage commenced with one at Aberaeron on 19th July with the last at Teifi est on 28th September with peak counts of 21 at Ynyslas on 2nd August and 14 at Borth on 14th September and an inland bird at Llyn Eiddwen on 27th July.

(B) EURASIAN CURLEW GYLFINIR Numenius arquata Scarce and declining breeding resident. Numerous visitor to the major estuaries and coastal locations between July and April.

The only records of birds in suitable breeding habitat came from Cors Caron with ten arriving back by 25th March.

Peak counts Dyfi, Teifi, Llanrhystud and Tanybwlch/Aberystwyth were as follows:

Jan Feb Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Dyfi 652 625 220 545 466 848 186 Teifi est 49 64 38 80 48 24 52 Llanrhystud 48 55 28 37 48 42 Tanybwlch 12

(B) BAR-TAILED GODWIT RHOSTOF GYNFFONFRAITH Limosa lapponica Regular spring and autumn passage migrant in varying numbers with small numbers wintering.

Small numbers present in the winter periods on the Dyfi estuary with 13 in February and 19 in November with no more than three on the Teifi est in winter. There was a small spring passage with peak counts on the Dyfi of ten at Ynys Tachwedd in April and 16 at Ynyslas in May with up to two at Llansantffraed/Llanrhystud and one at Teifi est on 15th May. Autumn passage was noted from 18th August with one at Ynyslas with 14 at Teifi est on 28th September and 33 at RSPB Ynys-hir on 29th September the highest counts.

(B) BLACK-TAILED GODWIT RHOSTOG GYNFFONDDU Limosa limosa Scarce but regular spring and autumn passage migrant with small numbers over-wintering.

Seen regularly at both the Dyfi and Teifi estuaries in the first-winter period with up to six at Teifi est and 11 on the Dyfi. There was a small spring passage with 30 at RSPB Ynys-hir on 5th March the highest count and last noted at Ynyslas on 28th April with a notable inland count of nine at Cors Caron on 28th March. Autumn passage commenced with 11 at Aberystwyth on 20th July with up to 29 at RSPB Ynys- hir between 23rd August and 7th September and up to 28 at Teifi est between July and October. Very few were noted in the second-winter period with two at Teifi est on 18th November and one at RSPB Ynys-hir on 8th December the only records.

(B) RUDDY TURNSTONE CWTIAD Y TRAETH Arenaria interpres Small numbers winter, mainly at Aberystwyth and Llanrhystud with small numbers elsewhere on passage.

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Dyfi est 2 2 1 1 4 21 1 1 2 Teifi est 2 2 Llanrh/Llansan 3 5 5 5 5 45 75 48 18 18 Aber/Tany 38 38 27 25 5 3 17 20 37 29 24

The only other records were of three at Aberaeron on 24th August, seven at Gwbert on 6th October with four there on 22nd August (unusual here).

(B) RED KNOT PIBYDD YR ABER Calidris canutus Passage migrant and winter visitor, mainly to the Dyfi and Teifi estuaries. Rare inland.

Small numbers wintered on the Dyfi in both winter periods with 23 at the Leri on 22nd February and 37 at Ynyslas on 29th November.0th February and 11 there in November. Small numbers were seen on spring passage on the Dyfi peaking at 12 on 9th May. Autumn passage commenced with ten at Teifi est on 14th August with up to six there in September and there were 70 at Ynyslas on 18th August with up to 50 there in September. Away from the two major estuaries the only record was of one at Tanybwlch on 25th March.

(A) RUFF PIBYDD TORCHOG Calidris pugnax Scarce passage migrant and occasional winter visitor.

There was one at Cors Caron on 7th April and 16th September (HAW), one at RSPB Ynys-hir on 29th September (RJ) and one at Llanrhystud on 6th October (HAW).

(A) CURLEW SANDPIPER PIBYDD CAMBIG Calidris ferriginea Scarce spring and autumn passage migrant.

All records were in September with one at Llanrhystud on 1st, four at Ynyslas and one at Teifi est on the same date, six at Ynyslas on 2nd , one at Teifi est on 12th with two there on 13th, one at Ynyslas on 13th, two at Teifi est on 15th and 24th with one on 28th and two at Ynyslas on 30th.

(B) SANDERLING PIBYDD Y TYWOD Calidris alba Winter visitor and passage migrant, occasionally in good numbers on spring passage.

Peak counts Dyfi, Teifi, Llanrhystud and Tanybwlch/Aberystwyth were as follows:

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Dyfi est 12 22 17 25 100 14 12 16 11 17 12 Teifi est 50 24 25 2 Llanrh/Llansan 23 3 Aber/Tany 1

The only other records were ten at Mwnt on 10th August with one there on 1st September and one at Tanybwlch on 3rd October.

(B) DUNLIN PIBYDD Y MAWN Calidris alpina Scarce breeding resident, common passage and winter visitor.

Peak counts Dyfi, Teifi and Llanrhystud were as follows:

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Dyfi est 670 400 85 150 2500 45 24 620 240 267 552 62 Teifi est 30 51 6 550 7 30 35 Llanrh/Llans 17 27 5 8 2 3 24

Elsewhere the only records were of two at Cors Caron on 9th May, three at Aberaeron on 27th July with 14 there on 24th August and 22 at Mwnt on 1st September.

(B) PURPLE SANDPIPER PIBYDD DU Calidris maritime Regular winter visitor mainly to Aberystwyth with a few recorded elsewhere in most years.

Seen at Aberystwyth from January 1st to 18th April and from 8th November to the end of the year with peak monthly counts of eight in January, seven in February and March, five in April, six in November and seven in December.

Elsewhere, on the Teifi est (mainly near Gwbert) there were two in January and two in December.

(B) TEMMINCK’S STINT PIBYDD TEMMINCK Calidris temminckii Rare passage migrant.

There was one at the Leri on 12th and 13th May (JAD, HAW). See record shot on page 52.

(B) EURASIAN WOODCOCK CYFFYLOG Scolopax rusticola Small numbers widespread in winter with fresh arrivals with hard weather.

Seen in small numbers at many localities in both winter periods though there was an excellent count of 57 at Cors Caron on 21st January.

(B) JACK SNIPE GIACH BACH Lymnocryptes minimus Winter visitor and passage migrant.

Small numbers were seen in many suitable localities in both winter periods with up to four flushed during rush-cutting at RSPB Ynys-hir in late September and October and good numbers present at Ynys Tachwedd fields in November and December.

(B) COMMON SNIPE GIACH Gallinago gallinago Breeds at suitable wet places at all altitudes, scarce and very local in the south-west. Numerous on passage and in winter, especially with the onset of hard weather.

Present in the breeding season at RSPB Ynys-hir, Cors Fochno, Cors Caron, Nant Y Moch and at Llyn Y Figyn. Presumably small numbers bred at other suitable locations in the uplands. The largest numbers reported were 26 at Cors Caron on 21st January, 23 at RSPB Ynys-hir on 29th October and 21 at Teifi est on 27th December.

(B) COMMON SANDPIPER PIBYDD Y DORLAN Actitis hypoleucos Scarce and declining breeder, common passage migrant and rare winter visitor.

Breeding season records came from Cors Caron and RSPB Ynys-hir. 25

Wintering birds were at both the Teifi and Dyfi estuaries in the first winter period with two at Glandyfi in February and one was on the Dyfi (mainly Glandyfi) in the second winter period. The first probable migrant of the year was at Ynyslas on 6th April with a small passage peaking at nine there on 16th April with up to three noted at mainly coastal sites to 1st May. Autumn passage was noted from 11th July with peak counts of nine at Glandyfi on 2nd August and 11 at RSPB Ynys-hir on 23rd August.

(B) GREEN SANDPIPER PIBYDD GWYRDD Tringa ochropus Scarce passage migrant and winter visitor.

In both winter periods two were on the Dyfi, mainly at Glandyfi or RSPB Ynys-hir with one at Cors Caron in February and two at Abercoed, near Tregaron on 5th November.

Spring passage was light with up to three at Cors Caron in late March and early April and up to two at RSPB Ynys-hir and along the Clettwr in the same period.

It was also rather a poor passage later in the year following one at Cors Caron on 22nd June with singles there in July and August, one at Teifi marshes in August and up to three at RSPB Ynys-hir/Clettwr from July to October with a good inland record at Llyn Eiddwen on 24th October.

Green Sandpiper at Teifi Marshes on 31st July, Wood Sandpiper at Tregaron Bog on 7th May, Tommy Evans Arfon Williams

(A) WOOD SANDPIPER PIBYDD Y GRAEAN Tringa glareola Scarce spring and autumn passage migrant.

There was one at RSPB Ynys-hir on 3rd May (DA), one at Cors Caron on 7th May (HAW) and one at Teifi marshes on 8th August (WJ).

(B) COMMON REDSHANK PIBYDD COESGOCH Tringa tetanus Breeds at Cors Caron and the Dyfi with reduced numbers on passage and in winter.

At RSPB Ynys-hir 38 pairs bred (28 in 2018, 34 pairs in 2017). Present at Cors Caron in April and May so presumably bred there and also presumably bred at Aberleri, Glandwr and elsewhere on the edge of Cors Fochno.

Peak counts Dyfi, Teifi and Llanrhystud/Llansantffraed were as follows:

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Dyfi est 274 287 81 92 140 240 215 Teifi est 46 52 36 2 54 53 Llanrh/Llans 4 10 1 8 3

Elsewhere, there was one at Aberystwyth on 24th August, eight at Mwnt on 1st September, three at Aberystwyth on 13th September, one there on 29th October and two at Tanybwlch on 17th September.

(B) SPOTTED REDSHANK PIBYDD COESGOCH MANNOG Tringa erythropus Scarce winter visitor and passage migrant

The over-wintering bird was seen on the Dyfi (mainly at RSPB Ynys-hir) on many dates to 20th April and again from 29th October to the end of the year. There were no other records.

(B) COMMON GREENSHANK PIBYDD COESWERDD Tringa nebularia Regular spring and autumn passage migrant with a few occasionally over-wintering on the larger estuaries.

In the first winter period there were singles wintering on both the Teifi and Dyfi estuary. There was a small spring passage of mainly single birds on both estuaries with two at Glandyfi on 19th May. One at Ynyslas on 2nd August was the first on return passage with up to five at RSPB Ynys-hir in August and September and two at Ynyslas on 18th August the highest counts. In the second winter period up to two wintered on the Teifi with a single bird wintering on the Dyfi. Away from the two estuaries, the only records were of one at Cors Caron on 7th May and one at Llanrhystud on 8th August.

(B) BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE GWYLAN GOESDDU Rissa tridactyla Breeding colonies between New Quay and Llangrannog. Common off-shore in the breeding season, scarce in winter.

Bred at New Quay though no counts were made and breeding success was unknown. Scarce off-shore in winter with a few records especially after strong westerly winds though there were no large counts in this period. Large counts included 400 at Mwnt on 11th August and 2500 there on 1st September, 1200 at Ynyslas on 2nd September, 600 at Borth on 15th and 18th September and 1000 at New Quay on 25th September. 27

(A) SABINE’S GULL GWYLAN SABINE Xema sabini Scarce passage migrant

There was an adult with a full hood passed Mwnt on 1st September (HAW), one passed New Quay on 3rd September (A Wise) and a juvenile at Ynyslas on 15th September (DA).

(B) BLACK-HEADED GULL GWYLAN BENDDU Chrochocephalus ridibundus Scarce and declining breeder. Good numbers present from July and in both winter periods.

No counts were received of the few colonies left in the county. High counts included up to 1500 at Llanrhystud/Llanon in March and 1000 at Ynyslas in July.

(A) LITTLE GULL GWYLAN FECHAN Hydrocoloeus minutus Annual visitor, seen mainly at coast. A few inland records. Recorded in all months but rare in June or July.

There were nine at Mwnt on 1st September (HAW), a second-winter at Borth on 13th September (ASP) and an adult at Mwnt on 29th September (GR).

(B) MEDITERRANEAN GULL GWYLAN MÔR Y CANOLDIR Ichthyaetus melanocephalus Regular visitor and passage migrant in increasing numbers. Recorded in all months.

Seen widely along the coast throughout the year. There were good numbers in the first winter period with double figure counts at Teifi est in February and March (max. 14 on 14th March) and from Llanrhystud in March and April (max. 35 on 5th April). The usual late-summer build-up of numbers started with 78 at Llanrhystud on 26th June with peak monthly counts at Llanon/Llanrhystud/Llansantffraed of 136 on 8th July, 170 on 20th August, 15 on 1st September and 125 on 14th October. There were high numbers at Aberystwyth too with 55 on 28th June, 213 on 25th July, 325 on 9th August and 48 on 27th September. Elsewhere the highest count was of an impressive 500 at Cei Bach on 4th October.

(B) MEW (COMMON) GULL GWYLAN Y GWEUNYDD Larus canus Winter visitor and passage migrant. Recorded all months although few records in June and July.

The largest count was of 500 at Teifi est on 14th January.

(C) GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL GWYLAN GEFNDDU FWYAF L. marinus Small breeding colony Cardigan Island and scattered pairs along the coast. Small numbers present all year on coast and a few irregularly inland.

No breeding counts were carried out. Notable counts came from Ynyslas with 24 in June and 28 in September.

(A) GLAUCOUS GULL GWYLAN Y GOGLEDD Larus hyperboreus Rare winter visitor

There was a 4CY at Llansantffraed on 24th November (RGL).

(A) ICELAND GULL GWYLAN YR ARCTIG Larus glaucoides Scarce winter visitor with influxes in some years.

There was one at Teifi est on 16th and 19th February (RD, WJ).

The largest counts came from Teifi est with 530 in February, Llanrhystud with 250 in March and Aberystwyth with 470 in October.

(A) YELLOW-LEGGED GULL GWYLAN GOESFELEN Larus michahellis Scarce visitor

There was one at Mwnt on 11th August (EO’C).

(B) LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL GWYLAN GEFNDDU LEIAF Larus fuscus Breeds on Cardigan Island and a few pairs along the coast. Noticeable spring passage.

There were 117 north off Ynyslas on 11th and 25th March with 251 north on 8th April. Inland there was a good count of 109 at Llyn Eiddwen on 24th October.

(B) SANDWICH TERN MORWENNOL BIGDDU Thalasseus sandvicensis Common spring and autumn passage migrant with good numbers on the Dyfi in autumn in most years.

Two at Aberystwyth on 29th March was the first record of the year. There was a small spring passage with birds recorded from Teifi est., Aberystwyth, Borth and Ynyslas with peak counts of 18 at Ynyslas on 1st April, 11 on 25th April and 15 on 8th May. Mid-summer records included two at Teifi est on 15th June with three there on 17th June. Autumn passage probably began with 25 at Aberystwyth on 25th July with a wide scatter of coastal records until the last at Teifi est on 12th October. The highest counts were as usual from Borth/Ynyslas with monthly peaks of 400 in August and 300 in September. Elsewhere good counts included 60 at Glandyfi on 2nd August, 200 at Mwnt on 1st September and 100 at New Quay on 25th September.

Sandwich Terns at Ynyslas on 3rd August, Tommy Evans.

(A) LITTLE TERN MORWENNOL FYCHAN Sternula albifrons Scarce spring and autumn passage migrant.

In spring, there was one at RSPB Ynys-hir on 8th May (RJ) with one at Ynyslas on 9th May (EO’C). In autumn there was one at Borth on 13th September (ASP) and singles at both New Quay (HAW) and Ynyslas (ASP) on 25th September.

(A) COMMON TERN MORWENNOL GYFFREDIN Sterna hirundo Spring and autumn passage migrant

The only records in spring were of 16 at Aberystwyth on 16th April and an astonishing 1500 at Ynyslas on 8th May (EO’C, HAW) with 250 there on 9th May. Rather scarce in autumn with one at Teifi est on 9th Aug, four at Mwnt on 1st Sept, four at Borth on 18th Sept, three at New Quay on 25th Sept and one at New Quay on 4th October.

‘Commic’ terns: There were 64 at Ynyslas on 16th April, 50 at the Clettwr and 30 at Aberystwyth on 27th April, five at Ynyslas on 28th April, 21 at Ynyslas on 2nd September and four there on 25th September.

(A) ARCTIC TERN MORWENNOL Y GOGLEDD Sterna paradisarea Spring and autumn passage migrant.

In spring, there were 50 at Ynyslas on 16th April, one there on 25th April, 18 at New Quay on 27th April, three at Ynyslas on 28th April, 75 there on 8th May with 20 there on 9th May. 30

In autumn, there was one at Mwnt on 10th August, 20 there on 1st September, one at New Quay on 4th October and the last were four at Mwnt on 6th October.

(A) ROSEATE TERN MORWENNOL WRIDOG Sterna dougallii Scarce passage migrant

There was one at Ynyslas on 8th May (EO’C).

(A) BLACK TERN CORSWENNOL DDU Chlidonias niger Scarce spring and autumn passage migrant

In spring, there were 18 at Ynyslas on 8th May with one there the next day (EO’C, HAW). In autumn, there were singles at Mwnt on 5th September, Borth on 18th September (RJ) and at New Quay on 25th September (HAW).

(A) GREAT SKUA SGIWEN FAWR Stercorarius. skua Annual visitor offshore and in estuaries. Seen in all months.

There was one at Aberystwyth on 30th March, one at Ynyslas on 16th April and four there on 27th April with two at New Quay on the same date. In autumn, four passed Mwnt on 1st September, three passed Mwnt and one passed Teifi est on 4th September, two passed New Quay on 19th September, one off Aberystwyth on 21st September, three passed New Quay on 4th October and three passed Mwnt on 6th October.

(A) POMARINE SKUA SGIWEN FRECH Stercorarius pomarinus A scarce passage migrant to coastal area, commoner in autumn, very rare in winter.

Two passed New Quay on 25th September was the only record (HAW).

(B) PARASITIC JAEGER (ARCTIC SKUA) SGIWEN Y GOGLEDD S. parasiticus A few annually offshore during autumn passage, July-October. Rarely seen in November and December and occasionally in spring.

In spring there was one passed Ynyslas on 17th April, three passed Aberystwyth on 18th April, two passed Ynyslas on 23rd April, one at New Quay on 27th April and one at Ynyslas on 8th May. In autumn, two passed Mwnt on 10th August with a total of 94 passing with the last record of 11 passed Mwnt on 6th October. Peak counts were of 16 passed Mwnt on 1st September, nine passed Borth on 15th September and 19 passed New Quay on 25th September.

(A) LONG-TAILED SKUA SGIWEN GYNFFON-HIR Stercorarius longicaudus Rare spring and autumn passage migrant.

There was one passed Borth on 15th September (RJ).

(B) COMMON MURRE (GUILLEMOT) GWYLOG Uria aalge Several breeding colonies between New Quay and Cardigan. Seen off-shore in all seasons.

No breeding counts were carried out but bred at Cardigan Island, New Quay and Ynys Lochtyn. Seen intermittently off Gwbert throughout the winter with no large counts reported.

(B) RAZORBILL LLURS Alca torda Several small breeding colonies between New Quay and Cardigan island. Seen off-shore at all seasons with occasionally high numbers at Borth bay in late autumn.

No counts of breeding colonies were carried out. Seen widely off-shore throughout the year with 400 off the Dyfi mouth on 29th October the only large number reported.

(A) ATLANTIC PUFFIN PAL Fratercula arctica Scarce visitor to coastal areas

There were single birds at Ynyslas on 17th May (EO’C), New Quay on 27th May (HAW), New Quay and Aberporth on 26th June and Mwnt on 11th August (EO’C).

(D) ROCK/FERAL PIGEON COLOMEN Y GRAIG Columba livia Resident along coastal cliffs and towns.

(B) STOCK DOVE COLOMEN WYLLT C. oenas Much reduced as a breeding resident in recent years, now localised.

Either under-reported or the decline is continuing with records from only twelve locations (nine in 2018). Breeding season records came from RSPB Ynys-hir, Llangybi, Llanilar, Ynyslas, Glandyfi and Bontgoch. There were good numbers in a field left fallow at Ynys Tachwedd with up to 50 in February and 29 in March. Other good counts were 45 at Denmark Farm in March, 14 at Llyn Fanod in March and 15 at Tregaron in November.

Widely seen throughout the county but there were no large flocks reported this year.

(C) COLLARED DOVE TURTUR DORCHOG Streptopelia decaocto Fairly widely distributed resident in towns and villages and at farmsteads.

Widely reported from towns and villages in the county but there were no large flocks noted.

(A) TURTLE DOVE TURTUR Streptopelia turtur Rare and decreasing summer visitor

There was on in a driveway at Tan Y Groes on 23rd May (S Burrow).

One at RSPB Ynys-hir on 16th April was the first record of the year with no records after the end of June. Records came from 14 sites, another decrease in locations (15 sites in 2018, 20 sites in 2017, 33 locations in 2016, 49 locations in 2015, 30 locations in 2014, 25 in 2013, 29 in 2012, 22 locations in 2011 and 25 locations in 2010). The north of the county seems to have good numbers still with many records from Cors Fochno, RSPB Ynys-hir, Foel Fawr, Cwm Einion and the Llyfnant valley.

Reported from only a few sites with only a few breeding season records. Widely under reported.

Barn Owl at the Tefi Marshes in Februay, Tommy Evans. 33

(A) LITTLE OWL TYLLUAN FACH Athene noctua Scarce resident

A pair was again present in farm buildings in the north of the county and one was calling at Bow St on 30th October.

(A) SHORT-EARED OWL TYLLUAN GLUSTIOG Asio flammeus Scarce annual passage migrant and winter visitor. Bred occasionally in the past.

Another poor year with only eight records: one at RSPB Ynys-hir on 4th February, one at Pumlumon on 23rd February, one at Glandyfi on 5th April, one at Penderi on 18th April, an intriguing record of two in the uplands in the north of the county on 10th May with one still there on 25th May, one at Cors Caron on 10th November with two there on 9th December.

(B) EUROPEAN NIGHTJAR TROELLWR MAWR (NYDDWR) Caprimulgus europaeus Summer visitor, very scarce and local breeder.

Reported from RSPB Ynys-hir (Foel Fawr), Cross Inn forest, Cors Fochno and near Joppa. Presumably much more widely distributed as large areas of recent clear-fell are present in the county from which there are no records and there were rumours of up to nine churring males at one locality though no details were forthcoming. Analysis of counts of churring males is therefore pointless without further details.

First spring record was at Llanilar on 30th April with the last at Glandyfi on 7th September. Breeding numbers appeared to be low but were widely reported with five pairs at Talybont and a few pairs in Bow St, Eglwysfach, Aberystwyth, Aberporth, Llanfair Clydogau, Bettws Bledrws, Henllan, Glynarthen, Talsarn and Lampeter. Large flocks were 59 at Ynyslas on 9th May and 160 at RSPB Ynys-hir on 19th July. It is very encouraging to see that a number of residents are putting up specially designed swift nesting boxes which are increasingly being used and I would encourage others to do the same.

(A) ALPINE SWIFT COBLYN YR ALPAU Tachymarptis melba Rare passage migrant.

There was one seen and photographed at Aberystwyth on 23rd September (K James). For record shot see page 53.

(B) COMMON KINGFISHER GLAS Y DORLAN Alcedo atthis Scarce breeding resident, mainly in lowland areas. Seen in estuaries and on coast outside breeding season.

Presumably bred on or near the Teifi with ten juveniles ringed at Teifi marshes in June. Otherwise the only breeding season record came from Pant pool with one on 5th May. Seen widely in many suitable areas in autumn/winter on the larger rivers (Teifi, Dyfi etc.) with occasional records from the coast, especially from Aberystwyth with up to two regularly seen in both winter periods.

(A) LESSER SPOTTED WOODPECKER CNOCELL FRAITH LEIAF Dendrocopos minor Very uncommon resident breeder.

Two pairs present at RSPB Ynys-hir/Ynyshir hall again this year (RJ, TK, DA et al) with most activity in March and April though occasionally seen during the winter months. Elsewhere there was one at Cwm Wyre, Llanrhystud on 15th February (KB), one calling at Glandyfi castle on 24th February (RS), one at Cwm Clettwr NR on 23rd April (PB) and one at Cilcennin on 21st June (PB).

(A) EUROPEAN GREEN WOODPECKER CNOCELL WERDD Picus viridis Much decreased resident breeder.

There were single birds at Cross Inn forest on 4th February and 12th and 19th May (AJ, AM), one at Llanddewi Brefi calling daily from 7th February to 6th May (DP), one at Longwood, Bettws Bledrws on 6th October (DT), one at Devil’s Bridge on 21st November (AM) and one at Mynydd Bach, Ystrad Meurig on 3rd December (PE).

(B) COMMON KESTREL CUDYLL COCH Falco tinnunculus Scarce and declining breeding resident.

Bred near Pumlumon with a female and two fledged young in July and near Cwmystwyth with a family party in August. Seen at 26 different sites again this year with numerous coastal records and widely reported inland in areas of rough pasture, open forestry and moorland.

(B) MERLIN CUDYLL BACH Falco columbarius Scarce and declining breeding resident with more on passage and in winter.

A pair bred in the north of the county with two chicks in the nest on 26th July. In January seen at Ynyslas, Clettwr, Cwm Einion, Llanrhystud, Cors Caron. Capel Bangor and Bettws Bledrws. 35

In February at Ynyslas, Cors Fochno, Cors Caron, Eglwysfach, Teifi est, Llanrhystud and RSPB Ynys-hir. In March at Ynyslas and RSPB Ynys-hir. In April at Ynyslas, Llanrhystud and RSPB Ynys-hir. In July at Cymerau. In October at Ynyslas, Llanrhystud, Borth and RSPB Ynys-hir. In November at Ynyslas, Aberystwyth and RSPB Ynys-hir. In December at Glandyfi and RSPB Ynys-hir.

(A) EURASIAN HOBBY HEBOG YR EHEDYDD Falco subbuteo Scarce but increasing summer migrant.

The first record was at Ynyslas on 3rd May with a wide scatter of records of mainly singles from Ynyslas, Cors Caron, RSPB Ynys-hir, Ffos-Y-Ffin, Pumlumon, Llangybi, Glynarthen, Furnace and Cross Inn forest until the last at Furnace on 11th September. Bred for the first time in the county with two breeding pairs located, one rearing two young to fledging in late August and the other fledging one young in early September.

(B) PEREGRINE FALCON HEBOG TRAMOR Falco peregrinus Resident breeder.

A few breeding records were reported, mainly along the coast. Outside the breeding season widely reported at mainly coastal sites with a few records inland.

(A) GREAT GREY SHRIKE CIGYDD MAWR Lanius excubitor Scarce winter visitor

There was one at Cors Caron on a few dates between 23rd February and 6th April (DP et al). For record shot see page 52.

Widely reported from suitable locations. No large flocks noted with eight at Cwm Einion on 14th November (RS) the highest count.

No information on breeding numbers was received. 36

Seen widely along the coast with 21 at Mwnt on 25th July and 23 there on 11th August the highest counts.

Chough at Tanybwlch on 20th March, Kev Joynes

A widespread and common breeding species with an estimated 40 pairs breeding in Talybont village for example. The largest flock reported was of 500 at Llyn Eiddwen on 27th July.

Presumably a widespread breeding species with good numbers at suitable feeding locations.

Extremely common and widespread breeding species seen almost everywhere in the county. High counts included up to 500 at pre-roost gatherings on the sand flats at the Dyfi in November and December and 150 at Llyn Eiddwen on 27th July.

Reasonably common in both upland and coastal locations, the largest counts being 28 at Cwm Wyre, Llanrhystud on 21st January and 24 at Llanilar on 23rd September.

The largest flock reported was of 26 in Cwm Einion on 10th January.

(B) MARSH TIT TITW'R WERN P. palustris Fairly common breeding resident in the west and south but rather scarce and local in the north and east. Absent from some upland districts.

Recorded from nine localities with singles at Llanerchaeron in February and April, two at Llangybi on 27th March, singles at Cross Inn forest in April and November, one feeding young at Coed Dolgoed in May, singles at Henllan in October and Aberaeron in November, four at Llanfair Clydofau in December and widely reported at Cors Caron and from the feeders at Teifi marshes in January.

(B) WILLOW TIT TITW'R HELYG Poecile montanus Patchily distributed throughout, mainly in wet scrubland areas. Scarcer than Marsh except in the north- east, where it is generally commoner.

Thanks to the determination of one recorder using play-back technology this species was widely reported from numerous locations with a substantial population found in an area bounded roughly by Bronant/Cors Caron/Llangybi/Cross Inn Forest. As an example, there were 12 territories found in the Bethania/Cross Inn forest area in June and six territories between Llangybi and Llanio in late March. An article summarising the willow tit survey results in the county when the survey is completed would be welcomed in the future.

(C) EURASIAN SKYLARK EHEDYDD Alauda arvensis Widespread, but declining resident breeder. Commoner near coast in winter and considerable spring and autumn passage movements or in winter with hard weather.

Widely reported throughout the county though generally scarce as a breeding species in mostly re-seeded rye pasture. There were few large flocks noted with 50 at Ynys Tachwedd on 10th February, 69 south at Aberystwyth on 30th September and 40 in a ploughed field near Cardigan on 28th October.

(C) SAND MARTIN GWENNOL Y GLENNYDD Riparia riparia Breeding summer visitor and passage migrant. Much reduced in numbers in recent years.

First spring records were at RSPB Ynys-hir and Rheidiol gravel pits on 5th March. The largest flocks reported were 180 at Ynyslas on 1st April, 220 at RSPB Ynys-hir on 3rd April and 300 at Teifi marshes on 10th April. The only breeding report was of 20 nests in a colony at Abermagwr on 3rd July.

The first spring record was of one at Teifi marshes on 17th March with the last record of three at Ynyslas on 15th October. The only large flocks noted were at Ynyslas with 250 north per hour on 3rd May and 650 north on 5th May.

Two at Ynyslas on 31st March was the first record of the year with the last record at Cwm Rheidiol on 3rd October. The largest flock was of 240 at Glandyfi on 7th September.

(B) CETTI'S WARBLER TELOR CETTI Cettia cetti Rare breeding resident.

At Teifi marshes, where this species was absent for the whole of the breeding season for the second year (following the Beast from the East) a female was trapped and ringed on 12th September with another two females trapped and ringed on 13th September. Elsewhere, the slow colonisation of the north of the county continued with five singing birds around Cors Fochno on 2nd January with singing birds during the breeding season at Glandwr, Aberleri, Cors Fochno, Ynyslas, Glandyfi and at RSPB Ynys-hir. Also recorded at Tanybwlch and Pen Dinas in March.

(C) LONG-TAILED TIT TITW CYNFFON-HIR Aegithalos caudatus Widespread and fairly common resident breeder. Severely reduced in hard winters

The largest flocks were 22 at Trefenter on 7th October and 20 at RSPB Ynys-hir on 30th October.

(C) WILLOW WARBLER TELOR YR HELYG Phylloscopus trochilus Numerous breeding summer visitor and passage migrant in all districts

One at Llanrhystud on 29th March was the first record of the year with three along the Clettwr on 25th September and one at RSPB Ynys-hir on 30th September the last records of the year. There was a strong arrival in mid-April with 17 at Ynyslas on 16th April and 15 at Penderi cliff on 18th April.

(C) COMMON CHIFFCHAFF SIFF-SIAFF P. collybita Summer visitor and passage migrant, breeding commonly wherever woods with suitable undergrowth occur. Heard widely on passage. Occasional winter records, mainly near the coast.

Wintering records came from Teifi marshes, Aberystwyth, Clarach and Llandysul in February, RSPB Ynys-hir and Capel Bangor in early March, Aberystwyth with up to two in November, Llanrhystud with up to two in December and Gwbert on 25th December. The first probable migrants were at Cwm Einion on 6th March with a widespread arrival by the end of the month with 25 at Pen Dinas on 31st March and 30 there on 23rd April. The last probable migrants were two at Cwm Rheidiol on 18th October.

(C) WOOD WARBLER TELOR Y COED P. sibilatrix Breeding summer visitor, quite common in the upland valley woods of the north and east, rather scarce and local further south and west. Occasional passage records elsewhere.

One at RSPB Ynys-hir on 18th April was the first record of the year. There were ten at Cwm Clettwr NR by 23rd April, 12 singing males in Cwm Einion on 2nd May with nine at Hafod estate on 29th June.

(A) YELLOW-BROWED WARBLER TELOR AELFELYN P. inornatus Scarce autumn passage migrant One was heard calling at the Patch, Teifi est on 12th October (J Ramm) and one was ringed at a young woodland at Llechryd on 15th October (WJ).

(C) SEDGE WARBLER TELOR YR HESG Acrocephalus schoenobaenus Widely but patchily distributed breeding summer visitor, mainly in marshy habitats in valleys and lowlands and a few in young conifer plantations in higher ground. Five at Teifi marshes on 1st April was the first record of the year with one at Cors Caron on 5th September the last record. There was an excellent passage through Ynyslas and Teifi marshes/estuary with 48 at Ynyslas on 28th April and c. 100 at Teifi marshes on 7th May.

(C) EURASIAN REED WARBLER TELOR Y CYRS A. scirpaceus Summer visitor in small numbers, breeding in reedbeds near Dyfi and Teifi estuaries Two at Teifi marshes on 19th April was the first record of the year with one there on 15th September the last record. Breeding season records came from Teifi est., Cors Caron, Cors Fochno/Aberleri, RSPB Ynys-hir and near Glandyfi.

(C) COMMON GRASSHOPPER WARBLER TROELLWR BACH Locustella naevia Fairly common breeding summer visitor to coastal scrub, valley bogs and young conifer plantations The first was at Teifi marshes on 10th April with one at Ynyslas on 12th September the last record. Widely reported in suitable habitat during the breeding season.

(C) EURASIAN BLACKCAP TELOR PENDDU Sylvia atricapilla Mainly a breeding summer visitor, widely but patchily distributed, generally less common than Garden Warbler. A few passage migrants to October-November and winter records in most years.

There was a widespread arrival from 26th March with the last probable migrant at Ynyslas on 23rd October. There were 30 at Pen Dinas on 23rd April and the only wintering record was of one at Llechryd on 2nd December.

(C) GARDEN WARBLER TELOR YR ARDD S. borin Breeding summer visitor, widespread and fairly common in suitable woodland or scrub.

The first was reported from RSPB Ynys-hir on 19th April with the last there on 8th September.

(B) LESSER WHITETHROAT LLWYDFRON FACH S. curruca Scarce passage migrant and summer visitor, probably breeding annually in the south-west.

The first was at Pen Dinas, Aberystwyth on 23rd April with three there on 29th April and one on 1st May. Singles were at Llanrhystud on 30th April and 9th May with one near Talybont on 7th May. At the Teifi marshes/estuary the first of the breeding birds were back on 4th May.

(C) COMMON WHITETHROAT LLWYDFRON S. communis Fairly common breeding summer visitor near the coast, scarcer inland. The first were at Teifi est on 17th April with the last record at Ynyslas on 3rd October. There were ten at Pen Dinas on 23rd April with 15 at Ynyslas on 1st May and 21 there on 9th May.

(C) GOLDCREST DRYW EURBEN Regulus regulus Common breeding resident in conifer plantations, with small numbers in hardwoods. Seen more widely on passage or in winter. Much reduced by severe winters. 41

(A) FIRECREST DRYW PENFFLAMGOCH Regulus ignicapilla Scarce winter visitor and passage migrant

There was one at Glandyfi on 5th January and 6th February (JT, AM), one at Teifi marshes on 30th November (WJ) and one at Penrhiwllan on 24th December (IB).

(C) COMMON STARLING DRUDWEN Sturnus vulgaris Fairly common and widespread breeder, though scarce in uplands. Numerous on passage and in winter. Small numbers breeding at Ynyslas, Aberystwyth, Aberporth and Aberaeron though presumably breeding more widely in the county. Large flocks included c. 3000 at roost Teifi marshes on 24th October and 1500 at Glandyfi on 22nd October. No counts were received from the large roost at the pier, Aberystwyth.

(C) COMMON BLACKBIRD MWYALCHEN Turdus merula Numerous breeding resident, passage migrant and winter visitor in all districts.

(B) FIELDFARE SOCAN EIRA T. pilaris Common winter visitor inland. On the coast, mainly a passage migrant or hard weather arrival.

In the first winter period seen up to 23rd March in small numbers with 80 at Llyn Eiddwen on 10th February the largest flock seen. In the second winter period seen from 22nd October with 540 at Glandyfi with 200 at Cwm Einion on 30th October and 200 at Foel Fawr, RSPB Ynys-hir on 5th November. There were 300 at Llangwyryfon on 5th November with 500 there on 7th November.

(B) REDWING COCH DAN ADAIN T. iliacus Mainly a common passage migrant with relatively low numbers in winter, especially in the lowlands, but occasionally large arrivals with hard weather.

Seen in mainly small numbers in the first winter period up to 28th March with no large flocks reported. In the second winter period first seen at the Clettwr on 25th September with 1660 at Glandyfi on 22nd October the largest flock seen.

(C) SONG THRUSH BRONFRAITH T. philomelos Common and widely distributed breeding resident. More numerous in winter, especially at the coast in hard weather.

Widely reported throughout the county in suitable habitat. There were 11 singing in Cwm Einion on 14th February.

(C) MISTLE THRUSH BRYCH Y COED T. viscivorus Widespread and common breeding resident in all districts except open uplands and exposed coasts. More widely seen in open habitats after breeding season. There were 19 in a field near Llangwyryfon on 12th October.

(A) RING OUZEL MWYALCHEN Y MYNYDD T. torquatus Scarce passage migrant, a former breeding species in the county.

2017: There were two at Aber Peithnant on 23rd September (RS). There was a male at Pen Dinas on 26th March (JAD), one at Mwnt on 8th April (WJ), three at Foel Fawr RSPB Ynys-hir on 16th April (BP), one at Cwmystwyth on 19th April (RGL) with a female there on 5th October and a first-winter there on 10th October (RGL).

Male Ring Ouzel at Pen Dinas on 26th March, John Davis. 43

(B) SPOTTED FLYCATCHER GWYBEDOG MANNOG Muscicapa striata Widespread, but scarce and declining, breeding summer visitor and passage migrant.

Reported from only six localities with a pair breeding in the centre of Tregaron, two pairs at Cross Inn forest and a pair at RSPB Ynys-hir the only breeding season records. Presumably hugely under-reported or now very scarce in the county.

(C) EUROPEAN ROBIN ROBIN GOCH Erithacus rubecula Numerous breeder everywhere except open uplands and exposed coast. More at the coast in winter

(C) EUROPEAN PIED FLYCATCHER GWYBEDOG BRITH Ficedula hypoleuca Breeding summer visitor and passage migrant, common in oak-woods in the north and east. Recent expansion in the south and west.

One at Llanfair Clydogau on 26th March was by far the earliest with the main arrival from 5th April. There were seven singing males at Denmark Farm and at RSPB Ynys-hir 47 pairs nested in boxes (31 in 2018, 35 in 2017) rearing a mean of only 1.9 young per pair. Predation was again heavy with heavy rain in mid-June caused numerous failures with dead adults found in boxes as well as many dead chicks.

(A) BLACK REDSTART TINGOCH DU Phoenicurus ochruros Mainly late autumn and winter visitor in very small numbers.

In the first-winter period there was one at New Quay on 1st January, a male at Lampeter on 3rd February and a male at the Leri on 15th February. A male at Cwmystwyth on 18th August was an early arrival with the next at Llangrannog on 18th October. In November there were two female types at Aberystwyth on 15th and 18th November with one on 17th, 27th and 28th November. In December there were up to two (a male and female type) between 21st and 29th December.

(C) COMMON REDSTART TINGOCH P. phoenicurus Breeding summer visitor and passage migrant, common in upland districts and rather scarce and local in south and west.

The first record was at RSPB Ynys-hir on 8th April with the last record there on 17th September.

(C) WHINCHAT CREC YR EITHIN Saxicola rubetra Breeding summer visitor and passage migrant, common in upland districts, scarce and local in south and west.

One at Ynyslas on 28th April was the first record of the year with one at the Clettwr on 25th September the last record. 44

(C) EUROPEAN STONECHAT CLOCHDAR Y CERRIG S. torquata Resident breeder in rough ground all along the coast and more sparsely inland. Seen widely in winter Good numbers breeding inland with widespread reports of breeding pairs and also widely reported along the coast with good numbers present and breeding. There were excellent numbers in autumn with 25 at Ynyslas on 2nd August and 12 there on 30th August and there were 14 at Llanrhystud on 20th August.

(C) NORTHERN WHEATEAR TINWEN Y GARN Oenanthe oenanthe Fairly numerous breeding summer visitor in the uplands and breeding very locally on the coast. More widely seen on passage (including the Greenland form). One at RSPB Ynys-hir on 1st March was the first of the year with a widespread arrival from 19th March with one at Cwm Tydu on 8th November the last record of the year. Widespread along the coast on spring passage with two main passage peaks with 12 at Aberystwyth on 14th April, 25 at Ynyslas on 16th April and 35 there on 17th April and another later peak at Ynyslas with 16 on 28th April, 30 on 1st May, 16 on 2nd May, 12 on 9th May and 16 on 10th May. Many of the birds in the latter peak may have been Greenland type but the only reports of this race were of nine at Llanrhystud on 30th April and four there on 1st May.

(B) WHITE-THROATED DIPPER BRONWEN Y DWR Cinclus cinclus Resident breeder on suitable streams in all districts.

Seen in suitable habitat throughout the county.

(C) HOUSE SPARROW ADERYN Y TO Passer domesticus Numerous resident breeder near human settlements. Scarce in upland districts.

Breeding numbers seem to be steadily increasing with good numbers reported from many locations in the county.

(A) YELLOW WAGTAIL SIGLEN FELEN Moticilla flava flavissima Scarce passage migrant. It was an excellent spring passage commencing with 14 at Llanrhystud on 23rd April (including two of the blue-headed race M. flava flava – for record shot see page 52) and one at Ynyslas on the same date, one at Llanrhystud and one at Rhydrosser on 24th April, four at Llanrhystud

45 on 30th April, one at the Clettwr on 1st May and a mid-summer record of one at RSPB Ynys-hir on 12th June. In autumn, there were four at Ynyslas on 2nd Aug, one at Cors Caron on 8th Aug, one at dusk with the swallow roost at Teifi marshes on 11th Aug and four at RSPB Ynys-hir on 20th August.

(C) GREY WAGTAIL SIGLEN LWYD M. cinerea Fairly widespread resident breeder by streams and rivers, commonest in the uplands.

Widespread in suitable habitat throughout the county.

(C/B) PIED/WHITE WAGTAIL SIGLEN FRAITH/WEN M. alba Pied (M. a. yarreli), a common resident breeder. White (M. a. alba), a fairly common spring and autumn passage migrant, Pied: The roost in trees near the White Lion pub, Aberystwyth held up to 110 birds in November. Widely reported as breeding in most suitable locations. White: There was a widespread coastal passage in spring from 21st March to 17th May with peak numbers at Teifi marshes with a roost of up to 200 between 10th and 21st April. Llanrhystud also had good numbers with 75 on 23rd April with lower numbers elsewhere. Very scarce on return passage with two at Llanrhystud on 28th August and one there on 1st September.

(C) MEADOW PIPIT CORHEDYDD Y WAUN A. pratensis Numerous breeder. Scarce in hills in winter, concentrated near coast. Considerable passage movements in spring and autumn. A few flocks were reported with excellent numbers passing through Ynyslas in spring between 8th March and 9th April with 1072 north on 23rd March, 1708 north on 6th April, 4172 north on 8th April and 1651 north on 9th April the highest counts. In autumn, 578 flew south at Aberystwyth on 30th September.

(C) TREE PIPIT CORHEDYDD Y COED Anthus trivialis Common and widespread breeding summer visitor in upland areas, more local in lower ground and rather scarce in south-west One at Ynyslas on 6th April was the first record with a small passage there peaking at nine north on 8th April.

(B) WATER PIPIT CORHEDYDD Y DWR Anthus spinoletta Very scarce winter visitor or passage migrant.

In the first winter/spring period there were up to five along the Clettwr in January and February with two on 6th March, one on Teifi est between 20th January and 10th February, one at Cors Fochno on 11th February, and singles at Cors Caron and Ynyslas on 27th March. There was one at Aberystwyth on 2nd December and one at RSPB Ynys-hir on 18th December, the only records in the second winter period.

(C) EURASIAN ROCK PIPIT CORHEDYDD Y GRAIG A. petrosus Breeds along rocky coasts, extending into estuaries and low-lying coast in winter.

Seen all around the coast throughout the year and well up the Dyfi during the winter months.

(A) RICHARD’S PIPIT CORHEDYDD Y RICHARD A. Richardi Scarce autumn and winter passage migrant

There was one at Constitution hill, Aberystwyth on 5th October (M Carter) with it (or another) there on 3rd November which was seen at Tanybwlch later that same day (M Carter, P Leafe). For record shot see page 53.

(C) COMMON CHAFFINCH JI-BINC Fringilla coelebs Numerous breeding resident in all districts; also passage migrant and winter visitor.

In winter the only large flocks reported was of 280 in a turnip field at Capel Bangor on 16th January, 100 at Cwm Einion on 13th October and 20th December and 150 at Cae’r Meirch on 18th November.

(B) BRAMBLING PINC Y MYNYDD Fringilla montifringilla Annual passage migrant and winter visitor in very variable numbers.

Rather scarce this year with one in Cwm Einion on 14th February and 3rd March, five at Nant Yr Arian on 3rd March, seven at Trisant on 10th March and two at Nant Yr Arian on 8th April. In autumn there was one at Llyn Pendam and one at RSPB Ynys-hir on 21st October, two at Cross Inn forest on 22nd October, one at Glandyfi on 23rd October and one at Cwm Einion on 30th October and 14th December.

(C) EURASIAN BULLFINCH COCH Y BERLLAN Pyrrhula pyrrhula Widespread and fairly common resident breeder in lowlands. Scarce in the uplands.

Widely reported in Birdtrack from the main birdwatching sites with 20 at Llyn Blaenmelindwr on 12th December the highest count of the year.

(C) EUROPEAN GREENFINCH LLINOS WERDD Chloris chloris Fairly common resident breeder in lowland districts, scarce in the upland areas.

This species has been badly hit by Trichomoniasis throughout the country and Ceredigion is no exception. There were very few reports with no counts in double figures.

(B) TWITE LLINOS Y MYNYDD Linaria flavirostris Uncommon winter visitor.

There were eight along the Leri on 6th and 8th January (RGL, EO’C) with presumably the same eight at Ynyslas on 19th February (EO’C).

(B) COMMON LINNET LLINOS Linaria cannabina Fairly common breeder in suitable scrub near coast, scarcer in uplands. Mainly a summer visitor, April- October. Relatively few in most places in winter.

In the first winter period the largest flock was of 100 at Llanerchaeron on 16th February. Reported widely along the coast during the breeding season with a few records inland from suitable locations such as Cross Inn and Llyn Eiddwen. There was a good spring passage at Ynyslas between 31st March and 9th April with peak counts of 681 north on 8th April and 284 the next day. In autumn the largest flock was at Cors Caron with 200 on 5th September with smaller numbers along the coast throughout the winter.

(B) LESSER REDPOLL LLINOS BENGOCH Acanthis cabaret Resident breeder, mainly in upland districts. A scarce winter visitor or passage migrant along the coast and in the south.

Reported widely from wetter scrubby areas (eg Cors Caron, Cors Fochno and RSPB Ynys-hir) and from young conifer plantations in the uplands with the largest flocks being forty at Allt Clwtpatrwm, Llangfair Clydogau on 8th January, twenty at RSPB Ynys-hir on 21st October and 18 at Cwm Einion on 30th October.

(B) RED CROSSBILL GYLFINGROES Loxia curvirostra Rather irregular visitor in very variable numbers. Recorded in most recent years, mainly between July and October, though seen at all seasons. Occasional breeder.

Widely reported from the more mature, larger forestry blocks in the county and from a few oak woods in July and August. Up to twenty were seen at Allt-Y Crib, Talybont from January to July with juveniles seen in June and up to 30 were at Hafod Estate with juveniles seen in July. Singing males were widely reported from many sites and breeding presumably occurred elsewhere. Other large flocks included 19 in Cwm Einion on 10th January, 12 at Cross Inn forest on 12th May, 14 in Cwm Einion on 13th October and 14 at Bettws Bledrws on 11th December.

(B) EURASIAN SISKIN PILA GWYRDD C. spinus Variable numbers breeding in plantations in the north and east, otherwise a passage migrant and winter visitor. Less common in the south.

Numerous in suitable locations with a few flocks noted including 50 at Longwood, Bettws Bledrws on 8th October and 33 north at Ynyslas on 6th April.

(C) EUROPEAN GOLDFINCH NICO Carduelis carduelis Widely distributed breeder, scarce in the uplands, fairly common elsewhere. Mainly a summer visitor, April-October. Relatively few in winter.

The only flocks of note were at Ynyslas with a good movement north in spring with peak counts there of 197 on 6th April and 216 north on 8th April.

Goldfinch at the Teifi Marshes on 14th October, Colin Dalton.

(B) YELLOWHAMMER BRAS MELYN Emberiza citrinella Widely but patchily distributed resident breeder; decreasing.

The only records were of one at Llanrhystud on 1st and 5th January, one at Ffostrasol between 19th and 21st January, three at Pond Yr Oerfa on 26th January with two on 27th January, four ringed at a feeding site on unimproved pasture near Llechryd on 6th February (not seen in that location before), one at Pandy, Cwm Einion on 14th February, one at RSPB Ynys-hir on 30th March, one at Aberporth on 16th May, one at Llanon on 21st July and up to seven regularly in winter at Ystumtuen where small numbers still breed in the area.

(C) COMMON REED BUNTING BRAS Y CYRS E. schoeniclus Fairly widely distributed breeder in suitable wetlands at all altitudes. Scarce inland and more at the coast in winter.

Widely reported from suitable sites during the breeding season with 30 at a feeding station at Teifi marshes on 7th February and 30 at Ynys Tachwedd on 21st February.

(A) LAPLAND LONGSPUR BRAS Y GOGLEDD Calcarius lapponicus Rare autumn and winter visitor.

There was one at Llanon on 6th October (HAW) and one at Llanrhystud on 20th and 22nd October (AM, IJM).

(A) SNOW BUNTING BRAS YR EIRA Plectrophenax nivalis Scarce winter visitor

There was a female (of the Icelandic race insulae) at Llanrhystud on 22nd October (HAW) and between 26th and 28th October (MO), a male at Tanybwlch/Allt Wen between 26th October and 4th November (M Dulinski et al) and a male at Llanrhystud on 31st December (IJM).

Female at Llanrhystud on 27th October, Shane Jones. Male at Tanybwlch on 3rd November, Michal Dulinski.

ESCAPES

BLACK KITE BARCUD DU Milvus migrans

One (with jessies) over Borth on 2nd May (EO’C), which was seen over Portland Bill a few days later. See record shot on page 53. 50

SUMMARY OF FIRST AND LAST DATES OF REGULAR SUMMER AND WINTER MIGRANTS

Summer migrant Winter migrant Species Fist date Last date Last date First date Whooper Swan 21st January 5th October Manx Shearwater 6th April 6th October Osprey 1st April 11th September Hobby 3rd May 11th September Little Ringed Plover 28th March 1st September Whimbrel 7th April 28th September Common Sandpiper 16th April - Purple Sandpiper 18th April 8th November Sandwich Tern 29th March 12th October Cuckoo 16th April - Swift 30th April 7th September Sand Martin 5th March - Swallow 17th March 15th October House Martin 31st March 3rd October Black Redstart 15th February 18th August Redstart 8th April 17th September Wheatear 1st March 8th November Whinchat 28th April 25th September Tree Pipit 22nd April 24th September Redwing 28th March 25th September Fieldfare 23rd March 22nd October Garden Warbler 19th April 8th September Blackcap 26th March 23rd October Whitethroat 17th April 3rd October Lesser Whitethroat 23rd April - Grasshopper Wblr. 10th April 12th September Sedge Warbler 1st April 5th September Reed Warbler 19th April 15th September Willow Warbler 29th March 30th September Chiffchaff 6th March 18th October Wood Warbler 18th April - Spotted Flycatcher - - Pied Flycatcher 26th March -

CEREDIGION RARITY RECORD SHOTS FOR 2019:

Female King Eider at Ynyslas on 11th January. J Davis Great Grey Shrike at Tregaron Bog on 28th March. A Williams

Blue-headed Yellow Wagtail at Llanrhystud on Crane at Ynyshir on 23rd April. T Kisstruck. 23rd April. A Williams.

Glossy Ibis at Glandwr on 10th May. E O’Connor. Temminck’s Stint at Borth on 13th May. A Williams.

Alpine Swift at Aberystwyth on 23rd September, Richard’s Pipit at Constitution Hill, Aberystwyth on Kathy James 5th October, Mark Carter

Male Ring-necked Duck at Llyn Pendam on 28th 4 (of the 5) Great Egrets at Llanrhystud on 31st October, Meurig Garbutt October, Josh Hill

Female Smew at Ynyshir on 10th December, Tony Black Kite (escape) at Borth on 2nd May, E O’Connor Gordon 53

CEREDIGION BIRD REPORT 2019 Wendy James

The 2019 total of 7,577 birds ringed is slightly up on last year and far above recent years totals. Some notable project ringing includes the work done by Tony Cross and the Mid-Wales Ringing Group involving the colour ringing of waders and terns. This effort is paying off with the large number of colour ring sightings from as far away as South Africa, Senegal and Iceland. Colour ring resighting is also playing a part in the south of the county where the Teifi Ringing Group colour ring Reed Buntings as part of a British Trust for Ornithology RAS (Retrapping Adults for Survival) project.

Species ringed 2019 1991-2018 Species ringed 2019 1991- 2018 Mute Swan 1 2141 Great Tit 160 73829 Mallard 1 931 Skylark 14 759 Teal 3 1580 Sand Martin 85 9635 Red Grouse 2 10 Swallow 420 23265 Storm Petrel 4 8301 House Martin 2 2588 Manx Shearwater 2 4916 Cetti's Warbler 9 1761 Little Grebe 2 8 Long-tailed Tit 63 21246 Sparrowhawk 4 665 Willow Warbler 54 25416 Red Kite 0 171 Chiffchaff 332 43723 Buzzard 2 394 Wood Warbler 1 320 Water Rail 6 107 Yellow-browed Warbler 1 220 Moorhen 1 187 Sedge Warbler 485 19077 Oystercatcher 18 1445 Reed Warbler 231 23381 Lapwing 3 1907 Grasshopper Warbler 11 1760 Golden Plover 24 362 Blackcap 318 74811 Grey Plover 4 97 Garden Warbler 11 4177 Ringed Plover 134 789 Lesser Whitethroat 5 2711 Whimbrel 84 117 Whitethroat 21 15617 Curlew 9 624 Firecrest 4 1015 Bar-tailed Godwit 5 423 Goldcrest 142 24015 Turnstone 94 308 Wren 88 16688 Knot 107 507 Nuthatch 27 3166 Curlew Sandpiper 6 7 Treecreeper 7 2324 Sanderling 34 422 Starling 13 20846

Species ringed 2019 1991-2018 Species ringed 2019 1991- 2018 Dunlin 1345 4803 Blackbird 97 24076 Little Stint 1 2 Fieldfare 7 1411 Woodcock 154 1903 Redwing 86 20886 Jack Snipe 9 230 Song Thrush 20 6521 Snipe 18 499 Spotted Flycatcher 5 1043 Common Sandpiper 20 185 Robin 108 27538 Redshank 113 1655 Pied Flycatcher 413 15703 Herring Gull 1 2961 Redstart 27 1738 Sandwich Tern 40 1885 Whinchat 22 664 Common Tern 2 3987 Stonechat 5 1419 Stock Dove 2 1214 Wheatear 7 988 Woodpigeon 1 1420 Dipper 29 2175 Collared Dove 2 475 House Sparrow 19 16480 Cuckoo 3 83 Dunnock 83 20361 Barn Owl 23 11186 Yellow Wagtail 1 810 Tawny Owl 4 1483 Grey Wagtail 12 1199 Little Owl 1 416 Pied Wagtail 119 2456 Nightjar 10 598 Meadow Pipit 11 17302 Swift 7 869 Chaffinch 121 26041 Kingfisher 11 612 Brambling 72 4469 Great Spotted W’pecker 9 2063 Bullfinch 111 6638 Kestrel 4 2814 Greenfinch 22 19091 Jay 6 559 Linnet 229 9738 Chough 19 225 Redpoll 1 550 Carrion Crow 1 148 Lesser Redpoll 114 13286 Coal Tit 36 13174 Goldfinch 196 50299 Marsh Tit 1 1331 Siskin 57 28012 Willow Tit 6 377 Yellowhammer 3 6448 Blue Tit 499 150284 Reed Bunting 178 15625

Total number of birds ringed in 2019 7577

Recoveries

The following records are taken from those that have been deemed noteworthy by the BTO either through the distance travelled, movement to a Country with few recovery records or an impressive longevity record for the year.

CBR – Caught by ringer CRS – Colour rings seen FD – Freshly dead

Little Grebe EZ21643 Adult 28/01/2016 Dyfi-Aber Leri NNR,borth 2km

CBR 31/01/2019 Dyfi-Aber Leri NNR,borth 3y 0m 3 d

Gannet 1248908 Nestling 26/06/1987 Ailsa Craig (South Ayrshire) 343 km S

Ring found 01/12/2019 New Quay 32y 5m 5d

Red Kite GF93428 Nestling 11/06/1998 Site Confidential, near Ponterwyd Wing-tag 27/08/2019 Bwlch Nant Yr Arian 21y 2m 16d GN20767 Nestling 13/06/2000 Site Confidential, near Ponterwyd CRS 25/05/2019 Bwlch Nant Yr Arian 18y 11m 12d

Oystercatcher FH68513 Adult 03/09/2012 Ynyslas, Borth 4km W

FD 01/11/2019 Aberdovey 7y 1m 29d

Ringed Plover NV69309 1st year 15/08/2015 Llanfairfechan, Conwy 1m 16d 2,252km CRS 01/10/2015 El Jadida, Morocco SSW CRS 27/07/2019 Ynys Las, Dyfi 3y 11m 12d 80km S

Curlew FJ23789 Adult 24/09/2017 Llanrhystud, near Aberystwyth 205km NE

FD 22/03/2019 Altham, near Accrington: 1y 5m 26d FJ25129 Adult 29/06/2018 Llanrhystud, near Aberystwyth 94km SW

CRS 28/10/2019 Gann Estuary, Pembs 1y 1m 2d

Turnstone SX01010 1st year 07/09/2013 Llansantffraed, Llanon CBR 10/02/2016 Llanrhystud, near Aberystwyth 2y 5m 3d 1km CBR 02/04/2017 Llanrhystud, near Aberystwyth 3y 6m 26d 1km CBR 31/08/2019 Llansantffraid, Llanon 5y 11m 24d SX01165 1st year 21/03/2015 Llanrhystud, near Aberystwyth 2km

CBR 01/09/2019 Llansantffraid, Llanon 4y 5m 11d

Dunlin Birds marked with colour rings at Ynyslas, Dyfi were subsequently seen in Portugal (7), Spain (2), Denmark (3), France (1), Iceland (2), Morocco (2), Senegal (1) and Sweden (4) Birds ringed elsewhere and recaptured at Ynyslas included Portugal (3), Spain (1) and Norway (3)

Woodcock FD (shot) 17/11/2019 Sainte-Preuve, Aisne, France 11m 10d SFH ST043075 Nestling 15/06/2017 Kokkola, Keski-Pohjanmaa, Finland 2.049km WSW

FD (shot) 26/11/2019 Llanwenog 2y 5m 11d

Redshank Birds ringed at Ynyslas were reported from the following locations in 2019 – Kilnsea, East Riding of Yorkshire, Dargan, Belfast Lough, Camel Estuary, Cornwall and Ogmore Estuary, Bridgend.

Med Gull PLG FN16165 Nestling 20/05/2016 Warminsko-Mazurskie, Poland 1,764km W

CRS 08/10/2018 Newport, Pembs 2y 4m 18d CRS 30/08/2019 Newport, Pembs 3y 3m 10d CRS 04/10/2019 New Quay, Ceredigion 3y 4m 14d 1,728km

Herring Gull Four birds marked with colour rings at Hempsted, Gloucester were seen at the following sites in Ceredigion in 2019 – two at Teifi Estuary (ringed 28/10/2006 and 30/10/2019), two at Borth (ringed 20/11/2010 and 20/11/2010)

Sandwich T’n Birds marked with colour rings at Ynyslas were reported from the following locations/countries in 2019 – Angus (1), Norfolk (1), Belfast (1), Antrim (1), Dorset (1), Devon (1), Namibia (1), The Gambia (1), South Africa (3), The Netherlands (1) 57

Nightjar LJ84794 Nestling 26/07/2018 Brechfa Forest, Carmarthenshire 60km N

CBR 19/05/2019 Dyfi-Aber Leri NNR, Borth 9m 23d

Chough ES27383 Nestling 27/05/1996 Site Confidential, nr Aberystwyth: 16km SSW

CRS 07/06/2019 near Llanrhystud, 23y 0m 11d

Coal Tit Z511154 1st year 28/10/2015 Llechryd CBR 15/05/2019 Llechryd 3y 6m 17d

Blue Tit L841264 1st year 27/12/2011 Brongest CBR 03/01/2019 Brongest 7y om 7d

Great Tit L841286 1st year 27/12/2011 Brongest CBR 30/12/2019 Brongest 8y 0m 3d

Sand Martin S574823 1st year 22/07/2017 Teifi Marshes 193km NW

CBR 29/07/2019 Pollardstown Fen, Kildare 2y 0m 7d

Swallow AVB3722 Nestling 20/06/2019 Llaithddu, Powys 46km WNW

CBR 24/07/2019 Dyfi-Aber Leri NNR, Borth 1m 4d

L’g-tailed Tit EVD024 Full-grown 02/02/2014 Llechryd CBR 22/12/2019 Llechryd 5y 10m 20d

Sedge W’bler Birds ringed at the Teifi Marshes were recaptured by ringers in 2019 in Hollesley Heath, Suffolk and Nanjizal, Lands End, Cornwall (2). Birds ringed elsewhere and recaptured at the Teifi Marshes in 2019 58 included Haxton Down, Wiltshire and Squire's Down, plus the following bird in Belgium.

ABE2628 1st year 05/07/2019 Teifi Marshes 623km E

CBR 01/08/2019 Antwerpen, Belgium 27 days

Reed Warbler D615096 1st year 14/08/2013 Teifi Marshes CBR 18/06/2019 Teifi Marshes 5y 10m 4d S914114 1st year 15/08/2018 Squire's Down, Dorset 201km NW

CBR 23/07/2019 Teifi Marshes 11m 8d

Blackcap Z053975 1st year 21/04/2015 Teifi Marshes CBR 26/06/2019 Teifi Marshes 4 y 2m 5d ACF8723 1st year 29/07/2019 Blaenduad, Carms 34km NNE

CBR 19/09/2019 Cross Inn 1m 21d

Wren EVD478 1st year 27/07/2014 Teifi Marshes CBR 20/08/2019 Teifi Marshes 5yr 0m 24d

Starling LL46550 Adult 02/03/2019 Thetford, Norfolk 356km W

CRS 18/12/2019 Morawelon, Sarnau, 9m 16d

Blackbird LC19686 1st year 26/07/2013 Brongest CBR 03/01/2019 Brongest 5y 5m 8d NOS 1st year 23/04/2017 Innbygda, Trysil, Norway 1,439km 7579314 CRS 17/01/2019 Tan-Y-Groes, Aberporth 1y 8m 25d

Robin S352861 1st year 08/10/2017 East Stour, Gillingham, Dorset 192km NW

CBR 03/01/2019 Brongest 1y 2m 26d 59

Pied Fly. Y104307 Nestling 02/06/2011 Sunnyhill Wood, Tregaron CBR 21/04/2016 Sherpa Marsh, Velator, Braunton: 4y 10m 19d 127km S CBR 31/05/2019 Sunnyhill Wood,Tregaron 7y 11m 29d 0km

Dunnock TX75309 Adult 27/05/2014 Llechryd CBR 20/06/2019 Llechryd 5y 0m 24d

Chaffinch D922578 1st year 01/01/2016 Brongest CBR 28/12/2019 Brongest 3y 11m 27d

Brambling There were unusually large numbers of Brambling in 2019 and birds ringed at Caermeirch near Pontrhydygroes were subsequently recaught by ringers at Warrington (1) and Llandrindod Wells (2). A bird ringed at Bryn Picca, Dolfor, Powys was recaught at Caermeirch.

Bullfinch D761588 2nd year 15/06/2014 Teifi Marshes CBR 18/06/2019 Teifi Marshes 5y 0m 3d

Goldfinch FRP Adult 16/03/2019 Combefolle, Marsac, France 785km NNW 8825318 CBR 21/04/2019 Llechryd 1m 5d

Siskin D082786 1st year 23/03/2013 Llechryd CBR 09/06/2019 Boncath, Pembs 6y 2m 17d

Reed Bunting L531132 1st year 08/08/2010 Teifi Marshes CBR 04/12/2019 Teifi Marshes 9y 3m 26d Y326050 1st year 11/08/2011 Teifi Marshes CRS 21/12/2019 Teifi Marshes 8y 4m 10d 60

Thanks to all of the ringers in Ceredigion and visiting ringers and trainees who have assisted. Data included in this report is extracted from the BTO (British Trust for Ornithology) Ringing and Nest Recording report:

https://www.bto.org/our-science/projects/ringing/publications/online-ringing-reports

This is open access and well worth a look. It can be searched by County or Species and year if you would like more information.

Yellow-browed Warbler ringed at Llechryd, Wendy James

THE CEREDIGION BIRD LIST

Edited by Russell Jones.

This checklist is correct to the end of 2019. The total stands at 311 species and aims to be the definitive list of all the bird species recorded in Ceredigion. It will continue to be updated at least annually to reflect new species and changes in distribution and occurrence. Species names and order follow the British Ornithologists’ Union (BOU) British List: 9th Edition (8th January 2018) International Ornithological Congress (IOC) Format.

English name Ceredigion status

BRENT GOOSE Regular winter visitor/passage migrant. GREATER CANADA GOOSE Common resident. BARNACLE GOOSE Feral flocks at both Teifi and Dyfi estuaries. Some genuine wild birds as evidenced by a Greenland ringed bird in 1965. GREYLAG GOOSE Resident and winter visitor TUNDRA BEAN GOOSE Three records only (in 1955, 2015 and 2019). PINK-FOOTED GOOSE Uncommon winter visitor, occasional cold weather influxes. GREATER WHITE- Albifrons: Scarce winter visitor, occasional cold weather influxes. FRONTED GOOSE Flavirostris: Declining winter visitor to the Dyfi, rare elsewhere. LESSER WHITE-FRONTED One record only in (1955). (First Welsh record). GOOSE MUTE SWAN Common resident. TUNDRA (BEWICK’S) Scarce winter visitor and passage migrant. SWAN WHOOPER SWAN Regular winter visitor in small numbers. EGYPTIAN GOOSE Scarce visitor, last recorded in 2015. COMMON SHELDUCK Coastal resident, mainly Dyfi and Teifi estuaries. Rare inland. MANDARIN DUCK Rare. Occasional long-staying birds. GARGANEY Scarce. Mainly seen in spring with fewer in autumn. Bred in 1968 and 1999. NORTHERN SHOVELER Regular winter visitor and occasional breeder. GADWALL Scarce winter visitor and passage migrant. EURASIAN WIGEON Common winter visitor with occasional birds summering. AMERICAN WIGEON Five records (in 1981, 1999-2000, 2004, 2007 and 2016). MALLARD Common resident. NORTHERN PINTAIL Common winter visitor to the Dyfi. Uncommon elsewhere. EURASIAN TEAL Common winter visitor with small numbers breeding. GREEN-WINGED TEAL Rare winter and spring visitor. in COMMON POCHARD Scarce and seriously declining winter visitor (e.g. only one record in 2017 and none in 2018) RING-NECKED DUCK Rare visitor with six records (in 1990, 1999, 2007-2008, 2009- 2010, 2017 and 2019). 62

TUFTED DUCK Uncommon resident with small numbers breeding annually. GREATER SCAUP Scarce winter visitor. KING EIDER Extremely rare visitor with one long-staying female 2017 to May 2019. COMMON EIDER Scarce winter visitor and passage migrant. SURF SCOTER Two records of three birds (in 2001-2002 and up to two in 2010). VELVET SCOTER Scarce winter visitor. COMMON SCOTER Common winter visitor and passage migrant throughout the year. LONG-TAILED DUCK Rare winter visitor. COMMON GOLDENEYE Common winter visitor. SMEW Rare winter visitor. Only five records since 2000 (in 2011, 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2019). GOOSANDER Resident with small numbers breeding. RED-BREASTED Scarce resident with occasional breeding on the Dyfi. MERGANSER RUDDY DUCK Following the cull now an extremely rare visitor. BLACK GROUSE Rare and declining resident. Last recorded in 2015. RED GROUSE Scarce and declining resident. RED-LEGGED PARTRIDGE Small numbers, artificially maintained. GREY PARTRIDGE Some seen after local releases but otherwise extinct. COMMON QUAIL Rare summer visitor. COMMON PHEASANT Common resident. RED-THROATED DIVER Common coastal winter visitor and passage migrant though smaller numbers than previously. Rare inland. BLACK-THROATED DIVER Scarce coastal winter visitor and passage migrant. Two inland records in 1989 and 2005. GREAT NORTHERN DIVER Regular winter visitor and passage migrant. Two inland records in 1990 and 2019. EUROPEAN STORM Scarce summer and passage migrant usually seen after strong PETREL winds. LEACH’S STORM PETREL Scarce autumn migrant usually seen during strong winds. NORTHERN FULMAR Common breeding resident, may possibly be declining. CORY’S SHEARWATER Two records only (in 2003 and 2016). SOOTY SHEARWATER Scarce autumn passage migrant. GREAT SHEARWATER One record only, one found long-dead in 1967. MANX SHEARWATER Common (sometimes abundant) summer visitor and passage migrant. BALEARIC SHEARWATER Scarce visitor and passage migrant. LITTLE GREBE Common resident and winter visitor. RED-NECKED GREBE Rare winter visitor. Only two records since 2000 (in 2008 and 2011). GREAT CRESTED GREBE Scarce breeding resident with larger numbers wintering though in smaller numbers than previously. 63

SLAVONIAN GREBE Regular but scarce winter visitor. BLACK-NECKED GREBE Only two records since 2000 (in 2003 and 2017). BLACK STORK One record only (in 2012). WHITE STORK Following the first record in 1971 there have been a further eight records. GLOSSY IBIS First recorded in 2009 there have been three more records (in 2012, 2016 and 2019). EURASIAN SPOONBILL Scarce migrant. GREAT BITTERN Scarce but regular winter visitor, occasionally summers. LITTLE BITTERN Two records only (in 1865 and 1995). BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT Three records only (in 1986, 1990 and 2000). HERON SQUACCO HERON One record only in 2003. CATTLE EGRET Rare but increasing. First recorded in 2008 there have been a further seven records (in 2010, 2014, 2016, 2017 and 2018- 2019). GREY HERON Common resident. PURPLE HERON Rare migrant with seven records (in 1970, 1971, 1979, 1998, 2007, 2011 and 2019). GREAT EGRET Following the first record in 2008 now an annual visitor in small numbers. LITTLE EGRET Year-round resident with small numbers breeding between 2004 and 2012. NORTHERN GANNET Common summer visitor and passage migrant. EUROPEAN SHAG Common resident and passage migrant. GREAT CORMORANT Common resident and passage migrant. OSPREY Increasing summer visitor and passage migrant. EUROPEAN HONEY Rare passage migrant, recent records in 2015 and 2019. BUZZARD GOLDEN EAGLE One record only (in 1990) EURASIAN Common resident. SPARROWHAWK NORTHERN GOSHAWK Uncommon breeding resident. EURASIAN MARSH Scarce but increasing visitor and passage migrant. HARRIER HEN HARRIER Regular winter visitor. Bred in 1972. MONTAGU’S HARRIER Previously bred but declining since the seventies with the last record in 2000. RED KITE Common resident, increasing. BLACK KITE One record only (in 2012). WHITE-TAILED EAGLE Very rare vagrant. Only four records (in 1904, 1908, 1910 and 1997). ROUGH-LEGGED Eight records only with the last recorded in 1999. BUZZARD 64

COMMON BUZZARD Common resident. WATER RAIL Scarce breeding resident, passage migrant and winter visitor. CORNCRAKE Very rare. Last bred in 1972 with the last record in 1993. LITTLE CRAKE Extremely rare with only two records (in 1894 and 1949). BAILLON’S CRAKE One record only in 2013. SPOTTED CRAKE Scarce passage migrant. COMMON MOORHEN Common resident. COMMON COOT Decreasing resident. Now rather scarce. COMMON CRANE Six records (in 1971, 1983-4, 2000, 2005 and 2006 and 2019). STONE-CURLEW Only four records (in 1840-41, 1882,1997 and 2008). EURASIAN Common resident and winter visitor. OYSTERCATCHER PIED AVOCET Fifteen records, eight since 2000. NORTHERN LAPWING Scarce breeding bird, mainly on the Dyfi. Common winter visitor. EUROPEAN GOLDEN Rare, if not extinct, breeding resident. Common on passage and PLOVER in winter. AMERICAN GOLDEN One record only (in 2007). PLOVER GREY PLOVER Uncommon passage migrant and winter visitor. RINGED PLOVER Scarce breeder, common passage migrant with fewer in winter. LITTLE (RINGED) PLOVER Occasionally breeds, otherwise a scarce passage migrant. KENTISH PLOVER Twelve records (in 1955, 1963, 1966, 1974, 1980, 1983, 1993, 2002, 2006, 2007, 2012 and 2018). EURASIAN DOTTEREL Scarce but regular passage migrant. WHIMBREL Common passage migrant, occasionally winters. EURASIAN CURLEW Common winter visitor and passage migrant. Scarce and declining breeder. BAR-TAILED GODWIT Passage migrant and winter visitor. BLACK-TAILED GODWIT Passage migrant and winter visitor. RUDDY TURNSTONE Passage migrant and winter visitor. RED KNOT Passage migrant and winter visitor. RUFF Scarce passage migrant and occasional winter visitor. CURLEW SANDPIPER Scarce passage migrant in small numbers. TEMMINCK’S STINT Scarce passage migrant. Nine records (in 1993, 1998, 2001, 2004, 2005, 2010, 2015, 2017 and 2019). SANDERLING Common passage migrant with smaller numbers wintering. DUNLIN Common passage migrant and winter visitor. Rare and declining breeder. PURPLE SANDPIPER Scarce but regular winter visitor and passage migrant. BAIRD’S SANDPIPER One record only (in 1998). LITTLE STINT Scarce but regular passage migrant. WHITE-RUMPED One record only (in 1991). SANDPIPER

BUFF-BREASTED Three records only (in 1980, 1983 and 2001). SANDPIPER PECTORAL SANDPIPER Rare passage migrant (in 1978, 1985, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2008, 2010, 2011 and 2012). SEMIPALMATED One record only (in 2012). SANDPIPER LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER Two records only (in 2010 and 2011).

EURASIAN WOODCOCK Common winter visitor. Has bred in the past but now no longer breeds. JACK SNIPE Scarce but widespread winter visitor. GREAT SNIPE Very rare vagrant, last recorded in 1947. COMMON SNIPE Common winter visitor. Scarce and declining breeding bird. RED-NECKED PHALAROPE Very rare visitor with only five records (in 1934, 1935, 1957, 2002 and 2018). GREY PHALAROPE Scarce but regular autumn migrant with a few mid-Winter records. COMMON SANDPIPER Common passage migrant and scarce winter visitor. Breeds in small numbers. SPOTTED SANDPIPER Very rare vagrant with only two records (in 1975 and 1979). GREEN SANDPIPER Passage migrant and scarce winter visitor. GREY TAILED TATLER Very rare vagrant with one record only (in 1981). LESSER YELLOWLEGS Very rare vagrant with three records (in 1969, 2002 and 2003). COMMON REDSHANK Common passage migrant and winter visitor with small numbers breeding at a few sites. WOOD SANDPIPER Scarce passage migrant. SPOTTED REDSHANK Scarce passage migrant and winter visitor. COMMON GREENSHANK Passage migrant and winter visitor. CREAM-COLOURED One record only (in 1886). COURSER BLACK-LEGGED Common resident and passage migrant. KITTIWAKE SABINE’S GULL Scarce passage migrant. BONAPARTE’S GULL One record only (in 2004). BLACK-HEADED GULL Scarce and declining breeding resident. Common winter visitor. LITTLE GULL Passage migrant and winter visitor in small numbers. ROSS’S GULL One record only (in 1994). LAUGHING GULL Two records only (in 1978 and 2005). MEDITERRANEAN GULL Increasing passage migrant and winter visitor. MEW (common) GULL Common passage migrant and winter visitor. RING-BILLED GULL Rare migrant and winter visitor. GREAT BLACK-BACKED Common resident and winter visitor. GULL GLAUCOUS GULL Uncommon winter visitor and migrant. 66

ICELAND GULL Scarce winter visitor and migrant. HERRING GULL Common resident and winter visitor. CASPIAN GULL Two records only (in 2017). YELLOW-LEGGED GULL Rare passage migrant and winter visitor. LESSER BLACK-BACKED Declining resident, passage migrant and winter visitor. GULL GULL-BILLED TERN Three records (in 2007, 2012 and 2015). CASPIAN TERN One record only (in 1974). SANDWICH TERN Common passage migrant. LITTLE TERN Scarce passage migrant. ROSEATE TERN Rare passage migrant. COMMON TERN Common passage migrant. ARCTIC TERN Common passage migrant. WHISKERED TERN One record only (in 1965). WHITE-WINGED TERN Two records only (in 1980 and 1998). BLACK TERN Scarce passage migrant. GREAT SKUA Common passage migrant. Occasional in winter. POMARINE SKUA Scarce passage migrant, mainly in autumn. ARCTIC SKUA Common passage migrant, mainly in autumn. LONG-TAILED SKUA Rare passage migrant, mainly in autumn. LITTLE AUK Rare autumn migrant and winter visitor. COMMON GUILLEMOT Common resident and passage migrant. RAZORBILL Common resident and passage migrant. BLACK GUILLEMOT Uncommon visitor. ATLANTIC PUFFIN Scarce summer visitor and passage migrant. FERAL PIGEON Common resident. STOCK PIGEON Scarce and declining resident. COMMON WOOD PIGEON Common resident. EUROPEAN TURTLE DOVE Scarce and declining passage migrant. Last recorded in 2011. EURASIAN COLLARED Common resident. DOVE YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO One record only (in 1870). COMMON CUCKOO Uncommon summer visitor and passage migrant. BARN OWL Thinly distributed breeding resident. TAWNY OWL Common resident. LITTLE OWL Rare resident. LONG-EARED OWL Under-recorded breeding resident in small numbers. SHORT-EARED OWL Uncommon winter visitor and passage migrant. Last bred in 1975. EUROPEAN NIGHTJAR Scarce breeding summer visitor. COMMON NIGHTHAWK One record only (in 1999). ALPINE SWIFT Three records (in 1987, 1993 and 2019). COMMON SWIFT Declining summer visitor and passage migrant.

EUROPEAN ROLLER One record only (in 1970). COMMON KINGFISHER Scarce breeding resident. EUROPEAN BEE-EATER Three records (in 1978, 1993 and 2011). HOOPOE Rare passage migrant. EURASIAN WRYNECK Scarce passage migrant. LESSER SPOTTED Rare and declining resident. WOODPECKER GREAT SPOTTED Common breeding resident. WOODPECKER GREEN WOODPECKER Rare and seriously declining resident. COMMON KESTREL Scarce and declining breeding resident (especially inland). RED-FOOTED FALCON Two records only (in 1988 and 2017). MERLIN Rare breeding resident and uncommon passage migrant and winter visitor. EURASIAN HOBBY Increasing passage migrant and summer visitor. Bred in 2019. PEREGRINE FALCON Scarce breeding resident and winter visitor. ROSE-RINGED PARAKEET Rare visitor. RED-BACKED SHRIKE Rare and declining passage migrant, last recorded in 1999 and 2011. GREAT GREY SHRIKE Scarce passage migrant and winter visitor. WOODCHAT SHRIKE Four records (in 1954, 1994, 2011 and 2018). EURASIAN GOLDEN Very rare vagrant, last recorded in 2005. ORIOLE EURASIAN JAY Common resident. BLACK-BILLED MAGPIE Common resident. RED-BILLED CHOUGH Uncommon coastal resident, occasionally seen inland. EURASIAN JACKDAW Common resident. ROOK Common resident. CARRION CROW Common resident. HOODED CROW Scarce visitor. COMMON RAVEN Common resident. BOHEMIAN WAXWING Scarce winter visitor. COAL TIT Common resident. MARSH TIT Thinly distributed breeding resident. WILLOW TIT Scarce declining resident. BLUE TIT Common resident. GREAT TIT Common resident. BEARDED TIT Rare irruptive visitor. Four records since 2000 WOODLARK Rare migrant, last recorded in 1981. SKYLARK Common breeding resident in suitable habitat. HORNED (shore) LARK Six records only (in 1905, 1967, 1972, 1996, 1999 and 2010). GREATER SHORT-TOED Three records only (in 2012, 2013 and 2016). LARK

SAND MARTIN Common summer visitor and passage migrant. BARN SWALLOW Common summer visitor and passage migrant. HOUSE MARTIN Common summer visitor and passage migrant. CETTI’S WARBLER Increasing resident and passage migrant. LONG-TAILED TIT Common resident. WILLOW WARBLER Common summer visitor and passage migrant. COMMON CHIFFCHAFF Common summer visitor and passage migrant. Scarce in winter. WOOD WARBLER Common summer visitor and passage migrant. PALLAS’ LEAF WARBLER One record only (in 1993). YELLOW-BROWED Rare but increasing autumn migrant. WARBLER AQUATIC WARBLER Four records (in 1995, 2000 and 2010). SEDGE WARBLER Common summer visitor and passage migrant. EURASIAN REED Localised summer visitor and passage migrant. WARBLER ICTERINE WARBLER One record only (in 1990). COMMON GRASSHOPPER Common summer visitor and passage migrant. WARBLER BLACKCAP Common summer visitor and passage migrant. Scarce in winter. GARDEN WARBLER Common summer visitor and passage migrant. LESSER WHITETHROAT Uncommon summer visitor and passage migrant. COMMON WHITETHROAT Common summer visitor and passage migrant. DARTFORD WARBLER Two records only (in 2008 and 2014). FIRECREST Rare passage migrant and winter visitor. GOLDCREST Common resident. WINTER WREN Common resident. WOOD NUTHATCH Common resident. EURASIAN TREECREEPER Common resident. ROSY STARLING Scarce passage migrant. (ten records since 2000). COMMON STARLING Common winter visitor and migrant. Scarce and declining breeder. RING OUZEL Previously bred, now a scarce passage migrant. COMMON BLACKBIRD Common resident, passage migrant and winter visitor. FIELDFARE Common passage migrant and winter visitor. REDWING Common passage migrant and winter visitor. SONG THRUSH Common resident, passage migrant and winter visitor. MISTLE THRUSH Common resident. SPOTTED FLYCATCHER Common, but declining, summer visitor and passage migrant. EUROPEAN ROBIN Common resident, passage migrant and winter visitor. BLUETHROAT Three records only (in 1977, 2001 and 2017). COMMON NIGHTINGALE Very rare visitor, last recorded in 1997. PIED FLYCATCHER Common summer visitor and passage migrant. RED-BREASTED One record only (in 1981).

FLYCATCHER BLACK REDSTART Scarce passage migrant and winter visitor. COMMON REDSTART Common summer visitor and passage migrant. ROCK THRUSH One record only (in 1981). WHINCHAT Scarce summer visitor and passage migrant. STONECHAT Common resident. NORTHERN WHEATEAR Common summer visitor and passage migrant. WHITE-THROATED DIPPER Resident on suitable waterways. HOUSE SPARROW Common resident. EURASIAN TREE Very rare migrant, formerly bred. Two records in 2018, the first SPARROW since 2010. HEDGE ACCENTOR Common resident. YELLOW WAGTAIL Uncommon migrant, scarcer in spring. Has bred. GREY WAGTAIL Common resident. WHITE/PIED WAGTAIL Common resident and passage migrant. RICHARD’S PIPIT Rare passage migrant (seven records since 2000). MEADOW PIPIT Common resident, passage migrant and winter visitor. TREE PIPIT Common resident and passage migrant. WATER PIPIT Scarce passage migrant and winter visitor. ROCK PIPIT Common resident and passage migrant. CHAFFINCH Common resident, passage migrant and winter visitor. BRAMBLING Scarce passage migrant and winter visitor. HAWFINCH Rare visitor (Fifteen records since 2000). COMMON BULLFINCH Common resident. COMMON ROSEFINCH Rare migrant. Two records only (in 2001 and 2007). EUROPEAN GREENFINCH Declining resident. TWITE Scarce winter visitor and passage migrant. COMMON LINNET Common resident and passage migrant. LESSER REDPOLL Uncommon resident and passage migrant. COMMON CROSSBILL Uncommon migrant and recent breeding resident. EUROPEAN GOLDFINCH Common resident and passage migrant. EUROPEAN SERIN Rare migrant. Two records only (in 1975 and 2002). EURASIAN SISKIN Common resident, passage migrant and winter visitor. CORN BUNTING Last recorded in 1995. YELLOWHAMMER Rare and declining breeding resident. ORTOLAN BUNTING Very rare migrant. One record only (in 2008). CIRL BUNTING Last recorded in 1962. RUSTIC BUNTING Very rare migrant. One record only (in 1997). BLACK-HEADED BUNTING Very rare migrant. One record only (in 1987). REED BUNTING Common resident and passage migrant. LAPLAND LONGSPUR Scarce passage migrant and winter visitor. (bunting) SNOW BUNTING Scarce passage migrant and winter visitor. 70

THE CEREDIGION BIRD BLOG

The Ceredigion Bird Blog (ceredigionbirds33.blogspot.com) continues to be a popular and invaluable source of information about the county’s birds. With unusual sightings and behaviours, notable species counts and dates for returning migrants amongst the varied and important details regularly posted. The following accounts taken from the Blog give a flavour of the type of information shared and, in the case of the swift accounts, highlight the important conservation actions that individuals can undertake.

Spectacle off Ynyslas - posted on the Ceredigion Bird Blog on 8th May by Edward O’Connor

The sea off Ynyslas was absolutely incredible this afternoon. After seeing loads of Black Terns being reported on Birdguides, I headed down to Ynyslas to try and get in on the action. Well, final tallies were 1500 Common Terns, 75 Arctic Terns, 18 Black Terns, 1 Roseate Tern and 15 Sandwich Terns. Arfon arrived late afternoon when the action really got going and it was just incredible. Big flocks of Commons about everywhere we looked. A flock of 130 odd Commons and a Black Tern circled high up over the sea and disappeared from view. I think this must have occurred multiple times during the day. Birds were landing on the beach, on the sea, feeding in the surf right in front of us, you couldn't look at the sea for a few seconds without picking up birds. Photos don't really do it justice but it gives you an idea at least.

You can also watch some short video footage here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKTpGinCIos&feature=youtu.be 71

Swifts - posted on the Ceredigion Bird Blog on the 27th June by Bob Relph.

Just to give an idea of how "swift" these little critters are. I've spent ages trying to photograph them entering and/or leaving my swift box, this is the best I've got. And it was taken with the camera set at 11 frames per second - all three images were taken in less than 1 second

With a follow up on the 18th July. Not a very good shot I'm afraid, but a real delight for me to see at least two young Swifts peeking out of my nest box.

I believe they will fly soon, good luck little swifts

Bow Street Swifts - posted on the Ceredigion Bird Blog on the 13th July by Tony Clark. The Swifts were indeed late in many places this year and a lot seem to be missing altogether in various parts of the country; the bangers have certainly been in short supply that is up until today when despite poor weather conditions this morning there were 15 to 20 around the house certainly the most I have seen all year. I have read Roger's post and urge him not to give up especially if he has seen the birds showing interest around the boxes this month (July) is the most important and active period for the non-breeders that are searching for potential homes. Some of you may know I have observation (Swift) boxes on my house and I recall many years ago before the birds had ever entered my back gable box one terrible night of torrential rain a Swift appeared in the box soaking and bedraggled it managed to drag itself onto the nest mould and stayed there for over 24 hours I thought it was a goner but no it recovered and flew off the following evening. Without the camera I would have known nothing about it, so anyone with boxes up don’t despair the birds can enter boxes so quickly even the trained eye will miss it!

I have five pairs of Swifts this year one is very late still sitting on eggs, I have also got nine pairs of House Martins doing very well this year and one pair of Swallows for the first time.

GAZETTEER OF CEREDIOGION PLACE NAMES

Aberaeron SN45 62 Cilcennin 52 60 Gwbert 16 49 Aberarth 47 63 Cilgerran 19 43 Hafod 76 72 Aber Clettwr 64 94 Claerddu 79 68 Henfaes, Llyn Brianne 78 49 Abercoed, Tregaron 67 58 Claerwen 83 65 Hen Hafod 65 94 Aberffrwd 68 78 Clarach 58 83 Hengyrynt wood 46 60 Aberleri 61 91 Clarach bog 59 83 Henllan 35 40 Abermagwr 66 73 Clywedog plantation 64 49 Highmead 50 43 Aber Peithnant 75 84 Coed Dolgoed 74 66 Llanbadarn Fawr 60 80 Aberporth 26 51 Coed y Foel, Llandysul 42 42 Llandewi Brefi 66 55 Abeystwyth 58 81 Cors Caron NNR 69 63 Llanerchaeron 48 60 Allt Ddu 71 97 Cors Fochno 62 90 Llanfair Clydogau 62 51 Allt Dologau 77 73 Cors Ian 66 69 Llangrannog 31 54 Allt Fedw, Trawsgoed 66 72 Coed Garthenor 63 55 Llangwyryfon 59 70 Allt Hoffnant 32 52 Coed Simdde Lwyd 71 78 Llanilar 62 75 Allt Lwyd, Llanrhystud 52 68 Cross Inn forest 57 65 Llannina 40 60 Alltyrodyn House 44 44 Black Covert 66 73 Llanio Wood 63 55 Angler’s Retreat 74 92 Cruglas (Capel Cynon) 38 51 Llanon 51 67 Bethania 57 53 Cwm Berwyn 71 58 Llanrhystud 53 69 Beulah 28 46 Cwm Brefi 65 55 Llansantffraed 51 68 Blaen Myherin ruin 80 79 Cwm Cletwr 66 92 Llechryd 21 43 Blaenplwyf 57 75 Cwm Cyneiniog 72 88 Lledrod 64 71 Blaenporth 26 48 Cwmcou 29 42 Lledrod common 66 69 Bontgoch 68 86 Cwm Einion 72 92 Llyn Blaenmelindwr 71 83 Borth 60 90 Cwm Mabws 56 68 Llyn Conach 74 93 Bow Street 62 84 Cwm Mwyro 77 65 Llyn Craig y Pistyll 72 85 Bray’s pool 72 81 Cwmtydu 35 57 Llyn Du 79 69 Bronnant 64 67 Cwm Wyre 58 70 Llyn Egnant 79 67 Bronwydd 35 43 Cwmystwyth 78 73 Llyn Eiddwen 60 67 Bryn Glas 67 52 Cwrtnewydd 48 47 Llyn Fanod 60 64 Brynhoffnant 33 51 Denmark Farm 58 53 Llyn Frongoch 72 75 Bwlch-bychan 48 43 Derwen Gam (Oakford) 45 58 Llyn Fyrddon Fach 79 70 Bwlch Nant yr Arian 71 81 Devil’s Bridge 74 77 Llyn Fyrddon Fawr 80 70 Bwlchcrwys pool 70 77 Domen Las (Glandyfi) 68 96 Llyn Glandwgan 70 75 Bwlchystyllen ruin 72 86 Dyfi Estuary 63 94 Llyn Gwngu 83 72 Capel Bangor 65 80 Eisteddfa Gurig 79 84 Llyn yr Oerfa 73 80 Capel Cynon 38 49 Falcondale lake 56 49 Llyn Pendam 70 83 Cardigan 17 46 Ffair Rhos 73 68 Llyn Penrhaeadr 75 93 Cardigan Island 15 51 Foel Fawr 69 95 Llyn Rhosrhydd 70 75 Carreg Lydan 16 51 Glandyfi 69 96 Llyn Rhuddnant 80 78 Carreg Nedwydd 29 53 Glanyrafon 60 80 Llyn Syfydrin 72 84 Carreg Walltog 38 60 Glantrisant pond 72 74 Llyn Teifi 78 67 Cefncoch 74 95 Gorsgoch 48 50 Llywernog 73 80 Cenarth 26 41 Graig Ddu (Aberarth) 49 64 Lochtyn 32 55 74

Llyn Teifi 78 67 Pant pool 66 56 Taliesin 65 91 Llywernog 73 80 Penbryn 29 52 Talybont 65 89 Lochtyn 32 55 Pencarreg Gopa 72 94 Tanybwlch 57 79 Lodge Park 66 93 Pencefn pool 66 85 Teifi Estuary 17 47 Longwood 60 51 Penderi NR 55 73 Teifi Marshes 18 45 Lovesgrove 62 81 Penglais Wood, Aber. 59 82 Teifi Pools 78 67 Mabws house 56 68 Penmoelciliau 33 55 Trawsgoed 66 73 Maesllyn Pool, C. Caron 69 62 Penrhyncoch 64 84 Trefenter/Mynydd B’ch 60 68 Maesllyn P. Ll’gwyryfon 59 70 Pensarn pools 68 66 Tregaron 67 59 Morfa Bychan 56 70 Plwmp 36 52 Trisant 71 75 Morfa Cyd 65 93 Plynlimon 78 68 Ty Gwyn pool 53 64 Morfa Mawr 49 65 Pond yr Oerfa 72 79 Tyncwm 77 66 Mwnt 19 52 Ponterwyd 74 80 Tynygraig 69 69 Mydroilyn 45 55 Pontrhydfendigaid 73 66 Tywi Forest 77 61 Myherin Forest 77 76 Pont Gogoyan 64 54 Wallog/Sarn Cynfelin 58 85 Nanteos pool 61 78 Rhosrhydd bog 57 73 Ynys-hir 68 96 Nant Rhuddnant 77 77 Rhos Glyn yr Helyg NR 49 51 Ynyslas 60 94 Nant Rhys ruin 83 79 Rhuddlan Teifi 49 43 Ynys Lochtyn 31 55 Nant-y-Moch reservoir 75 86 Soar-y-mynydd 78 53 Ynys Tachwedd 61 93 Nebo 54 65 Strata Florida 74 65 Ystrad Caron 66 59 New Quay Head 37 60 Swyddffynnon 69 66 Ystrad Meurig 70 67 Old Warren Hill NR 61 78 Talgarreg 42 51 Ystumtuen 73 78

Great Egret at Tregaron Bog on 8th November, Brian Snell. 75