Ceredigion Bird Report 2018 0 Front cover image of Rosy Starling by Shane Jones 1 CEREDIGION BIRD REPORT 2018 Contents Editorial and submission of records, Arfon Williams page 3 Systematic list, Russell Jones 6 Earliest and last dates of migrants, Arfon Williams 50 The breeding birds of Long Wood, Ian Morris 51 The Ceredigion bird ringing report, Mark Cutts 54 Gazetteer of Ceredigion places 57 Printed in January 2020 by Print Services – University of Wales Trinity Saint David www.uwtsd.ac.uk Typesetting, layout and design by the editor. 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 2 Editorial A total of 212 species were seen in Ceredigion in 2018, a typical annual figure. There were no new county firsts, however the female King Eider, first seen in 2017, returned for a second year. Other rarities were a White Stork circling with Kites over Nant Yr Arian, multiple Cattle and Great Egrets, a Kentish Plover trapped for ringing at Ynyslas, a Red-necked Phalarope, a Ring-billed Gull, a Hoopoe, a Woodchat Shrike, a least four Rosy Starlings, the first two Tree Sparrows for twenty years, a Richard’s Pipit and a small number of Hawfinches, which probably arrived as part of the previous year’s unprecedented invasion. Whilst some species are appearing more frequently several once widespread breeding birds appear to be undergoing a continued decline such as Kestrel, Green Woodpecker and Yellow Hammer. 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. Ringers operating in county continue to make an important contribution to the BTO’s ringing scheme and were responsible for ringing over half the Whimbrels and Dunlins ringed in Britain. The ringing report, provided by Mark Cutts highlights some of the valuable information this amazing effort provides including Dunlins and Sandwich Terns ringed at Ynyslas turning up in Morocco, Mauritania, Namibia and South Africa. Ian Morris’ article on the Breeding Birds of Longwood highlights the importance and value of citizen science. Comparing the findings of his 2018 survey with a previous survey Ian provides us with an updated assessment of bird populations at this extensive woodland site. Whilst some species remain stable populations of other have changed considerably, often mirroring national trends. The Ceredigion Bird Blog (www.ceredigion33.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. The recently created Ceredigion Birds and Wildlife Facebook page, run by Shane Jones is going from strength to strength and 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 who have not yet been mentioned: Our Advertiser ‘NatureQuest’ – Affordable optics and wildlife observation. The following photographers who have allowed us to use their excellent images including Tom Kistruck, Shane Jones, Viv Evans, Colin Dalton, Silke Einschuetz, Meurig Garbutt, Alan Ewart and Bob Relph (plus some of my own). I hope you enjoy this report. Arfon Williams, December 2019 3 Submission of records The following contributed the 2018 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), the late Roy Bamford, 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, David Campion, Steffi Carter, Arthur O Chater, Ray Collins, Lis Collison, Edward O’Connor (EOC), Moira Convery, Simon Cox, Tony Cross (AVC), Mark Cutts, Andrew Dally, Steve Davies, John A Davis (JAD), Peter E Davis, Naomi Davis, Phil Dennis, Aline Denton, Richard Dobbins, Tom Doidge, Jasmine Donahaye, Diana Dorrell, Silke Einschuetz, Philip Ellis, Dr Viv Evans, Kendall Evans, Lyn Evans, Tommy Evans. Gerald Fordham, Chris Forster-Brown, Wayne Foster, Lyn Gander, Chris Goding, John Gorman, Mick Green, Jon Green, Karen Gregory, Ian Harrison, Mike D Hayward, Helen Herbert, Alan Hill, Terry Hobson, Geraint Hughes, Marc Hughes, Jenni and Peter Hyatt, Elaine Izett, Andy James, Wendy James, Chris Jones, Pat and Gary Jones, Russell Jones, Shane Jones, Judith Johnston, Nigel Johnston, Kev Joynes, Len Kersley, Brian Kington, Tom Kistruck, Red Liford (RGL), Mervyn Lloyd, Lyndon Lomax, Alan Lyne, 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, Matthew Potter, David Price, Liz Probert, Dave Purdon, Sue & Terry Reeves, Bob Relph (RR), Ian Scott, Pete Scott, Liz Snell (ES), Dick Squires (RS), David Taylor, Teifi Ringing Group (TRG), Rhys Thatcher, Dave Thomas, Ian Thompson, Jon Turner, John Valentine. Graham Walker, Mike Waller, Arfon Williams (HAW), Brian Wiley, Paul Wilkins, Colin Williams, Marc Williams, Richard Williams, Annette Williamson, Peter Wilmott, John Woodruff, David Wooley, Laurie Wright, Andy 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.) 4 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 in to 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. Barn Owl Colin Dalton 5 SYSTEMATIC LIST FOR 2018 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 Ynyslas there were up to seven pale-bellied birds from 6th to 13th January, three pale-bellied on 30th January, 11 from 4th to 18th February with four on 20th, six on 24th March, seven on 30th March and a late bird on 15th May. In autumn, there were two there on 17th October with up to five seen to the end of the year. Elsewhere, there was one at Tanybwlch on 20th January, and a pale-bellied bird on the Teifi est on 4th December.