A brief stop at Goodwick this morning produced an adult Yellow-legged Gull and a Mediterranean Gull bathing with other gulls in more or less the same location we saw two birds a week or so ago. A small number of the usual variety of waders were present but there seemed to be fewer Turnstones today.
Later at Newport, there must have
been 1,000+ mixed gulls on the shore (including about 600+ Black-headed and 300
Herring Gulls). Many were bathing or resting; others were coming and going from
inland fields. We regretted not bringing a telescope, but we managed to pick
out a smart Yellow-legged Gull and two Med. Gulls, one conveniently near the
Yellow-legged. There were most likely more Med. Gulls amongst more distant
gull flocks. A couple of Goosanders were upstream of the Iron Bridge, a Kingfisher
flew downstream, and a Common Sandpiper was busy feeding on the open muddy
shore.
It was fascinating to watch two Little Grebes feeding close to a domestic-type Mallard. As it fed in the shallows, the grebes would dive down to snatch food being disturbed – quite a nice example of kleptoparasitism.
The afternoon at Teifi Marshes was
generally quiet, although the appearance of a low-flying electricity company helicopter
surveying power lines caused three separate flocks of Snipe to appear out of
the marsh. We estimated at least 250+ Snipe must have been in the air at one
time.
 |
| Just a small part of one of three flocks that were in the air together |
In the Creek Hide there were some gruesome remains of Starling and two Water Rails (only the left outer wing parts in each case). Where were the right wings and the heads we wondered? There were no obvious pellets, but we assumed it was most likely to have been the work of a Barn Owl.