Out and about

The 7 Whoopers were still at Trefeiddan between 2 and 4'ish this afternoon, 9-10 wigeon and 6 Teal. A few Goldcrest in the alders at Rhosson kept me looking for a while but otherwise the bushes were quiet. A single chough, and a Great spotted woodpecker. A few Chaffinch and Goldfinch flying over. Kestrel swaying on the telegraph wires. Merlin dashed across the moor followed a little later by a peregrine. Nice to bumped into Steve Jones. Pity the BN grebe wasn't on show, could still be there out of sight. Quick look at Penberri, 4 Tufted duck among the bathing Herring gulls.

Lovely still evening so decided to finish off with a visit to the Dowrog. And glad I did. Female/juv Marsh harrier on my arrival perched up on the scrub before drifting eastwards towards the airfield. A Merlin flew in and settled on a roadside fencepost. Some early roosting woodpigeons all took to the wing as a Ringtail Hen harrier arrived from the west, it made 3-4 passes before a Short-eared owl appeared, whilst concentrating on the owl a male Hen harrier came in from the east and immediately dropped down. The other harrier disappeared presumably to roost as well, leaving the shortie to hunt around on its own for around 20 minutes. A couple of times a group of Jackdaw chased it up really high before it came back down, lovely stuff.

Dale Saturday: Cettis again this time above Mullock Bridge (having never heard any here until this autumn that's the 3rd in last 3 visits), single chiffchaff and half dozen redwing on the track to the airfield. 75 Lapwing, 30 Snipe, flock of 50 Linnet and Goldfinch. Lots of starling. Good look around St Brides, Firecrest, male Blackcap and a chiffchaff in the wood behind the WC, quiet up by the castle.