News

Ring Ouzel 4 [2m & 2f] at Mynydd Fochriw SO0904 [MCP]

Sunday News

1 of 5 Little Ringed Plover

5 Little Ringed Plover at Red Jacket Pill, Neath River (RJ,GR)
Yellow-legged Gull at Lisvane Res (RT)
1 Ring Ouzel at Southgate, Gower (OGa)
1 Ring Ouzel nr Cimla (NE)
1 Ring Ousel at Foel Fynyddau (GR)
7 Water Pipit at Aberthaw (AH)

Snow Bunting at Killay - more details

(c) D. Hayden

Just a few more details concerning the Snow Bunting at Killay, last month. David Hayden has kindly sent us a photo of this extraordinary scene. David adds " I first saw the bird on the 25th March picking at scraps on my Garage Roof & since by its beak it was obviously a seed eater I put some seeds out on the Bird Table. On the 27th I saw it again eating 'my' seeds & again eating seeds on the 29th March. No sign since." Many thanks go to David for sharing his experience with us.
I agree with Phil B about this being a 2nd Cal yr male - the overall plumage is certainly heading towards a summer adult male but the black tips to the primary coverts shows that the bird is still hanging on to some 1st W plumage.

Shrike and the Shrew

(c) R. Jones

The Great Grey Shrike showed well yesterday near Crynant, but not today. Rob and I watched it catch at least 4 Common Lizards and this unfortunate Shrew. It was interesting that the Shrike took the Shrew to a dead tree first, where it killed it and then made a puncture in the skin. Then it took the prey down to this 'larder', which is a fallen Spruce with a splayed branch. It was able to peg the Shrew very quickly before flying off to a distant dead tree . Very quickly afterwards it dropped down to catch a Common Lizard which it killed and ate immediately.

Other notable sightings from the day were a Woodcock and a male Ring Ousel.

Ring Ouzels

It's turning out to be a good season for Ring Ouzel sightings, the 2013 records shown in black. Hopefully we'll see a few a more black dots before the end of the spring migration. [updated with additional records from Rob Jones and Nick Edwards]

Obituary notice

The naturalist Mary Gilham MBE (1921-2013) has passed away. A well known author and Wildlife Trust member.

Other News

Osprey over Pontypridd Town centre (18:19) (GPo)
Ring Ouzel (3) nr Cimla (SS786985) (NE)
2 [later 4] Little Ringed Plover at Portobello (GS, DRWG) [DR]
2 Little Ringed Plover at Castell-du (BS,SJS)
1 Little Ringed Plover at KNNR (ND)

Great Grey Shrike near Crynant

(c) R. Jones - Shrike with Shrew

Rob Jones and Gwyn Randall found a Great Grey Shrike in the clear fell area above Crynant, early evening, today. It was in the same area as the one seen earlier in the year, back in February. It showed well for them and caught at least 2 shrews during the time that they spent watching the bird, one of which can be made out in the photo above.

News

LRP today at KNNR [ND] & Portobello, Ogmore [2] [GS & DRWG] with 4 there later [DR]

Late News for 29th a Hooded Crow at feeders in Penmaen [per BS]

With only three records since the turn of the century Hooded Crow is a very rare bird in the county.
April-May is the best time for them however, so worth checking your corvids.

Ring Ouzels at Foel Fynyddau

(c) R Jones [m+f Ring Ouzel and Fieldfare]

 Rob Jones and Gwyn Randall discovered a field full of thrushes on the western slopes of Foel Fynyddau, late afternoon, today. The prize amongst them being Ring Ouzel (5m+2f); the supporting cast made up by Fieldfare (20+),  Redwing (70+), Mistle Thrush (c10), Song Thrush (c15) and Blackbird (4). Also Wheatear (8) and Stonechat (1p).

2m+1f Ring Ouzel

Later on Rob and Gwyn picked another male Ring Ouzel in an adjacent field making a very nice total for the area. Later still, I returned to the area to find 2 pairs still present in the same fields till 19:00 at least.