The woodlands at Ynys-hir have looked spectacularly autumnal over the past couple of weeks as the leaves turn, a much appreciated dash of colour as we wait for temperatures to drop and bring in large numbers of wintering wildfowl and waders. Sightings of note include a female long tailed duck on Marian Mawr pools, first spotted on the 11th, and still present on the 16th. A very scarce visitor to the area, a quick browse through recent Ceredigion bird reports indicates the most recent record in the county was almost exactly two years ago. Our two long stayers are still with us, with multiple sightings of the great white egret including on the 28th October, 7th November, and 11th November, and the red-breasted goose was seen with the barnacles on the saltmarsh on the 11th (from Marian Mawr hide), and the 16th. A merlin took a jack snipe over Breakwater fields on the 10th, after a dramatic chase. Redwings and mistle thrushes remain in the area stocking up for the winter, and kingfishers continue to go about their photogenic business around Domen Las.
Until next time...
Otters, Lutra lutra (Rhys Thatcher)
Robin, Erithacus rubecula (Ian Wagstaff)