Hi,
Welcome to an eventful fortnightly addition of the sightings blog. With so much going on at this time of year it’s been difficult to pick a highlight, however two daytime sightings of otter, one from Domen Las Hide (20th) and one from the Ynys Eidiol viewing screen (23rd) is exciting news for those (including me) who are trying to catch a glimpse of these elusive critters on the reserve.
Wintering birds continued to arrive throughout with our first Redwings (10 on the Wetland Trail, 22nd) and Whooper Swans (4x over 20th and 22nd, possibly the same birds). A Starling roost has established in the reedbed in front of the Covert Du Hide with c.500 birds murmurating at present, numbers are likely to increase as birds continue to arrive into the country over the next few weeks.
November moths were occasionally seen on gates and pathside vegetation during the week.
The remnants of ex-hurricane Gonzalo failed to deposit any American or sea birds onto the reserve however birds sheltering on the Breakwater field on the 21st included, 32x Little Egret, 10x Shoveler, 20+ Redshank, 1x Greenshank and 4x Black-tailed Godwit.
Raptors patrolling on the reserve over the past fortnight included, 3+ Red Kite (daily), 1x Hen Harrier (ringtail, Hen-hafod, 21st and Ynys Feurig Hide, 24th), Common Buzzard (daily) and Kestrel (Visitor Centre, daily).
Hares were occasionally sighted on the grassland (Many Thanks to Liam Olds for the photo).
Other interesting sightings included, Tufted Duck (Breakwater Hide, 16th), 5x Red-breasted Merganser (Breakwater Hide, 22nd), 23x Lapwing (Ynys Feurig Hide, 22nd), 6x Black-tailed Godwit (Breakwater Hide, 21st), 2x Snipe (Marian Mawr field, 23rd), Kingfisher (Marian Mawr Hide, daily), Rock Pipit (Saltings Hide, regular), 2x Stonechat (Saltings Hide, regular), Chiffchaff (occasionally heard calling in the reserve hedgerows) and 2x Yellowhammer (Saltings Hide, 20th).
Small numbers of Chiffchaff can still be heard calling in the reserve hedgerows, often as part of a foraging mixed flock (Many Thanks to Laurie Wright for the photo).
Finally, have you been on a recent visit to Ynys-hir and taken photographs of the wildlife? Would you be happy for your photos to feature in our sightings blog? If you have answered yes to these questions we would love to hear from you. Please email your Ynys-hir wildlife photos to the following address: ynys-hir@rspb.org.uk.
Many Thanks,
Adam