November 2006

Wednesday 1^st November

Marc Hughes recorded a party of five Greenland White-fronted Geese/Gŵydd Dalen-wen and seven Whooper Swans/Alarch y Gogledd come in off the sea at Uwchmynydd this morning amongst a range of migrants and I was somewhat gutted when he informed me that he had seen them heading towards Rhiw. The geese were later seen in a field east of Aberdaron.

Thursday 2^nd November

I was well pleased to see and hear the party of five Greenland Whitefronts/Gŵydd Dalen-wen fly west over the house at dusk. Its years since I have seen this species in Gwynedd (over Ynys Enlli).

Moments later a cracking Barn Owl/Tylluan Wen appeared and caught something in the field at the back of the house.

Friday 3^rd November

Visiting birder Andrew Spottiswood has been turning up some good birds on the north coast of the peninsula (see his blog at http://www.surfbirds.com/blog/planetspottiswood/) finding a Kingfisher/Glas y Dorlan at Aber Geirch, a Richard’s Pipit/Corhedydd Richard near Porth Ychain, a Lapland Bunting/Bras y Gogledd near Cwmister and two Merlin/Cudyll Bach.

Saturday 4^th November

Andrew found a party of three Whooper Swans/Alarch y Gogledd over Porth Ychain today as well as an Adder/Neidr by Porth Oer and a Clouded Yellow/Iâr Fach Felen at Porth Orion.

Back in Rhiw a Woodcock/Cyffylog was over Graig Fawr at dusk.

Sunday 5^th November

Porth Meudwy hosted Chiffchaff/Siff-saff, Blackcap/Telor Penddu, Brambling/Jbinc y Mynydd and Water Rail/Rhegen y Dŵr.

Thursday 9^th November

I flushed a Woodcock/Cyffylog in the bracken and rocks by Ty Isaf near Creigiau Gwineu at dusk.

Saturday 11^th November

Three adult Mediterranean Gulls/Gwylan Mor y Canoldir were in Abersoch Harbour today.

Monday 20^th November

Eddie Urbanski reports a fine male Hen Harrier/Bod Tinwen over the road at Penrhos, Pwllheli. A flock of 48 Fieldfares/Socan Eira were over Rhoshirwaun this afternoon.

Wednesday 22^nd November

Some large flocks of Starling/Drudwen have been heading east over the house before dusk over the last few weeks, counting them has not been a priority but today the sky was full of them. I estimated 4500 birds in just 10 minutes and I’m sure there were a lot more overlooked. Presumably they are heading off to roost somewhere towards Abersoch or Pwllheli?

Sunday 26^th November

The local Barn Owl/Tylluan Wen has been giving fantastic views hunting over the rough pasture behind the house over the last few days. I’ve also seen Woodcock/ Cyffylog drifting over in the gloom, no doubt also off to their nocturnal feeding grounds.

Tuesday 28^th November

A flock of 35 Fieldfare/Socan Eira drifted over Coed-y-Fron, Mynytho this afternoon.