Back In Welsh Sunshine

After a couple of days of rain the sun came out in Wales today.  I ventured out and started by calling in at Kidwelly Quay.  I caught up with fellow Carmarthenshire birders Wendell Thomas and Rob Hunt.  Whilst with them we noted 2 Barn Swallows, 8 Greenshanks and 2 Ruff.  There was also about 200 Redshanks, 60 Dunlins and 70 Curlew.

Barn Swallow

We then split and I set off for the WWT centre at Penclacwydd.  I wanted to catch up with Glossy Ibises which had been seen there recently as I had never seen this species in Carmarthenshire. I did not have to wait long before a Glossy Ibis flew in and began feeding.  In a few more minutes a second bird joined the first and then they flew off before a third bird then came in.  There have been up to 5 as once again this species invades the UK.

One of the Penclacwydd Glossy Ibises

Wendell Thomas then joined me again and watched 4 female Pintail amongst the more regular wildfowl.  It really was a wonderfully warm day with a Cetti's warbler singing loudly and there were lots of insects about including Migrant Hawker and Common Darter dragonflies and a splendid Comma butterfly.

Comma in the Penclacwydd sunshine

We moved on to the British Steel hide where a large roost of waders had assembled on the rear pool.  There were at least 700 Black-tailed Godwits as well as 210 Knot.  There were also c60 Wigeon.

The Wader Roost

Black-tailed Godwits, Shoveler & Teal

Checking out the estuary side we found 5 Greenshanks, 8 Little Egrets and a Peregrine.  A wonderful day and I look forward to getting out again if we can have more of this fine weather.