Just like busses!!

As the title suggests, we wait ages for a good bird and then two turn up at once.

The second Icterine Warbler in as many days was present at Nant all Day today. A more boldly marked bird than yesterday's, plus it lacked a shiny metal ring

 A single spotted was present in the withies

 Several Northern Wheatears were present again

 Some are more showy than others

SUNDAY, 21 AUGUST 2011

Despite the odd shower and a chilly northerly wind, the majority of the day was very pleasant. An Icterine Warbler in Ty Pellaf and Cristin Withy in the morning brightened up the day immensely, and after showing very sporadically for most of the day, the bird was trapped in the afternoon in Cristin Withy. This is the first record of this species for the year, with only one seen last year.

On the rest of the bird front, A Grasshopper Warbler was seen in Ty Pellaf reed bed, and other warblers had also arrived to join the breeders: eight Sedge Warblers, eight Whitethroats, aBlackcap, four Chiffchaffs, 17 Willow Warblers and a Goldcrest were seen. Meadow Pipits,Pied Wagtails, Swallows and Wheatears were all showing signs of movement today, with totals coming to 112, 38, 57 and 38 respectively; three House Martins also passed through. A ringed Juvenile Ringed Plover was among 13 Turnstones in Solfach in the morning, whilst a Whimbrel, 18 Curlews and a Redshank were seen elsewhere. The Grey Heron was around the narrows once again, and a Sandwich Tern was seen off the north end. The male Sparrowhawk and a Kestrelwere also seen.
Three Storm Petrels were trapped and ringed in Traeth Ffynnon in the night.

Although skulky for most of the time, the Icterine Warbler showed very well occasionally.

 Icterine Warbler - note the long primary extension (about the same length as the tertials), also the pale silvery fringes to the tertials and secondaries and pale tips to the primaries all make this bird easy to separate from Melodious Warbler.

 Icterine Warbler - the large bill is obvious in this shot

Icterine Warbler with Willow Warbler - note the difference in size, leg colour and size of the bird's bill.