Birdwatching Holidays In West Wales
Redpoll
Carduelis genus. Likes trees but also comes down to feed. Very streaky underparts, black bib. Male: pale rosy breast and dark red forehead. Birch and larch preferred food. Flocks bounce around in flight and make loud rattling ‘check’ sound.
Redshank
Dark tail, rich brown rump with dark streaks. White belly. Legs rich orange red or scarlet. Juveniles have paler legs. Bill has dark tip and red base. In flight it shows big white patch along back and broad white wedges on the back of each wing.
Redstart
Mostly woodland – prefers oak, but during migration can be seen on coast. Males like to sit in top of tree to sing. Elusive, they flit about with wide blunt tail unmistakeably rusty red. Male has big black bib and grey upper with orange underside. Female browner all over but has same tail.
Reed Bunting
Mostly beside water but may appear in winter fields. Male: black head in summer (grey/brown winter) with white collar. Streaky brown/black back tinged with yellowish brown. Freckled greyish underparts. Female: dark crown and white eye stripe. Tail: blunt. Black with broad white patches on sides.
Ringed Plover
Much smaller than you expect. Dumpy and about thrush size. Has very distinctive banding marks on head and throat. White patch under brown cap, black around eye with white just above beak. White throat and collar, then lower black collar. Bright white underneath. Bright bill and legs. Has habit of running, stopping suddenly to dig for food and then running again etc.
Rock Pipit
Whilst not strictly a water bird, this one always hangs out near the coast, walking around the rocks. They often come close, so if you see a small, speckled brownish bird around cliffs and beaches, it’s going to be a rock pipit! Most numerous in spring.
Sand Martin
Makes holes in sand or earth banks often beside water. In flight: brown upper, wings and breast band. Underparts white. Wings very pointy and tail has shallow notch. Much smaller than swift.
Sanderling
Small. Paler plumage than similar waders. Dark rim along bottom of wing and tail. Bill: longish, straight, dark. Runs fast on thin legs. Forms small groups. Often roosts with dunlins at high tide. In flight: sharp wings, dark stripe down centre of rump and tail with white sides. Very white under and pearly above.
Shelduck
These are large and goose-shaped with very striking dark green head and red bill with a knob at the base. White neck, chestnut band at front of body then dark upper wings and white underparts. In flight it shows white bands at front of wings with dark band behind.
Shoveler
Heavy and inelegant. Dark green head and rear wing patches when in flight. Speckled, rusty body. Strange bill very flat and shovelish at front. Stubby rear. Females a bit like Mallards so look at beak.
Siskin
Carduelis genus. Likes conifers but comes to mixed woodland and gardens in winter. Loves peanuts. Smaller than sparrow. Male: yellow/green breast and black wings with yellow stripes. Female: greyer than male, whiter underparts; more delicate streaks.
Skylark
Streaky brown with curved crest on head. Hover high, high in the sky and sing constant trilling song. Always out in the open, you’ll often see them land on short grassland – clifftops or meadows. Sometimes perch on fences. Often undulating flight. Walks or runs.