Winter visitors
The more exotic looking winter birds are beginning to arrive in Wales now and as usual, our Flickr group members have been first on the scene. Here's a taster of what we've received recently.
These shots of an Isabelline wheatear on North Gower have caused quite a stir amongst 'twitchers' as these birds are extremely rare visitors to Britain. Only 27 have been recorded since the 1800s and this is only the fourth sighting ever, in Wales.
An Isabelline wheatear by Tony Llewellyn.
Isabelline wheatear by Moses Davies.
Meanwhile snow bunting are arriving at certain beaches along the North Wales coast. These large bunting are moving south now from their Arctic haunts along with a resident Scottish population.
They will be with us now until February/ March time, so head north to Kimmel Bay, Rhyl if you want to see them.
A snow bunting on the beach in north Wales by Joe Wynn.
Meanwhile, closer to home, I was lucky enough to witness a huge starling 'murmuration' overhead as I made my way down through Kenfig Nature Reserve for a pre-work surf last week.
They flew in from Port Talbot direction and caused quite a few dog walkers to stop and stare skyward, as they danced in the skies above.
It won't be long before we're getting the Aberystwyth Pier birds putting on their spectacular aerial displays.
Black-headed gulls are now in full winter plumage and Linda Edwards snapped this lovely shot at Gallow's Point up in North Wales:
Black-headed gull by Linda Edwards
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