Birds To See Inland In West Wales
Goldeneye
Sitting on the water it is stocky with a big head and rounded, thick bill. Male has white spot on dark green head; dark upper wing and white underparts. Female has brown head and otherwise greyish. Looks dark on water. Both show white inner wing in flight.
Goldfinch
Carduelis genus. One of the most flamboyant small birds with its brilliant yellow stripe down centre of wing and red face framed by white stripe and black crown. It is fond of verges where grasses and thistles have gone to seed. Watch out for large numbers bobbing along from clump to clump.
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Smaller than you might imagine, he is often heard drumming loudly on a dead tree. Loves bird tables. Black and white above with red patch under tail. Wings look spotty in flight. Male has red patch on head too.
Great Tit
Much more black on head and dark stripe down breast. Bright white cheek patch. Call sounds like rusty bike pump – not tuneful!
Greenfinch
Carduelis genus. Likes gardens. Green plumage on upper body but young birds duller olive shade. Bill: thick and heavy for seed-eating. In flight:yellow patches each side of short tail with deep notch in middle. Hops.
Hen Harrier
Stays in uplands in summer but descends to lower ground in winter. Flies low, gliding and dashing in on prey. Slimmer than buzzard with long tail and narrow wings. Head a bit like owl. Male grey with white belly, black wing tips; female brown mottled – much more barred than buzzard.
Herring Gull
Large and noisy. Grey and white with large yellow bill which has red spot on lower tip. Legs pinkish – NOT yellow.
Jay
A glamorous bird often seen in flight near oak woods or on tree-lined verges. Striking blue on front edge of wing, white in centre and black at lower edge. Wing tips grey; white rump and black tail. Russet elsewhere.
Kestrel
The most common of falcons. Bright rusty brown upperparts spotted with black and long, slim tail barred with black, grey head and tail with black band at tip. Female has tail barred brown. Silvery underparts. Hovers or sits on posts.
Linnet
Carduelis. Likes open heath and cliff scrub. Perches on bushes or wires. Male: rosy breast in summer; tawny brown on top with dark wings showing white streaks in flight. Tail black and white with deep fork. Feeds on seeds on ground, often flocking with finches and sparrows in winter. Chi-chi chiu plus warbling.
Long-tailed Tit
Crown white edged with black. Body pinkish with dark V shape from base of neck to rump. White bib. Very long tail black edged with white. Rounded wings. They like swampy copses and hedgerows, form small groups, and will sometimes visit gardens with other types of Tits.
Marsh Tit
Very difficult to differentiate from Willow Tit but more visible; visits bird tables. Both have strong black cap and bib. Rest of face white with buff underside. Marsh is less chunky than Willow, cap shiny, call like sharp whistle: ‘pi-tchoo’ and song is loud, repeated chip-chip.