Y Tywyddiadur

1st January 1929 a really wonderful day, brilliant sunshine and calm... Ground covered in frost in a.m. and some snow... on top of mountains.

3 January 1929 a grey wagtail by the harbour. Two Black-headed gulls with “black” heads, one hd quite complete

January 5, 1929 Mr Ll. Rees tells me of a Black-necked Grebe opposite Bryn eithyn... 25 Shelduck by Abergroes Wood, and the same number of Pintail ducks in same place.… Seem to associate pretty frequently

6 Jan 1929 Mr Ll Rees tells me that he saw the [Black-necked] grebe again, a Turnstone and a Ringed Plover by Trefri, and 3 Goldeneyes lower down.

7 Jan 1929  A good flock of Redshank by Panteidal Farm. A flock of over 100 Peewits by Caethle Farm, sitting on the fence on the roadside. I noticed a Buzzard sitting on the fence on the roadside, did not make move as we passed it, in the car, but got up at once when we pulled up just beyond.

January 10, 1929  A Song Thrush singing at Braich-y-Celyn. Much milder after a frosty spell

Dyddiadur EHT Bible, Llyf. Gen. Cym. [Acc. No. A1998/137]

January 11, 1929  Colder again but no frost

January 12, 1929  A very cold north-east wind...

Dyddiadur EHT Bible, Llyf. Gen. Cym. [Acc. No. A1998/137]

January 17, 1929  A small flock of Redwings passing over... A full grown polecat, which we turned out of a rabbit warren whilst ferreting. The Polecat went back and we secured the ferret – a big “Hob”... Note: this is the first time I have seen a Polecat turned out by a Ferret.

January 18, 1929  A rather large flock of woodpigeons (for this district) 3 or 4 hundred by Nant y Glo... Heard a Blue Tit singing

January 19, 1929    A Great-Spotted Woodpecker at Panteidal Wood. Hazel catkins in bloom, first Aconites and snowdrops seen; at “Old Mill”.

January 20, 1929  A Song Thrush singing in the churchyard

January 20, 1929  A Song Thrush singing in the churchyard

January 23, 1929   A flock of Goldfinches (about 22) on Dyffryn Farm field

January 24, 1929 exceptionally fine weather of late

January 25, 1929   Mr Llew Reese tells me that he heard and saw a Blackbird singing today

January 26, 1929 ....flock of Golden Plover flying away from the train on Penllyn Marsh. Still very fine, calm weather but with night frosts.

January 28, 1929   9 Mergansers opposite the tunnel and one or two further up the estuary.… A Hedge Sparrow singing – first time this year

30th of January 1929 heard Mistle Thrush and Great Tit singing, first time this season... One female Long-tailed Duck at Frongoch corner.... Song thrushes singing everywhere. Very mild

January 31, 1929 the Wood pigeon “cooing”... ? tells me that Tufted Ducks have been seen on the Dysynni river recently.

February 3, 1929 first female Hazel bloom seen

February 4, 1929. There are more wood pigeons here than I have seen for years past.

February 6, 1929 quite a large flock of Meadow-Pipits on the hill above the old Gas Works, I should say they numbered about 80-100 at least. The usual barn owl was out quartering the marsh at 3 o’clock.

February 7, 1929... 5 Buzzards up in the air together over Nant y Glo Wood

February 11, 1929 A movement of some kind of Thrush southward. Snow falling most of the day and bitterly cold. There was a blizzard at night and trains were snowed up between Towyn and Tonfannau

February 15, 1929 bitterly cold weather the worst in this district for 43 years. The birds are suffering badly, especially Song Thrushes and Starlings

February 16, 1929 very cold with hard frost.…. Two woodcocks very tame seen, one close in to the village... A ringed Plover was brought in to me – half starved. It died later. The Coot seen opposite here by Mr Llew Reese in the Dovey, driven here by the bad weather no doubt. I have not seen a Coot in the Dovey before

February 18, 1929  Two Knots by Trefri.... About 100 Pintail Ducks by Abergroes... Lt Col Kirkby tells me that he shot Wigeon and Teal on the Golf Course yesterday [17 Chwefror]. Mr Edwin Hughes brought in a Chough. It was obviously dying. I saw more dead starlings and a Rook, and no doubt many other birds of perished owing to the severe weather conditions. Strangely enough I have seen very few Fieldfares and Redwings and have not heard of any Geese. In spite of the cold the Chaffinch was singing in the early a.m.

February 19, 1929 still severe weather. Birds still being found dead. I saw two Songs Thrushes and three more Starlings and also a Carrion Crow. 18 degrees of frost [-10°C ?] registered here one night

Dyddiadur EHT Bible, Llyf. Gen. Cym. [Acc. No. A1998/137]

February 20, 1929 Two Buzzards at Nant y Glo and one at Abergroes. One was so tame that it stayed on an oak tree not more than 15 yards from where I stood watching.…

February 22, 1929  Mild again at last

February 23, 1929  A Lizard got turned out of some rock[s?] by workmen... Birds singing again

February 25, 1929 I am told of Starlings settling on a cottage roof during the severe weather and when they attempted to fly again found themselves frozen to the roof. Someone was kind enough to go up and release them and took five to Mr Llew Reese who took them indoors but they all died. Starlings have been very numerous here of late and many have died

February 26, 1929 Snow again and very cold NE winds with sharp frosts. Lt. Col. Kirkby writes to tell me that a Chough was found dead here and also that a Red-throated Diver has been shot at Towyn... Peewits were on the Dust Heap and in other places close to the village

February 27, 1929 Redwings and Fieldfares in fields along the Pennal Road... Lt. Col.Kirkby tells me that he has seen as many as eight Choughs together recently “Ardudwy” [Nodyn: this is their old haunt]... Very cold again with a bitter NE wind

A Wheatear at Bird Rock and Frog Spawn on Golf Course at (Ll:Rees)

March 14, 1929. Two Bats [?] hawking at Devil’s Bridge at 2:30 pm. A dead Blind Worm at Bryneithin

March 15, 1929  Very fine weather but rain wanted. Hills quite brown.

March 18, 1929 Skylarks singing freely at Craichnant [?] and I saw a flock of these birds in the same fields.

March 19, 1929. Chiffchaff seen and heard (Miss Jackson)

March 21, 1929  A Lizard seen on the road, Rain after a long dry period

March 22, 1929  Yellow-hammers singing in numbers – Morfa Gipsies

March 24, 1929  A flock of Pipits (Meadow) considerably over 100, appeared to be making South East

March 26, 1929 Small White Butterfly in this garden

March 27, 1929   A very beautiful day. A dead Seal on the beach at Tonfanau appeared to be the “Grey” judging by the size... I saw about two dozen Cormorants at the mouth of the Dysynni and noticed several others flying over all these having white ‘breeding patches’. I also saw an interesting scrap between four jackdaws over a nesting hole in the sandy cliffs.

April 8, 1929   1st blooms of Greater Stitchwort

April 9, 1929  1st blooms of Garlic mustard and Herb Robert. Dr Salter tells me of a single swallow seen on Borth Golf Links.

April 12, 1929... Very cold. NE winds again

April 13, 1929... Still very cold and dry

April 16, 1929  2 Common Sandpipers at Trefri

April 17, 1929 a “conference” of Magpies in Bryncelyn Wood, 12 - 13 in number

April 18, 1929 much milder after the dry, cold period, with a little soft rain early in the day. Willow-wren singing.

April 19, 1929  Two House Martins at Trefri.

April 20, 1929   The Cuckoo at Rhowniar seen and heard by Mr and Mrs Weston. I am told on very good authority, of a Bittern at Towyn Marshes.

September 7 Seagulls circling over the river made this way and Mr Ll Rees, who was watching them with his powerful binoculars, tells me they were feeding on some kind of fly or "winged ant" [MORGRUG HEDEGOG, FLYING ANT].

January 2 (1st Snowdrop)

SW wind.... Heard blue tit “little Silverbell”

January 2 (1st Snowdrop)

SW wind.... Heard blue tit “little Silverbell”

January 5   Probably owing to the mild conditions, the Gorse is a feature 

January 7... Hundreds of Curlew collected by the reeds to get shelter, probably the greatest number I have seen. Tonfannau pool: about a dozen Tufted duck and to Potchards, ... Several Mergansers opposite the garage, and a big flock of Pintail Pant Eidal probably over 100. 

Jan 8. (Female Hazel at Gogarth)

Slight frost at first, bright until dinner time... Saw Duck shooting in the estuary, on the other side 

January 30 extremely cold, frost holding all day.... A few flakes of snow,.... thaw following. Beyond a number of thrushes sheltering under Braich y Celyn Wood I saw little bird life along the estuary road.

January 30 extremely cold, frost holding all day.... A few flakes of snow,.... thaw following. Beyond a number of thrushes sheltering under Braich y Celyn Wood I saw little bird life along the estuary road.

31 January: an extraordinary change in the weather yesterday being probably the coldest day of the winter and today one of the mildest, most of the snow had gone by daylight. I went up to Plas rookery and saw lots of Rooks at their nests, one Rook bringing sticks.

February 7... A pair of Wigeon at Nant y Glo; seen there many times

February 15.... Very unsettled... 4th wet day 

February 16.... Flock of 26 Knot, by Pant yr Eidal. Mr Ll: Rees remarked about a feature of Knot which I have previously noted. That looking down on these birds from a height they appear to have much darker plumage then where one is on the level with them, as they appear to be almost white.

Fab 19.... Reports of Sea Birds oiled in Cardigan Bay, Llwyngwril, [?], Fairbourne... One male Scoter at Trefri... 

February 20th 1937 by Abergroes wood a Red-throated diver was floundering about on the sand trying to read itself of crude oil. It was in such a terrible state that I fetched Miss Hewitt and we destroyed the bird

February 23, 1937... Another Red-T Diver oiled in the estuary..... [+ mwy o hanesion scoters efo olew]

Dyddiadur EHT Bible, Llyf. Gen. Cym. [Acc. No. A1998/137]

February 24, 1937... One or two more cormorants seen with thigh patches. They evidently get these adornments before the white silky feathers on the head and face. One or two of last years Cormorants still have dirty white fronts. Cormorant ring at Towyn last June was found in France in December

Dyddiadur EHT Bible, Llyf. Gen. Cym. [Acc. No. A1998/137]

February 24, 1937... One or two more cormorants seen with thigh patches. They evidently get these adornments before the white silky feathers on the head and face. One or two of last years Cormorants still have dirty white fronts. Cormorant ring at Towyn last June was found in France in December

Dyddiadur EHT Bible, Llyf. Gen. Cym. [Acc. No. A1998/137]

February 25, 1937 .... milder  SE wind and rain up to 2:30 pm... Still very stormy

Dyddiadur EHT Bible, Llyf. Gen. Cym. [Acc. No. A1998/137]

February 26, 1937 1st Blackbird singing

Dyddiadur EHT Bible, Llyf. Gen. Cym. [Acc. No. A1998/137]

February 27, 1937 Barometer 28.9   a rough night, squalls of hail and rain,... Hills white on tops... NW

Dyddiadur EHT Bible, Llyf. Gen. Cym. [Acc. No. A1998/137]

February 27, 1937 Barometer 28.9   a rough night, squalls of hail and rain,... Hills white on tops... NW

Dyddiadur EHT Bible, Llyf. Gen. Cym. [Acc. No. A1998/137]

February 28, 1937 a heavy snowstorm and terrific gusts during night did more damage along the estuary road than I have seen here. Telephone posts and trees suffered most. The depth of snow on my garden path was about 6”. The afternoon was bright and sunny but roads were [heavy]. Lots of birds passed going WNW chiefly thrushes and chaffinches, But starlings and larks and others in smaller numbers and even two stone chips were in my garden.

Dyddiadur EHT Bible, Llyf. Gen. Cym. [Acc. No. A1998/137]

March 1, 1937 snow still deep in places, and it was not until afternoon that cars got through to Pennal, owing to the fallen trees and telephone posts... At dusk a huge flock of starlings passed up the estuary, going East.

Dyddiadur EHT Bible, Llyf. Gen. Cym. [Acc. No. A1998/137]

March 4, 1937 ....a few chaffinches going east in the morning

Dyddiadur EHT Bible, Llyf. Gen. Cym. [Acc. No. A1998/137]

March 5, 1937 milder, drizzle, and misty on hills at times. Most of the snow gone down below

Dyddiadur EHT Bible, Llyf. Gen. Cym. [Acc. No. A1998/137]

March 7, 1937. A slight fall of snow and a dismal day, sleet at times.

Dyddiadur EHT Bible, Llyf. Gen. Cym. [Acc. No. A1998/137]

March 7, 1937. A slight fall of snow and a dismal day, sleet at times.

Dyddiadur EHT Bible, Llyf. Gen. Cym. [Acc. No. A1998/137]

March 9, 1937... Going by train to Barmouth I noticed two or three small flocks of meadow pipits alongside the line. There was a flock of scoters at Fairbourne...

Dyddiadur EHT Bible, Llyf. Gen. Cym. [Acc. No. A1998/137]

March 16, 1937.…. I noticed Jackdaws, Rooks, and Carrion Crows all giving tongue by Nant y glô waterfall after dark. Evidently there is a roosting colony there in the winter, which accounts for various things found under the trees at the top of the fall, by Mrs Hewitt, (rubber rings from bottles etc.)

Dyddiadur EHT Bible, Llyf. Gen. Cym. [Acc. No. A1998/137]

March 17, 1937.... A few sharp showers, a little thunderstorm and a sharp hailstorm in morning

Dyddiadur EHT Bible, Llyf. Gen. Cym. [Acc. No. A1998/137]

March 20, 1937 Chiffchaff in my garden. Fine springlike day.... Several hive bees and one white tailed humble bee here

Dyddiadur EHT Bible, Llyf. Gen. Cym. [Acc. No. A1998/137]

March 22, 1937...  I heard a Pied Wagtail singing quite a good song and saw a rather battered small tortoiseshell flying about

Dyddiadur EHT Bible, Llyf. Gen. Cym. [Acc. No. A1998/137]

March 22, 1937...  I heard a Pied Wagtail singing quite a good song and saw a rather battered small tortoiseshell flying about

Dyddiadur EHT Bible, Llyf. Gen. Cym. [Acc. No. A1998/137]

March 24, 1937... two Ringed Plovers at Trefri and heard Greenshank there

Dyddiadur EHT Bible, Llyf. Gen. Cym. [Acc. No. A1998/137]

March 29, 1937... Miss Pat Hill tells me that the Ravens nest in Llyfnant Valley contains 3 young

April 11, 1937 .... a Holly Blue in my back garden

April 14, 1937 Ist Queen Wasp

April 23, 1937... dead Puffin on beach. It was oiled.  

April 24, 1937 heard whimbrels and common sandpipers passing in the night

April 26, 1937 heard and saw cuckoo. It was heard yesterday on the other side

April 29, 1937 1st Orange tip Butterfly

April 30, 1937  1st Small Copper

May 2, 1937...about a dozen Holly Blues

6/1. Snow came at daybreak but did not stay here.... there would be about  2 inches lying all day

Considerable rain during the night. Most of snow on the hills opposite washed away. 4GBB Gulls, Kingfisher, 2 Goldeneye.

There were heavy gales of rain and hail in the night

The water in the estuary is very discoloured. The weather is rather mild for January.

Yellow crocus. A rather fine day with lots of sunshine. It was light until 5 pm and there was a good blood red sunset: by Abertafol 70 pintails, 24 shelduck, and by Nant y Glo about 50 Mallard.… I was able to do some useful garden work after many blank days.

2 Snowdrops. It was milder and calmer and although not quite as much sunshine as yesterday it was a softer air, yet drying up nicely and was able to do more gardening – quite a lot of forking over