Y Tywyddiadur

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