Don't forget...

...in all the Pink Stink excitement about the search for a Cattle Egret...cos now there is one in Glamorgan!!!! And it's in a sheep field, so just about any livestock will do. I'm off to buy me a sheep and plonk it in my garden, it's gotta work, hasn't it?

Rose-coloured Starling

The 1st w. present today at Portfield, Haverfordwest.

Excellent selection of photos from Lyndon,-- look at all of them!
Some show unmoulted juvenille feathers ( 1 covert, 1 secondary on one wing, 2 secondaries on the other wing) ;- the clinching feathers to see to age as 1st winter. Text book stuff.

Rose Coloured Starling

Some great photos of the Rose Coloured Starling taken by Lyndon yesterday can be seen here.

Angle & Bosherston

Like John (below) I also went to Angle (The Lodge) this morning but contrived to miss him and in the process the Red Necked Grebe! Some consolation in the form of the Black Necked Grebe close in which I finally managed to Photograph after several visits. This bird is also showing signs of summer plumage.

Later at Bosherston 7 Red Head Goosanders and 2 Little Egrets the only birds of note. Plenty of bird song in the woods with at least 3 different GS Woodpeckers drumming. Further pics here.

Surprise at Angle Bay

J without M. I visited Angle Bay this morning alone, and feeling more adventurous than usual I walked the entire coastline, twice, there and back. The sea was like a millpond....no wind with weak sunshine. Count as follows:- Great Northern Diver 2, Great Crested Grebe 2, Little Egret 1, Heron 2, Shelduck 35, Wigeon 58, (no sign of Yank), Teal 8, Mallard 4, Oystercatcher 64+, Dunlin c130, Barwit 24, Curlew 120+, Redshank 58, Greenshank 1, Turnstone 32.

Bird of the day was a Red-necked Grebe in full summer plumage, preening close off Sawdern Point. Wow!

Apart from 16 Com Gulls and the same number of Black-headed there were few gulls about.

Also of note - 16 Fieldfare looking very dapper in sunshine feeding on Kilpaison Burrows.

Rose-coloured Starling -- Haverfordwest

Portfield-- Haverfordwest, 1000;-

The 1st w. showing well this am., usual site & viewing instructions.

Lyndon met with the finder & intial identifier of the bird, Jacqui Watson this early this am. Photos taken from her garden & will be published here later today.

Many Thanks Jacqui, for finding and identifying the bird, & informing the Pembs. Birds site for all to be able to enjoy. Many Thanks again!

Becoming the norm, our birds are attracting birders from afar! A delighted birder from Manchester was proclaiming his thanks to Lyndon this am, --- for a lifer.!!

Many thanks to Bob for adding the ageing "bit" from the ringing guide. Suprisingly BWP also states that adults bills can go partially yellow in winter too. Dave's points about the pale fringing of the coverts/flight feathers is mentioned in BWP, & that any fringing on an adults newly moulted flight feathers would have worn off by now, leaving the flight feathers completely glossy black.
We look forward to the photos to help the discussion. There will not be any attempt made to catch the bird.

Sturnus roseus

Unfortunately midway between winter and spring and the picture is of the rear view only, but from what has been said, I would think David is right it seems a young bird.

Lars Svensson ID Guide to European passerines does not appear to use bill colour as an age/sex criteria. Both ads and juvs have complete moult by winter (he says most in Oct/Nov).

Adult male in autumn - all wing feathers and coverts blackish with strong blue-green gloss. When in active moult, unmoulted WF are about as dark as new and lack the pale edges of juv feathers. In spring plumage, much as autumn but pink of back and rump revealed through wear - generally no brown tips left by March.

Ad female blackish-brown WF and wing C with some gloss. Ad fem. spring much as autumn but pink of belly revealed. Pink of upper-parts shows partially esp on rump, but at least some brownish tips present on mantle through May.

1Y male wing feathers edged pale. After completion of moult become very difficult to separate from ad female, but keep odd juv secondaries or juv alula covert through winter.

Separated from 1Y female by presence of pure pink basally on belly (a tricky thing to see I guess if not in the hand!).

2Y male very similar to ad female. Centre of throat often with some off-white feather bases visible (I guess also seen by blowing them!).

2Y fem. like 2Y male though duller and virtually without any pure pink at all. Hind-neck dull brown-grey, not blackish or black with gloss.

Seems to be most likely a young bird but for some features clearly need to be seen at very close range. You'll have to catch it Richard I guess!

Great Grey Shrike

The Shrike was present at Ty Rhyg 7.45am, close to the gate. 2x Water Rails and 2x Cetti's W. Goodwick Moor pm.

Llys-y-fran RBG

I briefly had the very mobile Ring-billed Gull with a large group of Lesser Black-backs on the deserted picnic site at 14:30, the Black-throated Diver's still present and there were at least two Iceland Gulls, a very interesting adult with dark grey wingtips close up on the shore and a light immature flew in around 16:00.

Iceland Gulls at Llys-y-fran Resr.

Tonight at Llys-y-fran 6 Iceland gulls were at the roost.

2 1st yr (dark birds) had been present either on the water or in the field since c1500.
Then as birds came in to roost there were also 2nd year birds at both ends of the flock.
2 1st year (light birds) were also on the water.

The Blk. Thd. Diver & Blk.nd. Grebe were both showing well from the waterside.
There was also a pair of Gt.Ctd.Grebes nest-building on the end of the point.

Paul G., Mervyn J., & Richard D.

Rose-coloured Starling - Haverfordwest

The 1st w. Rose - coloured Starling showing well this morning, directions as below.
(Paul G. et al.)

Fishguard

Outer Breakwater;-
3 Purple Sands. this morning, also 2 Red. Td.Divers 2 Ringed Plover & a few Razorbills & Guillemots all presumably non breeding birds as showing little sign of breeding plumage.

Pen Anglas;-
Very quiet, still present the Linnet flock, but nos. reduced to c40 birds.

Sturnus roseus

Paul contacted me earlier about the ageing of the Rosy Pastor (Rose-coloured Starling!). Going purely on the single pic posted by Rich, I would think it's a first-winter based on the quite yellowish bill (a juvenile feature) and the pale tips to the greater coverts - although I guess juveniles would undertake a complete post-juvenile moult (?- certainly head & body in this case), the newer wing feathers I don't believe would show pale tips in adult winter, certainly not in February. Please add to the discussion if you can (I'm sure the ringers out there can add plenty)!

Llangloffan Fen and another spring-like day

A beautiful day and so pleased to be out of the office for a precious couple of hrs. Two Cettis singing well, and at least 3 willow tits in song as well.

My first sand martins of the year (2) flew west up the valley from the Heathfield direction just before lunch.

No sign of the wintering tree sparrow today. No water rails heard either (usually seen/heard every time I come here in winter) so possibly they have also gone?

Whilst having my lunch at the Baptistry, a plump, immature male goshawk (heavily marked teardrops etc) swooped into the fen in front of me, as I sat on the steps at the Pont Llangloffan Bridge. It hurtled, low into the fen - and swung along the boardwalk - chasing jackdaws and pigeons etc, causing total panic and mayhem as it dashed through.

NB if you are wondering what the new earth bank is on the roadside, we are creating a lay-by (parking zone). Being constructed by PCC Highways. So it should be a bit easier and safer for visitors to the NNR to park here in future. The scar will heal eventually.

More on Fulmars

I have received the following info from Greg Morgan (RSPB warden) on Ramsey Island which he has asked me to 'post' re movements of Fulmars in relation to time at the ledges.

"My experience of observing fulmar behaviour on Ramsey over the past 3 winters is as follows:
Following an absence from the ledges from around mid September to early November for post breeding moult, they are generally present on the ledges throughout the winter. These spells are, however, punctuated by periods of absence for up to 2 weeks at times (e.g 1-15 Dec 07 they were completely absent but present for the remainder of the month). On average over the past 3 years, the periods of January to March has seen them present for c. 22 days of each month. Periods of very rough weather will usually account for their absence but so will periods of prolonged calm. Established high pressure systems often see them disappear, such as we had in mid Feb of this year. Although Lyndon recorded them in good numbers at the start of this period, they soon disappeared for around a week once the good spell became prolonged and only returned a few days ago once the weather broke.

Interestingly, we have been recording some as staying on the ledges all night at the colony outside the farmhouse recently. According to BWP this is something they only do once they have eggs or chicks, spending the night at sea during winter."

Rose - coloured Starling

Rose-coloured Starling -- Haverfordwest.;-

There is a 1 w.(?) Rose - coloured Starling currently residing around the houses of Portfield opposite the Tesco's entrance. The bird was viewed today by walking down the drive to the playing field, next to the telephone box opposite the Portfield Chinese Take-away. The bird appears on top of the hedge there bordering the playing field.

The bird has been in the area for about a week.
For anyone looking for this bird, please respect neighbours privacy. There are also Junior schools nearby, please avoid the area when children are going/leaving the schools.

Fulmars

To continue the fulmar thread, about 2 weeks ago I counted 25 on ledges at Nolton Haven (all on the north facing cliff) - no idea if this is comparable to previous years though.

Fulmars etc

Just a quick add on, during half term I was lucky enough to go around Ramsey a few times. There were tremendous numbers of both Fulmars and Guillemots on the traditional breeding sites. But, they do come and go at this time of year.

Fulmars

Noted Sam's comments with interest. Fulmars down here at Stackpole and Castlemartin coast can be found on cliff ledges some days, yet on others they are away feeding - much like other seabirds at this time of year. Often though they are not far offshore flying around and feeding. There were reasonable numbers on ledges on Saturday, yet the previous day the same ledges were empty!

It is also likely that at older, longer established colonies, adults may stay generally longer at the colony throughout the year, where as at newer, younger colonies they may be away from ledges more often outside the breeding season. It is also likely that the older established breeders are more likely to be around the colonies at this time of year.

From long-term annual counts on the Castlemartin coast, the summering fulmar population down here (although numbers fluctate a bit each day during the summer) is certainly regularly lower now than it used to be a few years ago and is probably declining a bit each year.

Perhaps colonies up your way are newish ones, or are in trouble too? It is still rather early in the season to be sure, but it might be useful to keep an eye on the situation this summer. I am not aware of any recent/regular summer seabird counts up your way, to compare with which is a pity.

Wheatear -- Marloes

Wheatear;
Last Thursday 21st Feb. reported by Graham R. at Marloes Mere.
The earliest record by 4 days.

Ringtail

Yesterday (Sunday) at 5 pm I had superb views of the local Ringtail hunting over the fields and marshes just behind our house (the marshes are just north of Mullock Bridge). Managed a 3 bird-of-prey binocular view at one stage with Ringtail, Buzzard and a slightly miffed Kestrel. Shame the Barn Owl didn't come out to play too.

Re Fulmars: I have seen them for some weeks now on their ledges at at St Brides and at Littlehaven.

Rosemary

Newport Mon am - high tide

4 little egrets, a(the?) grey plover with 24 dunlin, 11 ringed plovers & 5 turnstones. Only 9 curlews & 6 oystercatchers but still 13 redshanks. 5 shelducks but the wigeon down to 9. 1 ad med gull with the very excitable bhgs. & a sparrowhawk.

2 supplementary queries.
1. Where are the fulmars? They should have been on the cliffs for weeks now, but I haven't seen any this year.
2. I always ask blogger to remember me but it never does. Tips anyone?

Llys y Fran Res

Ring Billed Gull Adult
Black Throated Diver 1
Goldeneye 2 pairs
Great Crested Grebe 10
Peregrine 1 male

Dowrog

Late afternoon by St David's tip 1xSEOwl and then on the Dowrog 3xSEOwl in the air at the same time on different parts of the Common which, may or may not, have included the bird seen by the tip. Also 1xRingtail

2007 Pembrokeshire Records

A final prompt to all those who have not submitted your 2007 records yet - the barn door is about to be closed - final deadline 1st March.

The following are still outstanding:
J. Bennett, C. Benson, RH Davies, Donovans, S. Earle, R & C. Ellis, C. Greyall, JE Hodges, P. Howe, P. Tithecott, GJ Walker, M. Young-Powell.
B. & A Haycock, SJ Sutcliffe & P. Jenks (some in via Birdtrack).

Many thanks to the vast majority who have already submitted theirs.

We hope to have the Bird Report out early May.

Any photos and sketches gratefully received.

Many thanks again.

Jon G.

Great Grey Shrike Ty-rhyg

The shrike showing today. Directions as below.
(Janet A. & Adrian.R)

The Gann

Fabulous evening! the setting sun as a backlight provided good views of the shoreline with the incoming tide, pushing everything up towards us.
6 Meds, 5 adults (1 with bright green on left leg ) 1 +1st winter.
good numbers B/H Gulls / Common gulls.
14 Brents, 4 Grey plovers, 13 Dunlin, 1 Knot, 1 Snipe, Goldeneye, Curlew, Redshank, Oysterscatchers.
Earlier at Sandyhaven as I drove past, 1 Little egret, 1 Greenshank.
As yet no Cattle egrets anywhere - just a matter of time!

The End of The World & on the way back.

A rare day out for 3 Pembs. Birders
Dave, Paul & I had an excellent days late winter birding today... going north for a change.

World's End, Denbigh;-
After some initial, distant, brief views in a tree then in flight of 3 male Black Grouse, & 1 female; we had a party on the horizon of no less than 18 males...unbelievable, a number none of us had imagined that we could see.!!
We also saw 4 Red Grouse in this moorland part of North Wales.
Plenty of Siskins & Crossbills around the trees.

Dolgellau;-
2 churchyards visited, 1 female Hawfinch seen at one, but near the 2nd site incredible views of 13 Hawfinches perched on top of some bare bushes, preening & looking stunning, particularly the breeding plumage males.

On the way back;-
a look for a reported Gt. White Egret nr. Newtown, but only 2 Little Egrets & a pair of Goosander the highlights. Plenty of Red Kites in the air, on the way to Newquay, but by the time we arrived most gulls had left the fish factory to go to roost.

Red legged partridge

Returning from an early morning stroll at Marloes, 1 red leg partridge on the road between Mabbs gate & Mullock bridge

Castlemartin Range 23rd Feb

Did my last tetrads in this area for this winters atlas: Wader roost at Bluckspool/Frainslake/Furzenips included 110 dunlin, 57 oycs, 20 grey plover (including a one-legged adult that has been here all winter), 2 knot, several ringed plovers, 75 curlew.

Most choughs are back on territory though a couple of Linney Head pairs are still missing. Ravens on territory and at least one nest has a sitting female.

Two merlins (a female nr Bluckspool, and an imm male on St Govan's Hd)
Woodcock flushed from cover nr St Govan's car park.

No sand martins yet but Peter Hughes (MoD/Landmark staff and a real Castlemartin wildlife stalwart) has made a sand martin pole colony nesting barrel. This is being erected overlooking Frainslake Millpond close to where sand martins have nested before in low natural dune cliffs, but here they get predated by foxes. So fingers crossed for success at a more secure artificial site!

Masses of otter spraint along the coast with fresh otter foot-prints on the beach - otters here are feeding in the sea in this area quite a lot now.

Teifi

High tide roost on the spit early this morning - 42 Dunlin, 22 Ringed Plover (more then recently), 2 Turnstone and a Sanderling. By the boatshed only 6 Wigeon and 22 Curlew.

Quick look late afternoon - The pair of Mergansers are back and one adult Med.

Bosh Lakes and coast Stackpole Quay to Fresh East

Bosh Lake winter waterfowl numbers declining quite quickly now but 105 coot, 20 goldeneye (5 males displaying), 2 little egrets and 12 goosander are still present. Among 650-700 large gulls dropping in to the Central lake to bathe from nearby fields were some 600-650 herring gulls. If the juvs are excluded the number of adults in this flock was probably equal to the entire breeding population between Stackpole Head and Elegug Stacks. No unusual gulls were noted.

A small feeding flock of yellowhammers continue to feed near Merrion Army camp (they have been here since at least Christmas).

Spring is definitely in the air: at Lodge Park Blackcap and chiffchaff singing,
at Stackpole Quay Oystercatcher pair mating and female was making a nest scrape - in FEBRUARY! A ravens nest has its first egg (also a bit early). Many skylarks on territory - males actively displaying.

Offshore a red-throated diver (more or less in summer plumage);

preseli woodlands

spent the last 2 days putting up Kestrel nestboxes in Ty Rhyg, Pant Maenog and Coed Glynaeron. Interestingly only one party of Crossbills was encountered during the time, a flock of 9 in Glynaeron. Compensation was had with cracking views of the Shrike in Ty Rhyg which landed right next to the car. Other birds of note were a merlin, 2 red kites, 16 Redpolls (Ty Rhyg), 35 Siskins, 70 Chaffinches, 4 Goldfinches and 3 Woodcock (Glynaeron).

Mid-Pembs, & the Teifi.

Paul & I visited the following sites this pm, generally without success.(We should have gone to Llys-y-fran! )
Little Milford, Rosemarket Water Treatment Plant, Landstadwell,
Castle Pill;- here we had a Greenshank.
Milford Docks;- no interesting gulls, we did watch a Peregrine circling & eyeing up something for c10 mins above the building signed Torch Theatre.

Hook to Fowborough Point;- for the roost at high tide this evening:
2 flocks of Golden Plover each c300 birds, c200 Lapwing, c1000 Dunlin came in to roost in c5 flocks, 2 turnstone with one of them. 9 Pintail still, males looking superb! 1 Gt. Ctd Grebe, No gull or geese roost, & low nos. of Wigeon, Teal.
Paul G. & Richard D.

Teifi this am;-
On the Patch, 2 Sanderling, 6 Ringed Plover, 6 Dunlin & 45 Wigeon still.
In the estuary 220 Lapwing with c40 Dunlin that currently associate with them.
Jewsons;- The usual pair(colour-ringed) of Mute Swans nest building today, well the female was, next to the footpath --able to reach dogs on leads as they are walked past. This pair actually hatched their young from this nest last year only to lose them later.

Angle

At Kilpaison this morning - Barwit 35, Knot 65, Dunlin 300+, Ringed Plover 20, a few Curlew and Redshank. Wigeon c.20.
Round at The Lodge fairly quiet with 15 Wigeon including the American Wigeon, 1 female Shoveller, 20 Shelduck, 6 Great Crested Grebes, 4 Little Egrets.

Llys-y-fran resr.

Records for yesterday, Thurs. 21/03/2008;-
At the resr. this pm, the ad. Ring-billed Gull, 3 Iceland gulls ( 1*2w, 2*1w) & a 2w Yellow-legged Gull. Also the Blk.Thd. Diver & Blk. Nkd. Grebe still. 3 Goosanders (1m), 6 Wigeon, 3 Shoveler & 2 Red Kites overhead!
(Paul G.)
What other passage birds will pass through this resevoir?.. this Spring?
Last year on the 11th March we saw our 1st Sand Martins here!
For birds seeing/crossing the Presellis the resr. must be an attraction for some species.
Who expected it to draw a Great Grey Shrike!

Teifi;-
Common Sand at Jewsons, also the Sanderling is still present amongst the Dunlin at the Patch, & 5 Knot in the estuary.
A walk onWednesday upstream at low tide, from the railings across the saltmarsh to a point opp. St. Dogmaels disappointingly only produced a small flock(6) of Rock Pipits.

Grey Partridge

Record via e mail from John Morgan - of 12 Grey Partridges in a field close to Bethesda on 2o February.

Penberry pond

Amongst the Wgeon and Mallard a pair of Tufted duck, 1xFemale Shoveler and a Goldeneye. Loads of bathing gulls but no white wingers

The Gann, 19th February evening

The gull roost was excellent as a local farmer is ploughing and attracting large numbers of gulls. estimated 2,700 BHG and c.200 Common Gulls and could find 5 adult Med Gulls (using binoculars only). 4 Goosander offshore and 155 Oystercatchers on the roost.

Only 1 Littel Egret and 7 Brent Geese.

Llys-y-fran and area

The Black Throated Diver continues to give astoundingly close views by the boat shed at Llys-y-fran. See further photos at the end of the gallery here.

At Ty Rhug the Great Grey Shrike was again showing well (but not close enough for photos!).

At Glynaeron no sign of Crossbills but hundreds of Chaffinches at the top of the track and a Woodcock in the pines.

Gulls - 10 species in one day!

Monday 18th;--
Llys-y-fran resr;-
Prior to the gull roost, the Bk.Td. Diver & Bk.Nd. Grebe were seen, also a pair of Wigeon & 3 Shelduck joining the latest list of recent passage birds there. What next??

Gulls ; 3 Iceland Gulls(2*1w, 1*2w), the ad. Ring-billed Gull & a Yellow-legged Gull, amongst the commoner species.(Paul G.)

Teifi;- from the "Gull View Point", (past the last house from St.Dogmaels before going down the hill to the Webley).
The ad. Glaucous Gull & 1* ad. Med Gull. amongst the commomer species.
Also 1 m.Merlin.
(Arfon W. & Richard D.)

Great grey shrike

Although quite some distance from us the Shrike showed really well this afternoon at Ty Rhug.

It does use the whole of the site and at times is very mobile and can be elusive also.

Angle Bay & Jack Snipe

I picked out the American Wigeon as it flew in to join c.60 Eurasians, 50+ Oystercatchers, c.40 Shelduck, 25+ Bar-tailed Godwits and c.90 Curlews at high tide in front of the Lodge. I got back to Fishguard while it was still light and as if that wasn't enough a Jack Snipe flushed below the allotments at Pen Anglas at 17:00 wasn't quite the same level of scarcity but it was self-found!

Gann/Dale

Gann: 14 Brents
Dale gull roost: 15 Med Gulls (13 ads, 1 2ndW, 1 1stW) - lots of small gulls scattered across the mill pond-esque bay prior to dusk so well worth a look.

Purple Sandpipers

The annual Pembrokeshire Bird Group walk on the Fishguard Harbour outer breakwater today was held in glorious sunny weather. 15 or so turned out and were treated to excellent views of 3 Purple Sandpipers which seemed to be enjoying the sun themselves. More pics here. A couple of Red Throated Divers and 2 Ringed Plovers were also seen.

A few went on to see the Great Grey Shrike at Ty Rhug which was showing well late afternoon.

Teifi Gull-fest !

The Teifi Gull festival continues - tonight (Sunday) there were 4 Meds (2 adults, neither of which were ringed, a 2nd W and a 1at W) and an adult Glaucous Gull (at around 3.30pm before heading off out to sea).
Also present the wintering Common Sandpiper opposite St. Dogs slipway and 4 Little Egrets.

So in the last 8 days there have been 8 different "white-wingers" on the Teifi (ad & 1st W Iceland, ad Glauc and 5 Meds (3ads, 2nd w & 1st W) - surely a site record !!

Nevern

1xDrake Shovellor above the Iron Bridge

Teifi & St. Brides Bay

Teifi;
3 Med. Gulls tonight , 1*2w, 2* ad.'s, 1 with white colour-ring.
1 Common sandpiper opp. St. Dogmaels quay.
5 knot, 3 Bar-tail Godwits & 6 Ringed Plover from the railings.

Broad haven;- 1 Gt.N & 1 Rd.Td. Divers & 40 Common Scoter.
Newgale;- 1 Rd.Td Diver
Penycwm;- 1 Rd.Td. Diver & 1 ad. Med. Gull nearly summer plumage.
(Paul G.)

Butterflies;
As we birders look at butterflies too! I noticed on the Portland web-site that they have had 3 different Large Tortoiseshells this past few days! One of these would be a good find!

Iceland gull and Shrike

Teifi,early morning : Lucky to find the adult Iceland on the sand near The Webley - there werent many other gulls around so it was easy to spot. Watched it fly off towards Newport.

Little Milford - 5 Barnacles, 11 Greylags, 108 Wigeon, 30 Teal, 2 Little Egrets ,loads of Redshank and Curlew and a Kingfisher. In the woods, large numbers of Redwing and Goldfinches.

Back up north to Ty Rhyg and had a good view of the Great Grey Shrike at last (3rd visit!).

Finally a couple of Med gulls on the Teifi. No sign of the Iceland by 4pm but we left Richard D. looking.

Ringtail

Ringtail hunting in the fields close to Mabbs gate at St Ishmaels around 4pm today, heading in the general direction of the Gann,no doubt 1 of the several birds seen recently in the area.

North Pembs

Teifi pm;-
1 ad. Iceland Gull & 1 ad. Med. Gull on the sand between the Webley & St. Dogmaels.
no sign of the Gadwall but 1 Shoveler (m) from the railings.. (Jon G.)

Rosebush Resr;- 1 pr Pochard today.(Adrian R.)

Fishguard outer b/w;- 3 Purple Sandpipers.

Goodwick Moor;- 1 "tristis" calling chiffchaff.

Black Redstart

f./imm. Black Redstart at Pwllgwaelod nr Dinas at lunchtime today.

Great Grey Shrike - Ty-rhug

Ty-rhug;- G.G.Shrike showing well this am, (Clive J.)

Teifi;- 1pr. Gadwall from the railings, --good record for the north.
5 Knot, 4 Bar-tail Godwits, c85 Dunlin, c300 Lapwing, 27 Shelduck, c60 Wigeon, c40 Teal, c70 Curlew, 25+ Redshank around the estuary.

Newport beach;- 1 Gt.Cd. Grebe offshore.

Westerly Goshawk

13th Feb - Goshawk over Midland. Could be a first for the island records!!

Still around 300 Lapwings around Sandy Haven too.

G.G.Shrike -- Ty-rhug clearfell. & N. Pembs.

The Great Grey Shrike showing well late am until 1300 at least at Ty-rhug clearfell.(Paul G.)

Rosebush resr;- pr Willow Tit,(yesterday),pr. Gt.Ctd. Grebe, 3 Tufted, 4 Goldeneye, & 1 "sinensis" Cormorant-- (gular patch - vertical).

Newport;-
1 Grey Plover, 4 Little Egrets, c35+Wigeon, 25+Dunlin, c20 Ringed Plover, & a Grey Seal feeding by the iron bridge --the highlight.
Teifi;-
1 Bar-tail Godwit, c80 Dunlin, c300 Lapwing & 1 Common Sandpiper(Jewsons).

Weds 13th

Dipped the Shrike but had the bonus at the site of a Red Kite and a second Winter male hen harrier - of which I have long distance pictures

Another trip south

Paul G & I did a grand tour yesterday, highlights included:
Angle Bay - American Wigeon (in front of the Point House Inn)
Bosherston - 10 Goosander (including an adult male), Blackcap
Trefloyne Ponds - Cetti's Warbler & Woodcock
Amroth - 3 Red-throated Diver & numerous scoter, mainly distant
Llys-y-fran - adult Ring-billed Gull, adult Yellow-legged Gull, 1st & 2ndW Iceland Gulls, Black-necked Grebe (showing really well) & Black-throated Diver

A Trip South

Angle Bay
American Wigeon
Black Necked Grebe
Little Egret 2

Dale
Med Gull 1 Ad winter 3 1 winter
Little Egret 6+
Brent Geese 7
Goldeneye 3 m 7 f

St Brides
few gulls
Little Egret 1

Carregwastad

I saw a Merlin twisting and turning after a Rock Pipit which dived into a crevice to escape at 14:45.

Shrike & Llys-y-fran

The Great Grey Shrike showed well at Ty Rhug today at around 4.30pm, at one point on a dead branch with a Great Spooted Woodpecker - what a pic that would have made!

Also an excellent roost at Llys-y-fran: adult Ring-billed Gull, juv/1stW Iceland Gull, and a county record 5 Yellow-legged Gulls (3 ads, 4thW, 2ndW). Paul had also seen the Black-throated Diver & the Black-necked Grebe.

Llys-y-fran

Lovely day at Llys-y-fran - but alas no Pacific Diver (we missed it again by a few days just like last year!). There was a Black Necked Grebe and excellent views of the Black Throated Diver which was some compensation. And if we'd only read the Blog before we went we could have popped up the road afterwards for a Great Grey Shrike!

St.Davids Airfield

About 60 Fieldfares and 2 Merlins on the airfield this morning and a Chiff Chaff in full song on the old bomb site .

Great grey shrike

Waited at Ty Rhug from 11.45 until 3pm to see the Shrike, which then showed on and off for about 20 minutes.

Cleddau

Early morning (freezing) boat trip up the Cleddau in wonderful calm sunny conditions. Got up as far as Black Pool Mill on the high tide where 3 Common Sandpipers and a Dipper plus 2 Greylags flying over where the highlight. At Sprinkle Pill plenty of Curlew, Oystercatchers and a few Grey Plover and Knot, also a Red Throated Diver.

In the fields by Beggars Reach 500+ Golden Plover and 100+Lapwing.

Tenby / Bosherston

Message received via e mail from Steve Thomas - Black redstart on the old Tenby lifeboat station around midday Saturday
Black necked grebe and about 20 goldeneye on Boshesrston Lily Ponds around late morning Monday

Martin's Haven, Marloes Mere, Sandy Haven 9-10 February

Sandy Haven
5 buzzards all soaring together.
Flock of 300+ lapwing roosting on the banks of the Pill as the tide went out. Also 6 little egrets (sorry, no Cattles), redshank, 20+ curlew, 30 wigeon. 1 woodcock flew over at c.1800 in the dusk.

Martin's Haven/Deer Park
Flock of 10 chough
Several pairs of ravens.
40+ lapwings feeding on field to S. of NT car park.
1 male merlin flew fast & low over the road towards Marloes. The rufous underside was really obvious in the wonderful light.
3 skylarks all soaring over the Deer Park, female chaffinch, 5 song thrush, 1x female Kestrel, rock pipits.
First palmate newts in the ponds and found in the wet grass.
2x gannets, 2-3 guillemots, 1x shag and several seals off Wooltack

Marloes Mere
Teal, c.30 wigeon, 50+ shoveller, mallard, 1x female dabchick, 2x moorhen, 40+ canada geese, stonechat

Mid Pembs

Great Grey Shrike on view at Ty Rhug this morning and again around 3:30pm. Mike YP also reports c.9 Crossbill and plenty of Siskin up in the conifers there as well as Goshawk.

At Llys-y-fran late morning no sign of the Pacific but the Black Throated again around the fish pens by the dam.

Glynaeron 4 Crossbills.

Broad Haven

On the sea;- 2 Grt. N. Divers, 5 Rd.Td. Divers, c50 Common Scoter.
The attractive male Black Redstart in Wilson Meadow off Puffin way still.(Paul G.)

Great Grey Shrike -- Ty - Rhug SN 055295

Ty - Rhug is just south of the New Inn cross-roads on the H'west to Cardigan road.

Seen again by Mike until c930 this am, we watched the bird until c1245 & still showing from gate to clearfell area, early pm (Steve B.)

Jon & I walked down the track through the clearfell area & did not see the bird. -as people y'day.
We did see the bird to the south of the track when we had returned to our cars left at the locked gate. The shrike was active moving between perches always showing well but reasonably distant.
We suggest that a thorough scan from the gate across the clearfell area is the best way of finding the bird. looking either to the north of the track - where Mike picks it up, or south of the track where showing for us.

As we keep being asked if it is the Llys-y-fran bird, on the map it is 5 km from the inlet where we saw it at the resr. to Ty - Rhug.

Dale area

At least 21 Mediterranean Gulls at Dale late afternoon, a nice low tide so plenty of space for gulls - 17 adults, a 2ndW and 3 1stWs. At least 6 of the adults were ringed - 3 with green, 1 white, and 2 just metal. Didn't manage to read any of them! With a bit more patience, and a coat, it would have been possible.

At Sandy Haven, 6 Little Egrets (3 on the river, 3 in the field with cattle) and 2 Greenshank. Keep your eyes peeled at white things in fields, it's surely only a matter of time.....then I said that back at the beginning of January so what do I know.

Ty Rhug (am)

A Great grey Shrike showing well about 10am in clearfell area and scrubby area north of path. Also a f. Goshawk and Siskins.

Teifi and Rosebush

Just after high tide all of the birds that are usually scattered around the estuary were squashed together on a sandbank opp, St Dogs slipway including 6 Knot, 1 Barwit,c 40Dunlin, 16Shelduck, Teal,Wigeon,Canada Geese and a few hundred Lapwing trying to find space to land. A Shag was preening on the sand by the Webley.
Later down to Ty rhyg forest near Rosebush to look for the Great Grey Shrike that had been spotted this morning, but no luck. Crossbills still in Glynaeron and Redpolls had been seen there earlier as well.

Angle Area

Castlemartin Corse - 600+Golden Plover, 700+ Lapwing, 35 Curlew, 30 Shoveller and 3 Pintail.

The Lodge, Angle Bay - American Wigeon, Black Necked Grebe, Greenshank (click on photo for larger pic).

Back in St Florence 5 Chiffchaffs at the sewerage plant (probably been there most of the winter).

Sandyhaven/Egrets

Still searching for the elusive Cattle egret, I now understand Dave`s theory, there were 2 Little egrets (witha few B/H/Gulls) in with a small herd of beef cattle, somehow cattle egrets would not have looked out of place. I remember the first Little egrets I saw on the Axe estuary in E Devon not so long ago (12yrs?) now they`re everywhere! The next breeding bird perhaps?

North Pembs. -- Round -up.

Fishguard;- -LOOKS GOOD FOR BIRD GROUP VISIT NEXT W/E--SEE PROGRAMME FOR MEET TIME.

Outer Breakwater-- 6+ Purple Sands., 3 Red Thd. Divers, 1 imm.(prob.2w) Iceland Gull, 12 Common Scoter.
1 Comma butterfly, an immaculate example on the blocks that make up the b/w !
Flagpoles- 4 Gt. Ctd. Grebes 4 ( some diff. birds from y'day --so movement.)
2w. Med. Gull.
Stena side- roost time, 1 Black-Throated Diver.
Abermawr roost;- 2*ad. Med. Gulls
(Fishguard Bird Group)

Glynaeron Forest;- c15 Crossbills.
Ffynone;- viewing from the south, f. Goshawk.
nr. Pembs./ Carms. border;- 24 Red Kites.
Canaston bridge;- pr Dipper.
(Paul G. & Mervyn J.)


Teifi ;- pr. Red Btd.Mergansers, ad.Med. Gull, 1w Iceland Gull- seen from the railings.
Teifi marshes;- Firecrest nr. Kingfisher Hide.
(Jon G.)

A Red Admiral at the Manor, Newport this lunchtime.

Pen Anglas

I saw a Merlin perched on a fence post and then it flew inland at 13:30.

The Quest resumes.....

Checked out the potential Cattle egret field at Sandyhaven this afternoon, to no avail, just afew B/H/Gulls.
At Monkhaven later on there were 5 Chiffchaffs including the "tristis" & the churchyard produced 2 Goldcrests, 1 Grey wagtail & 1 Jay
Tomorrow? another look at Sandyhaven!

North Pembs.

Newport this am;-
1 ad. Med. gull & 1 Grey Plover the highlight.
Fishguard Harbour;-
4 Gt. Ctd. Grebes on 2nd visit then back to 1 later.
Heathfield G.P.;-
1 pr Goldeneye still.
Goodwick Moor;-
1 Firecrest still.(Adrian R.)
Teifi marshes;-
2 Cetti's singing tonight,
"wetland enhancement work" in progress here as well as Goodwick!.2 diggers & 2 dumper trucks moving waste out of the reedbed in front of mallard Hide. Looks like a large piece of water/scrape will be created here.

Goodwick Moor

I saw a Barn Owl float overhead in the lit up mist at 17:45.

North Pembs.

Teifi;- a quick visit, c750 Lapwing on the mud, 1 Gt. Cd. Grebe, 50+ Dunlin & a few Ringed Plover.
Newport;- 1 Grey Plover, c25 Dunlin, 7+ Ringed Plover, 2 Little Egrets.

Goodwick Moor;-
Work continues, Adrian discovered a new pond with a small island today.
Talking to Nathan, the WTO for the Reserve, the island will become a feature of the reserve, the easiest way of dealing with the solid material dug out to open up the pond & the channels. Contracters to remain on site now until next Weds.
A Stonechat recorded by Adrian, the first bird to visit this new feature.

January Round Up

The monthly round up for January 2008 - put together by Jon Green - is now on line, see link to right.

Teifi estuary

Late afternoon - 3 Barwits and the pair of mergansers were by the Webley.
The handy stepping stones over to the dunes have been washed away so not so easy to view the spit from the Pembs side of the estuary.

Ring-billed Gull ---- Llys-y-fran resr.

At c1330 RBA put out news of an Ad. Ring-billed Gull at Llys-y-fran.

The gull appeared again at about 1545. It presumably flew to fields then as it couldn't be found, but re-appeared again at 1650 on the water;- much the same pattern as last year.

The Pacific Diver, Black Throated Diver, & Black-necked Grebe all still present. Also Willow Tit(Paul G.)

At Glynaeron, 14+ Crossbills showing well this pm.

Llangwm & Hook

Yesterday, 5/02/2008;
Guilford Pill, Llangwm,
1. Spotted Redshank feeding along the banks, plenty of Redshank too. 1 ad. Med. Gull in with the other gulls roosting on an island as tide came in. A Brambling heard calling from a nearby garden.

End of Sprinkle Pill, viewing Hook Reach;
(park at East Hook farm & follow bridlepath/footpath around pill edge to point.)

Highlights;
Gt.N.& Red Td. Diver with a Gt.Cd.Grebe feeding on the open river.
27+ Pintail, 8+ Shoveler, c300+ Teal. 2 Greenshank amongst c100 Redshank.
As the gulls formed a roost 1 ad.w. Yellow-legged Gull, & 3 ad. Med. Gulls were picked out amongst the usual 5 species present!
As the Canada Geese came in too, 1 Snow Goose with them.

Paul G. & Richard D.

From St.David's to St. Dogmaels

Paul G. has been St. David's area;-
30 Wigeon & 4 Goldeneye still on Penberry, & 1 Merlin nearby at Berea. c350 Golden Plover south of Porthgain; --the roost at Dowrog didn't happen!

Gt.N.Diver in Fishguard Harbour, & an active pair of Dipper to see with a walk up the Gwaun from Lower Town bridge.(Steve & Adrian).

Teifi;- quiet, roosting at the Webley this evening -HT, 3 Bar-tail Godwits, 17+ Dunlin, 17+ Ringed Plover, 20 Oystercatcher. Off the Quay, 3 Little Grebe & 2 Little Egrets roosting in a field opposite.

Nr. one of the norths active sand quarries, a flock of 6 Yellowhammers was nice to see. A visit to the quarry produced only Meadow Pipits, but the face which Sand Martins used last year looks good for this year too -- & the "old" workings if L.R.P. will use quarries in Pembs.??

Teifi.

Very quiet, but did have the Common Sand. at Jewsons, c60 Wigeon at the Webley.

Various wanderings

Paul G & I had a bit of a tour around today, dodging showers, and managed the following:

Sandy Haven - 3 Little Egrets in a field with cattle (!), 2 Med Gulls (ad&2ndW) in a different field - the adult had a white ring on it's left leg but not read. It or another on the pill just after. No sign of any Spotted Redshanks on the pill, but lovely views of an otter fishing near the top end and then trotting off over the saltmarsh into the hedge on the E side.
Bicton Res - 7 Tufted Duck.
Gelliswick - a few gulls.
Milford Docks - a few gulls.
Castle Pill - Greenshank & Little Egret.
Llandstadwell - a few gulls!
Guildford Pill, Llangwm - Spotted Redshank (yey!)
Llangwm - adult Med Gull in sheep field with BHGs.

Later this afternoon I popped to Dale. 17 pale bellied Brents beside the pool, one sporting a ring on each leg: left yellow with black "P", right pale green with black "P" and a metal ring above (Richard could you submit this to your Brent contact? - cheers). Also 5 adult Med Gulls in the roost (which was scattered in 3 groups around Dale Roads) and to finish a lovely Barn Owl hunting just north from Mullock Bridge.

Golden Plover

100's again in fields around St Dogmaels this morning. Two years ago we often saw them on the sandbanks in the estuary but for some reason the Lapwing seem to go there now at low tide but not the Plovers.

Gulls & Waders

Spent the afternoon looking through gull flocks,
Llanstadwell; c25 B/H/Gulls, 6 Dunlin, 5 Common gulls 3 Redshank.
Blackbridge pill; 5 B/H Gulls
Milford docks c30 B/H Gulls
Sandyhaven 88 B/H Gulls, 1 Greenshank, 4 Redshank, 10 Common gulls, 18 Curlew, 25 Wigeon, 2 Little egrets.
St Ishmaels; 1 Kestrel
On the whole, quiet.

Sat am

At Millin Pill this morning there was a female Lesser Spotted Woodpecker associating with the Long-tailed Tit flock, and I'm pretty sure another was drumming but I couldn't see it to confirm. There was a definite Great Spot drumming nearby and compared to that there was a less vigorous and more even drum burst. Also at Millin were 4 Greenshank, 6 Snipe, 5 Little Egrets, 1 kIngfisher and a Stock Dove.

At Milford Docks there were very few gulls at all but a 2nd W Med Gull with a metal ring on its R leg was too far away to read any digits.

The finch field nr Hubberston still has 500+ chaffinches mostly female, and at least 3 Bramblings together with 41 Stock Doves.

I spent ages looking at the Chiffs at Monkhaven and I agree with Dave that one of them is surely a good candidate for Tristis, but I couldn't see a wing bar and it didn't say anything so still not sure.

Monk Haven

At least 8 Chiffchaffs today, 2 in the trees/bushes between the car park and the sewage works, and 6 on the sewage beds (luckily the gates were open, so could walk in and get good views). 2 very brown birds, and one brownish upperparts, dirty cheeks, and whitish underparts - not heard to call though. Well worth a look.

North Pembs.

Teifi;-
The pair of Red-breasted Mergansers out of the water resting on the sand outside the Webley Hotel. 2 Bar-tail Godwits feeding at St.Dogmaels Quay - I think are new.
Duck numbers down to c40 Teal,(excludes the Marshes) & c30 Wigeon.

Newport;- as quiet, c17+ Ringed Plover & 10 + Dunlin on the mud in a quick look.

A visit to Ceredigion;
To the fish processing factory at Newquay, produced sev. hundred Herring Gulls, & small nos. of the other regular gulls, --but no hoped for white-winged!

Carregwastad

300+ auks including both Guillemots and Razorbills flying into the west wind between 14:00 and 16:30.

Pacific Diver at Llys-y-fran Resr.

The Pacific Diver showing from around the hide, late this pm was swimming into the roosting gulls.
We are not aware that the Black-throated Diver has been seen today.
The Black-necked Grebe present, late pm off the point between the arms.

In the gull roost tonight, 2 Med. Gulls (1*ad. & 1*1w.) the only birds of note.
The female Pochard still present, & a Red Kite around the car park at c1600.

Teifi, midday;- pr. Red-breasted Mergansers & 2 Gt. Ctd. Grebes.

Pen Anglas;- 1 Woodcock flew in off sea, & the large Linnet flock still present.

Newport;- back home a quick look in an old building this morning found a Barn Owl roosting. They nested successfully last year in this building, but no birds have been present over the winter.

New garden bird!

Whilst having lunch yesterday (31st) a Ring-tail flew over the garden (at Orlandon near St Brides) heading towards Marloes Mere into a strong westerly wind - fantastic! This must be the bird that has been around the Peninsula for most of the winter - we have seen it once or twice but not from the garden before. There has also been a Barn Owl hunting over the marshes most nights and one or two Chiffchaffs in the garden. At Littlehaven earlier in the week there were three Great Spots drumming at the same time and Song Thrushes in full voice - as Paddy said, very springlike.

Rosemary