Northern Headlands

I saw a Merlin cruise over Pen Anglas and inland at 13:30 and at Strumble Head at 18:00 nothing for comparison but three not so big Canada G...

Migrants and a Green Woodpecker

Records via e mail : Sunday 30th, we saw one kite being harassed by a crow between Narberth and Clynderwen. Two wheatears near Rosebush, on...

Migrants today

Cwm-yr- Eglwys;- Willow Warbler this am. (Steve B.) St. David's Hd & area;- 15 Willow Warbler, 1 Blackcap, Chiff's, c20 Goldcres...

Strumble Head

I saw the same or a similar looking (it is LIGHT) immature Iceland Gull fly west past the lookout at 17:30, at 17:00 a Merlin cruising in th...

Strumble, Preselis & Over the Border

At Glynaeron early afternoon 4 Crossbills and at Ty Rhyg the Great Grey Shrike still present. Records via e mail - Strumble Head - Saturday ...

Red kite

1 Red kite approx 1 mile north of Newport at 3pm

The Gann -- Ring-billed Gull

A good walk around the Gann late morning found the 1w. Ring-billed Gull on the lagoon with a 1s. Med. & Common & Black-headed Gulls....

summer gets closer

Along Tenby South beach and in the dunes behind, there were quite a few summer migrants this afternoon despite the crowds. At least a dozen ...

Teifi marshes

Early this morning around the marsh 3 Cetti's, at least 10 Chiffs and c50 Sand Martins. Good variety of residents singing and nesting too.

That hybrid finch (goldfinch x canary)

Thanks to Steve and Lyndon, for casting an eye over the image. I have passed your comments on to the folk who caught it and were seeking vie...

Dale

Went down to Dale in the pooring rain early evening, nearly a waste of time as there was barely a gull there, but I did count 8 Great-creste...

Farthest South

Castemartin Range;- I went down to The range to help Paddy put up 3 more Kestrel nestboxes this am, Whilst we were going between the sites ...

Hybrid finch

As Steve said it was and to some extent still is common to find people crossing Finches with Canaries. The CanaryxGolfinch cross in partic...

Swallow

Sighting from Mark Wilson via email - There was a Swallow at Strumble head on Thursday 27th at about lunchtime......but I only saw the one.

Hybrid Finch

Just seen the photo of the hybrid I would say this is almost certainly a Goldfinch x Canary it is quite common pratice in the cage bird world.

Friday 28th March

Spent an hour looking for the Shrike - no joy - just a few Stonechats and Great Spotted Woodpecker. Gann- nothing at first sight, walked dow...

Recent Sightings

Sightings received via e mail from Maggie Humphreys - A Kestrel was hunting low over the seaweed hut at Freshwater East yesterday (Thurs) la...

Dinas Head

A brisk walk around the head this morning - 3 Chiffchaff at Cwm yr eglwys, 2 Shag in the bay. Lots of fulmar around Needle rock but no auks ...

Red Kites

Whilst out with Richard D looking at kites between Eglwyswrw and Gwaun valley we came across a yellow tagged bird building a nest. This bird...

A hybrid finch? If so which species are involved?

Received this image via ringers working in Bristol/Chew area (forwarded by Lydon Roberts). This odd looking bird was apparently caught last...

red kite

2 red kites feeding on a freshly ploughed field nr Gelly yesterday.

Sand Martins -Goodwick Moor

A walk around the seafront produced nothing in the way of migrants early this am, but local birds filling the air with song, particularly Wr...

Teifi

Marshes;- 0630-0745 this am, 4/5 Cetti's Singing, 2 Heron hide side, 2 maybe 3 in area around Kingfisher hide. 6+ Chiffchaffs singing. P...

Cemaes Hd. & Teifi

Cemaes Hd.;- A walk round this evening produced 3 Wheatears, 11-15 Chough circling around in the wind. The highlight being the sight of 202 ...

A second Ring-billed Gull at Dale

I took Paul down to see the Black Duck at Marloes this afternoon, which showed on a small pool back right as you look from the hide at aroun...

Iceland Gull

I got good views of a light immature which flew in from the east at 17:30 and at 18:00 reappeared to circle over the headland at Carregwastad.

Stack Rocks & St Govan's

At Stack Rocks late morning a few Razorbills and Guillemots on the ledges for a while with more birds - c.30 of each - on the sea. At St Gov...

Newport Tues am

The Grey Plover still there with a Knot & 9 Redshanks. No Dunlin, Ringed Plover or Turnstones. 5 Oystercatchers with 15 more on the roos...

North Pembs.

Red Kite;- Pen Anglas c1500 (Adrian R.) A quick look at Birdguides shows Red Kites on the coast, Hants, W. Sussex, Lincs, E. Yorks. today. S...

Autumn grounded manx shearwaters - always worth ringing!

Most autumns, a number of juvenile Manx shearwaters become grounded somewhere shortly after fledging . They get attracted to lights, pools...

Stackpole (PM)

Spring may be on hold temporarily, but some migrants were still passing through today. A steady trickle of sand martins (some preparing to r...

Great Grey Shrike

The Great Grey Shrike still showing well at 3 pm at Ty-Rhyg on the left and right side halfway down the track.

Kestrel

Returning from H/west this am, a distant bird hovering north of Dreenhill

A bit of a long shot - but when looking for cattle egrets you never know....!

The message below about great bustards was received by all BTO Regional Atlas coordinators back in the winter. It was from Bill Quantrill ...

Dale/Marloes birds

Ring-billed Gull;- Present on the pools at The Gann(photo'd well- Steve Hinton) until c1000 when flew over the back to fields. 1 1w. Med...

Goodwick

At the Parrog this morning a single male Wheatear,on Goodwick Moor a singing Cetti's Warbler.

Help needed to identify a Strumble Hd colour-ringed chough

I have been informed of a colour-ringed chough reported to BTO colour-ring sightings website that we cannot quite match up to known birds ...

Llys-y-fran resr.

Llys-y-fran resr;- Quiet on the gull front, watched the small roost until 1840. c50 Sand Martins present though. (Adrian R. & Richard D.)

Slavonian Grebe

I saw one still largely in winter plumage rolling about on a heavy swell in the bay at Carregwastad at 16:30.

Somewhere sheltered

Trying to get out of the constant gale tried alook at; Monkhaven water treatment works, 4 Chiffs, 2 L/tailed tits, Chaffinches, 2 Robins - i...

birds in the north east

Whilst looking for nesting kites today, came across a large flock (3 or 4,000) of loafing Herring and Lesser Black-backed Gulls between Clun...

Ringer at The Gann

Ring-billed Gull;- The 1w. Ring-billed Gull feeding & walking about with Common & Black-headed Gulls on the mud as the tide went out...

Green Woodpeckers

Yes, I very much agree with Richard's concerns - the provisional winter atlas map of green woodpecker distribution in Pembs looks prett...

Green Woodpecker

Alas, not a sighting! Have a look at the BTO Winter atlas distribution map for bird of the day. Green Woodpecker -- If the map for Carmarth...

Ringer

The first-winter Ring-billed Gull again at Dale today, this time at the Gann on the sea with Common & Black-headed Gulls at 17:40 (accor...

Wheatear

Managed to find some Wheatear - 2 in the quarry at Porthgain and one on the coastal path between Caerfai and Solva. Just a few Gannet and on...

Marloes mere

Took a short break from the quest to take a look at the Black duck, thought I`d get there early - the hide was full of birders from Sheffiel...

Windswept Teifi

This afternoon, the estuary was very quiet except 58 Shelduck and 12 Wigeon. Most of the usual birds were sheltering at Jewsons or on the ri...

Pelagic Cruises

There are a few places left on 2 Pelagic Cruises, on Wed 6th and Mon 25th August 2008, for members of the Wildlife Trust of South and West W...

"Visitor"

Have a look at a posting below. Paul emailed this Blog site, to introduce his web site with his collection of photo's from his recent vi...

Strumble Head

Strumble this am;- 0830-1000, wind NNW rather than NW but still some movement past. 1 Manx Shearwater, 270 Fulmars, 360 Kittiwakes, c3000 G...

Black Duck

Marloes Mere: Showing very well at 12.15 hrs for some time, then came out of the water and walked into the reeds, where it disappeared from ...

Black Duck

Marloes Mere;- The female Black Duck showing well when we arrived at 1000. After c30 mins. it went behind some sedges & remained out of...

Visitor

Received an e mail today from Paul Bruty who found the blog info useful and had a good couple of days in Pembs recently. See his website/pho...

Listing

Regarding Birds of Britain - "The Complete Check List", I am in total accord with Richard (see below). I have the 06 addition and...

Wednesday birds

More chiffchaffs singing and 5 sand martins in Gelly area. 1 little grebe calling from the pond on St Davids airfield.

Bird Lists

Everyone reading this likes to see new birds, which generate their lists. Some as local as a garden list, some have foreign trip lists, some...

Black Duck & local records.

Black Duck-Marloes Mere;- Adrian & I were watching the duck c1530, it did take c40 mins. to come out from the sedges. 2+ Sand Martins, C...

Kestrel

One hovering over the N/W corner of Haverfordwest Racecourse yesterday evening, unable to sex as I was driving and it was silhoueted.

Crossbills

Went for a little twitch today - Great Grey Shrike (success), Crossbills (success), Rose Coloured Starling - failed. We saw three parties of...

Pics today from Marloes Mere

Left click on image to see in more detail

Ring Billed Gull

Record via e mail from Gareth Stamp - I visited Pembrokeshire today to see the Black Duck. I popped in to Dale and happened across the 1st w...

Kestrel

1 Kestrel in the Bicton farm area, St Ishmaels this evening, + 1 male Merlin above the village this morning.

Bosherston lakes

Today, good passage of sand martins continuing plus at least one swallow. Goosanders back up a bit in number (5 adult males - here since th...

Spring is here .......

....... because there is a Chiffchaff singing in the garden! I was hanging out some washing when there it was - "plink plonk plink plon...

Black Duck ---- Rose-coloured Starling -- Viewing

The female Black Duck;- At Marloes Mere, present & showing in front of the hide, past the youth hostel most of the time. It can swim beh...

Black Duck

Nice photo on Surfbirds of Black Duck now.

Marloes Mere

I arrived just in time to see the Black Duck as well as several each Mallard, Gadwall, Shoveler, Wigeon and Teal before they were all scatte...

Gelly birds

2 singing chiffchaffs in Gelly area today, also greensandpiper still feeding at farmyard pond.

Great Grey Shrike

Shrike showing really well this morning at Ty Rhyg, to the left of the path. A Kestrel was also present for a while which the Shrike mobbed...

Black Duck -- Marloes Mere

The female Black Duck was showing very well until c1100 this am, when it swam behind some sedges.The bird feeds most of the time, but we did...

Teifi

Record received via e mail from Howard Thomas - 3 Sand Martins seen from the Kingfisher hide.

Pembrokeshire Birds

On a lighter subject than the following posting! Adrian R. is back in G.B. Failed to keep up with the rugby in Goa! But did keep up with o...

Duck's Bum

This is the only shot I got of the Marloes Mere duck by holding my 'phone to my 'scope. See, it's got a dark tail. Trust me a...

Spring Migrants

Severn wheatears and one shorteareared owl St Davids airfield this afternoon with 20+ Sand Martins on Penberry res.One Kestrel hunting over ...

Black Duck?

Late afternoon at Marloes Mere I discovered an interesting looking female duck, looking pretty good for a (North American) Black Duck. It a...

Mid- Pembs this pm.

After this morning's Teifi Iceland's, Jon & I ventured SW in search of more gulls. En route, the Great Grey Shrike showing-but w...

Common Scoter in Carmarthen Bay: ground counts interim report summary

CCW contract with BTO has just produced an interim report on results of ground counts of Common Scoter from several locations around Carm...

16 March - spring migrants

Several male wheatears noted on coast today at Freshwater West, Stack Rocks, Stackpole Head and at Lawrenny Quay (near picnic site). Abo...

Ceibwr bay

Kestrel hovering over the cliffs this afternoon.

Teifi -- Iceland Gulls...s

Teifi; Late am Sunday, 3 Iceland Gulls, from the gull watchpoint between the Webley & St. Dogmael's Quay. 2 Ad. & 1 1w, roosting...

Kestrels St David's

Regular sightings in recent weeks of single birds at/on Dowrog, Whitesands beach, St Justinians Lifeboat Station and Caerfai Bay. Details of...

Great Grey Shrike & recent records

Sunday;- Newport, 1 Gt.Ctd. Grebe on the river by the Boat Club early am. Saturday;- Ty-Rhyg, the G.G.Shrike next to the the road early pm. ...

Chiffchaff

Record from Howard James from Abercych nr Boncath via e mail -Had a male chiffchaff singing his heart out in my garden on my arrival home fr...

Kestrels

Many thanks to everyone for posting their Kestrel records, there has been an excellent response which will make it much easier to identify p...

Another Kestrel for Paddy

A female bird has been around the Mullock Bridge area all winter - sometimes perches on a telephone pole in our garden. Most recently seen a...

Ring-billed Gull - ageing

If anyone is interested in ageing Ring-billed Gulls, look on Birdguides (and Surfbirds I presume) at the pics of the bird that is currently ...

Kestrel for Paddy

Kestrel hovering over small valley near the coast road between Lochvane and St. Elvis farms near Solva at 3.30 p.m. today.

Teifi Marshes wednesday 12th march

Firecrest was reported by the Kingfisher hidein the early afternoon (Reg Bevan).

Teifi

Teifi;- This afternoon, quiet, pr. Red Btd. Mergansers swimming in the estuary, 4 Knot off the railings, 2 Little Egrets, 2 Little Grebes, c...

Pembroke River & Angle Bay

Helped NT staff do a late WeBs count today - an old stomping ground route not done by me for some years. Most waterfowl numbers were quite ...

Great Grey Shrike & Bk. Td. Diver

Ty-Rhyg;- The Great Grey Shrike blowing in the wind, perched on a most exposed bare tree, watched from the gate on the right towards the wat...

Fulmars past Strumble Hd.

Strumble hd.;- This am 1030-1200, some totals of species flying past during the first hour, all movement west , & slowed down after 1130...

Little Egret

Re posting below - best I could do with the Little Egret Bob! Click pic for full size image.

Fairly quiet day at Bosherston

Much less stormy day, yesterdays ad RT Diver had moved on. Most waterfowl numbers are low now. Only 2 goosanders , 2 goldeneye , 59 coot see...

Storm at Pencarnan

If on Sunday we had taken the advice of the B.B.C. we would have stayed away from the coast, but with the prospect of wrecked birds being dr...

National Atlas update

A big thanks to everyone who found the time to do the timed tetrad visits. We now have very close to 100% of all visits completed - a great...

A blustery day at Bosherston

Storm-force winds at high tide did not cause the sea to flood into the lakes as it might have done but of birds seeking shelter were higher ...

Bonxie

I saw a Great Skua fly west close inshore at Carregwastad at 14:00.

Rose-coloured Starling

The Rc Starling still present around Portfield Haverfordwest.(Paul G.) Fishguard Harbour;- This pm 1 Ad. Med. Gull with a full black hood.

Llys-y-fran

This pm at the resr., a quiet roost! 1 1w. Iceland Gull which was on the water when I arrived. Only c.700 LBB's, <100 Herring's,...

Dale

12 pale-bellied Brents at the Gann (no rings), along with a Knot, a Grey Plover & 2 Dunlin. Here, and at the roost around the corner at...

A beautiful day and golden plover movements along Castlemartin Coast

Noted Richard and Maurice's comments about golden plover flock (800+) heading towards Castlemartin Range. I was on the Range between 10...

Castlemartin Corse

The final Webs count of the winter found Castlemartin Corse pretty well devoid of birds - not a Lapwing to be seen, 1 Mute Swan, 7 Mallard, ...

Foreign Gulls

I have mentioned to many about the fish processing factory at Newquay, which spews fish waste down the cliff. Nice for gulls! A message rec...

Still searching...

From Milford docks to Broadhaven via Sandyhaven & walwyns castle. Not a lot, Milford 37 B/H/Gulls on the pontoon, with 3 Meds 2*2nd wint...

Dale area this am.

The Gann; 4 Med. Gulls, 2* ad., 2* 2w. 6 L.B.Brent Geese, & 6 Goldeneye. Sandy Haven; 5 Med. Gulls,3*ad., 2*1w., 1* 1w. Marloes Mere; ...

Ring-billed Gull

A first-winter Ring-billed Gull in the roost at Dale this evening, viewable from the beach front in the village. Not a particularly large b...

Wigeon

Note Wendy & Bob's comments re. male Wigeon with some extent of green on the head. Just by a process of logic, if we assume that th...

Little Egret

11.40 am - Little Egret in a field adjacent to the A40 at the bottom of Windy Hill, 1 mile south of the Corner Piece pub (this is a bit of a...

New bird for Pencarnan

We are back making regular visits to Pencarnan, Whitesands Bay. There is a small high tide wader roost at Porthselau beach, a pinnacle of ro...

Recent Kestrel sighting for Paddy

A batworker friend of mine, Tom McCowat , has told me that he recently (last week or so) saw kestrels near Little Newcastle and found pell...

Teifi

Wader numbers fairly static at the moment. Very early this morning on the spit just 2 Turnstone, 2 Sanderling, 7 Dunlin and 5 Ringed Plover,...

The Quest... to St. David's & back

Some records from this pm's hunt; A ring-tail Hen harrier hunting along the commons between Ivor's Pond & Penberry. Like Derek,...

The Quest....

Took some time out this pm checking the local livestock fields for Cattle egrets, (cant afford a sheep to plonk in my garden!) as usual noth...

Pen Anglas

I saw a Merlin swoop low over the allotments in the last light at 18:15.

re Wigeon

The bird I saw on the Teifi last week had a much more prominent stripe than those in Bob's photo. It was the shape and colour of that on...

Wigeon with green sheen/streak behind eye

Noted Wendy's comments about possible hybrid wigeon type. I wonder if it looked like a couple of the ones (near top centre and near bot...

More about "Gann" Brent's.

The bird Dave refers to below was colour-ringed yellow PP. You may remember last March's Brent colour-ringed Brent, yellow VI, (not the ...

Colour ringed Brent Goose

We've had some information back from ringers in Ireland about the colour ringed bird at the Gann in February, in summary: May 06 - Icela...

Cattle Egret - Dave is off on one again

Had an e-mail from Killian Mullarney yesterday: "No less than six 'new' Cattle Egrets have been found in south Wexford today (...

Kestrels

Just looking at Paddy`s appeal for kestrel sightings, I do see one sometimes perched on the powerlines - a male - between St Ishmaels nurser...

Llys Y Fran Res

Black Throated Diver 1 Black Necked Grebe 1

Rose Coloured Starling

Thanks to Paul and Richard for information very nice find

Kestrel sightings appeal

During the last two winters approx 70 Kestrel nestboxes have been put up in the county as part of an attempt to assess why they are getting ...

Another day of Pembs, Magic !

Thurs; Wendy J. asked for an introduction to some new sites & birds. Ty-Rhyg; Gt. G. Shrike, showing from the gate on the right. Angle...

Monthly Round Up

Lyndon's monthly round up for February 2008 is now on line. See link to the right.

Llys y Fran Res

Iceland Gull 1 adult Black Necked Grebe 1 Black throated Diver 1 Goldeneye 2 pairs

Recent reports

Fishguard harbour;- 1 2w Med. Gull from the flagpoles. Rose-coloured Starling seen today, Portfield Haverfordwest. (Ed. H.) Gt.Grey Shrike-T...

Yellow-legged Gull

I saw an adult fly west with other gulls off Carregwastad at 17:00 and other birds included a Purple Sandpiper down on the rocks and the Per...

Teifi Marshes & Fortunes Frolic

Teifi marshes, Tues c1815;- 1 Barn Owl watched hunting over the Pentood area of the marsh/reeds for c20 mins. Cetti's singing again fro...

Heathfield GP

2X prs Shovelers and 2 Tufted Ducks. Nr Llangloffan yesterday a 2nd W and AD Med Gull in field with mainly BH Gulls.

N. & Mid. Pembs.

Fishguard Harbour;- 1 ad. Med. Gull this early pm.--Stena side. Portfield Haverfordwest;- 1w. Rose-coloured Starling; showing from the drive...

Rose-coloured Starling --Haverfordwest

Rose-coloured Starling;- I have just spoken to the lady who has the Starling frequenting her garden.We had received an email from her statin...

Rose-coloured Starling - Haverfordwest

Today I spoke to the lady in whose garden the Rose-coloured Starling has been seen (I have known the family for many years). She is extremel...

Rose-coloured Starling & BN Grebes

Rose-coloured Starling;-Haverfordwest. The Rose-coloured Starling has just appeared at the Portfield site(1130).Paul G. It could not be foun...

Rose-coloured Starling -Haverfordwest

Rose - coloured Starling showing this late am. around the playing field behind the houses of Portfield.(Paul G.). View from drive to playin...

Rosebush resr. & Ty-Rhyg

Rosebush resr;- 1 Tufted(m), 2 Goldeneye, 1 Gt.Cd.Grebe, pr. Canada's, 16 Teal, 14 Coot. Ty-Rhyg;- No sign of the GG Shrike this am, but...

Teifi Wigeon hybrid

Early this morning at Patch amongst the c60 Wigeon, there was a hybrid. It looked the same as one I saw there last year, like a normal wigeo...

Gann

14 Brents, 9 Med Gulls (7 adults & 2 1st-years) & a Bar-tailed Godwit. Lots of gulls in the bay, including a dark-breasted/bellied ...

St. David's Day --- Magic !!

Angle bay;- Red-necked Grebe off the point off Sawdern Pt. (as John B.), Black-necked Grebe off The Lodge, 8 Gt.Cd.Grebes. American Wigeon b...

North Pembs

Newport this morning very quiet but did have a good view of an uncharacteristically confident Water Rail (in the first inlet down from the i...

Rose-coloured Starling

The 1st. w Rose -coloured Starling still present this am at Portfield Haverfordwest. Site directions as as posted below.(Paul G.)