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 Geese in odd habitat... couldn't see exactly where they landed but it was east of the car park...

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, one cettis warbler and a group of swallows and sandmartins at Teifi Pools. Of note, we have a green woodpecker as well as a great spotted, regularly heard behind our house in, Saundersfoot. Tessa Pearson

Migrants today

Cwm-yr- Eglwys;-
Willow Warbler this am. (Steve B.)
St. David's Hd & area;-
15 Willow Warbler, 1 Blackcap, Chiff's, c20 Goldcrests, 10 Wheatear, a "bat". 2 Swallows & c25 Sand Martins.
Kestrels, singles at St.David's Hd., Trefiddan, St. Justinians
Ivor's Pond;- Merlin.
(Paul G.)
Fishguard Sea Front;-
1 Gt.Cd.Grebe on sea, 2 Wheatear's on waste ground. 1 Blackcap & sev. Chiff's singing. on Goodwick Moor.

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 the same direction, a summer and a winter Red-throated Diver close inshore, some porpoises just offshore, a Chiffchaff singing, lots of Sand Martins and the odd Swallow starting to arrive.
5 Wheatears at Carregwastad.

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 29th 4 hours between 1000 - 1400 highlights were Black Throated Diver in full summer plumage, 2 or 3 Red Throated Divers and 2 Manx Shearwaters. Tony Swann

Swallows at Mwnt and at the Teifi Marshes today - single birds on both occasions. Howard Thomas

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.
19 L. B. Brents on the sea & 3+ Gt.Cd.Grebes.
1 Grey Plover being aggressive towards a Knot on the lagooon too. 1 Wheatear on the beach.

Skomer;- 1 Firecrest present for a few days this week.

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 (probably more) Chiffs, together with a singing Blackcap and a Willow Warbler. A Wheatear appeared unsettled as it tried to find an undisturbed patch on the golf course and a party of 4 swallows together with the odd Sand Martin headed in off the sea. 9 Sandwich Terns fed close to the beach at Penally end and 4 Ringed Plovers flew around in vain looking for a quiet corner of the beach.
Whilst ringing at Mullock bridge this morning we saw a 1st Iceland Gull fly over Steve and Anna's garden and there were 2 Swallows there all morning. South Africa meets Greenland!

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 views about its likely id. It is not a particularly attractive looking specimen!

It makes me also wonder if a colour sketch made by a lady in Haverfordwest earlier in the winter (sent to Annie) may also have been a possible similar cross. She admited that she had difficulty with some colours of birds but was convinced that the chaffinch she was seeing had yellow in the wing feathers and coverts that should have been white , and the blue parts of the bird appeared to be greenish (compared with similar chaffinches visiting feeders in her garden). She wondered if it was chaffinch x greenfinch - her sketch seemed to depict such a bird.

We'll try and dig out this sketch some time for closer scrutiny by folk at a bird group meeting!

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-crested Grebes from the Gan car park (an increase) and, from the sea front at Dale, 3 drake Common Scoters which is an unusual record here.

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 with Bob H. & Lynne the Ranger from PCNP, 2 flocks of Golden Plover noted, c200 & c500 birds in the flocks.
A walk out through Frainslake to the coast produced little in the way of birds today, but we did meet Peter H. who was delighted to show us on his camera, shots of Purple Sands(7) that he had just been watching nr. Linney Hd.

Angle Bay;-
4 Sand Martins, 2 Gt.Cd.Grebes, 1 Knot, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 3 Grey Plover.

Fishguard Harbour;-
17 Turnstones at the Flagpoles (Adrian R.)

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 particular produced really good singing males - as the hybrids were in fertile poor quality males and females were eradicated or released.

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 down to the mouth of the estuary - still nothing.
Got back to the car - after half an hour (2.45pm ish) 1st W Ring-billed appeared - showed well, parasitising the Oystercatchers.
Also present one 1st w Med., one Knot, a Grey Plover and 2 Little Egrets.

Recent Sightings

Sightings received via e mail from Maggie Humphreys - A Kestrel was hunting low over the seaweed hut at Freshwater East yesterday (Thurs) late morning. Stack Rocks were covered with Guillemots (I couldn't see any Razorbills) and there were large rafts on the sea - amazing sight, with Skylarks singing overhead.
This week I have also seen 5 Goosanders (including one adult male) on Rosebush Reservoir (plus about 8 Tufted Duck, 2 Great Crested Grebe; Little Grebe;Teal and others), whilst at Llys-y-fran there are now large numbers of Sand Martins.

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 yet. c300 guillemots seen from the head flying towards Strumble. 7 Wheatear feeding together. At least 10 Skylark trying to fly in the wind. 1 Peregrine chasing a pigeon.

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 is almost certainly the same one which Janet spotted last month and it was born only 4km away in 2004. Apart from a single sighting in autumn 2004 at Gigrin farm, Rhayader, this individual has not been seen since fledging and it is the first definite breeding attempt by a kite fledged in Pembs. At least one pair of kites is incubating eggs already about 2 weeks earlier than usual.
There were plenty of Chiffs singing but 2 Sand Martins were the only other summer migrants seen. A merlin nr Llanychaer and 40 Fieldfares at Ty Rhyg were the other sightings of interest.

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 autumn and has been seen/re-trapped since. Nobody is quite certain but it is assumed most likely to be Greenfinch x Goldfinch.
Whether it is the result of a natural occurrence or a deliberate experimental crossing by someone, nobody knows.

Perhaps there is more in those sunflower seeds or peanuts put out at feeding stations than we realise! Watch out, one might turn up in your garden!

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 Wrens.
Cetti's could be heard from the flagpoles, singing from an area behind the Seaview Hotel to the footbridge. A second bird was singing on the rugby pitch side of the reserve.
Walking around the boardwalk & 8 Sand Martins shot vertically up, out of the reeds, buzzing & away, obviously intending to feed elsewhere. (At 0545 the place wasn't heaving with insects).

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.
Patch;- 1 un-tagged Red Kite, , 2 Wheatear, 2 Turnstone, 3 Ringed Plover.
22 Wigeon from the Railings, & 3 Little Egrets,( 2 Roosting at Jewsons).

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 Grey Seals hauled out on the pebble beach below the head.
En route, nr. Moylegrove, c50 Golden Plovers circling high.
Teifi;-
Pr. Red breasted Mergansers, 4 Little Egrets together.

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 around 4.15pm. We then went to the Gann, where we had the first-year Ring-billed Gull in the ploughed field above the road (best viewed from the Pickleridge - look across the road). In the roost we had 9 Med Gulls (2 ads - calling!, 4 2nd years & 3 1st years) and a second-winter Ring-billed Gull - a really subtle bird (and I thought the first-year was subtle)..... It has a long, but quite thin bill, which initially caused concern, but on checking Gulls the bill measurements do overlap with Common Gull so this is presumably just an extremely small example. Everything else was classic - pale mantle, no scapular crescent, indistinct tertial crescent, square headed, attentuated rear end and, in flight, a single mirror on p10, black marks on the outer primary coverts, and a deep chest (it was clean tailed). Also 17 Brents here, a Knot, a Grey Plover, 4 Ringed Plover, 4 Dunlin & 2 Redshank.

ps - if you enjoy the odd beer and enjoyed the Black Duck, by way of celebration can I recommend you treat yourself to a bottle of the appropriately named "kwak" which is on sale in Tesco (it's Belgian - www.bestbelgianspecialbeers.be)!!!

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 Govan's this afternoon 4 Wheatears and a Merlin.

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 roost with 3 Curlews. Shelducks up to 9 but just 1 Little Egret.
The 2 Swans are being mega aggressive to the poor Canadas.

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. Surely migrants? -- and the Pen Anglas bird too??

Fishguard Harbour;- male Wheatear on beach at Lunchtime.
Nevern Est;- 4 Little Egrets today, c1400.
Janet A. had a look at the Felindre heronry y'day, 3 active nests,( ? last year, 7 prs 2006 ) no Little Egrets.

Barn Owl feeding alongside the main road to Cardigan nr. Castell Henllys this am(0445).

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 in the road etc and some just get driven inland during stormy weather. The Pembrokeshire Ringing Group (usually via John Hayes) often ring such birds handed in. Then, at a suitable headland on a dark settled night, they are sent on their way again - off to an uncertain fate!

So it is always pleasing to know that it is all worthwhile. Today, I received recovery details in the post of a ringed Manx shearwater FR43184. I ringed this grounded juv in August 1988 and released it at around midnight at Freshwater East. In July 2007 it was controlled alive at the Skomer colony (probably where it had been born in 1988 and where, presumably, it was breeding 19 years later). I wonder what the chances of finding it again amongst thousands of others are!

Whilst this is nowhere near a record age for a Manx, it was non-the-less pleasing that it had made it through its ordeal, successfully re-orientated and survived! Someone had found it in a garden in Pembroke, had taken the time to care for it and pass it on to be ringed and released.

Hopefully FR43184 continues to survive. If so, perhaps it is already back on Skomer by now this spring; if not, hopefully it will be not far away - on the last leg of a long journey from its wintering area (probably somewhere off the Brazilian or Argentinian coast). If so maybe it will continue to survive for another couple of decades or more.

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 roost in the reeds at dusk) and more chiffchaffs singing but no other notable migrants. Two little egrets still at Bosherston Lakes but 5 male goosanders appear to have gone. No sign of any green woodpeckers yet.

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 (BTO RR Wiltshire).

So, if they are moving around - could Pembs even get one sometime? If you just happen to see one elsewhere in the UK whilst on your travels, details are below of who to report sightings to!

"I have been asked by the Great Bustard Group (the UK-registered charity who are managing the Great Bustard re-introduction programme on Salisbury Plain) to request everybody involved in Atlas fieldwork to ensure that any sightings of Great Bustards are reported to the Group. The first release of birds under the programme took place in 2004 and there have been further releases in each year since then.

Many of you will probably be aware that last year, thanks to the re-introduction programme, Great Bustards nested in Britain for the first time in 175 years (sadly, but not unexpectedly given the youth of the birds involved, the two eggs that had been laid turned out to be infertile). The bustards disperse in winter and individuals have been reported from Somerset, Gloucestershire and Dorset, as well as from further afield, for instance in France.

But there have been long periods when nobody knew where the birds were; the intensive fieldwork for the atlas should enable some of the gaps to be filled. The birds are wing-tagged, and each tag has two identification elements - the colour which indicates the year in which the bird was released (orange=2004, yellow=2005, green=2006, purple=2007) and a number which identifies the individual bird.I would be grateful if you could ask all your volunteers to look out for Great Bustards and report any sightings to sightings@... or by telephone to Al Dawes on 07817 971 327. When we get to the stage of validating records could you please check that any Great Bustard sightings that appear in the records have been reported to the Great Bustard Group.More information about the programme, including details of how to support the programme by becoming members of the Group, can be found on the Group's website www.greatbustard.com"

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. Gull, 17 L.B.Brent Geese, 5 Wheatear also from the ridge.
2 Chiffchaff trapped this am at Mullock, & 1 Goshawk over the top end of The Gann.

Black Duck- reported elusive this am at Marloes Mere.
Negative-- no sign of the Great Grey Shrike at Ty-Rhyg today or y'day in brief looks, but still v. windy.
Any sightings since Wednesday?
Wheatears on the roadside driving over The Preselli's this lunchtime.

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 ringed in Pembs or as yet elsewhere in Wales from Ceredigion northwards.

The reporter (a visiting birder/ringer from Hertfordshire) saw yellow/yellow (left leg); BTO (right leg) near Strumble Head Lighthouse area on 27th January 2008. It appeared to be paired with an unringed bird.

Has anyone else seen this bird?

The only other colour-ringed chough that I am aware of at Strumble is yellow/black (right); black/BTO (left). This bird was ringed as a nestling at Lower Treginnis area in 1999, but has been resident at Strumble over the last few years or so. I am informed that last summer this pair reared 3 young but have had no subsequent sightings. Do we know if this bird is still around?

If anyone happens to see yellow/yellow (left), please look carefully at the right leg to see if it has another colour ring (above or below the BTO ring). It may turn out to be a bird ringed at Stackpole in 2004, but it would be nice to confirm that if possible.

At home I maintain a spreadsheet of chough ringing and re-sightings records - currently over 2000 entries of Pembrokeshire and Gower-ringed chough. I would really appreciate re-sightings of colour-ringed chough being posted on the Blog. That way I should also be able to check the birds origin more quickly and provide feedback more efficiently to observers with the original ringing details and sightings history.

We really do need more re-sightings, especially from the remoter less well-visited areas where I am quite sure there are some ringed chough resident/breeding but not yet seen/reported.

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 - in the churchyard, 1 Goldcrest
Marloes area, in the "valley" down to the beach, 1 Chiff, 3 Gannets fishing close, in the lee of the cliffs, 1 1st/w Kittiwake.
Marloes mere, Black duck still there (sleeping) 1 Ringtail hunting, showing well while we were waiting for the duck to wake (It didn`t!)
3prs Gadwall, Teal, Widgeon, Shoveler, Snow goose still with Canada flock,& 1 birder, Steve Hinton!

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 Clunderwen and Narberth. They seem to quite often gather here during stormy weather just resting in a field. In amongst them was an adult Iceland gull but no other gull species. At Tegryn, there was a flock of 950 Golden Plover most showing plenty of black on the belly, and when they were sunlit against a dark cloud background they were truely stunning to watch. There was'nt a great deal of Kite activity in the air though there were 16 just sat in a field at Hebron. A female Kestrel was near one of the nestboxes at Mynachlog Ddu and a few days ago there was a pair at Ty Rhyg one of which was sat in a tree with a nestbox. Not surprisingly there were no signs of the recent flurry of early summer migrants today, the bird seeming most at home being the Iceland Gull.

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. Also 1 1w. Med. Gull.
17 L.B.Brent Geese, all seemingly unringed, but we didn't get a good look at all of them. 12 were lying down asleep until disturbed by bait diggers.
Also 1 Wheatear & 5 Gt.Cd. Grebes.
(Adrian R. & Richard D.)

Strumble Head -0830-1000;-
Quiet!
2 Manx Shearwaters, c50 Fulmars, & up to 6 Red Throated divers on the sea, 1 sum. plumage.

Green Woodpeckers

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

Having helped map the breeding population (as it was then) in south Pembs in 1984-88 and noted quite significant declines in the same area for the 2003-07 recent local breeding atlas work, it does seem only a matter of time before we loose them altogether. Worryingly I have yet to hear one yaffling at Stackpole this year. Normally they are doing this during most March days. Last year I found 2 nests but no young fledged - I have not seen juvs at Stackpole for at least 2 years.

We really need to know what is going on! Is it lack of ants? (Are those yellow ant populations in the still numerous ant hills dying off ?) I will try and check out samples of ant colonies this summer; or is the increase in goshawk activity in south Pembs (especially during autumn/winter) having an impact? Are they still clinging on around Narberth somewhere? The only other place I know them to occur down here is around Saundersfoot area (e.g. Happy valley area) but are they still there?

We really do need to try and find out what is going on. The breeding element of the national atlas kicks off on 1st April so green woodpeckers yaffling somewhere really ought to be recorded with detail on the Blog of the actual location/wood etc if possible. Their possible imminent demise is also something that needs discussion by the local Biodiversity Partnership, I feel - this species really does need some dedicated survey work to find out what is going on!

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 Carmarthenshire is up to date, look how isolated & fragile our Pembs. population (if you can call it one) is.

Looks like a species we are about to lose.
Yet whenever I visit elsewhere, particularly London, they are common.

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 (according to Birdguides it was there at 15:00 also). This is a small bird and easy to overlook. Had 5 Med Gulls - 2 ads, 2 2ndy, 2 1sty.

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 one Guillemot seen off shore.

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 Sheffield, Hampshire,Somerset & 2 guys who left Derby at 3am this morning!spent most of the time hanging on to hide door trying to keep it closed against the gale blowing through the flaps. nothing else, apart from 1 Peregrine & the usual waterfowl.

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 river above the bypass bridge - including around 30 Teal, 20 Redshank and 120 black headed gulls.

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 Wales, being run by the Mid Pembrokeshire Branch of the Trust.
Departing from Neyland Marina at 8.00am prompt – return approx 6.00pm.
The route will be via Grassholm, The Smalls Lighthouse and then into The Celtic Deep
We will be looking particularly for seabirds and cetaceans.
The cost per head is £50 ( £10 deposit on booking – returnable if trip cancelled due to bad
Weather ). To book please ring RobinTaylor on 01348 840617 or 07968 640059.

"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 visit.
Many thanks Paul for these photo's, not only of Pemb's current rarities, but also some of our specialities, ie. the Chough.
Nice to see the photo's of the migrant Wheatears, we don't see many photo's of these taken in mid. March. I don't think that we were aware of the Black Redstart at this site , so particular thanks for that.

We encourage visitors to submit their records & photos to this site via the email link. They are of great value to add to the records & we will publish where we can.

Many Thanks

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 Guilles/Razorbills, 40 Gannets, 2 Rd.Td. Diver, 5 Common Scoter.
Porpoises breaching often & across a wide area, must be quite a few around at the moment to see this number in a rough sea.

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 view.

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 sight until we left.
Many of the other ducks were hiding today due to the westerly wind blowing across the Mere, & were glimpsed infrequently.

Wendy J. & Richard D.

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/photos here

Listing

Regarding Birds of Britain - "The Complete Check List", I am in total accord with Richard (see below). I have the 06 addition and use it to run my British and Welsh lists. This week I generously donated the 08 edition to Marion! - well I can't have her lagging behind in this listing caper, and she won't need to append Pacific Diver as I did to my 06 edition, formally accepted or not.

Have you heard of the lists we run for the St Davids area? - Nine Wells west; St Justinian circular; caravan list; deck list - 17sp (must land on the deck) and finally, "the bush list". There is only one bush visible from the front window of the caravan. Small and isolated, and not far from the cliffs of Whitesands Bay, in four years it has had 32 visiting species. Most notable was a male Sparrowhawk that regularly used it as a lunchtime larder, popping inside and helping itself to resting House Sparrows.

Keep listing - well it makes you look.

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 have many lists, (ask Marion & John!).
I was reading a new edition of "BIRDS OF BRITAIN - The complete Checklist" this morning.
This comes free with April's BIRDWATCH.

This new list is the list birders will be refering to when they talk about their British List. It includes Pacific Diver, & several other additions/amendments to the list, with a brief explanation of the changes, (probably in advance of BOURC.)
It also gives the address of the on-line version.
Not just a list, a fasinating read about why some birds are on the British list. Or not!

Now time to find that Cattle Egret in Pembs! & put that on your list! & most birders Pemb's lists!

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, Chiffchaff singing, Tufteds up to 5 in front of the hide.
1 Kestrel (f.) hovering by Mullock Bridge.

Great. Grey. Shrike- Ty-Rhyg;-
The posting below is the most recent info?

Rose-coloured Starling- Haverfordwest;-
Showed this am at least.

St David's Head;-
3 Wheatear, a party of 10 Chough, & 1 Red Kite.(Karen)
Newport;-
The Grey Plover still this evening with 13 Redshank, 2 Dunlin.
Bicton-y'day;-
11 Tufted & 1 Goldeneye.
The Gann-y'day;-
4 L.B. Brents & 1 1w. Med. Gull

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 Crossbills at Glynaeron, always feeding with Siskins. There were males and juveniles (one extremely red male - very smart) - but I didn't notice any females. Could they be sitting on nests?? There seems to be plenty of food around to support a second brood.

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 win. ring-billed gull at about 1.10pm.

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 the weekend). Probably these are new birds passing through. Chiffchaffs definitely coming through now in reasonable numbers - more singing around the lakes in several places.

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 plonk ....." - I must say I felt quite emotional! The overwintering birds in our garden left a couple of weeks ago and I have been waiting for their summer replacements. There was one in the willows yesterday at Marloes Mere (seen whilst waiting for a Black Duck to appear from behind the sedges - first real twitch I have ever been on!) but hearing one in the garden is different.

Rosemary

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 behind stands of sedges & disappear for c30mins. at a time.

Rose-coloured Starling;-
Showing this morning behind the gardens of Portfield, Haverfordwest, it's usual location.
This is becoming more of an attraction now birders are coming for the Black Duck.
Please follow the viewing instructions that are carried on the bird information services.
This is a residential area and we are sensitive to the residents concerns regarding their privacy. Please do not attempt to watch from anywhere other than the playing field from the drive by the phone box.
Thank You.

Great Grey Shrike;-
Showing from the gate at Ty-Rhyg clear-fell this am.

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 scattered by a hunting Peregrine at 14:30.

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 briefly. The Shrike is still feeding well - I saw it with a Bumble Bee and a Lizard!

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 see it out of the water preening, & briefly in a short flight.
The bird is paired with a male Mallard, which it never leaves.
We have had excellent views of the bluish/purple speculum bordered with black only.
In flight/ preening when the underwing is visible this can be seen to be a clean white.
There does not appear any feature that does not fit a pure bird;- ie no sign of a hybrid.
There is another photo taken with" phone through scope "on Birdguides posted this am.
More photos will appear later today,( midland birders here first thing.)
As she is paired & settled; she should be relatively easy to watch from the new hide,-- until she starts sitting!!

Pembs. 2nd record, & Wales 3rd. record of this North American Duck.(requires acceptance.)

Also present, Sand Martin, Chiffchaffs & a feral Snow Goose.

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 our birds via this site!
A first hit from India I guess?

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 about the other stuff.

Spring Migrants

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

Black Duck?

Late afternoon at Marloes Mere I discovered an interesting looking female duck, looking pretty good for a (North American) Black Duck. It appeared paired to a drake Mallard, and they were feeding very actively at the far W end of the main water body, more or less in front of the new Britton Hide beyond the Youth Hostel. I was joined by Steve & Anna, but we weren't able to clinch the deciding factor - a purplish/blueish speculum with no leading white edge. On other plumage features though, it looks very good, including an all dark tail - but I will be happy to be proved wrong. Richard D is going to have a look in the morning.

Also here at least 8 Sand Martins, a male Wheatear, and a feral Snow Goose in with the

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 with no Great spot. this time! at Ty-Rhyg. A Goshawk also seen here.
The Rose-coloured Starling showing at the usual site.
Quiet at the Gann, 6 L.B. Brent geese, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit roosting in the Oystercatchers.
Jon G. & Richard D.

Llys-y-fran resr.;-
60+ Sand Martins, the 1w Bk.Td. Diver, & a 1w. Iceland Gull, only c350 LBB's & few other gulls, ie 1 B.H.Gull, c10 Herring Gulls.

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 Carmarthen Bay (Amroth, Pendine, Pembrey and Rhossili) in winter 2007/2008. (Report authors Ilya M. D. Maclean, Nigel P. Fairney, Andy J. Musgrove & Mark M. Rehfisch).

Aerial counts were planned but bad weather has prevented these from taking place. The latest ground counts have revealed very low numbers of common scoter this winter.

The combined peak counts from all sectors being as follows:
26th-27th Jan 6,189; 9th-10th Feb 5,258; 25th-26th Feb 3,393.

Concluding remarks:
"The number of common scoter over-wintering in Carmarthen Bay observed using ground counts is considerably lower than at any time since the period immediately after the Sea Empress oil spill. Without aerial survey data it is difficult to establish whether the lower counts are due to the scoters having relocated further offshore to where they cannot be viewed from the count station or to unsighted areas between Pembrey and Pendine (although the latter is unlikely as the birds would almost certainly have been seen in flight).

It may also represent a genuine decline within the Special Protection Area. During the last count, uncharacteristically, all bar c. 100 scoter at Pendine were in a large raft off the headland, suggesting perhaps that prey-depletion has occurred and that this area was the last extensive mussel bed left upon which to feed.

At Amroth they were similarly congregated off Telpyn Point, again suggesting resources may have been depleted. It is also noteworthy that there was a systematic decline in numbers between January and February. Perhaps there are less prey available to the birds than in previous years and by January, lack of food resources could have forced them to relocate to elsewhere. However, It is important to note that there is no hard evidence for this theory."

NB Graham Rees has recently calculated that the number of scoter passing Strumble Head in autumn 2007 was only 29% of the mean of the last 7 years counts. This suggests that most of the expected scoter flock did not arrive.

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). About 10 birds seen in total. Chiffchaffs singing in several places - eg Frainslake valley, Bosherston, Lawrenny. Sand martins passing through at Bosherston Lakes and at Lawrenny up Carew River.

Typical coastal waders present included 9 knot and 12 grey plovers at Furzenips; the usual winter resident merlin was also still present just inside the Range. A couple of greenshanks still at Garron Pill/Carew River areas.

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 on the central sand bar with sev. hundred large gulls. They will have to move with the incoming tide though.

1 Firecrest by Kingfisher hide on the reserve this am & 3 Chiffchaffs. (Wendy J. & Jon G.)

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 a recently used breeding sent will be sent to Paddy

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. As more often than not the Gt.Spot. Woodpecker(m) in attendance, soaking wet, on the nearest stump.
Many birders have commented on the 'pecker when watching the shrike, has the pair developed a favourable feeding arrangement? I haven't seen this behaviour before, or heard of it, any thoughts??
Paddy in his Kestrel work has met the Land manager for 3 of the Preseli plantations, he has said that he has seen the shrike in Pantmaenog. Worth a look for a second shrike? a least 5 in Wales for the past 2 weeks, inc. 2 in 1 forest.!

Saturday;-
Angle Bay, 2 Gt. N. Divers still, 3 Gt.Ctd.Grebes, 20 Bar-tail Godwits, 9 Knot, & 2 Greenshank.
Pwllcrochan Bay, 1 Greenshank, 1 Gt.Ctd. Grebe, & 2 ad. Gannets, 1 on the water, unusual this far up the river in mid. March? (Paddy J. & Richard D.)

Friday;-
Fishguard outer/breakwater, no Purple Sands. but tide low, still 4 Red Thd. Divers in Fishguard Bay, well offshore, & 1 Gt.Ctd. Grebe.

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 from work at 4pm today (14th). Howard added "just thought it would be nice for people to know that Spring has arrived in Abercych!" - looking at today's weather I' not so sure!

Kestrels

Many thanks to everyone for posting their Kestrel records, there has been an excellent response which will make it much easier to identify potential breeding sites. The purpose of the nestbox scheme is to investigate whether nestsite availability is a factor limiting the Pembrokeshire Kestrel population. There are several reasons why this might be the case; firstly direct competition with more dominant species such as Peregrine or cliff-nesting seabirds, also a lack of mature trees offering suitable nest ledges, and perhaps renovation of many remote old buildings. They will use old crows nests but breeding success tends to be poorer because of increased predation and exposure to the elements. It is hoped to locate a sample of natural sites to monitor breeding success and to compare it to those choosing nestboxes (if any get occupied). It is likely that food availability and predation by other birds of prey are also limiting factors and it is hoped that the scheme will give some clues as to what the likely cause(s) of the decline are.

Nestboxes are widespread but the industrial sites of the lower Cleddau have been selected (including the LNG), as well as the clearfell areas of the Preselis, Angle penninsula and St Davids area. It normally takes 3 to 5 years for pairs to come established at new nestbox sites, and so far only one box has been used by a Kestrel (as a roost site), but its early days and I'm an optomist!

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 at the weekend - about the 8th.

(Incidentally the Barn Owl is still around the area - saw it yesterday)

Paddy, Did you put up kestrel boxes at the LNG plant? I know there was a plan to do so at one stage. Is it really thought that lack of nest sites is the controlling factor for Kestrel density? I would have thought that food and territory competition from other birds of prey and corvids could be more of a problem.Though I suppose that Jackdaws probably compete with Kestrels for nest sites. I suppose we shall find out in due course!

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 at Bedmannarch Bay/Penryhn Coastal Park on Anglesey. It had been labelled as a second winter, but it clearly isn't - compare to Gulls or Collins.

Dave

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, c14 Redshank around the estuary.

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 low but notable species seen in Pembroke River were:
11 Little Egrets (including 9 feeding with cattle in pasture - but none were cattle egrets I'm afraid!), GC Grebe 1, Greenshank 1, Dunlin c. 200, Grey Plover 1, Knot 1, Jack Snipe 1 and last, but not least, a very fine water pipit (starting to colour-up a bit with a pinkish-flush beginning to show on the otherwise pale underparts) on the shore feeding with dunlin and turnstone nr Brownslate area.

At Angle Bay:
Numerous gulls including about 30 common gulls, at least unringed 2 Med Gulls - including a superb full summer plumage adult on the shore at Kilpaison end. May have been more, but for a walker with 3 dogs that went right through the BHG/CG/HG/MG flock - and then there were none!

6 GCGs off the old lifeboat station, plus 2 gt northern divers very close to shore. 75 turnstone around the bay - as usual majority at the old lifeboat stn end. Of the reduced wigeon flock, no obvious sign of the American wigeon but a few adult male Eurasians were imaculate with their broad green eye streaks, running from behind the eye to the nape - in full breeding plumage now. Three were displaying and probably paired up with females close by.

A resident of Angle, I spoke to inspecting his nest-boxes, noted that great tits had laid 2 eggs in one of his 20 boxes by end of Feb - remarkably early!!

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 water.(1600)

Rosebush resr.;-
2 Goldeneye, 2 Gt.Ctd. Grebe, 1 Tufted (m), 4 Teal, 5 Coot, 2 Little Grebe.

Nr. Llys-y-fran; c60 Fieldfare.

Llys-y-fran resr.;-
Black Throated Diver, c10 Gt.Ctd. Grebes. -- No interesting gulls when I left(early, 1700).

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.
Fulmars the most impressive c2400, 25 Manx Shearwaters, 50 Gannets, c3600 Kittiwakes & similar of auks. 3 Red Td. Divers.

Heathfield GP;-
1 Goldeneye.

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 seen. Fifteen cormorants feeding. 200+ Herring Gulls, 6 Common Gulls, 25 BH Gulls bathing regularly (washing off the slurry from their feathers and feet from a slurry-soaked field they had been feeding on all day - another potential source of lake nutrient enrichment!). Heard only one chiffchaff today. I hope RC managed to get some decent images of L Egret.

A nest I thought was in use by herons (seen nest-building recently) has seemingly been taken over by ravens (female sitting, male fed her) but carrion crows are giving them some grief as it is probably close to a tree they are wanting to nest in - there is no love lost between these "Corvid cousins"!

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 driven into Whitesands Bay, we took no notice of Auntie.

It turned out that during the early hours of Monday morning, when the winds were at their strongest, they were from the south; we had hoped for a driving westerly, straight into the bay.

Standing on the cliffs looking across the bay was quite hairy at times and very dramatic. Below us, close inshore to Porthselau, were 3 Gadwall (2male) no doubt members of the party of seven seen here on the last day of December. They were riding a heavy swell in howling winds and atrocious conditions. You won't read about that possibility in your Collins. Also of note - 11 Turnstone, but no wreck.

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 effort.

Dawn Balmer, BTO National Atlas organiser has issued the following statement on the Atlas Regional Coordinators Forum concerning submission of March and other outside winter/breeding season records to the Atlas.

"Any record submitted online automatically goes into the database and will be available for your local atlas.

We took the decision to only show square summaries for the winter recording period (Nov-Feb) and breeding season (Apr-Jul). All records are sat in tables on the database but not selected to display for these seasons. For the national atlas we may use some of the breeding evidence records to confirm breeding in a 10km square, especially for the scarcer species that may be difficult to prove breeding in the next few months eg Crossbill, Goshawk, owls etc.

Anyone entering records for March will be able to see their own records online in 'View/edit my records'. The number of Roving Records submitted outside the main recording periods are shown in brackets, and if you click on the number you'll get a table listing Roving Records by month for March, August, September and October. All these will be available for validation too. March is a difficult month with some breeding evidence going on, but come the end of the summer/autumn we really want to keep the records for August-October separate from the breeding season/winter when there is a lot of passage going on".

So, if you get any March breeding evidence, feel free to input these as roving records, ideally at tetrad level.

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 than usual -number of cormorants (25) and a single red-throated diver. Only other bird of note being a peregrine hunting low around field boundary hedgerows and buildings at Stackpole Home Farm - classic sparrowhawk style. This mode of hunting being regularly deployed in stormy weather conditions.

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, 5 GBB's & no Common or BH Gulls.
The Bk.Td.Diver present & 12 Gt.Cd.Grebes, 2 Goldeneye.
They were fishing from boats after 1700 today, & later from the shore.

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 Dale, at least 17 Mediterranean Gulls (11 ads, 4 2ndy, 2 1sty) and the first-winter Ring-billed Gull again - a really small example and not the easiest to pick out.

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 1030 and 1430hrs. I saw several flocks of golden plover moving through, all heading east. The ones I saw were flying along the coast and quite high up. Over the period I was out there I estimate that there must have been somewhere in excess of 3,500 birds involved. Flock sizes varied between a few hundred and a thousand plus. The movements were between 1050 and 1300 hrs. Lovely to see and hear them - flying fast in a general loose V formations.

Not much else to report ornithologically speaking, other than a merlin over Mewsford Point. No sign of a wheatear here in an area where there are several pairs in summer. No auks on the Stacks, no choughs on territory either. Quite a lot of skylarks feeding along the coast - probably local birds now returned to summer territories. Several stonechat males singing - probably about to nest.

Later in the day ended up at Slebech, 2 common sandpipers going to roost being the only real highlight.

What will be blown in tomorrow?

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, no small birds in any numbers. A Merlin was, however, still making a living and we watched a marvellous chase as it pursued a Pipit (which got away). No Kestrels and this in an area where last winter we saw one regularly.
Just as we were leaving, a flock of 800+ Golden Plover dropped in to a field briefly before taking off and swirling over the Corse for 10 mins or so before heading in the direction of the MOD ranges. As the birds passed overhead quite a few could be seen to have black bellies - well on the way to summer plumage.
Richard C and Morris N

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 received today of 1 ad. Iceland Gull there. If you are passing down the coast road, the site is well worth the detour if you have a bit of time.

Med. Gull AALL;
I first saw this bird as an ad. 1/11/2007 in Fishguard harbour.
This week it was seen in Aberystwyth (3/03/2008).
It was ringed as an ad. at a fairly new but growing colony on an island in the Elbe estuary, Germany in 2006. This is the German ringers first record from Ceredigion & they are very happy!
Pembs. & other S. wales sites have seen birds from this colony previously. 26 of the 29 ad.'s that they ringed in 2006 have been re-sighted.
This photo is of the Med. Gulls, surrounded by some of the 4000 pairs of Common Gulls they breed on the island with!

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 winter, 1 with alloy ring on right leg( all I could read was 067.)
plus1*1st w. 4 Turnstones, 1 Little grebe.
Sandyhaven "cattle egret spot" nothing!
Walwyns castle quarry area, 1 female Sparrowhawk
Mabbs gate, St Ishmaels 1 female Merlin
Monkhaven 3 Chiffs, including the "tristis" at the water treatment works

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;
20+ Shoveler, c10 Gadwall.
Bicton Irr. Ponds;
5 Pochard,( a county max. this winter?), 2 Tufted, 1 Goldeneye. A Peregrine gave a brief chase to some of the Teal in flight.
Rosemoor N.R.;
1 Jack snipe, 3 Snipe.

Rose-coloured Starling showed c. midday at it's Portfield site.
Paul G. & Richard D.

Teifi;
Tonight,v. few ducks left, on the Pembs. side I couldn't find any Wigeon, & Teal c30, at all sites inc. Teifi Marshes. Also on the marshes, Cetti's singing near Creek hide, 1 Chiffchaff nr. Heron hide & sev. Water Rails still calling.

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 bird (barely and different from Common Gull on the water), but a lovely "dipped in ink" solid pink bill with black tip. The first at Dale since 2002. A reasonable number of Black-headed Gulls roosting, with good numbers of Common Gulls, and at least 9 Mediterranean Gulls - 5 adults, 3 2nd-years and a 1st-year (some of the adults nearing full summer plumage).

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 the regular returning male at Angle has had even limited breeding success, then it would not be at all surprising to find a hybrid or two in our area. Certainly Wendy's bird sounds like a hybrid - a full description would be helpful as a reference point for the future (i.e. underwing, flank colour etc).

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 an accident blackspot so take care if looking as you drive past).

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 rock close inshore often surrounded by sea. So OK, it's no Angle Bay - we are lucky if we see half a dozen Oiks roosting on it, and very privileged if we find a Turnstone or two. For several years we have regularly checked out this site, hoping to find one of Pembrokeshire special waders.

On Friday the 7th, YES! 7 Oystercatchers, 4 Turnstones and 1 Purple Sandpiper.

And incidentally, in Whitesand Bay there were 2 Med Gulls, both in full summer plumage, together with a Red-throated Diver.

And as has been the case for the past 3 years, a pair of Kestrels are hunting in the Pencarnan area, and hopefully will again nest successfully in the nearby cliffs.

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 pellets there, believed to be kestrel, at a site known to be at a kestrel roost site. I suspect this could be a breeding site. I have seen kestrels there in the past and have the location details.

I also know of a kestrel roost site in a quarry certainly occupied in winter 2006/07 at Porthgain - a similar situation and another possible breeding site.

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, so much the same as Richard had yesterday.
Only 12 Wigeon around the estuary.

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, suprised to find 48 Canada's still at Penberry, also 12 Wigeon, 1 Shoveler(f).
Teal, generally pairs, present on every pool looked at inc. on Tretio. Trefeiddan looks excellent for aquatic-loving migrants! 4 large gull flocks following ploughs, but no interesting gulls found. Nothing of note across farmland to Heathfield, where the highlights c100 Redwings & Nuthatch paired & singing.

Teifi;
High tide tonight, 2 Sanderling, 3 Ringed Plover, 7 Dunlin, 1 Turnstone, the only small waders found roosting. Wigeon, 32 found & only 23 Curlew.
A Kestrel hovering above the railings.

Pembroke Upper Mill Pond;
Visited here y'day at low tide, birds feeding on Pembroke River so quiet. Counts from John H. tonight at H.T., so roosting on the pond. 50 Black-tail Godwits, 13 Greenshank, 10 Redshank. Last week Greenshank peak count 22.!

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 nothing, kept an eye out for kestrels too - none of those either.
Decided to have a look around Marloes, a high count of 69 Canada geese grazing on the fields next to the car park plus 1 Snow goose which I first saw some 2 years ago - & not seen since.
Well it was white!

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 an American Wigeon, wider than the eye, tapering to the nape. The only similar photo I could find on the net labelled it as a hybrid but I accept it probably is just a breeding Eurasian. I will try and find it again tomorrow to get a better look.

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 bottom just right of centre) in this rather poor digi-pic of part of a large flock I photographed recently. Adult male Eurasian wigeon in breeding plumage can often show a green streak behind the eye - though it can be easily missed in some light conditions. This feature can be quite broad and extensive in some birds, yet in others it can be quite narrow. Did your Teifi bird look anything like this? If so, then maybe it is a full breeding plumage adult male Eurasian Wigeon.

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 dark-bellied one.)
The Irish Brent team tell us that this bird is currently in Normandy. Last year it was sighted at the Gann 12/13 March before moving to Ireland 15/3. It then re-appeared at the Gann 30 March!
Wouldn't it be great if we could track it through the Gann again this March!

Please keep looking for these colour-ringed Brent's, they are producing some interesting movements for this small Light-bellied population, particularly from wintering in France!(They breed Greenland).

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 - Iceland
Dec 06 - Dublin
Feb-Apr 07 - France
Apr-May 07 - Iceland
Dec 07 - Jan 08 - France
3 Feb 08 - GANN
3 Mar 08 - Dundrum Bay, Ireland

Top bird!

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 (up to now we have had just one, in the north of the county) so maybe you won't be waiting too much longer for one in Pembs!"

So they are evidently drifting SE in Ireland, and the next stop is pretty obvious - Pembs! Come on folks, get searching again - St. David's/Fishguard area may be a good place to start......remember sheep fields & horse paddocks are just as likely as cattle fields.

Kestrels

Just looking at Paddy`s appeal for kestrel sightings, I do see one sometimes perched on the powerlines - a male - between St Ishmaels nurseries & Mabbs gate. There may be another bird in the area of Lindsway, but it`s possible it could be the same bird. However, as they do appear to be scarce in this neck of the woods I will take more note next time!

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 so scarce in the county. It would be really helpful to the project if all sightings of Kestrels are reported on the blog site. Within Wales Red Kites now outnumber Kestrels by three to one, so they really are becoming a rarity. Repeat sightings of birds in the same location are still very interesting as this information helps to build up a picture of the breeding population. Many thanks, Paddy.

Over Narberth this afternoon there were 3 Kites, an imm male Goshawk, and two Ravens all having a chase. The Goshawk had a go for one of the ravens which dived into a tree full of roosting Woodpigeons to distract it.

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 Bay;
Red-necked Grebe off Sawdern Pt., 4 Gt. Cd. Grebes, c50 Wigeon, 1 Greenshank.
Bosherston;
1 Kingfisher, 5 Goosander.
Pemb. M.P.;
pr. Goldeneye, 1 Chiffchaff, calling & looking like a new arrival.
Eastern Cleddau sites;
tide too low, but still c700 Golden Plover opp. Landshipping.
Garron Pill;
Snipe & 1 Jack Snipe.
Haverfordwest;
1w Rose-coloured Starling.
Llys-y-fran Resr;
3 1w (light) Iceland Gulls, 3 Sand Martins, Bk.Td. Diver, Bk.-nd. Grebe, 3 Goldeneye.

Some new birds or county ticks for Wendy, I believe!

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-Ty-Rhyg seen y'day. (Andrew S.)
American Wigeon- Angle Bay, seen y'day.

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 Peregrines showing well.

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 from the approach to Heron Hide.

Fortunes Frolic, Tues pm;- Teal nos. now up to c40.(Paul G.)

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 to the playing field next to the phone box. Please respect residents private property.

Teifi;-
Mon.3/03;- pr Red Breasted Mergansers, the highlight, we had a pair for the first 2 weeks of March last year.
Sun.2/03;- evening roost 5 Knot still, c100 Curlew, 39 Shelduck.

Newport;-
Mon.3/03;- 1 Grey Plover, 17 Dunlin, 5 Ringed Plover in the evening.

Fortunes Frolic;-
Sun.2/03;- 2 Goldeneye, 15 Teal(Paul G.)

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 stating how un-happy she was to have been told that her address had appeared on a national website. I have re-assured her that as soon as we were made aware of that (Sat.) that we had it removed. She thanked me for that & said that she was still happy for birders to visit the Portfield area to look for the Starling.

The lady has not seen many birders looking(max. 2) & described Paul G. with his bike; liking the idea that a local person" is keeping an eye on things."

As the Starling has been seen by most birders who want to , news of it's prescence will naturally reduce, but she is happy for news of it to be released, I have assured her that all references will make sure birders do not enter any garden, but view from the playing field at the end of the drive by the phone box.

Richard Dobbins on behalf of Pembrokeshire Birds.

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 extremely annoyed and distressed to realise that her address appeared on the Internet; and is equally worried by finding complete strangers lurking in her garden. It is a pity that some birders will stop at nothing. We are all tarred with the same brush!!
Surely the consent of the owner of the property should have been sought before it was published on the National network.
I am sure that local birders were not responsible for this, but it does highlight the problem of how we should deal with sensitive information locally. Perhaps too much attention has been drawn to this bird and its location on various web sites.

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 found early yesterday either.(Usual site directions below).

Black-necked Grebes!!--Angle Bay;-

For those who do not follow the Bird Information Services, there were 2 Black-necked Grebes reported from Angle bay with the Red-necked Grebe & American Wigeon yesterday.
3 in the county is this a record??
2 together have occured several times(Donovan & Rees, B. of Pemb's).

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 playing field nr, phonebox. Please respect residents privacy.

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 breezy. Last seen by Mike, Weds am, & has been looked for since. Has anyone got any further news or has it moved on?

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 wigeon but with a prominent green stripe behind its eye. Presumably it is an american x eurasian.
Not many waders on the spit, 7 Ringed Plover, 5 Dunlin and 2 Sanderling.

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 first-year Herring Gull but it disappeared when I tried to get closer and I did not see it in flight. Lots of gulls along the beach and in the bay. Also a 2nd-w Med Gull at Goultrop Roads.

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 below the pub on Angle point,
Gt.N. Diver out nr, the lifeboat station.
Greenshank in bay by village.

Bosheston;- 5 Goosander (rh), pr Treecreeper- m. singing.
Pemb. Mill Pond;- 1 Pochard(m) 2 Goldeneye.

Lawrenny;- 1 Whimbrel, calling, then found on mud bathing as if just arrived!
Landshipping;- Red Td. Diver, 1 Gt.Cd.Grebe, c1000 Golden Plover, 2 Grey Plover, 5 Knot.

Llys-y-fran Resr;- 6 Iceland Gulls, 1*2w, 3 darker 1w, 2 pale 1w.
(with our visit previous this week-- at least 7 Iceland Gulls seen here!)
Ad Ring-billed Gull,
Bk.Td.Diver & Bk.nd. Grebe, & 1 Goldeneye showing.

Paul G. & Richard D.

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 iron bridge).

Teifi - GC Grebe off St Dogs slipway.

Rose-coloured Starling

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