Marloes in the rain

Still chasing Bee eaters, Hoopoes, Cattle egrets, Gt Bustards etc...
2 Commics offshore, 1 House martin.
Cold comfort!

swift

A swift over Bethesda today, my first for the year.

Lesser Whitethroat

A male seen at Strumble Head yesterday and another heard near Dinas Cross today.

Tegryn & Ceibwr

2 house martins around the village this morning.
1 lesser whitethroat in the village on Sunday (27th)
Ceibwr: 1 house martin a week ago & reasonable number of razorbills on their ledges & on the sea too (Tuesday 22nd).

...and more Whimbrel

I saw another four fly west past the headland at Carregwastad at 14:45.

Pied Blackbird

A striking blackbird with a white head on the footpath between Tescos & the Priory at Milfordhaven - close to the water treatment works. Alas no camera, but the area of white was limited to it`s head, not as extensive as the photo from Kim Gowney (see Jan 9th 08 blog) which I thought first it may have been.
Closer to the Priory ther is a Mute Swan incubating on a mammoth nest.
Also 4 Swifts over St Ishmaels this am.

Teifi

37 Whimbrel at Jewsons this evening with another 10 opposite St Dogmaels quay.
Around the marsh, too many Sedge Warblers to count after the mass arrival at the weekend. On Sunday they seemed to be singing in every gorse bush on the dunes at Poppit. A few Reed Warblers heard but not seen. There are definitely 2 Cettis singing from the same locations every evening now, one by the Kingfisher hide and one near the Heron hide.
A sighting from yesterday - a cuckoo near Abercych.

27th April - Marloes Mere/Skomer - with FSC bird course group

From hide at Marloes Mere, brief views of black duck with 2 male mallards close by at around 1700 hrs. Not much else of note other than a pair of teal and a pair of shoveler. Clearly seemed to be a reasonable fall of willow warblers today - judging by numerous very tame individuals feeding in various open places here and on Skomer earlier - noted to be numerous at the farmhouse area during the mist. Swifts over Martins Haven late afternoon. Still no house martins back at Orielton FC, nor any at Stackpole NT/CCW base. They are a week or so late compared with normal years. At Orielton cuckoo also calling on 27th. Two summer-plumage dunlin on cliff-top along Castlemartin coast plus small numbers of whimbrel moving through over the weekend from Castlemartin to Canaston.

Angle Bay

Kilpaison, Angle Bay at high tide today there were 10 Whimbrel, 23 Oystercatchers and c.50 Dunlin. The latter very approachable and resplendent in their summer plumage.

Bee-eater

According to Birdguides, a Bee-eater flew North over Dinas Cross/Dinas Head at 13:00 yesterday (Sunday) (there have been quite a few in SW England over the weekend...). Another one slips through the net! One of these days I'll catch up with one of these beauties in Pembrokeshire...

Records

if anyone has interesting sightings they feel should be included in the monthly sightings email between the 7th and 13 th April please send them to me on lyndon.lomax1@tesco.net

Whimbrel

I saw eight fly west in a single group past the headland at Carregwastad at 17:00.

Marsh Tit

Picture sent in by Pembrokeshires youngest Bird Photographer and Blogger, 10 year old James Horton, of a Marsh Tit he spotted in his garden near Clarbeston Road.

St. Ann's Head

Did a complete circumnavigation of St. Ann's Head (so to speak), quite busy with a Grasshopper Warbler, several Whitethroats, Sedge & Willow Warblers, 3 Swifts, 5+ House Martins, 20+ Swallows but nothing special and nothing like the fall on the N coast - Adrian must have literally been stepping over Sedge Warblers at Goodwick Moor!

Fishguard Area

In the harbour the two Black Guillemots still present,5 Sandwich Tern also.
Pen Anglas a male Redstart,20 Wheatears,3 Grasshopper Warblers.
Adrian had in the region of 300 Sedge Warblers on Goodwick Moor this morning.

An hour at Marloes Mere

We spent an hour so between 10:00 and 11:00 trying out the new seats in the hide at Marloes Mere! As in Derek's post there were a lot of Swallows and large numbers of Sand Martins - also 2 Swifts, but no House Martins. There were warblers (Chiffchaff, Willow and Sedge) everywhere, giving very good views in the willows in front of the hide and Whitethroats were whizzing up and singing every hundered yards or so as we walked along the track. A Grasshopper Warbler then tuned up and sang for a while in a gorse bush just a few yards away - the song is surpisingly quiet when heard up close. There was a nice visit from a male Pied Flycatcher, right in front of the hide, then the female Hen Harrier drifted through and flushed a few Shoveler. Just as the mist started to roll in and we considered leaving, the female Black Duck flew in from the East with her mate and immediately started to feed in the main pool, the male keeping guard. She was still feeding when we left. This would fit with her being on a nest - but where?

Thanks to Nathan's working party for the improvements to the hide - I understand that there are still a few more titivations and adjustments to be made, but at least we can now sit down!

Rosemary

Big Fall Strumble Head

A very good fall of common migrants at Strumble this morning,these are conservative counts,100 Wheatears,100 Willow Warblers,40 Sedge Warblers the same amount of Common Whitethroats,30 Blackcaps,3 Grasshopper Warblers,500 Swalows,50 Sand Martins,30 House Martins,9 Common Sandpipers,2 Swifts,a Cuckoo, over the sea 4 Sandwich Terns,3 Whimbrel also a Red-throated Diver.

Marloes

A good number of Swallows & Sand martins over the Mere and surrounding area, (c200) 4 Willow warbs, Whitethroats seem to be everywhere too.
1 femail Sparrowhawk, Grasshopper warbler still singing in the "valley" by the beach.
3 Whimbrel over St Ishmaels.

Migrants seen during FSC bird course

On Monday 21st April Cuckoo at Stackpole and also on 26th at Orielton. Swifts (3+) over Bosherston Lakes on 25th where a pair of goosander still present. At Canaston no wood warblers on 24th but present by 26th. No sign of pied flycs or lesser spotted woodpecker though in Minwear/Blackpool Mill area. Reed warblers in reed beds at Bosherston and Slebech from at least 25th. Few sedge warblers around than expected but they are present in many places. Garden warblers at Llangloffan Fen and also there on 26th a fine female marsh harrier heading west up the valley - feeding/flying low over the fen at 1430 hrs. Cettis heard west of the Pont Llangloffan Bridge. Though no cuckoos heard here or at Dowrog this afternoon.

Carregwastad

I saw a Whimbrel fly west past the headland at 17:30, a Purple Sandpiper down on the rocks and the Peregrines as well.

Marloes, Monkhaven, Dale airfield

This morning at Marloes, on the track to the beach,
3 Whitethroats, 1 Grasshopper warbler singing,
on the coast path west of Monkhaven, 3 Whitethroats, 1 male Kestrel.
Dale airfield 24 Wimbrel.
Interesting previous post, I too saw a Chough with red & green rings (cant remember which way round!) at Marloes, as best I can recall, in the spring of 2006.

Teifi and Cemaes Head

64 Whimbrel and a Greenshank byThe Webley.
A walk round the headland was very productive with 50 species in 3 hours.
The first conifer plantation past the car park for Cemaes head was full of small birds including a Grasshopper Warbler, Siskin, Redpolls, Linnets and Willow Warblers.
On the head the highlight was looking down at a Kestrel hovering over the a lot of seals in the sea. Everytime it flew over them, they all put their heads out of the water!
Also a pair of Peregrine and 6 Chough (one was ringed, green on its left and red on its right).
Wheatears were in every field, probably over 50 seen altogether, mostly Greenland race.
Several Gannets were flying past the head but only a couple of Razorbills.

Marloes

A brief walk to the beach produced;
1 Swift
1 male Kestrel, hovering over the cliff tops
1 Whimbrel, 3 Choughs, c15 Swallows.

Pencarnan & access for rarities generally

John & Marion your sightings are envied and your dilemma appreciated.

I am not surprised to hear now that the owner will permit access in future (I am also delighted!), provided he is in control of the situation. Believe me it would have to be a special bird to attract 300 birders this far west, even if it whatever it is stays for weeks! I am confident that any situation can be managed effectively, given proper discussion with appropriate people and careful management - the Pechora Pipit being a great example here.

I know some had concerns about releasing the Rose-coloured Starling news, but even this went largely succesfully, and the one problem that did occur could easily have been solved by releasing the news for a defined period and then witholding it (as was eventually done, with some great efforts from Richard D). I believe that in 99% of cases a bit of effort on our part when the bird is found can smooth the way to enable news to be released for special birds - just read the account of the Kent Dark-eyed Junco in this month's Birdwatch to see what I mean (whilst you're reading that don't forget the excellent article on the Marloes Black Duck!!!!!!!!).

A message to all - if in doubt, please don't hesitate to get in touch with me, Paul, Richard, Jon G or whoever, to talk things through and we can work together to try and ensure everyone can enjoy all the good birds Pembrokeshire will no doubt have in the future - the last couple of years have been really good, we're on a roll! Right, I'm off to find a Cattle Egret!!!!

Access to Pencarnan Caravan Park

Following the events of last Tuesday (see below) we would like to relate "the facts" surrounding the discovery of the "two specials" found late in the evening.

Our initial instinct regarding access was there would be a problem. Suffice to say, the area is private. However, at sunrise on Wednesday we searched the fields for both birds and did not relocate them, and further searches later that day and the following morning produced the same result.

The discovery of such scarce species came as no surprise: we refer to the field where they were found as "Dick's Field" following the discovery here of Richard's Pipits by Paul G three years ago and by us last year. This week 5 Ringed Plovers fed here. A flock of 11 White Wags likewise, not to mention its attraction to Wheatears. This headland attracts migrants!

So, with all these events in mind, we approached the owner of Pencarnan Caravan Park, Alan Richardson. He is fully acquainted with the tribal instinct and passion of Birders, that 300 hundred members of their clan could descend upon his land......and he welcomes them......so long as he is informed of the situation and has control of entry.

Teifi Brent Goose

A dark- bellied Brent Goose upstream from the railings this morning.
2 Whimbrel in front of The Webley. 12 Common Sands and 8 Redshank by Jewsons.

Something (s) very special for Pencarnan

A little belated this message.... we have no internet access at Pencarnan, but we would like to tell you what occured on Tuesday 22nd.

Dawn broke clear and windless. By 06:30 (when the sun sat on the horizon) we had walked the 200 metre track from the caravan park to Trefeiddan Marsh and in doing so had recorded 4 reeling Grasshopper Warblers. Out near St Justinian we heard another one. During Spring migration it is not unusual to find Groppers along open field boundaries close to cliff tops.

During the morning we carried out our first tetrad visit for the BTO Atlas; a strictly 2 hour count of every bird identified. It's a fun challenge. Most notable sightings were 3 Sandwich Terns moving through Whitesands Bay(they have been trickling through for a week or more) and a Red-throated Diver, and along the coast path south from the lifeboat station were 2 occupied Raven's nests. Easy to observe, one held 3 almost fully fledged young, the second a sitting adult. On nearby, and recently sown fields, migratory Pied Wagtails fed (alba outnumbered yarrellii).

Back at the caravan park the day progressed with a steady passage of Swallows, Sand Martins, as was the case all this week (no House Martins), and chittering Whimbrels (5 feeding outside our caravan yesterday morning).

And then, late in the afternoon, during one final look around the fields surrounding the park, we found a female Lapland Bunting and a Short-toed Lark.....we said it was a special day. It had began with a reeling sunrise and finished with a rarity sunset

More Migrants

Lots of Garden Warblers on H'west Golf course today, seemed like there was one in every bush!

Pom Skuas

I saw two adult light phase Pomarine Skuas fly west past Carregwastad at 15:00 and 10 Wheatears along the coast from Pen Anglas.

Teifi marshes

A male Tufted duck on the Bass lagoon - although not a rarity, the only records for the last two years on the Teifi seem to have been single sightings in the autumn.
2 Cetti's singing and 1 Sedge Warbler. 1 Whimbrel flew over the by-pass bridge, calling.

Fishguard Area

Strumble Head this morning 25+ Sand Martins,Grasshopper Warbler,several Whitethroats and 2 Siskin.
Goodwick Moor 2 Cetti's Warblers singing,Kingfisher by the newly open water area on the moor,12 Whimbrel in the harbour.
Heathfield Gravel Pit 150+ Sand Martins. (Adrian and Steve)

Blackpool Mill area
Birds of note - Tuesday 22nd April male Lesser Spotted Woodpecker seen, heard calling and drumming. Been back last 2 mornings to relocate this very elusive bird without success. Thursday 24th April pair of Green Sandpipers and Woodcock flushed from Leat. Male Goshawk flew over marsh area.

A Snippet

A super Male Lesser Whitethroat has been singing & showing well all day on Honeyborough Ind Est Yesterday & today. Single Whimbrel overflew yesterday.

Iceland Gull

I saw a similar looking (to my earlier sightings and to today's Newport bird?) immature fly west past Carregwastad at 16:30.

Teifi

Quiet this evening without the large numbers of small waders that were around last week.
1 Whimbrel and 6 Common Sands at Jewsons.

Ducks, Larks & Buntings

At Marloes Mere this evening the female Black Duck showing once more from the new hide with a drake Mallard (she is evidently not on eggs!), and the pair of Garganey also on show in the same 'scope view! A few migrants around - 2 Wheatears, several Willow Warblers, a few Sand Martins.

A message from John Best (who cannot Blog until Friday), he discovered a Short-toed Lark & a Lapland Bunting in a private field in the St. David's Area this evening. Sadly no access is likely, but he just wanted people to know that they are not being uneccessarily surpressed and no-one else will be allowed access (my words, not John's).

Newport Tues am

Initially just the 2 Little Egrets at the bridge, then c12 Whimbrel at the Boat Club. On the way back a white gull flew off whilst I was checking the ID book, but relocated above the bridge with a big flock of Herrings & Lesser BBs. A Persil white presumably 1st winter Iceland (no darker markings at all but the bare parts colour was ok & the eye black).
Also 1 Common Sand, & just as I was about to leave the Black T Godwit appeared.

The Gann, Marloes, Deer Park

At The Gann this morning 8 Whimbrel, 2 Grey Pover, 11 Dunlin, 1 Turnstone, 2 Ringed Plover.
At Marloes Mere the Garganey were not on show, 2 Shoveller, 3 Gadwall, a few Mallard and Teal. 6 Willow Warblers.
Deer Park pretty quiet, 4 Chough, 6 Wheatears, 6 Whimbrel passing.

Shrike

The Shrike was present this morning but not at Ty Rhyg. It flew into the plantation area on the other side of the road; at the brow of the hill just to the south. Also Red Kite and Kestrel nearby.

Crymych

Sightings from Kevin Johns via e mail:- This morning at Maes y Garn, Crymych Red Kite 1, Cuckoo 2 calling, wheatear 11, 3 skylarks displaying and 2 swallows

Marloes Mere

Yesterday evening:
Garganey, male & female, showing well.
Merlin, female.
Willow Warblers 10+.

Angle / Broadhaven / Pembroke

This evening at Kilpaison shortly before high tide 24 Whimbrel and 2 Barwits. No small waders.

Sightings for this morning via e mail from Paul Gosling staying at Broadhaven:- Whitethroat 2, Blackcap,1 Sedge Warbler 2, Willow Warbler 1, Chiffchaff 2, Swallow 4, Whimbrel 7 (plus others heard whilst in bed last night).

Photo sent in by Jan Hannaford, Pembroke "Sparrowhawk, male, flew into my balcony , (6p.m.) stayed for 5 mins then flew away unharmed" A stunning bird.

Pen Anglas

Today at Pen Anglas just 12 Wheatears very different from yesterday but a female Redstart present. (Adrian and Steve)

Marloes Mere

Like everyone else I was gobsmacked when walking at Marloes Mere this evening, lots of Willow Warblers and a Redstart but most impressive was the spread of Wheatears - at times there were 4 or 5 on each gorse bush! I wouldf estimate over 100 on the south side of the Mere alone. To my eye the majority were of the Greenland variety. Didn't see the Garganey and no sign of the Black Duck, but it's getting more difficult to see the ducks there now as the vegetation grows.

Ring-billed Gull

Steve Hinton e-mailed me this evening to say that he had the Ringer at the Gann briefly this morning, and here's the photo to prove it!

ST Davids peninsular.

1 Sandwich Tern feeding off White sands beach with 7 Whimbrel on the beach. Whimbrel also seen at Ivors pond 2 Penberry 13 St Davids Airfield 8.Ivors pond 40 Sandmartins.The highlight of the day being the fall of Wheatears they seemed to be everywhere this morning every back road, hedge row and telegraphwires seemed to be covered in them.Early evening St Davids Airfield at least 100 Wheaters.

Ramsey - 20 April

Nice pictures Lyndon. In addition to the hoopoe we also had male black redstart, 2 pied flys and 150+ willow warblers. Grasshopper warbler at Porth Clais. Boats should be running tomorrow looking at forecast.

Teifi this evening

At high tide at Jewsons, 7 Little Egrets in a tree and 14 Common Sands on low branches over the water. There seem to be more around than usual this spring compared to previous records.
3o Dunlin kept trying to land on the spit but the Sparrowhawk was patrolling again. 2 more Common Sands by The Webley.

What a difference a day makes!

Yesterday bundled up against the wind & rain - today warm enough with just a fleece, & migrants everywhere.
In the copse at Gt Castle Head, 2 Willow warbs singing, 2 Blackcaps singing, Chiffs also, on the irrigation pond 16 Swallows feeding.
4 Whimbrel heading towards Sandyhaven.
1 Grasshopper warbler, singing in the hedge which borders our house & the neighbouring field( at St Ishmaels)
Marloes mere.
Drake & duck Garganey still present, numerous chiffs, willows by the hide, a possible Lesser whitethroat & a fleeting glimpse of a small wader which at first looked like common sand (no wing bar) completely dark brown above - landed somewhere to the right of the hide, & vanished despite attempts to find it!
As yet no Cattle egret!!

Hoopoe on Ramsey Island

The Hoopoe was showing well on Ramsey Island this morning. For landing details contact Thousand Islands wildlife expeditions in St David's, on arrival to the Island please speak to the Warden for further information.

Big falls near Angle

Encouraged by the recent run of easterlies we chose today to explore the western end of the Angle peninsula hoping for something special...like Alpine Swift, Hoopoe or a Red-rump! No such luck, but on the coastal path in the region of Sheep's Island we found every bit of shrubbery dripping with Willow Warblers; we were reminded of Lesvos in autumn. In the same area, during a 45 minute walk, we counted 57 Wheatear.

On Sheep's Island sat a sentinel Peregrine. We have walked this section of the coastal path every year since the year 2000 and there, on every occasion it has sat, no doubt on the look-out for tired migrants. It couldn't chose a better site.

Back near the East Block House a Whitethroat rose up out of a bush and scratched out its song while within a Sedge Warbler chatted excitedly. There's no waste of time once they have arrived.

At West Angle Bay a flock of 12 Whimbrel flew over and a Barwit fed on the water's edge.

The only bird of note at Pwllcochan was a Great-crested Grebe in full summer plumage.

Various

Sat: 4 Great Northern Divers still off Newgale, 1 mid range, 3 together quite a way out. Moulting, possibly first-summers? A Whimbrel on the Marsh, along with a singing Sedge Warbler.

Sun: 4+ Wheatears on the inner breakwater at Fishguard, also a Sandwich Tern & a Common Sandpiper.

Full details of the wanderings of the Gann Brent Goose can found here.

Marloes & Crymych

Sightings via e mail:-
From John Morgan - At Marloes Mere this morning, Gadwall, Shoveler, Garganey still there. None can be seen from the hide but in the ditch to the left of the hide. Also 3 Whitethroat & a ring tail Hen Harrier hunting over the reed beds.
From Kevin Johns - Maes Y Garn, Crymych a.m. 2 Red Kite quartering the fields, 2 skylarks singing, single sparrowhawk flying through

Manorbier & St Govan's

In the woods behind the Castle at Manorbier this morning loads of bird song including Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff and Blackcap. Also an unexpected female Pied Flycatcher. 11 Wheatear in one field. In bushes near the beach a Lesser Whitethroat, whislt at sea some Gannets and a few auks close in and 18 Whimbrel flew past. A Kestrel flew across the bay.
At St Govans bumped into John and Marion and here there were 2 Common Whitethroat, 10+ Wheatear, lots of Willow/Chiffs, 3 Chough and a Kestrel.
Round at Stack Rocks not an auk to be seen on the stacks and only a very few on the sea.

Martin's Haven & Marloes Mere, 19 April

The Gargeney were wonderful. I spent about an hour but could not relocate them after they had flushed. Still several pairs of Teal around, Mallard and a couple of Dabchicks. Heard brief snatches of song from a distant Reed or Sedge Warbler in the Mere.

Like Derek, lots of Wheatear on the fields on the south coast back to Martin's Haven: incredibly bright plumages. 20+ in the newly-fallowed/sulphured field, so the process must be good for feeding, and also appreciated by a party of 5 Choughs

Martin's Haven: 3 male Blackcaps feeding intensively but not singing, 4-6 each Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs, some singing briefly but not continuously. Good numbers of Linnet, but not obviously holding territory. A pair of kestrels circling fairly high, late in the afternoon; did not otherwise see the normally resident kestrels that frequent the valley.
Found a slow worm, saw a badger!

Fishguard Area

A walk along the Parrog this morning produced 6 Wheatears,onto Goodwick Moor at least 2 possibly 3 Cetti's Warblers singing,also Sedge Warbler,Grasshopper Warbler,Whitethroat and a fly over Redpoll.
Then upto Pen Anglas 2 Whitethroats,a Grasshopper Warbler,we also saw a probable fly over Lapland Bunting but did not get enough to be certain,on the way back in one ploughed field 50+ Wheatear and 9 White Wagtails.Not a bad morning (Adrian and Steve)

Tegryn

65 Golden plover just flew over the village (heading S.E.). Pair of Siskin at feeders. I have never seen them here in April before.
Friday evening (18th) kestrel just west of Newport.

Marloes

A quick walk down to the beach & up the path to the YHA this morning;
1 Willow warbler singing,
31 Wheatears in the "ploughed" field next to the coast path
12 Whimbrel overhead.
Didn`t have time to take a proper look at the mere.

Teifi

Early this morning, two Sandwich Tern from the Webley. 88 Dunlin, 37 Ringed Plover, 2 Turnstone and 1 Sanderling on the spit. 7 Little Egrets roosting opposite St Dogmaels quay. 7 Common Sands and just 2 remaining Redshank at Jewsons.
High tide roost this evening by the Webley, 4 Whimbrel frightened off by a Sparrowhawk.

Breeding Birds Atlas - non-breeders/migrants

There have been queries on the Bird Atlas Forum about dealing with species with no breeding evidence - migrants, long-staying winter visitors etc. This is what Dawn Balmer, BTO Atlas Project Organiser advises:

"We are keen to be as complete as possible in our recording during the breeding season fieldwork months of April-July. If we collect as much info as possible, including species with no code, then we might be able to do some interesting things with the data. There will be information on passage migrants that we might be able to combine with data from other sources to add interest in the final analysis.

In the areas I rove I still have quite a lot of winter visitors present such as Teal, Snipe, Goldeneye, Goosander and I've been entering these with no code to indicate they are still present in the tetrad on that specific date.

Please encourage your volunteers to enter Roving Records without breeding codes if none apply".

black guillemot

Black Guillemot seen off White Sands beach early afternoon very quite with very few migrants seen elsewhere on the St Davids peninsula.

Broadhaven

Sightings via e mail from Paul Gosling on holiday at Broadhaven. Seen from coast path north of Broadhaven :- Gannets, Guillemots and Common Scoter on sea, plus 1 BT Diver, Whimbrel 1 over.

Robin

Nest found at Ty Canol with four chicks 4/5 days old. Tree creeper nest building.
At least four territorial male redstarts and a pied fly.
!st summer Goshawk over Ty Canol farm fields and four fieldfare from the rocks at the top.
My first whitethroat (singing male) at Farchongle Isaf

Black-t godwit still at Newport with three common sands.

A pair of Garganey

A stunning male at Marloes mere with femail companion, right in front of the new hide for 5 mins, I met Sash on the the track as I left - who had also seen them, & very pleased he was too!
Also some 15 Wheatears on the fields next to the coast path behind the YHA.

Pied Flycatcher

Sighting via e mail from John Morgan of a male pied flycatcher at Blackpool Mill today - on the metal fence next to the cafe.

Updated Google satellite photo-maps

Take a look at the latest Google-earth maps when you are adding Atlas "Roving" or Bird-track records. The images have improved vastly covering the Pembrokeshire area. The general detail is so good, I can now quite easily pick-out the new boardwalk detail at Llangloffan Fen NNR finished a year ago.

The maps may be updated further to even greater detail according to a media-release today. It should help you plot those breeding birds or mega-rarity with ease.

Teifi & Llys-y-fran resr. & migrants

Teifi;- HT roosts tonight.
Poppit , c100 Dunlin, 47 Ringed Plover, 1 Sanderling.
Webley, 5 Curlew, 1 Whimbrel, 2 Bar-tail Godwits, 1 Grey Plover.
(Wendy J. & Richard D.)

Llys-y-fran resr;-
c60 Sand Martins, 12 Great Crested Grebes, all behaving as pairs!
c60 L.B.B.Gulls.
Rosebush resr, nothing from the road.

Mullock;-
Steve S. did his first BBS visit on Wednesday, recorded Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler & Lesser Whitethroat.

Bosherston Lakes - easterly breeze

Today, alerted by visiting CCW Newport Wetlands warden, Tom Dalrimpole, we recorded a fine full summer-plumage black tern, a species not often recorded here in spring. It spent the whole day feeding among a large number of hirundines (3 spp) on the eastern arm.

The 3 remaining red-head goosanders have been joined by a male. He has spent most of the week pursuing at least one of the females. These are the latest spring-stayers at Bosherston and I wonder if they may even consider attempting to breed. There appear to be huge numbers of roach in numerous shoals so perhaps it might tempt them - we will be watching with interest!

On the coast a nice trickle of greenland wheatears has been passing through during the latter half of the week, but local wheatears are still decidedly absent in areas where they usually breed. So far only one out of 5-6 territories is currently occupied. Whimbrels are now turning up a bit more regularly on the peninsula - 4 on Stackpole Hd and 3 St Govans Hd this evening.

The still very cold and poor weather may be having an impact on chough. Many pairs are not yet showing any signs of incubating (they are some two weeks late now). Thanks to strong south-easterlies this month an active raven nest on Stackpole Head, has been blown off its ledge since early April. This nest site had been successful for some 15 years in a row.

With strong winds from this direction though - there must be something really good out there somewhere!

Easterlies in spring...

Thanks for the Ramsey information Greg & Lisa, we should be hopeful that more good birds will be found (not just on the islands please!) as the easterlies are set to continue over the weekend. Hoopoes in a number of places nationally, as well as Pallid Harrier (Norfolk) and a few other goodies. Wader passage worth keeping a close eye on too, we are well overdue a Broad-billed Sandpiper!

No news on the Black Duck since last Saturday - have many people tried and failed since then? Maybe she's on eggs....

I also can't decide whether easterlies makes it more or less likely that we'll finally get an elusive Cattle Egret!

Ramsey Island Sightings

Hoopoe found this afternoon. Wryneck and black redstart too. No boats for past 2 days and looking doubtful for tomorrow but call Thousand Islands in morning on 01437 721721 to check....if anyone wants to come over and find some more rares that is!

Newport Fri am

2 Hours later than Richard.
At the bridge the resplendent Black T Godwit with still 2 Little Egrets, 2 Common Sands & very unusually a pair of Pochard.
Further downstream 3 or 4 more Common Sands, 20 Ringed Plover, 27 Dunlin & 2 Sanderling.

Ramsey, Fishguard, Tycanol(again) & Heathfield.

Ramsey Island;-
Wryneck & Black Redstart present today.
Fishguard Harbour;-
Black Throated Diver off the lifeboat station area at c1230.
Heathfield G.P. ;-
c100 Sand Martins, otherwise v.quiet there.
Tycanol NNR.;-
Redstart now seen this am, as well as Pied Flycatcher today.
No sign of the secretive nearby Hoopoe!
(Karen).

Pied Fly. -- Tycanol & Teifi

Tycanol NNR;-
Male Pied Flycatcher this morning(Karen).

Teifi;-this am,
Patch; 1 Sanderling, 45 Ringed Plover, 4 Turnstone, 20 Dunlin & Sparrowhawk.
Webley/Poppit; 1 Grey Plover, 70+ Dunlin.

Angle (again)

At Kilpaison early this morning signs that the wader passage is well underway with 44 Ringed Plover, 50 Dunlin, 1 Sanderling and 5 Whimbrel (click on photo for larger image). Also 1 White Wagtail and a lone Brent Goose which seems to have been hanging around Angle Bay all week.

More photos here.

Fishguard & Newport, early this am.

Fishguard;-
HT, Stena's crossing info board sum's it up;-- force 6-8 Easterly!
Harbour choppy & bitterly cold, 2 Ringed Plover & 3 Turnstone was all I could find on the beach with the Oystercatchers, may be other stuff sheltering?

Newport;-
A different world, still HT but practically windless!
On the dunes, 2 Sanderling, 1 Grey Plover, 15 Dunlin, 4 Ringed Plover & Peregrine. The Blk-tailed Godwit on a grass island above the bridge.

Fishguard

Records via e mail from Leo Reich for 17th April:- 4 Wheatear on the rocks at 1:00pm in Fishguard harbour. 2 common sands. on the beach with 3 Curlew, which was nice to see. Lots of first winter Herring Gulls as well. There was also 12 Oystercatcher probing in the sand On the 15th on Ramsey there were 3 chough and 9 purple sands. on the cliffs. Also a few early seabirds including Razorbill, Guillimot, Fulmar, Kittiwake and Cormorant.

Goodwick & Northern Headlands

I managed to see one of the elusive Cetti's on the Moor, a pair of Kestrels were hovering together over Pen Anglas and at 18:30 two Whimbrel came in off the sea at Carregwastad.

Angle Bay

Late afternoon/evening at Kilpaison 12 Ringed Plover, 5 Dunlin, 1 Sanderling, 1 Turnstone, 2 Wheatears, 7 White Wags and 1 Brent Goose.

Tawny Owl

A single bird flew across the road at Deerland farm - close to St Ishmaels, one of perhaps 2 or 3 that I sometimes see in this area.

Teifi

On the spit just after high tide this evening, over 100 Dunlin, 12 Ringed Plover, 2 Turnstone and a Sanderling. Looking over towards the Webley, another 50 Dunlin and a summer plumage Knot.
Several Whimbrel could be heard in the direction of the dunes but not seen.
56 Shelduck and 28 Oystercatchers around the estuary. 2 Redshank by the railings.

Wryneck, -- Ramsey today.

News from Greg, via Birdline Wales.

first cuckoo

I heard my first cuckoo for this year nr Gelly this morning, there was also a red kite feeding in the field with the cattle this morning.

Skomer

Records via e mail from Den Vaughan:-
My first redstart (male) seen around the farm, a scattering of chiffs and willows over the island (C.5 willows, 15 chiffs), male blackcap also. Steady, thin trickle of swallows going north from late morning and three whimbrel also. Lots of peregrine action all day. Good numbers of all auks. Chough completely absent - on eggs? 1st house martin in Maenclochog this morning.

Black Tern -- Marloes Mere

A Black Tern has been reported from Marloes Mere, late morning. (per Mervyn J.)

Teifi, & failed Hoopoe search.

Teifi;-
Patch, 11 Whimbrel, these started off on Poppit beach before disturbance. 12 Ringed Plover, 4 Turnstone, 2 Dunlin, 1 Common Sand., 2 Wheatear.
Jewsons, 9 Common Sands.
St. Dogmaels Quay, 4 Common Sands., 25 Dunlin, 5 Ringed Plover, 2 Golden Plover.

Hoopoe,- Pentre Ifan area;-
Wendy J., Steve B., & I spent 2 hrs. looking in the recorded area for the Hoopoe, no joy, lots of lovely Hoopoe habitat.

North Pembs, this am a Good Start!

Fishguard Harbour;-
8 Ringed Plover, 1 Dunlin, 1 Common Sand., 1 White Wagtail, 5 Turnstone, on the beach.
Off the ferry Berth, only 1 Black Guillemot, -- a bit rough in this easterly.
Goodwick Moor;-
1 Grasshopper Warbler singing, 2 Cetti's singing.

Newport Dunes;-
4 Sandwich Terns on the sand, 1 more flew in & on to a bouy as I left.
6 White Wagtails, 1 Common Sand, 14 Ringed Plover, 10 Dunlin, 11 Whimbrel.
From the bridge, upstream, 5 more Common Sands. & the super looking Black-tailed Godwit!
(Teifi Next.)

Carregwastad

I saw four Whimbrel fly about round the headland and away west at 17:45 and later some porpoises as well.

Fishguard Harbour

Common Dolphin in Fishguard Harbour,
Cliff B. has reported that there is a Common Dolphin in the harbour, on the Stena side. The dolphin may have been in the harbour for some time & may be trying to strand itself.

Teifi tonights HT.

Patch;-
24 Ringed Plover, 14 Dunlin, 4 Turnstone, 1 Sanderling.
St. Dogmaels Quay;-
6 Little Egret, 6 Common Sands, 25 Redshank, 28 Oystercatcher, 7 Curlew, 3 B.h.Gulls, & 1 Common Gull. 1 Teal appeared as the tide started to go out & 46+ Shelduck around the estuary.
(Wendy J, & Richard D.)

red kite

A Red Kite seen low over the caravan site at Porthselau this morning a very drab individual and atleast 7 Sandwich Terns fishing between Porthselau and Whitesands beach this afternoon.Kestrel seen yesterday and today hunting over the cliffs above Porthselau beach.

kestrel nr Wiston

A kestrel hovering at Colby Moor nr Wiston this morning.

North Pembs. -- & Hoopoe

Nr. St. David's YHA;-
A White Wagtail in a horse paddock,
Porthselau;-
A Coal Tit (unusual?). Still plenty of Willow Warblers. (Paul G.)

Fishguard Harbour;-
This pm 13 Whimbrel on the beach, but flew off. 4 Common Sands still nr. Flagpoles.
Cetti's singing from behind Sea View Hotel. (Adrian R.)

Hoopoe;-
Again seen, (first seen Mon 7th April), this sighting on a track to a farm off the road that leads to Pentre Ifan burial chamber. This is c 1km from the original sighting.
The lady saw the bird at c1400 today, not since. The lady has said that she will contact us if the bird is seen again. We will contact the lady & look for the bird again in the morning.
This area is small sheep pasture fields that border Tycanol NNR.

Iron Bridge, Newport

3 common sands, 1 black-tail godwit in summer plumage, 2 little grebe, 4 shelduck, (& a dog scattering all the birds towards the beach end!)

Marloes / Gann

At Marloes this morning 3 Sandwich Terns close into the beach, a Peregrine, 2 Kestrels (Male and Female) and 25 Chough in one flock over the cliffs. At the Mere no sign of the Black Duck, a nice summer plumage Little Grebe trilling right in front of the hide and a few Chiffchaffs and Willow Warblers in the bushes.

At the Gann early p.m. 2 Whimbrel with 5 Curlew on the beach.

White Wagtail

I saw one in the ploughed field closest to the harbour village at Pen Anglas at 14:00.

Heronries

Has anyone been counting heronries recently? In particular, I'm looking for counts from Eastwood over the last few years.

This is the best time to count occupied nests - before the leaves obscure them. Sometimes a heronry appears with only one or two nests, and may disappear in a year or two. Even these records are useful.

Thanks
Annie

Tegryn

55 Golden plover flying west over the village approx 14.30.

Teifi & Cemaes Hd.

Teifi;-
8 Common Sands, & 16 Redshank at Jewsons this am. 1 Red Breasted Merganser(m) in the estuary off The Webley.
Cemaes Head;-
2 White Wagtails in a horse paddock, at the last farm. Willow Warblers & Goldfinches? the main migrants seen. Swallows outnumbered Sand Martins although small nos.
On the pebble beach below the head, a personal record count of 226 Grey Seals hauled out.

Pied/White Wagtails - a wagging tail of passion

Noted the start of a steady passage of white wagtails at Stackpole over the last week or so. Today though it was interesting to watch a handsome male white singing and then fighting with a male pied (also singing) at a territory he has been occupying for a few weeks now. A female (pied) was clearly the one raising the passions of both birds.

I assume that the white will move on, but wonder if he might just manage to mate with the pied female before he goes? He was certainly trying and seemed to be getting her attentions! She has been nest-building for a few days now. In Scotland there is certainly regular evidence of white breeding and I believe pied/white hybrids breeding too. Perhaps our west coast wagtails are getting in on the act, but which tail will end up wagging most?

Pipit sp at Pen Anglas

I had a big pipit with a relatively faintly streaked contrasting warm back, a diffuse but broad eye-stripe, pale cheeks, white fringes to the greater and dark lesser coverts and pale fringes to the primaries in the field on the right just past the gate at 13:45!
I couldn't find it again later unfortunately, isn't it the wrong season for a Richard's?

my swallows are back

There was at least 2 swallows back in our buildings this morning, so they must have come with the Narberth house martins. There was about 20 golden plover in a field nr Gelly yesterday calling and displaying, but they have gone today.

Local News

Today, 14thApril, here in Narberth, the first returning House Martins are back in town, and down on our patch (Waundrwgi Farm) a pair of Willow Tits are busily excavating a hole. During this activity the pair take alternate turns removing a bill-full of wood, working at a rate of up to ten visits per minute, and that includes flying off and depositing the chippings away from the hole. It is quite something to watch.

North Pembs. -- today

Teifi;-
No sign of the Egyptian Goose, but a female Goosander on the river on the Reserve.
2 Cetti's singing, 1 showed well nr. Kingfisher hide.
16 Redshank & 1 Common Sand. at Jewsons.

Fishguard Harbour;-
2 Black Guillemots, 1 Red Td. Diver, in the Harbour & 4 Purple Sands. on the Outer B/w.

Goodwick Moor;-
Grasshopper Warbler & Cetti's singing this evening.(Adrian R.)

Penberry;-
c250 Sand Martins(Paul G.)

Ty- Rhyg;- no sign of the Gt. G. Shrike today in 30mins. Presumably gone.
(Richard C.)

Disappointed

Spent an hour with several other birders at Wooltack point after hearing the "Dale princess" wasn`t going to Skomer, nothing to speak of in the way of birds just my 1st Willow warbler.
Just for Paddy, a femail Kestrel hunting over Mullock bridge marsh early this am. The blackboard outside Lockley lodge gift shop informing of local birds, also mentioned a Kestrel being seen, but didn`t say when!

Egyptian Goose

Went back to the Teifi late morning for another look at the Egyptian Goose with Richard D.
Having swum upstream, it could only be viewed from a private garden opposite the creek. It was on a shingle bank with a Mallard, looking very restless probably because an otter just walked past it! Then in the same scope view the otter could be seen wrestling in the water with a huge salmon. If only we had a video camera with us - you don't often get sights like that.
With the tide coming in, it flew downstream again. If it stays around the best place to locate it from would probably be from the bypass bridge.
Of note, there was an Egyptian goose at Dryslwyn yesterday.

Teifi marshes

At least 3 Cetti's singing, 1 lesser whitethroat and a grasshopper warbler. c10 Willow warblers in the reeds by kingfisher hide with c50 sandmartins.
On the river, an Egyptian goose from the first hide on the railway track, so actually Ceredigion unless it swims upstream a bit.

Fishguard Harbour & other news

Fishguard Harbour;
2 Black Guillemots still on the ferry terminal side.
Sum. plum. Red Td. Diver, win. plum. Gt.N.Diver, & Gt. Ctd. Grebe seen there this am. Also 2 Common Sands.(Steve B. & Richard D.)
Steve also had a win.plum. Bk.Td.Diver later in the harbour!

Chevron Refinery-- Angle;
A survey at the site where the Lapwings nest, showed that 10 pairs may be present this year.
The highest total yet! A colour-ringed bird (last years young) is also present. (John H.)

Newgale;- Y'day
2 Gt. N. Divers.
(Paul G.)

Skomer -- Sunday

No boats today, weather deteriorating, boats do not sail on a Monday.
No news on Bluethroat, or confirmation that it was seen yesterday.

Osprey

Sighting via e mail from Tessa & Jeff Pearson:- Watched Osprey fishing at Slebech just as tide turned about 3.30. Fantastic sight with large fish still wriggling in its claws.

Red Kite - West Williamston area

A red kite was over WW this afternoon, it landed in trees after sparring with the local male Buzzard. It did not look very red, probably an imm. Not much else of note, apart from good numbers of chiffchaffs and blackcaps everywhere now, plus a few willow warblers singing nr Narberth where 2-3 pairs of siskins were also pretty vocal.

Bits

My first Whitethroat today - from the bike near St. David's Airfield.

No sign of the Lesser 'Pecker at Picton Point late afternoon, and no sign of the Osprey here or at Minwear View, though 3 Green Sandpipers here was nice.

Black Guillemots - Fishguard

An update on this mornings visit to Fishguard Harbour;-
Wendy J. is currently watching 2 adult Black Guillemots close in, off the inner breakwater!

A text contribution from Jon G. " 3 tomorrow or a family in June!"

Swallows in trouble

Item from Birdlife South Africa:

Tens of thousands of swallows have died in Limpopo province a week before they were due to migrate to Europe, said BirdLife SA on Wednesday.
Executive director Gerhard Verdoorn said the vast climate changes during March, from the extremely hot to the bitterly cold, played a major role in the death of the swallows.

About three weeks ago, cold air from Angola passed over Namibia and Botswana and entered the South African Lowveld. Temperatures plummeted from 21° to 9°. "Because of this, the birds could not feed properly as it was too wet and too rainy for them to get the food. They became hypothermic (low body temperatures) and hypoglycaemic (low blood-sugar levels)," said Verdoorn.

Farmers and people in the area became alarmed as they thought the birds were being poisoned. "The tens of thousands of birds were falling down everywhere and just dying," he said.

The birds were supposed to migrate on March 23, the day of the equinox, but disaster struck around March 17 when temperatures dropped rapidly. "The bulk of birds that did manage to survive started their migration on March 28," said Verdoorn.

The mass death of birds started in about 2000 in the Bushveld and Free State. "Over the past couple of years it has become a more-frequent occurrence and it is not only the swallows that are being affected but several other species of birds."

Verdoorn said there were no short-term solutions to the problem as no one could change the weather. "The weather changes occurring are vast. February was regarded as being the wet month and March the drier one, but now the situation has changed."

11 April - Bosherston area

Continuing good passage of sand martins all this week; 300+ estimated over the lakes this afternoon, probably similar numbers moving through all week. Smaller numbers of swallows and house martins but still no swallows back at Home Farm/NT base breeding sites. They are back at several other farms in south Pembs.

Whimbrels (3) on Stackpole Warren and several sandwich terns off Barafundle Bay. Goosanders still present, but down in number to 3 females. Green Woodpecker yaffling but only 1 territory confirmed so far. Nesting ravens have young now.

Saturday -- early news

Skomer;
No boats!
The Island has no news on the Bluethroat yet.

Fishguard Harbour;-
1 adult Black Guillemot off the ferry berth this morning.(0730)

If you do see a Black Guillemot in the harbour, please try & age the bird, ad's have a pure white wing patch. On 1st sum's some black feathers are present in the white.
Last summer we had both ages present.
The first bird seen last year was in June, so April this year......

Goodwick Moor;-
Cetti's Warblers singing from both the usual sides of the reserve.

In the south of the county, Steve S. estimates that there are as many as 10 singing Cetti's, mainly around the Golf Course at Penally!!

BLUETHROAT -- Skomer

Skomer;-
White-spotted Bluethroat still present today.
See photo below;

NO BOATS likely tomorrow either.

Teifi -am.

Jewsons;
3 Common Sands., 23 Redshank.
Patch;
8 Ringed Plover, 1 Dunlin.
Railings;
5 Wigeon.
Marshes;
sev. Blackcaps now singing, Cetti's singing by Heron Hide.

This afternon Wendy(J) found a Whimbrel in front of The Webley.

Tegryn

Approx 1200 + Golden plover in the Tegryn area on Thursday 10th. Small parties flying around early this morning (Fri) too.

Skomer -- Friday Update. 0800

Skomer;-
Just spoken with Jo, (Warden),
They have had a couple of birders out looking this am, NO SIGN of the Bluethroat so far.

The Boatmen have said that it is 90% that they will not sail anyway due to the weather!

Jo will update us with any changes to the above.

BirdLine Wales will carry all updates when received.

Mike Butler & Colin Vyvyan were the finders, excellent reward for their overnight stay on the island!

BLUETHROAT -- White-spotted

SKOMER, TODAY Thursday 10 April

C.1400 today a White-spotted BLUETHROAT was found in front of the hide overlooking the pool - see photo emailed in by Colin Vyvyan.

We will have information at c.0800 in the morning on whether the bird has been seen,
and importantly whether there will be any sailings to the island.(Bad weather expected.)

Birdline Wales will carry the information as soon as we know.

Black Duck & lots more today.

Marloes Mere;-
The female Black Duck showing in front of the hide. c10 Willow Warblers around the hide.
The Gann, Dale;-
The 1st sum. Ring Billed Gull feeding with Common Gulls on the tide-line this pm as the tide was going out. Also 18 P.B.Brent Geese.

Minwear Viewpoint;-
The Osprey was seen a couple of times this morning from here, perched in trees opposite, slightly upstream.
Picton Point, wood opposite Heron Cottage;-
The male Lesser Spotted Woodpecker showed v. well, if briefly, calling & druming this am.

Skomer;-
As well as the BLUETHROAT , the first Swift was seen today.

Pembroke Upper Mill Pond;-
This am 54 Black-tailed Godwits.

Teifi;-
This afternoon 1 Whimbel from the Railings.

Cetti's Warbler -- Pembroke Upper Mill Pond

1 Cetti's Warbler trapped at the U.M.P. tonight.
John H. hasn't recorded Cetti's singing/calling there for 2 years!

c60 Black-tailed Godwits, c10 Greenshanks & Redshanks roosting tonight, plus ??no. of Sand Martins.

Cwm yr Eglwys

A small movement of Swallows(50) and Sand Martins(20) at lunchtime today also a single House Martin

Teifi at dusk

10 Wigeon still around (on the sea with 27 Shelduck).
8 Little Egrets together by the boatshed, ? passing through as I havent seen more than 5 all winter. There were 3 others feeding in the channels further down the estuary and I didnt see them fly upstream so possibly a total of 11.
6 Ringed Plover.

Osprey, Red Kite & Lesser Spot. from Picton &..

Picton Point;-
An Osprey flew upstream towards Blackpool Mill at 1315.
Soon afterwards a male Lesser Spotted Woodpecker started calling & drumming, showing very well. It's territory appears include the area of wood opp. Heron Cottage.

On route to Picton, Paul also had House Martin at Millin, & an Orange tip at The Rhos, & 2 Yellowhammers c0.5m past Creamston.
(Paul G.)

Later at Picton (1715), a House Martin flew through with Swallows & Sand Martins.
A Red Kite was also seen over the foreshore at Hook hunting along the shore.
A good sighting for the area?

Fishguard Outer Breakwater;-
3 Purple Sands. & 4 Wheatear.

Teifi & Cemaes Head;-
This am, 6 Little Egrets roosting opp. St. Dogmaels Quay with 26 Redshank.
Cemaes Hd., quiet, 3 Wheatears, a few Swallows & Sand Martins moving West.
Also a male Kestrel along the cliff, & my 1st Speckled Wood.

Newport;- tonight just 3 Ringed Plover, & pr. of Starling!

Osprey near Slebech

Graham Stephens reported seeing an osprey on the Eastern Cleddau above Slebech this morning. I was in the area this afternoon, though perhaps not close enough to the river, and didn't see it.

Annie

Razorbills & Guillemots

On April 3 at Needle Rock on Dinas Head c200 razorbills & 50 guillemots on the sea but also in large numbers on their breeding ledges. Today zilch. Not a single one.
And only 1 pair of fulmars in a complete circuit.
Sadly Blogger has forgotten me again. Does anybody get remembered and if so how?

Black Guillemot

Sighting via e mail from Mark Wilson: - There was a Tystie in Goodwick harbour to the stern of the Stena ferry just before we sailed at 14.30 last Saturday (5th).

Black-tailed Godwit -- colour-ringed

The colour-ringed Black-td Godwit (white on left/ orange over yellow above knee & white below on right), which roosts on the Pembroke Upper Mill Pond & presumably feeds on the Pembroke River; was ringed on The Wash, at Holbeach, Lincs. on 12/08/2006. It is an adult female.
The bird was also present last Spring( 07/02/2007--24/03/2007) on the Upper Mill Pond.

St. David's & North

Ivor's Pond;- 20 Willow Warblers, 1 Reed Bunting.
St. David's area;- c60 Swallows, c200 Sand Martins.
St. David's Head;- 1 Red Throated Diver.
Porthselau;- 2 Sandwich Terns.

Kestrels, Whitesands, Trefeiddan.
(Paul G.)

Pen Anglas;- Merlin(m), sev. Chiffchaffs.
(Adrian R.)

Teifi;-
1 Common Sand, Jewsons still with 18 Redshank.

Newport;- 4 Ringed Plover on Dunes tonight.

No sign of the Hoopoe this am.

Angle / Bosherston

At Kilpaison this morning at high tide c.50 Oystercatchers, again accompanied by a lone Knot. Also 7 Ringed Plovers, 1 Curlew and a Whimbrel. A dozen or so Swallows flew past and a White Wagtail was feeding amongst the seaweed on the beach. More photos here.

Round at The Lodge pretty quiet with 7 Redshank and 1 Greenshank.

Later at Bosherston 100's of Sand Martins, plenty of Chiffchaffs singing as well as a few Willow Warblers and 1 Blackcap. 4 Goosanders (Red Heads) still lingering.

Sundays April snow showers and migrants

Despite a sudden down-turn in the weather, there were good numbers of sand martins and a few swallows and house martins on the move. Hundreds of sand martins were reported over Bosherston Lakes during the day - certainly the largest number there so far this spring.

Inland it was interesting to do timed-tetrad visit to Canaston/Minwear areas - counting birds as the sleety-snow fell quite heavily for a time. Despite this, large numbers of blackcaps and chiffchaffs continued to sing throughout, with most of the local residents in full song. Nuthatches, treecreepers (visiting nest sites) and marsh tits were singing. Bullfinches seen were still in small flocks - no sign yet of any on territory.

Despite the snow, my first tree pipit of the year was calling in a usual "pipit glade". They seem to come quite early here. No sign yet of wood warblers or redstarts though. Several siskins were displaying and I wondered if the snow showers had woken up the tawny owls - three males were hooting at around mid-day in different parts of the forest.

At least two pairs of dipper are nesting between Canaston Bridge and Blackpool Mill this year. From their behaviour a couple of weeks ago they must be on eggs or even have young now.

Pembroke Upper Mill Pond.

Talking to John H. about a colour-ringed Black-tailed Godwit present there. -- sightings of which I will publish tomorrow when complete.
Tonight there 60 Black-tailed Godwits, 5 Greenshank, & c400 Sand Martins going into the reedbed. c400 Sand Martins roosting last night too.

Hoopoe & Osprey

Hoopoe;-
1 seen today on a back road (SN106365), the closest landmark being the Pentre Ifan Burial Chamber,( although this isn't on that road). It was seen at 1530 today & will be looked for first thing in the morning.

Osprey;-
1 seen on Friday 4th April at c1700, 1/2 mile upstream of Landshipping Quay on the Eastern Cleddau.

Teifi

At Patch this evening, 10 Ringed Plover in summer plumage, 2 Turnstone and still 17 Wigeon.

Fishguard Harbour

A very smart male Red-breasted Merganser in the harbour first thing this morning.
Yesterday Strumble Head 3 Red-throated Diver all in summer plumage also 4 male Common Scoter past west.

Newport Mon am - high tide

Still 4 Little Egrets at the bridge. Just 1 Greenshank & 1 Turnstone on the estuary, though c20 Oystercatchers & 2 Curlews on the roost.And only 3 pairs of Shelducks.
And wow, Blogspot finally remembered me!

Various

Marloes Mere - Black Duck still present, along with a ring-tail Hen Harrier.

Gann - 12 Ringed Plover, 1 Grey Plover, 13 Brents.

Jackdaw - had a very positive reply from Rudy, the Dutch guy who wrote the Eastern Jackdaw article mentioned below. He said "It's a Nordic one allright. Given the shape and silvery tinge I gather it's a Scandinavian one, eg Sweden or Norway. You can find a more up to date Jackdaw-article on my website, see link here.

Canadas - from the pic the two small Canadas are clearly Cackling Geese, in my opinion. Hadn't seen these pics before today: for those who have the Birds of Britain checklist that came with Birdwatch this month there's an interesting summary of the taxonomy there (p.8), which splits 5 smaller forms from the 7 bigger ones. The fact that they are with feral Canadas probably doesn't help them much, but who knows....if anybody finds them again please pass the news on!

Summer visitors !

More Swallows Sat- Sun a total of 10 at various sites, 7 Sandmartins flew in off the sea yesterday at Marloes. This morning a small fall of Chiffs, c10, at the marsh between Winterton farm & Marloes village.
The Gann this afternoon,
13 Brents (inc "Daves" double ringer)
2 Sandwich terns, 2 Gannets, 4 Grey plover, 2 Ringed plover & a brown duck just beyond the deepwater mooring pontoon, I`m erring towards a female Tufted, from what I saw - but what with the wind rocking my tripod & rough water, I cant be certain. So if anyone is that way, a 2nd opinion would be appreciated!

Iceland Gull

At Llys-y-fran this morning there was a 1st W. Iceland Gull in the area below the dam. Very approachable, then flew off only 20 metres or so. Obviously sick. More photos here. Also at the res. plenty of Swallows and Sand Martins braving the snow showers.

Lyndon's monthly round up for March is now on line - see link to right.

Small Canada geese

Some of you may remember this pic I took last September of two Canada geese - appearing to be smaller and darker than the others - at Newport. As far as we were aware at the time they visited Newport only that day and were not re located. I don't think anyone came to any positive conclusions about the two birds.

Left click on picture for screen sized image

Brent update

Had a very quick reply from Graham McElwaine, the Brent ringing chap from Ireland. The lettering on the left leg is actually and I, not a T - by a very spooky coincidence VTYY was seen today in Ireland!!! (V = letter on right leg, T = letter on left leg, last 2 letters are colours of rings, in this case both yellow, so our bird is VIYY). This is the same bird that was at the Gann on 13th March 07, then being recorded at Killough Harbour in Ireland on 17th/18th, before returning to the Gann on 30th March 07! It's a female, and she was first ringed on 20th May 2004 in Iceland. The last potential sighting of her was on 12th February 08 at Havre de Regneville in Brittany.

A Nordic Jackdaw in Haverfordwest?

For some time I have been seeing a Jackdaw with a distinct pale half collar in Haverfordwest, often in my garden but it always disappears when I get my camera out!! Today I finally got it, albeit through the (thankfully clean) kitchen window. See pics. Anyone got any thoughts to offer?

Check out the pics & feature here

And some more pics in the gallery here

I think it looks good myself. If you're interested, I regularly see it between Day's Peugot garage on Portfield, and the end of Tudor Way just opposite the Patch. This afternoon it was collecting nesting material briefly on the corner of Tudor Way & Furzy Park!

Another ringed Brent

I had another ringed light-bellied Brent Goose at the Gann this afternoon. It was one of a party of 13. I read it as a yellow ring with T on left leg, yellow ring with V on right leg, with metal ring above (the T looks a bit like a J in the pics, but it looked clearly a T in the field).

Also a first-year Med on the river, a Little Egret, and a Bar-tailed Godwit.

Angle, Pembroke & Heathfield.

Nr. Pwllchrochan, ringing this am;-
Highlights,Willow Warblers, Blackcaps & Chiffchaffs trapped.
Angle Bay;-
Pretty birdless at low tide, except for the 6 Light-bellied Brent Geese(new bird for me at Angle.) which disappeared at c1145.
Pembroke Upper Mill Pond;-
53 Black-tailed Godwits, the colour-ringed bird still present. Also 1 Little Egret.
Heathfield G.P.;-
c50 Sand Martins & a few Swallows.
Small nos. of Swallows seen at all sites today.
(Richard D. & Wendy J.)

Angle

Left home before 8 a.m. in Spring sunshine, arrived Angle Bay 20 mins later in Winter - cloudy, freezing wind. Hoped for some waders but 1 Knot, 1 Curlew and c.50 Oystercatchers were all there was! Rescue was at hand with 6 Light Bellied Brent Geese which dropped in for a while and fed on the shoreline close to the car.

Iceland Gull

I saw perhaps the same immature fly west past Carregwastad at 19:00 and there was a moulting Red-throated Diver in the bay as well.

Tegryn

Sightings via e mail from Mark Wilson:-
Thursday3rd; Tegryn, Female Siskin in the garden on Nyjer seed. The first seen for a couple of weeks so assume most have moved out to breed somewhere. 2 swallows seen passing through
Friday 4th; Tegryn, 35 Golden plover flying west. 7 swallows seen passing.

Teifi this evening with "goose" fly over.

Teifi, this evening;-
From the railings 17 Wigeon still.
Patch; 1 Swallow, 1 Wheatear, 3 Turnstone, 1 Gt.Cd.Grebe on sea.
Nr. The Webley 4 Little Egrets roosting in a tree, 31 Oystercatchers roosting.
St. Dogmaels Quay; 25 Redshank, 67 Shelduck, 1 Common Sand., 5 Dunlin, 2 with black bellies & 4 Teal still.
1 Bar-tailed Godwit flew with Curlews towards Cardigan Island to roost.
Marshes; Cetti's warblers singing from both sides, 2+ Swallows with c30 Sand Martins. Again the Little Egret here flying off in Cilgerran direction.

At the Marshes a medium size grey goose, calling, probably a White-front flew through SW. It didn't have the head, neck, upper wing pattern of Pink-foot & I only saw the upper side as it banked away as it flew through.??

Dartfords

On the subject of Dartford Warbler, last Wednesday I went for a walk around the 'original' mid Pembs site, and in pretty decent conditions only had one call a few times in the N/W quadrant (it did not show at all). Has anyone else been up there and checked? I recall there were 6 territories at one point - would seem to be less now.

swallows

3 swallows heading north over Gelly at 19.15 today

Hirundines

Whilst relaxing in the evening sunshine, we saw some 25 - 30 Swallows / Housemartins fly over our house in St Ishmaels between 1915-1920hrs this evening, heading North(ish)

Onwards & upwards

Optimistically pursuing fabled birds one comes across the more mundane,
5 Swallows at Sandy haven
c10 Sandmartins at Trewarren farm pond
2 Gt/C/Grebes on the sea at the Gann
must crack on.......

Newport & Mid - Pembs.

Newport;-
12 Ringed Plover & 1 Dunlin, presumed new in by recent visits. So perhaps the start of some wader movements?
4 Little Egrets (am - Sam B.)
6 Sand Martins feeding over the Manor currently.

Blackpool Mill;-
Red Kite
Minwear Viewpoint;-
3(maybe 5 -distant)Green Sandpipers, 60 SandMartins 2 Swallows
MarshTit singing, Lesser Redpolls, seen at 2 sites nearby.
Willow Warblers, Blackcaps, & Chiffchaffs singing.
(Paul G.)

St David's Dartfords

In the St Davids area ,on Thursday 3rd, we searched the two known sites where Dartford Warblers have bred in recent years.

During a morning visit to the most easterly site we had 4 contacts in 150 mins.(despite perfect weather conditions they were very reluctant to put their heads above the gorse!). We can only confirm the presence of two birds. One a male that gave a display flight and on two occasions carried nesting material ( feathers) to a clump of gorse. The second bird, sex unknown and seen twice, was distant enough to the other bird to indicate a strong possibility of a second territory.

No sightings were made during a half hour visit to the western site.

spring migrants

willow warbler and blackcap heard singing in Gelly area yesterday.

Summer Migrants

Singing Willow Warbler and Blackcap along with lots of Chiff Chaffs at H'west Golf Course today.

No Birdies though! (But I did get 6 Pars) :)

Small Canada Geese

I had one fly into the bay at Carregwastad at 15:00 to be joined by another at 16:30 and both flew off west at 17:00 and back across at 17:30.

Red leg partridge

2 Red legged partridges in a field at St Ishmaels this morning. Looking forward to the spring - it appears everyone is going to be quite busy, in our quest for Cattle egrets, Gt Bustards, White billed divers, dont overlook the more common Hoopoes, Montys harriers, Red back shrikes etc !!

Pembroke Upper Mill Pond

Tonight;- 60 Black-tailed Godwits, 1 Swallow, c50 Sand Martins. (John H.)

Llys-y-fran resr. & N. Pembs.

Llys-y-fran;-
The first Spring sortie to the resr. by Paul G., 1 Tufted duck, 12 Gt.Cd Grebes, 6 Swallows, 1Willow Tit singing, & Reed Bunting.

Strumble Hd. & Pen Anglas, y'day & today;-
Wheatear, Sand Martins(50 today), Swallows(6 today) & 1 House Martin today.
(Adrian R. & Steve B.)

Around Llanychaer;-
2 Willow Warblers found on our Kite survey today, also 3 Snipe flushed from a field.
(Paddy J. & Richard D.)

Butterflies & Moths;-
Speckled Wood photo'd at Strumble Hd. today.(Adrian R.)
Peacocks & Small Tortoishell seen in small numbers by several observers today.
A Red Sword Grass trapped near Boncath last night, (20 previous records for Pembs.)

Red Kite

Red Kite seen over Whitesands car park 1pm possibly a young bird looked quite pale on the underside.

Dinas Head

The Auks are back at needle rock. c50 Razorbills and 4 Guillemots pairing up on the ledges and about 350 on the sea, mostly Razorbills.
2 Swallows and 3 Chough over the head.

Newgale

4 Great Northern Divers this morning on a beautiful calm sea from the middle car park, looks like a spring passage, keep and eye out for White-billed as they do pass the Western Isles in spring. Also 9 Common Scoters.

Winter / Spring

Record via email from Kevin Johns for Wednesday 2nd:-
1235 hrs. Maes Y Garn, Crymych. Flock of app. 30-40 fieldfares milling around and then flew off to the south-west.
1500 hrs. Ceibwr Bay, Moylgrove - Wheatear- 2 males. A single male kestrel hovering over the top of the cliffs to the north of the cove.

The North East

Wednesday evening records,
Ceibwr;- Swallow on wires & Chiff's.
Poppit;- 2 Swallows in wires.
Cemaes Hd.;- 11 Wheatears, & Chiff's -- Willow Warblers moved on.
120 Grey Seals on the beach.
Teifi Marshes;- 50+ Sand Martins, 3(+) Cetti's Warblers singing.

Swallow

1 Swallow this am over Thornton industrial estate, Milfordhaven

Yesterday

News from Ed. H.; -- Y'day.
Black Duck still present,Marloes Mere.
2 Gt.N.Divers --Broad Haven.

Strange Birds

Whilst on the subject of strange birds, what about this one photographed in February ??

Canada Geese which may not be so unwelcome

I wouldn't swear to this with nothing for comparison but two of yesterday's three did look quite small in the bay at Carregwastad at 14:15 and at 16:00 a Merlin flew east past the lookout at Strumble Head.

Recent sightings - Landshipping and Stackpole areas

On 30th March, the warmer southerly winds brought the first clouded yellow butterfly of the year.

Swallows, willow warbler, several blackcaps singing around Bosherston Lakes. Since then more of the same including 6 goosanders (mostly females). These appear to be new birds passing through? From where I wonder? Most chiffchaffs and blackcaps seem to be back on territory now at Stackpole.

Green Woodpecker yaffling on the warren this afternoon, only one heard but at least its there!

A male kestrel was back on its coastal patch also today, showing interest in last years nest site - hopefully a good sign but they did not lay eggs until late April/early May last year.

Wheaters, probably local birds (incl. 3 males displaying on usual territories today).

Sadly this is not an April fools joke, but unfortunately 2 Canada Geese were on the lake this morning. I hope they are not about to colonise - the lakes have somehow avoided them so far!

31st March at Landshipping area: short walk with Annie revealed 50-60 teal still at the Quay area, along with small numbers of redshank and mainly paired shelduck. Good scattering of singing chiffchaffs around the area, six or more singing blackcaps and a singing willow warbler.

Blarsh Tit

Nice one Richard, had me for a split second, maybe if you hadn't just cut and pasted a Blue Tit's head onto a Marsh Tit body it might have been more plausable! I had a Black-and-white Warbler in my garden this morning, honest I did. It knocked on the window and asked if I had any humbugs, as they don't like peanuts apparently. I shot it for being so cheeky, so sadly you can't come and see it.

Teifi & Ceibwr, this am.

Teifi;-
Wigeon still 24 around the estuary this am, mainly from the railings (18).
1 Common Sand. at Jewsons-- presumably the wintering bird, not a migrant.
Poppit Dunes, 10+ Chiffchaffs, 3 Willow Warblers.
Ceibwr;-
Chiffchaff & Willow Warbler.

Hybrid

Hard on the heels of the Green/Goldfinch hybrid discussed in postings below I came across this bird at Bosherston which appears to be a Blue/Marsh Tit cross. Perhaps the more knowledgable could advise whether this is also a common hybrid in the cage bird world or has Bob been conducting strange experiments down at the Stackpole centre?