Pembrokeshire Birds

An email message recently received from Clive Hurford (mainly about fritillary butterflies at Castlemartin, where we have had literally thousands of marsh frits and a good number of small-pearl bordered frits this year) that he saw a Green Sandpiper on the Western Cleddau on 24th June (near St Catherine's Bridge). This is sort of in keeping with a record of one or two that he saw near there in early July two years ago.

Clive wonders if these records are not early returning birds, but more perhaps it is likely that one or two non-breeding birds might spend the summer on the river. If the area was checked regularly throughout the summer perhaps we find out more?

Yesterday, 28th June, I noted what to me appeared to be quite good numbers of juv blackbirds, song thrushes, goldcrests, coal tits, marsh tits, treecreepers and chiffchaffs in Minwear and Pickle woods. Could not find any evidence of tree pipits in areas they were displaying in April/May; both wood warblers and spotted flycatchers also seemed hard to find. There were at least 3 Common Sandpipers along Eastern Cleddau River.

Dispersing juv herons building up at Bosherston lakes now - between 7-10 individuals there on Friday 27th June. Reed warbler fledglings there and also at Llangloffan Fen.