Good birding from Pencarnan

Early PM on Sunday a thermal above the camp site supported 10 raptors - 2 R Kites, 7 Buzzards and a Sparrowhawk. Later in the afternoon, near by Whitesands Bay Hotel, were 3 Whinchat.

Early Monday morning the wind had backed to the N East and was brisk, a hint that there may have been an overnight fall. A look around Rhosson Farm disappointed so we returned to the caravan for a coffee and to make a decision on how to play the day. We soon got direction when a Yellow-browed Warbler popped up on The Bush.....the 35th sp for our little hot spot. The signs were there, and without hesitation we headed for the Youth Hostel and The Bocca. We quickly found 8 Crests near to the hostel and by the time we had completed the circuit back via Porthclais the total amounted to 18, but no more Y B W's. There had been a fall of sorts.

Late afternoon we walked out to Point St John. En route we found our 1st campsite Whinchat and close by 3 of the four Swallow chicks that fledged in the headland horse shelter had made it to the fence and were being fed in strict rotation. With their gammy gapes they looked quite comical. Hope they're not too late for the flight to S.A.

And finally, to round off a good couple of days of birding, 2 Yellow Wagtails flew by close to the lifeboat station.

Oh! we almost forgot, during our visit, we had 3 Greater-spotted Peckers and 4 Sparrow Hawk sightings, all in the general area of the coast; not unusual at this time of the year......migration?dispersal? One of the peckers just avoided the talons of a Peregrine.