Martin's Haven 20-26 October

Just a quick summary of birds seen in the valley last week between storms:
20+ Goldcrest in a flock last Monday, feeding steadily for several hours. Only 2-3 seen on subsequent days.
Chiffchaff: Typically 2-3 feeding actively in the bushes, max 8+
Chough: flocks of up to 15 seen most days
Reed Bunting: max 6
Redwing: 2 seen on 26th
Firecrest: 1 male seen on 26th, not accompanied by any other Goldcrests or chiffs. I had been hoping for a Yellow-Browed Warbler (!) but was delighted with this fellow, my first.
Plus usual Wrens, Blackbirds, Kestrels, Stonechats, wagtails (Pied and Grey), Linnets, tits and pipits.
The best time of day has been from c.1000 to 1500 (GMT) when the sun has risen enough to warm up the Deer Park wall and the bushes.

As a follow-up to the reports of the Marsh Harrier at Marloes Mere, I was astonished, when I saw it on Wednesday, at the number of birds it consistently put up all over the Mere. I sometimes get a bit disheartened by the lack of visible duck at the Mere and perhaps, incorrectly, assume they have gone somewhere more sheltered. The highlights of the Harrier's efforts were enormous numbers of Teal (I estimate c.200), 50+ Mallard, and 20+ each Shoveller and Wigeon. The biggest surprise was the number of Snipe flushed: I recorded 30+ in the log, but subsequently saw many more than this, with 3-5 groups of over a dozen birds flushed sequentially as the Harrier moved across the marsh. And I have normally been pretty happy to see 1 or 2 snipe in a winter session there! Overall, it made me realise that we probably consistently underestimate the importance of Marloes Mere for wildfowl, judging by some of the counts done there compared to other locations in the County