Kingfisher

Local photographer Paul Richards has spent much time photographing Kingfishers, mainly on the Cleddau, with stunning results. See more of Pa...

Maes y Garn, Crymych

Mixed flock of redwings and fieldfares seen this afternoon, estmated c350+ redwings and 70+ fieldfares feeding around the fields and bushes....

Pen Anglas

I saw a Merlin floating in the wind before circling round inland at 13:15.

Ring-billed Gull and other birds at West Angle

Adult Ring-billed Gull again on beach at West Angle from 10:00-10:30. Also a couple of Greenshanks, a Kingfisher and 16 Brent Geese in Angle...

Firecrest etc

Firecrest Goodwick Moor this am. At Sealyham Male (I think) Goshawk and Green sand pm.

Snow Bunting etc... & Llys-y-fran Resr.

Fishguard harbour;- 1 Gt.ctd Grebe from the Flagpoles. Outer breakwater;- 1 Snow Bunting stilll, 3 Purple Sandpipers, 6 Ringed Plovers. (Adr...

Firecrest etc

A Firecrest mid afternoon at Monk Haven, about 100m beyond the Manor House, where the stream goes under the path and then under the wall. No...

Carew / Bosherston

No sign of the Long Tailed Duck this morning at Carew (not seen yesterday either). At Bosherston the Goosanders showing well (16 birds). Als...

peregrine all at sea

Yesterday (Sat 29th) a peregrine was seen from the Irish Ferries 3 miles off the coast chasing kittiwakes.

Ringtail

A smart individual this morning at Marloes mere. Good numbers of Starlings, some 10,000 birds in 3 large flocks + smaller groups, Blackbirds...

Pembrokeshire Bird Group Conference 29th November 2009

Yesterday, 29th Nov, the 25th Annual Pembrokeshire Bird Conference was kindly hosted by Chevron Refinery in their Conference Suite near Pemb...

Black Redstart & (Long- tailed duck?)

Broad Haven;- 1 Black Redstart on rooftops in Puffin Way today. Also off Broad haven, 4 Red-thd Divers & c250 Common Scoter. (Paul G.) C...

Water rail & other bits & bobs

At the entrance to Winterton farm Marloes, there is a small stream that drains from the pond & goes under the road. Twice now I have se...

Gann

At the Gann late afternoon today, the possible Grey-bellied Brant with 17 pale-bellys, as well as 5 Med Gulls (4 adults, one with a red ring...

WALES WIN! there were some birds too.

Whilst a lot of Pembrokeshires birders were sitting around gassing and eating somewhere in the south, we salty sea dogs of Sea Trust were ou...

Short-eared Owl -- Trefeiddan

Well done! John & Marion completed their first visits to the TTV's they volunteered to cover (seven!). The highlight today being a S...

Starlings

Guestimated some 2,000 Stalings flying low in a NW direction, over St Ishmaels late this afternoon. What I enjoy most is the sound of their ...

Male Hen Harrier on Plumstone Mountain

There was a male hen harrier on Plumstone Mountain late this afternoon; very probably a second winter bird.

Teifi Est. & Marshes

Twite;- No further sighting of the bird since first thing, looked for on/off until 16:30. Birds noted in the Patch, Railings area;- c100 ...

Ring-billed Gull at West Angle

The adult Ring-billed Gull was on the beach at West Angle again today between 08:00-09:00 before flying inland with the other gulls. The fem...

Teifi

The Twite was by the railings at 8.30 this morning. It flew off into pines with a Chaffinch flock and hasnt been seen since.

Twite - Teifi Est - (Ceredigion though!!)

The Railings , Teifi Est;- At c15:30 I noticed a finch feeding on the ground c2m away. The winter Twite was feeding away on Stonecrop seeds,...

Pembroke Upper Mill Pond

Yesterday, a couple of counts from John, although water still too high; 38 Black-tailed Godwits & 2 Knot.

Ring-billed Gull on beach at West Angle

Adult Ring-billed Gull with other gulls on beach at West Angle between 09:00-10:00 this morning.

Llys-y-fran Resr -- Gulls..inc Iceland !!

Llys-y-fran Resr;- Following the 2 Iceland Gulls on Ramsey y'day, a must do visit Llys-y-fran this pm! Sure enough within one minute ...

Starlings at Plumstone

The Nightly Starling roost at Plumstone, is to say the least, spectaculer, especially on a lovely evening like today. From 4pm onwards. Left...

Whooper Swans -- River Teifi - Teifi Marshes NR.

(photo Mike Snow) 3 ad. Whooper Swans were found on the River Teifi opp. Curlew hide this am. (Karen, Newport) Still present at 15:00 but m...

Angle Bay / Bosherston

A quick look at Kilpaison this afternoon - still 19 Brents, 2 Barwit, 200+ Dunlin, 8 Redshank, 10 Knot, a few Curlew and lots of Wigeon. At ...

Blackpool Mill/ Slebech Estate

Several flocks of finches, some over a 1000 in number. Identified two Bramblings in one flock. Scores of Redwings around with Mistle Thrushe...

Dowrog Roost & Teifi..

The Dowrog;- 1 Rt Hen Harrier, 2 Merlin, & 1 v.late flying prob. Short-eared Owl.(dark bird but fading!! light.) (Paul G.) The Teifi;- A...

As I can't edit my previous post, for Cormoration read Cormorant! No idea where that came from. It's been a bad day. And before yo...

Gann

An amazing (for the Gann) array of birds late afternoon in beautifully still conditions (majority of birds on the lagoon as the tide was in)...

Ramsey

2 Iceland Gulls together today - 2nd and 3rd known records for island. First in 1973

Haverfordwest Goosander & Nevern est.

Goosander, the drake was present on the river outside Minnies NiteClub this am. (Paul G.) Nevern Est;- A great deal of dog walking disturban...

Bosherston Lakes & Carew River

Today at Bosherston lakes still 16 goosanders present (only 3 adult males today) but most other waterfowl still only in low numbers. Firec...

The Gann

At the Gann today there were 20 Brent Geese on the shoreline including the probable Grey Bellied Brant.Click on pics for larger versions. On...

Goosander -- Haverfordwest & Teifi

Goosander - Haverfordwest;- Julie phoned at 15:30 to tell us about a Goosander on the river outside County Hall this pm, I believe a couple ...

Blackpool Mill

Firecrest on the left over the stone bridge

Teifi estuary

From the railings - 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, a female Red breasted Merganser and 50 Wigeon sheltering from the gale by the boat builders. Incre...

The Gann

Just to add, now 20 Brent, no Whoopers or further Sawbills!! 1 adult Med, 50 Lapwings over

Grey- bellied Brant (prob.) -- The Gann

The prob. Grey-bellied Brant still present at The Gann this am with 18 LB Brent Geese. (Wendy J.) See Dave's posting from last Sunday fo...

ANGLE BAY

Sorry Richard missed the female Eider , which was amongst the mooring buoys. the Slavonian grebe was straight out towards Kilpaison. Also ju...

Sawbills at the Gann

Those interesting records of Stuart's from Feb 86 had us looking through our weather records and note, that a year later, we drove over ...

Goosander - Gann

David - my first record of Goosander at the Gann was in 1986, when one was present from January into early March. I saw others in December 1...

Milford dock

1 adult Med Gull, with alloy ring on right leg, with some 30 B/H/Gulls.

Brents & a surprise

19 Brents at the Gann late afternoon, including the probable Grey-bellied Brent (which isn't that obvious when swimming, but is when wal...

Newport

Ad male Goldeneye fishing up beyond the bridge (same as Sam's on 18th perhaps). 22 Dunlin, 8 Ringed Plover, 6 Turnstone, 4 Redshank, 4 ...

Heathfield GP

A planning application has been posted for this site. It is intended to build 10 log cabins and an office. The site will be used for 'di...

Bosherston & Angle

At Bosherston late morning the Goosanders had increased to 18 including 4 ad. drakes. Otherwise very little on the lakes. At Angle Harbour 1...

Watch out for stinging nettles!!!

Tomorrow some of us will set forth on a bird group outing and into the "wilds" of the Pembrokeshire countryside. Is it too much to...

Colourful item on Sparrowhawks menu!

Whilst paying a visit to Scolton Manor midweek, I took the opportunity to have a look in the dense bit of woodland just behind the...

Green Sandpiper

There was a green sandpiper on the river near Blackpool Mill late this afternoon.

Brents

Given that we seem to be recording increasing numbers of pale-bellied Brents moving between Ireland and France (quite a high turnover I susp...

Winter tetrads

Ah yes, the tetrads of Oxfordshire in the early 1980s. My first taste of contributing to organised atlassing. Anyway, to bring things up to...

Tetrading brings a late summer migrant

It was back in the early 80’s while working the tetrads of Oxfordshire for the BTO’s first Winter Atlas that set us on a path from which we ...

Angle Bay

At Kilpaison this morning as the tide rose there were c.200 Dunlin, 2 Knot, 1 Barwit, 2 Turnstone, 16 Redshank, 60+ Oystercatchers, 10 Curle...

Thrushes

This week has seen a big arrival of Redwings down in the south of the county which are quickly stripping the berries from the trees. Few Fie...

Cold weather movement & a Swallow!

The increase in waders noted below on the Teifi, was not the only movement. John & Marion were out TTV'ing today, on Tretio Common, ...

Teifi estuary

2 Light-bellied Brent Geese on the salt marsh in front of the Webley Hotel at high tide. Also 47 Dunlin, 35 Ringed Plover, 1 Turnstone and o...

Skomer

News from Dave Boyle - Not really getting the chance to do much birding at the moment but counted 3000 Woodpigeons flying west this morning ...

Llawrenny and Minwear

Pictures from today of Grey lag geese at llawrenny and Starlings at Minwear - see Richard's posting below.

Hen Harrier over the Dowrog

A female hen harrier passed over the A487 from the direction of the Dowrog heading towards St David's airfield this afternoon, 19 Nov 08...

Landshipping / Minwear

Did a recce for next Sunday's Bird Group walk, with Lyndon and Morris. Highlight was 11 Greylag Geese which flew over Llawrenny and we ...

Cattle & Egrets

At Sandy Haven this morning three white birds in a cattle field - hopped over the hedge into a muddy field to get a closer look. A big floc...

Hawfinch -- St. Nicholas

I have just retuned from the site, no sign of the Hawfinch again between 1115 & 1315. The bird was seen at c915 this am in a mixed bir...

Hawfinch in St Nicholas

I just had a report in 10.15 (from Gaynor McMorrin) , of a Hawfinch seen briefly near her house in St Nocholas which is near the church. Gay...

Porthclais and Nine Wells

Yesterday afternoon (18 Nov 08) at Porthclais car park I had a buzzard, closely followed by a female sparrowhawk, which was itself followed ...

Newport Tues am

An adult Med Gull & a m Goldeneye at the bridge pre high tide. Then at high tide 84 Curlews & 21 Redshanks roosting + an ad Shelduck...

Snow Bunt. & North Pembs.

Fishguard Outer Breakwater;- 1 Snow Bunting still, 3 Purple Sandpipers, 7 Ringed Plover, 4 Dunlin, & 4 Common Scoter still in the harbou...

harriers

just some feedback from the harrier count on Sunday one ringtail at St David's airfield (Andrew T) in addition to the ringtail seen by L...

Bats in November

With regard to Cliff's comment about bats flying at this time of year - they probably had a hard time over the past couple of months try...

Hedgerows lose colour

It may be a mental aberation on my part but it appears that the hawthorns have had an excellent crop hereabouts which they have held on to d...

Amroth

At Amroth this morning 14 Red Breasted Merganser, 2 Goldeneye, 5 Red Throated Diver, 22 Great Crested Grebe, 250+ Common Scoter, 4 Shovelle...

Gt Northern Diver

Flew over the mere at Marloes from St Brides bay, heading south.

Firecrest, Gt. Spot's & The "brent"

Mullock;- Ringing at Mullock today, 162 birds caught,-perhaps surprising during this mild spell. A nice male Firecrest was the best bird, bu...

Interesting Brent Goose...

Paul G and I did Dale/Marloes peninsula today, highlights includes a 1stW male Black Redstart in Dale (on roof of Townsend Cottages), as wel...

Around St David's

Single Kestrels at Treffiaddan, St Justinians and Ivors Pond Late afternoon on The Dowrog - 2xShort ared owls, 1 x Sparrow hawk, 1xRingtail...

Goodwick Harbour

Sunday 12:00 - 1 x Gt. Crested Grebe (winter plumage cf. transition adult a couple of days ago). Did anyone happen to see the small brown-he...

Blackpool Mill

A Firecrest in the bushes about 50Yds over bridge early this afternoon.

More Merlins

Did the Webs count at Catlemartin Corse this morning with Morris North. Must be my weekend for Merlins as we had good views of one dashing o...

Teifi estuary

A few highlights while doing the WeBS count at high tide; Patch - just 10 Dunlin Poppit beach - 1 Knot, 20 Ringed Plover and 12 Dunlin Weble...

North Pembs.

Llys-y-fran Resr;- Highlight & maybe a site tick? 3 Shoveler(2m). Nr. Llys-y-fran / Tufton;- A mixed flock in a field, 2 Brambling, 1 ...

Merlin............Birding

Finally shook myself out of a weather induced torpor at 3:30 this afternoon and went for a walk round the fields near home (St. Florence). G...

kestrel activity

some kestrel activity for Paddy and Bethan if you are reading.. Female kestrel at Dudwell mtn abbatoir last Weds (12/11/08) evening but no r...

why birds

I have always had poor eyesight and birds are mostly vocal and can be identified by sound, but my great grandfather Joseph Tomlinson was an ...

Marloes

This afternoon, two large flocks of Starlings, some 2500 feeding on the fields above the sands, followed by another c5000 flying east over T...

North Pembs

The Teifi;- Jewsons, 1 Common Sandpiper. St. Dogmael's Quay, 170 Wigeon, & 87 Lapwing from the gull viewpoint. Patch, 1 Red-breasted...

Snow Bunting

Sighting via e mail from Alan Hodgson:- One male Snow Bunting 0800hrs 14.11.08. - crossing Ffordd Bedd Morris [running from Newport to Bessi...

Why Birds....?

E Mail contribution from Derek Moore :- When asked when I started birding I say without flippance "from the womb...". When my moth...

Goodwick - cetaceans & slugs

Goodwick breakwater this morning 9 am, calm and only mildly damp once the drizzle stopped: 1 x Great Crested Grebe (ad. with plenty of rusty...

Why Birds...?

Continuing the thread , What makes me tick after completing 30 years of birding this week? (Recorded date 12 Nov. 1978). Was it on the Never...

Skomer

Skomer news from Dave Boyle - The Firecrests still in the ivy at North Haven, there was a stunning adult male Black Redstart at Castle Bay a...

Newport

Sighting via e mail from Emma Ford - I was in Newport on Wednesday 12th November and watched an otter for over an hour (losing him for abo...

Skomer

Skomer news from Dave Boyle - Highlight of the day was a Whitethroat! Never seen a November one before. A Firecrest was in the ivy at North ...

Why birds?

Continuing GHRs thread, my interest in birds I think is rooted in the fact that they are all around us, comparatively quite easy to watch, f...

N. Pembs, inc. - TTV's!

Fishguard Harbour;- Ad. Med. Gull. (Steve B.) Nr. Monington -TTV;- Highlights of visit , 3 Woodcock, c500 Golden Plover, c80 Lapwing. (Jan...

Carregwastad

I saw a Light-bellied Brent Goose fly west past the headland at 14:45.

Hen Harrier Survey

E mail info from Rob Davies:- There is a wintering Hen Harrier count day coming up this Sunday. Generally these count days are the middle S...

Angle

At Angle Harbour around 2 p.m. 66 Redshank, 3 Greenshank, 11 Turnstone, 15 Oystercatcher, 10 Curlew, 8 Shelduck, 3 Ad. W Med Gulls, 12 Great...

Strumble Head & Scaup

Strumble Head;- This am, for c1hr. quiet, Fulmars moving again, 2 L.B. Brent Geese, & 1 2w. Pomarine Skua. A Merlin as we pulled into ...

Stackpole/Bosherston area - recent records

Last week saw a further arrival of f irecrests (first 2 of which were found in the Manor House garden, along with a chiffchaff or two (pal...

Thoughts

I've just heard that Hywel Roderick, the ex-county recorder for Ceredigion, is seriously ill in hospital, and been asked to pass the new...

Porpoises in big seas with a female Merlin winging in at Strumble on Saturday. Mistle Thrush and a GSWoodpecker between Strumble and Tresinw...

number 100

The only list I keep is of birds seen in or from the garden, and today the addition of a firecrest brought the total to 100. Whilst there ha...

Rosebush Resr. & Teifi

Rosebush Resr;- 3 Goldeneye(1m), 6 Tufted Duck, c17 Coot, 2 Little Grebes & 1 Woodcock. Teifi;- A few sightings from the Pembs. side;- c...

Bramblings

Couple of Bramblings in our garden this morning , first of the Winter. Hard to imagine they are the same stunning birds we saw in Finland t...

Birdwatcher's Psyche

An E-mail contribution : - Unlike Mike, I would be very interested in why various people consider they are birdwatchers/birders, ornithologi...

Yellow-legged Gull

A first-winter Yellow-legged Gull amongst a large flock of large gulls on the foreshore at the Gann on the rising tide - took a bit of picki...

re Simon Barnes

Simon Barnes is a wonderful writer about wildlife and birdwatching. I frequently use him for talks I give to 800 people (once called morning...

An opinion

If you have not read Simon Barnes' column in today's Times then we quote, "You can't begin to understand any place until yo...

Newport Sat am

48 curlews on the mud with 1 Bar T Godwit that has been there several days & 9 Redshanks. c20 Ringed Plovers & 9 Dunlin hiding in a ...

Teifi Estuary & Marshes

The Marshes;- Interesting, c30 Wigeon(unusual site) from Creek hide first thing with c30 Teal. Only 1 Snipe! 10's of Blackbirds, Redwing...

Cattle Egret

feeding in the pill close to the chapel/road this afternoon. Later, walking the dogs on the coast path on the St Ishmaels side of the Gann, ...

Black Redstart - Tregwynt

A male Black Redstart Tregwynt this pm.(Carole R.)

Snow Bunt's, Scaup, Pochards, Harriers? etc...

Sorry, but in chronological order rather than scarcity; Boncath;- Small nos. of Fieldfare in hedges first thing. Pen Beri Pond;- 1 Scaup-fem...

Skomer

News from Skomer from Dave Boyle - Been pretty good birding last couple of days, plenty of thrushes around first thing in the mornings and a...

Around St David's

A Black Redstart decided to join us inside the St Justinian's Lifeboat Station before leaving to rejoin it's friend left outside. L...

Porthclais and Nine Wells 6 Nov 08

A female sparrowhawk chased off an intruding sparrowhawk at Porthclais this morning; two flocks of woodpigeon totalling c 300 passed over go...

Snow Buntings & Fishguard Outer Breakwater

...

Other Pembs sightings today - G. N.. Diver

Broad Haven;- 1 Great Ntn. Diver, 2 Red Thd. Diver, c 250 Common Scoter, & ad. Med. Gull & 1 Goldeneye-m. (Paul G.) Pen Anglas;- ...

Lampeter Vale

The Lampeter Vale is well stocked with mature Hawthorn trees especially along the railway and most years this brings in good numbers of thru...

Sandy Haven

Yesterday (5th Nov) the Catlle Egret was in the field above Sandy Haven chapel again - same field as recorded by Stuart last saturday. No ca...

Strumble ...

Strumble Head;- 2 Black Redstarts, 1/2 Dartford Warblers & a Merlin, seen today around the head. (Adrian), also see Cliffs posting belo...

Scaup

News via e mail from Alan Collens -there was a female scaup on the Carew River (West Williamston end) pm. 4th Nov. Also 165 golden plover,75...

Amroth front

8-30 am 300 + Common Scoter . 11 Great Crested Greb's . 1 Red Throated Diver's

Snow Buntings

News from Cliff Benson. A couple of nice scarcities today , One Black Redstart at Tresinwen nr Strumble and two Snow Buntings on the outer b...

Martin's Haven 4 Nov 08

Small numbers of starlings and thrushes coming in off the sea; very few pipits and little other movement. A merlin, probably female, was hun...

Bird Group Conference 29 November 2008

There are still a few places left for the Conference - for further detals and for bookings please contact Wendy Barnes-Junes at The Wildlife...

Pen Anglas

3 species of falcon, a Kestrel, a Peregrine circled overhead before heading inland at 15:30 and at 16:15 a Merlin flew east then back west.

Little Milford, Hook,& ...

Little Milford & Hook;- Quiet, small nos. of Teal ,Wigeon, Redshank,1 Greenshank & a few Little Egrets as the tide dropped. Fowborou...

Skomer

News from Skomer from Dave Boyle Monday 3rd - another 300 Chaffinches & 9 Bramblings went over this morning, quite a lot of thrushes ar...

Winter Atlas kicks off again - summary of last winters recording effort

We now have the Pembrokeshire data for the first winter season of the new BTO atlas. There are almost 15,000 records for Pembrokeshire - ...

Ramsey Monthly Round Up - October 2008

Highlights of October were 4 great spotted woodpeckers. A single bird on 5th was only the second record for the island, followed remarkably ...

Snow Bunting

Snow Bunting;- Just received a report from John C.of a male Snow Bunting in the Gwaun Valley this am. Seen at 0750 this am feeding on his p...

Porthclais

The resident Sparrowhawk is back at Porthclais, but apart from 4 Bullfinches and a flock of about 15 Long-tailed Tits, there was nothing of ...

Scaup & North Pembs.

Pen beri Pond;- 1 Scaup, fem. type, 2nd day. (Jan & John M.) . . Trefasser/Garn Fawr;- At least 1 Brambling with mixed finch flock today...

Angle Bay

At Kilpaison this morning pretty much the same numbers of birds as on Saturday - 18 Bar Tailed Godwit, c.130 Dunlin, 10 Knot, 10 Redshank, 2...

Red kites

Maes y Garn, 10.00 - present (12.00), as we are cutting the grass in the lower fields there are 12 red kites present, 4 common buzzard (one...

North Pembs.

Teifi;- 1 Common Sandpiper & Little Grebe -Jewsons. 1 juv, Great Crested Grebe off the railings. Moylegrove;- Quieter than of late but ...

Dale area

Gann: 2 Whooper Swans flew over and continued across the Bay towards the Fort when lost to view into the rising sun c.9am this morning. Als...

Nothing much..

1 femail Merlin at Marloes mere, 2 ad Meds at the Gann, 1 alloy ringed adult Med at Milford docks

Tristis type chiffchaff

Present this morning Goodwick Moor. Calling constantly the monosyllabic thin 'young chick' call. Quite brown on head/mantle, greyer ...

Skomer

News from Dave Boyle on Skomer - A lot quieter today, only about 200 Chaffinches over & 3 Bramblings, 950 Starlings, 200 Woodpigeons, 20...

The Gann & other miscellaneous

This evening, 5 Med gulls - 2*1st, 1*2nd, 2 adults, 3 Brent, c200 B/H/Gulls, 1 Knot, 18 Wigeon on the sea, c20 Common Gulls, (I was trying t...

Cattle Egret

With cattle in field above Sandy Haven Pill; field adjacent to the junction with the minor road to Hasguard.

Bramblings - Garn Fawr (nr. Strumble)

At least 3 Bramblings in the mixed finch flock, also Yellowhammer & Reed Buntings. (Adrian R.)

Black Red, Goosanders & .....

Stackpole Quay;- 1 male Black Redstart on the cottages just before the Quay. A few Goldcrests amongst a c30 strong L.T.Tit flock. Bosherston...

Angle Bay

More birds than of late at Kilpaison this morning with 8 Pale Bellied Brents being the stars. Also 20 Bar Tailed Godwit, c.130 Dunlin, 12 Kn...