woococks etc.

This winter a ringing project was started with the aim of assessing the population of Woodcocks in the county, as well as finding out more about the movements of this secretive species. Duing December 30 individuals have been ringed so far, and many acres of ground has been surveyed at night. The density of feeding woodcocks can be as high as 35 per square km in the most favoured habitat of fairly well drained improved dairy pasture, but it is much lower - say 1 to 5 per square km in sheep pasture and arable. Even though these are very preliminary results it seems to indicate that Pembrokeshire is an important wintering grounds for Woodcock.

At Monkhaven today it was buzzing with activity with the highlights being 11 Chiffs and a Firecrest (like yesterday) but when these were mixed with 9 Long tailed Tits, 8 Goldcrests, 5 Blackbirds 3 Robins, 3 dunnocks, 3 Pied Wagtails, 2 Grey Wagtails and a couple of Wrens all hopping up and down it made full on birding entertainment.