Struth!!

Last night I threw some uneaten dog food out for the hedgehogs, I couldn`t believe my eyes this morning, Pembrokeshire has gone into the red!!

gelly

A swallow and 2 greylag geese flew over today. No sign of lesser spotted woodpeckers or
goshawk in Gelly area so far this year

Short eared Owl ...& St. David's updates.

Pencarnan;-
2 Short eared Owls hunting now.
Also seen there this pm 1 Willow Warbler. 1 House Martin seen amongst c200 Sand Martins & c20 Swallows also feeding around the cliff top.

Bocca Valley;-
1 Willow Warbler here too.
(John & Marion)

Cattle Egret -- Newport & updates

Cattle Egret;-
The Newport Cattle Egret standing on the mud by the iron bridge at 17:13.
(Karen)

Great Northern Divers;-
6(six) this pm off Newgale & 2 Red Thd. Divers.
(Paul G.)

Merlin;-
Fem. at Strumble still, also Sand Martins at Garn Fawr.
(Adrian)

Black Redstart & ..... early pm updates.

Marloes Area;-
A fem. Black Redstart on Pebble Beach in The Deer Park late am.
60+ Puffins in Jack Sound.
Willow Warbler, a couple of Chiffchaff's & Sand Martins at Marloes Mere otherwise quiet.
Merlin in the Bicton area, c15:00.
(Paul G.)

St. David's area;-
Pencarnan & South, 3 Wheatears & a few more Swallows & Sand Martins this morning.
This pm now birding round St. David's Head, a constant movement of Sand Martins now 200+ with a few Swallows all going SW towards S. Ireland.
(Marion & John)

Teifi & Cemaes Hd;-
1 Knot, 2 Black-tailed Godwits,(1 at least dif. from last nights birds) 1 Bar-tailed Godwit from the Quay/Webley & the wintering Common Sand. at Jewsons.
Around the Head, a few Sand Martins & 1 Swallow seen, also a few Siskins moving.

Stena Europe/

A short notice ferry survey 30/31st March 09 Fishguard Rosslare, started with a couple of divers RTD& BTD , a swallow and a house martin. Along the way we picked up several Manxies and porpoises with distant Comic (probably Arctic) Tern as well as Sandwich Tern as well as RTD and BTD's coming into Rosslare. On way home this morning 34 Tysties (Black Guillimots) in and around Rosslare Harbour yet another summer visitor in ther shape of two puffins (sadly) on the Irish side as well as a couple of dozen Manxies spred across the return. Porpoises and a small pod of Common Dolphins may have been our first March (just!) record.

allthingsgood, cliff

Angle Area

Quiet at Angle Harbour with just a dozen or so Redshanks and, round at the Lodge, a single Greenshank. A couple of Swallows over the water.

Nearby there were 4 Yellowhammers showing well - nice to see as this is another of those birds which seem to be declining rapidly.

Kilpaison was also very quiet with a few Oystercatchers, 1 Ringed Plover and a lone Great Crested Grebe in the bay.

Carregwastad

I saw a Merlin fly west low over the water at 14:45 and quite a lot of Swallows and Sand Martins are starting to arrive despite the drizzle.

Iceland Gull ... teifi ..&..

An ad. Iceland Gull basking on the middle sand bank directly below the Gull View Point at c1730pm onwards. Only c200 other gulls there.
Also this evening 2 Black-tailed Godwits feeding on the bank opp. St. Dogmael's Quay.
A Whimbrel called once but could not be found!!
A Bar-tailed Godwit from the Railings on a sandbank(Wendy).

Hirundines

Pwll Deri;-
This afternoon, c20 hirundines.
(Adrian)
Pencarnan birding south;-
c60 Sand Martins, c30 Swallows,but only 4 Wheatears (at Point St. John)
(Marion & John)

S E Owl, Swallows & ..........

Trefeiddan;-
This am at 0930 a Short-eared Owl hunting. Also several Swallows around.
Last night at least a dozen Swallows.
(Marion & John)

Strumble Hd;- Poor visiblity!
But by 0930 at least 3 Swallows, a Sand Martin, & 2 Merlins, very aggressive to each other, on & off for 30 mins.

Song Thrush?

In the 27 years I have lived in Sutton this is the first that there has been no resident Song Thrush within hearing distance of the village, in fact despite walking to East Hook, and Sutton mountain (about 3/4 mile each in opposite directions) I have yet to hear more than a single bird who was tuning up briefly a few weeks back, but dissapeared, at least aurally, the next day. In all other years there has been at least one and usually three of four within the territory and singing from mid Feb on.

Anyone else noticing the spotty songsters absence from usual haunts?

Pembroke Millpond update 29.3.09

Waders on the Upper Millpond at 1800hrs
Black-tailed Godwit 75, Greenshank 6, Redshank 30, Water Rail 2,
Sand Martins 12, Swallows 3.
Blackcaps and Chiffs singing in the Holyland woods.
Butterflies in the woodland, Comma, Peacock, Red admiral.

Mammals, reptiles and amphibians

I have completely re-jigged the Pembrokeshire mammals blog so it looks more like a website that you can add your own comments to under each species. www.pembsmammals.blogspot.com

The maps are not 100% complete - I keep coming across records on bits of paper that I haven't entered, but the way things are going, if I waited till I had time to get everything completely up to date, we'd still be waiting this time next year, or worse.

Any comments on the mammals site will be moderated - as soon as the common shrew map went up, I received a long comment in Japanese characters that probably had nothing to do with the subject - especially as it came from a no-reply email address. Genuine comments should be approved and visible on the site within 24 hours.

Cattle Egret

The Cattle Egret at Newport was showing really well this afternoon just below the bridge between 4pm and 5pm.St Davids head this morning 7 Swallows, 1 Sandmarting,2 Wheatears and 1 female Blackredstart.

Swallows

Maes Y Garn, Crymych. 11.30 - three swallows flying north over the land, 2 red kites and a pair of buzzards also seen.

Strumble Head

An hour at Strumble this pm,
2 Red thd. & 1 Black thd. Divers, 1 Manx Shearwater, 1 Swallow & 1 Merlin.
(Adrian)

Swallows & ... visitors

Fishguard Flagpoles;-
1 Swallow, also, several Chiff's, Reed Bunting, Cetti's singing on Goodwick Moor. (Adrian)
St. David's Golf Club;-
3 Swallows this am. (Karen)
Cemaes Hd.;-
3 Wheatears, plus the usual Chough etc..also a count of 240+ Grey Seals hauled out.
Teifi;-
8 Sand Martins over the river in the Marshes.
1 Goldeneye(fem) on the river at St. Dogmael's.
28 Wigeon at the Webley. 17 Teal on pool at Heron Hide

Also a few of Blackcaps singing, joining the many Chiffchaff''s singing around Poppit to the Marshes.
(Wendy & Rich. D.)

Swallows at Newgale

Two swallows were seen flying along the A487 to Newgale from the direction of Roch this lunchtime.

Sand Martins -- Teifi

Quiet still!
Marshes;-
A couple of parties of Sand Martins flying through the river area, c10 & c25 during the afternoon/ evening.
Jewsons;-
The wintering Common Sandpiper still present.
(Wendy & Rich D.)

Cattle Egret -- Newport & .. Strumble Hd.

The Cattle Egret was roosting with the Little Egret above the bridge on the northern side low down in the trees at HT, 0645 this am.

Strumble Hd.;-
Nearly a couple of hours this am, not much moving in a pretty fierce northerly wind, combining with the HT!
A couple of distant manxies, 4 Red thd Divers,(3 on the sea), small nos. of Gannets, Fulmars Kittiwakes, & higher nos. of Guillmots passing.
(Wendy & Rich D.)

Scarce woodpeckers

Great Spots are drumming a plenty.

Green Woodpecker;-
Proving elusive!
On Friday, Marion, John & I spent 6+ hours looking in likely spots.
The area between Bosheston Lakes, Broad Haven South to Stackpole Quay.
Heard from this area recently but no sign or sound from the dunes or woods.
In fact across Stackpole Dunes & Warren, just a few Skylarks, 1 Snipe & 5 Starlings, very quiet.(no Wheatears).

Pleasant Valley-ish to Colby Lodge area.
A maze of footpaths used, again no sign or sound of the getting mythical Green Woody!

Any recent records of the species would be interesting please.

Lesser Spotted Woodpecker;-
Heard a couple of times yesterday from the hanging woods high above Cilgerran Gorge, from the footpath going upstream of the Gorge car-park.
(Wendy)
This appears to be the only record this year so far, with several old/regular sites checked(maybe only once).

Again as with Green records of Lesser Spot. would be welcome.

Cattle Egret -- Newport

Flew from island above bridge to tree to roost at 16:18.
(Karen)

Trans Atlantic arrivals

Two Manx Shearwaters passed Strumble Head this afternoon, my kind of summer visitor. Two Puffins may also have travelled afar since they were last here. Gannets, Fulmars, a Black - throated Diver and a group of Porpoises made up an enjoyable supporting cast. The longevity of some of these birds could mean they were old acquaintances.

Red Kite

A Red Kite seen over Narberth town centre this afternoon,also the Robin nesting in the garden at home hatched today I feel that's quite early.

Newport Cattle Egret

was at the bridge this afternoon but behind the "island" on the S side looking upstream, so you have to move to the N end of the bridge to see it.

Fishguard

Outer Break Water;-
4 Purple Sandpipers, 1 wp Red Thd. Diver, & 1 large Porpoise.
(Rich D. & Karen)

Dinas Red Kite

Yesterday there was a Red Kite drifting over Dinas 'town centre' and Brynhenllan, and a couple of snipe in rough pasture behind my house.

Glaucous Gull -- Fortunes Frolic

A bit of time in Haverfordwest today by Paul G. was rewarded with a 1st yr. Glaucous Gull at The Frolic! around c14:00. It got flushed & wasn't relocated.
Also 12 Redshank, & 10 Teal.
(Paul G.)

Away, Strumble, Pen Caer, Fishguard.

I was away for a few days in Yorkshire and Hampshire, nothing really interesting birdwise but a Comma butterfly in a retail park just outside York was a bit of a surprise last Wednesday, folllowed by Brimstones and another Comma in my sons garden in Fleet (Loads of Green Woodpeckers there, RD) were witness to the mild spell.
Back in sunny Pembrokeshire yesterday, a look at Strumble revealed two BTD's one distant and one nice and close showing a head and neck newly moulted into breeding plumage and the rest still stuck in winter! A nice male Merlin on the way back near Ros y Carai and then finishing with a couple of wheatears on the outer breakwater. Good to be home!

Last dates for winter visitors

I was wandering around the teifi nearly in the dark this evening(as you do!).
When I realised that the small party of Wigeon may be my last for a while?
As numbers of winter visitors have dropped, please try & remember to record these last birds that are still around, one record will be the final date..

Gann - Tuesday, 24th March

41 Brent Geese in Pickleridge Pools this afternoon, plus a single Red-breasted Merganser.

Strumble Head & Newport

Wheatears, 6+, in the ploughed fields before the lighthouse.
Cattle egret still above the iron bridge, little egret below the bridge.

merlin gelly

a male merlin in my garden, the first this winter which is unusual we usually see one about throughout the winter.

Not Pembs....but... !!

An opportunity not to be missed;-(whilst in Carmarthen)
A visit to Dryslwyn;-
4 Little Ringed Plovers together on the shingle bank.
Cilsan Bridge;-
The sight of 26 Whooper Swans together in the field next to the bridge,
& 1 Green Sandpiper across the road in the flood in the field. Also 2 Sand Martins.
(Not a bad hour whilst dropping some-one off at the hospital!)

(Rich. D. & Wendy)

Water Rail at Martin's Haven

Following on from the excitement of the wonderful Hoopoe, a more overlooked bird at Martin's Haven is the Water Rail that was first spotted by Derek G (many thanks). It is best seen feeding first and last thing in the horse drinking area right by the Deer Park gates. If startled, it flushes and either scuttles back under the culvert into the scrub, or flies downstream to the denser cover. We have heard rails several times this winter, but I have not flushed one for a couple of years.

Other visitors to the garden over the weekend included a Grey Heron at dusk on Saturday (now I know why I have so few newts in the pond), while both male and female Kestrel were seen most of Sunday. Also several Peregrines, including one being mobbed by a pair of Chough and some gulls on Anvil Point.

The Deer Park had a small fall of beautifully coloured (and large) Wheatears on Sunday: at least 20 individuals spread out from Renny Slip to Wooltack Point. No Black Redstart, though. The Stonechats are also back on the Deer Park with at least 3 pairs displaying.

On The Gann: 3 Dunlin, a pair of Teal, single Dabchick and female Goldeneye, and the female Red-breasted Merganser.

Foel Drygarn, near Crymych

Around 2.30 p.m. about 200 Golden Plover flew up from the heather on the southern slope and gave an aerial display for about 15 minutes before flying west. Earlier in the day we saw several wheatear and skylarks in the same area.

Furzenips to Bluckspool area

Did a late afternoon high tide count of waders etc. Not very much of note - just a few ringed plovers, 20 curlew and 35 oystercatchers. Three teal were flushed from a temporary dune slack pool.

Ravens on eggs at Furzenips where the local pair of chough were busy nest-building (fine grasses carried by the female into the usual crevice so the nest is probably close to being finished now).

In Linney Dunes at least 15 wheatears noted - at least 9 were females, rest males. Surprisingly there were no sand martins over Frainslake millpond.

Earlier, Cosheston Pill was also fairly quiet - around 20 redshanks, 7 mute swans, 2 little egrets being the only birds of note.

Red Kite

Soaring above Herbranston, with a Buzzard, Raven & Peregrine around midday today - it slowly drifted East, before disappearing over Milford.

Strumble, Cemaes & Teifi

Strumble;-
Wheatear at Strumble, then 4 more in fields nearby,
6 Sand Martins Tresinwin.
5 Turnstones at the Flagpoles, Fishguard.
(Adrian)

Cemaes Head;-
No sign of migrants, the usual spectacular residents, Peregrines, Chough etc.
Also 172 Grey Seals hauled out below.

As I seem to have a following to my year-listing,
the Chough seen today being my 150th species in Pembs in 2009.

Teifi;-
Again few migrants apart from Chiff's singing.
The wintering Common Sandpiper still at Jewsons.
On patch only 3 Turnstone, 1 Dunlin at HT. 24 Teal in front of Creek hide feeding & 1 Water Rail running around.

millpond Godwits and st Govans

Still 75 Black-tailed Godwits on the upper Millpond today, many getting browner by the day.
The colour ringed bird is still present.
Visit to st Govans in the afternoon had 4 wheatears, 6 Chough, Peregrine and female Black Redstart and Gannets offshore. several Skylarks and Meadow pipits singing but didn't see any Stonechats?

Purple Sands

At least 3 Purple sandpipers at Tenby nr the new lifeboat station this afternoon - there could well have been more - a few turnstone too. Also 70+ herring gulls feasting on many thousands of starfish washed up on castle beach. The strandline was heaped with them though what caused such large numbers to be washed up I'm not sure. The Herring Gulls seemed to team up in pairs to rip the starfish apart, a bit like pulling a christmas cracker except whoever got the smallest portion got the meal because starfish are an such awkward shape and texture for even a gull to swallow.

The Head

St.Davids Head this morning had all the usual stuff like Ravens, Chough, Peregrines and Buzzards and a good number of Wheatears. At least six Swallows came in off the sea and a Ringtail turned up from nowhere.
Also in the St David's area a cracking male Dartford Warbler singing on the gorse. It's gratifying to know that they have survived what was for Pembrokeshire probably the hardest Winter since they colonized our county.

Cattle Egret -- Newport

Cattle Egret;-
Seen at the iron bridge looking upstream this late morning.
Also 2 Sand Martins.
(Paul L.)

No sign of the Hoopoe by 930-ish.(Martin's Haven).
(Paul L.)

From BirdGuides;-
Nice to see an early scarce wader reported, A Black-winged Stilt, Cape Clear, Cork.
(Amazingly a 1st for the Obs/island.)

Dartford Warbler

Having dipped on the Hoopoe yesterday (I gave up when the fog rolled in around 11 a.m.) I was especially pleased to catch up with 2 Dartford Warblers this morning at a site in the south of the county. What stunning creatures they are and a real delight to watch them on a wonderful warm sunny morning.

Golden plover

Before going off to help Paddy and Richard at Ty Rhyg a wander around Maes y Garn turned up 350+ golden plover, 4 singing skylarks, 5 buzzards and at least 3 pairs of meadow pipits.

Ty rhyg -- nest boxes

Well known as having a wintering Great Grey Shrike, Ty rhyg is also an area adopted by Paddy & the landowner for some population research.
Today after a nice Hoopoe, the shrike & before a little rugby & the Cattle Egret. Kevin, Paddy & Rich D. spent a few hours putting in place c25 nest boxes for the following target species, Willow Tit, Spotted Flycatcher, Tawny Owl, & Coal Tit.


Paddy with the first of six boxes for Willow Tit in place.

Kevin filling the Willow Tit boxes with sawdust for the Willow Tits to excavate themselves!

Cattle Egret -- Newport

Showing well on grass island up-stream of bridge at c1630.
(Paul G., Dave A. & Rich D.)

Mynydd Castlebythe, near Puncheston

Yesterday (Friday) around 6.00pm, an owl was hunting over the north-west slopes of Castlebythe. I only got a brief view, as I was driving, and it disappeared over the hill before I could stop. It was still quite light, so seemed a bit early for a Tawny to be out - maybe another Short-eared?

Hoopoe

About 2 pm went down to Martins Haven for a look round, walked across the Deer Park and back with nothing beyond a Skylark and a Stonechat to be seen, it was freezing! Clouds rolled in from the North and blocked the sun, so we decided to return empty handed.

200 yds up the road I see what looks like a wader in the middle of the road which on closer inspection turns out to be the desired Bird! It flew up the road for about 500 yds stopping now and then to feed on the verge and finally dissapeared through a gateway to the left before the police sign. So it is still present but not limited to the Deer Park. 

Time would have been about 3:15

St Davids Hd

This am 5 Black Redstarts present, all female types. Also 3 Wheatears, Merlin, Kestrel, Peregrine and Sparrowhawk.

Martins Haven this morning

The Hoopoe is still around, seen well from 0815 to about 0900 then dropped off the wall and disappeared and then not seen - at least in the valley area, up to 1100 hrs.

Other birds - a Fieldfare on the Deer Park, a couple of Chiffchaffs, a Merlin, male Kestrel, male Merlin, at least 7 Wheatear, a Black Redstart and in the gorse a Willow Warbler which also sang sub song. Usual Chough around too.

At Marloes Mere a ring tail Hen Harrier and a Swallow.

all per Richard D, Sash, Paul G, Steve and Anna in the lovely sunshine!

Great Grey Shrike

Great Grey Shrike present this morning, Ty rhyg, viewable from gate. (from Richard Dobbins)

gelly

4 kites and 4 buzzards feeding with the gulls on a field being ploughed today.

Garganey & St David's area

Garganey;-
The 2 drakes looked for extensively today.
Not seen since c900 when flew from the Lower Treginnis pond nr. Porthlysgi.
Swallow;-
1 with c70 Sand Martins at a pond nr. Penberry.
Penberry Pond;-
1 Pochard, c7 Tufted Duck, also, Shoveler, Teal, & Wigeon still.

Otherwise quiet in the area, a few Chiffchaffs, a trickle of Sand Martins, & 1 Peacock butterfly.
(Marion, John & Rich D.)

Red Kites and other raptors

Another full day out and about surveying the Mynachlog Ddu to Rosebush area primarily in search of breeding Red Kites. No major progress in that direction, but plenty of kites seen especially nr Mynachlog Ddu where up to five 1st winters were feeding on the ground presumably on invertebrates. One of the these youngsters was tagged last year nr Gelli. A 4-year old adult harassed one of the youngsters and raided it's catch in skua fashion providing some good action. At the same location an adult male Hen Harrier headed north in a very determined fashion and a female wheatear was the first for the year in this area.
At Ty Rhyg the Shrike perched out in the open area and a male Goshawk soared over the plantation. Earlier in the day another Goshawk was seen at Pengawse, Whitland. All in all a fantastic day.
(Paddy and Tansy)

Hoopoe / Martins haven

Flew in to the scrub behind the toilet block, from the field behind Lockley lodge at dusk.
Steve, Anna & myself looked for it - withuot success, I`ll take a look at first light tomorrow.

Hirundines

c25 Swallows/ Sand martins at Marloes mere this pm.
A dental appointment prevented me looking for lurking Garganey

Leica Binoculars

Leica 10x42BN binoculars for sale, excellent condition, reason for sale - to update optical equipment, £400 ovno. Phone Peter Howe on 01437 764665

Brents at the Gann

This is to confirm Richard D's posting of 41 Brents at the Gann being a new site record count. The previous largest total on record was of 39 on the 12 September 1992. There were 35 there the day before Richard's count, the additional birds probably being migrants moving northwards from northern France wintering grounds. The 1992 birds were probably migrants going southwards to France.

Shrike & Egret

Yesterday late afternoon - Great Grey Shrike showing well but distant at Ty Rhyg . At Newport the Cattle Egret still present & went to roost at c.18:20. Also at the Iron Bridge 7 Sand Martins.

Hoopoe

Report sent in by Dilys Howells of a Hoopoe at Martins Haven at 12:30 yesterday. No further details available.

New Spring arrivals in Martletwy

Whilst at home today, wheel-barrowing tons of soil in the garden, it was nice to occasionally ease an aching back by the distractions of various sights and sounds in the neighbourhood.

Chiffchaffs are now singing daily here, but the distinct melodic song of the first willow warbler is always a joy to hear. One was singing strongly this morning and occasionally this afternoon - quite an early one for us here in Martletwy. A blackcap was also singing briefly, though I don't know if it was a new arrival or one that may have over-wintered - probably more likely a recent arrival I suspect.

A few sand martins flew over the garden during the day. Snipe were also on the move - as often seems to be the case in late March and early April here. Annie returned from Ramsey Sound in the afternoon and caught an all to brief view of a raptor near the garden - probably a female goshawk - but she did not get the best of views, but they are close by.

Fishguard Harbour

A single Black Guillemot seen by the ferry terminal and five Wheatear along the middle breakwater.

Carn Llidi, St Davids Head

A kestrel hunting on the south slope of Carn Llidi for at least an hour this afternoon.

Brent Geese -- The Gann ....&...

The Gann;-
A site record this High Tide? 41 Light -bellied Brent Geese.
Also the Red-btd. Merganser still present , 1 Greenshank, & 3 Goldeneye.
A Red Kite flew through too.

The Deer Park;-
c8 Wheatear, & 1 Great Ntn. Diver in Jack Sound.
Marloes Mere;-
1 Sand Martin, a couple of Chiff's from the hide, a male Pintail.
(Wendy, Paul G. & Rich D.)

Velvet Scoter -- Broad Haven

A trip through the havens this afternoon produced little in numbers of birds.
Broad Haven North;-
The clear highlight being a female Velvet Scoter, picked out by Paul G. After some scrutiny over the next 30 mins by the three of us, up to 9 Velvet's were occasionally flapping their wings.
Also 1 solitary male Shoveler on the sea, & a few Common Scoter .

Newgale;- A couple of Red Thd. Divers
(Wendy, Paul G. & Rich D.)

Great Grey Shrike -- Ty rhyg

The shrike was showing in the first tree line this am at 0845, viewed from the gate.
(Wendy & Rich D.)

Garganey - St David's

Nr. Trefeiddan Common;-
2 male Garganey present this afternoon at an irrigation pool NE of Trefeiddan Common.
View only from the public footpath which leaves the common at it's NE corner.
Grid Ref;-SM732257

The only other notable sightings for the St. David's pen. today from Marion & John, 2 pairs of Dartford Warblers at a regular location.

Cilgerran

News & photo from Tommy Evans - No sign of the Bittern from the Kingfisher hide but a Barnacle Goose flew in and settled briefly before flying off.

Migrant Red Kite again...&

Trefeiddan;-
A quiet misty day for the Best's, but another Red kite, a Merlin (fem) so far.

Mentioned to look for-- Garganey, note a large movement today, through SE, but also Brecon & Lancs.
-- Hoopoe -, Bardsey today (& Willow Warbler).
(BirdGuides)

Newport Wed am

Cattle Egret at the bridge. 2 DB Brents at the Parrog. Otherwise v quiet.

Bird group 21st march 2009

Bird group trip to Penclacwydd WWT on Saturday 21st March 2009

Unfortunately the field trip on Saturday 21st of March has been cancelled

Lyndon

Trefeiddan - Monday 16th March

Short-eared Owl, Trefeiddan. Two, possibly three, in flight at one time. One being a very dark individual.

Records from yesterday(tues 17th)

Fishguard Harbour;-
1 Black Guillemot looking at home,
Outer b/w;-
5 Purple Sandpipers & 2 Wheatear.

Headland between Stackpole & Bosheston;-
1 Black Redstart, pr. Chough, & 1 Wheatear.
(Karen)

Trefeiddan;-
A couple of Sand Martins at Trefeiddan at dusk, where the 3 of us left did not see any SE Owls!(see Rich. C below)

Dowrog;-
A drive through after Trefeiddan produced a ring-tail Hen Harrier. .. No SE Owls.

Dinas and Newport

The Cattle Egret was by the iron bridge again late afternoon.

The highlight of a walk around Dinas head was 11 Wheatear. Otherwise it was quiet with only one Razorbill, several Skylarks and Meadow Pipits and a Kestrel.

gelly

2 chiffchaffs singing and 2 greylag geese flew south over this morning at 7am.

More Raptors

At St Justinian's at about 3:30 a Red Kite came in off the sea - no doubt one of the birds seen on Ramsey today. Later at Trefaiddan Marsh a long wait for Short Eared Owls proved negative but another Red Kite passed (from Ramsey again?) and a ringtail Hen Harrier made a couple of passes. I left 3 observers waiting for the Owls so await with eager anicipation to see if I left too early!

Ramsey

3 red kites together over the island for most of the day. Didn't notice wing tags on any. Chough nest building again, lapwings displaying, more wheatears arrived, few more sand martins and a single chiffchaff.

goshawks, buzzards and kites

A warm and sunny March morning with a light breeze instills an irresistable urge in most breeding raptors to show off, and the sheer numbers of Buzzards today was almost unbelievable. At one point there were 48 visible in one scan from a viewpoint near Pentre Galar, either in pairs or threes frequently stooping and stalling then chasing each other down to land back in a tree. Goshawks were also busy near Frenni Fawr and several pairs of sparrowhawks at scattered locations in this NE corner of the County. Kites, as usual, were a little half-hearted in comparison settling for just hanging around in the same bit of sky as their mates. A backdrop of Chiffchaffs singing really made it Spring.



Byron - the kite at Carn Llidi has tags (black on each wing) I don't suppose it showed it's upperwing in a photo at any time did it?

Green Woodpecker at Bosherston

A Green Woodpecker was calling this afternoon to the southwest of the western arm of the Lily Ponds from the direction of the sand dunes behind Broadhaven Beach. Yesterday afternoon, Jean had a Wheatear by the B4329 at the top of the Preselis.

Carnllidi / Whitesands

A walk round Carnllidi this morning turned up some Red-legged Partridge, a pair of Yellowhammers and this Red Kite. Quite a 'colourful' day.

Newport returning Herring Gull

4th cy Herring Gull Blue BHS yesterday had been at Newport previously on Oct 9 08, having been ringed at the Gloucester landfill site in Jan 07.
And the Cattle Egret was still at the bridge at 3 pm.

St Justinians area (Point St John to Taflod)

A warm, sunny late afternoon spent in John and Marion's patch. Only notable birds were red-throated divers (x2 and a single) in full summer plumage heading north through Ramsey Sound; a flock of about 20 sand martins were also heading up the coast late in the day. At around 1800 hrs a single swallow crossed the road at Trefeiddan as we headed back south. A pair of chough may be resident in the Taflod area but too early to be sure yet. Ravens near St Justinians are on eggs (x5).

Earlier in the day back home at Martletwy chiffchaffs were singing in various places including our garden where one was singing yesterday. Probably at least half a dozen new male chiffs around home area today.

S E Owls - Trefeiddan

Trefeiddan;-
This evening 3 Short-eared Owls hunting from c16:15 until 17:00.
Other sightings of note, a few Sand Martins trickling through all afternoon,-- but no Wheatears!
An Adder on the path sunning,... J & M's earliest record.

(John & Marion B.)

St David's Head

A pair of Black Redstarts in the rocks near Coetan Arthur.

Red Kite, Scoter and Swallow

At the Nolton end of Newgale this morning (16/03) there was a red kite circling over the cliffs being harrased by some gulls. Later the bird was high over Simpson Cross. Whilst on the coast I watched a flock of Common Scoter (40ish birds) chasing each other about. A single Swallow flew northwards toward Newgale.

Chiffs about!

Several Chiff chaffs on Plumstone today along with a Kestrel. Not much else though.

Great Grey Shrike & Cattle Egret ... &..

The Shrike was in Ty Rhyg plantation at 9.30 this morning.
(Janet, John from Gower)

On a return visit with Paul G.(1030) the shrike took a bit of time. But it did come & perform again, eventually flying & perching on the stumps next to the track coming towards the gate.

Also the Cattle Egret was at Newport by the iron bridge at 0730 (John) & again at high tide(1130) sitting on the island in the river upstream of the iron bridge. Also Chiffchaff singing.

Llys-y-fran;-
This am, Chiff's singing the highlight.
Rosebush;-
Still 1pr Goldeneye, & 1 pr Tufted Duck.

Posting on behalf of Rich D.

Ringed MacBarn Owl

We reported a ringed Barn Owl in Decemeber - it flew in to the side of a car just by Sandy Haven Chapel (where they have recently installed an owl box) and was rescued by a friend of ours. It was OK and subsequently released at the same place.

We assumed it was a local bird but Steve Sutcliffe didn't recognise the ring number - it turns out it was ringed in July 2007 as a nestling in Glenurquhart in the Higlands of Scotland!

I think this location must be right on the northern edge of the Barn Owl range and I supppose these northern birds may tend to move south in the winter - it can't be easy to hunt when there is snow cover. So I wonder if he/she has gone back north again?

Marsh Harrier & Swallow

Received on email;-

Tretio Common; 1 prob. Marsh Harrier 3pm
Aberbach; 2 Wheatears & Kestrel
(Sandra JY)

Dale Airfield;-
1 Swallow this afternoon.... & Redwing still in St. Ishmael garden.
(Mike)

Teifi -- Greylags, & .........A..Brimstone!

Estuary, the usual March WeBs numbers of birds.
Marshes;-
2 small parties, 4/5 Sand Martins appeared to fly straight through;
2 Greylags on the river, after a couple of flights the eventually took off again(c1100) & left towards Carms. where presumably they are from!
A female Goosander roosting with Mallard & Teal(c30), & Snipe(c15) still flying as the tide reached it's high point.
Chiff's singing in a few well spread out locations today.

Brimstone butterfly, 1 seen today, near the river watchpoint(Wendy & Dyfed) , & having gone home to check, once I told them how unusual / rare! they are in Pembs, they have confirmed their ID.... will be looked for tomorrow!!

That Gull & a ringed Med Gull

An interesting larid Nathan, I don't think it's a Caspian as the structure isn't right, but a good highlight of the potential pitfalls out there.

Paul & I had more or less the same as Steve at Marloes (we had 8 Sand Martins). At the Gann 3 Med Gulls, 2 2ndy & 1 1sty, one of the 2ndy had a red darvic ring on the left leg, which we're 95% sure read PHY1 in white letters (with a metal ring on left leg). Will submit it as a possible and see what we get back. Also a single male Wheatear - always brilliant to see your first one of the spring.

Bittern

The Bittern and an Otter was seen today from the Kingfisher Hide at the Teifi Marshes,other birds included a singing Cetti's Warbler and two Water Rails.
Also this morning on the river at Cilgerran the family of Otters were seen (Female and two cubs)

Carew/Cresswell Rivers 15th March

WeBs counts done early this morning. First waders noted were 5 common sands all displaying on the wall at Lawrenny Quay - newly arrived migrants. Two wheatears on the grass not far away (almost exactly the same location as one seen here about this time last year).

On the estuary about 100 shelducks; 2 greylags (on Cresswell River); 80+ teal; 50+ wigeon; 40+ curlew; 5 black-tailed godwits; 2 greenshanks; around 50 redshanks and 17 grey plovers; 4 little egrets (2 pairs); sand martins (at least 7) flying up Carew River towards the millpond by about 10.30 a.m.

Fishguard Harbour - interesting gull

Caspian? I had this third year "herring group" gull in front of the flagpoles from 13:15 to 13:45. I'm not claiming it but it's got a dark eye, its mantle's a shade darker and it's retained an extensive black as well as red marking on its bill.

St Davids Hd etc

St Davids Hd: 3 male Wheatears, 7 Sand Martins, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel. Porth Clais: 1 Chiffchaff, male Goshawk, Peregrine.

Has spring sprung??

Yesterday a single Chiffchaff at Mullock but five on Tenby golf course this afternoon although none actually singing - aren't they supposed to sing on sunny days in March? At Marloes Mere this pm. at least eleven Sand Martin, three different trilling Little Grebes, a pair of Pintail still and a pair of Tufted plus all the usual stuff.

About 70 Canada's mainly on the Treehill fields - only three pairs on Midland yesterday, a large group headed off towards Skokholm as the light faded. I wonder how many will nest there this year.

Newport Cattle Egret

A (the) Cattle Egret on 2 succesive Webs. Amazing.
It was by the bridge at 07-30, but by 09-00, with the tide up, it had gone.
I thought it was standing in the field behind the lime kiln, but that was it's Little cousin.

Wood Duck

The Male Wood Duck was looking resplendent at Little Milford today.

Rosemary

Fortunes Frolic at 10:00 am this morning

The sun almost hot, the gorse smelling of coconut toffee, insects buzzing - surely there must be a Chiffchaff somewhere ............. no sooner than I had the thought, there it was - "Chink Chonk Chink Chonk" right over my head!

I get very excited by the first Chiffchaff of the year - somehow it's an indication that the world is still functioning when such a tiny bundle of feathers can make it back to the UK bang on schedule......

Plenty of singing Goldcrests - they have obviously made it through the winter.

(OK it was supposed to be a WEBS count but you can't help looking at other things can you?? Actually I did see some water birds too - two Water Rails at the edge of the reeds and there were two more squealing)

Rosemary

St Brides Bay

At St Brides this morning 2 Great Northern Divers quite close into the small beach by the church. Also a few Gannets out in the bay.
Druidstone - 3 Sand Martins passed through, 1 Peregrine and out in the bay about 45 Scoter.

Wheatears return

Five wheatears on St.Davids airfield this morning. No sign of the Marsh Harrier.

Tretio

Got there about 1730 a cold breeze taking the edge off a glorious late winter / early spring day. I was slightly surprised to be on my own.
Snipe and pheasant called and something remarkably like a tree pippet that I could not work out. I also could not work out what the LBJ's were that arrived in several flocks of 30 -60 birds and crashed down into the heather, probably mippets.
I heard a distant but odd goose like honking and then saw a swan flying by at some distance, without a scope I cant be sure but was probably a whooper. It eventually descended in the general direction of Tretio Common with the plantation in the background.
A single Kestrel clocked in as the first raptor of the session but as the darkness began to close first one and then a second Ringtail came in from behind me, skirting the eastern side and then both briefly hunting amongst the willow carr and rushes etc in front. One only showed briefly the other fanned about for a while before dropping into the vegetation. I left about 18.30 quite contentedly. allthingsgood, cliff

Black Guillemots -- Fishguard

Inner Breakwater;-
This site is the easiest / best site to view the birds,(2).
Park by the Sea-life Centre and walk out along the (flat) breakwater.
The birds are usually on the water looking towards the quay wall.

Fishguard Fort;-
An alternative viewing position, which is cliff -top, & not a flat path to reach!
The car-park is on the bend above Lower town as you approach from Newport direction.
Considerably further away, but a larger field of view to look at, encompassing all of Fishguard Bay, where other auks, divers, porpoises, seals etc are likely to be seen.

As well as the Black Guilles, 3 Red Thd. Divers in the harbour today.

Bittern (s) -- Teifi Marshes

Bittern -- Kingfisher hide;-
c17:00 Jon G. managed to have excellent views of this bird fly across in front of him!!
Bittern, a "Teifi tick" for him at last after 21 years of trying........ (Jon also managed a UK lifer, & a Welsh lifer this week too!!)

This Kingfisher Hide Bittern was also seen in flight yesterday evening from the hide... so pretty reliable (c1530-1900).

Wendy, myself & other birders have now also had a Bittern in flight nr. Priory Bridge, this time at 1000 this am... I am quite happy to think that this is a second bird. Hopefully will confirm over the next few evenings!

Cattle Egret -- Newport

The Cattle Egret standing with the cattle in the field behind the river, viewed from the iron bridge this afternoon.

Llys-y-Fran

Mid afternoon at the northern end of the lake - 24 Canada geese, 2 heron, 4 mallard, 2 buzzard, a tawny owl hooting and 6 sand martins overhead.

Circus in town

Marsh Harrier performing on St.Davids airfield this morning, hunting round the big pond recently vacated by the Bewick's.

St Govan's & Stack Rocks

At St Govan's this morning 9 Chough including a group of 7 feeding very vigorously on the close cropped turf. As with the Ramsey birds (see post below) one bird seen carrying nesting material. No Wheatears to be seen but brief views of a female Black Redstart on the cliff top just to the west of the car park was adequate compensation.

Round at Stack Rocks the main Stack was crowded with Guillemots with quite a few birds on the sea as well.

Ramsey - Iceland gull

1st winter Iceland gull here yesterday - not see today. Chough nest building for the first time today.
We open for the season on April 1st - contact Thousand Islands on 01437 721721 to book a place on the boat.

Black Guillemot -- Fishguard harbour

At least 1 bird showing from the Inner Breakwater.
Looking towards the harbour quay wall, below the crane.
(Wendy)

Great Grey Shrike - Ty rhyg

As my last "shrike" posting below,-- showing even closer this morning in the sun.!!

(Sev. obs., in fact a twitch, 5 vehicles when I left!!)

Sand Martins at the Gann

2 lots of 2 Sand Martins over the reedy top of the pools at 8:30 this morning - each pair was only around for a few minutes feeding before heading off.

Dunnocks singing everywhere!!

Millpond update 14 March

Upper Millpond has 75 Black-tailed Godwits including the colour ringed bird, some in hlf summer plumage.
Sandmartins, 3, mobbing Sparrowhawk. Three seems to be number for sandmartins reading the rest of the blog.
the gadwall and Pochard have gone off the middle pond.

Belated report. -- Great Spotted Cuckoo

Last night I was made aware of a sighting by John & Marion Best of a 1st sum. Great Spotted Cuckoo seen at Treifiddan Marsh, St David's on 10 March 2009.
The views were good, but brief, & the bird unfortunately could not be re-located.
Permission had been granted for viewing by visiting birders if the bird had been re-located.

Sand Martins -- Teifi

Teifi;-
A visit around the Teifi sites produced little first thing, except 3(+) Sand Martins feeding along the old railway track through the marshes. The birds didn't seem to hang around long,-- gone before 0800.

(Wendy & Richard D.)

Sand Martins pass through

Three Sand Martins paused for about 20 minutes this afternoon at Marloes Mere before flying northwards. Met the McClellands who had seen two Sand Martins flying past at St Bride's Haven some 20 minutes earlier.

Hope others are enjoying the wonderful spread of Snowdrops this spring, they are so much more numerous than last year.

Wheatears arrive

2 Wheatears at Ceibwr this morning by the coastal path.

Great Grey Shrike -- Ty- rhyg

15:30;-
I left Ty-rhyg plantation, with the shrike being relatively active.
I was able to watch from the car parked at the gate. With the bird flying & perching on trees to the right as you look forward.
Before (I had to go up the road earlier to get a phone signal), the shrike spent quite a while perched on top of a dead tree in the tree-line behind the pool, again easy, but distant from the gate.
The bird did not seem to mind the pretty reasonable wind & rain this pm.
-- So looks good for the morning! & presumably the shrike's behaviour is the same as last winter?
Remember poor/ no phone signal at Ty-rhyg, so probably no "live" updates from the site!

Great Grey Shrike - Ty-rhyg

Paddy has just found it now!!!

Dale / Marloes Pensinsular

The Gann;-
1 Great Ntn. Diver, 1 Great Ctd. Grebe, 1 Red-breasted Merganser(fem) on the pool, & 34 Light-bellied Brent Geese.
St. Ann's Hd;-
1 Kestrel
Marloes Mere;-
2 Pochard still, with Shoveler, Gadwall, Wigeon, Teal.
Deer Park, & Dale Airfield;-
As with the other sites above, no sign of any Wheatear.

Angle

Very quiet at Kilpaison at 09:30 morning with just a few Redshank and Oystercatchers. The tide was right up though so probably more about later. At Angle Harbour a Gannet was close in fishing, also 1 Greenshank, 24 Shelduck. Castlemartin Corse also very quiet with c.100 Golden Plover the only birds of note.

Fresh black shoots of spring

Whilst watching out of the Bridge windows of the "Megan M" (berthed in Fishguard Harbour), this afternoon, I noticed a couple of dark specks that rang a little bell in my brain. With the help of a truly horrible pair of bins, (why does a ship worth millions have binoculars that may have come out of a cheap christmas cracker ?), anyhow I squinted and strained and thought I had a pair of Tysties, I handed the offensive instruments over to crewman Chris Bean who described them as being black with white on the shoulders. They came closer and we confirmed a pair of Black Guillimots, or as the Shetlanders, more poetically say " Tysties".
Chris reckoned he had seen a single bird at least three or four days ago. I should say the photo was taken of a pair last June in Fishguard Harbour. How long until we have a breeding colony of these fascinating auks in Fishguard Harbour to rival the one in Rosslare ? allthingsgood, cliff

Bittern -- Teifi Marshes

After spending a good while watching the reed-bed in the kingfisher hide area, & being told the Bittern hadn't been seen( by birders present since 1530), we also gave up!
At 1845 as we aproached Priory Bridge, Wendy picked up a Bittern flying above the reed-bed towards the Heron hide area, we then watched it drop back into the reed-bed.

On the breeding bird front, Water rails still screaming away, & we wonder if Cetti's have moved in from elsewhere due to the cold winter further east?? A good number singing & good distribution of birds.

Wendy & Rich.D.

Cattle Egret -- Newport

1500;-
The Cattle Egret standing on the mud near the gulls, just below the iron bridge.

Stilll there,,,

On way home from a meeting in Aberystwyth, arrived in Newport around 6pm and decided to look for Cattle Egret. Met up with Lesley Davey and whilst chatting I noticed an egret in the trees on the NE boundary of the estuary above the Bridge . It was a little egret but as we chatted Lesley noticed another egret join the first. This was the Cattle egret, thanks Lesley , my first for Pemb's ! allthingsgood, cliff

Looking for............

This "Gyr";-
A look in the drizzle at the cliffs at the south end of Newgale, south of Maidenhall Point car park where there is a Fulmar colony.
No sign of a Gyr, & the Fulmars seemed happy on ledges or sailing on wings around the cliff faces, so I guess they weren't aware of a Gyr this morning.

St. David's area;-
Generally with poor visibility but, Ivor's Pond, quiet.
Penberry;-
Still c10 Tufted, also, c6 Shoveler, Wigeon, & Teal still present.
Tretio Common;-
A white egret in the gloom got me racing,-- but a Little.

Newport;-
By now I have made 3 visits to the iron bridge area today,( 0630,1200,1500) & failed to find the Cattle Egret at any of it's haunts. No ww-gulls either.A further report was mentioned to me this afternoon by Sam, of what can only be descibed as a Bittern again from the iron bridge, flying & landing in the reed-bed,.... so continuing effort at the bridge will surely bring some more rewards!!

? Gyr

A probable Gyr falcon was seen on the cliffs at the Nolton end of Newgale cliff this afternoon.
It was in the area where there is a Fulmar colony.
(Rich D)

Short-eared Owl -- Trefeiddan

John & Marion have been enjoying this bird for most of the early afternoon!

Ramsey

Spring has officially arrived today with a stunning male Wheatear on the north coast this morning. First of the year for us, 6 days earlier than in 2008.

Lisa

cattle egret

There was no sign of the cattle egret at the Iron Bridge at 10.45, but it then flew in at about 11.10 from upstream somewhere. It stayed above the bridge for at least a half hour, doing very little, & was not close enough for a 300mm lens!
3 little grebe were also near the egret around & near the river bend.
A little egret was below the bridge for a short while.

Glaucous Gull -- Porthselau, (St. David's)

Nr; Whitesands Beach, St. David's;-
No surprise!
An early one from the Best's, "It's stunning, it's beautiful, it's white!"
A 1st yr massive Glauc. on the beach below the caravan, walking around with other large gulls.

Theft

Someone broke into the Pembrokeshire Ringing Groups building at Chevron on Sunday afternoon and stole two bags of mist nets and absolutely nothing else despite torches, tools, ropes, nest boxes and other stuff lying around,

The nets were in two large bags - one a pink canvas bag. Police are involved of course and Chevron aren't too happy about it as their security people had checked the place a couple of times in the morning and the theft was discovered in the afternoon.

PLEASE keep your eyes and ears open - there should be no-one in the county with access to nets other than the ringing group members. If you see anything anywhere please tell the police immediately. We can guess they are most likely to have been taken by someone fairly local as the site is pretty well hidden from the general public.

Thanks

Carregwastad

I found a decapitated Guillemot - obviously the work of a Peregrine - and there was a winter plumage Black-throated Diver in the bay at 13:45.

Short-eared Owl - Trefeiddan

John has just rang to tell me how beautiful it is to be watching a SE Owl quartering the marsh in front of them!
18:10 the bird started flying.

Newport -- Cattle Egret, Iceland Gull

Cattle Egret;-
1445, the Cattle Egret was at the water's edge of the pond in the field beyond the iron bridge.
With a Shelduck for company , No cattle!

At 1230, our good friends, John Davis & Bob Relph (from Ceredigion) rang asking for a more precise location for the egret. Once directed onto the Cattle Egret's likely spot with the gulls, John also managed to pick up an imm. Iceland Gull! ...but soon to move down the estuary & ....... away.

Cattle Egret

The Cattle Egret is by the iron bridge at Newport this morning.
(Richard D)

Gann

Relatively quiet on the Gann this evening on the high tide, 3 Med Gulls (adult in the roost on the water, and 1st & 2nd years on the small island on the lagoon, showing well), 12 Brents & a Great Northern Diver in the bay.

Fishguard Harbour

2 Light-bellied Brent Geese swimming in the shallows at 13:15.

Purple Bookends

Friday afternoon on the outer Breakwater, after a bit of an absence or at least if they were there I had not managed to find them Tim Collier (picture) and I found these little darlings.
The long staying Snow Bunting (Tims pic') continued to be obliging. I wonder how long for...

allthingsgood, cliff

Cattle Egret -- Newport

The Cattle Egret currently in usual field by cattle feeder.
News from Wendy.

I couldn't find it at c1130 this am!

Common Sand.-- Teifi

The wintering Common Sandpiper still at Jewsons this morning.
Little change yet in the waders, 23 Redshank at Jewsons. Last night at the Webley, 13 Dunlin, 5 Ringed Plover.
On the Marshes, Cetti's regularly singing from 5 territories, but no sign of the Bittern since last Mon. 2nd??

Goosander

Two male and two redhead Goosander on the river at Cilgerran and of small flock of 15+ Siskin this morning.

Gulls....

Paul & I had a late afternoon foray:

Withybush: nothing on the Airfield, but a stop at the "clamp" produced nothing when we arrived but within 30 seconds a gull appears...juvenile Herring...and then a second... the juvenile Glaucous! Exactly as per Graham, and as Paul put it, "Astins jam factor 10 again". Then to Llys-y-fran.....very quiet, but we did locate a juvenile Iceland Gull out of a small flock in a distant field, the total 'roost' (most birds bathing and then disappearing) probably no more than 350 birds. A pair of Goosander, a pair of Goldeneye, a pair of Canada Geese, and not a lot else.

Feeding frenzy!

Off Pen anglas this morning (07/03) there were around 60 Guillemots feeding with a couple of Razorbill, a red throated diver, 3 shag, a cormorant, 2 gannets, a seal and numerous gulls - Who needs David Attenborough!
Futher along the coast there was also a pair of Peregrines.

Newport Cattle Egret

At 08-30 the Cattle Egret was on the mud at the bridge. By 10-00 it was roosting in the trees upstream & was still there at 10-30.
Re Elusive species; I have several dog walks in Dinas that pass through woodland - the most recent Tree Creeper sighting was Jan 04 ie over 5 years ago.

Elusive Species - Green Woodpecker

Info from Tessa Pearson - Last year at this time I twice saw a Green Woodpecker in the fields above our house in Valley Farm Saundersfoot after hearing its distinctive call. This week I heard one again in the same area so hopefully they might nest around here.

re. Elusive species

Up in this corner of Pembrokeshire, I go to Cym Cych for dipper, & pied fly, & wood warbler. Willow tit is a garden bird (Tegryn), but a long time since I heard green woody here,& lesser I've not recorded here.
I am not sure where our tawny owls have moved too either!
Ffynnone is a bit of a mess at the moment so I'm not walking there so much as I did.

Elusive species

Our walk described below, repeated twice this week and will be again infuture, was done specifically to look for some of our more elusive and less common species - lesser and green peckers, Dipper, Willow Tit,and Tree Creeper for instance, species that normally we have little trouble locating here in the Narberth district, (apart of course from the lesser-pecker).

What is the 2009 status of these birds here in Pembs? Blogging can be anecdotal, but non-the-less, it would still be interesting to read bloggs that mention sightings of some of our more elusive resident species.

They do it here in Narberth

This morning you could see the rain coming ever closer, and the Met Office radar confirmed that all of us, here in Pembs, would soon be in for a soaking.

So, delaying our mid-morning cup of coffee, we quickly set off on the Narberth circular, a walk through parks and woodland, and along streams and hedgerows.

And yes, the Stock Doves flew out of the same old oak as they did earlier this week, only on this walk we found two more calling S.D. sites.

And yes, the kites as usual flew over their territory.

But, and you have got to believe it, we found a third tawny site, again, revealed by a daytime call.

Many years ago I placed a tawny box high up in the girders of an aircraft hangar where I worked. Owls bred successfully year on year. In the silence of the lunchtime period, when mechanical and electrical engineering ceased, and personnel retired to the crewroom, often there remained only one person: Birder Best. On several occasions I heard the single note call of a tawny at one end of the hangar and an immediate response from the other end.

"Hi mate, you still there?"
"I'm here, see you when when this rabble below go home and it gets dark".

At least that was my interpretation. And they do it here in Narberth.

Llanstadwell Castle Pill

Info from Mike Jones - At the junction of promonade rd and church rd Llanstadwell 4pm 20 dunlin 7 shellducks redshank curlew. Blackbridge Castle Pill Resident Kingfisher either sits on the pipe that fills the head with water or sits on a peice of concrete just below the swing bridge on the depot side.

The Gann / Marloes

26 Brent, 1 ad Med, 1 G/C/Grebe on the sea, the only highlights this afternoon in the rain.
Earlier at Marloes mere - again the only birds of note were 1 female Merlin, 2 Pintail.
Had a look at Milford dock mid morning - zilch!

Glaucous Gull

The 1st w Glaucous Gull was still present on the old runway at the north end of Withybush airfield this afternoon. The only other gull present was a 1st w Herring which was quickly driven off.

Masses of Starlings were feeding on the silage heap, periodically taking to flight when a bird scarer detonated, only to swiftly return after just one small circuit.

North Pembs...... no sign of.....

Teifi Marshes;-
Reed-bed near the Kingfisher hide, no sign of the Bittern,(0645-0800).
Perhaps no chance anyway considoring the freezing temp. & ice!
The best place to try & catch the Bittern in flight is the clearing in the hedge just before you reach the hide from the Visitor Centre end.

Newport;-
No sign of the Cattle Egret, 2 visits made this am, not aware that it was seen yesterday either?

Llys-y-fran Resr;-
As expected fishermen are back, the highlight being 1 pr. Goldeneye still, with sev. pairs of Great Crested Grebes.

Green Woodpecker;-
The "Atlas's " Bird of the Day again, have a look at the map. The Cered. & Carms.poulations don't look much better than ours!

Otters

On the river at Cilgerran this morning a female and two cub Otters and perhaps not so welcome a Mink.
Not a great deal in the way of birds a party of Siskins and single Kingfisher and Dipper.

Teifi marsh

Thursday evening
Around 18.00 small parties of pied wagtails started assembling for the roost. Total had built to just over 100 when a sparrow-hawk joined the mix with predictable results, chaos!
We were sure more wagatails arrived but number uncertain.
Also present c60 starlings, 18 magpies. Heard more than 1 water rail & more than 1 cettis.

Tawneys Calling

Nope, not a Tawney, they were heard tonight, as I gave the dogs their evening constitutional. Two calling one reasonably close at Trefwurgi the second somewhere further away, probably nearer Glan Moy, first time I have heard them this year.

Cock or for that matter hen GSW a rare treat up here, but seem to come to nuts in hard spells or early spring, allthingsgood, cliff

St Davids's - Hen Harrier

Sighting from Julia G - On St. Davids airfield today. 17.45 today the Hen Harrier flew towards the marsh land from Caerfachell side of the road.

Calling Tawnys

This a.m. we took a short walk(1h 15m) on some of the footpaths that lead out of the south and west of Narberth.

Notable records. A pair of Stock Dove flew from an old and gnarled oak and later were heard woo wooing - very promising. Robin to Wren registrations were 16 to 5. We would normally expect at this time of the year, in this area, something closer to 50/50. Close to the town car park a small flock of Siskin, feeding in larch, gave their presence away with their continual chatty rattling calls. But better still, and not far from the same spot, two Tawny Owls let it be know they were hiding up when they called to each other.

This is the second time in less than a week, and at different sites, we have heard tawnys calling during the morning. This daytime habit of theirs does save the "Atlaser" from nocturnal wanderings and the risk of arrest!

Bewick's & Bittern - St. David's airfield

Bittern;-
A note from Julia G. -- I saw a Bittern standing on St. David's Airfield c5pm. I saw it in flight & standing in the marsh land.
Bewick's Swan;-
Still present on the pool, & a ring -tail Hen Harrier flew west at 17:05...clearly we were watching different areas of this fascinating place!

The Dowrog;-
Until 18:30, presumably only 1 ring-tail flying, which may well have been the airfield bird?

Penberry;-
Still 9 Tufted amongst a few Shoveler, Wigeon, & Teal.

Sand Martins arrive

Although very blustery and quite cold (following earlier sleet and rain showers) this evening, at around 1745-1800 hrs, there were at least 5 Sand Martins hawking over Bosherston Lakes eastern arm. Also Chiffchaffs (x 2) calling (not singing) in Lodge Park.

Two goshawks are still around on Castlemartin peninsula. Female is very pale (from a distance she seems almost white). In late January and early Feb they were displaying over open country - circling quite low with characteristically slow, deep butterfly-like wing-flaps. On a separate occasion flying higher - straight flight (male above and female below) with occasional stalls, swerves and dips - reminiscent of a noctule bat hunting! An amazing display to watch. A male peregrine was trying to see them off today in tandem with the local buzzard pair.

sightings? from the St. David's area

A few notes from info. gathered today from a couple of sources;-
Waxwing;-
A couple of reports of possible sightings in the area between Ocean Haze Garage & the Police Station.
Short-eared owls;-
On St. David's Airfield, also do we have any up-to date records from the Dowrog of roosting birds?
Black-necked Grebe;-
Either Penberry/ Ivor's Pond recently?

Recent sightings of any birds above or visits to those sites are much appreciated.
Either email the blog or ring on the contact number.
Thank You.

Newport Cattle Egret + ?

This am with the Little Egret in the field behind the lime kiln.
And looking upstream from the bridge,while I was counting Little Grebes (as you do), my companion saw, she supposed, a heron drop into the reed bed. Well, it was heronish size, dark speckledish, like an immature Herring Gull, flying low over the reeds before dropping in.

Pintail on Marloes Mere; Barn Owls

An evening session at Marloes Mere on 2 March had as the highlight a pair of Pintail seen from the Britton Hide. Also 2x male, 1 female Tufted Duck and 2 female Pochard. As many as 3 separate Water Rails heard from along the southern path (but none seen, of course!). Lots of snipe started calling at last light (1830+), a couple seen/heard flying out to surrounding fields.

The Mullock area had 2 Barn Owls patrolling around the area and seen flying all the way down to the Gann at last light on 1 March.

I'm no expert but...
Whilst down at Fowborough point on 01/03 I got a view of a distant redshank feeding in deep water, wading upto its belly and it appeared to swim. Bill looked finer and longer than usual. Could this be a spotted redshank?? Also a pair of GC grebe (one in summer plumage) and good numbers of curlew, teal and shelduck.

A couple of near misses!

Following on from the sighting of a goshawk at Wolfscastle I was watching a male sparrow hawk further down the gorge, above the disabled angling carpark, and caught a glimpse of what i thought was a goshawk at 4.30 on the same day. It dissapeared before I could get a decent view.

Also down at West Williamston earlier that day I saw what looked like a Slavonian grebe but distance and poor light meant it was not possible to be sure. There were plenty of dunlin, grey and golden plovers though, as well as two greylags flying over.

Reports of upto 5 cattle egrets in the Llanfferan area of Strumble

Freshwater West

This morning a flock of 800-1,000 Golden Plover over the course with several finch flocks which looked like 100% Linnet - in total about 500 birds but could easily be manay more. On the beach 40 grey Plover too.

Ramsey Jan & Feb 09 Bird Notes

Highlights were a whooper swan on 5/1 (with possibly 5 flying over on 24/1 but not seen well enough), an Iceland gull on 8/1 and house sparrows on 13 and 14/2.

Cold weather movements at the start of Jan saw arrivals of up to 130 golden plovers, 122 lapwing, 50 fieldfares, 3 jack snipe, 20 common snipe, 5 woodcock, 170 redwing and 210 linnets (heading north). Small movements of skylarks were noted on fine days in both months. Chough numbers remained around the average in Jan with up to 15, increasing to 20+ during February. Curlew peaked at 70 in January, slowly decreasing during February. Settled, fine weather saw Lapwings displaying over territories on 17 and 22/2 (the earliest dates for at least 4 years). Purple sandpipers were on their winter roost with 12 on 15/2.

Auks were present on ledges on several dates in both months (up to 50% total occupancy each time). The first gannets of the year were seen offshore on 23/2. Fulmars were present on ledges throughout most of the period.

GM

Cattle Egret -- Newport......&...

Cattle Egret;-
At 1100 the Cattle Egret was perched with the Little Egret in the usual roosting tree.
This was at HT.
At 0640 this am, LT no egrets to be seen, at the estuary or the usual cattle fields.

Teifi;-
The wintering Common Sand. still at Jewsons, also c25 Redshank.
On Patch; 5 Turnstones with a few Ringed Plover & Dunlin.
An ad. Med. Gull on the main estuary water.
c60 Wigeon at the Webley.

Felindre;-
Still 2 Brambling feeding at Janet's.

Excellent scoter numbers in Carmarthen Bay

A message from CCW Ornithologist Sian Whitehead that ground-based counters undertook a survey of Carmarthen Bay last weekend. The scoter count was one of the highest for some time - just short of 23,000.

To quote Sian " It's very encouraging news". It also backs up observations (that I passed on to CCW back in the autumn) that Graham Rees was predicting good/normal numbers in the Bay this winter , having confirmed that numbers moving passed Strumble were back to normal compared with the low numbers seen the previous autumn.

Nice to see that Graham's prediction has come to fruition. In 2007 the prediction of low numbers in the bay, based on Strumble observations, was also correct!

Well done Graham - I wonder what other predictions we can make based on the "Strumble factor" get out that crystal ball!

Dale, St Brides, Goultrop & a strange Diver?

A pre-breakfast trip to the airfield, turned into a bit of an epic!
Dale Airfield;-
First thing this am.,a flock of 18 Chough & several more pairs feeding around the runway. A flock of 8 Ravens, & several flocks of 20+ Meadow Pipits, with 1-2 Pied Wagtails & Reed Buntings mixed in. 2 pr's of Stonechats seen displaying. Still v. good nos. of Snipe in all the boggy areas with c20 flushed. The pond had a Mallard & a Heron. A large imm. female Peregrine was probably the bird we saw with Dave A. on The Gann y'day.

The Gann at 0900;-
2m & 6f Goldeneye, 5 Dabchick , 4 Little Egret, a single Greenshank & 7 Brents. No Med. Gulls seen ( despite of Dave's incredibly useful id session last night; more practice needed by pupils.)
60+ Curlew.

St. Brides Haven;-
A fem Merlin that obligingly perched on a wall by the castle. A juv/1w Iceland Gull feeding a bit like a phalarope very near to the cliffs to the east of the haven entrance. This could well be the same bird reported on the Blog c10 days ago, & which I thought I had seen (c2 weeks) ago with-out bins. Several small parties of Razorbills off-shore.

Goultrop;-
Several small groups of up to c10 Razorbills off Little & Broad Haven. A Marsh tit seen & heard calling right from the Coast Path. More scoter than I have seen in the area all winter: at least 60 in the same area as the Razorbills, mostly in pretty tight groups of 5-10, the largest c20. At least 1 male with a visible yellow mark on it's bill.

We also watched for nearly an hour a strange diver that progressively drifted W & then fed from Goultrop Roads to under Borough Head(SM837 129).
From a distance it was v. dark grey on top, with a white front & neck, but a largely dark head; the division of the black & white was pretty sharp & distinct. Close to, & in the 'scope, it had the shape/size of a Black throated Diver, & a finer bill than any of the Great Northerns we have seen in the area this winter, & the head did not have the obvious sharp forehead. The body appeared brownish in some light, with white speckles on top of the back. There was a small amount of white on the face behind the bill, & a slight amount of white going from under the chin to behind the neck, but definitely no white patch by the tail. Any ideas anyone?

Back for a late lunch!

Sash.

Bittern -- Teifi this evening

We arrived at the Teifi Marshes @ 16;30 this afternoon for this evenings attempt!
Not to be disappointed at 17:06 the Bittern flew from close to Kingfisher hide & landed c30m to further to the right hand side of the hide.
We remained glued until 18:30, by which time the bird had not flown again.
The Bittern flew after the rain stopped, but before the wind picked up, so afraid it looks like you need to be prepared for a longish visit.
One consolation is that the bird is only being seen in the small area of reed-bed broadly in front of Kingfisher hide. Presumably because this isn't tidal.
(Wendy, Kevin, Rich. D.)

Black-necked Grebe -- Penally

This pm. a Black-necked Grebe & a Great Ntn. Diver off the north end of Penally beach.
(Paul G.)

Bewick's Swan - St. David's Airfield

The Bewick's Swan still present on Sunday.
(Sandra J.Y.)

March continues raptorusly

A Red Kite over my house today! whose going to get an Osprey?

White-winged Gull at Withybush

A ww gull at th aerodrome midday, identity to be confimed, but not one of the 1st yr's.
Perhaps a 3rd year Iceland.
(Terry G.)

Cattle Egret -- Newport...... ('peckers)

The Cattle Egret was roosting with the Little Egret in trees by the iron bridge late this morning.
I understand that the bird had been "absent" earlier in the morning.

Glad to see that the conversation rapidly moved on to Lesser Spot.. so if anybody knows of one there are some keen to be admirers!
Thanks in anticipation! ---- Green Woodpecker would be nice too..

Amroth - Black Red. &............

Black Redstart;-
The wintering male(see photos below) was this morning parading on the cottage rooftops at Amroth.
Wiseman's Bridge to Amroth;-
16 Red btd. Mergansers, 15 Great Ctd. Grebes, 4 Red Thd. Divers, c200 Common Scoter.
(Paul G.)

and a raptorous end!

big female goshawk (immature) crossing the valley near Wolf's Castle 5pm

Castlemartin Range 1st March - & colour-ringed chough query

Fine, spring-like day - skylarks in song and good numbers of meadow pipits along the coast and in the dunes. At least 3 kestrels hunting (one over Brownslade dunes, two nr Stack Rocks). No guillemots here today but hundreds on the stacks yesterday.

Choughs numbers generally a but thin lately, so it was nice to hear from Lynne Ferrand that she noted 11 on St Govan's Head first thing this morning.

Noted John and Marion's colour-ringed chough observation. Whilst we cannot be quite sure, if the bird is yellow/black (left leg); then it could also be wearing red/BTO metal ring on the right leg. This would seem the most probable combination. If so, then it was ringed as a nestling at Stackpole in May 2004. It has been seen about 21 times since, mostly between Broomhill Burrows and Linney Head between 2004 and Sept 2007.

In 2007, it was old enough to breed for the first time and I did wonder if it was one of the pair that had nested for the first time above the Furzenips. However, there have been no further reliable sightings. In summer 2008 I checked out nest sites on the Angle peninsula but was unable to see well legs of birds recorded there.

So it will be interesting to see where this bird ends up breeding this year. I suspect it will be at the Furzenips (if it survives to breed). But it may breed somewhere around Guttle Hole or Black Cave area on the Angle peninsula. Birds from Angle and Castlemartin regularly get together to feed and roost outside the breeding season and move between the two areas, so it could turn up next at Brownslade Dunes or somewhere nearby. Good to have the record of this "probable" combination. If it is, it is one of the more difficult/ allusive birds.

Bittern - - Teifi Marshes Magic

Whilst on my way down the old railway track for a further attempt at the "Tommy Evans" Bittern... I met Tommy & his wife, camera in hand.
I knew from the email to us that he had photo's of the Bittern... but he said not good enough to publish.
The photo's in his camera were good enough to spur me on ....& with Paul G. on the phone saying stay again for it ...I did.
18:10 is now history as many of you know!!
(this was not only a year tick, but a Welsh & Pembs!)
A 10 sec. flight view as it flew across & dropped back down into the reed-bed well in front of kingfisher hide. Marvellous!! & Thanks.

Black Redstart --- Pembroke Dock

This is the Black Redstart that has frequented Dean Maiden's house in Pembroke Dock for most of the winter.

Red Kites

2 circling and drifting east high over Carregwastad at 15:45.

Gann

9 Mediterranean Gulls (7 ads, 2 2ndW) in the roost tonight (2 of the ads sporting nice pale green darvic rings on their left legs), along with a 1stW Kittiwake. 28 pale-bellied Brents on the beach, and a Peregrine (imm female?) at least once trying unsuccessfully to pick up an early evening meal.

During a bike ride this morning, a Red Kite was flapping gracefully alongside the B4329 just south of New Inn crossroads, more or less opposite Rosebush Reservoir. Nice.

Sunday 1st Mar. Fowborough Point. Very few birds about. Lots of shelduck and redshank and a pair of Great crested greebes and a few common gulls. Jack snipe in the marsh. Treffgarne Gorge. Male Sparrowhawk, Peregrine and Buzzard.

Saturday 28th feb. West Williamston -Good sized flocks of dunlin, golden and grey plover, A Slavonian greebe out on the water.

Another Black Redstart

Setting off on a circular walk of the Angle peninsula (hoping for an early Wheatear), we found a very dapper male Black Redstart in the car park at West Angle Bay interacting with its cousins - Robin and Stonechat.
Later,very much later, for there are some very steep sections along this glorious and dramatic section of the Pembrokeshire Coastal Footpath, we watched a flock of 6 Chough playing "tumble fun" above East Pickard Bay. The "ring" leader sported a yellow band on it's left leg. We could not be certain of the lower band's colour: black perhaps? Definitely not blue ,red, orange or mid- green, but certainly very dark. We would like to know the bird's history if at all possible.

Amroth Black Redstart

Black Redstart again showing well around midday, on the roof of the cottage by the small bridge at the back of Amroth car park.

Raptorous start to St Dewi's Day

A quick look at Strumble produced only one small porp and a couple of Divers (sp) but a fairly constant trickle of Pippits flying out to sea in the general direction of Wexford. I watched them through my bins untill they turned into small specks and dissapeared. A Peregrine seen coming in out of the blue seemed to be carrying something small...

Back at Fishyguard outer breakwater, the single Snow bunting was still present though a complete dearth of waders. A Rock Pippet did its parachute song flight and a Raven flew past with a huge beakfull of nesting matereal.

On the way back out, I spotted a small raptor flit up to the crag above pebbly beach, a female Merlin. She took off in pursuit of a small passerine which dodged her talons a couple of times before she shot off westwards. moments later a Buzzard rose up with a couple of Ravens half heartedly barracking it, breaking off as the Buzz headed out over the harbour. Back for breakfast by ten thirty, there seems to be no cure for this birding bug eh?

ps. pic not a raptor but the one I took of the Buzzard was even worse!