Castlemartin Coast and Stackpole - spring sunshine

On the Castlemartin Range yesterday (19th) good numbers of swallows and house martins passing along the coast. Most of the expected chough breeding territories appear to be occupied (around 18-20 pairs) but few obvious young/non-breeders about. A single pair of ringed plovers are on territory at their usual cliff-top nest site. The females breast feathers fluffed up and abdomen visibly extended (she is very close to laying).

Surprisingly few wheatears in their usual nesting locations, but may have missed some as most females are incubating and were probably out of site. Surprised to see my first clouded yellow butterfly of the year come in off the sea - a pale one too (female-type) - a bit early but a hopeful sign that migrant inverts are also on the move!

Today (20th) at Stackpole, good numbers of house martins - they are back at Home Farm in reasonable numbers (earlier than last year) - first ones seen middle of last week. Whitethroats calling in several places since Friday; reed warbler singing in the reeds and a pied flycatcher singing and calling on the eastern side of the lakes eastern arm (most unlikely to stay though).

On the lakes the goosander numbers have dropped from 3 (one male and 2 females) to a single female. She spends a lot of time peering into the currently crystal-clear water watching the fish before diving in pursuit. I think this is the longest spring-stayer at Bosherston we have had to date. There are still 2 pairs of gadwall, plus 2 pairs of tufted ducks - so it will be interesting to see if any of these breed. However, we often get odd pairs of ducks on the lakes in the spring but they seldom seem to stay.

A single yaffle was active this morning - briefly calling near Barafundle - so hopefully they are still hanging on. One was recorded about a week or so ago near Square and Compass by Terry Allen (from Bird Atlas Roving records recently entered).

Kestrels are breeding in at least one location on the Range but so far their Stackpole site still has cobwebs at the crevice entrance and there are no signs of them yet.