An 'odd' Gull

I took this picture on Skomer yesterday - those of us present were somewhat surprised by the very striking green/blue colour being shown. Views both with 'bins' and camera from different angles showed the same. Comments ?

Skomer -- Short eared Owl

One of Skomer's how many?... Short eared owls.

Also now 8 Common Sandpipers in North Haven

(Y'day Dave Boyle)

photo Lyndon yesterday.

Sightings

Dartford Warblers;-
By recent reports received these warblers seem to be showing well at the moment, please send your records in to us or the county recorders, don't assume we know every pair.

Teifi;-
HT this afternoon, c80 BH Gulls opp. St. Dogmaels Quay, & c20 at the Webley.
Heron Hide;- 1 Black-tailed Godwit roosting with 5 Curlew, & what looked like a juvenile Little Egret?

Med. Gull --- French Sedge !

Fishguard Harbour;-
This evening at last the first Med. Gull( 1st sum.) of the late summer passage!
Also Redshank.(Adrian)

Teifi;-
CES ringing this am produced not a large number, only 70 birds,... but Quality!
The highlight a ringed Sedge Warbler bearing a PARIS number, our 5th international control this spring/summer.!!
Not to be outdone, 4 Cettis this am, 2 juv. males, another new adult male, & a breeding female.
Janet Atkinson joined us today to help with the mothing,... & time for a little excercise.
The weight of a new Chiffchaff (6.7g) compared to our largest moth.. a Privet Hawkmoth(1.9g)
Also a Silky Wainscot trapped ,...6 previous county records.
(Teifi RG)

Yesterday at Jewsons, 3 Common Sandpipers. Around the length of the Teifi c100 Black-headed Gulls now. 2 creches each of 5 juv. Shelduck could be found.

Black-headed Gulls on Newgale

The number of Black-headed Gulls feeding on the incoming tide at Newgale last night increased steadily from 8 at around 2100hrs to 31 half and hour later. Again there was only one juvenile.

Pembrokeshire Bird Report 2008

The 2008 Pembrokeshire Bird Report is now available and selling fast! To obtain a copy before stocks run out please send your cheque for £6.50 (which includes postage) made payable to the Pembrokeshire Bird Group, to:-

Jon Green, Crud yr Awel, Bowls Road, Blaenporth, Cardigan, SA43 2AR

Many thanks to those involved with it’s production and to those who submitted records. A special thanks also to Cottage Retreats and Thousand Islands who sponsored the report.

Chough chicks

Hi A&B, at least 4 fledgeling chough with adults at Strumble on Saturday, presumably from nestsite in that vicinity but as flying past cannot be certain, allthingsgood, cliff

Castlemartin Kestrels

Today accompanied Paddy on a pre-booked visit to the Range to check out his three (kestrel) boxes. Results 2 grey squirrel-boxes and a used jackdaw nest and a huge number of clegs (horseflies). Paddy checked them exactly the same weekend last year when it was 100% grey squirrels so at least a bird species had moved in this year.

Later in the day noted recently fledged young kestrels at their usual nest site in Pen-y-holt Bay (I think five had just fledged on the same weekend last year). This year the brood of 4 were playing peek-a-boo in the numerous crevices in the bay, difficult to see well. The male came in with food and so all appears to be well at the only known occupied kestrel nest site on the Castlemartin peninsula.

Choughs have not bred to well this year but it was nice to find 3 families feeding in the Pen-y-holt area today. Out of 18 pairs that nested, so far I have only found about 25 young from 10 nests known to have been successful.

Ringed Plovers (single pair) nesting again in their usual location - female on eggs again today. The first brood seems to have failed - probably during the wet cold weather a couple of weeks or so ago.

Lots (hundreds) of dark green fritillary butterflies also around now but today the weather was far too dull for many to be on the wing.

Sea Birds & Dolphins

A visit to Stack Rocks yesterday showed the number of Guillemots greatly reduced as more youngsters have made the jump.
Out on a Sea Trust boat trip today many young Guillemots were seen miles out to sea towards the Smalls Lighthouse. Plenty of Puffins too with a few Razorbills, Manxies and 15 or more Storm Petrels as well as one rather out of season Bonxie. Highlight was, however, huge numbers of Common Dolphins - see the Whales in Wales blog here for details.

yesterday...&......Storm Petrels

Fishguard Harbour:-
1 Black Guillemot feeding by the dredger early am, this appears to be a favourite spot.
(Adrian)

Teifi;-
1 ad Common Gull with 35 BH Gulls off the Webley midday.
(Wendy)

Teifi Marshes;-
1 Little Egret on the marshes early this am.(Sunday)
(Jon)

Storm Petrels;-
A session at The Deer Park during the night, netted a total of c65 new birds & 1 control (a fairly new ring). This was the best total for a session (2.5 hrs) for quite a few years.
(Pembs RG)
If weather becomes reliable , we may be able to "advertise " Storm Petrel ringing nights for birders to come & see these birds in the hand.?????

Pemb. U. Mill Pond;-
8 Redshank last night.
(John H.)

Chiffchaffs & Blackcaps;-
Ringing yesterday(27/6) at Braces (Pwllcrochran) caught 23 Chiffs & 18 Blackcaps out of 109 birds.
At Kilpaisson (20/6)13 Chiffs, 15 Blackcaps, & 13 C. Whitethroats out of 131 birds.
At Kilp. (13/6) 46 Chiffs, 22 Blackcaps.
As nearly all these birds are juv's, I guess these "early " breeding warblers haven't done bad?
(Pembs RG)

Guillimots and Chicks

Lots of Guillimots with chicks seen right across the Irish Sea from Stena europe yesterday

Red Kite1

1 Adult above the chicken sheds between Sandyhaven chapel & the Sandyhaven turning this afternoon.

More Whimbrel

A group of 27 Whimbrels were feeding avidly on the edge of the flats at the Gann at 2-05 pm. Were these going north or coming back south?

Newport Sat am

Apart from a singing Lesser Whitethroat, all the excitement was at the N end of the beach. 13 Curlews on the roost. 2 Shelducks 1/2 way up the cliff. And in the bay 2 Great Crested Grebes & a male Common Scoter. Amazingly that's the only scoter I've ever seen in Newport Bay.

Teifi.......

Teifi;-
20:00, a few notes, 2 Black-tailed Godwits from the Railings, 1 Redshank & 1 Little Egret in the estuary, creches of 2 & 8 Shelduck at Jewsons & a 5 opp. St. D's Quay.
Mute Swan count up to 44.

Deer Park: Manxies and a Gropper

A walk out on the Deer Park tonight from 2130-2245 gave a wonderful view of Manxies rafting before coming ashore on Skomer. Spread across St Bride's Bay were 15-20 separate rafts of birds. The smallest raft was roughly 500 birds, the 2-3 largest numbered in the thousands. A really calm night like tonight and minimal moon offers a great opportunity to see large numbers of Manxies from the shore here.
Also, a Grasshopper Warbler reeled continuously from the gorse between the Coast Watch station and Wooltack Point. Someone I met had seen (and photo'ed) another reeling Gropper by the old hide at Marloes Mere this morning.
A male Sparrowhawk made an unsuccessful go at some linnets in the valley. I have not seen a Sparrowhawk around here since last winter.

Chough

2/3 juvs being fed by their parents at Gateholm, this afternoon.

Whimbrel & ..........

Teifi;-
As the Whimbrel has made BirdGuides, at c15:00 still present but now from St. Dogmael's Quay.
Also c45 BH Gulls. 3 Common Sands. still at Jewsons.
(Wendy)

Fishguard Harbour;-
c20+ BH Gulls, 2 juv. & c6 Curlew. As appears to be the pattern, no sign of any Black Guillemots in mid afternoon.
(Adrian & Rich D)

Teifi -- new arrivals

This am,07:00;-
3 Common Sands. Jewsons, 1 calling Whimbrel loosely with c15 Curlew on Poppit un-fussed by dog walkers this am!
Curlew & Black-headed Gulls, a better idea at high tide, but c40+ of each spread the full length, sand dunes to Teifi Marshes.

Fishguard Harbour;-
late pm yesterday, 37 Black-headed Gulls, 2 of them juv's. Also 7 Curlew.
(Adrian)

Redshanks

Info sent in by Graham Brace - 18 redshank at Llangwm Pill early on Tuesday morning. They were there again this morning (Thurs) clustered on a rock off Rectory Point waiting for the tide to recede and being fanned in the morning sun by a very obliging cormorant sat on the pinnacle of the rock.

Little Egret ---- probable breeding.

Adult accompanied by a fully fledged bird of the year seen within the Cleddau Estuary on the 24th. Juv closely followed the adult's movements and was twice seen to be fed. It seems unlikely that these birds had travelled far. Repeat visit to locality today revealed free running dogs and no egrets.

North Pembs

Early morning, mid morning, & late morning visits to the Teifi, Newport & Fishguard haven't found anything really than other increasing numbers of Black-headed Gulls.!!
(Adrian, Wendy, Rich D.)
(We shall see later..........well I won't, going to work during the day for novelty!)

New Mobile Number

Hi all I have a new mobile phone number it is 07772869730 Steve B.

North Pembs today

Nr. Porthgain;-
Confirmation of Little Owls breeding, -successfully by the mess, & both adults seen!
(Paddy)

Teifi;-
1 Ad Med. Gull, 1 Sandwich Tern, c30 BH Gulls before the HT covered the sand bars.

Gull food (with a Celtic flavour!)

If anyone walking the Stackpole coastline recently has pondered about piles of small blackish dead beetles along the route, these are likely to be the disgorged remains (inedible parts?) of the Welsh Chafer beetle (left-over Herring gull food).

Stackpole is an incredibly important invertebrate site and we have several chafer beetle species here, but currently (helped by the warm spell?) we are experiencing huge numbers of these small plump flying/swarming insects (a bit like a very mini-cockchafer). They have been hatching over the last couple of weeks or so from the sandy grassland turf. There are literally thousands or them! Personally I have never seen anything quite like it at Stackpole before.

The herring gulls are going for them big time (is there a shortage of their "normal" food or, being opportunists, maybe they just cannot resist them as a starter before picnic sandwich left-overs? At first I thought they were feeding on ants (which they regularly take usually a bit later in summer) but it is the Welsh Chafer they are going for. Large numbers of this insect have also been recorded recently on dunes in North Wales according to a CCW colleague.

Robin on Skomer (& turtle dove)

Just in from Dave Boyle;-
1st Robin of the post breeding dispersal / migration.
Robins rarely breed on any island except Caldey!!

Also 1 Turtle Dove today.

Freshwater West

No Little or Royal Terns on the beach at Freshwater West today but plenty of action with the filming of Robin Hood - really spectacular!
P.S. There were a few Gannets diving in just offshore - look out for them when you see the film.

Gulls & Ducks

Newport;-
From below the tennis courts, 6 BH Gulls & the injured Redshank.
From the iron bridge, 16 ad/1st sum BH Gulls plus 2 juvenilles. Also 2 Redshank.

Teifi;-
Jewsons, pr. Shelduck with 2 well grown juv's. Pr. Shelduck with mixed creche c7 juv's.

Fortunes Frolic

A full summer plumage adult Med. Gull & 2 Little Egrets, early afternoon.
(Paul G.)

Black-headed Gulls - Newgale

There were around a dozen Black-headed Gulls on Newgale yesterday evening. All adults bar one juvenile; with several of the adults losing their breeding plumage.

Ramsey --- 08:51

No sign yet. --- Greg.

Teifi

From the railings at high tide this evening there were 3 Sandwich terns sitting on buoys. Also 27 Curlew, a high count for June.

Subalpine Warbler -- Ramsey

The western race male still showing but elusive, early afternoon, around the warden's garden.
I'm sure we will have news from Greg in the morning before the first boat.
Photos should be posted on Thurs, (camera went to Grassholm to photo' Gannets being fitted with radio-transmitters -- I think?)
Also Spotted Flycatcher in the garden.

Today

St Ishmael's area;-
A cycle around by Paul G. didn't find any calling Quail ,-- but a dozen or so likely fields. Any one heard Quail in Pembs this summer?
Yellowhammers found in 4 locations though.
(Paul G.)

Fishguard Harbour;-
5 Black-headed Gulls this pm, the return is gaining momentum.
(Adrian)

Whinchats at Brynberian

At least 12 Males seen there over two recent visits, a few more than last year. So far no young fledged but the males are all singing and very defensive of their territory so probably just a late year. There's a constant buzzing of redpolls and a flock of 30 Mistle Thrushes but the star birds have to be Redstarts of which at least five families are busy around the edge of the moor.
There's plenty of non-avian interest too with Small Red Damselflies, Beautiful Damoiselles, Keeled Skimmers, Golden Ringed Dragonflies all very active in the warm weather. Green Hairstreaks also out at the moment. There's plenty Clouded Buff moths flying when its sunny, a species which apparently only has 12 previous records in Pembs. I would move on to the plants (sundews, Bog Asphodel etc) but this is a bird blog!

Subalpine Warbler ---- Ramsey

A male, western race, singing, has been found on Ramsey this am.
Boats over at 10:00 & 12:00

(Greg, warden Ramsey)

Newport Mon am

Has summer ended?. 4 Curlews, 4 Redshanks &,in the Bay, 3 adult Great Crested Grebes. Plus a Lesser White throat singing on the Northern shore.
Are LWs commoner this year?. I know I only learnt the call this year, but this is the 4th bird I've had since then.

Concerns ?

Getting a little bit worried about how this spring / summer is affecting everyone.

There's Dave been seen on the Teifi Marshes, then Adrian spending a day on Barrafundle and now there's a dress code for ringing !

What ever next - Steve out birding ???

Who knows !

Barn Owl nest-boxes

Regarding barn owl nest boxes: the Barn Owl Trust have an interesting web site. To find out more go to http://www.barnowltrust.org/ and click on information downloads for a leaflet on how to make a barn owl box amongst other useful things.

Thanks Cliff for the owl location. Shame you cannot log on to enter the record. If you want any help to log on please get in touch. We will make sure it goes to the BTO as a paper record and someone there will have to enter it. The system will not allow us to enter other peoples records.

Another hobby - Monkton priory

Just received a late night phone call from Annie (out doing a late night bat survey at Monkton with Sian Williams). They watched a hobby near the priory at dusk - chasing noctule bats (the bats also put on a wonderful display apparently). She also recorded a barn owl there too near a likely breeding site.

How many other hobbies are there around at present?

Swifts on Castlemartin peninsula

Noted mention of a white-throated swift at St Govans Head. I have been watching and recording swifts on the Castlemartin peninsula over much of the last 25 years and there does seem to be quite a lot of variation in throat markings in the population. Some individuals do seem to have markedly white throats. At least one seems to be resident each summer on Stackpole Head, I have also seen one at St Govan's Head and there are possibly at least two others (perhaps more). They seem to occur each year in more or less the same places. They are quite striking, but so far my conclusion has been that they are particularly well marked adults (older birds?).

The swift has now been given an amber-listing status (due to declines in its population, including loss of traditional nesting crevices in buildings that have had roof renovations etc). Suffice to say that I think our cliff-nesting population on the Castlemartin peninsula currently appears to be reasonably stable. I have no idea how many pairs there are but on some evenings up to 50 or more can be found screaming along the cliffs between Stackpole Head and Elegug Stacks.

Tonight was just such a night with many entertaining numerous holidaying visitors to the Stacks - with their low-swooping, eye-level screaming flights along the cliff edge, a real delight to see.

On the Stacks this year there are around 15,000 guillemots All the counts along the peninsula coast have still to be properly sorted and added up, but I think numbers of guillemots are about 12% up on last year.

Good numbers of chicks now calling - their cries seem to get louder and louder as night falls - many old enough now to jump and fledging has started. Watched two tumble down to the water this evening from the top of the main Stack - enticed by their waiting fathers!

re Owlsright

Hi Bob & Annie tried to sign in but no joy. Owlet on Troed Y Rhew just above railway line near junction with A 487 (Heol Y Felin) allthingsgood, cliff

The Gann

1 adult B/H/Gull this evening.

A couple of people I know would like to find out more about nest boxes for Barn owls -they say they have one sometimes on their property & would like to encourage it to stay. Any ideas. thoughts, suggestions?

One more!

Belated Waxwing record

This photo was given to me today by one of the lads at work. Taken in his garden at Hakin, Milford Haven, around the end of March this year - it stayed for 2 days.

Returning species..............

Fortunes Frolic;-
1 juv.Black-headed Gull, not a Pembs breeder so the first reported in Pembs having moved away from it's breeding grounds.
(Paul G.)

Those dolphins

They got a mention on the Skomer blog too - http://www.skomerisland.blogspot.com/

Dolphins in the bay

Whilst having a very relaxing BBQ at Martin's Haven this evening I was surprised to see a large pod of what I am 99% sure were Common Dolphins heading west in a long line out of the Bay towards Skomer. There must have been 50 or more, with many completely clearing the water and crashing down with huge splashes, move very fast from east to west. I had a chat with 2 foreign tourists who are staying at the campsite just along the coast path who said they had seen them 3 times today in the bay - they were surprised when I told them I had never seen a Common Dolphin in there! Worth a look?

Also noteworthy, Matt Sutton had a swift with a distinct white throat at St. Govan's Head this evening - in all other respects like a Common Swift though.

Apologies.....Still on Polecats!

At work today, the guy who told me about the family of Polecats at Robeston - told me that someone he knows has been feeding one in the mornings in the same area for a few days now.

I grilled him about it& he`s genuine, he only found out about it yesterday.

More (bad) news for Simon King!!

Martletwy Hobby - during mid afternoon butterfly transect

Despite dull-ish weather the air temperature was high enough to do our usual weekly butterfly transect for BCT. Not many butterflies but a fine hobby was seen pursuing and being pursued by hirundines (swallows and house martins). It dashed eastwards over the trees near Mill bridge at about 1530 hrs.

South Pembs with Adrian.

Fishguard must have gained some new post codes !

A real exploration today for Adrian (& Carole)! A message whilst I was in the Strumble Suburbs watching a Black Guilemot, that they were going ...to of all place on a Fathers Day Sunday to Barafundle Bay.!!

A text just in... not only Barafundle, now at West Angle.... & been to Stack Rocks...."quite impressive! "

Fishguard, Pen Anglas & Strumble may never be viewed the same?

North Pembs

Fishguard Harbour;-
0730-0800, 1 Black Guillemot fishing & eating small crabs, in a very still harbour this am.
Newport;-
This am, 7 Black-headed Gulls

Llangloffan Fen;-
Whilst mothing last night, Grasshopper Wblr. singing was the only bird of note.
Nothing this am.(Robin & Rich D.)

Teifi Marshes;-
Yesterday CES ringing,(& a little mothing) generally quiet-ish due to cold & wind early on, but another ad. male Cettis trapped & a very juv Cettis trapped.
(Teifi RG)

Teifi Marshes

A few photos from yesterdays session(all Paul Leafe), a very juv. Cettis, Buff tip, Poplar & Eyed hawk moths.

General Bird Atlas and BBS recording

For the last couple of days or so a lesser whitethroat has been singing in our garden hedge. Its quite a thick mainly blackthorn and hazel hedge but not quite the usual breeding habitat for this species. Its not the first summer we have had a male lesser whitethroat singing here in mid summer. Possibly this one is a wandering unattached male?

A BBS visit to Minwear and Pickle Woods this morning produced large numbers of fledged birds of many species - titmice all over the place (esp juv coal tits); good numbers of fledged long-tailed tits, plus juv treecreepers, nuthatches, marsh tits (all these and more in mixed flocks). Some 20 or more juv siskins, loads of young blackcaps, chiffchaffs, wrens etc.

Two male wood warblers were still singing and a couple of juvs seen. A family of grey wags at Blackpool Mill, plus a single kingfisher feeding there. At least 3 great-spotted woodpecker families noted in a single 1 km sq. They have become even more numerous in this forest over the last few years.

At least 6 territorial spotted flycs in the woodland (along BBS route) but so far still could not find any evidence of redstarts breeding in this area this year and tree pipits (if they are still around?) could not be found today.

Breeding owls - more records needed for the Atlas

Noted the record of the downy owlet (almost certain tawny). Cliff, not sure which tetrad you live in but if you are somewhere in the SM93 10km sq, so far there are no confirmed breeding season records of tawny owls in that particular square in the current Atlas. So it would be great to get this one confirmed and added.

Have a look at www.bto.org/birdatlas to get to sign in page to enter it as a roving record.

We really are short of confirmed breeding owl records (all species) in many places.

For Tawny owls, so far there are no breeding season records at all in SM83, SM92 or SM93.

For barn owls, breeding season evidence it is even thinner - there are no breeding season records yet from SM81, SM82, SM83, SM90, SM92, SN02, SN10, SN11, SN13 or SN23. There was a gap in SR99 but confirmed breeding this week so that square should change to red soon.

What has happened to little owls - are they about to go extinct on the Pembs mainland? Presently there are only 2 mainland records (probable breeding in a single tetrad in SN04 and one with no evidence of breeding in a single tetrad in SM81). The only other breeding season records coming from Skomer and Ramsey and even from these sites there is as yet no confirmed breeding! It really looks a bit grim for this species at present.

So more records of owls with breeding evidence would be welcomed if you can please.

More on Polecats....

Seeing Stuarts comments have jogged my memory, one of the guys at work was telling me about a Polecat he saw with 6 kitts in the Robeston area (behind the Total/ Murco refinery) about two weeks ago now. Also my wife seeing the photo I took told me she`d seen the same thing at Sandy Haven & thought it was aMink, so there may be more around than realised.

Owlright on the night!

Coming up our lane after giving a talk in Fishyguard - screeched to a halt to avoid a fluffy looking owlet on the road. Surprisingly, considering amount of downy plumage it took off and flew away reasonably effortlessly. Given twilight and brevity of view not 100% sure of species but probably a Tawney as heard later when walking dogs.

Not a bird, but ....

An adult Polecat and four well-grown kits in the road at Haroldston, Broad Haven, yesterday afternoon, circa 5.00p.m. They ran towards the car for a short while before disappearing into the verge.
Eat your heart out, Simon King !!

Strumble Records

As mentioned previously, Adrian is trying to ensure no gaps, as best we can. Below is a species list with totals to the end of May, any additions or comments welcome!

Shelduck -------------3
Common Scoter ------177
Red-throated Diver --17
Black-throated Diver -8
Manx Shearwater, 1st rec. 29th March
Whimbrel ------------7
Arctic Skua ----------1
Puffin ----------------7

(Jan -end May)

Shelduck -- how are they doing?

Teifi this am;-
5 one day old juv's just upstream of the railings. 3 well grown juv's upstream at Jewsons, & a creche downstream at jewsons of 8 birds of 3 different ages.
In summary at least 5 sets of young so far, more likely 7.
(30 young survived to flying last year)

Teifi Marshes

1 Grasshopper Warbler

2 Kingfishers

North Pembs

Sightings from Jim Rose, a birder visiting from Buckinghamshire - Wed 17th Gwaun Valley - A Tree Pipit singing in a partially clear felled area. West of Dinas Cross - A Red Kite seen from the main road.
Strumble Head - c200 Manx Shearwaters per minute passing fairly close in was impressive. Two Little Gulls past south, one an adult starting to lose it's breeding plumage, and the other a juvenile. Also two flocks of Common Scoter of 8 and 4.

Teifi & N.Pembs.

Llangloffan Fen;-
3 Mallard on the pool, on a very wet pm, almost impassable due to water depth.
(Adrian)

Teifi;-
16:00, & a little counting whilst juv's are still obvious?
From Patch/ Railings
Shelduck 41 & 2 juv (diff. juv's from Jewsons)
Oystercatcher 42, Grey Heron 3, Cormorant 9, Black-headed Gull 4, Curlew 11, Mute Swan 36 & 2 juv(from Creek?), Canada Geese 211.

North Pembs ... & Lapwing

Teifi;-
07:00 this am, most unusual, c20 Kittiwakes roosting/ sheltering on the end of Poppit, also manxies & Gannets close offshore. 1 Redshank on Patch.

Newport;-
V quiet.

Fishguard Harbour;-
2 Black Guillemots present, view from inner breakwater.
1 Redshank, Stena side.

Note these unusual Redshank records. Early returning failed breeders?

Teifi 20:00 last night;-
4 Black-tailed Godwits, 4 Curlew, 9 Black-headed Gulls, & 1 Little Egret.

Kilpaison;-
1 Lapwing appears to be sitting, perhaps we will get breeding this year (very poor!)
(John H.)

2008 Pembrokeshire Bird Report

The 2008 Pembrokeshire Bird Report is OUT !

Many thanks to all those involved with its production and those who submitted records.

The report is ONLY available from me, at a price of £6.50 (including postage).

Please send cheques payable to Pembrokeshire Bird Group to:

Jon Green, Crud yr Awel, Bowls Road, Blaenporth, Cardigan. SA43 2AR.

Dipping.....!

According to a Radnor friend, we have re-defined "dipping" today.
(He should have exprienced some of our previous)

But on our trek north we did see Osprey, Red-breasted Merganser's & Greylag Geese, surely we wouldn't have seen in Pembs today.!!
A 1am depart, destination by 4am, 13 hours north of the Dyfi, of which 10.5 hours north of Porthmadog.

Yes! you guessed no sign of the Royal Tern......!
We'll try Pembs tomorrow.

Teifi & ..............(Royal Tern)

20:00 visit,
4 Dunlin, 1 Little Egret & the Lesser Whitethroat still singing all on / from Patch.

21:00 Royal Tern - Porthmadog, Gwynedd;
This wandering tern is now at Black Rock Sands, Porthmadog, earlier this evening at Abersoch.

Overshoot

I must confess to having overshot my normal haunts of the Dale peninsula on Saturday and crash landed at the WWC at Cilgerran. In fact this was my second overshoot of 2009, the previous one having been in April...but I seemed to have passed through un-noticed, though Mike Snow was there to witness the event. My daughter Emily is enjoying the new Watch Group, so I may yet make it a hat-trick of visits in a single year - new territory for me! I can vouch for the tuna melt panini in the cafe....

Sandwich Tern

3 Sandwich Terns, fishing off the southern end of Tenby South Beach, yesterday afternoon.

Teifi

Teifi ,this am;-
Lesser Whitethroat still singing away in Poppit sand dunes. A Sandwich Tern calling but nowhere could it be seen! 1 Little Egret still & a couple of Curlew. I will try & do some counts at HT of the rapidly increasing moulting geese, swans etc.
Last Night;-
Jewsons. 2 juv. Shelduck remaining, although Jon had another 7 the previous evening.
2 Black- headed Gulls around the estuary, & 5 Grey Heron feeding.

Stuart...

Thankyou for the Orchid ID.

Mecca & the North

On the subject of Mecca (the Teifi), c 3hrs before DJA announced his visit with a phone call, I discovered JG himself peering over my shoulder into a moth trap! Almost as rare a sighting!
I know last month we attracted a ringer from Malta, & also yesterday Radnor's most active birder/ringer(PLe) for the w/e.

Is this summer madness, or the north is the place to be, sightings of more southern birders in Fishguard Harbour yesterday too!!

Is the new northern hotspot of Llangloffan Fen already forgotten? Reports welcome.

Latest sighting of DJA at the Teifi Marshes Birding Mecca !

News has just come in that the warm weather and favourable winds brought a DJA north and was spotted at the Birdwatching Mecca of the Teifi Marshes yesterday. Still waiting verification and in this case photographs are required.

That Orchid

The picture is not quite sharp; but it looks to me like a Southern Marsh-orchid (Dactylorhiza praetermissa) !!

Orchid

Forgot to add this with the Frog, I know it`s an Orchid, but which one?

Did you have to, Mr Green?

No this is not the name of a new stage play in the West End (though it is a catchy title, isn't it?) - it refers to our County Recorder and his penchant for rubbing it in - aka that Blackpoll that none of us saw, making it onto the front cover of the latest PBR!!! How about a Blue Tit next time?

Rana Beauty

This handsome chap came close to being skinned alive when I was strimming a shady part of the garden this afternoon. I first came across him 2 weeks ago one damp evening - so was aware that he could`ve been around. Some 70mm in length, so quite young-ish.
What do our continental cousins see in eating his legs? further more, what do they taste like? A cross between Rabbit & fish?

Teifi Marshes & Black Guillemot

Fishguard, Black Guillemot;-
At least 1 bird present today, viewed from Inner Breakwater.
(sev. obs.)

Teifi Marshes;-
5th CES ringing this morning;-
Highlights included, 3 Kingfishers(2 juv.) Juv. Nuthatch, juv's of Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, & Blackcaps. A an indication of the population 14 ad. male Reed Warblers trapped today in the (small) area we operate in.
Also trapped (mothing) an Obscure Wainscot, a 1st for Pembs
(det. Tony Lewis)
(Teifi RG)

Marloes Mere

The Marsh Harrier quartered the area for a few minutes this afternoon before dropping out of sight into the rushes. Considering its condition there seems a chance it will be around for a while. Sea mist rolled in obscuring the view from the car park, where a Hummingbird Hawk Moth was busy sipping nectar from Red Campions.

Obscure Wainscot

Here it is !!(Right)

& an Elephant Hawk Moth (Paul Leafe), & an adult female Kingfisher, aged on front of leg colour, thus the orange on lower mandible is colouration of female.(PL)

Deepest sympathy

Our thoughts go out to Wendy, husband Dyfed and son Gareth on their tragic loss, earlier today, of their son Aled. Words don't describe what you are going through.

As friends, we are here if you need us. He was a great kid.

Ods and Bods

A small party of Long Tailed Tits wandered through the garden as I set off for strumble this morning. The hedgerows between here and Strumble seem to be buzzing with new bird life including Goldfinches and Bullfinches. An injured Raven eluded my rescue attempt by scrambling over a gorse covered hedge bank, there was a day I would have gone after it, but gorse covered hedgebanks are not really mature walrus habitat.

Horrible lack of Porpoises at Strumble, but an interesting flock of around 60 non breeding Kittiwakes, mainly 1st summer birds loafing and dip feeding. Only Gannets seen were passing by with odd auks and manxies. An evening boat trip with Richard Nichols off Strumble was very quiet with only a trickle of manxies passing Strumble, nice to get a birds eye view of the tide race though!

North Pembs to Teifi

Fishguard Harbour;-
9:30 this am, 3 (three) ad Black Guillemots together. View from Inner Breakwater.
Llangloffan Fen;-
On the pool 1 GBB Gull & 1 imm. Cormorant.
Ty rhyg;-
Cuckoo flying, Lesser Redpolls active.
Glynaeron;-
Wood Warbler singing.
(Wendy & Rich D.)

Teifi -- yesterday;-
20:00 counts;-
11 Dunlin, 1 Ringed Plover, 7 Curlew(1juv.), 36 Shelduck, have all the young perished?
29 Mute Swans, inc. 2 small cygnets at Creek Hide. 191 Canada Geese.

Waders

Waders have been pretty few and far between in South Pembs this spring and even just 2 Ringed Plover and 1 Dunlin at Kilpaison this morning was more than I have seen for a week or more. At Freshwater West, however, there was a real treat with 25 Sanderling and 2 Dunlin in splendid summer plumage on the beach. If they stay a day or two they may star in the blockbuster Robin Hood as preparations for filming at Fresh West are really in full swing.

Marsh Harrier, Marloes

The well marked female Marsh Harrier was quartering over the marsh at Marloes Mere early this afternoon. As Sash said (see post below) it has very tatty primaries - presumably in full moult. The tail is also in quite a bad state. From the photo on the right it is a wonder it can fly but I watched it for half an hour or so over the Mere and it was flying okay although it did not appear to catch anything.

Glynaeron & the Teifi / Cardigan Island

Glynaeron;-
An hour at 14;30, (trying to find some of Sunday's species ie Crossbill), Siskins, Lesser Redpolls, & up to 4 Wood Warblers singing.
Surprising, also Beautiful Demoiselle here. Cuckoo on tele. wires nearby.

Teifi ;-
Patch, 07:00, c15 Ringed Plover, 5 Dunlin, from the boat en route to a Cardigan Island landing.

Cardigan Island;-
My first successful landing on here, & it's nearly all grass!
Survey of LBB Gull colony, provisional comments, numbers seem the same as 2 years ago.
Geese, only 17 young Canada Geese, & no more to hatch? is good news!
Several Barnacle Geese nests, less than 10, no young seen.
Nice to see Skylarks here, 3 pairs I guess.
(Thanks to Em. for arranging)

Island Spoonbills -- again

Skomer, 11:54;-
2 Spoonbills flying over heading towards Skokholm.
(Dave B.)

Teifi

Less waders this evening. Patch - 9 Dunlin and 10 Ringed Plover. 1 Little Egret.
3 Sanderling on Poppit beach.
Rich D found a few more Dunlin a bit later.
The Ringed Plover seemed to be different birds to last night with a higher proportion of 1st summer / non breeding birds by their plumage.

Marsh Harrier

An adult female Marsh Harrier at Marloes Mere this evening; apparently going to roost.

Marsh Harrier, Marloes Mere

Info from Marloes Mere sent in by Sash Tusa - An adult female with full yellow leading edges (but rather tatty primaries!) From 1000-1200 at least today. Also, a Buzzard hunting around the mere, and which caught a large vole or rat (v. long tail).Interestingly the book in the Britton Hide has a record of 2 Marsh Harriers on the 4th, so this bird could have been around, but under-recorded, for some time. The book also reports the male Garganey within the last week as well.

Llangloffan Update & Red Kite

No sign of the Pectoral Sandpiper at Llangloffan Fen this morning up until c. 10 a.m.

Nearby a Red Kite was flying over fields near Mathry where the hay was being cut. A couple of times I thought the Kite was playing with long strands of grass but on closer inspection it appeared to have plucked up a small mammal or bird disturbed by the tractor, with grass stems entangled in the process, and was eating the victim on the wing.

Western Cleddau

Three long fishing-related visits along the length of the Western Cleddau in recent days have produced surprisingly consistent numbers of Bullfinches (10 yesterday, from Sealyham down to Withybush), Kingfishers in the Glanafon (twice) and Crow Hill areas, a Barn Owl at Crow Hill but no Tree Sparrows. Many of the Sand Martin holes in the lower part of the river appear to have been washed away by the winter floods; a few have been re-started but yesterday’s spate may not have helped.
Llangloffan produced a Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 small trout from the pool below the road bridge, oh, and a Pectoral Sandpiper!
At Wolfscastle a pair of Dippers were feeding their fledged young very noisily underneath the main road bridge.

Glynaeron Woods yesterday

A big thank you to Bob Haycock for leading a disappointingly-attended but very rewarding Bird Group walk around Glynaeron Woods yesterday morning. The weather was against us, certainly at first, and meant that the sought-after Wood Warblers did not sing and so were missed. However we saw a very wide variety of other birds (my tally was 30 species; Bob & Annie’s records are undoubtedly more thorough), with my highlights being 2 Cuckoos, a Crossbill, Tree Pipits, Spotted Flycatchers, Redstarts and, around half a mile away, a very smart male Yellowhammer singing by the side of the road. The walk was made, for me, by Bob’s fantastic ear for distant singing and calls, and enabled us to find far more species that I would have achieved on my own.

Llangloffan Fen

I managed to see the elusive Pectoral Sandpiper among the rough grass at the back of the pool as the sun came out and the light improved around 16:00 to 16:30.

Teifi

On Patch this evening - 11 Sanderling (1 colour ringed), 1 Turnstone and 11 Ringed Plover. Amongst the 20 Dunlin was one in full winter plumage.
(Rich D)

Pec Sands

The Pec. Sands was showing at 4-30, I would advise anybody going to see the bird to take a scope, if they have one, as it spends most of the time in the grass on the far bank of the pool with only its dark beady eye and pale based bill showing. Patience payed off eventually when the bird started feeding in full view on the edge of the pool. I was surprised by the lack of cuckoos calling in what seemed ideal habitat as we seem to have a reasonable population on the St.Davids peninsular this year.

Pec. Sand & .........nearby...ish tern

Pectoral Sandpiper;-
16:30 still being watched by Nathan, hopefully a post from him later.

Tomorrow, c09:00 I will be there, so if no news before, then news at 9:00

Elegant or Royal Tern off Cork this evening so .....................(Adrian's on his way to Turkey!)

Pec. Sand - - Llangloffan Fen updates

0730; present roosting on the pond edge.
0930; with Robin, the bird performed best yet with feeding out in the open & in shallow water.
1040; with Wendy & Dyfed, NO show, after c 15 mins the bird flew in, presumably from the surrounding meadow.

The distance is actually 500+ m from the end of boardwalk.
The bird is more like 80m away, viewing only possible from this side of river.
Wellingtons & waterproof trousers will always be essential!

0730, as I approached the area, 2 Canada Geese, the first seen on my recent visits, & also c40 Mallard flew up & off from the pond area.

bird magazines for free

RSPB magazines from 1967 to about 2000, bird study 1967 to about 1980, birdwatch about the last 3 years. We travel to Haverfordwest most days at 5pm, so can take them there.

Pectoral Sandpiper

Pectoral Sandpiper still on the pond at Llangloffan fen at 07.30 this morning.

Pec. Sand ..&..Llangloffan Fen

I will visit the site early am, & get news posted.
See below I have added further directions to the original posting.
Wellingtons & waterproof trousers are essential, as the walk beyond the boardwalk is mainly through reeds.

Tree Sparrow:-
A piece from the "soon to be published" 2008 Pembs. Bird Report,
Singles Langloffan Fen 17,18 & 24th Jan. ...... Treddiog Fach 7(seven) 16th June.( this farm the SWWWT end of the NNR.)
New reports welcome!!

Tuesdays visit with Robin Taylor;-
On this visit, as well as Dunlin, & Common Sand, Robin trapped an interesting day-flying moth.
This was a Ruddy Highflyer, apart from 1 record in the 1970's from Goodwick, the only county record.

Teifi & ...Lapwings

Teifi ;-
08:30 this am, 2 Black-tailed Godwits from the Railings. On Patch, also Poppit a couple of times, a mobile flock, 5 Sanderling, 16 Dunlin, 11 Ringed Plover.
(These birds present night before, fri. Wendy).

Newport;-
1 Dunlin, & 1 Redshank.

Lapwings;-
Greg(Ramsey RSPB) asked how our Kilpaison birds were doing.
Poor !!
Start of breeding season 11 birds present in bunds. 2 pairs formed & moved to nearby fields to attempt breeding,....failed due to farming. The rest did not appear to settle, no nesting behaviour seen & at present 1 female, but not apparently breeding.
John was going to have another good look but getting late!
(John H.)

Pectoral Sandpiper

Pectoral Sandpiper found early this afternoon by Richard Dobbins and Adrian Rogers on a pond near to Llangloffan Fen NR. To find the bird walk along the board walk until the board walk goes off to the right, then follow a path through the grass, alongside the river to the left for c.400yds until a pool in a field becomes obvious. These fields are on the other side of the river. View from the only stile. If you don't reach the stile you haven't gone far enough... however far you think you've gone, or unsuitable it may seem!

Stack Rocks

Quite a few very small chicks now visible amongst the Guillemots at Stack Rocks on a very cold morning. A few unwelcome visitors in attendance including Ravens and this Greater Black Backed Gull.

With the tide right out 5 Grey Seals were hauled out on a small rock near the stacks.

Llangloffan Fen - Greenshank .... &

A visit yesterday evening produced 1 Shelduck & 1 Greenshank.
(More from another visit today I think!)

Brawdy Quarry;-
Y'day, c60 Sand Martin holes here, needs a some time to work out activity.
Also Red-legged Partridge, no LRP's but potential..?

Brawdy Airfield;-
A visit last night, Grasshopper Warblers singing.

Birding World & British Birds - back issues for sale

Due to a lack of space I have the following available to any sensible offers:

British Birds:
1980-1987 & 1999-2002 complete, unbound
1988-1993 complete, bound
2003 - Jan & Feb only

Birding World:
1988 April-Dec bound
1989-1997 complete, bound
1998 complete, unbound
1999 Jan-May only

If you're interested in any of the above please call me to discuss.

Spectacular Skomer

Have just returned from a three day visit to Skomer. What a spectacular site – flowers, glassy seas, sunshine, Short eared owls, Little owls, Shearwaters as well as the exciting and playful Puffins etc. To finish off on returning to the mainland a trip around Skomer on the Dale Princess - now for a pint

Thanks to Pete (Milner) on the Island and his supporting staff including ‘X’ thousands of Sea Birds – they say it all

Newport Fri am

Shelducks - a brood of 9 on May 26 was down to 4 on 28th & 1 on June 2,but this 1 was still there today. Otherwise a singing Lesser Whitethroat at the bottom of Long Street, 12 Dunlin on the Parrog rocks & an injured Redshank by the Boat Club - ? the same limping bird I saw there a fortnight ago.

Teifi & nearby...

From the Railings;-
Mid morning, 3 Black-tailed Godwits, 1 Sanderling, 20 Dunlin, c8 Ringed Plover. Also 1 Whimbrel calling, likely from the Golf Course.
Jewsons;-
10 Juv. Shelduck, I think this is what we have left out of 4 broods so far. Also this am 3 Foxes present on each side of the river here, so the Shelduck are likely to take a real hammering !!
(Wendy & Rich D.)

Sand Martins;-
A visit to one of the operational quarries produced a count of c60 active holes, after I discovered a newly occupied face this year.(this face with 57 holes). The heads of juv's pearing out of several holes. Like usual, no sign of LRP's at this seemingly perfect site, if you were in Eastern England!
Also Yellowhammer on wires.

St Margarets and Caldey

Just completed the census of seabirds on both islands.

Guillemots at record numbers with 996 ind on St M
Razorbills back to mid 1980's levels with 226 ind on St M
Kitts at 315 pairs back to mid 1980's numbers - 406 in 1983 was highest - all sitting
Fulmars down a bit overall but fairly stable - 103 on caldey and 10 on St M.
Shags - record 13 on caldey and 18 on ST M - has been over 25 in the past.
Herring Gulls - signiifcnat decline in virtually every sub colony producing a total of 1740 on Caldey c/w 2096 in 2008 - the first reduction in numbers for some years.
LBB's also declined from 686 prs in 2008 to 484 in 2009

Earliest breeding year ever for Shags - chicks already fledging all over the place.

Grey shrike sp - Ramsey

No sign of shrike yesterday evening or this morning.
First chough fledged yesterday (4 from one site, 3 from another). Over a week earlier than recent years. All remaining 6 sites still feeding young.
Our pair of SEO look to be feeding young.

Records

Newport;-
Early this am , 1 Dunlin, 1 Whimbrel.

The Gann;-
c14 May, a report of 1 Avocet on the pools for 2 hours, visiting birder.
(via Steve S.)

Short-eared Owls;-
As these owls are getting a bit of attention, some info from my visit to Skomer(wed)
Likely 8 pairs on Skomer, but shortage of voles so breeding success??

Penberry;-
This am, Cuckoo & m Tufted Duck
(Jon Green!!)

Sandwich Terns at Broadhaven

There were ten Sandwich Terns plunge-fishing just offshore at Broadhaven (north) this evening.

Short-eared Owl at Martin's Haven

A Short-eared Owl flew around the valley this evening at around 8pm. Most likely one of the Skomer birds. This time last year we had Short-eared Owls repeatedly visting Marloes Mere in the evenings; this may be similar behaviour at this stage of the breeding season.

Bosherston

Pretty quiet at Bosherston early afternoon. A few Mallard going into eclipse and a couple of Coots on nests. A Pied Wagtail was collecting Mayflies from the water surface and taking them to a nest, presumably, under the 8 arch bridge.

Shrike - Ramsey

Great grey shrike reported by visitor this afternoon but not seen since. Will look again now and tomorrow morning. Will post update as soon as we can in morning.

Strumble & ......

Newport;-
This evening, 20 Dunlin on the dunespit.

Strumble;-
Quiet on the bird front, but Green Hairstreak & a couple of "blues"
(Adrian)

Hobby, -- Cors Caron(Cered);-
Adrian happened to meet John Davis this am who pointed him in the direction of Cors Caron for a Hobby showing well.

Shelducklings

At long last, a pair of Shelducks with a brood of four tiny ducklings on the Gann lagoon.

A Canaston Hobby Friday 29th May

Forgot to say that the hobby observer at Canaston was John Birkett

Migrant dragonfy update

Steve and Anne Coker (helping with a butterfly survey on Castlemartin range last Sunday) have informed me that they noted several red-veined darters Sympetrum fonscolombei there late in the afternoon. This is a species that has turned up before on the Castlemartin peninsula and recently they found it at Dinefwr Park in Carms (and also saw lesser emperor there too!).

As for good sites for these rare species, having had a chat with Steve Coker, the areas to check will clearly be small pools on places like Dowrog, the island pools of course and down here on the Castlemartin peninsula - such as Mere pool valley and Bosh lakes area. I guess any small coastal pool could be worth a look.

Received a pretty convincing report of a hobby seen last Friday evening near Canaston, being mobbed by hirundines. It was from a visitor who had entered it to the BTO breeding birds atlas - he was contacted by email for more descriptive details. The record ties in nicely with others observed around last Friday/Saturday - could it even be the same bird?

Prob Great Grey Shrike. - Ramsey

No further sign of shrike as yet. Found by our summer reserve assistant early this morning. Sounded like Great Grey from description but he is not familiar with Lesser so cannot be ruled out. Probably a Great but staff will keep looking for it as and when we can and update here.

Marsh Harrier

An imm/fem Marsh Harrier over Trefeiddan Moor yesterday afternoon.

Greylag Geese - - Newport... &..

A pair of Greylag Geese have just flown in & landed by the lime kiln nr. the iron bridge.
(Karen ,06:45)

News of a Spoonbill on Skokholm "the other day", I'm afraid is all the info we have got!
(Dave B)

June the quiet month?

Yesterday a Red Kite over the house heading towards Goodwick, 11 Ravens in a string heading south, Fishguard Harbour, Outer Breakwater, Choughs seen out there for first and second times yesterday and today, scoter 12+ 1 heading S/W Black Guillimots x 2 extremely friendly in Biblical sense... One of nicer sights,as impression is of reduced numbers this year, H.Martins collecting mud

Skomer

Another lovely day on Skomer. All usual suspects showing well.

skylark

I was pleased to hear a skylark singing at the end of the village this morning. Their song is so special. This one was perched on the single strand of electric wire above the standard fence line.
As they always appear (to me anyway) to sing from high up in the sky, this was a rare chance for a good look.

Marsh Harrier - Trefeiddan

Marsh harrier over Trefeiddan Moor again today (also last week) - news from Derek Rees

New Skomer Blog

Skomer has just put up a new blog site and it looks great. Hopefully will be updated regularly and alongside the Pembs Birds will add to the general picture. In due course when Skokholm gets going again we might see one from there too.

Have a look at http:/skomerisland.blogspot.com

For the record on the Gann at least 9 Shelduck around but not a single chick seen this year. Little Grebes on Marloes Mere busy with chicks and still 22 great big Canada geese goslings!!!!!!!

Strumble

Adult male Goshawk over Tresinwen 9am this morning. Grasshopper Warblers still showing off and on nearby. First Spotted Fly back in the garden today - (2 weeks late compared to last year).

North Pembs. & Skomer

Teifi;-
Upstream from the Railing's, 6 Black-tailed Godwits & 5 Dunlin.
Patch, 1 Dunlin, & 1 Ringed Plover.

Fishguard Harbour;-
Black Guillemot, 2 birds in the harbour 07:30, view from the Inner Breakwater, Stena side.

Llangloffan Fen;-
Common Sandpiper & Dunlin present, on another interesting visit.
Probably over 100 Beautiful Demoiselles, never seen so many.
(Robin T. & Rich D.)

Skomer;-
No Red-veined Darters on Skomer, looked y'day, -- Bardsey have recorded them today though.
(Dave B.)

Cuckoo near Tufton

Jean had a cuckoo yesterday (1 June) morning just north of Tufton by a copse at GR SN 047 289.

Pembrokeshire Bird Group - Field trip

The next Bird Group field trip is on Sunday 7th June 2009. The meeting point is SN 106295 at Glynearon Woods at 9am. The leader for the trip is Bob Haycock. Please bring all weather ‘gear’ and including sun tan lotion and waterproofs. You will also need to bring your own refreshments.

Pembs. Bird Report 2007 -- Sold Out ?

On Sunday, after ringing we popped into theWildlife Centre for a cold drink, --Manuel, a Maltese ringer who was with us for the week-end was feeling the heat!!
Whilst in the shop I noticed 3 copies of the above, most recent bird report on the shelf.

Clearly not out of print!
Copies available from the Wildlife Centre Cilgerran.!!

CES ringing (sun);-
A quieter session as you would expect with nearly all species now breeding, but we manage another Reed Warbler carrying a ring number from elsewhere, & likely to be 3/4 years old.(R33....) .
Also a super looking male Redstart trapped.
(Teifi RG)