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.