Newport Fri am

Up here in the far North all I had was 3 Dunlin on the estuary & 4 Sanderling on the beach with a few Curlews & Oystercatchers.

Waders Galore Part 2!

Sightings from Sue Lamb - Hundreds of waders busy feeding this evening at Kilpaison, 4 Blackwits, 5 Turnstones, estimated 300+ Dunlin, 100+ Sanderling and 30 Ringed Plovers. Photo Sue Lamb.

Dunlin

About 30 flew West over Marloes beach this morning.
Yesterday evening some 50 Painted ladies in the vicinity of our house in St Ishmaels - all smart & "new"

Teifi

Jewsons, 1 Common Sand. was all I could find this evening,
From the Railings, 8 Sanderling.
1 Ringed Plover on Patch.

A call from Chris Bird (Ceredigion ) about birds! (not dogs) on their coast south of the Dyfi.
61 Med Gulls inc. 16 juv's this evening, but all the waders mentioned the other day had moved on , with no apparent arrival?

Rich C. you seem to have more than your fair share in the south...... I wonder about The Gann?

Fishguard Harbour

I saw an unringed adult Med Gull already in winter plumage in front of the flagpoles at 13:15.

Waders Galore!

A great collection of small waders at Kilpaison around midday as the tide rose. Over 200 Dunlin with c.50 Sanderling and c.40 Ringed Plover. All 3 species in both photos (click pics for larger image). 8 Redshank also dropped in briefly. A few Sanderling close ups from today at the end of the gallery here.

Nine Wells

There were two, possibly three, Spotted Flycatchers at the edge of the woods at Nine Wells this afternoon.

South Pembs

4 Dunlin, 2 Ringed Plovers on Tenby South Beach. Also a mass of Spider Crab shells along the tide line, washed up and stranded, I assume, by the recent rough seas - a bonanza for the Gulls. A juv Peregrine by Giltar Point.

North Pembs

Newport;-
(10:00) 3 Common Sands, above the iron bridge, 1 Redshank by the Boat Club.

Teifi;-
Evening, nothing apparently moving, c6 Common Sands, Jewsons.

dogs

I suspect most of us check the Ceredigion blog, but if not, it is a good one for next door.
They have a couple of entries about dogs disturbing birds & a successful prosecution in Cornwall.
I know this goes on in Newport & suspect elsewhere. We used to house sit in the autumn in Newport in a house overlooking the mud; absolutely brilliant for watching the waders, but so dreadfully frustrating to watch the uncontrolled dogs.
Have a read, & see what you think.
Maybe some action in a couple of places, & a prosecution in the papers just might make some idiot think.

Teifi & Newport & Fishguard

Fishguard;-
1 juv. Med Gull, with green colour ring inscribed in white letters R19P.
(Adrian)

Teifi;-
Jewsons, a minimum of 8 Common Sandpipers the highlight.

Newport;-
1 Greenshank & 1 Common Sandpiper, around the bridge, also 1 Little Egret.
(Karen)

Angle Bay

A quick foray to Kilpaison this morning after the rain - more in hope than expectation. Better than I thought, however, with 17 Dunlin and 4 Ringed Plover - perhaps a sign that the wader passage is picking up as we head towards August. The birds were rather flighty but this one posed long enough for a shot. Around 25% of the Dunlin were juvs.

28th July - another soggy day

This morning, at Corsydd Llanglofan during and in between the heavy showers, several juv sedge warblers and a couple of juv reed warblers - some seen from the boardwalk looking decidedly soggy! Two recently fledged sparrowhawks calling for food from the trees - an adult male came and went very quickly.

7-8 swifts, numerous young swallows and a few sand martins flying over Castlemorris suggestive of an end of summer pre-migration gathering - and who can blame them!

Later back at Stackpole, not much different really (rain or heavier rain) a family of sparrowhawks heard in the woodland, several swifts feeding over Bosherston Lake where at least 8 teal were roosting on the shore under the shelter of trees with about 40 mallards (mostly juvs) - to wet even for ducks!

Newport -- small waders at last!

Beach,viewed from Boat Club, 22 Sanderling, 2 Dunlin.
On the mud, 1 Turnstone, 3 Ringed Plover, 2 Dunlin, 1 Little Egret.
Above the bridge , 1 Common Sandpiper.
(Sam & Rich D.)

I note wader numbers on the dyfi building over the last few days, so hopefully..........??

Cilgerran Gorge

A single Common Sandpiper and a group of five Otters below Cilgerran Castle early today.

Gull chat - at last!

It must be 15 years since I gave a talk at the Pembs Conference on the scarce & rare gulls of Pembs (who can forget that photo of unsliced white bread?!)...and it's great to finally see some good humoured banter about everyone's favourite larid on the Forum! Picking up on Derek Moore's point about Audouin's Gull, I have to agree that I don't think it will be too long before one gets picked up somewhere on our shores - Ireland recently had a claim that turned out to be a Herring Gull with atypical bill & muddy legs, but it must be on the cards....coming to a sandy beach somewhere near you! And I will be there.

Skomer - not a lot

What about one of these - look at that bill!

Not much happening on Skomer at the moment, just the occasional Whimbrel going over and a few Willow Warblers around. Short-eared Owls have gone incredibly secretive now and Puffins are down to just a few birds still feeding chicks but most of the birds have gone

News around Pembs

Little Milford;-
7 Greenshank, 2 Common Sandpipers, c100 Redshank(viewed from Hook Viewpoint looking back), c30 Curlew & a good BH Gull roost but no Med. Gulls.
Hook Viewpoint;-
7 Whimbrel, & 1 juv. Peregrine.
Only a couple of Little Egrets seen along the river as above.
(Paul G.)

Pembroke River;-
Looking from Pennar,-- a couple of viewpoints, c200 Curlew, 6 Little Egrets, c20 Oystercatcher.

Teifi;-
Much as previous counts(see previous visits) but no Common Sandpipers at Jewsons today.

Moore Gulls

Wow! I really am enjoying the enthusiasm of the West Wales Gull Appreciation Society. For years when living in East Anglia me and my great pal the late Brian Brown stared incessantly at groynes. When hearing this many mistook us for some sort of perverts. Franklin's Gull then 2nd for UK was the greatest find.
The Red-billed Gull from New Zealand is a separate species to the Silver Gull of Australia. You see them a lot getting the way of Test matches on TV.
Now to some of our close European neighbours. Slender-billed Gull in summer plumage with its pinkish tinge on the breast is stunning.
The fast spreading Audouin's Gull is also a beautiful creature. Who will find the first one for Wales?
Next a Yank - Bonaparte's Gull which again in summer rates with Graham's description of a Little Gull.
Lastly a brute from down under. The Pacific Gull (see Photo) has a scary profile but left me in awe at our only meeting.

Derek Moore

Angle

Just one Dunlin at Kilpaison this morning and very quiet elsewhere in the Angle area. Photo of the Dunlin - a nice fresh juvenile - by way of a change from all those Gulls!

Yet more gulls

I guess this is the time to get out those archived images! Annie and I still have fond memories of this beautiful (and very appropriately named) red-billed gull (also know as silver gull) Larus scopulinus we regularly saw in New Zealand.

This one was just a bit more handsome than a similar New Zealand endemic black-billed gull L. bulleri.

Ringed Plover and the Great Gull Debate

Lovely to hear of the Ringed Plover chicks at Castle Martin from Bob & Annie, I hope they make it this time. One of these at the Gann this lunchtime, along with a Little Egret and around 50 Black-headed Gulls but no Meds.

On the subject of the World's best gull, I haven't seen Great BHG or Swallow-tailed so cannot comment, but I will throw Heerman's Gull into the mix - stunning, and very approachable on the Californian Coast (La Jolla being a personal favourite). For the colour blind, this is pretty much a chunky Med Gull in negative!................... Angle Med Gull in negative courtesy of Photoshop to illustrate the point (Rich C ) !

Talking of Gulls..

Reading about & seeing these stonking pictures of fabulous gulls, became too much to bear this afternoon.
So armed with a loaf of Braces XXX thick loaf, I made my way first to Milford docks & scattered freely, hoping that there might be a few small white gulls lurking. Just Herrings & c15 BHG`s.
On to Castle pill, much the same, then on to Llanstadwell, where I threw the last few slices skywards. Again the same predictable result. A last quick scan before I got into the car & there it was on the mud. An adult Med! my first of the "Autumn" - well worth going without my toast & marmalade in the morning!

Landshipping area and Castlemartin peninsula 25th July

A butterfly transect walk to Landshipping yesterday (25th) provided 22 redshanks and a few curlew at Landshipping and also on the way back an independent juv kestrel (from where?). On the butterfly front the highlight was not less than 3 silver-washed fritillaries (normally quite scarce here).

Later in the evening we led a guided walk through Castlemartin Range. Ringed Plovers have two small chicks from a second brood at their usual nest location. The first brood probably did not fledge. Chough numbers are starting to build up a bit - a flock of 22 at Linney Head and a few other pairs noted along the coast.

At Cabin Door Bay an adult male kestrel still near his nest site - he was looking pretty tatty in wing-moult. No sign of the female or of 4 juvs that fledged a few weeks ago. At Stackpole recently there has been an equally tatty female kestrel in wing and tail moult, but no sign of juvs.

At least one or two juv guillemots were still on the cliffs to the west of Elegug Stacks calling loudly to adults calling back. At least one male was flying around in circles anxiously calling - probably trying to urge its youngster to jump for it.

We ended the evening helping to monitor greater horseshoe bats. Record numbers of births and adult this year, at the second largest breeding colony for this species in Britain.

Strumble Head & Goodwick

Strumble Head
Time: 1045 - 1200
Wind: S (F5)

Puffin - 3
Tufted Duck - 1 (M)
Common Scotor - 15 (4F, 11M)
Balearic Shearwater - 1

Goodwick
Time: 1500

Black Guillemot - 1
Mediterranean Gull - 1 (Ad Win)

North Pembs

Teifi;- late pm low tide,
Jewsons, 9 Common Sands-- the only change in nos. it would seem!


Fishguard Harbour;-
Stena side, ad & juv. Med. Gulls.
(12:30 Adrian)

Best Gulls

I don't know - even our own local gulls can look pretty spectacular in the right setting ......

ultimate gull?

Yes Graham, I can!

It is an extraordinary beautiful bird, it's big eyes ( they are crepuscular in nature) seem to give it more appeal.

Feast your eyes on this one!

Derek Moore

Swallow-tailed Gull

Today's reports

& last night (fri)
Kilpaison, 1+ Whimbrel present, & near the Speculation Inn, 1 Barn Owl.

Kilpaison;-
06:30, 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 14 Dunlin, 1 Whimbrel, 1 Redshank.
A drive around the site, found on an irrigation pond a fem. Tufted Duck!

Newport;-
1 Red-breasted Merganser still.

Fishguard Harbour, & Fortunes Frolic;-
both sites nothing to report.(Adrian & Paul G.)

Teifi;-
Jewsons, 3 Common Sands.
Patch, 1 Barnacle Goose with Cananda Geese.
Shelduck, creches of 7 & 8.
Quay, c200 noisy Oystercatcher & as the tide rose a group of c60 flew up high in formation heading south-ish.

Top Gulls

How about Little Gull, attractive in the plumage of all three ages and such a good flyer that it is equally at home over placid fresh water or a raging sea. They quicken my pulses.

Can anyone wade in to extol the Swallow - tailed Gull?

Best Gulls

Adrian adds to the views!!

No disagreement with the previous blogs but............

but what about one of these for sheer impressiveness!!

Great Black-headed Gulls... Fishguard (joke)

Actually ..Morjim Beach, Goa.

Med gull rings

Further to the comments about the green ringed Med gull, type in "med gull colour ring codes." should sort out any confusion.( Hopefully!) I agree with Dave, beautiful little gulls. Pic shows the bird at Angle.

Elegug Stacks area - kittiwakes and a bonxie

My almost final visit this evening to check if the final kittiwake chick had fledged (only 8 have fledged from 22 nests) - still this is better than "zero" for last couple of seasons or more - was also rewarding for an unexpected bonxie patrolling the gull colony. It perched for a time on the turf over-looking the main stack bay.

A reasonably approachable bird was resident along the Range for a while in late summer a few years back (the one in the picture). It spent most of its time targeting juv herring gulls. Probably not the same bird but you have to wonder if it could be, or even the bird Graham Rees saw inland not so long ago - what are the chances I wonder?

Mr Crossen's Med Gull

Loved the story and the photo of the Angle/Germanic Med Gull. AHZK - interesting that in the pic it looks like AH7K.....take care when reading those darvics folks! Don't you just love adult Med Gulls? Quite possibly the best larid in the world.

North Pembs & ... Quail

Fishguard Harbour;-
16:00 62 Oystercatchers
11:30 & this pm, 1 Black Guillemot feeding, best watched from the end of the Inner Breakwater.
Also 1 ad. Med. Gull around all day.
(sev. obs.)

Newport;-
The Red-breasted Merganser (juv?) still present, also 2 Common Sandpipers, 9 Dunlin.
(sev. obs.)

Quail;-
Anyone found any in Pembs. yet?
I am not aware of any records this year, & they are being widely reported at the moment.
1 calling in Ceredigion still nr. Jon Green's.
(if wish to try for this bird contact Jon)

Med Gull AHZK --

A report of this bird seen at Angle Bay 22 July with 8 other Med. Gulls. by Rich C.

Shows that it was ringed at it's nest with 3 eggs, in Northern Germany on 23 May 2009 . -----

The interesting detail is that an adult Common Gull was also caught ON the same nest!

Water Rail

Info from Mike Jones for 22 July - I walked from Treffgarne to Newgale today, there is a very large irregation pond between Roach Bridge and Penycwm farm (easiest approach from Penycwm) I disturbed a Water Rail it went rushing back for cover and a Red-legged Partridge was in this location too.

Not quite Pembs....

Had an email tonight from someone in France, in the Normandie/LeHarve/Antifer region, he had 350 - 400 Meds, 10% juvs.
60 had rings, 32 white,17 green,10 red, 1 blue. One day at the Gann.......

House Martin survey

The BTO are running a breeding house martin survey; an on-line survey designed to record nests on houses. It would be great to get more Pembs sites included: click on the word link to go to the site in question

Ramsey - seawatch

Highlights from a seawatch off north end of Ramsey yesterday afternoon were:


Balearic shearwater - 2
Bonxie - 1
Storm petrel - 1
Puffin - 10

North Pembs

Fishguard Harbour:
Ad Med. Gull at The Flagpoles.
(Adrian,16:30)

Teifi;-
19:00;-
3 Whimbrel, independantly over the course of 10 mins heading out to sea.

Teifi,c10:00;-
Jewsons, 3 Common Sandpipers.
Webley, 86 Curlew, c10 elsewhere.
St. Dog's Q, 60 Mute Swans, creche of 9 juv. Shelduck still, & 1 Barnacle Goose, a typical date for the first to appear. Presumably from the Cardigan Island population, or the Ty Gwyn pools in Cerdigion?

Newport;-
c11:30 1 Red Breasted Merganser, a likely juv. roosting on the sand, presumably resting from a pretty rough sea for mid-july with a large number of large gulls resting too.

Above the wood upstream of the iron bridge, 3 Peregrines putting on a fine display in the wind, I assume the ad. fem & 2 juvs by the size. Not going to hunt much with the continuous screeching but certainly practising every manoeuvre.

Angle

At Kilpaison shortly after high tide this morning c.25 Dunlin high up on the beach feeding amongst the stranded seaweed in company with a dozen or so Pied Wagtails.

At Angle Harbour the small Gull roost on the shingle spit contained c.40 Black Headed Gulls and amongst them 7 Med Gulls - 5 Adults heading towards winter plumage, 1 2nd winter and this juvenile photo'd. Also an obliging Curlew.

Little Egrets

There were 14 Little Egrets in Sandy Haven Pill this evening, at high tide.

North Pembs

Newport, 16:30;-
1 Common Sandpiper, 6 Redshank, 1 Little Egret.

Fishguard Harbour;-
1 ad Sandwich Tern c15:00 this pm.
(Adrian)

Ffynone, monday evening

The grey wagtails were busy as there were plenty of insects over the lake. About 8.30'ish there were over 40 swifts above the trees, presumably after similar insects, & a small party were screaming around too.

yesterdays reports

Fishguard Harbour;-
1 juv. Med Gull in the late pm(Adrian), 1 adult flying around feeding mid morning.

2 adult Black Guillemots were showing well, feeding, bathing etc between the Lynx leaving & the ferry arriving, ie late morning. View from end of Inner Breakwater.

Llangloffan Fen & Strumble quiet.

Teifi;-
HTc19:00, Patch 2 Sanderling,
Railings, 68 Mute Swans (a v good count), 8 Little Egrets.
Webley, 2 Whimbrel, 8 Redshank amongst the roosting mass. Mainly Curlew, BH Gulls & Canada Geese!

Newport; 1 Common Sandpiper from the iron bridge.

Whimbrel

6 flew west past the headland at Carregwastad at 17:00.

Going where?

An adult Canada Goose with three large, about three - quarter size, youngsters walked down the beach and onto the sea at Newgale this afternoon. They took no notice of the many people at play. The brood was probably from a nearby nest site, perhaps Bathesland Water. By the time I had to leave they had progressed beyond Maidenhall Point going in the direction of Rickets Head, keeping in shallow water inshore of the surf line. What caused this drastic move and where they were trying to reach we may never know.

Carregwastad

2 Whimbrel flew in and landed on the rocks at 15:30 before continuing on their way west and this emperor moth caterpillar as well.

Hodgeston/Lake area

This afternoon doing late TTvs in two tetrads in SS09, not very much by way of bird numbers (decidedly lacking in whitethroats and blackcaps today). Still it was nice to see a sparrowhawk carrying food back to a woodland where almost certainly a pair is breeding (noted in the same area when I did the first summer visit in May).

Along the back-lanes/minor roads several pairs of yellowhammers were noted, including at least one family with at least 3 recently fledged juvs. Over the last 25 years or so, this area has generally been a stronghold for yellowhammers - helped by good habitat (mixed barley and hay fields, bordered by low hedges where they nest and tall bushy patches).

Gann - Barwit & Sarnie Tern

Not a lot of activity at the Gann early evening, but a lovely s/p Barwit roosting on the shingle island on the pool, and a family party of Sandwich Terns (2 ads & 1 juv) on a different island and then headed off into the bay. An adult & a juv Grey Heron, and around 15 Black-headed Gulls, of which only one was a bird of the year.

Crossbills -- Glynaeron

This late afternoon in the sun!
1 Crossbill (a green one) flew calling towards one of the few trees with cones, where it joined a red adult male already feeding. In the previous hour no sign or sound of any.
Yesterday, Wendy had a party of c5 high in the trees & always moving deeper into the wood.

North Pembs.........

Little change in the Teifi / Newport, although 4 Little Egrets at Newport may be some of the Teifi birds?
c4 Common Sands at Jewsons(Teifi) & the 2 Shelduck creches surviving intact!

Cowbird

Many thanks to Greg & RSPB for trying to get to the bottom of this amazing record.

Can I please re-iterate:

there has been no sightings since the 15th
the bird was only seen from that particular house (indeeed you would have to go into the house to see the garden)
there is no access to this particular garden
the whole area was combed unsuccessfully today
none of the Pembs Birders knew anything about this bird until tonight
there was no wide-scale suppression, as suggested on various web-sites.

Yet another one of those which has just got away.

Jon G - County Recorder.

North Pembs

Teifi;-
No change from last report, except 9 Whimbrel, flying around the marsh this afternoon looking for a place to roost.(Arfon)

Just noticed Little Stint at Goldcliff so................maybe!!

Dartford Warblers;-
Following Nathan's posting, 2 males showing at a different Pen Caer pen. site today.
(John, Lincs.)

Brown headed Cowbird - South Pembs

On Friday 17th July I was sent a series of photographs from the RSPB Cymru office in Cardiff. These showed a Brown-headed Cowbird which had been in a private south Pembs garden from July 13th-15th. The home owners had correctly identified the bird from searching the internet. They they sent the images to RSPB on the evening of 16th.

I spoke to the home owners yesterday evening who requested that information on the location of the bird was not released.

The bird was looked for today but not found. It has not been seen since the evening of 15th. If accepted, this will be the first record for Wales and potentially the 5th for Britain (there are currently 3 other records pending, all from 2009).

Thanks to the finders for sharing this extremely exciting information with us and for supplying the images (further images are available but my slow internet connection does not allow me to add any more at present!). The home owners have been extremely co-operative but understandably do not want further details of the location to be released and I intend to fully respect their wishes.

Greg Morgan (RSPB Ramsey Island)

Glynaeron Woods

Flock of 20 plus Crossbills

Strumble -- sea watch ......&

0730-1015, this am;-
1 Storm Petrel, 1 Arctic Skua, 28 Common Scoter, 1 Puffin.
(4 obs.)

Fishguard Harbour;-
Ad. & juv. Med. Gulls stena side,
(John, Lincs, & Rich D.)
Knot on beach below swings.
(Janet)

Llangloffan Fen;-
Looking wonderful, with other pools of water in the meadow too!
But... only c20 Mallard & c300 Herring & LBB Gulls.
(John & Rich D. we only viewed from road)

Northern Headlands

I saw a Whimbrel fly west right under the rocks at Carregwastad at 16:00 and at the site not far away at least one Dartford Warbler as seen in the photo still showing well.

Serin -- Skomer

1 flew over North Haven(Skomer) at 20:00 towards Martins Haven, (mainland)
(Dave Boyle).

Ceibwr -- wildlife

A pond next to the coast path created in 2005 has Sedge Warblers breeding for the first time this year, also Dark Green Fritillaries on the wing today. This one a female.

(Peter Byles)

Fishguard Harbour

Ad. Med. Gull & 2 Great Ctd. Grebes, this evening.
Of greater interest the c90 Oystercatchers roosting, a v. high count for Fishguard, & amongst them 2 ringed birds, 1 metal only (new), & the other a colour-ringed ad. with an interesting long pale green black banded ring(new)..... we will see.....?
(Adrian & Rich D.)

Strumble -- Balearic's

Strumble this evening 18:00-19:00, 1 Arctic Skua.
(Adrian & Rich D.)

Strumble, 10:15-12:00
2 Balearic Shearwaters, 3 Puffin, 5 Common Scoter, 1 Sunfish(large).
Manx, passing c3600 ph. & continuous small movement(c200) of Fulmars & Kittiwakes.
c600 Gannets passed, & feeding but not many auks.

Newport

Newport this evening(2 seperate visits)
7 Redshank, c30 Curlew, 1 Whimbrel, 1 Dunlin, 1 Common Sandpiper, & 1 ad. Med. Gull.
(Karen & Rich D.)

Richard's Manx Pic

Agree with Mark, well done Rich, a cracking shot & fantastic to see you & Pembs featuring on the Birdguides photo of the week.

Any coincidence that in the same week you win with a Manx, a Manx Man is storming the Green Jersey in the Tour de France??!!

What's for breakfast?

My habitual breakfast coffee was enlivened this morning when a Bonxie flew past just above rooftop level. It was using the uplift from the escarpment above Flemming's Way/Merlin's Brook, powering its way westward towards St Bride's Bay, some six miles away. This is the furthest inland I've seen a skua in Pembrokeshire during over 30 years of watching here.

Manx shearwater

Well done Richard C on the bird of the week. I saw it on this blog & thought it beautiful, a superb image.

A day around a wet Pembs... &..........

Teifi;-
Cardigan hospital;-
2 Common Sands on the river from the grounds, no C. Sand at Jewsons.
Shelduck,
The breeding success appears to be 7 young in the Jewsons creche, & 9 young in the St. Dog's Quay creche.
Whilst on the Teifi, 2 super "plumage" Fallow Deer in front of heron hide last night, with c40 Mallard.

Fishguard Harbour;-
0900, 1 Black Guillemot on the water, 1 Sandwich Tern leaving, 1ad & juv. Great Crtd Grebe from the Flagpoles.

Kilpaison, Angle Bay;-
Nice waders, mainly full sum plum. 1 Knot, 12 Sanderling, 15 Dunlin, 5 Ringed Plover.

Pemb UM Pond, too full of water today!
Bosherston, full of algae? & a few Mute Swans
Around Stackpole Estate, continuous rain,............I gave up!

Sanderling at Newgale

There were at least five summer-plumage Sanderling at Newgale last night (Wednesday) feeding at the edge of the incoming tide.

Any budding mammalogists out there?

I received this request yesterday from David Saunders. If anyone knows of a good home for these publications, please let him (or me) know.

Having a bit of a sort out here and wonder if there is a budding mamalogist in local habitats who might like some Mammal Society publications? They seem too good for the recycle bin.

In brief they are a batch of early Mammal Society Bulletins starting at No 6.

Notes from the Mammal Society from 1957 to 1981. Am not sure whether this a complete run.

Mammal Review Vol 1 No 1 February 1970 to Volume 24 September 1994. Note - NOT A COMPLETE RUN.

Will be pleased to pass them on if someone would care to collect

Stackpole Warren (various - incl hobby)

A loan male green woodpecker is being seen fairly regularly now, feeding on ants in the open but so far no obvious female or young - looks a bit ominous!

As if to get in the act, surprisingly (to me anyway) I found a great-spotted woodpecker (adult male) half way down a cliff on the Stackpole coast the other day. It flew up on to the warren and proceeded to hack into an ant-hill (not far from a feeding green woodpecker) in true green woodpecker fashion. Is this a one off, or a sign of a bird adapting and fully exploiting all available resources? Seems odd that they are doing so well yet yaffles aren't.

Today a very smart hobby spent quite a bit of time this morning feeding over the warren, mainly at Barafundle end. I was helping with a dune invertebrate survey - nice to know that it is possible to get out of the office for a change and see something of interest.

Huge numbers of migrant Rush Veneer moths around now - must be thousands! Plenty of painted ladies emerging too - quite a lot of caterpillars have been seen here - mainly on marsh thistles.

Med Gulls & ...........

Pembroke UM Pond,
17 Redshank there this evening.
(John H.)

Fishguard Harbour;-
16;00 , Stena side, 3 ad & 2 juv. Med. Gulls
(Adrian & photo)

Teifi;-
HT not much changing, opp. The St. Dog's Quay, 8 Little Egrets, 85 Curlew.
Patch, 5 Dunlin 1 Ringed Plover.
Heron Hide, 6 Curlew & Teal.

North Pembs

Teifi HT counts;-
St Dog's Quay, 93 Curlew, 10 Little Egrets, 10 Grey Heron, creche of 9 juv. Shelduck.
Webley, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Juv. Med. Gull

Fishguard Harbour;-
Stena side, 2 ad, & 2 juv Med. Gulls....... are we getting back to 2006 counts..?
(Adrian)

Gann, Canaston, Ludchurch

Sightings from Jeremy Moore of waders at the Gann 8-10 July:- 100 oystercatcher, 2 dunlin,
2 black tailed godwit, 2 whimbrel, 1 common sand.
Sighting from Mike Jones for 9 July on a walk from Canaston Bridge to Amroth:- Wood Warbler in Canaston Woods also Common Lizards. A pair of Tufted Ducks on the pond in Ludchurch, SPOTTED FLYCATCHERS quite a few by the disused quarry ponds near Ludchurch Quarry.

Teifi

Teifi 9pm, last night;-
Jewsons, a jump in Common Sandpipers to at least 8, also 1 Redshank.
Heron Hide, 1 Green Sandpiper.
Creek Hide, 3 Little Egrets.

North Pembs.....&........

Teifi;-
HT counts, & looking up!!
St. Dogmael's Quay, 87 Curlew, 6 Redshank. 6 Dunlin.
Webley, 2 Sandwich Terns, & 1 lovely juv. Med. Gull.
From the Railings upstream, 7 Little Egrets, an influx?

Fishguard Harbour;-
2 Ad. Med Gulls
(Adrian)

Newport;-
3 Common Sandpipers above the iron bridge.

History of a Med. Gull -- AESE

We have been watching the "Llanon " Med. Gull counts with interest , & surely they will top the "ton" soon!
Our late summer best was Fishguard 2006, when in late August we reached 23 birds, this has declined to 1/2.
I have just received this movement of a fem. AESE.
She was with us(F'guard) in her 1st year (18/8/07) & was from a small colony in the Elbe est. (D) breeding amongst c4000 prs. Common Gulls. Last year(19/4/08) in a BH Gull colony (D), & then earlier this year (26/5/09) back at her natal colony--Elbe est. presumably breeding.
She (AESE) is currently (11/7/09) at Badminton GP in Hampshire amongst c200 Med. Gulls.

Clearly not at Llanon!
The Badminton roost in Hants can exceed 500 Med. Gulls, even Llanon has away to go!

Common Scoter

Teifi:
Female Common Scoter between the two bridges @21:00
First time I've ever seen one on the river.

Diving Gannets

Gannets dive at a variety of angles depending on how deep they intend to go, shallow dives for short penetration, steeper dives to go deeper. This can be verified by timing how long between plunging and surfacing. Hope this helps.

Strumble Head (12 Jul 09)

Wind: SW (F5)
Time: 0800 - 1000

Puffin - 29
Common Scotor - 4 (3M, 1F)

North Pembs: 3 juv Peregrine still doing well!

Gannets

It might sound a strange question, but does anyone know if gannets always hit the water at the same angle when fishing?
I know they do a shallow dive for washing, but I am sure someone somewhere mentioned a specific angle of water entry.
(many thanks for that Graham)

Stack Rocks

Mid July and the Guillemots have gone from Stack Rocks apart from a few adults loafing on the lee side of the stacks. A dozen or so Kittiwakes still at their nests, several with well grown young. Plenty of Herring Gull chicks also scattered around the cliffs as well as 20 or so fledged on the sea. A family party of 4 Chough on the cliff tops. 3 Grey seals close into the beach.

On the approach road to the stacks a flock of 25 Starlings.

North Pembs... & Skomer

Fishguard Harbour;-
2 Black Guillemots present.

Strumble Head;-
08:00-10:00, 20 Puffin, 110 Common Scoter.
(Adrian & Rich D.)

Skomer;-
Redshank calling last night, Cuckoo during the week. Short-eared Owls still present & appear to have bred well, but have become difficult to see.!!
Breeding sea-birds have had an early & successful season.
(Dave Boyle)

yesterday- Fri pm
Newport, from the iron bridge, 3 Common Sands, 1 Little Egret, 1 Med. Gull (ad. sum. plum.)
Nr. Newport, Little Owl calling, but not showing last night.
(Janet & Rich D.)

Strumble Head, Tresinwen & Goodwick

Strumble: 1000 - 1200
Wind: SSW (F2-3)

Common Buzzard - 1 (Juv - very pale head, chest and patchy back - looking very odd and perching on telegraph wires rather than posts!)
Puffin - 18
Redshank - 1
Greenshank - 1
Curlew - 1
Common Scotor - 47 (31M, 16F)
Mediterranean Gull - 1 (Juv)

Tresinwen - 3 Bullfinches as well as lots of fledgling Chiffs and Goldcrests.

Goodwick (late pm) - Mediterranean Gull - 2 (Ad (or 2nd sum) & Juv)

Irish Sea

The Irish Sea was glassy calm this morning as I returned from Rosslare to Fishguard on a Sea Trust Survey. Very few Gannets, a few auks with more Puffins (including two Pufflings) than Razorbills and Guillemots and plenty of Manxies spread right across the trip.

Good for cetaceans - see Whales in Wales for details.

Thurs -- records

Common Crossbill;-
Party of 10 passing over Dinas Cross c10:20.
(Steve Berry)

Green Woodpecker;-
Calling at Bosheston late morning.
(Wendy)

Llandstadwell;-
17:00, ad & a 1 sum. Med. Gull.

Bittern - Cilgerran

Sighting from Tommy Evans - About 5pm Monday evening (6th) as I was packing up my tripod and camera I saw a bittern land in the far reeds in front of the Kingfisher Hide.

Carregwastad

2 juvenile Peregrines flew east high over the cliffs at 15:45.

North Pembs.... Tysties!

Newport;-
am HT, 1 Redshank & 1 sum. plum. Dunlin.

Black Guillemots, Fishguard Harbour;-
A good look to see what was occurring before the first Lynx in daylight arrived.

1 adult seen feeding by one of the crab fishing boats moored off the end of the Inner B/w,
to my suprise jumped out the water & onto the deck/side where it joined a loafing adult already present, & they both stayed put!
I've never seen them use the boats for loafing.... today's boat in case a favourite, a blue one, M149 called the "Billy Thomas".

Elsewhere in the harbour a third adult present.

Llangloffan Fen;-
A view from the road above showed 1 Grey Heron on "The Pool", & a group of Mallard on a nearby field pool.

Fishguard Harbour;-
Midday after an un-productive visit to Strumble (except manxies, c3000+ ph)
now 1 full ad. Med. Gull feeding on the tide-line Stena-side.

Dinas Head and Fishguard Harbour

Guillimot 500+
Razorbill 200
Puffin 1 on sea by auk colony
Chough 2 ad
Stonechat 4 pairs
Buzzard 3
Whitethroat 2 singing

Fishguard Harbour
Black Guillemot 2 sat on boat thanks Richard for ringing me
Curlew 5

Med Gull

In amongst 20 or so Black Headed Gulls at Angle Harbour this morning this splendid Med Gull still sporting his full hood whilst many of the BH Gulls were starting to lose theirs. Along the shore towards The Lodge there were 20 Dunlin and at Kilpaison late morning there were c. 25 Oystercatchers, 80 Curlew and a lone Bar Tailed Godwit.

Wooltack & Deer Park

The north-westerlies of the last 36 hours or so have been good for sea watching from Wooltack. A few days ago we had a wonderful variety of birds in a feeding frenzy about 500 metres offshore in the early evening. As well as the usual Gannets, Kittiwakes, gulls and auks, around 200 Manx Shearwaters joined in, diving in after fish as well.

Yesterday the strong wind first thing in the morning pushed Manxies in within 100m of the Point. Further out, we got excellent views of a lone Storm Petrel towards the parked oil tankers.

The porpoises are also back after an absence of at least 2 months, with a maximum of at least a dozen last night in the tidal race. All adults, as far as we could see.

The Choughs on the South side of the Deer Park have fledged 3 chicks. There is a pair, apparently without chicks, by Wooltack, and another pair nearby with 4 young.

On Marloes Mere, 2 Dunlin in full summer plumage, good numbers of House Martins, and smaller numbers of Swifts.

Strumble ....&......

Strumble;-
11:40 - 13:00, 1 Bonxie. 5 Puffin (3 groups) & 10 Common Scoter.

Also the "4 yearly" repaint in progress, a fine job being done by the " Friends on the PCNP" today, it's 5th repaint since being redeveloped in 1992.
(Friends Of PCNP)

Fishguard Harbour;-
1 2nd sum Med. Gull
(Adrian)

Teifi;-
mid pm. Jewsons, 5 Common Sands. Quay, 54 Oystercatcher. 2 juv. Little Egrets
Between Jewsons & St. Dog's Quay 12 juv Shelduck in 4 creches (1 more creche of 6 hiding somwhere !)

Nightjar

Sighting sent in by Terry Allen - Monday - 6 July about 18.00 hrs - a Nightjar flew out of a gateway, across the road westerly and disappeared into another gateway opposite. On the minor road just N of Ratford Bridge (SM900129) Enough to make you crash the car !

Fledged Chough and Peregrine Falcon on Ramsey Island

Earlier this morning in Ramsey Sound could be heard the wonderful call of returning Whimbrel.

Teifi

A few different birds at high tide this evening.
Webley - 1 adult Med gull with 270 Black-headed gulls.
St Dogmaels quay - Redshank now up to 11 and 3 juvenile Little Egrets

Ramsey - choughs

Chough on Ramsey have had a highly successful season. All 8 nests were sucessful, producing 24 young between them, an average of 3 per pair (the joint highest on record with 2004). Two of these pairs were first time breeders both using new sites (one was a completely new site, the other last used once before in 1975). Traditionally such birds tend to fare less well but they produced 3 and 2 young respectively.

Our peregrines at Aber Mawr have fledged 2 young. No sign of the SEO young yet but they are still out there in the heather somewhere judging by the adults behaviour.

North Pembs..... & Med Gulls

Newport;-
15:00 a v nice breeding plumage Med. Gull.
Fishguard harbour;-
16:00 a v nice breeding plumage Med. Gull
(Adrian)

Llanon (Cered.);-
17:00, 81 Med Gulls inc. 3 juv's see John Davis posting on Ceredigion Birds.

Teifi am ;-
Jewsons, 5 Common Sands, 80 BH Gulls, creche of 7 well grown Shelduck.
St Dogmael's Quay, 8 Redshank, 30 BH Gulls, a creche of 6 well grown Shelduck.
Heron hide, 1 Greenshank.

Teifi

A quick look from the railings beteween torrential rain showers this evening - 4 Little Egrets roosting in a tree, 5 Black- tailed Godwit and 3 Redshank.

North Pembs

I have watched this family of Peregrines all year. 3 eggs laid over the Easter Weekend to first flight (21 June). (First flight was invoked when one of them fell off the cliff - fly or die!) 3 eggs = 3 fledged chicks! Caught up with them again today - all three juvs doing well, chasing each other and making a lot of noise! (Juvs appear to be 2 males and 1 female)

Teifi news ... & ...

This evening, St. Dogmael's Quay;-
5 stunning full breeding plumage Black-tailed Godwits, 5 Common Sands, 5 Redshank.
Also 1 Little Egret, Shelduck +2 juv. & 72 BH Gulls (no meds!)

For those who aren't aware Llanon( up the Ceredigion coast) had 35 adult Med. Gulls & ? how many imm's last night!

Jewsons;-
Shelduck + 8 well grown young, & 1 Little Egret.
Heron Hide;-
1 Snipe, 8 Curlew, 7 Teal.

Newport;-
HT, c30 BH Gulls seemed to be the only sign of movement.

Fishguard Harbour

I saw a second summer Med Gull on one of the groynes at 16:45 and then it flew inland.

early evening reports

Teifi - Heron hide;-
19:00 1 Greenshank now.

Newport;-
1 Greenshank, 4 ad. Teal, 1 little Egret, c30 BH Gulls.

Skomer;-
Hummingbird hawkmoth the highlight.
(Dave Boyle)

Teifi;-(11:00)
Jewsons, 6 Common Sandpipers, 70+ BH Gulls, Shelduck creches of 7 & 2.
St. Dog's Quay, 50+ BH Gulls, 2+1 Little Egrets, Shelduck creches of 2 & 3.

Seven Whistler!

Must be Autumn, heard whimbrels distinctive call over Fishyguard Harbour this lunchtime.

orcas/killer whales I see that the sea trust people saw a super-pod of dolphins the other day, but I have not seen a mention of the 3 killer whales seen from the Pembroke ferry on the 27th. (sorry if they are mentioned elsewhere).I unfortunately missed them, but saw a minke from the Stena ferry on 29th.Mind, I was watching killer whales somewhat further north the week before!// posted by Mark W on Pembs Bird Blog...

Hi Mark, we don't get to hear about everything but we do our best to report what we do hear!
Thanks for passing on info! Further details now on the Whales in Wales Blog

On subject of blue gull I am sure I have seen this colour used on sheep showing which Tup has been with which Ewe... Hmmm... Theres an old unrepeatable joke in there somewhere!

photo (recent)

The singing male western Subalpine Warbler, Ramsey , 23 June 2009.

Photo' Steve Votier via Greg, in his garden.

orcas/killer whales

I see that the sea trust people saw a super-pod of dolphins the other day, but I have not seen a mention of the 3 killer whales seen from the Pembroke ferry on the 27th. (sorry if they are mentioned elsewhere).I unfortunately missed them, but saw a minke from the Stena ferry on 29th.
Mind, I was watching killer whales somewhat further north the week before!

Black Guille's to Willow Tits

Fishguard Harbour;-
2 Black Guillemots feeding amongst the moored craft at 0830.
c20 BH Gulls in the harbour on a later visit(1100).

Llangloffan Fen;-
Growing, wet reeds & grasses, full of pollen & the pool nearly dried up & bird free!
From the boardwalk, Kingfisher along the river, Water rail calling, Willow Tit calling & young seen too.

Lower Town, Fishguard;-
3 Redshank

Teifi, Heron Hide;-
16:30, 1 Green Sandpiper(diff from y'day's?), 1 Redshank, 7 ad. Teal, 6 Curlew

(Paul Leafe & Rich D.)

Sea Trust Pelagics

Just a reminder that Sea Trust is running a number of Pelagic Boat trips from Neyland this summer and the first ones are this month. There are a few places left on the trips on 9 and 23 July. Cost is £50 per person payable on the day. This is a great opportunity to see Dolphins and, possibly, other Cetaceans as well as close views of our breeding seabirds. Photos from a trip out to the Smalls Lighthouse last Sunday when we encountered a "Superpod" of 1500+ Dolphins can be seen here

Full details with info on how to book a place can be found by clicking here

Teifi -- Heron Hide

Quick look at 0615, no Green Sandpipers. But 1 Redshank with 7 Curlew.

(What will The Fen have to offer this am...? a good soaking through the grass at least!!)

That Odd Gull

Comment from Steve Sutcliffe on Lyndon's posting below:-
A bit strange - to my knowledge there are no dye’s which are likely to show that sort of all over hue. I wonder if it got into some sort of chemical or agricultural spray area which has contaminated it across all its feather tracts and of course would not show on the blacker areas. If you blow the picture up a bit the wing mirrors also look bluish and the legs and beak look a bit duller than the other bird too. Nice one Lyndon.

Sealyham

Green Sand on the pond this morning. Kingfisher this afternoon (intermittently since 21st).

Med. Gull -- Fishguard

The metal only ringed 1st sum. Med. Gull again in the harbour with c12 BH Gulls this evening.
(Adrian)

Green Sandpipers -- Teifi

Heron hide;-
2 Green Sandpipers, 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 7 Curlew present at 16:00 (HT)
The Green Sands. bathing & behaving as newly arrived.
(Still present later, Karen, Wendy.)

North Pembs

Teifi;-
Jewsons, 2 Redshank, 2 Common Sands., c45+ BH Gulls, & creche(5+) Shelduck.
St. Dog's Quay, c30+ BH Gulls & 2 Little Egrets(juv's).
The Webley,c30+ BH Gulls & c30+ Curlew.
Patch, 1 non breeding Ringed Plover.(& almost certainly a Dark Green Fritillary that I failed to get on properly!)

Little Owl;-
1 bird present at the Newport site 20:30-21:30 last night.
(Paul L.)