Another side of Strumble Head

The highlight birds at Strumble in August have already been blogged but there were other aspects that also seem worthy of a mention. Such as the annual gathering of about 300 mixed Razorbills and Guillemots accompanied by unfledged young. While the young are growing the adults moult into a state of flightlessness whilst still managing to feed their offspring. By the end of the month the first few were beginning to fly and into September they should all be mobile.

A Little Egret was seen coasting east, juv Grey Herons were seen flying out to sea towards Ireland, parties of Cormorants passed migrating from north to south, Teal, Tufted Ducks and Pochards were also noted passing, a group of 4 Pochards perhaps being the largest gathering in the county this year?

Waders have been included in some of the lists blogged but dwell on the total of 126 Knots, in parties of up to 40 birds, migrants which probably do not set foot in Pembrokeshire. The numbers involved do not correlate with those so well logged at Angle Bay by Richard C.

It may also be of interest that after a slow start the number of Arctic Skuas which passed in the last 6 days of the month was 64% higher than the 27 year mean for that period, in weather that the armchair "experts" would not consider favourable.

Clearly there is much more to see and learn about than just the headline species.