Not Black, Purple

Outer breakwater, Fishguard Harbour, 2 purple sands , 5 ringed plover, 4 turnstone ,2 oykers, and a camera shy water pipit which got shifted by resident rockits every time I tried to photograph it allthingsgood, walrus

BTO Atlas - 3rd winter starts on 1st November

Just a reminder that winter fieldwork for the BTO atlas is about to start - so someone needs to check that all those black redstarts are still in place for the official winter!!

Here is the map for black redstarts so far, as supplied by the BTO:

so there are still plenty of gaps to be filled.

We still need volunteers for some timed tetrad visits, especially in SM83 and SM93. Anyone who has volunteered for a tetrad last winter or before, that they haven't done yet, and don't think they will get around to doing, please let us know so we can allocate it to someone else.

Skomer

No Black Redstarts today!

Black-reds & all at sea

I gather 32 black-redstarts have been reported in Co-Wexford, so they are both sides of the Irish sea.

Also today some miles off St.David's head a juv mute swan was seen heading north on the sea.
Not sure what that one was doing so far out!

Yet More Black Redstarts

Info from Clive Hurford - A few more to add to your total of Black Reds from S Pembs
9+ in Bosherston Village (5 on one roof)
2 on farm at junction with road to Bosherston
1 at Stackpole Court
1 at Nurses Cottage
1 at Upper Candleston House
2 at Orielton FSC
I guess that the 9 in Bosherston will include the two you had there (I also had similar numbers to you at Stackpole Centre, Castlemartin and Angle). Only two of the birds were males.
Also, at least one Brambling with the Chaffinches in Angle.

Thanks Clive, that looks like a further 14 Black Redstarts to my 24 with another 9
in the Dale & St Anne's Head area - total 47!

More BRs & a Willow Warbler...

The Black Redstart totals from myself, Paul G & Derek as follows (sounds like Eurovision - can we be Lithuania?!!):

H'west - 3 Merlin's Bridge, 1 Furzy Park
St. Ann's Head - 2 (including the adult male)
Kete - 1
St. Bride's - 4
Dale - 7

Which makes 18, 13 of which I saw and constitute my best day total as far as I can remember. Other records:

St. Bride's - one of Trevor's Firecrest, 3 Chiffs, and a Great Spotted Devonald
Point House, Dale Fort - 2 Chiffs
Dale - 2 Chiffs and a very late Willow Warbler (latter in the car park)

More on Black Redstarts

Managed to see the male at St Anne`s head - super looking, but very hard to capture on "film" It feeds in the field behind the boundary wall at the coastguard houses, then pops up anywhere! A fabulous bird - begging to be photographed by someone with a half decent camera. Any takers?

Spoonbill -- Newport

This pm. sleeping above the Iron Bridge with 2 Little Egrets. 1 L.B.Brent Goose on the mud with 27 Ringed Plover, & 24 Dunlin & 1 further Little Egret.

Pen Caer & Fishguard 31st Oct.

Failed to find any Black Redstarts today at the usual sites around the Pen Caer peninsula or at Fishguard port , it seems all over the northern end is generally quiet. All was not lost though with a few Common Gulls , 10+ starting to return to the Flagpoles ( Ads & 1st W ) & 3 Med. Gulls 2 Ads & a 2nd W. One of the Adults has a green ring with white figures ( possibly the same bird Sam Baxter has had at Newport ) & has now managed to twice evade my efforts to read the ring. It's starting to get personal !!!!
Is there any truth in the rumour that Mr. Crossen is having Black Redstart pie for tea tonight , he's got the right amount for the recipe!

Black Redstarts

I can't remember more recent years that beat these???

The records............daily max. 54 Castlemartin Peninsular --24 Oct 1982.
....................monthly max. Oct 1982 --- 111 birds recorded from coastal locations.(Birds of Pembs. Donovan & Rees)
........ Autumn max. 1995 ---135 birds (Birding in Pembs. J Green)

By 16:00 still no records from N. Pembs today,
(Wendy, Jon, Adrian, Rich D, & Rich S.)

South Pembs Black Redstarts

My quest to see as many Black Redstarts as possible in one day started off well with 4 around the house in St Florence early morning. I then embarked on a little tour of the south, ably assisted by the lovely Sarah and we totted up the following - 2 at Stackpole Centre, 2 at Bosherston, 2 near Merrion Camp, 2 at Warren, 5 at Castle Martin, 3 at Angle, 1 at Monkton, 1 (nice male) at Pembroke Dock, 2 at Milton. 24 in total!
With a further 8 already reported today on the blog we now know how many Black redstarts there are in South Pembs....................Lots!
Richard Dobbins tells me that none have yet been reported from North Pembs.

Otters

From Sue Lamb - Jen and I were determined to get an image of the mother Otter with her two cubs, as you see we succeeded, went down to 8 Arch bridge early this am and had a wonderful hour watching them play and hunt. Loved the Eel wrapped around her head, thought you might appreciate it too!!

Black Redstarts also appear to be everywhere. One in a neighbours garden, I turned around and another on the roof of another neighbour, one on the road coming back from Bosh and two on the roof of the Stackpole Centre. Also Firecrest today in the woods by the road near the gatehouse?? cottage leaving Stackpole Cente, and one by the 8 Arch bridge yesterday evening.

Sue and Jenni.

Firecrest

Record phone shot of the Firecrest trapped and ringed on the Teifi Marshes this morning.
(Teifi ringing group)

St Brides & Dale

Early am at St Brides 2 Black Redstarts on the church & 2 Firecrests together by the pumphouse (I must get this double vision sorted!), 1 Ad Med Gull on the beach. At Dale car park single male Blackcap, 5 Chiffchaffs & a further 1 at the cemetery & 5 Black Redstarts around the village roofs.

We've got one too ......

Went out of the house this morning on my way to Dale to look at Black Redstarts, when something caught my eye flicking around our roof - yes, you've guessed it ..... Actually there may have been two - one darker and one lighter bird. A new bird for the garden list.

They were eventually chased off by a Robin, who up till that point had been occupied with an inter-Robin territorial dispute at the top of the garden. As soon as that was settled it turned his/her attention to the poor Redstarts.

Very pleasant in the garden this morning - fresh Painted Ladies and Red Admirals on the profusely flowering hebes, a Water Rail calling in the stream and a delicious Grey Wagtail on the pumphouse roof.

Rosemary

Teifi Ringing Group 31st Oct.

Firecrest trapped this morning.
(Richard Dobbins).

Skomer Today

A White-fronted Goose came over from the mainland following a flock of about 30 Canada Geese at about midday, an hour or two later the Canada Geese were on North Pond but not the White-front.

Newport Fri am

The Spoonbill roosting by the bridge + (the?) 2 Green Sandpipers, a Moorhen & a Kingfisher.
No unusual or ringed gulls. V few waders. c40 Wigeon at the Parrog, but, no sighting of a Black Redstart at this corner of Newport.

Bosherston, Marloes & A478

News sent in by e mail :-
From Jenni Hood - I was out at the ponds this morning at around 0745, I had great views of the female otter on both sides of the 8 arch bridge, lasting approx 20 mins. Unfortunately I had chosen to leave my camera behind so no pics!
From Sue Lamb and Jenni - Marloes today Flock of c50 lapwingsc 60 wigeon 4 male, 1 female shoveler, 4 gadwell, peregrine flying high over the ponds,1 female kestrel, common buzzard, 8 snipe.
From Pris Stewart - Three separate kites this morning between Glandy Cross and the Boncath turn, along the A478. Hardly a day passes without seeing at least one now, often several.

Not quite the garden....

Black Redstart can go on my bottle bank list , one on the house backing onto the main car park behind the Rugby club in Fishguard.

Invasion of the Black Redstarts

I now have 3 Black Redstarts around the house (I'm not trying to outdo Dave, honest) and a walk round St Florence produced a further 3 though I suspect some may have been keeping a low profile as there was a Peregrine cruising over the centre of the village.

On my garden list!

Popped out to the garage this morning, caught a glimpse of something out the corner of one eye, grabbed the bins, and confirmed it as a Robin - which then promptly chased a Black Redstart onto the roof of the Patch, Furzy Park, viewable clearly from my front garden! Event better about an hour later, a second bird appeared, flew across my front garden and landed on the drive - firmly on the garden list too! There must be hundreds across Pembrokeshire.

They're Everywhere!

Nice shots from Lionel below. I was just sat in my conservatory talking on the phone to Richard Dobbins about Black Redstarts when what appears on my neighbours chimney...........yes you guessed it a Black Redstart! Be interesting to try and get a grand total for the county this weekend.

Update - now 2 around the house (St Florence). Managed a photo despite the drizzle. Also a big Thrush movement with 100's of Redwings and Fieldfares passing over heading south.

Black Redstarts.... Milford

As I am fairly new to the area I find the blog most informative and the current spate of Black Redstarts sightings prompts me to add that where I live in Milford, adjacent to the Thornton Industrial Estate, we have seen Black Redstarts daily for nearly two weeks now. 3 individuals at least were present on my neighbours roof today and facilitated my attempts at photography..
Lionel Self

Newgale and a Haverfordwest Hobby

The beach was quiet today but for a single Curlew. However, it was interesting to see Black-headed, Herring and Great and Lesser Black-back Gulls in various plumages and stages of moult. The larger gulls were feeding on small crabs and shellfish stirred up by the surf and the Black-headed probably on zooplankton at the very edge of the incoming tide. On the way back, just before the Dirty Bridge roundabout going into Haverfordwest, a Hobby caused confusion as it sped through a flock of Jackdaws.

Minwear Starling Spectacular!

The Starling roost at Slebech Reedbed is in full swing (and probably has been for a couple of weeks now). I went to Minwear Lookout this evening and the birds started arriving pretty soon after 4 p.m. Perhaps not as many there as I have seen in the last couple of years but certainly many thousand and they put on a real show turning and wheeling in tight groups - spurred on by the presence of 2 Buzzards, a couple of Sparrowhawks (that dot is one approaching on the left of the photo), and a young Peregrine. Catch the show while you can!
A quick gallery of the show can be seen by clicking here

Ramsey Today

3 black redstarts today, including a stunning male. 50 redwing this morning, few skylarks moving west and a single chiffchaff in the garden.

Pen Anglas

2 adult Med Gulls, the first closely followed by a Merlin over in the same direction, east past the point at 13:00 and 15:00.

Dale etc

A good look around the migrant hot spots produced the following
Kete House - 1 Chiff
St Ann's head, Lighthouse cottages - 2 Black Redstarts, one a stunning male.
Dale Village - a Brambling flying over, 3 Chiffs and 3 Black Redstarts.
Marloes Mere - 2 Pintail, 2 Gadwall, 6 Shoveler, 1 Chiff.
St Brides - 3 Black Redstarts around the church and 2 Chiffs in the woodland behind.
Broad Haven - 4 Black Redstarts around Puffin Way. At least 50 Common Scoter in the bay.
(Wendy J and Paul G)

Thrushes & Other News

News sent in by e mail :-
From Allan Hansen - There was a huge movement of many thousand Redwings,several hundred Fieldfare and some Mistle Thrushes over Westfield Pill and Neyland first thing this morning.In almost fifty years of birdwatching these are the largest movements I have ever witnessed. A wonderful spectacle.

From Mark Cherry - Little Milford Oct 29th, dawn (6:40 to 7:10am) Low tide -Tawny Owl 1
Calling intermittently. Buzzard 1* circling (and calling) directly above the cottages in the half-light. Little Egret 1, Curlew 1 (heard but not seen), Cormorant 4, Jackdaw 300+ with flocks of 80+ departing the mud-bank roost and doing their best starling-swarm impersonations

Black Redstarts etc

4 Black Redstarts on the roofs around Stackpole Centre this morning - seems to be a mini invasion! I spent nearly 2 hours around the 8 Arch Bridge at Bosherton hoping for a picture of a confiding Otter with cubs which has been seen there several times (see Sue's picture/posting on Monday). Got a 3 second view of the Otter but had to be content with this photo of a Heron. At Kilpaison early afternoon 4 pale bellied Brents , 35 Dunlin and 12 Ringed Plover

St Davids Hd am --

Chaffinches obvious, flying low into the southerly, also a few Starlings, Reed Buntings and thrushes with single Brambling and Siskin. Ad male Merlin present as well as male Blackcap, a couple of Chiffchaffs and Water Rail. Yesterday 2 poss 3 Merlins.

Mere Valley etc.

Mere Valley, Bosherston from 07.30 this morning was abound with 'thrushes'. Most numerous were Redwings, with many more passing overhead, Blackbirds second, again with several small parties overhead (several of the adult males looked at were dark billed), Song Thrushes running a close third. 31 Fieldfares dropped in briefly (& noisily) before continuing on & 1 Mistle Thrush concluded the thrushfest. 3 Blackcaps & 1 Chiffchaff also present. It was good to see at least 6 Goldcrests there too. Nearby on Bosherston church 2 Black Redstarts. Keeping the best till last- at the One arch bridge near Stackpole Ct were 2 gorgeous Firecrests together just below the parapet on the upstream side, 2 Chiffchaffs as well here. Not a bad morning after finding the range road to St Govans closed!.

Haverfordwest and Dale yesterday

Haverfordwest Castle

Black Redstart 1

Dale

Black Redstart 6+
Chiff Chaff 2
Blackcap Male
Thanks Paul G for info to catch up with boggy bird

Skomer yesterday

There was a small arrival of migrants yesterday - about 10 Chiffchaffs, a few thrushes, 2 Blackcaps, possibly as many as 12 Black Redstarts & our first October Goldcrest!

South Pembs

Sightings from Sue Lamb and Jenni Hood - Tuesday. Bosheston - In a quest to find (and this time photograph) another firecrest we found: 5 goldcrests, 2 nuthatch, 3 treecreepers and 2 coal tits. Alas no firecrest! The Gann -Red breasted merganser (female) Marloes (from the north hide)43 wigeon, pair of shoveler, 6 teal .
Wednesday. 12 noon Angle Harbour (on the spit) 1 med gull (adult winter), c28 turnstone, 17 redshank. Kilpaison 1 peregrine and a distinct lack of waders! Bosherston -1 female goldeneye. At dusk a medium sized bat hunting low over the water by the 8 arch bridge. Daubentons? No Otters! Sue and Jenni

Deer Park

Lots of Chaffinches moving this morning - both high and low groups of 10 to 20 birds - mostly seemingly SE.
A few Greenfinch and Goldfinch too but very few Mipits on the head.
In the valley at Martins Haven a couple of new Chiffchaff, a Mistle Thrush high over, a flock of 12 Chough with a few otheres around the head.
A Merlin heading for Skomer initially low then VERY high as it headed west.

Spoonbill -- Newport

The Spoonbill feeding frantically at c17:00 in the river channel nr. the White House. 2 Little Egrets in close attendance.

Dowrog & Tretio Commons

No birds of note on the Dowrog this pm, except a flock of 3 Goldcrests.
Tretio, a flock of c2000 Wood Pigeons.
(John & Marion)

Wood Pigeons, a flock of c200 over Templeton this morning.

Ty Rhyg 28th

At first light at least 300 redwings and 20 song thrushes moving south. Not many fieldfares at first but by mid-day there were large flocks totalling at least 700 birds passing over with just the odd redwing. Other species passing overhead were Blackbird (10), Brambling (4), crossbill (7), Bullfinch (6), Chaffinch (30+), Redpoll (2), Golden Plover (25), Snipe (8), Starling (400). In the scrub a Water Rail, a Blackcap and 20 Goldcrests.

Black Redstart

One on Ramsey still today.

Nine Wells

Nine Wells was quiet this morning, the only birds of note being 3 Chiffchaffs. Red Admirals were taking advantage of the mild weather and the abundance of flowering ivy.

St Nicholas & Pen Caer 28th Oct.

Started off slowly locating just a single Chiff in St. Nicholas. Things picked up then with a Black Redstart at the Pen Caer banker site Harmony Chapel nr Trefasser. Then moved onto Strumble where the Dartford Warbler was in the gorse & heather around the old coastguards & showed very well , this was then slightly eclipsed by a calling Lapland Bunting that went up with Meadow Pipits on the point of the headland although i found it very difficult to locate on the ground. On the way back to Fishguard another Black redstart on the roof of one of the cottages by Delaney's cottage. A look around Fishguard Port didn't find any more Black Reds although the Ship was in.

Black Redstarts

Paul G has had 6 Black Redstarts this morning in Dale - I wonder just how many are in Pembrokeshire at this moment? Steve Hinton had 3 Black Redstarts in Dale yesterday. Also 2 Chichaffs in Dale with a Goldcrest, and another Chiffchaff and Goldcrest at Dale Fort.

Food for thought

This morning a small invasion of Blackbirds and Song Thrushes in the garden as well as Redwings and Fieldfares in the hedgebanks. Sadly not quite such a good crop of haw berries this year, further depleted by flail mowers "tidying" the lanes around here... If we get a cold snap the winter thrushes will have to move on or starve this winter.
Mike, any more detail on Risso's would be much appreciated, allthingsgood, cliff

Martin's Haven & Wooltack Pt, 25-27 October

A bit of a round-up posting. The valley at Martin's Haven has appeared deceptively quiet in the last few days, not helped by the often pretty high winds. A couple of Blue and Great Tits, a Reed Bunting, a Kestrel and Grey Wagtail and a glimpse of a Water Rail were the only stand-outs on Sunday.

The lovely calm conditions on Monday morning brought a steady flow of migrants overhead, largely Skylarks and finches. A good session of ringing with Steve Sutcliffe first thing brought 64 new birds and a handful of re-traps. With the valley still appearing pretty quiet, the real surprise to me was the astonishing numbers of both Chaffinches and Blue Tits, which probably comprised nearly two thirds of the "bag", but which have otherwise not been much apparent in the valley. In addition to a couple of Chiffchaffs (and two more unringed birds seen today), the real stars were 3 Bramblings (male and 2 females), 2 of which were ringed (sorry about the one that got away, Steve). These flew off West when released: it would be funny if they were the ones reported that morning from Skomer.

The Deer Park has given excellent views of a flock of at least a dozen Chough, as well as a Merlin. The real surprise off Wooltack has been not just the Razorbills that are regular here through the winter, but also 4-5 Guillemots and even 2 Puffins! These last were an adult and a probable immature, with the latter seen to fly strongly.

The calmer sea today provided excellent views of Porpoises in the tidal race flowing North out of Jack Sound. There appeared to be at least 5, and possibly as many as 7 adults, and a single very black calf, all showing well through late morning. Sunday also had what appeared to be the carcase of a medium-sized dead seal towards the middle of St Bride's Bay. It was drifting slowly Eastward and being followed by a gaggle of gulls. Many of these tried perching on top of the body to feed on/in it, but failed to get a good perch in the swell, so settled for paddling around it. Presumably the corpse will wash up somewhere around Newgale in the next day or so, and could be an interesting attraction for gulls and other scavengers.

Pembroke --- waders.... & ...

Upper Mill Pond;-
This am, c20 Greenshank, c50 Redshank, c25 Black-tailed Godwits, 2 Snipe.
Mill Pond;-
Sunday, 1 Goldeneye.
(John H.)

Black- throated Thrush in Devon this afternoon....... we've plenty of thrushes arriving.
(Birdguides)

Pen Anglas

I saw a first winter Med Gull fly east past the point at 15:15.

odds and ends

St Davids Hd: Merlin, Blackcap and Chiffchaff with Great Northern past Yr Gesail at 10:50, quite a few chaffinches in off and south but few thrushes and larks. Another Merlin Strumble late pm when also some Risso's Dolphins.

Black Redstarts -- Haverfordwest, Dale

One found today at the regular winter site in Haverfordwest around the castle on adjacent roof-tops.
(Paul G.)
Dale;-
See Trevor's posting below,-- also a Black Redstart around the car-park entrance.
(Merv, -- still out searching)

Newport Tues pm

Highlights, apart from the Spoonbill, were 5 LB Brents, a 1st w Med & a green ringed adult.

Skomer

There was a flock of 5 Black Redstarts round the farm this afternoon, but otherwise very quiet

Ramsey

Black redstart today around the farm buildings. Quiet otherwise after the large movements of yesterday morning (along the lines of Dave B's obs on Skomer)

St Brides & Dale

3 hours bashing the bushes at St Brides produced a Black Redstart on the church & 2 Chiffchaffs in the garden. Quite a few Blackbirds around with Song & Mistle Thrush & Redwings also present. A constant trickle of Skylarks passed overhead as did 2 Redpolls. The redhead Merganser still present on the lagoon at the Gann. At Dale car park single Chiffchaff, male Blackcap & the Lesser Whitethroat that Merv found nearby earlier. On the beach a Guillemot was diving just feet from the shore.

Monday - Down South

A 3-hour walk yesterday from the top of Mere Valley, behind Broad Haven (S), up the Bosherston eastern arm, across the 8-arch bridge to Stackpole Quay, and back to the start via Stackpole Warren, plus half hour at St. Govan's, produced very little in the way of visible migration: 3 Redpolls over, 3 Reed Bunting, a couple of small Meadow Pipit flocks and a few singles here and there, a few Skylarks including 4 heading out to sea in a S/E direction. Only 1 Goldcrest seen, and no Chiffchaffs, Blackcaps etc.

Black-throated Diver - - Little Haven

1 on the sea close in today.
(Steve Hinton news via Dave A.)

Newport

spoonbill 1 juv

Brent goose 1

kingfisher 1

redshank 25+

Goodwick/St Davids

Siskins and Brambling over Goodwick am. Brambling and more Blackbirds and Song Thrushes St Davids also a few Sky Larks. 5 pb Brents sw past The Gesail 12:05 and 14 Goose sp (presumably Brents)south past Whitesands 13:00.

Skomer Today

Loads of birds moving first thing this morning, but everything stopped dead when it clouded over at about 10:30 - Skylark 525, Chaffinch 110, Starling 750, Woodpigeon 210, Brambling 3, Swallow 2, Siskin 30. Finches were going over really high & were very hard to pick up.

A Richard's Pipit flew high south over the farm at 09:15 (I think Mr Dobbins needs to put his clock back!)

There were loads of thrushes around first thing as well, but all soon filtered off to the mainland - Song Thrush 90, Blackbird 45, Redwing 40 & our first Mistle Thrush of the autumn

Still at least 2 juv Hen Harriers hunting in North Valley

Spoonbill -- Newport

The Spoonbill, showing from the iron bridge this morning.
(Karen)

Firecrest -- Bosheston (sunday) & Kilpaison

This isn't a Firecrest...

....but an Otter showing very well.

2 Firecrests seen in the Eastern arm on Sunday, also 1 Chiffchaff & c15 Jays.

- - Kilpaison, today

200 Ringed Plover, 6 Knot, 6 Sanderling, 3 Turnstone, 20 Bar-tailed Godwits, c7 Redshank, c20+ Dunlin.

(Jenni Hood, Sue Lamb)

Sightings.. Spotted Redshank...&...

Llangwm Pill;-
12:00 - 13:00, 1 red-head Goosander flew up towards Hook, the Spotted Redshank, & 3 Black-tailed Godwits, along with 20 Redshank, 50 Teal, 1 Little Egret & Raven.
(Merv... out on his winter Patch...great stuff!!)

Nine Wells;-
c30 Skylarks & a Siskin moving south, 3 Goldcrests in the area.
Porth Clais;-
1 Chiffchaff, c30 Siskins over, Mistle Thrush(3), Song Thrush & lots of Blackbirds present, also Goldcrest & Jay. 2 Golden Plover over.
Great Spotted Woodpecker at Trefeiddan.
(Paul G.)

Cwm Abergwaun 16.00

Apart from the usual gulls , a nice close & confiding Dipper by the main car park.

Firecrest - Cemaes head

One in hawthorns along the coastal path just past Allt y Goed farm (SN135495).
Also a Chiffchaff and 2 Goldcrests.

Brent Geese

37 Light-bellied Brents flew west past Pen Anglas in a long line at 13:00 and three adult Med Gulls flew east around 13:45 to 14:30.

Strumble Head 11 a.m. 26th Oct.

Dartford Warbler in the area between the gate & the old coastguards , a Brambling flew over calling.

Richard's Pipit -- Skomer

1 Over the farm c10:20 this am.
(Dave B.)

Goodwick pm

2 pb Brent Geese with 2 adult and 1 1st winter Med Gulls at the flags (4 adult and 1 2nd W there Wednesday or Thursday).

Turnstones and boats

Richard C's note on Turnstones settling on a boat at high tide awoke memories of the 1980's, when I worked at Milford Haven, when Turnstones habitually roosted on the gunnels of tenders moored off Hakin Point at high tide.

Strumble - and another late Little Tern

Wind F5/6 WSW increasing to 6/7 WSW, 0850 to 1640 hrs.

After Richard left (see his earlier entry) I was joined for a short while by Karen and for the rest of the day by Colin Butters who commutes regularly to Strumble from Gloucester. But between Richard's leaving and their arrival I had at least 7 and possibly up to 12 Risso's Dolphin; one pod about half-way out, the second on or just inside the tide race. There were no calves and the dolphins ranged in colour from dark to very pale gray. They were active and there were two spectacular breaches. And for Cliff, the Porpoise calf that was tail-slapping a couple of weeks ago was at it again (was the same one I wonder?) this time perhaps worried by the proximity of the Risso's rather than the seal as was probably the case last time.

As to birds, to add to Richard's Merlin and Great Northern Diver, we had a second Great Northern, again in summer plumage; 28 Common Scoter of which one was female and 2 were juvenile; 4 Bonxies; 3 Fulmars; 3 Manx Shearwater and the single Little Tern, four years to the day since the one I mentioned in my note of yesterday. As Graham says: keep looking!

Marloes & Dale

Paul & I had a run out late morning through to dusk:

Marloes Mere - Marsh Harrier (my literature doesn't help much, but possibly a young female?), which conveniently put most of the ducks up to reveal around 30 Wigeon, 50 Teal, 30 Mallard, 20 Shoveler & 4 Gadwall.

Dale/Fort - a good look in every nook and cranny in very blustery conditions produced 2 Black Redstarts but very little else by way of migrants.

Gann - 2 Med Gulls (2nd W & 1st W), 8 Redshank, 5 RP, 1 Turnstone, 5 Little Egrets, 1 Wheatear.

Bonxie

2-5 adult and 1-3 second winter Med Gulls, if they were all different a total of up to 8, off Pen Anglas point between 13:30 and 15:30 and a Great Skua west at 14:30.

Sunday 25th Oct.

A short walk this lunchtime around the Tregwynt & Abermawr area did not produce very much apart from a single Goldcrest which seems to be consistent with most other people's sightings. Interestingly the situation was also the same in West Cornwall last week when not many were encountered. On another subject ( i apologise if it is already known ) the wing tagged ( 7 , 7 ) Hen Harrier on Skomer was also pictured on the Cardiff Bird Club site recently although there is not a date or site attached to the sighting that i can work out.

Angle

At Angle Harbour this morning 45 Redshank, 1 Greenshank, 35 Ringed Plover, 2 Dunlin, 30 Turnstones, 40 Oystercatchers, 2 Little Egrets and 3 Med Gulls (2 ad., 1 2nd W). Towards The Lodge 10 Great Crested Grebes and a further 7 Little Egrets. Strange to see about 12 Turnstones settling for 5 mins or so at high tide on a boat moored in the bay

Teifi - this am......&

On the sea off Patch, 2 pale-bellied Brent Geese.
4 Pintail with the Wigeon opp St. Dogmaels Quay
6 Bar-tailed Godwits with c50+ Oystercatchers, a few Dunlin & 25+ Ringed Plover roosting in front of the Webley.

(Earlier)40 mins at Strumble to avoid impending rain.... 1 sum plum. Great Northern Diver, & 1 Merlin.
Ray then took up the sea-watching -- a posting later.

No sign of the Turtle Dove at Tresinwen... but lots of Chaffinches around Strumble.

Newport Sun am

To update Wendy's posting, add 3 ad & 1 2nd w Med Gulls on the mud, 48 Wigeon & a pale bellied Brent at the Parrog.

Spoonbill - Newport

At 7.30am the Spoonbill was active in the river channel nr the White House, Nevern estuary.
Also Knot and Sanderling near the boat club with the Dunlin and Ringed Plover flock.
(Richard D)

Med Gulls

4 or 5 off Pen Anglas today, an adult west at 15:00, two adults followed by a second winter east in quick succession around 15:30 to 16:00 and finally a first winter circling over the point at 16:30.

On late Little Terns

The latest Little Terns recorded were on the 6 November 1961 at Tenby and 6 November 1980 at Skokholm, so keep looking.

Marloes etc..

1 female Marsh Harrier at the Mere.
The Gann, 2 adult Meds - one green ringed. 200+ Jackdaws, 4 Lapwing.
Monkhaven watertreatment, 1 Grey Wagtail.
On my Sojourn around the area, I came upon what appeared to be Rooks building or rebuilding their nests. Would they be keeping the rookery ready for the new breeding season (which to them is just around the corner) or something else?

Teifi

Opposite St Dogmaels quay - 2 Light-bellied Brents. Wigeon flock increasing, now 238.
Jewsons - 18 Redshank and a Common Sandpiper.
Webley - 29 Ringed Plover and 8 Dunlin.
Around the marsh very few small birds in the strong wind but 2 Cetti's singing.

Late Little Tern

It is late Dave, but I have had one later, albeit by just a couple of days: Strumble 25 Oct 05.

St Ishmaels at daybreak

Over the cricket field in the rain, 24 Redwings, 2 Golden plover.

Morning keeps breaking,

Heaven only knows how the man who could have slept for Britain in his youth now relishes the dawn, but I really empathised with J&M-B 's "Dawn delivers" posting . Of course the dogs and chickens dont allow for sleep-ins but as eight o clock is dawn and I can sit in bed for a moment or two and (Lord help me, I do have bins by the side of my bed), as the eastern sky brightened, this morning brought a bounty. Not an easily identified bounty as they were flocking in out of the eastern sun but yes , definately Chaffinches , Starlings, Filedfares and Redwings as well as one small flock of blackbirds. Just, you will understand, as a native guide, I joined Rich Crossen on his northern twitch and caught up with the Spoonbill, (and Karen who told us more about its stay) Nice birdy way to end a day looking at Rich's Pic's , allthingsgood, walrus.

Dale

A pootle around Dale tea-time produced 2 Black Redstarts (Paul G had 3 earlier), 2 Chiffchaffs, a Blackcap, a Goldcrest (yey), a Jay, a Great-spotted Woodpecker, and lots of tits : perhaps over 50 Blue and 20 Greats, and seemingly more Chaffinch than usual too. With an Eastern Crowned Warbler in South Shields, and another Red-flanked Bluetail on the east coast, this might finally be our weekend (Dave B's R T Pipit is a great start!).

That really is a late Little Tern! And lovely pics of the Spoonbill Rich, no. 4 is a winner.

Skomer

Highlight of the day was a very skulky Red-throated Pipit on The Neck. Found it just before 4pm, its hanging around in a small area of stunted bracken but its really hard to see on the deck.

Unfortunately its chosen to hang out in just about the densest area of Manxie burrows on the island so there's no way we can let people over to see it - we're not expecting boats to be running until Tuesday at the earliest anyway. The Neck is a minimum impact area of the island & nobody goes there unless its neccessary for work, I probably won't even look for it until I have to go there again in a few days.

Apart from this it was a bit disappointing today, I too was out under a red dawn sky hoping for a bit of visible passage but nothing came this way.

We got details of the wing-tagged Hen Harrier from Barry O'Donoghue - she was one of a brood of four ringed this July in a bog in beautiful West Clare & is the first Irish Hen Harrier ever recorded outside Ireland!

Pen Anglas

2 Med Gulls flew east with Black-headed and a few Common Gulls, an adult at 15:30 and a second winter at 16:30.

Little Tern at Picton Point

There was a Little Tern fishing off and around Picton Point, GR SN003116, this afternoon.

Spoonbill Photo Bonanza

I knew I was in luck when I spotted the Spoonbill close in to the Iron Bridge at Newport as I drove up this afternoon. The light was great and the bird posed beautifully as it fed close by. After 20 minutes or so it flew off to join the gulls on the mud a little off. For more photos of this splendid bird click here

Red-throated Pipit -- Skomer

News, from Dave Boyle, Red-throated Pipit late this pm,
hopefully a personal update later from Dave.

Cross Inn Forest - Ceredigion

Great Grey Shrike;-
Presumably a returning bird ? also 20 Crossbills there today.....
(John Davis)
Time to look at Ty Rhyg..... & . .......

Dawn Delivers (Notes from Pencarnan)

And it has been a long time waiting.

Autumn passerine migration here in the St Davids area this year can hardly be described as dynamic due in part to the persistence of anti-cyclonic meteorological conditions that became established as long ago as Sept 12th.

However, the low pressure system that took hold on Tues released a tide of birds that flooded down the north coast where, on arriving near St Davids Head, turned south and flew over Pencarnan.

Today, during the half hour, 08:00-08:30, we counted 47 flocks of Chaffinch totalling 1350 birds. With these flocks (within, and in discreet flocks of their own) came Greenfinch, possibly 2% of all birds. Starling, like Chaffinch, were also flying south within an hour of dawn, with flock sizes of 200+. By 10:00 Skylark were in the ascendancy with many flocks of 100+. Throughout the morning small numbers of Siskin, Linnet and Meadow Pipit were also recorded, but no Brambling. We wondered; were we overlooking their calls? Migration continued until midday.

The dynamics of this morning's observations were repeated on Tuesday and Wednesday with numbers increasing as the week progressed.

Standing outside at dawn this morning, close to the coast and beneath a red sky full of warning and armed with notebook, pencil and ears, was a wonderful experience. For us, visible migration is one of the most exciting aspects of birdwatching. Will tonights low pressure system throw in a new mix of birds?

Spoonbill -- Newport

The Spoonbill in the gull roost from the iron bridge this pm, also Kingfisher.
(Karen)

Marloes Mere area

A really well marked immature Marsh Harrier around the Mere creating havoc with the c.100 ducks which were being shunted from one pond to another en masse.

To the west of the mere a very pale (but lacking the white appearance of an adult male) Hen harrier which I would guess is a 2nd year male - it got harrassed by the Jackdaws and drifted NW towards Martins Haven.

In the modified field west of the Rath around 50 Skylarks and on Gateholm a pair of Peregrine

Butterfly

I have heard that the millions of painted ladies that were about in the summer breed & the offspring then head south. There was a single painted lady in our garden (Tegryn) a couple of hours ago, so I don't know if that one will make it home!

Newport --

This mid- morning (Spoonbill & Green Sands will be looked for later);-
1 imm Red-breasted Merganser, in with the 32 Wigeon , 1 Sanderling, 17 Dunlin, 22 Ringed Plover, 2 Curlew, 1 Little Egret, 15 Oystercatcher, & 13 Redshank.
(Karen)

Wednesday (Little Auk)

To tidy the sighting of the Little Auk, the "Sound" in question is
Ramsey Sound.
Sighting on Wednesday 21st Oct.

Giving a Hoot

As I write a pair of Tawney Owls are calling nearby and I saw one coming up the lane this evening, 23 bats were also almost causing me to crash as I tried to accurately count them in our lane. Field fares and Redwings seen earlier. Also seen at Strumble a nice female/ juv Merlin. Malcolm also sent a picture of the Spoonbill at Newport, taken yesterday.

Greenshank........

Pembroke Upper Mill Pond;-
Yesterday evening, on the pond, c35+ Greenshank, c25 Redshank, c25+ Black-tailed Godwits.
(John H.)

Chough v squirrel

I was up at St Justinian today, trying to look for seabirds between squalls and in some rather nasty winds - didn't see much.

However, on the corner just north of the lifeboat station there were six rather noisy chough, obviously angry about something. That something turned out to be a grey squirrel, about 20m from the edge of the field. The squirrel ran the gauntlet of the choughs, and eventually got to the hedgebank. The chough perched on the hedgebank and on the fence, complaining loudly. Squirrel scooted across the path, and down the rather steep slope, with the choughs still in pursuit, even dive bombing it.

Whether the chough just gave up, or if they were put off by my presence, I don't know. Or perhaps the squirrel had fallen off the cliff. Anyway, the chough left, I hung around for about five minutes, but didn't see anything more of the squirrel. Mind you, I wasn't about to get too close to the edge in that wind, so maybe the animal was hiding somewhere.

There aren't very many grey squirrel records from the St David's peninsula, though there are a couple of old ones from Whitesands and St Davids Head. This is a good time of year for seeing grey squirrels, any records (of these and other mammals, reptiles and amphibians) are welcomed. Check the distribution maps at www.pembsmammals.blogspot.com

Teifi

Between the showers late afternoon a few waders near the boat club - 23 Ringed Plover, 8 Dunlin and 2 Bar-tailed Godwit. Over 100 Wigeon opposite St Dogmaels quay.

Pen Anglas

I saw a second winter Med Gull fly east with Black-headed Gulls at 15:00.

Spoonbill -- Newport

Still present this pm along river channel, --- even seen to fly!
(Paul G.)

As they don't seem to be about, Paddy & I did see a Sanderling on the end of the dunes last night with a handful of Ringed Plover & Dunlin.

No sign of the Tresinwen Turtle Dove today.
(Clive J.)

Breeding Stonechats?

A friend phoned yesterday to say that they had seen a Stonechat carrying food on the track to Musslewick north of Marloes. A late breeding attempt brought on by the fine weather?

Nice pair!

I tried to put a couple of things on blogs but failed, wondered if you had a moment you could add them for the bird blog, a little auk in the sound today and the spoonbill up close to the bridge at newport this afternoon.


cheers for now
Malcolm (Barradel)

Starlings

Some 400 flew over St Ishmaels around 1700hrs, heading East. Doing rather better than Goldcrest at the moment.

Goldcrests..........the even bigger view

To:
Pembs birds (pembsbirds@hotmail.co.uk)
The 2009 BirdTrack graph for Goldcrest is worth a look:-
http://blx1.bto.org/bt-dailyresults/results/s424-20-09.html
The 2009 percentage (of Goldcrest recorded in full species lists) values are consistently at levels around 50% of those recorded in either 2008 and 2007. This seems to have persisted throughout all months of 2009, and is quite unlike the BirdTrack graphs for Wren or Long-tailed Tit (species thought likely to have been hit by the relative severity of last winter) which seem to have recovered to '08 and '07 levels after the breeding season.
Gareth

Skomer

No Goldcrests but there were 3 juv Hen Harriers hunting in North Valley this morning, including the wing-tagged bird thats been around a while now

Black Reds, Marsh Harrier....

Kete;- Black Redstart still present today.
Dale village;- Black Redstart still present too.

Marloes Mere;-
The female Marsh Harrier was watched for 1.5 hours, putting up the following, 30 Teal, 25 Wigeon, 6 Shoveler, 2 Gadwall, & 30 Mallard
(Merv)

Angle

At Kilpaison this morning with the tide still well up a small group of waders flew in to the beach - 11 Dunlin and a splendid juvenile Curlew Sandpiper (lead bird in shot above and below left). As the tide dropped more waders dropped in and the final tally was a further 46 Ringed Plover, 26 Barwits, 4 Knot, 1 Sanderling and a 3 Golden Plover which flew over. Many Curlew and Oystercatchers were still on the roost out on the left of the bay as we left. No Goldcrests!
Over at Angle Harbour no sign of the Cattle Egret but a Spotted Redshank (below right) on the side of the shingle spit was a nice surprise. Also there 35 Redshank, 4 Turnstone, 2 Little Egrets and 10 Curlew. Click photos for larger image.
Rich C and Morris North

goldcrest

I also didn't know it was especially relevant, but we had one in the garden at the week-end.

Goldcrest

Whilst walking the dogs below Haverfordwest Racecourse yesterday evening a single Goldcrest in the valley leading down to the cycle track - I've never been so pleased to see one!

Goldcrest

So the single Goldcrest I saw at Nine Wells this weekend was significant then! Of course, I had no Idea.

Goldcrests... the east coast replies......

Hi Guys.

Your Lincolnshire spy here.

Suggest www.lincsbirdclub.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=11004

Where our ringing guys have been bemoaning the lack of.

All the best

Brian.

Goldcrests

In a normal autumn we would expect to catch quite large numbers of Goldcrests - on Caldey a year ago over 40 in a day. This year Paddy ringed 6 (I think) at ty Rhyg and John ringed 4 and a Firecrest at Pwllchrochan last weekend but thats it. NONE at all seen at Martins Haven this autumn. Seems to be a common theme across the western areas - wonder whats happeningf on the east coast???

Spoonbill -- Newport

The Spoonbill still present this pm, also 4 Curlew Sandpipers.
(Karen)

Autumn migrants

On Sunday diurnal migrants flying approximately west over Martletwy during late morning included numerous redwings, prob well in excess of 100 skylarks (in small groups), numerous meadow pipits, chaffinches, siskins and 20+ bramblings. Its surprising what you can hear and see from a garden location during an hour or so.

Today at Stackpole similar species noted in the morning flying over, plus a flock of around 300 redwings heading more or less south near Martletwy. A passing sparrowhawk caused a flock of white wagtails (estimated to be between 30 and 50 individuals) to make a quick descent to the roof-tops at the Stackpole Centre. Here they waited for several minutes before continuing their journey.

Black Redstart -- Dale

Faithful to yesterday's site, Blue Anchor Way.
(Merv)

Black Redstart

A male, on St. Brides Church this afternoon.

Spoonbill at Nevern

Spoonbill

The Spoonbill was still at the Nevern Estuary this morning. It was on the island above the iron bridge with a Green Sandpiper.
From the boat club, 1 Curlew Sandpiper, 22 Ringed Plover, 14 Dunlin and 8 Redshank.

Goldcrests

The lack of Goldcrests this autumn seems to be a consistent theme - during 6 days spent in West Cornwall recently I didn't see one anywhere, once hearing one in Cot Valley. I didn't even see the 2 Paul saw yesterday in Dale!

Cattle Egret, Angle

This morning around 10:30 a Cattle Egret on the sea weed by the shingle spit at Angle Harbour. Still there when I left around 11:30. Also there 3 ad. Med Gulls, 27 Redshank, 6 Turnstones, 1 Barwit and 2 Little Egrets.

Earlier at Kilpaison 24 Barwits, 4 Knot and 12 each of Dunlin and Ringed Plover. Also a Brent Goose which looked like a dark bellied but I wasn't sure as it was sat on the water some way off.

Goldcrests

Following up on Dave B's comments from Skomer, we haven't had a single goldcrest on Ramsey this autumn either (in 08 we had 120 logged in Sept and Oct). Spring passage is always quieter but we only had 5 in Mar and April 09 compared with 46 in the same months in 08. Due to the cold winter perhaps?

Black redstart here yesterday plus one on Grassholm 2 days ago when we went out for the annual fledgling freeing session. 45 cut free this year.

St Davids Hd

Vis mig apparent yesterday but much quieter today. Snow Bunting, Dartford Warbler, Blackcaps, Siskins yesterday. Also Water Rail yesterday and today.

Smew (flyover)

I saw a redhead Smew appear out of nowhere and fly west over Pen Anglas point at 17:00!

Skomer

Its been pretty good out here over the weekend - quite a few thrushes first thing in the mornings (120 Redwings on Sat), including 1 or 2 Ring Ouzels and a few Fieldfares, a few finches going over, mainly Chaffinches but the odd Brambling, Siskin and Redpoll and a scattering of Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs in the bushes but I don't think I've seen a single Goldcrest this October! A Lapland Bunting flew over again yesterday morning & there was a Redstart today.

Went looking for Jack Snipe this morning and found this one at the first place I tried

Ring Ouzel.... & Teifi / Cemaes

A 1w / fem. Ring Ouzel calling & crashing about a little distance from the Orchard on Cemaes Head. The Orchard is just past the last farm by the small cottage.
A Yellowhammer by the car park at Cnwcau being the only other highlight, a few Blackbirds, Song & Mistle Thrushes, & a few small Chaffinch parties passing over.
Patch;-
HT, 35 Ringed Plover, 18 Dunlin.
Jewsons;-
1 Common Sandpiper & c15 Redshank.
Wigeon & Teal nos. rising with birds in front of a couple of Reserve hides, as well as the usual river sites.
Poppit Dunes;-
A few Redwings with the Blackbirds & Song Thrushes.

Dale area today

Gann: 1 Barwit, 6 RP, 1 Turnstone, 4 Wigeon, c.20 Teal, 3 Little Grebe, 8 Little Egrets, 1 Wheatear

Kete: 100s of Meadow Pipits & Skylarks, a Mistle Thrush, but no sign of yesterday's Ring Ouzel, Black Redstarts or Chiffchaffs

St. Ann's Head: 1 Siskin over, more Meadow Pipits & Skylarks, Sparrowhawk

Merryborough/West Blockhouse: 1 Siskin over, 10 Meadow Pipits

Dale: 1 Black Redstart, 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Goldcrest, 2 Coal Tit, 1 Fieldfare, 30 Swallows over S/E towards fort

Fort: 1 Chiffchaff, c.40 Swallows feeding (all sightings with Paul G)

Med Gulls at the Gann

10 meds - 9 adults + 1 2nd winter with about 15 B/H/Gulls on the sea this afternoon, quite a way out, hence the poor quality pic. Anyway here`s 4 of them.

Spoonbill & Ring Ouzel

News phoned in by Richard D - Spoonbill present at Newport, above the Iron Bridge this morning. At Cemaes head a Ring Ouzel.
Also news from Paul M that the Turtle Dove is still at Strumble this morning.

Newport

1 Spoonbill Juv

7 Little Egrets

1 Curlew Sandpiper

1 Green Sandpiper
Dunlin 30

Turtle Dove.... Strumble....&....

A walk from Strumble via Porthsychan to Tresinwen;-
A red wing-tagged Red Kite being mobbed by Jackdaws. (red wing-tag a 5 year old bird-Paddy), a few passage Blackbirds amongst the Redwings, more Chaffinches than last visit feeding on the grain nr the cow-pen, & to my amazement the Turtle Dove sitting in the Hawthorn at the back.

Outer Breakwater;-
c830 am, Snow Bunting calling but couldn't be seen as I swung into the sun, probably flew over the wall. A continous small passage of Skylarks for the hour on the breakwater.

Pen Anglas;-
Apart from c100+Linnets nr. Harbour Village, & a party of c20 feeding Redwing in a Hawthorn, quiet.

Rosebush & Llys-y-fran;-
A visit to the resrs, nothing of particular note, but 3 Goldeneye on Rosebush.

Teifi;-
near HT this evening, 2 Black-tailed Godwits, 5 Bar-tailed Godwits, 30 Ringed Plover, 25 Dunlin & c100 Wigeon, all sightings from Patch.

Spoonbill... etc... Newport

Spoonbill;-
This am at HT was sleeping above the iron bridge on the grass. 2 Little Egrets in the tree above.
This afternoon the bird was again, as yesterday pm in the saltmarsh nr. the Boat Club... but being harrassed there.
Curlew Sandpiper;-
At HT this am, on the dune spit with 15 Dunlin, & 20 Ringed Plover. Also 11 Redshank in the estuary.This mid- afternoon feeding amongst the boats from the Boat Club.
(Rich D am, Paul M pm)

More Dale-ish/ Marloes stuff!

Early this morning at Marloes,
200+ Canada geese, inc 1 Snow behind YMCA, C150 Jackdaws - West, 2 Mistle thrushes, 1 Jay at Trehill farm. A flock of Starlings, which according to my theory of precision guesswork,covers the sky the size of an A4 envelope at 750 metres = 150 birds.
C30 Skylarks.
Over our house later, at St Ishmaels, 2 Swallows.
This afternoon around Dale, 2 Chiffs, 1 adult Med, 1 female Merlin (while looking for RingOuzel - see Dave`s post) & 1 Chough, yellow ring left leg. Could someone shed any light on Chough ringing/ colours ?
.

Ring Ouzel & Black Redstarts

A 45 minute scour of the area around Kete was very productive - a first-winter female Ring Ouzel adjacent to the coast path close to Little Castle Point (approx. SM799039 - in the small quarry like gully), a Black Redstart on Kete House & 3 Chiffchaffs in the garden there, and possibly as many as 200 Meadow Pipits in grassy fields between the houses at Kete and the coast path to the west - I don't recall ever seeing fields so alive with pipits. Difficult to see them on the ground (unless perched on fences), but no unusual calls were heard. Will be looking there again tomorrow morning! Later Derek had 2 Black Reds, and saw the Ring Ouzel briefly.

On Thursday a Barn Owl drifted over the A4076 at the top of Pope Hill (by Lawrence Landfill) at 8pm. Always a delight.

Dale-ish area

Marloes Mere;-
2 fem Pintail, 3 Gadwall, 20 Wigeon, 4 Teal, 1 Chiffchaff, 9 Fieldfare.
Martin's Haven;-
1 Chiffchaff.
Broad Haven;-
1 Gt Ctd Grebe, c70 Common Scoter, 60 Redwing moving north.
(Paul G.)

Spoonbill Etc

News from Richard Dobbins - Spoonbill and Curlew Sandpiper still present at Newport late afternoon as was the Turtle Dove at the cow pen on Strumble. A Snow Bunting on the outer breakwater, Fishguard. Rich will update with any further news later.
Meanwhile I was watching 1200 Common Dolphins out in the Bristol Channel - see the Whales in Wales blog for further details.

Golden plover & kites

Last w/e I was watching a flock of approx 5,000 GPs in Wexford harbour, but had to make do with a couple of hundred overflying Tegryn earlier today.

The kites sparring & flying over Frenni Fawr were gorgeous in the early morning sunlight today.

Teifi Estuary and Poppit Sands

Little Egret 3
Kingfisher 1
Redshank 6
Bullfinch 2 pairs
Blackcap pair

Skomer today

Highlight of the day was this stonking Ring Ouzel in North Valley first thing this morning - it was very quiet otherwise really

A rubbish photo, but this is a Water Rail about 15' up a tree!

Skokholm yesterday

Sorry - forgot the Iceland Gull, Initially off the Stack as we approached then later with the feeding frenzy of gulls (around 500 but could have been more) following the tidal movement as it turned to run south.

Marloes/ Gann

This afternoon at Marloes,
16 Wigeon, 4 Golden Plover in the adjacent fields.
The Gann this evening,
3 juv Weatears, 1 adult Med gull, 2/3 Snipe, 250 Stalings in the field behind, with some 150 more Starlings above our house in St Ishmaels.
Both Starling counts were the result of precision guesswork!

Newport Spoonbill

A juv. It spent most of this afternoon in the creek E of the boatclub. Quite tame, often within 20 m of the footpath. Flew off finally when the tide came up.

Flagpoles 16.00 Oct 16th

Adult Med. Gull , Leucistic Black Headed Gull with the other roosting gulls & 2 wigeon on the sea. A Heron also flew in off the sea & inland over Goodwick Moor.

Newport Fri 16th Oct.

A message from Richard Dobbins on his way back from Norfolk. Karen has the Spoonbill on the saltings from the Boat Club & the Curlew Sandpiper is around the same area. App 14.30 ish.

Skokholm yesterday

Really nice to get the chance to visit in October again. Quite a lot of birds aroundso a full list is probably the best thing:-
Robin 16 - probably more
Song Thrush 4
Blackbrid 22
Ring Ouzel 1
Redwing 1
Chaffinch 16 min – probably more as could hear them most of the time
Snipe 18min around South Pond and 8 at North pond but some movement between
Whimbrel 1 South Haven - have wintered in the past
Curlew 3
Dunlin 1
Water Rail 6 min
Peregrine 1 -Bluffs
Merlin 1
Kestrel 1
Buzzard 1
Blackcap 1 male
Chiffchaff 9 min
Swallow 1
Jackdaw – around 20
Carrion crow 4min
Raven 5
Chough 12
Pied Wagtail 4
Goldfinch 14
Linnet 20
Skylark 7
Wren 13
Stonechat 1
Teal 41
Mallard 1
Meadow Pipits c.50
Wheatear 2
Guillemot 1 ill looking bird on the rocks at Twinlet

Spoonbill Message

Spoonbill message from PKG on site.

Spoonbill Newport 15th Oct

Spoonbill on the Nevern Estuary at Newport approx. half way along the estuary near the White House on the North side at 17.40.

Newport Thurs am

The now regular Green Sandpiper & 2 Moorhens at the bridge. At the Boat Club, a Curlew Sandpiper with the Dunlin.

Skomer Yesterday

There were quite a few thrushes around first thing yesterday morning, including our first Fieldfares (3) of the autumn. There was a Garden Warbler in North Haven, the Yellow-browed Warbler was still down North Valley and a Lapland Bunting was on The Neck.

Today seems much quieter, couldn't find the Yellow-browed and no obvious movement of Chaffinches or Skylarks

Dale Airfield Yesterday

Info from Mike P - Peregrine, Sparrow Hawk, Buzzard, Merlin and Kestrel at Dale Airfield yesterday (14th). Also of note 16 Swallows, 10 Chough and 1 lone Wheatear.
Red Admiral, 2 Painted Ladies and a few unidentified Whites made up the Lepidoptera contingent

Ty Rhyg yesterday (Weds)

Quite a few redwings (500+) at dawn all landing in the Willow scrub briefly and then getting chased by a sparrowhawk, also 30 or so Fieldfares flying east. Two noisy Crossbills sounded like a much larger flock, but most of the redpolls have departed. Apart from this a single Chiffchaff, a blackcap, only a dozen or so goldcrests and a couple of willow tits - so quite quiet.

Skomer Today

Didn't really get much time for birding today, a Lesser Whitethroat and a Coal Tit in the ivy at North Haven forced me to make the time to go and check North Valley, where there was this stunning Yellow-browed Warbler - it was really aggressive and chased off any Chiffchaff that came anywhere near it.

Both juvenile Hen Harriers were hunting in North Valley and a day visitor reported 3 Lapland Buntings in the central fields

visible migration & local

It's always good to see migration in action, so after other recent posts I thought I would add my bit. Seen today about half way between Tusker rock & Strumble head 8 swallows, heading west....yes I did say heading west!

Also, local:
The kite flock on Frenni Fawr is building well; more than 15 individuals at the moment with several buzzards too. On a recently re-seeded field.

Newport Tues am

At the bridge the Green Sand & 2 Little Egrets. With the BH Gulls a 2nd W Med. 27 Ringed Plovers & 15 Dunlin at the boat club. A Merganser in the Bay. Only v few Redshanks, Oystercatchers & Curlews.
Of the c200 Black Headeds c 5 had small metal rings, quite unreadable. Why, when youv'e gone to the trouble to catch a bird this size, would you not use a ring that's readable in the field?.

Caldey, Swallows

Had a potter around Caldey this afternoon in my neighbours boat in the glorious sunshine and on a flat calm sea. Nice to see c.200 Swallows hawking over the water at the east end of the island. 12 Turnstones, 20 Oystercatcher, 6 Curlew, 4 Chough and plenty of Shags. Also this Peregrine on St Margaret's which sat and watched us pass by.

Martins Haven

This morning very calm and loads of birds moving. Mainly Chaffinches high overhead plus skylarks and corvids. A Sparrowhawk heading for Skomer very high. 3 Chiffchaff in the valley and several small groups of Blue Tits moving through.
Did some ringing in the valley and caught 82 new birds about half of which were Meadow Pipits and a third Chaffinches with Blue tits and Reed Buntings making up the rest.

Firecrest 13th Oct.

A Firecrest in the trees at the back of my garden at approx 11a.m.

Skomer Today

It was a good morning this morning, with a fair few Skylarks (about 150) & Chaffinches (about 110) going over, but the bright blue sky made it easy to miss stuff! There was the odd Redpoll & Siskin going over as well & the first Brambling of the autumn.

2 House Sparrows were at the farm, the first on here since 2007, a Great Spotted Woodpecker was near the west coast and there were 30 Redwings flying around first thing.

Only saw 1 juvenile Hen Harrier today, it wasn't wing-tagged but it was ringed

Angle Area

Just back from a week in Norfolk where the highlight was the amazing spectacle of an estimated 70,000 Knot at Holme - a few of them pictured.

Angle Bay by comparison was a tad quieter with 100+ Wigeon and a few Oystercatchers and Curlew. No small waders at all. Freshwater West was very quiet too although a Merlin chasing a small bird over the sea livened things up nicely. 2 Chough at St Govan's to prove I was back in Pembrokeshire.

Visible Migration

Spirits were lifted early on this morning with a steady movement over the house which included Starlings , Chaff & Gold Finches , 2 Mistle Thrushes , 3 Redwing & 4 Golden Plover. However a trip to Strumble produced only 1 Wheatear , a flock of Starlings & a few Skylarks going over. More of note was a small party of mostly Long Tailed Tits right on the cliff by a small puddle which appears in damp weather.
Moving on to Tregwynt & Abermawr drew a complete blank , but a look at a recently discovered ( almost ornamental ) pond near Welsh Hook found 2 Dabchick.

St Brides and Deer Park

Yesterday (Sunday) on the Deer Park 3 Wheatear and the usual Mipits and Stonechats but not much else.

In the evening 2 Goshawk (looked like a pair on size) harrasing the crow roost at St Brides Castle and causing a degree of mayhem just before roost time.


Today - Still a wheatear on the Deer Park, Chaffinch and Skylark passage going on all the time - tens at a time not hundreds, good numbers of Meadow Pipits, Linnets and a few Reed Buntings. 320 Canada Geese moving about - roughly 100 went off to Skokholm and the rest to Skomer around 1000hrs.

Record number of Moorhen on Marloes Mere - 18 birds seen.

Not just an artist but a poet too!

It seems that to 'wax lyrically' is a new pastime in Pembrokeshire! Much in the mould of past dons of natural history writing such as Gilbert White perhaps? I like this kind of 'personal' prose that comes from the heart. Watching nature is wonderful and challenges all your senses. There are people out there such as Graham Rees and Ray Wilkinson who have this acute understanding of nature and that stems from spending countless hours in the field. We can all learn from their kind. I don't know where I come in this 'pecking order' but rest assured I promote the nature of Wales and particularly Cardigan Bay and the Irish Sea wherever I find an audience who will listen!

I've just spent a week to'ing and fro'ing from our shores to Denmark on a ferry between Harwich and Esbjerg and I've witnessed some phenomenal bird migration much of it on land but the seabirds I saw from the ferry in the southern section of the North Sea included some familiar Strumble birds such as bonxies, arctic skuas, sab gull, sooties, divers and our old friend the scoter or 'scooters' as one Dane I met called them! (can you tell the 'mods' from the 'rockers'?). We had some land birds alight on the deck too which included a blackcap, chaffinch, a starling and a grey heron! On this subject I met a retired Danish sea captain who spent 44 yrs plying the oceans of the world on large container ships and he told me an amusing story which I thought I would share with you all.

Many years ago they were sailing in a container ship in the south Atlantic when an Albatross (species unknown) landed on the deck. The bird couldn't take off again so the crew decided to help it but they couldn't get near it as on being approached it lashed out at them with its powerful bill. So the crew came up with a plan they got a piece of carpet and managed to coerce the bird onto it whereupon six of them launched it into the air where it once again became airborne!

A quiet weekend

3 ad Med Gulls Goodwick pm, 2 with fairly standard 'bandit masks' and no rings 1 with very dusky head, sitting down so no legs to see. A few House Martins Heathfield and c1000 starlings nearby. Yesterday - Barn Owl in hedge nr St Davids Youth Hostel and Wheatear nearby. Oh and Red Kite A40 nr Letterston today and last weekend.

Skomer

There were 2 juvenile Hen Harriers in North Valley this morning, the new one had a yellow wing tag on its left wing and a blue wing tag on its right wing, but I couldn't read the numbers.

Strumble sea-ducks & Snow Bunting

Strumble, Old Coastguards;-
1 Snow Bunting associating with Meadow Pipits, also 1 Wheatear.
Sea-watching;-
1 drake Scaup (Graham) before our wanderings, but on our return, 1 light-phase Pomarine Skua, & then amazingly 3 adult drake Eider came into view & then decided to settle on the sea!
Pen Anglas;-
1 juv. type Merlin after a few Meadow Pipits, also 9 Skylarks.
(Adrian & Richard D.)

Newport;-
c30 Dunlin, 11 Ringed Plover, & from the iron bridge 1 Green Sandpiper, 3 Little Grebe, 1 Little Egret, 1 Redshank.
(Karen & RD)

Teifi;-
24 Dunlin, 6 Bar-tailed Godwits, 18 Ringed Plover.
(Wendy)

As no Swallows around the coast, I did manage 3 nr. Glanrhyd late pm.

Castle Pill

Info from Mike Jones - Castle Pill today with the tide fully in,Kingfisher, Common Sandpiper,and quite an influx of Grey Wagtails all at the dead end side, the otherside 4 Little Egrets and a Sparrowhawk.
I have been wondering about Treecreepers , it appears to me that they have scarce as did the Greenfinches last year I wonder if the other bloggers agree.

A List and more thoughts on Strumbling

10 Oct 09, 0750 to 1600 hrs

Wind WNW to NW then backing SW force 2/3

Common Scoter : 69 drakes and 7 ducks

Arctic Skua : 1, pale phase

Little Tern : 1

Commic Tern : 1

Common Tern : 1

Balearic Shearwater: 1, very pale

Bonxie : 3

Bar-Tailed Godwit : 3

Risso’s Dolphin : 6

As Graham suggested in his piece on Friday, a list such as this doesn’t tell the full story. You would look at it and think yourself unfortunate perhaps not to have seen the Risso’s, but as for the rest, well, there are no rarities and it would appear to be a long day for such a small tally. You would be mistaken. In seawatching, a bare list of things seen is not necessarily the most important aspect.

I am, perhaps, more self-indulgent, frivolous even, than Graham. The sight of thousands of kittiwake passing in a steady trickle throughout the day was wonderful in itself, but it was pleasing to see that about 70% were juveniles, showing breeding success further north. Kittiwakes may be common, but they are beautiful: have a closer look when next you see them. Common scoter are just that, but they are the seawatchers’ friend when sometimes the pace of passage is slow. Try counting and sexing dense flocks passing at speed a couple of miles distant; it’s a challenge, but rewarding. What of the single little tern? Again, not an uncommon bird, but just to watch it dance across the sea on its migratory way would lift all but the most dour spirit.

So come to Strumble soon and boost the tally of local watchers. Choose a sunny day and don’t worry about wind direction and you too will see line upon line of auks "their rapid flight conveying the impression of urgency", standing out startlingly bright against a translucent sea patterned with cloud shadow. You will see kittiwakes too: but who knows what else? The unexpected is part of the thrill of seawatching; just come, and wait, and see. For me, it beats pishing in bushes any day!

Various sightings

Castle Pill;-
2 ad. Med. Gulls, 2 Greenshank, 24 Redshank, 1 Chiffchaff.

No sign of the Ring-necked Parakeet in a brief search.
Martin's Haven, 1 Chiffchaff.
The Deer Park, 1 Wheatear, 5 Swallows.
Nr. Marloes Mere, 9 Lapwing in stubble.
Marloes Mere, 1 Snow Goose, 1 Greylag Goose.
(Paul G.)

Jays;- a single flock of 7 over the Teifi Marshes.
Also ringing this am on the Marshes included 2 new Blackcaps, & 10 new Bullfinches!
Several small parties of Siskins, & Skylarks over.
(Teifi RG)

Various

Visitor Paul Bright-Thomas has kindly passed on his sightings from yesterday (9th), which included 2 Merlin along the coast between Croesgoch & Strumble, and a Pintail in with a Mallard flock heading N/E over Llanrhian.

This morning at Hook/Sprinkle Pill minimum counts of waders included: 83 Black-tailed Godwits, 1 Bar-wit, 12 Greenshank, 128 Redshank, 93 Curlew, 4 Snipe, 56 Lapwing, 15 Golden Plover, 8 Dunlin & 5 Little Egrets. The mouth of Sprinkle Pill was the best spot on the rising tide.

2 Harriers

1 female Marsh & 1 female Hen at Marloes mere this morning, I lost sight of the Marsh Harrier whilst watching the Hen fly back towards Skomer - around 0815. Did the 2 birders in the north hide see them? More signs of Autumn with 25 Starlings heading West + thrushes increasing in numbers.

Newport Fri am

A, the, 1of the, Green Sandpipers well visible upstream from the bridge. The gulls included 1 ea ad Med, 1st w Med & ad Little.

opportunity

Janet Atkinson & John have had to pull out of a small party trip to South Africa, due to Janet unfortunately having fallen down some stairs & breaking her hip. We wish her a full & speedy recovery.
Thus there is an opportunity for a couple to join the party leaving on October 24th & arriving back on November 17th. Anybody interested please contact me, as the trip is being offered at a much reduced rate (approx 50%).
Peter Tithecott 01437 765516
peter@tithecott.wanadoo.co.uk

Lapwings

About 25 flying above Sandyhaven last night. (Thursday)

Jays - Ramsey

We had a flock of 7 Jays on the island yesterday. Only the second record in our 4 years.

The 2 wing tagged hen harriers were still present as of yesterday.

Wetland Bird Survey 2009-10

We still need counters for the following sites:
Cosheston Pill
Eastern Cleddau
Millin Pill
Pwllcrochan Flats
Trefloyne Pools

Next count is on Sunday (high tide at 11:40am)
If anyone is interested in volunteering, please contact me on rushmoor1@tiscali.co.uk

Skomer today

The first Redwings (5) & Black Redstart of the autumn were in this morning, and the Lapland Bunting was flying around near North Pond again.