1st & 2nd Jan 2010 - general observations

On New Years day while out doing timed-tetrad recording for the winter atlas in the Amroth-Llanteg area, noted a day-flying barn owl at around lunch time. I presume hunger possibly forced it to venture out to hunt a bit early than usual? This is one of the interesting things about tetrad-bashing in a new area, you never quite know what you might find! Plenty of redwings and other thrushes around but few finches seen in a few hours and several kilometres of walking. At least a couple of thousand starlings were feeding in fields with lapwings on the Pembs/Carms border.

Following the snow-fall Annie and I walked down to Landshipping area yesterday just before Paddy arrived t check out if the pintail were still present. There were around 18 or so on the Sprinkle Pill side with a a few shovelers. The others may have dispersed or perhaps they were out of site further down river?

Between Sprinkle Pill and lower part of Eastern Cleddau, beyond Landshipping (about as far up as Slebech) we estimated there to be in the region of 300 shelduck, 700-800 teal, 400-500 wigeon, 1500+ dunlin. Lapwing numbers must have been around 1000 or so with about 300 golden plover at Sprinkle Pill. Numbers of curlew and redshank were not especially high but there were a few grey and ringed plovers and typical numbers of little grebes (several birds in view). A greenshank was also present feeding in the lagoon area at Landshipping.

Now a plea! Thanks to all those who have been inputting roving/bird-track records to the atlas this winter and doing timed tetrads etc. Progress has been great and we are quite well on target to cover the minimum number of TTVs. However, we have noticed that we still have no winter 10 km square records for tawny owls in SM81, SM83, SM90 and SN23. Is it really the case that tawny's are absent from these particular 10 km squares in winter? They are very vocal at the moment so if you hear one in any of these squares please try and help fill the gaps.

Hapy New Year!