Whooper swans in Abercastle area during TTV counts in SM83

A longish walk from Aber Mawr along coast and then inland to Mathry continuing south-east to Treffynnon area produced typical common winter birds including quite good numbers of fieldfares an redwings, several thousand starlings (c. 2,000 plus at one farm (Trefelyn)). Ravens were lining a well developed nest at Pwllstrodur and at least 2 small fulmar colonies occupied (around 40 fulmars in total).

One of the interesting things about doing timed-tetrads in an area you don't regularly visit are the unexpected birds. Although numbers of the expected common species were fairly modest (with the exception of starling and thrushes), it was nice to find 7 wigeon and 6 teal on a small irrigation pool in SM83R. Not far away in the same square 3 adult whooper swans were in a field nr the minor road from Mathry to Abercastle. They spent some time flying around between approx Trevine and Abercastle before eventually heading in an approx NE direction towards Fishguard. A Peregrine hunting over Mathry area was about the only other species of note.