Martin's Haven 17-20th April

Apologies for the late report, but Martin's Haven was really interesting (but also a bit frustrating) at the weekend, and earlier this week. There was a small but steady flow of warblers through on most days, with up to 8 Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs seen together in the sallow scrub, several of which were singing. There were also regular, but highly mobile, Blackcaps, and at least 2 Whitethroats. However, despite pretty intense searching in the valley and up on the Deer Park, neither Ring Ouzels nor Hoopoes could be found! Still, lots of Wheatears, including a fall of 15-20 lovely Greenland-type birds in the Trehill field and by the Deer Park Wall on the 18th.

Of the larger birds, the pair of Kestrels were in evidence, and at least 2 pairs of Choughs in the usual locations on the Deer Park, plus a group of 7 more birds that flew over from Skomer.

There was a good flow of Swallows heading north: at least 200 by mid-morning of the 17th, but the real highlight for me were the astonishing numbers of Sand Martins: easily 300 between 0800 and 0900 on the 19th, coming in waves of 15-20, and accompanied by a handful of House Martins and a single Swift. While 10-15 Sand Martins stayed over the valley in the evenings, most headed off directly NW, a distinctly different direction to the Swallows. The Sand Martins have been a real pleasure this year, especially given the dearth of them here during last Spring. I am puzzled, however, by the large numbers in mid-April for a bird that we normally consider to be an early migrant (I saw my first group over Cilgerran over a month ago).

The Greenland White-fronted Geese have continued to feed in the usual field on Trehill Farm (south of the road, just after the farm on the way to Martin's Haven. It has been an absolute pleasure seeing them this year, but I really hope they make it back North in time to breed?) I am also slightly worried, because I could only count 15 geese when I saw them twice on Tuesday evening, rather than the 16 birds in the group previously.

Finally, the warm weather has been wonderful for reptiles: Common Lizards and a Slowworm in the grass, and a beautifully marked male Adder, plus the sloughed skin of a far larger female Adder.