Angle peninsula

A walk from West Angle to Fresh West, to record chough breeding activity was a rather unproductive one. A pair with 2 juvs were spotted almost immediately at West Angle, a good start I thought! However, they were the only juvs seen. There were three other adult pairs seen in expected locations but from their behaviour it seemed that they were not feeding young. In addition there was a welcomed group of 4 immatures (probably 2009 birds) at East Pickard. There have been very few reports of surviving non-breeders around this summer.

From what chough families have been seen so far in south Pembs, it seems that the average brood size is quite low, however it will be a couple of weeks before we know the final outcome as at some sites fledging is quite late this year. But it seems that a cold winter, followed by a cold dry spring may be affecting things this year.

It was nice to see three kestrels along the route (a male hunting, near Sheep Island); a female perched near West Pickard and a separate female hunting at Fresh West). These were in addition to a female noted taking food to a natural nest-site at Lydstep the previous evening.

Along the route, numbers of dark green fritillary butterflies were impressive - probably in excess of 100 noted - they were especially abundant between the Pickards.