N Pembs last weekend and migrant gull families

I tend to agree with Clive that it seems likely that the Med Gulls described may have included a family party. In early July gull families with recently fledged juvs are beginning to move around. Such similar behaviour is sometimes evident in Black-headed Gulls on the move. Over the years I have seen various adults with juvs, behaving quite similarly at this time of year (juvs begging for food from one or the other parent and adults doing typical bonding routines). Noted such a pair and two juvs doing exactly this on the edge of Lower Town Fishguard last Sunday.

Another question of course is where are they coming from? As these were not ringed then we can only surmise but their behaviour tends to suggest families are involved.

In N Pembs (Fishguard to Newport) last Sunday it was good to see fledged peregrines (x2 yng at least) at one location and fledged kestrels (x3) at another (all juvs perched and waiting for food to be brought back) (kestrel info passed on to Paddy Jenks). Nice also to see a sparrowhawk drop into trees with food at another location on route - young not yet fledged.

Along the coastal walk it was a good day for bird families all round including: fledged lesser whitethroats (adults feeding juvs); at least one sedge warbler family, numerous juv chiffs and several bright yellow young willow warblers; families of treecreepers, bullfinches, spotted flycatchers, etc. Hasn't it been a brilliant year for small passerines etc - many juv birds around now - numerous whitethroats, linnets, chaffinches, goldfinches etc, etc. In one tetrad Annie recorded quail on Sunday so all in all it was a good days tetrad-bashing.