Pen Anglas

I got a good view of a female Merlin before it disappeared round the headland chasing a Rock Pipit at 13:00.

Newport Canadas

The, by now, regular Autumn influx seems to have started. This morning 70, all very excitable.

Curlew Sandpiper

The Gann - Very few waders but nice to find a Curlew Sandpiper. Also 1 Greenshank, 1 Common Sandpiper,4 Ringed Plover and 3 Wheatear.
Deer Park and Martins Haven - After Skomer's good bird, a thorough look for an interesting migrant drew a blank.
Marloes Mere - the juvenile Marsh Harrier was again present. Also a Whimbrel over and 3 Wigeon. A single immature male Ruddy Darter found by Merv J yesterday was around the path past the Youth Hostel, also several Migrant Hawkers.
(Paul G and WendyJ)

Strumble (31 Aug 10)

Time: 0600 - 1400
Weather: Sunny
Wind: SSE (F2)

Balearic Shearwater - 4
Pomarine Skua - 1 (J)
Arctic Skua - 2 (D)
Great Skua - 1
Mediterranean Gull - 1 (1st W)
Common Scoter - 78 (13F, 65M)
Wigeon - 3
Sandwich Tern - 100
Common Tern - 30
Arctic Tern - 15
Dunlin - 10
Knot - 4
Bar Tailed Godwit - 1

Curlew - 1

Wheatear - 1
Peregrine - 2
Buzzard - 1

Common Porpoise - Common and showing well all day

Common Dolphin - 2 @ 0905, c.20 @ 1030, c.10 @ 1045, c 30 @ 1100, c.10 @ 1130, c 10 @ 1315. Some records are duplicate sightings of same individuals but there were at least 3 different pods. One group of 10 came within 100yds of shore - the closest I have ever had them. A number of calfs with them.

Risso's Dolphin - 2 @ 0805. One very large dark male with a huge fin and a second smaller and all white individual. On view for circa 15 mins.

Skomer

Bit of a party on here last night - Jonathan, Amy & Julia are all leaving on Wednesday so I didn't get up especially early this morning & when I did the first thing I saw was a skulky hippolais warbler in the ivy. After about an an hour & a half it sat out in the open - Skomer's first Icterine Warbler since 2002

Angle Bay

At Kilpaison this morning a small group of waders flew off just as I arrived - 1 Black Tailed Godwit, a Knot and c.10 Dunlin/Ringed Plover. A few stayed behind - 16 Dunlin, 12 Ringed Plover, 1 Turnstone and 3 Redshank. One poor juv Dunlin was staggering around the beach dragging a Cockle behind which it seemed to have its toes stuck in. It managed to fly some way with it but in the end I lost sight of it.

Skomer - Icterine Warbler

Dave Boyle is trying to watch a "difficult to see" hippo in the ivy above the boat landing (I think) on Skomer(c9:00).
Happy an Icterine Warbler, but very difficult.

Teifi -- Spotted Redshank

1 was flying around the Mallard /Heron Hide area at 0730 this am.........I guess may have landed at Heron Hide scrape.

Skokholm update

In the last few days the Canada Geese have returned in force with over 200 now roosting overnight - with that Snow Goose which has been hanging around for years.

A sparrowhawk on Sunday, more passage Wheatears - 20 on Monday and a Tree Pipit near the lighthouse on Monday but rather fewer Willow warblers and sedgies. More Robins still turning up and starting to sing in the bracken. Loads and loads of Rock Pipits - they seem to have had a fantastic breeding season.

White Wagtail

One at the Deer Park today with a Northern Wheatear for company.
Quite a number of Swallows and House Martins too, but feeding rather than migrating.

Hen Harrier

I saw a different ringtail fly east over Pen Anglas at 16:30 and earlier there were some bottle-nosed dolphins in the bay as well.

Strumble (30 Aug 10)

Time: 0600 - 1400
Weather: Sunny
Wind: NNE (F3)

Balearic Shearwater - 1
Arctic Skua - 1 (D)
Great Skua - 1
Common Scoter - 42 (3F, 39M)
Sandwich Tern - 55
Comic Tern - 2
Mediterranean Gull - 1 (1st W)
Whimbrel - 1
Goosander - 11 (First for me at Strumble. Heading East @ 0830)
Teal - 7
Chough - 1
Kestrel - 2
Peregrine - 3

Common Porpoise (Common and showing all day)
Common Dolphin - c.15-20 (@ 1000 heading East at long range then at 1315 close in tide race heading West)

Pembroke River & West Williamson

Info from Barry Potter -

pembroke river 8am-10 30 am - wigeon  up to 100, ringed plover  9, dunlin  6, little egret   2, still plenty of swallows

mute swan  36 , teal   1. plus all the commoner stuff

west williamson  11 30 am-3 30 pm - with Nikki Anderson - little egret  1, grey heron 1, oystercatcher   29, raven  2

buzzard  1, peregrine  1,spotted flycatcher  1,willow warbler  1,great spotted woodpecker  1, jay  1

butterflys included, brown hairstreak, common blue,gatekeeper,small tortoiseshell

Skomer

A few more birds around today - the Hen Harrier went through here just before 10, pretty sure it was a juv male, it looked tiny, also about a dozen Willow Warblers, 2 Spotted Flycatchers and our first Garden Warbler of the autumn

Newport Mon am

On the rising tide 24 Dunlin, 22 Ringed Plover, 3 Redshanks, 2 Knot, 1 Greenshank & an ad Med Gull. c40 Oystercatchers on the roost with 12 Curlews.

Marloes Harriers

Over Marloes Mere this morning, 2 Marsh Harriers and a Hen Harrier.
(Merv J)

Slow worm

On Saturday 4th September there will be a group of naturalists from Wexford in the North Pembrokeshire area (Fishguard to Cardigan) & they have especially asked to see a slow worm if possible. If anyone knows a good spot, I would love to hear from them.
If you can help, please email us at the Green Dragon bus; info "at" prta.co.uk

Pen Anglas - Leach's Petrel

I saw one fly west past the point just minutes after three dark phase and two pale phase Arctic Skuas at 14:30 to 14:45 with another two pale phase at 16:30 and an intermediate phase at 17:30.

Strumble (29 Aug 10)

Time: 0600 - 1900
Weather: Sunny spells.
Wind: W (F6), then late afternoon - N (F7)

Great Shearwater - 1 (@ 1159)
Sooty Shearwater - 6
Balearic Shearwater - 28
Storm Petrel - 3
Long Tailed Skua - 1 (J) (@ 1425)
Arctic Skua - 29 (4J, 9P, 16D)
Great Skua - 17
Grey Phalarope - 1 (@ 0810)
Sandwich Tern - 110
Comic Tern - 7
Common Scoter - 19 (1F, 18M)
Puffin - 1
Dunlin - 8
Sanderling - 22
Knot - 23
Turnstone - 2

Common Porpoise (Common but again not showing very well)

Privet Hawk Moth?

I assume this caterpillar of small snake proportions is such - any way hard to believe that inside this body there is the remains of a small fuchsia bush.

North coast waders......& ....

Newport;-
Early morning, 14 Dunlin, 17 Ringed Plover.
Fishguard;-
Stena end, 6 Med. Gulls (3 juvs & 3 adults) also 5 Turnstone.
(Karen)
Teifi Patch;-
2 Knot, c30+ Ringed Plover, c16+ Dunlin
Around the estuary, 2 Redshank, 10 Little Egrets at HT roost, c40 Barnacle Geese early morning before flying back to Cardigan Island for the day

Last night, Teal now up to 1o at Creek Hide & a Kingfisher.

Arctic Skua

I saw a dark phase adult chasing a Kittiwake off Pen Anglas point at 19:00.

Skomer

Very quiet out here, we've not been getting anything like the numbers of migrants that have been turning up on Skokholm - just seen a couple of Spotted Flycatchers today.

Yesterday a Tree Pipit went over & the first Grey Wagtail of the autumn.

Strumble Head (28 Aug 10)

Time: 0600 - 1700
Weather: Sunny
Wind: NNW (am), W (pm) - F4-5

Balearic Shearwater - 27
Sooty Shearwater - 2
Arctic Skua - 8 (3P, 5D)
Great Skua - 3
Roseate Tern - 1 (@ 1515)
Comic Tern - 70 (many distant but closer birds included a fair number of Arctics)
Sandwich Tern - 60
Common Scoter - 43 (2F, 41M)
Mediterranean Gull - 2 (2 1stW)
Dunlin - 5
Sanderling - 2

Whimbrel - 2

Curlew - 3

Peregrine - 2
Kestrel - 1
Chough - 2

Common Porpoise (Common but not showing particularly well).

Skokholm in the last weekor two.

A bit of steady migration in the last couple of weeks with up to 20 sedge warblers on several days, a steady stream of Willow warblers and a few Chiffchaff. Yesterday probably 30+ Wheatear but could have been many more passing through, and a couple of Spotted Flycatchers to add to the few singles in the last week or so. On the wader front a single Purple Sandpiper on the Dragons Teeth where there used to be up to 20 and a Greenshank but rather few curlew (max 24 but mostly up to 6) and just a few Whimbrel records. Those Canada Geese are back roosting with 40 leaving on Friday at dawn but just a single Mallard looking forlorn at the North Puddle (it doesn't qualify as a pond at the moment!!!).

Other highlights - a Kestrel, up to 4 Chough, well over 120 GBB's (40 at the lighthouse eating baby shearwaters on friday morning), a few Peregrine sightings, a few Whitethoats and a second brood of Moorhen at the Well. Oh - and the Robins started arriving on Monday 23rd with at least 6 resident by friday.

Teifi -- Lapland Bunting .. & ....S.Terns

Lapland Bunting;-(see post below)
Still present late morning, will be looked for again at 530pm, as it's still in demand !

Sandwich Terns;- (see Rosemary's post below)
35+ roosting & flying /fishing from the Webley, an excellent number for the Teifi.
Our L. Egrets numbers have halved to c6 in the past few days too.

Patch;-
6 Knot, 8 Redshank, c40 Ringed Plover, 1 Sanderling, c20 Dunlin.
Also c4 Wheatears.

Sandwich Terns at the Gann

At least 16 Sandwich Terns flying around very noisily at about 9:15 though after about 5 circuits they decided not to land. Then I noticed that there were 2 more on the stony island with the motley assortment of gulls which were all preening vigorously with white feathers flying in the stiff breeze. No egrets to be seen - where are they all?? Numbers usually start to build about now.

Rosemary

Lapland Bunting

A Lapland Bunting on the Teifi estuary by the caravans at Patch (Ceredigion), found at 6.30 this morning. Still present by the first rockfall warning sign at 08.45.
Four also seen on the Great Orme.
(Rich D)

Kilpaison and Angle

A few more photos from this mornings birding at Angle bay, as Richard's list + several Med gulls on the Spit at Angle.

Teifi --

Creek Hide, 3 Teal.
Jewsons, 6 Common Sandpipers, 1 Greenshank.
Patch, nearing HT, 6 Knot, 3 Turnstone, c40 Ringed Plover, c20 Dunlin, at least 13 Sandwich Terns around the estuary mouth and on leaving Patch in the dark, Common Sandpipers calling, presumably birds arriving or leaving the estuary?
At least 1 Sanderling still present this morning.
(several obs)

A Fine Accolade.....

to Pembs Birds, my old mucker Gavin has suggested that a proposed new blog for Devon bird news be modelled on this very site. See http://notquitescilly.blogspot.com/ & read his comments for "Devon Bird News, a proposal" Friday 27th Aug. I feel everybody deserves a pat on the back for their continued efforts (not least messers R.C. & R.D) & of course to Gavin for making such an informed decision. Drinks all round!

Pembroke river and around

Waders on the rising tide from Pennar - 3 Whimbrel, 4 Greenshank, 9 Black-tailed Godwit, 10 Redshank and a small flock of Dunlin and Ringed Plover.
Bosherston dunes - 2 Chough and a Wheatear.
The highlight of the day was a butterfly though - excellent views of a female Brown Hairstreak at West Williamston.
(Paul G and Wendy J)

Gos to be a first? nope second!

Whilst watching seals, overlooking the bay just to the south of the lighthouse at Strumble a raptor shot over our heads and landed on the cliff below us on Ynys Meicel (the lighthouse island) An immature Goshawk glared around looking for something to kill (probably a young male) It flew low and fast across the island hoping to flush something and then landed on a boulder, a couple of swallows dared to mob it but the usually pugnacius gulls were rather more reticent than normal. It flew again disappearing behind the lighthouse, hope the Choughs were safely out of the way!I couldnt remember seeing a Gos at the head before (though had a couple at Tresinwen) so thought I might have copped a Strumble first. As usual GHR was one step ahead, only a second record, still, (I console myself) a rarer record there than than Wilsons Petrel! Eight Sandwich Terns also seen fishing in Fishguard Harbour before flying out to sea.

Marloes Marsh Harrier

Marsh Harrier at Marloes Mere this morning from Elwyn Davies.

Angle Bay

At Kilpaison this morning the usual suspects - 5 Ringed Plover (all Juvs), 5 Turnstone, 2 Dunlin, 1 Sanderling. Also 1 Wheatear and 5 Little Egrets.

Teifi -- waders

Yesterday (Thurs) evening;-
High Tide roost on Patch, 7 Knot, & 4 Sanderling, 3 Turnstone, 1 a very nice sp adult, 49 Ringed Plover, & 24 Dunlin. Also 2 Wheatears.
Later 1 Common Sandpiper on Poppit. Little Egrets appear to have reduced to c5.
(Wendy J & Rich D)

Strumble today

Spent a day at Strumble today. I don't usually visit in August. We saw a Merlin near 'Bristgarn' farm on the way down to the head. Wind was a Nor westerly most of the day. I didn't do a serious head count of birds but we had 3 bonxies during the day plus 2 arctics (1 dark, 1 light phase) and a 3rd skua which may have been a long-tailed but not certain of ID. We had arctic, common and sandwich terns too. We saw at least 2 Balearics but other visiting birders had seen more before we arrived. We had a count of 3 sun fish.

Skomer

There was a Dunlin and a Ringed Plover on North Pond today - not very exciting you might think, but I'm pretty sure its the first time I've ever seen 2 species of migrant wader on any of the ponds on here!

Small Fall of Wheatears

Six Wheatears in Sutton today, not only the first time I have seen a Wheatear here, but six at once was a bit of an eyeopener!
As far as I am aware it's a new site record.

Newport Thurs pm

Couldn't find any small waders. Big influx of Herring Gulls; c450 at the bridge & 200 on the mud.Also c100 BHGulls , with, praise be, an ad Mediterranean.

Marsh Harrier

A juvenile Marsh harrier again at Marloes Mere this morning.
(MervJ)

Angle

Disappointing wader numbers at Kilpaison this morning with just 3 Ringed Plover, 3 Turnstone and a lone Sanderling. Nice to see 3 Wheatears feeding amongst the seaweed on the beach.
At Angle Harbour 5 Med Gulls - all adults including one with a green ring AHZK. Also there 6 Ringed Plover, 1 Dunlin and 6 Little Egrets, the latter chasing each other around. More photos from recent days here

Little Stint -- Newport

1 Juvenile Little Stint with 14 Ringed Plover, & 8 Dunlin early this morning (on the rising very high tide) from the Boat Club.
(Karen)

Teifi waders

This morning at high tide
Patch - 6 Knot, 5 Sanderling, 30 Dunlin, 22 Ringed Plover
Jewsons - 3 Common Sandpipers
St Dogmaels Quay - 5 Redshank
Greenshank calling near Creek hide where 2 were seen a few days ago.

Fishguard Harbour 19.00 25th Aug.

6 Sandwich Terns at Flagpoles end.

11 Med. Gulls , 8 Juv/1st W , 1 1st Sum & 2 Adults.
3 Turnstones.

Dead Sprawk

A dead juv sprawk was picked up in a garden in Llanddewi Velfrey area.

The garden owner says that they assume a broken neck, presumably having hit the trellis. Found sat in the border the other day when hunting, but it didn't fly off when they went to see it either which was a bit odd. I wondered if you know of anyone that may be interested in it for toxicology/dna/isotopes etc.

Anybody?

The Gann 0730-0900

A wonderfully calm High Tide: the reflections made it surprisingly hard to count roosting birds! The highlights were 120 Curlew, 65+ Oystercatchers and at least a dozen Little Egrets. Also two Greenshank (moulting from summer to winter plumage: rather odd-looking), a Common Sandpiper, 8 Ringed Plover over the bay, and a Wheatear.
Dale Airfield: very quiet, runways are very dry.

Terning up!

12 sandwich Terns at Fishguard Harbour this afternoon also Stewart and Mary Devonald. Sadly I missed being able to communicate more than briefly with either but both sightings were as pleasant as they were unexpected!

Skuas

I saw a Bonxie fly west past Pen Anglas point at 18:45 and an Arctic or possible Long-tailed Skua closely followed by another Bonxie chasing a Kittiwake at 19:15.

Strumble Head 16.30 - 18.00 24th Aug.

A short but good Seawatch:
Balearic Shearwater - 4
Arctic Skua - 2 ( Both Dark Adults. )
Black Tern - 1

Ocean Sunfish - 1

Thousands of Manxies still & massive rafts of Auks on the Sea.

Ramsey shearwaters

6 balearic shearwaters in a 2 hour watch this afternoon off north end. 1 sooty shearwater near Grassholm yesterday.

Kilpaison

Some photos sent in by John McIntosh who braved the winds at Kilpaison this morning - Dunlin (sheltering behind the seaweed!), Turnstone & Knot.

tegryn

A hobby flew over yesterday (Monday), heading south west.

Skomer

In addition to all Sash's Manxies coming out of St Brides Bay this morning there was a stunning summer plumage Great Northern Diver & there was a Bonxie flying around last night

Ty Rhyg

I'm not as good as the Teifi team at keeping the blog up to date, so just thought I'd do a quick summary of the bird ringing at Ty Rhyg this summer. Like the Cilgerran marshes, it has been registered as a constant effort site (CES) with the BTO to contribute towards monitoring productivity of some of our breeding bird species, and 12 equally spaced visits are carried out between May and August.

At Ty Rhyg the main species ringed so far this year are willow warbler(192), chiffchaff(149), blackcap(80) and redpoll(85), which account for 60% of the total catch of 860. Altogether 33 species were ringed and it was really pleasing to discover at least 16 differerent juv willow tits were using the site though only 2 adults were caught. Other more interesting species ringed have been : spotted flycatcher(2), pied flycatcher(1), redstart(2), tree pipit(2) and grasshopper warbler(10).

One of the most noticeable features resulting from the regular mist netting sessions is the turnover of birds during July and August. It was very unusual to catch the same individual on consecutive visits, implying that the majority of birds were only using the site for a short time before moving on. It would be interesting to follow this up in more detail as post-fledging behaviour and survival strategy even in some of our common birds is not well understood, and finding out more may well uncover factors influencing population trends. -Just need more time!

Ty Rhyg is a good site to see species which have declined recently including spotted flycatcher, which breed in the open mature conifers. A walk round in late May revealed two or three pairs, but in early August there were clearly more like ten pairs feeding young. John Morgan noticed at least 20 birds one day, fairly close together. Redstarts also bred in the conifers and are still around now. Up to ten Crossbills have been around since May but they move around a lot and almost certainly commute back and forth to Coed Glynaeron or that direction at least.

Angle Area

At Kilpaison this morning there was a small group of waders - c.4 Dunlin, 3 Turnstone and a Knot - but I didn't hang around as the strong wind made standing up difficult let alone photography!
At a rather more sheltered Angle Harbour there were 100+ Black Headed Gulls and amongst them 10 Med Gulls - 1 Juv, 1 2nd Winter and 8 Adults. Otherwise quiet with 1 Little Egret.

At Bosherston the Otter family continues to entertain and delight the holidaymakers with wonderful views from the 8 Arch Bridge.

Wooltack Point 0615-0900

Very strong westerlies during the night pushed thousands of Manxies into St Bride's Bay, and they flowed out steadily early in the morning. They were joined by (slightly) smaller numbers coming south from the direction of Ramsey. Some lingered off the north coast of Skomer, and a few small groups were feeding very actively, accompanied by a handful of Kittiwakes, as they made their way out of the bay.

Watching Manxies, especially in this quantity, is pretty exhilarating stuff, temepered by the rapid emotional highs and lows as you watch what appear to be particularly large, dark birds, hoping for a Sooty, or very brown birds, wishing for a Balearic, only for them to bank, revealing pristine white underparts.

Around 0730 a straggle of around a dozen terns flew south. Too far out to be sure of the ID, but possibly Sandwich on account of their size relative to the Manxies.

In Martin's Haven: a Wheatear and the immature female Sparrowhawk, plus a family group of 5 Chough. Yesterday's Chiffchaffs have either moved on or, very sensibly, are keeping their heads down.

Pembroke Upper millpond

good numbers of waders on the pond tonight at 19.30
Redshank 72
Greenshank 20
Black-tailed Godwits 19
Green Sandpiper 3
Dunlin 5
Usual mallards and teal roosting plus 1 Wigeon
only 3 little Egrets

Newport Mon am

Much better than yesterday. A Green Sand upstream. 18 Ringed Plovers, 15 Dunlin, a Knot. Just 3 Curlew on the estuary but c40 on the roost.

Teifi

Some more Sedge Warblers were caught during a short ringing session on the marsh before the rain. Total for the year now 532. Numbers passing through are dropping but the highlight today was a juvenile carrying a huge amount of visible fat. It weighed 20.2g, the max expected weight for an adult is 17.9g and most Sedgies we catch weigh 10 to 12g. It must have found a good food source on its travels.
A Green Sandpiper was calling over the marsh.
(Teifi RG)
Around the estuary this afternoon there were 20 Dunlin and 20 Ringed Plovers. Last night was much the same with the addition of 7 Sanderling on Poppit. 5 Common Sandpipers at Jewsons.

Strumble - 0645 to 1245 hrs

NNW 4/5 backing W 6/7.

Common Scoter 28 (incl 6 F and 1 Juv)
Little Egret 1 heading due N out to sea
Bonxie 2
Arctic Skua 1 Dark Phase adult
Commic Tern 36
Common Tern 7
Arctic Tern 2
Sandwich Tern 2
Balearic Shearwater 1

Manx shearwaters were passing in both directions but in in reduced numbers from last week. There were many rafts of very vocal flightless auks, both adults and juveniles. (Pic taken at Fishguard this morning).

Pod of c5 Risso's Dolphins.

Martin's Haven this AM

A lovely fall of Chiffchaffs: 12-15 in the sallows and willow, feeding very actively, but not very vocal. Also, a single Reed Warbler (very unusual here; may even be a garden tick!) that eventually started singing sub-song.

Fishguard Med Gulls

In Fishguard Harbour this morning 11 Med Gulls of various ages, mainly adults but including 3 Juveniles, one with a green ring - R27R. As with Richard Stonier a few weeks ago my large lens attracted the attention of one of the port Police officers who wanted to know what I was photographing. Strangely he didn't seem interested in the different plumages of the Med Gulls!
Also a Kingfisher made a nice extended fly past at the flagpoles.

Porth Melgan

From Leo Reich - Dartford Warbler seen briefly

3 Stonechat (no males)
3 Raven
2 Chough
Peregrine
Linnet
Fulmar
And a buzzard that was hovering on the slopes of Carn Llidi; never seen a buzzard do this before!
There were also huge numbers of bloody-nosed beetles the path!

Strumble Head 16.30-19.30 22nd Aug.

Strumble:
Heron - 1
Knot - 2
Bonxie - 3
Sandwich Tern - 10
Commic Tern - 2

5 Med. Gulls in Fishguard Harbour 2 Ad , 1 each Juv & 2nd Sum.

Martin's Haven & Deer Park

The Deer Park was alive with passerines this morning: large groups of Swallows (with 4 House Martins and a solitary Sand Martin), two separate flocks of 40+ Linnets and, reassuringly, at least three family groups of Stonechats. At the far end were two very large "clean" female Wheatears, and a Turnstone on the rocks.

In the valley there were large numbers of Whitethroats: I counted 6 in one small bush alone, and I presume that, like the Stonechats, several families have fledged at once. However, apart from a single Willow Warbler, no other obvious migrants.
I got a glimpse of a large raptor this morning that I suspect was Dave's Harrier, and there has been a very persistant immature Sparrowhawk in recent days. Also Slowworms, Lizards and an Adder.

Off Wooltack Point this morning was a single immature Guillemot, a steady trickle of Manxies coming out of St Bride's Bay and south from Ramsey, good numbers of Kittiwakes (both adults and juvelines, and a couple of very distant terns. While not in the same league as the report from Newgale a couple of days ago, there were up to 20 Gannets diving actively over at least 6 Porpoises. There have also been multiple reports of a pod of 20-30 dolphins seen off Martin's Haven and Skomer in recent days.

Med Gulls

Nil of interest at Newport this morning, but at Goodwick this afternoon, despite hordes of people, 2 2nd W & 2 juv Med gulls, including green R60S, possibly from Germany.

Marsh Harrier

The juvenile Marsh Harrier seen on Skomer was presumably the same bird that Paul G saw at Marloes Mere late morning.

Strumble (22 Aug 10)

Time: 0600 - 1600
Weather: Sunny.
Wind: SW (F2)

Balearic Shearwater - 22

Sooty Shearwater - 2

Arctic Skua - 7 (4D, 3P)

Great Skua - 3

Comic Tern - 118 (circa 70% Common)

Sandwich Tern - 23

Common Scoter - 46 (12F, 34M)

Mediterranean Gull - 5 (2Ad, 3 1stW)

Little Gull - 1 (Ad)

Whimbrel - 17

Black Tailed Godwit - 4

Ruff - 1

Dunlin - 6

Turnstone - 2
Sanderling - 5
Ringed Plover - 2
Knot - 2
Common Buzzard - 1
Peregrine - 1
Chough - 2

Common Porpoise (Common)

Skomer

A juvenile Marsh Harrier had a quick tour of the island this morning before heading back to the mainland about 9am, also 2 Spotted Flycatchers a Tree Pipit, just 3 Willow Warblers and seemed to be a trickle of Swallows going through first thing.
Up to yesterday there have been dozens of Sedge Warblers around but there was a massive clear out last night and I only saw 7 this morning

Teifi

Yesterday;-
Common Sandpipers, 8 Jewsons.
Greenshank, 2 Creek Hide.
Poppit, 6 Sanderling, c20 Ringed Plover, c10 Dunlin.
Around the estuary from Patch, c16 Sandwich Terns, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 2 Whimbrel, 1 Turnstone, 2 Knot, c20 Dunlin, c20 Ringed Plover, 12 Little Egrets.

Yesterday evening whilst preparing for today's final CES visit, Wendy & I echoed Adrian's records(St. Nicholas area) with juvenile Chiffchaffs calling everywhere.

CES-Sunday,
No surprise out of 220 birds this morning, 70 were Chiffchaffs, with an impressive movement of 37 Blackcaps too.
Reed Warblers now putting down fat, but we suspect the main movement of Sedge Warblers is over, only 14 today.
4 Garden Warblers, Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Kingfishers, Treecreeper, Cetti's, 2 Goldcrest & a Grey Wagtail added some real variety.

Also a Caloptilia sp. moth...(id. taking place now) is likely to be a new county record.

Teifi RG

Angle Bay

At Kilpaison this morning soon after 7 a.m. as the tide fell a nice selection of waders. A group of 1 Knot, 4 Turnstone, 1 Sanderling and 4 Dunlin were later joined by a further 10 Dunlin, 2 Ringed Plovers and, a real treat, a juvenile Little Stint. It's staggering just how small these miniature waders are when you get up close!
Click photos for larger image.

Skomer

Still struggling to find any migrants, just 6 Willow Warblers today and a Whimbrel flew over.

Strumble (21 Aug 10)

Time: 0600 - 1800
Weather: Cloudy, occasional heavy showers.
Wind: SSW (F4-2)

Balearic Shearwater - 14
Sooty Shearwater - 1
Long Tailed Skua - 1 (J) (@ 0650)
Pomarine Skua - 1 (J) (@ 0830)
Arctic Skua - 6 (5D, 1P)
Great Skua - 10
Sabine's Gull - 1 (J) (@ 0930)
Storm Petrel - 1
Common Scoter - 19 (19M)
Mediterranean Gull - 4 (4 1stW)
Roseate Tern - 2 (@ 1425 & 1500)
Little Tern - 4
Comic Tern - 520 (circa 70% Common)
Sandwich Tern - 12
Whimbrel - 23
Bar Tailed Godwit - 4
Dunlin - 11
Turnstone - 6
Purple Sandpiper - 1
Teal - 4

Common Dolphin - c.15 (0900 - 1030)
Bottlenose Dolphin - 1 (temporarily joined the Commons @ 1000)
Basking Shark - 1 (@ 1545)
Common Porpoise - Common (showing well after 1600)

St. Nicholas 21st Aug.

The Churchyard & the surrounding area was teeming with birds earlier on , probably due to weather conditions. I counted at least 15 Spotted Flycatchers , 1 Female Blackcap & dozens of Willowchiffs , Great & Blue Tits , Chaffinches , Goldfinches & a reasonable number of Greenfinches. Also earlier on at a farm near Cwm Gwaun a Swallows nest with newly hatched chicks ( the nest had eggs last Saturday), Is this quite late?

Newgale Otter

There seem to be increasing sightings of Otters from the coast - here is a nice photo of an Otter at Newgale on 15 August sent in by Hilary Woodburn - We were very close to the otter about 5 feet away and it did not seem bothered about the number of people around it although people were very respectful and kept out of its way when it wanted to move to the next rock pool.

Gannet feeding frenzy of Newgale!

Last Saturday morning, about 8am a large gannet flock was diving repeatedly into shallow water just of Newgale Beach. There must have been 50 birds, with groups of upto 20 at a time "funnelling" down into a single spot. A huge raft of gulls was also present but I had no bins so could not see what species or what they were doing.....nearest I've seen to an "Attenborough moment" in Pembs!!

Chough flock, Pwll Deri

A flock of 20 chough feeding on the coastal fields near Pwll deri, Strumble head yesterday (19th August)

Teifi........to Skokholm

Patch;-
1 juvenile Knot, c32 Ringed Plover, 8 Sanderling, c7 Dunlin, & 3 Wheatear.
1+ Sandwich Terns roosting near The Webley.
c20+ Starlings going to roost in the reed-bed.
(Teifi RG)

Skokholm;-
Paddy & Co....have been on the island all week. Little to report, today 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Whimbrel & a fall of c20 Sedge Warblers.
Earlier in the week, very small falls of Sedge Warblers, Willow Warblers, & Spotted Flycatchers.

Gann

Early afternoon 3 Dunlin on the pool and a Black-tailed Godwit flew over calling.

Fishguard Harbour 16.30 20th Aug.

6 Turnstones , 2 Dunlin & 2 Sandwich Terns ( Ad & 1st Sum ) at Flagpoles.

5 Med. Gulls ( 3 Ad. & 2 1st sum. ) at Ferry Terminal end.

Newport

07:45 this morning;-
A nice collection,
From the Boat Club, 3 Sandwich Terns, and a probable Little Tern, feeding off the beach.
5 Curlew, 1 Whimbrel, 15 Ringed Plover, 18 Dunlin, 2 Sanderling.
(Karen)

Not birds but flowers ........

We went for a walk yesteday from the Sychpant car park up to Carn Igli - not much in the way of birds (one stonechat, one kestrel, one peregrine, no kites) but WOW - the flowers!!! In the Carn Edward area on the top of the hill there was a brilliant carpet of yellow and purple as far as you could see. Gorse (Western??) and two types of heather in full flower, in single colour patches and all mixed together - the only thing I have ever seen to rival it is the Bluebell/Red Campion display on Skomer. Well worth a visit.

And just a footnote to say that my British Wildlife magazines have found a new home with the Wildlife Trust.

Rosemary

Skomer

Got back to Skomer yesterday after being off on holiday for a couple of weeks - not many migrants around, saw a Spotted Flycatcher yesterday and a Green Sandpiper today.

Deer Park Seals

Not birds but interesting anyway, from Andy Davies - First pup is now on the northern cove of the Deer Park with two cows and a bull present yesterday. Propbably born about 4 days ago.

Strumble Head 08.00-17.00 18th Aug.

Common Scoter - 8 ( 7 F )
Dunlin - 6
Turnstone - 9
Redshank - 23 ( 1 Flock )
Whimbrel - 12
Curlew - 2
Arctic Skua - 1 ( Dark imm. )
Bonxie - 1 ( Seen & supressed by the bloke leading the Porpoise watching group ! )
Med. Gull - 1 ( Juv )
Common Tern - 10
Arctic Tern - 8
Commic Tern - 12
Little Tern - 1

Teifi..., Aquatic, Yellow Wagtail.....&..

The second juvenile Aquatic Warbler (this week) was caught early this am, again released at Creek Hide c7am. -- see BirdGuides for photos of today's bird.

The movement of Sedge Warblers continues, with a few more Reed Warblers, a variation in weights, with several Sedge's weighing 15-16+ grams.

Tree Pipit, perched on the railway line hedge, and Yellow Wagtail too.
Green Sandpiper, and Common Snipe around the marsh.

Yesterday afternoon,, 2 Greenshank from the Quay, 6 Common Sandpipers and 1 Dunlin at Jewsons.

Nr. Crymych (yesterday) 1 Hobby disturbing the local Swallows.

(Teifi RG)

Strumble mid morning to mid afternoon

Mass feeding activity as described by Ray W yesterday, including certainly 3 and possibly 7 Balearic Shearwaters and 2 Sooty Shearwaters. Porpoises evidently in among the fish judging by the number of Gannets plunging in around them.

Bees, butterflies and birds - a very pleasant Sunday on Castlemartin Range

Annie and I led our annual "bees, butterflies, beetles and birds" guided-walk for the National Park on 15th Aug. During the day, the inverts were pretty good with good views of huge numbers of butterflies, including larval webs of marsh frits (the range is one of the best places in Wales for these butterflies). We noted rare shrill carder bees amongst other good bees (for which the range is also noteworthy) but the rare strand-line beetle was not seen on this occasion (we were probably a bit too early in the season for it).

On the birds front numbers of waders and gulls at Bluckspool and Frainslake were pretty good - c. 170 oycs, 30+ ringed plovers, several sanderlings and whimbrels, c. 40 curlews, a small passage of sandwich terns in three-four flocks numbering 2 to 5 (about 12-15 birds noted in total). Gulls at Frainslake included not less than 80 GBBGs (with quite a few this years juvs), c. 120 LBBGs and smaller numbers of Herring and BHGs.

About 25 choughs were seen in total (lower numbers than usual at this time of year) and there were very few wheatears about on the cliff-tops at Linney Head.

A very nice juv Hen Harrier was seen quartering over the grassland and heath - quite an early autumn record for the range! No peregrine or kestrel sightings though; the latter species has had a poor season on the range with no evidence of breeding success this year.

As we walked near Linney Hd we were impressed by the simply huge clouds (millions) of flying (mostly yellow meadow) ants, performing their late afternoon/early evening mating displays - herring and LBB Gulls and many small birds were having a field day catching them!

We rounded off the trip with good views of another rare bee - the RDB mining-bee Andrena hattorfiana which, with their pollen-sacks full of bright pink pollen from field scabious flowers (its main nectar/pollen source) made these bees fairly straightforward to identify. Castlemartin being one of only a few locations known in Wales for this rare species. It really is quite a special place!

Teifi...........

This evening;-
9+ Common Sandpipers at Jewsons & Kingfisher from St. Dogmaels Quay.

This morning;-
The ringing was only planned to be a short 2 hour session (before work), as conditions looked good for an acro' fall! --- continous easterlies, with mist this very early morning, and a good fall on the English East coast yesterday.

To complement the Aquatic Warbler, 3 Reed Warblers, & 18 Sedge Warblers, all new birds, no retraps.. but another Sedge Warbler control (X396778).
Most of the Sedge Warblers carrying fat, the heaviest 16.6 grams with a fat score 8 (out of 10). The Aquatic Warbler carrying little.
These were all caught in 2 nets in c30mins, I guess 100's of Sedge Warblers would have been a likely total for the marsh this morning.
(Teifi RG)

Sooty Shearwater

I saw an adult pale phase Arctic Skua fly west past Pen Anglas point close inshore at 14:00 and a bit further out a Sooty Shearwater in the same direction with Manxies at 15:00.

Strumble - 0645 to 1200 hrs

Balearic Shearwater 2
Sooty Shearwater 1 (going east, then 2 hours later going west: same bird? Who knows!)
Arctic Skua 1 (Dark Phase)
Merlin 1 (in off the sea)
Grey Heron 1
Cormorant 8 (including 1 juv, all going east at height)
Bonxie 1
Little Tern 1
Commic Tern 4
Common Scoter 22 (of which 4 were female)

There was a steady westward trickle of Kittiwakes, and Manx Shearwaters were moving in large numbers both east and west throughout the watch. Once again, large mixed feeding flocks of predominantly Manxies, with Kittiwakes and other assorted gulls, Auks and Gannets were present. At one time the flocks stretched, almost without a break, as far as one could see from the west to east and well out to sea, with at least ten thousand Manxies among them, not landing to feed, but diving in from a foot or two up like mini-Gannets. Porpoises were active in the area at the same time.

There were good numbers of excited Swallows on the overhead wires on the way to the Head and several came in off the sea during the watch.

Newport Mon am

A Greenshank flying around & calling. 2 Sandwich Terns, an ad & a juv, with the BH Gulls on the mud.
Yesterday, 10 Ringed Plovers & 3 Sanderling on the beach.
No Med Gulls. What's so wonderfull about Fishguard.

Aquatic Warbler

A juvenile Aquatic Warbler was trapped and ringed on the Teifi marshes this morning.
(Teifi RG)

Teifi ...

Waders around today,
10+ Common Sandpipers & 1 Redshank at Jewsons, 1 Greenshank flying around the river early morning, & 2 Green Sandpipers around mallard hide at 9pm, but Green Sandpipers calling all evening from the marsh creeks.
2 Sandwich Terns from Patch this afternoon.

CES ringing this morning;-
Many warblers moving now, of 102 new birds this morning, c80 warblers, with 20+ each of Blackcap, Chiffchaff & Sedge Warbler. Still new Reed Warblers in double figures, also juvenile Marsh Tit & Kingfisher ringed.
(Teifi RG)

Sedge Warblers;-
Preparing for tomorrow (at a different site), a few more Sedge Warblers, presumed migrants, and no other species this evening, all new, all juveniles & all with increased body fat. The heaviest at 15.5g this evening, c 50% increase in body weight compared to normal, and I guess may be in a South coast England reed-bed by the morning ?

About a dozen Starlings came to roost in the reed-bed this evening.
(1st seen earlier in the week)

Moths;-
5 Brown veined & 1 Twin-spotted Wainscot the highlights, both species local in South Wales reed-beds. I think the T-s Wainscot would be a new moth for Ceredigion? (if the traps electrics reached further from the generator!)

Pen Anglas

3 Whimbrel flew west past the point at 14:00.

Strumble 16.30-18.40 / Fishguard Harbour 19.00

Strumble:
Common Scoter 22
Arctic Skua 1 ( Pale Adult )
Med. Gull 5 ( 3 juv,2 Ad. )
Sandwich Tern 11
Common Tern 45
Arctic Tern 3
Black Tern 1

Fishguard Harbour:
4 Med.Gulls 2 Juv & 2 1st Sum.
2 Greenshank

Angle Area

On a wonderful sunny morning at Kilpaison 9 Dunlin, 7 Ringed Plovers and a Bar Tailed Godwit.
At Freshwater West 5 Sanderling on the beach and at Bosherston 3 Otters in all from the 8 Arch Bridge with 2 of them close by on the bank briefly. Click on photos for larger image.

Hobby

A Hobby was catching dragonflies over Marloes Mere late morning.
Also a Greenshank and 2 Snipe.
(Paul G)

Strumble Head 07.30-11.30 / Fishguard Harbour

Strumble Head:
Cormorant 19 ( A single flock heading N)
Common Scoter 98 ( 10f )
Balearic Shear 1
Med. Gull 3 (All Ad.)
Arctic Skua 2

4 Risso's Dolphin

Fishguard Harbour:
6 Med. Gulls , 3 Juvs , 1 1st S & 2 2nd S. All at Ferry Terminal end.

Angle Bay

At Kilpaison this morning a couple of hours before high tide a juvenile Peregrine was tearing around creating havoc. Perhaps not surprisingly after this display there were not a lot of waders to be seen. There were quite a few Curlew and Oystercatchers , a few Black Headed Gulls and 2 Common Gulls but very few small waders with just 5 Dunlin, 1 Redshank and the Knot pictured which, with a fair bit of Summer plumage left, brightened up a cold windy morning.
At Angle Harbour a few Curlew and no waders at Freshwater West.

Thr
Throughout July a steady stream of Phylossc's have been "su-eeting" and "swilluwing" in my garden, feasting on the insect life attracted by the unchecked undergrowth and burgeoning buddleia. They have been a bit of a treat, so I thought I would share some with Pemb's blogsters!

Orielton

A Green Sandpiper standing around on lily pads on the pond this morning was unexpected.

Pen Anglas

4 Whimbrel flew high over west at 13:30.

British Wildlife magazine

I am having a clear out - would anyone like Volumes 1 - 20 of British Wildlife?? It is an excellent magazine but I don't think I am realistically going to look at them again. There are 6 magazines per volume, one volume per year, starting in October 1989. Perhaps a college library might like them?? Any ideas??? I really don't want to throw them away.

Rosemary

Med. Gull R27R

Thanks for the info Derek , bird present again at low tide today at approx 4p.m. with 5 other Juvs an Adult & the 1st year bird. A couple of Whimbrel also present.

Juv Med Gull R27R

At Fishguard yesterday, was ringed at Pas de Calais on the 11/06/10. It`s very first sighting away from "home"

Balearic shearwaters

2 recent sightings - both near Grassholm. 1 on 7/8, 1 on 10/8

Angle

From Angle village - 6 Med gulls ( 4 adults, one with a green ring, 1 2nd cy and 1 1st cy), 2 Sandwich Terns, 1 Greenshank, 1 Redshank, 1 Whimbrel and 3 Dunlin.
2 Great-crested Grebes in the bay.
Kilpaison - 6 Dunlin
Pembroke upper mill pond - 3 Dunlin, 2 Teal and a Water Rail showing well.
(Paul G and Wendy J)

Strumble - 0815-1515

Large feeding gatherings offshore throughout watch, involving Gannets, Kittiwakes, Manx Shearwaters, Herring and Great Black-backed Gulls, Guillemots and Razorbills and 3 Med Gulls. Must have been a lot of food out there.
A Common Tern and 11 Sandwich Terns passed through and a Bonxie spent an hour or so chasing Herring Gulls.
A group of 7 Redshanks migrating past were accompanied by a single Knot and later 2 very noisy Whimbrels passed the same way.

Flagpoles 18.00

10 Med. Gulls at the Harbour , 5 Juvs , 2 1st Sum , 1 2nd Sum & 2 Adults inc. PHY1.

Colour ringed Juv R27R allowed me to read ring this evening & get a bad pic.

Another one for you Derek !

Strumble 17.00-18.00 / Fishguard Harbour

Strumble quiet again , just 4 Common Scoter all males.

Fishguard Harbour , at least 11 Med. Gulls 6 Juvs , 1 1st sum , 1 2nd sum & 3 Adults. The Adults included the returning PHY1. ( Pictured )

garden birds

We now know we have had at least 7 different Gt-sp woodies in the garden visiting the nuts. Three different males, 3 different juvs, & one female. The female rarely appears but the others come daily & their chasing antics around the garden have to be seen to be believed!

"My" coal tits are back; they dissapeared for the summer. The ringed one has not yet been seen; as I assume he was one of mine he was certainly over 5 years old so I guess a good age for such a small bird!
The willow tits dissapeared when I stopped feeding sunflower seeds; will they re-appear when I start them again once we really get winter!

Also on Aug 1st we had whitethroat, blackcap (juv m), garden warbler, chiff-chaff, willow warbler, & a "family" of bullfinches, as well as usual blue & Gt-tits. Did they all know the summer Atlas period had just ended!

Butterflies

Whilst waiting for some interesting waders to turn up at the Gann I have been enjoying what seems to be an exceptional butterfly year. The garden has been a-flap with huge pristine Red Admirals and on Saturday a stroll around the garden produced 69 butterflies of 13 species including 3 Comma, (I have only seen two during the last 6 years) a magnificent number (11) of Wall Brown (there are usually one or two but I have never seen this many) plus 3 Common Blues and a Small Copper. And the first Migrant Hawker appeared, sunbathing on the everlasting sweet peas, on exactly the same date as last year.

Rosemary

Teifi waders

At high tide this morning on Patch - 22 Dunlin, 19 Ringed Plover, 2 Sanderling and a Turnstone. 10 Little Egrets around the estuary.

Teifi & Ty rhyg

Teifi above Priory Bridge this evening 2 Coot , adult & a mature juvenile were unusual?

Teifi Marshes;-
A focus on the reed bed for acro's this week-end provided some excellent results,with 50+ new Sedge & 30+ new Reed Warblers ringed.
Totals of both species now around 300 for the year. The highlight this week-end being 4 controls, 2 each of Sedge & Reed.
museum Paris 6280224, & BTO ring L051440 being on the Reed Warblers.
BTO rings, X728846 & X289807 being on the Sedge Warblers.
Other noted birds, a juvenile Marsh Tit, & 2 more juvenile Cettis.
(Teifi RG)

Ty rhyg;-
As usual !! at Paddy's exceptional site, 20 Redpolls, 2 Spotted Flycatchers & 1 Tree Pipit caught.

Minwear Viewpoint to Canastan Bridge

From Barry Potter Minwear Viewpoint to Canastan Bridge  10am to 4 pm

Went looking for OSPREY today with no joy but made up for it with the following,

Canada geese, (beelow the view point) 132

Treecreeper

Willow tit

Spotted Flycatcher (with young)

Pied flycatcher (single male)

Dipper

Kingfisher

Bullfinch

Goldfinch( large flock)

Raven (single bird)

Coal Tit (within mixed flock of blue, grea and long tailed tits)

and the icing on the cake for me LESSER SPOTTED WOODPECKER ( in the leat)

Strumble 17.00-19.00 / Fishguard Harbour

Strumble :

Just 5 Common Scoter in the 2 hours.

Harbour:

5 Juv Med. Gulls ( One pictured )

Teifi...

11 Little Egrets, most off St. Dogmael's Quay is getting near the peak count for the Teifi, also 6 Black-tailed Godwits roosting amongst c50 Curlews. 5 Redshanks off the Railings, 9 Common Sandpipers & 1 adult Dunlin at Jewsons.
1 Juv. Sanderling with the 31 Dunlin, & 10 Ringed Plover on Patch.
29 Barnacle Geese have now ventured off Cardigan Island for their summer holiday on the Teifi, joined by 1 Bar-headed Goose too.!! amongst the several hundred strong Canada Geese flock.
White swan feathers litter the tide line now from the 72 moulting Mute Swans present.

Fishguard Harbour

From Leo Reich
6 Med. Gulls, 5 adults, 1 juv.
> c.30 Oystercatchers
> Linnet
> Curlew
> Rock Pipit
> c.100 Black-Headed Gulls

Strumble 07.00-10.00 / Fishguard Harbour

Strumble:
Common Scoter 12
Bonxie 3
Med.Gull 1 juv
Puffin 6
Arctic Skua 1 ( Dark Imm. )
Common Tern 2

Harbour 10.30 ish
Med. Gulls - 3 Juv , 1 1st Sum , 3 2nd Sum & 1 Ad.

Black Guillemots still active around nestsite , 3 Ad. birds being seen almost daily & still taking food in.

North Pembs ...waders

Newport this am;-
1 Turnstone, 6 Ringed Plover, 5 Curlew.
(Karen)
Teifi, last night;-
8 Common Sandpipers at Jewsons, 7 Little Egrets from the Pembs side.

Fishguard.. Med. Gull

Only 1 juvenile present when Derek Moore looked today.

Feathers...........more..

As a certain Mr McCanch has had the temerity to make several comments I was just about to in exactly the same way as he tried to break my ankles luring Storm Petrels 30+ years ago and finished my Famous Grouse.
The only new observation I have to offer is that all those quills would appear to have been bitten through suggesting a mammalian predator probably a fox, rather than a raptor plucking its prey.

Nigel Ajax Lewis

Preseli moorlands

Very little in the way of birds around the moorlands today. Lesser Redpolls at Brynberian moor, a Willow Tit at Ty Rhyg and a large flock of Mistle Thrush at Gors Fawr.
However, the day did have a highlight but it was an insect. A good record of a male Southern damselfly found by Paul at Gors Fawr. It is on the red data list and the Preselis are one of only a few places in Britain where it can be found.
Some other notable species seen today were 2 Scarce Blue-tailed damselflies, Black Darters and many Keeled Skimmers.

(Paul G, Wendy & Dyfed)

Tree Sparrow.

A single bird on the side of the road by Llangloffan Cemetery on my way home earlier. This morning a large flock of finches in the hedgerows on the Scleddau to Mathry road around the turning for Jordanston Farm.

Feathers..............!!

Hi,
I have been following the comments about these feathers and finally decided to pitch in to the discussion, as I have quite a bit of contact with this group of birds throughout the year. The colour and pattern of the feathers rules out Woodcock. These are clearly feathers from a juvenile pheasant; there are a number of key factors which eliminate other likely gamebirds. Firstly, too large for a Quail ( the width of the lowest feather is far too great); second, Grey Partridge have discrete narrow pale bars on the inner webs of all primaries which do not reach the shaft or the margin of the feather. Red-legged Partridges and hybrids have no barring on the primaries, but show a pale fawn edge to the outermost part of the outer webs. A close look at the lowest feather reveals that it still retains a basal sheath and is clearly not fully grown; the birds is clearly replacing the initial flight feathers with this generation of first 'grown-up feathers'. All gamebirds have precocial young which leave the nest soon after hatching; they quickly grow tiny functioning flight feathers and pheasant and partridge poults can fly at only 7-8 days old!! These soft, thin and rounded feathers ( the middle two) are replaced by more typical flight feathers in the following weeks as the bird gains weight.The top feather is a bit different, it is difficult to be sure but it could be a secondary from the opposite wing, or an outer tail feather. I hope this helps.
I really enjoy the Pembs birds blogspot, it makes me pine for the Pembrokeshire coast!! I will be coming down to see my Mam in St Ishmaels next week so hope to have some sightings to share with you all,

Best wishes Norman McCanch

North Pembs. -- yesterday

Fishguard Harbour:-
c8pm, 9 Med. Gulls in the harbour, including, 1 with a green ring, if anyone is in the area and can try to read today?
(Adrian)
Teifi;-
From Patch, an adult & juv. Sandwich Tern roosting on the Poppit beach with gulls.
6 Dunlin & 2 Ringed Plover mobile.
From the Railings, 1 moulting out of summer plumage Knot. Also 1 Bar-headed, & 1 Barnacle joined the Canada Geese.
Jewsons, by 9pm, 8 Common Sandpipers, 3 earlier, numbers fluctuate greatly here, passage must be significant.
Early evening, 2 Green Sandpipers calling whilst flying around the pool in front of Mallard hide, their regular haunt it seems, but not visible on the ground. 2 Swifts over river.
(Rich D, & Wendy J)

Strumble Head 09.00-13.30 4th Aug.

Slightly disappointing return this morning considering the conditions :
29 Common Scoter (inc 9 females)
1 Arctic Skua (Dark Ad.)
1 Med. Gull (juv)
1 Common Tern
2 Sandwich Tern
2 Puffin (1 juv )
A constant flow of Manxies all morning & reasonable no's of Fulmar.

At least 8 Chough in front of the lookout.

Angle Bay

At Kilpaison this morning shortly before high tide a small selection of waders busy feeding up on their way south - 18 Dunlin (a third juvs), 3 Sanderling (adults in summer plumage), 8 Ringed Plover ( including a few juvs) and 9 Redshank. Over in the roost well over a hundred Curlew. Also 1 Little Egret.

Llanstadwell

3 Meds on the water around high tide today, 2 adults & one that appeared to be somewhere between 1st winter/2nd summer.
c30 B/H/Gulls also

Derek's feathers (2)

Looking at Derek's photo, the feathers look both too small and too dark for Pheasant, even juveniles. The average length of Pheasant primaries that I am currently looking at (used for tying fishing flies) are around 18cm, secondaries 15cm, and they are typically very pale, even males.
Derek's feathers actually look far more like Woodcock to me, based on a couple of wings I have measured. The patterns suggest a mix of primaries (roughly P6-9) and larger secondaries.
However, I do not have the wing of a Red-legged Partridge (which are resident in small numbers near Sandy Haven) to compare; at this time of year they might be slightly more likely?

Skomer

2 stunning juvenile Med Gulls flew north over North Haven this evening and saw a group of about 30 Common Dolphins (including several calves) late this afternoon between here & Ramsey

Teifi -- waders .. & ..CES

Sunday afternoon /evening;-
At Jewsons, Common Sandpipers peaked? at c16+ in the late afternoon, Whimbrel count had increased to 3 later in the evening.
4 Redshank opposite the Quay, & 5 Dunlin on Patch.
(1 Dunlin & 1 Ringed Plover on the mud at Newport, early evening too)

CES ringing, large number of juveniles as expected, particularly Chiffchaffs (24) & Reed Warblers(48).
Noteworthy records, a retrap Marsh Tit, 4 Treecreepers, a new 1 year old, (had bred) female Tawny Owl, and a sight record of her mate? the ringed 2+ year old male Tawny here.
(Teifi RG)

Er a bit late but...

I redescovered my mobile whilst sorting rubbish in my car this morning. On it was a message from Graham Tierney, a reliable birder who says he thinks he saw saw four spoonbills fly out of Abercastle Bay on Friday morning, He asked if anyone else had seen them, from recent postings, it would appear not?