An early winter visitor?

Today, whilst visiting the Walled Garden at Stackpole, I was pleasantly surprised to see a very smart fieldfare tucking into whitebeam berries in the garden - my first this autumn. Quite a nice range of autumn colours - greys, white, buff and and rich chestnut colours on the fieldfare contrasting with bright pink-red berries and yellowish green leaves. A firecrest was also calling in a nearby yew tree.

Earlier in the week, on Tues there were good numbers of GBB Gulls at Frainslake - a flock of at least 80 and there on Sunday there had been around 120 Oycs, 40 curlews, 2 Barwits and small numbers of dunlin, turnstone and ringed plovers - no curlew sands though.

Also on Tues a fine merlin was perching on a fence near Bluckspool and there must have been at least 4-5 kestrels feeding along the coast, one hovering over Frainslake beach where, a few years ago, a Norwegian ringed kestrel was found dead in the autumn.

Nice also to see shrill carder bees still flying amongst the Devil's-bit scabious at Castlemartin on Sunday.

Bob

Pembrokeshire Bird Group

The next meeting of the Pembrokeshire Bird Group will be next MONDAY the 4th October at our usual venue, 7.30pm at The Patch Haverfordwest and will be the AGM followed by the first of our indoor monthly winter meetings

Teifi

As at Newport, the Teifi was lacking in many waders. Around the estuary, 4 Ringed Plover and 1 Dunlin, 2 Redshank, 7 Greenshank and 6 Bar-tailed Godwit. The huge Canada Goose flock was back from Newport with all the regular hybrids, Snow Geese, farmyard geese and 1 Barnacle but not the Pink-footed Goose.

Newport Thurs am

Couldn't find any waders except Oystercatchers & Curlews.
3 redhead Goosanders upstream, I think a F & 2 juvs. 1 redhead Merganser downstream.

Angle Bay

As Clive says below 1 Curlew Sandpiper in with c.60 Dunlin and c.30 Ringed Plover on the spit at Angle Harbour this morning. From what I could see all but one of the Ringed Plover were juveniles. Also 1 Turnstone and 12 Redshank. A Common Tern did a quick circuit of the harbour.
Over at Kilpaison no small waders at all.

Kestrels

7 at Freshwater West yesterday, a good count, presumably some passage birds?
(Grant Jones)
Info off the pembrokeshirewildlife.blogspot.com
Some amazing photos on this site !!! if you don't know it.

Skomer

A few less migrants around in the valleys this morning but some new birds in as well - 1 Whinchat, 1 Sedge Warbler, 3 Goldcrests, 9 Blackcaps, 3 Chiffchaffs & 6 Song Thrushes (I've only seen 1 other Song Thrush so far this autumn). The Wryneck was around the farm again and a Great Spotted Woodpecker was in North Valley

Seems to be quite a few tits on the move as well, I saw at least 24 Blue Tits & 5 Great Tits filtering through

Angle

A 1st W Mediterranean Gull on the beach at West Angle this morning, and a Curlew Sandpiper with the Dunlins and Ringed Plovers in Angle Harbour.

Wheatears and Swallows

Male Wheatear (spring 2008)

It was a groovy day to be out and about with at least 6 wheatears seen around Fishyguard Harbour and eight around Strumble. Swallows were trickling in there and choughs were giving great views (no rings seen) around the lighthouse. Also one of the biggest Peregrines I have ever seen!

Skomer

Quite a few migrants around this morning - 17 Blackcaps, 18 Chiffchaffs, 2 Willow Warblers, 2 Grasshopper Warblers, 1 Garden Warbler, 3 Whinchats, the Wryneck still around the farm & the Lesser Whitethroat still down North Valley

Newport Wed pm

What a lovely day!.
At the bridge just c 300 Canadas with no followers.Also 12 Wigeon, 9 Teal, 6 Herons & a Kingfisher.
On the Long St mud a Bar T Godwit & a Grey Plover as well as Herring Gull Blue BHS which was ringed at a Gloucester landfill site in Jan 07 & was seen many times at Newport between Oct 08 & Jan 10.
At the Boat Club 12 Ringed Plover, 6 Dunlin, a Knot, a Sanderling & 4 Wheatears.
Round & about 3 Little Egrets, 4 Oystercatchers & 3 Curlews.

Strumble head

Great skua 1

Flagpoles

Med Gull Ad

Turnstone 2

Brent Goose 1

Newport

Grey Plover 1

Greylag 1

Dunlin 12

Greenshank 1

Ringed Plover 2

Little Egret 1

Angle area

A Curlew Sandpiper and adult Mediterranean Gull on West Angle beach this morning. Other sightings in the area over the past few days have included up to 7 Mediterranean Gulls (4 ads, 1 2nd W and 2 1st W) and 11 Little Egrets at the high tide roost in Angle Harbour. Also, while hordes of Swallows were passing east through the county over the weekend, at least two House Martin nests in Angle Village were still active.

Skomer

Pretty miserable out here this morning but managed to bump in to 2 Firecrests and a Garden Warbler

waders-- Pembroke Upper Mill Pond

Some counts from John on the pond at the moment;-
90 Redshank, 36 Greenshank 60 Black-tailed Godwits, 60 Teal.

Pink-footed Goose -- Newport

The juvenile Pink footed Goose present until 6:10pm this evening,
Also 1 Greenshank & 2 Goosander to add to the day's sightings.
(Karen)

Flagpoles, Fishguard midday;-
1 Light-bellied Brent Goose, 1 Wigeon, 1 Redshank , 2 Teal, 7 Turnstone
(Karen)

Mean & Magnificent !

Not much on my evening walk apart from this stunning creature. Look at those talons !

Newport

The juvenile Pink- footed goose was with the Canada goose flock mid afternoon. As yesterday it was not far from the 2 Snow Geese
Also 2 Grey Plover and 12 Dunlin.
(Paul G and Wendy J)

late report -- Glossy Ibis??

A reply from Judy to a couple of questions, (see para below)
2:15pm on Saturday 18th;-
Location, at a wet patch next to the long straight farm/cattle track across the Deer Park between Stackpole Quay and the 8 Arch Bridge, bordered by a plain wire electric fence.


Hi there could you help us please with a bit of a mystery!!
Whilst walking across a meadow going towards Bosherston Lakes from the car park, close to Barafundle Bay last weekend my husband and I came across a pair of quite different birds . They were around the same height as a little egret, were totally black and with a sheen, beaks long and curved similar to a curlew. In flight they had a tan colour , a slight tan sheen under their wings and had a flight similiar to a crane with legs out behind. They were obviously wading birds and were feeding in the wet area of the meadow. They were totally non plussed by humans and did not move until 3 bouncy dogs behind us ran straight at them. The crows then came and circled them and chased them until they landed again in the wet area. We thought they were Whimbrels but wrong colour and look!!
Can you help us solve our mystery we would love to know what they were!!
Many thanks Judy L

Teifi, Jack Snipe, warblers ...

Teifi Marshes;-
Mallard Hide Sunday evening, 1 juvenile Reed Warbler, and the first Jack Snipe of the Autumn in front of the Hide.
CES site;-
Sunday morning, 10 Blackcap, 6 Chiffchaff, 1 Reed Warbler, another new Cetti's Warbler, and a retrap Marsh Tit.
(Teifi RG)

Newport

Monday morning;-
No sign of the Pink-footed Goose, and most/all geese have moved on (to the Teifi?)
15 Wigeon present.
(Karen)

Teifi:-
10:30 update no geese here either!
(Wendy)

Newport;-
Yesterday late afternoon, 4 Goosander, inc 1 male.
(Adrian)

Skomer

Felt like proper autumn this morning, with little flocks of Skylarks and Chaffinches going over.

Best birds of the day were at the Farm - 2 female House Sparrows (just about annual on here) and a very showy Wryneck which Jerry found (much more regular!).

The first Redpoll and Rook of the autumn flew over and at least 10 Blue Tits came over

The Gann

This afternoon, 2 Sandwich Terns, 4 Barwits, 4 Redshank, 1 Grey Plover were the only highlights. Also some 120- ish Canadas. A Herring Gull with an alloy ring on right leg & green ring above left knee, as far as I could make out "DY" were the only letters.
No sign of Ibis - anywhere!

Geese -- Newport..inc. Pink-footed

Sam, you have the Teifi geese flock !! Maybe more from North.
Certainly, the 3 Snow Geese, & various hybrids "belong to the Teifi"
Although 46 Barnacles were opposite St. Dogmael's Quay this lunchtime, and some Canada's are arriving back this morning on the Teifi.
A visit early afternoon to the Iron Bridge found a (juvenile) Pink-footed Goose.
.....& this bird has appeared, days after birds arrived on the Dyfi with major arrivals into Lancashire, & widespread movements across the country at the moment.
Still present c15:30.

Little Milford

c.10:00 as the tide was ebbing fast - Redshank 60+, Greenshank 5, Dunlin 2, Black Tailed Godwit 4, Curlew 6, Golden Plover 1, noisy Canada Geese 100+, Kingfisher 1. Also 100's of Hirundines passed by low over the water with lots of bathing.

Skomer

Only managed to find 4 species of migrant around the island today - a few Wheatears & Chiffchaffs & 2 firsts for the autumn - a stonking Ring Ouzel in South Valley and a Lesser Whitethroat in North Valley

Canada Geese at Newport

I think we must have had the whole flock this afternoon. c1500 with 2 Snow, 3 White Farmyard & several hybrids. By a long way my record count here.

Ring Ouzel -- Ramsey

1 male Ring Ouzel today.
(Greg)

Teifi --

A Whimbrel from Patch early morning, along with 46 Dunlin, 1 Sanderling, & c6 Ringed Plover on Patch until, high tide when The Webley hosted most birds.
From The Webley also, 1 adult Med. Gull and 3 Bar-tailed Godwits.
5 Greenshank at Jewsons, a major count for the Teifi. From St. Dogmaels Quay, Wigeon up to c55, and 6 Lapwings passing through. From Creek Hide, Teal up to c70.
Of the literature read, our Rock Pipits are sedentary, we've started to ring them on the Teifi, so any sightings of ringed Rock Pipits would be interesting.
(Wendy J & Rich D)

the Gann

A very brief and fleeting view but 99% certain of a Little Owl flying along the road near the Lime Kilns at 6.30pm on Thursday.

Angle

Quieter this morning at Angle Harbour - Ringed Plover 9, Dunlin7, Turnstone 7, Redshank 17, Little Egret 11 and 1 1st w. Med Gull.
At Kilpaison a cold wind blowing hard and just 4 Ringed Plover, 2 Dunlin and 2 Wheatear on the beach though the tide was still well up when I visited.

Angle

At Angle Harbour this morning c.09:00 - 11:00 with the tide dropping there was a good selection of birds. Still 4 Curlew Sandpipers present together with 18 Dunlin, 10 Ringed Plover, 8 Redshank, 6 Curlew, 5 Turnstone (with some scrapping going on),  7 Little Egrets, 5 ad. Med Gulls (including one with green ring AHZK). Later, round towards the lodge, 7 Barwits.

Glossy Ibis

More than possible Sam - what else could they have been? Has been another big influx this autumn, including a flock of 17 in Devon/Kent that now seems to have dissipated....scattered records all over the place now. Suggets everyone makes a concerted effort to check damp fields/wetlands/river valleys and the rest of us may be able to catch up with this species in Pembs at last!

Surely Not

Yesterday evening, c7pm, seen briefly through the kitchen window, c10 largish, all dark/black birds with projecting feet in a shallow V flying strongly W towards Fishguard.
Not sufficient to claim anything, but remarkably reminiscent of the Glossy Ibises I watched circling over Newport in Sept 09.

More Sand' Terns

At least eight sand' terns fishing in Fishguard Harbour this morning, seen departing out to sea over outer breakwater around 12.45 .

Newport Thurs pm

Quiet. The highlights a Bar T Godwit & a rh Merganser. And my apologies to the couple who I confidently told they had seen a Goosander, asuming they had seen 1 of the birds that have been around upstream lately!.

Skomer

Still quiet out here, just the odd Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Blackcap & Whitethroat for the last couple of days, & a Grasshopper Warbler today

Flagpoles 16.30 22nd Sept.

6 Med. Gulls ( 3 Ad , 1 2w , 2 1stw )

11 Sandwich Terns

Coo, tis a Turtle!

Ok I admit it aint going to win a place in the Countryfile Calender but I persuaded my Sea Trust volunteer helper, Verena, to take a snap of this critter yesterday on our way to Strumble. It was perched on telegraph lines near Castell Farm. Sadly it flew off as Verena moved in for the money shot! I bet its a year tick missing off plenty of Pembrokershire Birders lists!

Lots of Porp's but saw nothing of birdy note at Strumble apart from a Common Buzzard which dipped down low over the sea about half a mile out and headed east! A couple of reasonably knowledgable ladies from Kings Lynn had seen a Bonxie earlier in the day as well as four Sand' Terns and a Whimbrel with an injured leg!

Angle - Curlew Sandpipers Galore

At Kilpaison this morning as the tide dropped 2 Curlew Sandpipers still present together with 15 Dunlin, 5 Ringed Plover and 1 Turnstone. Round at Angle Harbour a further 5 Curlew Sandpipers, 20 Dunlin, 12 Ringed Plover, 5 Turnstone, 7 Redshank, 1 Greenshank and 6 Bar Tailed Godwits. Also an adult Med Gull and 3 Little Egrets.

Stranded Manx Shearwaters

At this time of year many Manx Shearwaters are found inland, blown in by gale force winds. These birds need some help to get them back to their natural habitat - the sea, as in the photo. If you find a Manx Shearwater inland get it into a ventilated cardboard box and wait until evening or at night to release it on the coast. Manxies come to shore only at night as they are easy prey for large gulls so releasing them at night onto the sea will give them their best chance. If you feel unable to handle the bird or need further help please ring Richard Dobbins on 07875 751461. Richard will put you in touch with the closest person able to help.

Around Dale

Little evidence of migration today with most sites visited fairly quiet.
The Gann - 1 juv Curlew Sandpiper, 1 Whimbrel, 4 Dunlin and 7 Bar-tailed Godwit.
St Annes head - 5 White Wagtails.
Dale airfield - a lot of Wheatears but little else.
Martin's Haven - 1 Spotted Flycatcher and 2 Whitethroats
Marloes Mere - a ringtail hen Harrier.
(Paul G and Wendy J)

Skomer

Very few migrants around today but a Lapland Bunting flew over and the first Great Tit of the autumn turned up

White Storks -- Brawdy area (old news)

Here are a couple of record shots of the 2 White Storks seen roosting at Bramble Farm, Trefgarn Owen

c. 1st September...2010.

....Many thanks for Den for obtaining these record !! shots.

Presumably also the birds seen by other local's nearby? (Jon B.)

What about the two that were photographed heading North in the Spring? The same pair been somewhere for the Summer??

Angle Bay

At Kilpaison 5 p.m. just before high tide pretty much the same waders as yesterday although now 3 Curlew Sandpiper (what a great Autumn it's been for these elegant waders), 55 Dunlin and 6 Ringed Plover.

Strumble 0700 to 1315 hrs

Wind WSW 3/4 backing S 3/5

Common Scoter 16 (1 female)

Arctic Skua 1 (Dk)

Bonxie 2

Puffin 1

Sandwich Tern 6

Common Tern 1

Black Tern 1

Balearic Shearwater 1

Chough 3 (no rings)

Kestrel 2

Common Buzzard 1

The was a steady movement of hirundines, almost all swallows with the occasional house martin and one or two sand martin. Other small bird migration was visible and regular, mainly finches. There was a flock of c60 linnet present.

A pod of c12 Common Dolphin, one of which was a very small calf, was active for about 45 minutes in the tide race under feeding gannets. Once the dolphins had gone, porpoises appeared and were showing well.

Pectoral Sandpiper -- Teifi Marshes

I watched a pec sand in front of curlew hide this afternoon (4pm).
Also 2 Greenshank at St Dogmael's quay.
cheers,Simon
(Simon Cox)

One that got away?

Webs @ Newport Sun morning. Flushed a lone Redshank by the Boat Club. It towered off, Snipe like, making a Redshankish call (chew chew I noted). Took 2 secs to click - no white on the wings - by which time it had gone, not to be seen again.
Otherwise 2 Goosanders upstream, 3 Little Egrets, 2 Little Grebes, 6 Wigeon, 20 Dunlin, 9 Ringed Plovers, a Knot, 3 ordinary Redshanks, a Kingfisher a Moorhen & a Greenshank.
Just 5 Curlew on the estuary, but 27 on the roost.

Angle Bay

Around 3:30 this afternoon with the tide rising - 2 Curlew Sandpiper, 54 Dunlin, 18 Ringed Plover, 1 Turnstone, 3 Med Gulls (2 ad., 1 1st.w). Also 1 Wheatear on the beach together with 20 or so Pied and White Wagtails.

Strumble (19 Sep 10)

Time: 0645 - 1300
Weather: Cloudy
Wind: SW (F6-7)

Balearic Shearwater - 2
Great Skua - 3
Great Northern Diver - 1
Red Throated Diver - 3
Black Tern - 1
Common Scoter - 26 (3F, 23M)
Tufted Duck - 1
Wigeon - 1
Snipe - 1

Common Porpoise - Common and showing well.

Martin's Haven & Wooltack Point

A couple of sessions on Wooltack in the last few days saw me totally miss Dave B's Dolphins; there have been very few porpoises in evidence either. Bird highlights, however, have included 3 Sandwich Terns, a male Common Scotor and a summer plumage Red-throated Diver, as well as a Whimbrel that landed straight on top of the Point for a rest. Still a fair number of auks around, mainly Razorbills, and the odd Manxie in St Bride's Bay.
On the Deer Park there are good numbers of Stonechats and Linnets, with a mix of Wheatears and White Wagtails (up to a dozen of each in the mornings) also passing through.
In the valley, a Reed Bunting, probably half a dozen Willow Warblers, several Whitethroats and an influx of Robins, causing frequent scraps with the 2 resident (ringed) birds.
Off the Gann yesterday morning there was a Manxie swimming on the water rather feebly. I hope it made it, but rather doubt it.

Warblers & the Teifi

A couple of ringing sessions in the Marsh in the last 36 hours, resulted in 10 Sedge, & 15 Reed Warblers. This morning Chiffs & Blackcaps still in double figures, at the CES site.
In the Mallard net site this morning, Wendy and I were noting the variation in wing length of these Reed warblers, (61-68mm) a big difference in primary length between individuals.

This morning as Skomer, Grey Wagtail passage c10 over.
Also 2 Stock Doves.
(Teifi RG)

This evening, c300 Swallows over the Marsh, also 2 Water Rails, & c40 Teal at Creek Hide.
Around the estuary c4 Greenshank, 1 Black-tailed Godwit, & 8 Bar-tailed Godwits the best.

Resevoirs & Preselis. & Brents

WeBs today !!!!
Rosebush, 8 Tufted Ducks may be interesting for September?
Llys-y-fran, 22 Cormorants was well below the number of fishermen present.........although a low water level here may become of interest?

Near Ty Rhyg c300 Starlings on telegraph wires.
(Adrian & Rich D)

At Ty Rhyg, c12 Crossbills and c30 Redpolls still, chiffs still around but Blackcaps appear to have left.
(Paddy)

Fishguard Harbour;-
7 Light Bellied Brent Geese that nearly slipped through unrecorded yesterday.
(Carole R & ..)

Polecat

Never quite made it across the road, about the size of a 3 month old kitten (cat that is) on the Dale road out of Milford, between the Old Hakin Road & the Priory Road junction. Apparently somebody later removed it.

Bits & bobs

Sprinkle Pill/Hook: 10 Greenshank, 30 Redshank, 8 Ringed Plover, 5 Dunlin, 6 Little Egret

Dale Airfield: Whinchat, 2 Curlew

Gann: 6 small waders flying around included 2 Ringed Plover and a probable Little Stint, and the 3 that landed proved to be 2 Dunlin and an obliging juvenile Curlew Sandpiper (digiscoped in fading light - see above). Also 2 Little Egrets, 9 Barwits, 1 Knot, 1 Redshank & 1 Greenshank.

Martin's Haven: male Blackcap, Goldcrest & a Whitethroat (Dave A & Paul G).

Strumble (18 Sep 10)

Time: 0645 - 1400
Weather: Cloudy with sunny spells
Wind: NW (F2) am, SW (F3) pm

Balearic Shearwater - 1
Arctic Skua - 1 (D)
Great Skua - 2
Black Tern - 3
Sandwich Tern - 14
Comic Tern - 3
Common Scoter - 109 (10F, 99M)
Wigeon - 2
Red Throated Diver - 1
Dunlin - 1
Curlew - 2
Bar Tailed Godwit - 1
Sparrowhawk - 1
Raven - 8
Chough - 2
Great Tit - 1

Common Porpoise - Common but not showing very well
Common Dolphin - c.15 @ 0710
Basking Shark - 1 (Full breach but not seen before or after!)

Whinchat and Whitethroat on the headland this afternoon.

Skomer

A few more migrants around today than there has been recently - about 15 Chiffchaffs & 2 Spotted Flycatchers & a Lapland Bunting and about 20 Grey Wagtails went over in the morning

There were several scattered groups 0f Common Dolphins in St Brides Bay this morning, probably totalling about 150 individuals altogether, one group went past just outside North Haven and ended up going through Jack Sound

Knot Newport.

These 2 Knot at Newport along with a couple of Ringed Plover & Dunlin.

Chough feeding time - on Islay, Hebrides

I must thank Eric Bignal, chough worker and farmer on Islay for sending me some images recently of choughs feeding on mealworms (a supplementary food he has started to provide to try and help boost the survival of immature birds). Eric was a bit sceptical at first but decided to give it a go. Here in one of the images chough are simply queing up, wing-quivering etc, as they wait expectantly for helpings of mealworms to be doled out from his bucket on a cold windy day. They are so used to him doing this now that they recognise his landrover coming and start to get exited! If individual chough are not particularly hungry, just like other corvids they simply stash some of the mealworms in the sandy soil to retrieve again some time later. One of Eric's images shows a single chough feeding on a mealworm (BH).

Pen Caer -- Snow Geese

A call from Rob Johns this evening;-
2 Snow Geese flying North up the Pen Caer peninsular at c7pm this evening, loosely flying with c50 Canada Geese.
Did these pass Strumble? Or are these the birds from Newport today?
Has the Teifi or Marloes lost their Snow Geese....& some Canada Geese?
The only other migrants from Rob....... c10 Snipe around his farm.

Also at Newport

At the bridge, 3 redhead Goosanders, I think 2 juv & 1 ad. 2 had been upstream 2 days ago.
Plus 300 Canadas with 2 Snowgeese.

Angle Area

A quick look at Kilpaison around 3:30 - 7 Knot, 9 Dunlin, 5 Ringed Plover. A Guillemot was sat on the beach, presumably exhausted, then scooted off into the water where I hope he evaded the marauding GBB Gulls. Also a Wheatear on the beach
At Freshwater West 16 Sandwich Terns sitting on the beach.

Curlew Sandpiper -- Newport

High tide, c16:00;-
1 juvenile Curlew Sandpiper, 24 Dunlin, 18 Ringed Plover, 2 Knot. Also 4 Wigeon.
(Karen)

Milford -- Hoopoe

I understand NO access;-

Here "it" is, still preening, feeding and showing off in my garden in Milford Haven
Apologies for photo quality..they are all taken through a window and zoomed in, just with a lowly Panasonic Lumix.

(Gillian)

St Govan's

Wryneck this morning at the edge of the car park & gorse bushes just over the fence. Lots of Pipits & Linnets to sort through on the headland where a Harrier disappeared below the cliffs heading for Stackpole Hd before I could get anything on it. In the little valley 3 Chiffs, 2 each of Blackcap & Whitethroat.

Strumble....late records & useful thoughts

Just to add some information re the seawatches on 15th and 16th. It can be worthwhile staying for an evenings session

The afternoon/evening of the 15th birds were still moving although in lower numbers until dusk. We saw at least 10 more Bonxies and 5 Arctic skuas, a Leaches Petrel, A Black Tern. Also two Sabines Gull and 3 Balearic shears in a feeding flock. One of the Sabs was on view for at least half an hour.

Today the 16th although slower than yesterday still produced a few more Great and Arctic Skuas, one very brief leaches petrel, a black tern a Red Throated Diver, a 1st winter med gull and two Sabines Gulls plus 2-3 Balearic Shearwaters off shore in a feeding flock.
(J O'Sullivan)

Roseate Tern, Thurs afternoon.
(Arfon W)

Wryneck

What an autumn for these cryptic 'peckers - one in the car park at St. Govan's Head this morning (Trevor Price).

Strumble -- finals

06:45 --15:30;-
Leach's Petrel - 120
Storm Petrel - 1
Sabine's Gull - 9, (3 adults)
Long Tailed Skua - 3
Pomarine Skua - 4, (2 adults with spoons)
Bonxie - 38
Arctic Skua - 13, (7 Lp, 6 Dp)
Black Throated Diver - 1
Red Throated Diver - 2
Sooty Shearwater - 1
Balearic Shearwater - 9
Puffin - 1
Common Scoter - 48, (3 female)
Black Tern -11
Little Tern - 2
commic Tern - 46
Sandwich Tern - 75

An image of the Castlemartin Pectoral Sandpiper

Peter Hughes has kindly made available some images of the Pec Sand he recorded a couple of days ago here is one of them.

Skomer

Seawatchings rubbish here - I saw some Gannets

Newport -- waders

Newport, c15:00, just after high tide;-
34 Dunlin, 1 Sanderling, 12 Ringed Plover.
(Janet)

Newport, 16;00 update;-
1 Curlew Sandpiper, 25 Dunlin, 8 Ringed Plover.
(Janet)

Leach's !! & 4 skua sp.... 5 sab's too....

Strumble;-
Off to a flyer, the 1st juvenile Sabine's Gull at 06:50....already 10 Leach's Petrels past.
Totals to 08:45:-
70 (seventy) Leach's Petrel's, 5 Sabine's Gull (1 adult), 2 Long-tailed Skua, 2 ad Pomarine Skua with spoons, 2 Black Terns.
Lots of Bonxies, at one point 3 loafing on the water together, with dare I say...... Leach's streaming past.......a few Arctic Skuas, 1 Sooty, & 1 Balearic Shearwater.
It may be some day........

White swallow?

I was contacted by my farming neighbour Oliver John, who tells me he had what appeared to be a white swallow hawking over his fields as he brought his herd in for milking yesterday. Oliver is no expert but must have seen a few squillion swallows over the years so I am happy he is right.
I remember seeing a stuffed one in a case some years ago. I will be going with him to see if its still around, today, allthingsgood, walrus!

Those were

Those were the nests of leaf-cutter bees.

What are these?

Trawling through my old photos, I came across these. Taken in 2006, I found them in our greenhouse, which has since been demolished. Almost cigar like in shape & made with the fresh leaves of a nearby rhododendron, I assumed at first they may have been made by a caterpiller, but the distance from plant to greenhouse was 5 metres, so must `ve been a flying insect of some kind. I never did see what emerged, but remember coming across some reference to some kind of Bee. Any thoughts? Anyone?

Skuas

I saw a Bonxie fly west past Pen Anglas point at 12:30, another three between 14:00 and 15:00, a pale phase Arctic Skua at 16:45 and another two Bonxies followed by a dark phase Arctic Skua around 17:45 to 18:15.

Strumble Head 06.45 - 15.30 15 Sept.

Common Scoter - 31
Balearic Shearwater - 21
Sooty Shearwater - 8
Leach's Petrel - 5
Red Throated Diver - 4 ( All summer plumage )
Knot - 18
Dunlin - 15
Turnstone - 3
Pom Skua - 4 ( All Juvs )
Arctic Skua - 28
Long Tailed Skua - 3 ( All juvs )
Bonxie - 76
Sabines Gull - 2 ( Both juvs )
Sandwich Tern - 53
Common Tern - 8
Arctic Tern - 11
Commic Tern - 19
Black Tern - 1
Puffin - 1

Newport

Fom the Boat Club;-
After this high tide, 12 Dunlin, 7 Ringed Plover, & 1 Greenshank
(Janet)

Common Rosefinch -- Skomer

1 In North Valley, this afternoon.
(Dave B)

Leach's Petrels...&........

Strumble Head-
07:00 - 09:00, 4 Leach's Petrel, 1 juvenile Pomarine Skua, 4 Sooty Shearwaters, 10 Balearic Shearwaters, 26 Bonxies, 20 Arctic skuas, 1 Red Throated Diver, 1 Sunfish.

Curlew Sandpiper -- Newport

Yesterday(Tues) evening;-
1 juvenile Curlew Sandpiper, 1 Knot, 1 Greenshank, c20-25 Dunlin, c15 Ringed Plover, 6 Teal, 1 White Wagtail, c30 Curlew.
(Janet)

Ringtail (& Hoopoe)

A brief glimpse this evening of an individual bird at Marloes Mere.

The Hoopoe at Milford Haven is/was on someones private driveway on the Skomer Drive Estate area, not too sure about how old the second hand news is though.

Strumble Head 17.00 - 19.00

Balearic Shearwater - 1
Sooty Shearwater - 1
Red Throated Diver - 1 ( Summer Plumage )
Arctic Skua - 2 ( 1 Pale & 1 Dark )
Bonxie - 3
Common Tern - 5
Arctic Tern - 2
Commic Tern - 14
Roseate Tern - 2
Black Tern - 9

Strumble (14th Sept 10)

08.20 - 14.00
Balearic shearwater - 10
Sooty Shearwater - 2
Pomarine Skua - 1 juvenile
Arctic Skua - 6
Great Skua - 5
Black Tern - 7
Common Tern - 21
Dunlin - 4
Common Scoter - 18

Feeling blue: garden acrobat takes a tumble

The Blue Tit, perhaps our most iconic garden bird, is slipping away from bird feeders. The British Trust for Ornithology’s (BTO’s) Garden Bird Feeding Survey (GBFS), which celebrated its Ruby Anniversary last winter, revealed a 42% decline of this species in gardens over the past 40 years.
If there is one species that is synonymous with bird feeders, it is the Blue Tit. Colourful and acrobatic, the sight of a Blue Tit foraging busily in a garden would be a thing of wonder were it not for its apparent ubiquity. But ubiquitous it is not, falling from an average weekly count of 5.3 individuals per GBFS garden in the winter of 1970/71 to 3.1 individuals last winter.
It is not alone; 40 years of the GBFS bear out long-established, precipitous declines in Starlings and Song Thrushes (both down by 75%), and in House Sparrows (down by 70%). After a meteoric rise in the first 30 years of the survey, numbers of Collared Doves have also fallen, down by more than a quarter in the past 10 years.
However, it is not all bad news. Fuelled by nyjer seed and sunflower hearts, Goldfinch numbers have multiplied more than 25 times over in the past 20 years, while Long-tailed Tits have exhibited a tenfold increase in GBFS gardens. Four times as many Great Spotted Woodpeckers now dart into GBFS gardens than at the start of the survey, hammering and probing their bills into a wide variety of foods.
Tim Harrison, BTO Garden BirdWatch Development Officer, commented "The GBFS reveals that Blue Tits are declining in gardens, while other BTO surveys hint at a downturn in their population at large. In gardens, changes in bird feeding could be responsible; where once the supple dexterity of the Blue Tit would have been king - feeding on monkey nuts threaded on string, peanuts in a mesh feeder, coconut shells stuffed with fat - modern foods and feeders mean that Blue Tits face stiff competition from other species."
David Glue, BTO Research Ecologist, added "Forty years of the GBFS has provided a fantastic resource. It is the longest running survey of its kind in the world and has only been made possible through the dedicated observations of hundreds of UK householders who participate voluntarily. With urbanisation and the development of new bird care products continuing apace, the importance of the GBFS will continue to grow."

BTO press release

One good tern deserves another?

The continuing stormy weather has clearly driven some migratory species closer to the coast. This morning a black tern was feeding over the western arm of Bosherston Lakes and lower down the lake system over central Lake a juv arctic tern was feeding over the lake. Occasionally their paths crossed but the arctic (excellent close views) was rarely away from Central Lake.

Other Commic terns offshore at Broadhaven (party of 5)and good numbers of wheatears along the coast (juvs); at least 20 between Broadhaven and Stackpole Hd.

Pectoral Sandpiper - Castlemartin Range

Peter Hughes, who works on Castlemartin Range happened to be in just the right place at the right time late yesterday morning when a flock of about a dozen small unidentified waders flew in off the stormy sea nr St Govan's Chapel. At about the same time a single wader landed on the coast track at a large puddle just west of the Chapel. Not being certain of its identity Peter took some photos and telephoned me to see if I could confirm his initial id of a Pectoral Sandpiper. Unfortunately the bird had flown off inland after about 30 mins of feeding around the small pool but his excellent images were confirmation enough of a Pec Sand. Perhaps it is now somewhere on Pembroke River or elsewhere in the estuary complex?

What of the other waders he saw at this time flying inland at Castlemartin - we don't know, perhaps there are other Pec Sands around too?

BH

Late bits and bats.

Saturday short visit Strumble, 16.20 2x juvenile Arctic Skuas heading west together.

Sunday flock of 18 San' Terns over Fishguard Harbour as we were Sarn netting.

Sunday, Strumble one really persistant DP Arctic Skua chased one of two Sand' Terns for a prolonged period, eventually catching it by the wing and shaking it. The Tern dropped to the water upon release, but was subsequently chivied again although upon alighting was then ignored , the skua continuing onwards to the west.

Wryneck -- Skomer

1 by the farm today.
(Dave B)

Ramsey

Wryneck and Lapland bunting here today. Two goldcrests so far this autumn and they are the first logged since autumn 2008!

Tenby Terns

Eleven Sandwich Terns sitting on the sand at Tenby South Beach this afternoon and a few Ringed Plover and one Dunlin in amongst the rocks.

Newport

14:30;-
1 Greenshank, 1 Turnstone, 6 Dunlin, 2 Ringed Plover, 1 Wheatear.
(Janet)

St Davids Hd am

2 Lapland Buntings showing quite well for a change, 20+ Wheatears. Kingfisher seen at Goodwick Moor on each of last three visits.

Strumble (12 Sep 10)

Time: 0630 - 1600
Weather: Sunny
Wind: NNW (F6-4)

Balearic Shearwater - 24
Sooty Shearwater - 4
Long Tailed Skua - 4 (4J) (@ 0746, 0830, 0845 & 1245)
Pomarine Skua - 5 (5J) (@ 0745, 0750, 0805, 0945 & 1505)
Arctic Skua - 44 (30D, 12P, 2J)
Great Skua - 22
Leach's Petrel - 2 (@ 0759 & 0830)
Sabine's Gull - 3 (3J) (@ 0935, 1412 & 1520)
Little Gull - 3 (3 1stW)
Great Northern Diver - 1
Red Throated Diver - 3
Common Scoter - 57 (5F, 52M)
Comic Tern - 121
Sandwich Tern - 194
Black Tern - 7
Dunlin - 27
Curlew Sandpiper - 1
Knot - 13
Whimbrel - 1
Redshank - 18
Bar Tailed Godwit - 9
Puffin - 4
Chough - 4

Common Porpoise - Common and showing occasionally
Sunfish - 1

Angle Bay

At Kilpaison 06:50 - 10:00 as the tide rose a nice selection of waders though fewer than on Thursday. Dunlin 28, Ringed Plover 5, Curlew Sandpiper 2, Knot 7, Bar Tailed Godwit 8, Black Tailed Godwit 1. With just a thin strip of sand left at high tide the small waders were incredibly confiding, feeding on the waters edge to within a few feet.
Also in the bay 3 Manx Shearwaters one of which was pounced upon and drowned by a Great Black Backed Gull.

Gann - yesterday

A Mid-Pembs Section walk.
Sandwich Tern - 15
Bar-tailed Godwit - 3
Black-tailed Godwit - 10
Knot - 5
Canada Goose - 150+
Greylag Goose - 1
Little Egret - 3
Wheatear - 4

Skomer

Very quiet around the valleys today, possibly a few more Wheatears around and the first Goldcrest of the autumn were the only highlights

Marsh harrier

A juvenile Marsh Harrier over St David's airfield this afternoon.
(Paul G)

Strumble (11 Sep 10)

Time: 0630 - 1500
Weather: Showers early then sunny.
Wind: WSW (F5)

Balearic Shearwater - 10
Sooty Shearwater - 1
Arctic Skua - 7 (4P, 3D)
Great Skua - 2
Common Scoter - 20 (2F, 18M)
Mallard - 1
Comic Tern - 114
Sandwich Tern - 11
Black Tern - 3
Little Gull - 1 (1st W)
Black Tailed Godwit - 1
Bar Tailed Godwit - 28
Dunlin - 19
Turnstone - 5
Sanderling - 8
Ruff - 1
Kestrel - 1
Peregrine - 1
Puffin - 3

Common Porpoise - Common and showing well

Little Stint, Curlew Sand,& warblers -- Teifi

Patch;-
c12:00, 1 Juvenile Little Stint, 1 juvenile Curlew Sandpiper, 4 Sanderling, c42+ Ringed Plover, c30+ Dunlin, 3 Turnstone. 1 Sandwich Tern on a buoy. 3/4+ Wheatears on Patch too.

Marshes;-
A Ringing Workshop held this morning was a successful venture, 8 particpants enjoyed the ageing, sexing, moult, fattening & other bird features we study in the hand.
Nuthatch, 4 Reed Warblers, 16 Blackcaps, 12 Chiffchaffs, the more interesting species studied.
(Teifi RG)

Little Stints, Curlew Sand..Newport

On the Mud, c13:00;-
2 Juvenile Little Stint, 1 juvenile Curlew Sandpiper, 1 Sanderling, c30 Dunlin, c30 Ringed Plover, & 7 Teal.
On the Parrog rocks, 1 Greenshank, & from the iron bridge, adult & 2w Med. Gulls.
A couple of Wheatears hanging out at the Boat Club.

Hoopoe -- Wryneck

A Hoopoe in a private garden in Milford Haven this morning.
(various bird news services)

A Wryneck in a valley at St. David's Head this morning.
(Jon B.)
Hopefully more later on these records?

Dale Area

Very quiet on Dale Airfield this morning with  8 Wheatears and 2 (rather out of place) Bar Tailed Godwits. Some decent puddles and wet patches on the airfield now so it could be worth checking from now on.
Deer Park also quiet with just 4 Wheatears. 12 Grey Seal pups on the beaches.

Acorns

Must be acorns about as we had 6 jays in the garden a short while ago!

White Stalks

It was interesting to read Den-V's blog on the White Storks. Last week, whilst working in St.Davids, i was approached by a man, who asked if i could help him identify two large white birds that he had spotted whilst walking on St.Davids airfield. He described them as being three to four foot tall, with black tails and red bills. After i had showed him White Storks within the Collins guide, he was certain that they were what he had come across.
Yesterday, I heard from a reliable local source, that again two White Storks had been spotted on a pool at Llanferran farm the same week as the airfield birds.

Teifi

The Teifi didnt see the good number of Bar-tailed Godwits that were in Fishguard today, just 4 around the estuary this morning. 56 Ringed Plover, 64 Dunlin and 4 Sanderling were the only small waders on Patch. Also 6 Sandwich Terns.

Flagpoles 17.00 ( I never thought i'd see the day !! )

Bar Tailed Godwits - 43

Knot - 6

Ringed Plover - 19

Dunlin - 1

Sandwich Tern - 9

Turnstone - 2

All the usual no's of Curlew & Oystercatcher.

2 Adult Med. Gulls & 1 2nd W.

Very bad pics.

New Pembrokeshire Wildlife Blog

Andy Davies has set up a new blog called Pembrokeshire Wildlife Sightings at http://pembrokeshirewildlife.blogspot.com

This is intended to run in parallel with the other more specialist Pembrokeshire blogs such as the mammal, invertebrate & cetacean ones already in existence as well as Pembrokeshire Birds

It will cover marine and terrestrial and Andy hopes it will provide a useful portal for people who want to discover where and when to see the best of Pembrokeshire Wildlife and to be able to share the rich resource we have through pictures and video. Andy welcomes questions and discussions. 

Please email andy@andydavies.info to be added as an author for this blog.

Hare

In the land of the Little Owls........
In the coastal strip North of Nevern / Newport, we had stunning views for nearly a minute of a Hare tonight. No Little Owls though.
(Wendy J & Rich D)

Skomer

Not many migrants around, a handful of Willow Warblers, Chiffchaffs & Spotted Fycatchers, about 20 Sedge Warblers, which is more than have been around recently, and a Tree Pipit flew over

Angle Area

At Kilpaison this morning c.9:30 as the tide dropped 2 Curlew Sandpipers (thanks Wendy & Paul) in amongst the highest number of small waders I have seen there this Autumn. I didn't count in detail but estimates - 100+ Dunlin, 50+ Ringed Plover, 1 Knot, 12 Barwits, 2 Whimbrel, plenty of Curlew and Oystercatchers.
At Freshwater West c.30 Ringed Plover and 15 Sanderling. More photos at end of Gallery here
On Castlemartin Corse a female Marsh Harrier quartering the reeds seen from the top road.

Curlew Sands and Ruff

Highlights from looking at a few sites this morning;
Pembroke upper Mill Pond - a good number of waders including 2 Curlew Sandpipers, a Green Sandpiper, Greenshank and Black-tailed Godwits.
Angle Bay from Kilpaison - 2 more Curlew Sandpipers, 12 Bar-tailed Godwit, 2 adult Med Gulls and 2 Whimbrel.
Angle village - 2 Pintail
Pembroke river from Pennar - another 2 Curlew Sands, 4 Greenshank, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Whimbrel.
Lawrenny - 1 Whimbrel
Landshipping Quay - 1 juvenile Ruff
(Paul G and Wendy J)

Newport Thurs am

Little change. c50 ea Dunlin & Ringed Plover, 4 Curlew Sands, 2 Greenshanks, 2 Sanderlings & a Little Stint. 2 Sandwich Terns dropped in. 40 Oystercatchers on the roost.Just 1 Little Egret, 5 Redshanks & hordes of Canadas.

North Pembs

Newport;-
Yesterday, Little Stint, & Curlew Sandpiper, Greenshank still present at 7:30pm, on the dune spit.
(Karen & Janet)
Teifi;-
07:00 this morning (well before high tide so could be around) no sign of Little Stint or Curlew Sands, both present last night at 7:30pm.
Patch, 3 Knot, 2 Turnstone, c40 Ringed Plover, c20 Dunlin.
Webley, 1 Whimbrel.
Poppit, 2 Sanderling, c10 Ringed Plover, c10 Dunlin.

Good counts for the Teifi yesterday, 16 Little Egrets at roost, & 7 Bar-tailed Godwits with 2 Greenshank opposite St. Dogmaels Quay.
(Wendy)

Late record - 'last week' !

Just picked up a message from a farmer at Trefgarn Owen - two, TWO white storks seen at Bramble Farm at 22:00 hrs. One asleep on the chimney and one in a field by a cattle feeder. Only one seen leaving the next morning at 08:30 hrs. Will have photos in a few days.....

Skomer

Very quiet today, just a handful of Willow Warblers & Spotted Flycatchers around

Newport later Wed am & Med Gull

To add to Karen's high tide sightings,on the falling tide c 2 hours later; c90 scruffy Mallard, c600 Canadas, 2 Greenshanks, 2 Redshanks, 1 Little Grebe, 5 Teal, 8 Wigeon, 2 Little Egrets & 2 Med Gulls.
A juv Med Gull at the Goodwick flagpoles on Aug 22 had been ringed as a pullus in the Pas de Calais on June 22.

Little Stints, Curlew Sands,....in the North.

Teifi, 07:30;-
Poppit;- 1 juvenile Little Stint, 2 juvenile Curlew Sandpipers, 1 Greenshank, 2 Sanderling, c40+ Ringed Plover, c20+ Dunlin,
Webley;- 1 Whimbrel.
Patch;-2 Knot, 1 Turnstone, c25 Dunlin, c11 Ringed Plover

Newport, 07:30;-
On the dune spit, 1 juvenile Little Stint, 4 juvenile Curlew Sandpipers, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 60 Ringed Plover, 40 Dunlin.
(Karen)

Wryneck - Haverfordwest

One at County Hall today, last seen this evening on the path by the war memorial next to Matisse at 7.50pm, having earlier been seen around the car park & environs of County Hall, as far along as the 4 flagpoles (thanks to Peter Howe for passing the news on). A good Haverfordwest tick!

Skomer

Not much to add to Rich D's post from earlier, except a rubbish photo of the Wryneck & about 40 White Wagtails along the north-west coast

Strumble 0930-1400

Balearic Shearwater 2
Common Scoter 16
Arctic Tern 5
Common Tern 12
Commic Tern 8
Black Tern 5
Little Tern 16 (in 3 groups and not hanging around. New highest total for Strumble but still well short of the 23 at Skomer on 17/09/1992).

Strumble Head 15.15 - 18.15 7th sep.

Balearic shearwater - 1
Arctic Skua - 2 ( 1 Dark Ad. & 1 Pale Ad. )
Sandwich Tern - 2
Common Tern - 9
Commic Tern - 2

Still good no's of Manxies . Porpoises showing well in tide race.

Angle Area

At Angle Harbour this morning - 2 Pintail, 3 Bar Tailed Godwits, 1 Grey Plover, 1 Whimbrel, 5 Ringed Plover and a Commom Sandpiper. Also 3 Med Gulls and 4 Little Egrets.
At Freshwater West around midday c.25 Ringed Plover and 15 Sanderling.

Porthclais

News from Robin Hemming, a visiting birder.
At c11:30 this morning he had for a few seconds, a good view of a Melodious / Icterine Warbler.
The bird was seen beyond the double gate.

Newport later am

From the Boat Club, c50 ea Dunlin & Ringed Plover with 3 Curlew Sands, 2 Little Stints (1 in Winter plumage) & a Sanderling. Several Wheatears around. Elsewhere a Redshank & a Winter plumage Black T Godwit, 7 Wigeon & a Teal.
c650 Canadas.

Sam & Karen

Ramsey Wryneck

Wryneck on Ramsey today on the wall at Garlic. Possibly the same bird as the other day as not too far from original location. Whinchat in same area.

Skomer -- Wryneck

A big clear-out overnight of Willow Warblers, & Spotted Flycatchers.
But a Wryneck, 3 Whinchats, & Grasshopper Warbler found.
Whilst writing this, a Lapland Bunting flying over Dave B. now.

More from the Teifi

Some more birds found during the morning;
Behind Jewsons - 4 Common Sandpipers and 4 Greenshank. 2 more Greenshank opposite St Dogmaels quay, a good number for the Teifi.
2 Wheatear in Poppit dunes with a lot of singing Chiffs and Willow warblers.
10 Sandwich terns flew in from the sea and settled on buoys around the estuary.

Wryneck

10;00am
1 at the bungalow, St. David's GC Clubhouse.
2 Whinchat, 10 Wheatear along spine of Bocca Valley.
(John B)

Curlew Sandpipers - Teifi

Poppit, 08:00 update;-
Totals so far, Wendy has just found a 2nd Curlew Sandpiper, also 2 Turnstone, 6 Sanderling, 3 Knot, 86 Ringed Plover, 60 Dunlin.
Earlier, at Poppit 1 Bar-tailed Godwit with the Oystercatchers. At the Webley, 1 Greenshank, 2 Redshank, & 1 Bar-tailed Godwit.
A few Wigeon now back on the Webley saltmarsh too.
(Rich D & Wendy J)

Newport -- waders

Early morning HT;-
2 Greenshank, 3 Wigeon, 25 Dunlin, 30 Ringed Plover, 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Little Egrets, & 1 Wheatear.
(Karen)

Teifi

Little Stint on Patch, Curlew Sandpiper on Poppit -- early morning.
--more later...numbers of waders & variety.

Little Stint -- Teifi

Patch;-
7pm High Tide this evening, even more enjoyable than usual, 1 perfect looking juvenile Little Stint, 2 Turnstone, 2 Redshank, c30+ Dunlin, & I guess a similar number of Ringed Plover, generally flying around Poppit. 1 Bar-tailed Godwit off The Webley.
As the sky cleared for a while terns started leaving the estuary, presumably having roosted upstream? by the time of leaving, 37 Sandwich & 10 Arctic Terns had gone out to sea past Patch.

Skomer

Got round the valleys this afternoon - plenty of Willow Warblers & Spotted Flycatchers still but the weather was shocking so I didn't hang around! 2 Greenshanks were on North Pond, continuing the bumper run of waders on there this autumn

Curlew Sand - Teifi

Patch;-
HT roost at 06:30am, 1 juv Curlew sandpiper, 2 Sanderling, c20 Dunlin, c50 Ringed Plover.

Curlew Sands, Little Stint...

Teifi, Poppit;-
8pm this evening, 2 juvenile Curlew Sandpipers, 3 Sanderling, c70 Dunlin, c50 Ringed Plover, 7 Sandwich Terns.
Newport, from the Boat Club;-
5pm this evening, 1 juvenile Little Stint, 1 Wheatear, 14 Dunlin, 10 Ringed Plover, 2 Sandwich Terns.
(Rich D & Karen)

Teifi passerines

2 Sites on the Marshes;-
This morning, 49 Chiffchaff, 18 Blackcap, 18 Reed Warbler, 9 Sedge Warbler, 3 Willow Warbler, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Redstart, 1 Tree Pipit.
Roosting in front of Mallard Hide early morning, 1 Ringed Plover, 1 Snipe.
Patch this evening, still a couple of White Wagtails, feeding with the Pied Wag's. & Rock Pipits.
(Teifi RG)

Dale/Marloes peninsula

Martin's Haven: Wryneck 8am (Merv), 2 Lapland Buntings over, Whinchat, Spot Fly, c.30 Willow Warblers, Blackcap, 3 Whitethroat. Deer Park: 3 Wheatear, 1 White Wag (Paul G).

Marloes Mere: 2 Yellow Wag, 3 White Wag, 1 Snipe, 2 Wigeon (Paul G).

St. Ann's Head (this evening): Reed Warbler, 3+ Chiffchaff, 20+ Willow Warbler (in coastguard cottage gardens) (Dave A / Paul G).

lesser spot

A lesser spotted woodpecker was calling today at Llandilo at the same site as one last August - don't think they breed here but presumably somewhere nearby.

Not much really

An early walk this morning at Marloes produced 2 Kestrels, over towards Martins Haven - one was an adult female, couldn`t quite make out the second. Over the mere 3 Snipe.
Later at Martins Haven just 4 Willow warblers, didn`t see the Wryneck though it was there this morning. (allegedly)
Ended up at the Gann with half a gale blowing in off the sea, only to find 1 female Wheatear, 6 Little Egrets, a few gulls roosting on the lagoons & c180 corvids, consisting mainly of Jackdaws.

Strumble Head 15.15 - 17.15 ( Wryneck ) / Harbour

Packed in the Seawatch after an hour , could only add 1 Black Tern , 2 Arctic Tern & 11 Swifts to the earlier totals.
A walk round to Richards Valley & then to the Old Coastguards was more successful with a Wryneck flushed on the lower path to the Coastguards which then had an altercation with one of the local Stonechats!
Willow Warblers were in their dozens , approx. 30 Wheatears & 3 Spotted Flycatchers.

In the Harbour at Fishguard 7 Med. Gulls , 2 Juv , 1 1st W , 1 2nd W & 3 Adults.
Also 3 Common Dolphins very close in on the Stena side.

Skomer

I got round the valleys again in the afternoon, the weather was awful but there were loads more birds around than there were first thing this morning - at least 60 Willow Warblers and 18 Spotted Flycatchers

Ramsey

We too had a good fall of willow warblers today (20-30). Also tree pipit, 4 yellow wags, at least 4 white amongst the pied wags and a spotted fly. No sign of the wryneck today. A quick one hour seawatch only produced an arctic skua of note.

Tresinwen & Strumble Head (05 Sep 10)

In my garden this afternoon:

Common Redstart - 1
Blackcap - 2
Common Whitethroat - 1
Chiffchaff - 10+
Willow Warbler - 25+
Spotted Flycatcher - 5+

Around Strumble Head between Tresinwen and old Coastguard station:

Spotted Flycatcher - 6+
Willow Warbler - 10+
Chiffchaff - 5
Whinchat - 1
White Wagtail - 2
Wheatear - 3

Little Stints -- Hook

2 at Hook early afternoon.
Between Underwood & Fowborough with c10 Dunlin.
(Alan H)

St Davids Hd am

Just to clarify the previous posting: Willow Warblers flitting about everywhere, don't know how many but certainly hundreds over the area. As well as the other stuff mentioned: a few Chiffchaffs, Sedge Warbler, 2x prob Reed Warblers but skulking, Yellow Wagtail over and good numbers of Alba Wags, the majority of those seen well being Whites.

Teifi Marshes....

A couple of nice birds to start, Redstart and Tree Pipit ringed this morning.
Sedge Warbler very fat & 16.8g
(Teifi RG)

Willow Warblers - &........

Following Dave's posting from Skomer,
A "significant fall" of c300 Willow Warblers at St. David's Head this morning, also 4 Spotted Flycatchers and a Whinchat.
(Mike YP)

Strumble (05 Sep 10)

Time: 0600 - 1230
Weather: Cloudy, occ showers.
Wind: SSE (F5-6)

Balearic Shearwater - 1
Pomarine Skua - 1 (J) (@ 0705)
Arctic Skua - 1 (D)
Great Skua - 4
Black Tern - 53
Little Tern - 1
Comic Tern - 189 (circa 20% Arctic)
Sandwich Tern - 4
Little Gull - 1 (1st W)
Mediterranean Gull - 1 (1st W)
Common Scoter - 89 (12F, 77M)
Puffin - 2
Wigeon - 4
Teal - 3
Mallard - 2
Dunlin - 16
Turnstone - 1
Sanderling - 18
Knot - 10
Whimbrel - 1
Grey Heron - 1
Common Swift - 13
Wheatear - 2
Chiffchaff - 4
Willow Warbler - 2
Sedge Warbler - 1
Common Whitethroat - 1

Common Porpoise - Common and showing well.

Skomer

Been round the valleys this morning looking for Wrynecks but couldn't find any, highlight was a Lapland Bunting that flew over and landed on the farm chimney briefly.

Not sure whats going on but I'm hardly seeing any Chiffchaffs yet but loads of Willow Warblers still - must have seen about 20 this morning and a few Spotted Flycatchers.

Saw the first Reed Warbler of the autumn yesterday and a Yellow Wagtail

Flag poles, newport and Teifi Estuary

Flag poles

Med Gull 2 ad winter 1 Juv

Redshank 2

Turnstone 1

Perigrine 1

Dunlin 20

Newport

Little Stint 2

Dunlin 20

Ringed Plover 15

Little Egret 3

Teifi Estuary

Pintail 2

Red Breasted Merganser 4 females

Wigeon 10

Little Egret 2

Bar tailed Godwit 2

Dunlin 15

Kingfisher 1

Sandwich Tern 3

Newgale - 4 September

There were 3 ringed plover, a single sandwich tern and a common tern on and over the beach. The common tern flew up and down the tide-line for a few minutes, landed briefly and then flew up the valley by the Pebbles Cafe to disappear inland.

N Pembs waders....&.

Additional birds this evening to previous posts,
Newport;-
2 Little Stints, (Paul M)
Poppit-Teifi ;-
2 Sanderling, c40 Dunlin, c20 Ringed Plover.
St. Dogmael's;-
Also 4 Red-breasted Mergansers roosting opposite the Quay

Wryneck & stuff

Broad Haven: 2 Sanderling & 3 Dunlin.

Martin's Haven: Wryneck behind the toilet block, also a Yellow Wag dropped in (see poor quality digiscope pic above), a showy Spotted Fly (better quality pics above), 2 Chiffs, a Willow Warbler & a Whitethroat (plus a good number of Swallows & Linnets).

Marloes Mere: a Swift, 40+ Swallows, another Spotted Fly, 7+ Teal.

Porth Melgan

I eventually got a good view of the Wryneck which is still present in the scrub quite close to the path at about 14:30.

Tresinwen (04 Sep 10)

In the garden this afternoon - 2 Blackcap, Common Whitethroat, 1 Willow Warbler (singing), 10+ Chiffchaffs and Spotted Flycatcher (with a taste for Small Tortoiseshells). 3 more Common Swift overhead.

Strumble (04 Sep 10)

Time: 0600 - 1400
Weather: Cloudy with occasional showers
Wind: SSE (F5)

Balearic Shearwater - 2
Arctic Skua - 2 (1P, 1D)
Great Skua - 2
Roseate Tern - 1 (@ 0925)
Little Tern - 1
Sandwich Tern - 18
Comic Tern - 236 (circa 20% Arctic)
Little Gull - 1 (1st W)
Mediterranean Gull - 1 (1st W)
Common Scoter - 113 (8F, 105M)
Teal - 2
Wigeon - 4
Dunlin - 5
Turnstone - 1
Common Swift - 26
Wheatear - 1

Common Porpoise - Common and showing reasonably well
Common Dolphin - c.10 @ 0950 and c.30 @ 1100

Newport Sat am

18 Dunlin, 8 Ringed Plovers, 2 Little Egrets, 1 ea Greenshank, Black tailed Godwit, 2nd W Med Gull & Wigeon plus 450 Canadas.

Teifi waterfowl &...

From the Railings;-
3 Pintail, 1 Shoveler, 15 Wigeon, (41 Barnacles, 2 Snow, 1 Bar-headed Geese), also 2 Knot, 2 Greenshank.
Poppit;-
1 ad Arctic Tern, 13 Sandwich Terns, c 30 Ringed Plover.
Patch:-
7 Dunlin, 12 Ringed Plover
Non CES ringing on Marshes:-
2 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Cettis, 4 Reed, 18 Chiffchaff, 2 Willow Warblers, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Common Whitethroat, 29 Blackcaps in 3 hours this morning.
(Teifi RG & Jon Green)

Newport;-
15:00 1 Dunlin !

St. David's, Rhossen Farm;-
17:00 yesterday, 3 flavissima Yellow Wagtails.
(John & Marion)

Wrynecks

News via Richard Dobbins :

Wryneck on Ramsey ( Greg )

Wryneck by Holiday Cottage " The Cabin " near St. Davids Hotel ( Mike Young-Powell )

Wryneck still above Porthmeglan @ 14:30 (Nathan)

late swift

A late swift above the flagpoles in Goodwick this evening was our highlight; several med gulls were also present as were 2 common terns & 2 sandwich terns (1 adult, 1 juv begging).
Turnstone, curlew, redshank, oystercatcher, black-headed & herring gulls, mallard, pied wagtails, swallows overhead & all well worth a ten minute stop.
Wexford Naturalists Field Club.

Little -- "Gems" at Newport

A juvenile Little Stint was found amongst the Dunlin & Ringed Plover flock on the sand dune side of the river this evening (19:00)
The walk across the whole sand/mud bank was in search of a "different looking" juvenile plover! Seen by Karen earlier, but then lost.
On the sinking trudge back we found the bird on the channel below the Boat Club, slightly upstream.......a very nice to see, juvenile Little Ringed Plover.
(Rich D & Karen )

Skomer

Most of yesterdays migrants have moved on but there was at least 7 Spotted Flycatchers around the farm this morning and saw at least 3 White Wagtails

Canada Geese - Gann

A very large flock of 430+ Canada Geese, with 2 Greylags and one hybrid at the Gann this afternoon. Later we watched them fly into a stubble field near Kete.

Flagpoles & Harbour Village

At the Flagpoles a 1st S going on 2nd w Little Gull which flew off towards the Port end but could not be relocated.Also 4 Med. Gulls at Stena end, 2 x 1st S & 2 Adults. Also White Wagtail at Flagpoles end.

Just below Harbour Village Goodwick a Juv Dartford Warbler.

St. Ann's & Gann

St. Ann's Head this afternoon: fairly quiet, a Willow Warbler at the Coastguard Cottages and a few alba wagtaisl buzzing around including at least one White.

Gann: 370+ Canada Geese (Stuart had 400+ a little earlier, along with 2 Greylags and a hybrid of sorts) gradually heading south (& then presumably west towards the islands). Also 2 Bar-tailed Godwits, a Ringed Plover and a Greenshank. 6 Little Egrets included what looked like a family party feeding together on the river - locally bred?

Tresinwen (03 Sep 10)

In the garden this afternoon - Garden Warbler, 2 Blackcap, Common Whitethroat, 5+ Chiffchaffs and Spotted Flycatcher. Fly over Yellow Wagtail and Snipe.