"eagle ??"..... Wiston

The all dark large "eagle -type" bird seen over the Wiston / Clerkenwell Adventure Park again at 17:10 this evening.

North Pembs.

Teifi Gorge 09.50 - Displaying male Goshawk.

Newport (Iron Bridge) 14.00 - 4 rh Goosander, 1 Greenshank, 3 Redshank.

Bosherston

From Alan Collens - At the beach end reedbed,there were 2 Bitterns in view at the same time-until at least 13.45. Also 1 Goosander and 5 Goldeneye on the central lake. 3 Chough over the dunes.

Gann

Early evening at the Gann now 14 Brents, including 1 dark-bellied bird, 6 Med Gulls again (5 ads, 1 1stW which had a white ring, too far away to read, but presumably the bird Derek had yesterday). Also 2 Bar-wits & 8 Goldeneye.

Winter Atlas records - the penultimate day

Annie and I spent today trying to mop up Pembs tetrads with no or few previous winter records. This took us north into SN24 (Abercych to Cilgerran area) where we were able to add quite a few records of mainly common species and fill a couple of blank tetrads with 20-25 expected species.

On the way up we noted 2 kites circling low over centre of Clunderwen village, another just south of Llechryd and a fourth one when heading back south (close up views of an un-tagged adult) over Mynydd Morvil. Further along north of Mynydd Castlebythe c. 20 ravens were putting on quite an impressive display, hanging in the air in the strong breeze next to the road. We finished off on the Dale peninsula to cover two coastal tetrads that were still blank. We got most of the expected target species - including, chough, raven, peregrine (a pair mating) - so yes Spring is clearly very much in the air! A Gannet was also in Dale Roads.

There are just about 24 hours left of February for fieldwork for the Winter Atlas. A special thanks to all who have input records so far, the recording effort has been great! If you still have any outstanding records though, please do try to add them if you can. Remember that not only do these help inform the national picture, but will be available for the Pembs Bird Group for a local winter atlas - based on the records input between Nov 2007 and Feb 2011.



This is the picture for 25th February, you can see the up-to-date version at the Atlas website tomorrow morning. Note that SN24 is administered as part of Ceredigion, so doesn't show here.

Click on the map to enlarge it.

It was a.....

Common Gull!!

Med Gulls & other bits

3 Meds at Gelliswick this afternoon - same as last week, 1 adult, 1 second winter, 1 first winter.
6 Diver sp flying West towards Dale Roads, quite distant - from Linsway.
6 Meds at the Gann, varying ages, one first winter bird was white colour ringed 34V7, I`ve sent the details off to Camille, however he appears to be unobtainable at the moment. I`m still waiting for details for the white ringed Med that was there a few weeks ago.
Also female Merlin still around at Bicton.
At the Gann was a Gull I couldn`t make up my mind about, so I sent a pic to Dave to cast his eye over. Wait & see......

Early hirundines...

...and let's not forget the Red-rumped Swallow at Bosherston on 15th-24th February 1998 - I can remember watching that in a t-shirt & shorts with Trev & Kim - magic! One of, if not the earliest British record.

Gann

Lots of gulls feeding in the bay late afternoon, at least 6 Med Gulls (5 ads, 1 1stW), a Great Northern Diver, a Great-crested Grebe, and 10 Brent Geese (pale bellied), some of which were 'snorkelling' in the fast flowing river across the beach, something I've not seen them do before.

Earliest for me!

Whilst chatting on the phone to Wdig birder, I was surprised to see first one and then two more martins from my window, shooting over the fields heading north. I was unable to distinguish them for certain but I think they were sand martins. These are my earliest ever UK hirundines anywhere including the south coast! What with these and A&B's remarkably early Puffins and Wdig birders Manxie, spring seems to have sprung!
... Maybe not the earliest come to think of it!... I seem to remember a swallow at Newport in Februaury a few years ago...

Rosebush & Ty Rhyg

From Brian Southern - Pair of crossbills feeding at the top of the bridleway leading back to Rosebush this morning, two kites over head and great spotted woodpecker. Had a quick walk through Ty Rhyg, female sparrowhawk quite active. Noticed dollops of frog spawn on some of the stumps to the right of the track - whats left this, crows?. A heron dropped into the pool.

Strumble Head 26th Feb.

A two hour watch around lunchtime :
Red Throated Diver - 4
Black Throated Diver - 1
Manx Shearwater - 1
Med. Gull - 2 Ad.
Large numbers of auks passing ( Gillies & Razorbills ) & a steady stream of Fulmar with quite a few Gannets.

Ringtail

1 Ringtail Harrier at Marloes Mere, around 9am this morning.

Newport

1 sp Med Gull, 2 rh Goosander, 8 Dabchick, 1 Greenshank.

(Janet & Karen)

Starling...& Spring !!

Spring first..
......I see Wheatear at Portland (Dorset) and Sand Martins in Somerset and Devon so far this week........

Starling;-
L313596....Not all our wintering Starlings come from Eastern Europe, Russia etc
This bird was a victim of a cat nr. Bethesda, nr. Narberth found at Christmas.
L313596 was (pulli) ringed in the nest, in Holland 6th May last year.
Thanks to John M for passing the ring on.

Tetrad-bashing - yesterday Carregwastad to Penfatach area; today Preselis and NE Pembs

Spent some time yesterday (23rd) beefing up tetrad records on the coast. Quite a large northerly passage of auks going on all morning. In excess of 1,000 (mostly razorbills) including c. 400-500 feeding off Penfatach with around 50 gannets, numerous kittiwakes and up to 18 cormorants. At least six puffins were noted passing north close to the shore, plus two at least feeding with the razorbills. Annie stationed further south at St Justinians also had at least one puffin there. A couple of black-throated divers headed north close to Penfathach and a few red-throated too. Managed to flush a couple of woodcock and snipe along this stretch and then later in inland further south in woodland in SM83F.

Today slogged over the Presellis from west to east, shrouded in thick fog at first but, when it cleared, it was pleasing to find some presumably fog-bound golden plover flocks - at least 300 in three separate groups. All left in a westerly direction towards the coast. Later small flocks of fieldfares were noted in SN23 (in at least 2-3 tetrads) plus 4 goosanders (3 females and a male) resting on boulders in the rapids along the Afon Cych. Then returned home as it got dark in the drizzle and fog again, ending a fairly rewarding if somewhat exhausting day.

Broad Haven South

Pair of Chough next to the car park.

Eagle................??

A very large dark eagle like bird currently (14:15) soaring over the southern end of Withybush Airfield.
The bird then drifted S/W over ridgeway.
(Terry via Dave A)

Westfield Pill

Like Lyndon, in his posting below, I went to Westfield Pill hoping to see an Otter but failed to do so. By way of compensation I saw this very confiding Water Rail at close quarters and managed some shots despite the gloomy conditions. It fed within a few feet of me for several minutes - a treat to see  a normally shy bird so close. Look at the size of it's feet!
Otherwise very quiet at the Pill.

Skokholm 2011

We are winding up for the 2011 season on Skokholm and have a load of stuff to get over to the island in the period mid March to mid April and then again in the summer with work parties through August and into september.

We would love to hear from people willing to help with the deliveries - a boat trip and a bit of physical stuff. Then anyone who is interested in helping with the refurbishment work in the autumn - ideally those with some building/DIY skills. Good time for migrants in August and September!!

Anyone interested please contact Steve Sutcliffe on 01646 636754 or John Walmsley on 01646 636995.

Thanks

"Eagle"

Update, no sightings Wednesday.
The South coast White-tailed Eagle appears to have be re-found Wednesday & present this morning - Thursday.

Several pairs of eyes will be looking today, it is certainly creating some interest!
The descriptions so far would favour an imm White-tailed Eagle.......assuming no escaped foreigner.
For information, the un-tagged imm. White-tailed Eagle seen in Sussex / Hants seemed to leave that area c12th February, having been 1st seen c11th December 2010......

Westfield Pill

Following a report on http://pembrokeshirewildlife.blogspot.com/ of Otters I thought it was worth 'a go today' However, as normal I dipped but did enjoy a few hours with some of our feathered friends before 'Derek the weathermans' forecast turned into 'pants'

The "eagle"

The bird has been seen twice in the last 3 days, both times over the area of farmland just north of the A40, around Clerkenhill Adventure Park. No sign since the high flyover in a southerly direction this morning. Phillipa describes the bird as massive, all brown with some white flecks, with the wings having obvious fingers.
Note that the lay-bays are closed along the A40 here due to road works. The bird has been looked for this afternoon, and will be looked for in the morning.

Angle & Bosherston

At a grey and murky Kilpaison this morning plenty of small waders arrived as the tide dropped - 400+ Dunlin,c.30 Ringed Plover. Also 23 Oystercatchers and 10 Brent Geese. Just a handful of Wigeon.
At Angle Harbour with the tide up high very quiet with 29 Redshank the only birds of note.
Bosherston - c.60 Tufted Duck by the Boat House and 8 Goosanders. An Otter seen well in the Reeds below Stackpole Court.

That Wiston "eagle"

Phillipa has just rang having watched the eagle fly south across the A40 from the Wiston area. The bird flew over fairly high at 11:15, and has camera ready for some photos next time !
(For information the Golden Eagle is still in Ceredigion.)

Coastal winter birds and a Firecrest at Saundersfoot

Late last week and on Saturday, Annie and I walked the entire stretch from Poppit Sands to Fishguard (in two stages) to look for wintering coastal birds. Only 4 pairs of chough (plus an individual unmated bird) were seen along the entire stretch, plus a few peregrines on territory in expected locations. Ravens were fairly evenly spread with at least 12-13 pairs (some about to lay in fully built nests). Along the entire stretch we saw no kestrels and only a handful of stonechats - small passerines were really quite scarce. A couple of mergansers were seen briefly in the bay at Pwllgwaelod on Saturday but they flew off in the direction of Newport.

Last Thursday evening we also ended up at the Dudwell Starling roost. As Wendy says, still a pretty spectacular sight! From our vantage point on the south-east side of the plantation, we noted on more than one occasion broad, continuous flocks of starlings more or less extending from Withybush to beyond Wolfdale and many others were coming in at the same time from other directions of course.

We noted at least 2 goshawks (including an imm male and a female), 10 buzzards including 2 that were driving starlings out of pre-roost gatherings in nearby deciduous trees by flying deliberately at the assembled flocks. Not sure if they were successful at catching any. Felt a bit sorry for woodpigeons trying to go to roost in the conifers - it seemed a bit like being caught up in the middle of storm as they tried to avoid the incoming masses. In addition there were at least 2 peregrines hunting starlings, one at least was successful just before the final flocks went to roost under the light of a full moon.

On Sunday, whilst doing a timed-tetrad, noted a firecrest in the churchyard just north of Saundersfoot. It looks like a potentially good regular wintering location for this species - sheltered, lots of evergreen trees/shrubs offering excellent feeding and roosting places and close to water, which they seem to like. It was also nice to see a flock of around 20-25 stock doves but they were a bit panicked by two passing sparrowhawks. A flock of about 150 redwings was feeding in a pony-grazed field. More or less similar numbers were in the same location during an early winter TTV in the Christmas period cold snap.

Ringed Med Gulls

A very brief scan of the Gann from the car park this evening revealed at least 3 Med Gulls in the pre-roost gathering, a 2nd winter and 2 adults, both of which bore darvic rings - one red and one white - both of which were too far off to read!

That Eagle

Intrigued by Rosemary's posting....it would helpful to know where in Wiston (if possible) and also to ask the homeowner concerned to let us know if she sees it again. Golden Eagle would be very unlikely (unless an escape, such as the one currently being enjoyed in Ceredigion), but the larger White-tailed Eagle is very possible - especially at this time of year and given the fact that a continental migrant was seen earlier this winter in Sussex and then Hampshire, and is now 'missing'. Worth a drive around the area I would suggest, checking fields and trees for anything resembling a flying barn door - they really are massive. Hopefully this gives you some idea - seen here with corvids (not starlings!)...

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCzlBCeyPBk46iCBE74Pyvb-V8RUknxmyF3n0_JefSBbeKTfNMHkm7Bc1hb1gwxEG2_YswB7y2mfiNX3f-ag0dYfigLs1kLMUPwYLH9ACAoAiB5j5zMHtrnL3_Yth08sZlgc1upmshn-k/s1600/CSC_1895.JPG

Mid Pembs Indoor meeting

The next indoor meeting of the Group is on Monday the 21st February 2011 at The Patch, Furzy Park, Haverfordwest starting at 7.30pm. There will be a presentation by John Dudman who is the Secretary of the Pembrokeshire Beekeeping Association and is titled ‘Bees and Beekeeping in Pembrokeshire’ There is no charge for admission to the meeting and members and non members are welcome to join us. For further information please phone O1834 860175

Lyndon

Saturday Fishguard Harbour

1 Slav Grebe showing distantly
5 Great Crested Grebes
1 Red Throated Diver
not alot passing strumble either sorry for late blog

Gann - yesterday

Saturday, pm at the Gann;-
3 adult winter Med. Gulls, and a very dark "intermedius" Lesser BB Gull.
(Sam Bosanquet)

Plumstone roost

A biting south easterly wind was worth braving for the monthly harrier count this afternoon. 2 males and 2 ringtail Hen Harriers gave a wonderful display along the ridge and close in below the rocks from 5 to 5.30pm.
Also a 2 Goshawks and 8 Buzzards over the plantation. The Starlings are still spectacular with an estimate of one million birds.
(Paul G and Wendy J)

Doing the rounds

Had a look at Gelliswick, 3 Meds - 1 x 1stw, 1 x 2ndw, 1 adult. Bicton had nothing at all, The Gann was cold & the wind was buffeting both me & my tripod so didn`t stay too long, Marloes Mere, again windswept with everything under cover save 3 Tufted Ducks. However at Kete 4 + 2 Whoopers & Bewicks still there.

Golden Eagle at Wiston

Just had a phone call from Phillipa Parlor who lives at Wiston as follows:

"I was just watching the two regular Red Kites hunting and chasing each other over the meadow behind the house. One of the kites caught something quite large - about rat sized - when suddenly a HUGE bird appeared from nowhere, mugged the Red Kite, caught the rat in mid-air then flew off. It must have been a Golden Eagle as it was so much bigger than the kites."

Rosemary

Avocet at Sprinkle Pill....

The same bird that Dave saw last week still there - so was everything else! 16 Pintail, Teal in large measures too, I was so busy looking for a Greenwing that I never counted them, but upwards of 300. 50 Golden Plover, Dunlin - again 300+ . c20 Shelduck, 250 Lapwing, 50 Wigeon, hordes of Redshank. Iwould`ve liked to have stayed longer & had a better count, but fading light & hunger pulled me away. I must thank Peter & Debbie Horton for dragging me away from the Gann, we caught the tide just right. Well worth another visit!

Bosherston Bitterns

Early afternoon a brief view of the Bittern in the reed bed below Stackpole Court and later a very poor, reed obscured, view of one in the reed bed up by Broadhaven beach - so both birds still there. Goosander numbers down with just 8 birds and although there are still quite a few Tufted present numbers seem down a little from recent weeks.

Afternoon stroll in Newport.

7 Dunlin, 11 Ringed Plover, 15 Curlew, 3 Redshank, 1 Barwit, 4 Dabchicks and 5 Herons looking contented in the afternoon sunshine.

Shelduck and Great-crested Grebe at Fishguard Harbour

There were 5 Great-crested Grebe and 5 Shelduck out from the Flagpoles this afternoon. The Red-throated Diver was on the Harbour side of the inner breakwater.

Llys-y-fran Resr.........Ring-billed Gull, Black-necked Grebe

I was wrong this morning, no increase in gulls at the reservoir roost this evening.
But the Black-necked Grebe swam past on it's way up the reservoir. Also after 1 adult likely Yellow-legged Gull, a nice distraction the adult Ring-billed Gull, although sleeping, after 5 minutes did have a nice paddle around the other species present. Again mainly, c500 adult L BB's with a handful each of the other regular species.

Worthy of a look, Martin Garner's Birding Frontiers, see the breeding Ring-billed Gull stuff from N. Ireland, inc. nice photo!
http://birdingfrontiers.com/
Don't be put off by -- Yellowhammers? and Canada Geese -(up to 6 six species with 217 taxa!!)

Ty Rhyg

Great view of the Shrike late morning, perched on a dead tree east of the track down from the
gate. Watched it for over 15 minutes. It kept dropping down to the ground but I couldn`t see
anything it had caught. Also saw a female Goshawk overhead.

Roosts.......

A slightly later drive to work.......
Not just the usual flights of Starlings flying east into Carms this morning, but a number of flocks of Lesser Black Back's leaving Llys-y-fran resr. (presumably), flying gently into Carms........by recent roost counts, the numbers are building up?

Plumstone, Fishguard and Bosherston

A few sightings from the last couple of days from Leo Reich:Not very many starlings (c.500) in the roost at Plumstone on Monday P.M. (I could have missed them?). Also a Goshawk and ringtail Hen Harrier.6 Great Crested Grebes, a female Red-Breasted Merganser and the Red Throated Diver were at the flagpoles, there was a Greenshank at Newport and 3 Willow Tits were at the Teifi Marshes on Tuesday, along with 15 Pochard at Heathfield and 4 Buzzard roosting in the field opposite Llangoffan Fen in the evening.2 Bittern (got a few O.K. pictures) were in the reed-bed at Bosherston today(Wednesday), as well as 2 Goosander and 5 Goldeneye.

Ty Rhyg

Saw a male & female Goshawks in seperate parts of the wood. A couple of Buzzards displaying
& one buzzard hovering like a kestrel. One woodcock flushed.

Spotted Redshank, Black-necked Grebe.......

Due to the weather driven cancellation of a surveying visit to Skomer,........time to catch up on WeBs & some birds!
Guilford Pill, Llangwm;-
Spotted Redshank, roosting in one of the creeks at low tide.
Sprinkle Pill;-
No Avocet seen today, but as Dave's posting below, a stunning spectacle watching the birds appear on the rising tide.....I guess the highest numbers & density of most waders/waterfowl in the county here...Pintail, Shoveler, Teal, Lapwing, Dunlin, Golden Plover, Redshank and a few Greenshank.
Highlights of WeBs, Rosebush Resr;-
7 Goldeneye, 2 Goosander.
Llys-y-fran Resr;-
1 Black-necked Grebe, 4 Goosander, 4 Goldeneye, an interesting make-up at the gull roost, 1 ad Yellow-legged Gull, 5 Herring Gull, 5 Common Gull, c300 Black-headed Gull, c700 LBB Gull.
(Rich D & Wendy J)

Feed me NOW !!

Grebes at Goodwick

Seven Great Crested Grebes by the Flagpoles in Goodwick this afternoon

Strumble today/yesterday

A couple of brief visits nothing much of interest seabirds wise but a nice male peregrine seen stooping at an auk (which escaped by crash landing on the sea) yesterday. Today small parties of Auks floating on the tiderace, a female Merlin sat on a telegraph pole.

Castlemartin Corse and Angle

Did the Webs count for Castlemartin this morning and pretty quiet on the Corse. 1 Peregrine, 4 Buzzards, 3 Pintail, 35 Wigeon, 3 Shoveler and a new duck for the Corse with a rh Goldeneye. Still quite a few Lapwing and Golden Plover, however, with 650 and 250 respectively. Also 67 Curlew.
In the fields behind Freshwater West there were quite a few small birds - 80+ Skylarks, 30 Linnets, 100+ Chaffinches, 2 Brambling as well as 4 Chough. 43 Grey Plover on the rocks at Fresh West.
At Kilpaison early afternoon 16 Brents, c.250 Dunlin and 2 Redshank.
In my garden in St Florence early morning a nice male Brambling.
Rich C & Morris North

Deer Park Choughs

3 on the Deer Park today: one on the South side by Renny's Slip, and a very territorial pair on the neck out by Wooltack Point. These two were holding thier ground and being positively unwelcoming to any passers-by.

Plumstone Mountain

Another fabulous Starling spectacle tonight: coming in, mainly from the South and East in thousands, and probably tens of thousands. The total could still be over a million, and watching the latecomers line up wing to wing on the upper brances of the pines was brilliant. The starlings did not start to arrive until after 1730, and they were still coming in after 1800.
Raptors were a bit disappointing: a couple of Buzzards, a Peregrine (with a kill) and a hawk that was more likely a large Sparrowhawk than a small Goshawk, but hard to make out in the fading light.
Highlight in terms of Country rarities was a group of 4 male and one female Yellowhammers near the abatoir.

pembroke Millpond

upper millpond
148 Black-tailed Godwits today including one colour ringed bird, unable to get the sequence but I think its the Yellow orange combination bird which has returned for the last 3 years in Feb, I,ll get the combination when it starts moving about. 16 snipe on the edge of the pond and a Bittern dropped into the reedbed. pair of Gadwell

Main pond
Still 2 scaup, only 13 Tufted ducks and 4 Pochard, 1 chiffchaff in the church yard.

Weekend Tetrad bashing and webs

Yesterday Annie and I walked several tetrads in SN12 on Pembs/Carms border, essentially a long right angle from Llandissilio - Glynaeron Forest - Carn Wen. Although numbers of wintering thrushes etc were well down on our previous visit in late December, there were plenty of woodland birds around including kites in a few tetrads (one seen well at Glynaeron was definitely untagged), buzzards displaying (probably 20+ at least), nuthatches, siskins etc noted in various places. All the tit species were seen in reasonably good numbers. It was also nice to find willow tits in at least 3 separate tetrads - males noted singing in at least two separate places in SN12D. Three lapwings in a winter sown barley field (all in full breeding plumage) made me wonder if this just might be a possible breeding location - being not a million miles from where there have been historical records.

This morning I walked the coast from Fresh East to Manorbier to look for chough etc. Found two on territory near Swanlake Bay; other interesting species included peregrine and kestrel (singles) and a roosting flock of 34 curlew at Swanlake Bay. Offshore a flock of 6 red-throated divers were noteworthy, flying west towards and beyond Trewent Point. No stonechats were seen along this stretch today.

A drive home for a quick lunch-break was followed by a mid-afternoon WeBs count on Carew/Cresswell stretch where numbers of waterfowl are still reasonably high - shelduck (82) numbers had declined significantly since January when there were just under 300 counted. Numbers of wigeon (550+) and teal (360+) were still holding up. Lapwing numbers had increased (c. 560) but dunlin (c. 450) had declined from about 1,200. Shoveler numbers had also declined from 32 to 10. Numbers of grey plover (12) were similar as were oystercatcher (32),
whereas curlew (98) and redshank (86) numbers had gone up.

An immature male goshawk was having a go at the mixed roosting wader and duck flocks near Upton shoreline but two carrion crows were having none of it and chased him off. Only one little egret was seen today. Annie walked the Garron Pill to Landshipping stretch where numbers of teal and lapwing were reasonably high.

Newport Sun

Numbers of all the Webs birds well down (1 Mallard!). But 6 red h Goosanders spent most of the day (I visited twice having been rained off in the morning) loafing on the island upstream from the bridge.

Whoopers & Bewicks

4 Whoopers, 2 Bewicks still present at Kete this afternoon.

Avocet & Brambling

An Avocet was a nice surprise during my WeBS count today, it was on the Daugleddau to the south of the mouth of Sprinkle Pill. Impressive numbers of birds on this stretch, mostly here but also in the pill and along the W Cleddau as far as Hook: 598 Lapwing, 303 Teal, 53 Pintail, 53 Shelduck, 177 Wigeon, 122 Redshank, 351 Dunlin & 13 Grey Plover the highlights. In a field on the S side of the pill, a large Chaffinch flock contained at least 3 Brambling (incl a fine male) and 30+ Linnet.

At the Gann late pm at least 6 Med Gulls (5 ads, 1 2ndW) - one of the ads with a white darvic ring which Derek & I failed to read before it flew off and landed on the water. 3 Great Northern Divers in the bay (2 right across at Dale Fort) along with 3 Great-crested Grebes (2 close to breeding plumage, 1 still in white-faced winter plumage). A lone pb Brent Goose, 6 Grey Plover, 12 Turnstone, 35 Wigeon and 20 Teal the best of the rest.

Fishguard Harbour

From the flagpoles 8 G C Grebes & 1 Slavonian Grebe. The R T Diver was inside the inner breakwater.

Feeder Finches

Decided to stay in & watch my feeders this morning as the weather wasn't very clever.

Over the border

A visit to Pontrhydygroes was well worth it yesterday. As a bonus the 'Miners Arms' have real coffee as well. Nice photos of the Bosh Bittern on previous post below.

Freshwater West

A party of 6 Choughs was in the Freshwater West/Frainslake area this morning.

Also, a ring-tail Hen Harrier was hunting over stubbles in the Broomhill area at lunchtime, I assume that this was the same bird seen by Rich C at Kilpaison this afternoon.

The Gann

Several hundred B/H/Gulls quite active on the ebbing tide, amongst them were 7 Med Gulls (6ad, 1 1st winter) at least. Good numbers of Common Gulls too.

The Slavonian Grebe that Peter saw earlier was still close inshore. 1 Kingfisher over the lagoons.

Later a female Merlin at St Ishmaels - been around here for a few days now.

Marloes Mere & Martin's Haven

Marloes Mere is quite disturbed at present as a consequence of Canada Geese being shot (under General Licence) nearby. This is making the duck very nervous, so they are flushing very easily. This afternoon there were 40+ Wigeon, good numbers of Shoveller and Teal, 2 piars of Pochard, 5 Tufted and a handful of Mallard on view. A lovely surprise was a drake Green-winged Teal, which I saw for a matter of seconds before all the duck around it flushed. No sign of the harrier that has been seen frequently in the area.

Martin's Haven has a new-born seal pup on the beach, with the mother and a bull in the bay. This morning many visitors were coming right onto the beach, and the mother appeared to be quite distressed at being unable to get back to the pup. It would be greatly appreciated if people could keep dogs on a lead and off the beach to avoid causing any more stress to the mother and pup.

Angle

On the road down to Kilpaison early afternoon a ringtail Hen Harrier flew over and headed off in the direction of the refinery. At the beach unusually quiet with just 2 Redshanks and 17 Brents. Wigeon numbers also seemed well down.
Over at Angle there were 100 plus Dunlin around the harbour. Also a good number of waders on the shingle spit - Barwits, Knot, Ringed Plover - but a Sparrowhawk flew over spooking them all and they flew off in the direction of Kilpaison before I could estimate numbers.

I spy, with my two big beady eyes....Dave!

Thanks to Morris for picking it out, stunning views of a very well camouflaged Bittern in the southern reedbed above the beach at Bosherston early afternoon. It didn't move from this position for over half an hour! At Pembroke MP, 2 Scaup (imm male & female) and around 40 Black-tailed Godwits flew over from the UMP towards the estuary. As usual, click on the pics for larger versions.

Slavonian Grebe

Close in at the Gann this morning, with two GC Grebes, a smart Slavonian Grebe, white cheeks shining in the sunshine.

Quick visit to Caldey

Annie and I were were lucky enough to get across to Caldey for three hours or so this morning. We managed to cover a few tetrads and do a 2 hr timed-visit to the last one that needed some input for the winter atlas.

The wooded area through the village was alive with common residents - such as wrens, dunnocks, titmice, goldcrests, chaffinches etc - all seemed quite numerous and many birds were in song. It felt like Spring in the unexpected sunshine. Long gone were the large numbers of snipe, woodcock and lapwing we were told about during the early winter freeze. No red squirrels though (yet)!

On the coast, a few shags were busy nest-building, eg at Redberry Bay area. Small numbers of razorbills and fulmars were in various bays and of course several hundred herring gulls were pretty well everywhere along the coast. At least a couple of pairs of ravens were on territory. We failed to see a peregrine, though apparently at least one is around. We only noted one stonechat, not far from the Lighthouse.

Pleasingly, we found 2 pairs of chough - one pair at Redberry Bay, the other probably more focused on Drimkin area. All 4 were together at Redberry for a while. One was a colour-ringed bird (yellow/red left; red/BTO right) that had fledged from Stackpole in June 2004. It was last reported at Wind Bay, Castlemartin Range back in January 2007. It is good to know that this bird and the others had survived the early winter cold snap ok.

Let's hope it marks a good start to a week-long late winter snap-shot survey of chough and other coastal birds. A number of observers are hoping to walk the entire Pembs coast and others to visit the main islands to see how choughs etc are faring after the cold snap. It will also provide an opportunity to boost records from under-recorded coastal tetrads in the last month of the winter atlas.

Postings on the BLOG of coastal records of chough, red kite, kestrel, peregrine, raven, stonechat in particular but also other interesting coastal species, between 13th and 20th Feb. would be welcomed.

As the expected rain arrived at about mid-day, 13 ringed plovers and a couple of grey plovers were resting on the beach in Priory Bay. Just offshore, it was nice to see a great crested grebe feeding in the Bay. A little further out we had good views from the boat of a great northern diver in Caldey Roads as we returned to Tenby in the murky drizzle.

Narberth Garden

Male Brambling along with several Greenfinches, Siskins & Goldfinches

Brynberian

This is visiting a garden in Brynberian, dunnock sized; pictured by Mike Gapper

(Leucistic Dunnock surely - Rich C)

I would guess so, yes.

Slavonian Grebe - Fishguard

Fishguard Harbour, yesterday:-
The Slavonian Grebe, 3 Great Crested Grebe & the wintering close Red-throated Diver all present & looking forward to being on the WeBs count!
(Adrian)

Green Sandpiper and divers

Highlights of a few sites this afternoon -
Millin Pill - 1 Green Sandpiper.
Picton Point - A lot of Teal and a large Otter sitting amongst them eating a fish.
St Brides bay from Broadhaven North to Newgale - 5 Great Northern Divers, 12 Red-throated Divers and c100 Common Scoter.
Plumstone - a male Hen Harrier came in at 5.20 and flew around close to the rocks. No ringtails seen but the ridge that they favour pre-roost was obscured by low cloud.The Starlings were impressive, flying into roost very low and noisily overhead.
(Paul G and Wendy J)

Blackcaps

A pair of Blackcaps were feeding from the bird table at Cilgerran this morning

Waders, etc.

Flagpoles 15.30 - 5 Redshank, 7 Turnstone, 1 Grey Plover.

Newport 16.55 - 11 Redshank, 170 Curlew, 6 Dabchicks, 2 rh Goosanders.

Ty Rhyg

A flock 0f 50-60 Fieldfare resting in the trees, the dog flushed a Woodcock. Female Goshawk,
male Sparrowhawk and 2 Buzzards

Sparrowhawk

This sparrowhawk paid a number of visits to our garden today. The funny thing was that every time it appeared, our budgie, who lives on the windowsill looking out on the garden, shot out of its cage at top speed and cowered on the end of the curtainrail on the opposite side of the room. It must be either some kind of inbuilt instinct, or an automatic reaction to what it saw the feeding birds doing.

Blackpool mill & Area

Large flock of Chaffinches, Reed Buntings and at least 6 Mistle Thrushes in the first field on the
right past the stile. There was obviously a bird of prey around as even the thrushes were acting
nervously, next thing a male sparrowhawk flashed past me and was so close I could hear a swish
and boy was it shifting. By the mill a mixed flock of Marsh, Willow, Great, Blue, Long tailed tits along with a tree creeper and Goldcrests

Pembroke River

Sightings for Pembroke River - 09:30 - 13:00 yesterday 8 February from Barry Potter
2 otters seen below pennar towards the power station, in view for a good 15 minutes, at first mid stream but making their way towards the rocks under pennar park.
Feathered highlights:-
large flock of grey plover at least 150
2 sparrowhawk
9 turnstone
female pintail
up to 300 dunlin
2 shoveler
single whimbrel
circa 30 black tailed godwit
single greenshank
lots of shelduck ( I have never seen so many in this location)

Mid Pembs Walk Sat 12 Feb 2011

The next outdoor meeting of the Mid Pembs Section of The Wildlife Trust is next Saturday (12th February 2011) starting at 10.30 and finishing at approx 3.30
Please be at the top of Pill Road in Hook – SM 979112 by 10.15
The walk will be along Sprinkle Pill and on to the Cleddau Estuary to look for waders and other water birds. Waterproof footwear essential and bring packed lunch - Leader Robin Taylor.  Members and non members are welcome to join the walk. For more information please phone O1834 860175
Lyndon

Llys-y-fran Resr.

At Llysyfran yesterday afternoon:
3 Red kites flying above the path just south east of the hide;
7 coot on banks there and another 32 by small arm towards dam;
7 Great crested grebe and huge flocks of gulls on in shelter of far (western) shore - I estimated about 2,000 at 4.00pm, with more flying in.
Maggie Humphreys

Slim pickings

Given the weather of the last few days I thought there might be a few birds about to brighten up my porpwatch but a single distant Diver sp. + 2 female Scoter was all, apart from gulls and auks.

Ringed Herring Gull

Blue EUX, at Newport yesterday, has the usual boring history.
Ringed at a Gloucester landfill site in Dec 09 it was seen 3 more times in the area, the last for last winter in late Feb 10.
It was back on the Gloucester landfills in Dec last year before making it, unseen, to Newport.

Bitterns and Brents

At Bosherston this afternoon two Bitterns again showing - one near Broadhaven Beach, the other below Stackpole Court. Both remained well into the reeds with the latter bird (photographed) showing slightly better. Scaup still present but I could not find the Ring Necked Duck.
Pretty much the same birds at Kilpaison this morning as yesterday including 17 Brents which were spooked, together with all other birds on the beach, by a Buzzard flying over. Also 2 Gannets fishing in the bay.

Green Woodpecker

Green Woodpecker flying west across the A477 near Hayston Hall between Sentry Cross and Johnston, on the way home from work this evening around 17.00.
Possible link with the earlier sightings around Gelliswick?
(Brian Southern)

Slavonian Grebe - Fishguard

The Slavonian Grebe seen again late afternoon.
1 Great Northern Diver past Strumble too.
(Adrian)

Angle & Bosherston

At Kilpaison late morning with the tide ebbing and the wind howling into the bay - Bar Tailed Godwit 22, Dunlin 400+, Knot 8, Ringed Plover 30+, Brent Geese 9.
Round at Angle Harbour there was a further 17 Barwits, 15 Knot, 8 Dunlin as well as 16 Redshank and an ad. Med Gull. Further out in the bay 9 Great crested Grebes and 1 Slavonian Grebe.
As I had decided to leave my camera at home for a change I suppose it was inevitable that I would bump into some good birds at Bosherston - and so it was to be. Looking down on the reed bed from Stackpole Court a Bittern had gathered a bunch of reeds together and climbed to the top, apparently enjoying the sunshine. I also saw a Bittern (just like Clive's photo below!) near the path in the reed bed near Broadhaven Beach. As Clive saw 2 birds there it seems likely there are 3 Bitterns at Bosherston.
On the eastern arm there were over 70 Tufted Ducks, 6 Pochard and the male Scaup and there were 20 Goosanders altogether around the ponds. At the western arm towards Bosherston Church the female Ringed Necked Duck was in the company of 15 Goldeneye with a further 2 Goldeneye further up near the beach end. I wonder where the RN Duck disappears too?

Bosherston

Two Bitterns on view simultaneously at Bosherston early this morning, in the usual reedbed between Grassy Bridge and Broadhaven Beach. Also, an adult male Scaup with the Tufted Ducks near the boathouse.

More Meds than you can shake a....

An afternoon out with Paul G in the windy conditions focussed on checking potential gull sites on our way down to the roost at Dale (via a speculative tromp across Dale Airfield in the hope of pulling a Killdeer out of the bag!). A check of the set-aside fields at Camrose was unproductive (save for a fly over Reed Bunting), so we headed W and at Haroldston a recently muck-spread field littered with Black-headed Gulls revealed no fewer than 7 Med Gulls (5 ad, 1 2ndW, 1 1stW). A stop at Goultrop Roads, S of Little Haven, produced another 5 Meds (4 ad, 1 1stW) and 4 Great Northern Divers. At Talbenny a beet field loaded with gulls gave us another 2 Meds, a nice adult and 1stW. Finally at Dale, an excellent gull roost from the sea front which had more Lesser Black-backed Gulls than normal (400+) held at least 15 Meds, 14 adults & 1 1stW. 3.5 hours of birding revealed at least 29 Med Gulls - nice! A Great Northern Diver here, close to the quay at Dale Fort, presumably the bird seen by Rosemary.

Pembroke Upper Millpond 5 Feb

Black-tailed Godwits up to 125 on the pond this morning plus 15 Greenshank.
the water level is still a bit high to see if we have any of the regular colour ringed birds back yet.

On the leeward side

Goultrop Roads-C.500 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 20 Common Scoters a Red-throated and 2 Black-throated Divers were close in this afternoon All were inactive just resting as they floated in the comparatively calm stretch of water in the lee of the cliffs while the strong wind was producing huge waves further out to sea.

Bonxie, Slavonian Grebe ...& ....

Strumble Head;-
SW wind, quite strong ! 2 hour watch 09:00-11:00.
1 Bonxie, 2 Red-throated Divers, c100 Fulmars the noted amongst small movement of auks, Gannets & Kittiwakes.
Fishguard Harbour:-
1 Slavonian Grebe, 1 adult Med. Gull, and a presumably weather affected, c30 Cormorants with 4 Shags in the harbour too.
(Fishguard Bird Group)

Teifi Gulls;-
Interestingly, most of the 100's of large gulls absent or already roosting on Cardigan Island?
c1700 small gulls on the sand bank below the GVP to 17:20, including 1 adult Med. Gull, c300 Common Gulls.
4 Bar-tailed Godwits too.

Redshank

25 on the Cleddau, next to the ferry terminal at Pembroke Dock today.

Angle, Lawrenny

From Alan Collens - Angle Bay, Slavonian Grebe this am. Also 11 Gt Crested Grebe, 4 Goldeneye, 8 L-b brent, 5 Shoveler, 8 gadwall and a Greenshank.  Lawrenny today had 18 Grey plover and 15 Shoveler. Garron Pill -25 snipe and 1 Jack Snipe.

Ty Rhyg

Very quiet but found 3 male & 1 female crossbills on the same tree I saw the shrike on my
last visit. Walking back to the car 8 crossbills flew over

Blackpool Mill

Had a wander around Blackpool Mill this morning with Cliff (Walrus). Plenty of Dipper activity with 4 birds close to the bridge by the mill. They were clearly split into 2 pairs and each pair kept close and followed  each other around. Also a brief fly over view of a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker which had been calling and 3 Marsh Tits.

Diver in Dale

Re the previous post: Actually I think there was a GN Diver in Dale - I had a second-hand report from the people who live on The Brig (the little old dock at the end of the beach) that there was one close in - I went to investigate and there was definitely a diver in amongst the moorings though the light was going and I couldn't confirm the ID.

Rosemary

Week-end birding

Hi Guys
Just spent the weekend birding in Pembrokeshire, I can't add much to whats already recorded but we also saw
Dowrog - 3 ringtails and one male hen harrier and a small group of 3 Whooper swans flew south Sat pm
Saundersfoot - at least 200 c scoter and some very distant divers ? RT- Sun pm
Freshwater east - Tawny owl calling Fri night, 2 chough, peregrine and 3 sparrowhawks over trewent park- Sat/Sun am
St. Brides bay (from Little and Broad Haven) 20+ RT divers, 2 BT divers and small collection of auks and around 30 c scoter.
We failed to find a GN diver all weekend!
The Gann held a greenshank Sat am
We caught up with the scaup at pembroke mill and another at Bosherston but we couldn't locate the RN duck or the Bittern.
In total we got to 79 species over the weekend, that without getting up to Fishguard.

We'll be back soon after a tremendous weekend.
Best Wishes
Craig Lewis

Teifi Med Gull

One adult Med gull, nearly in full summer plumage, from the gull viewpoint late afternoon.
Also 180 Curlew and over 200 Common Gulls.

Grebes

The Red necked and Slavonian Grebe were very close inshore in the bay at Cwm yr Eglwys today ,four Red throated Divers were also present.
At Cilgerran eight Goosander were on the river early this morning five of which were adult males.

Pembs Bird Group - Monday 7th feb 2011

Monday the 7th February 2011 Pembs Bird Group Indoor meeting.
The next indoor meeting of the Group is on Monday the 7th February 2011 at The Patch, Furzy Park, Haverfordwest starting at 7.30pm. There will be a presentation by Peter Royle entitled ‘Birding in South Australia’. Peter is a global birder whose fascinating experiences and talks are backed up by excellent photography There is no charge for admission to the meeting and members and non members are welcome to join us. For further information please phone O1834 860175.
Lyndon