Teifi -- waders

Not quite the number of Bar-tailed Godwits as Portland (6000 passed Thursday), I could find 1 (one) on the Teifi............but waders star...

Barnacle Geese

3, this evening at Marloes Mere, between the North hide & Trehill farm - as noted in the Britton hide log book for last night. The G/W/...

Gwaun Valley Wood Warbler and Redstart

Several Wood Warblers and a Redstart singing in Pontfaen Woods this afternoon and a Cuckoo calling on Brynberian Moor with a Peregrine flyin...

Bunting hunting

There's been quite a debate recently about the lack of Stonechats in the county, and there's no doubt they're numbers are consid...

St Davids Hd am

Fairly quiet with 18 Whimbrel through, 21 Wheatears present and a Common Sand. A Red Kite nr Croesgoch.

Happy Birthday and today

May I also say happy birthday to the blog and thanks also to Rich. Today i stopped briefly at Marloes mere. A gentleman just leaving the Br...

Cuckoo & Red Kite

From Alan Collens - a Cuckoo was calling yesterday(29/04/11) at 11am. Heard from my garden near Whitehill,coming from the direction of Cres...

Lesser Whitethroats

Thanks to Paul G my first of the year yesterday, singing its heart out in the hedge opposite Withybush Industrial Park, about 100m beyond Da...

Name That Song

During the past five years Richard Crossen has received much acclaim for the creation and running of our Blog site, and deservedly so. And a...

Skomer.................. and a belated Happy Birthday Blog!

A glorious day on Skomer yesterday with the Bluebells adding a stunning swathe of colour to the scene. Nothing unusual in the way of birds -...

Down South

Having recovered from the excitement of the Royal Wedding (...!), a couple of hours down south was called for. The rising tide at Angle Bay ...

Tresinwen (29 Apr 11)

Female Redstart in and around the garden late afternoon. No Cuckoos heard here yet this year.

St Davids Hd am

4 Whimbrel present and significantly more Wheatears than of late, maybe 30, some of which were clearly of the Greenland/Icelandic race.

Ty Rhyg

From the gate a bird on top of a distant bush, brought back memories of the GG Shrike, it turned out to be a Cuckoo which was calling for th...

Pantmaenog & Ty Rhyg

Pantmaenog (Weds evening) - cuckoo very active, initially calling from the block of conifers above the quarry then flew up the track to smal...

A Ramsey Sound black guillemot

Doing a timed count of birds using Ramsey Sound (from mainland) noted a summer plumage black guillemot feeding in mid sound, St Justinian ...

The pleasures of BBSing ......

Over the last two days we have done our two BBS squares and it has been real pleasure - fantastic weather and deafening birdsong. Sedge Warb...

Vagrant Emperors in Pembs

On Skomer (Sunday 24th April) only a small number of expected migrants were noted - willow, grasshopper warblers, house martins etc, but a p...

Strumble/ near sunset on Tuesday

We sat watching small parties of swallows heading straight out to sea. As far as we could see they were heading for Ireland & not turnin...

Strumble pm etc

5 Whimbrel @ Pwllsychan and 7+ White Wagtails near Tresinwen. At St Davids only a White Wagtail and Redpoll sp. over with a few more hirundi...

Rosebush in the drizzle

Couple of jays calling anxiously from one of the small stands of trees only for a nest-robbing crow to appear carrying an egg. A wheatear on...

Ramsey - Dotterel

Dotterel here for 2 days - 23/4 and 24/4. Haven't had a chance to blog it before now. Not seen by staff but reported on consecutive days...

Hooded Crow at Marloes Mere

I was very surprised to see a Hoodie fly across the Mere yesterday towards Trehill Farm. In the good light the grey mantle appeared quite da...

Whitesands Woodchat

Took this yesterday morning. Not the best of shots I'm afraid, it was rather camera shy.

Whitesands Woodchat

Still present this evening, on the track to the two ponds opposite the white house (beyond the Whitesands Bay Hotel) (per Steve Hinton).

Teifi Marsh -- Woodchat Shrike

Saturday 0900;- Not content with finding the Long-eared Owl, Steve a regular visitor from the West Midlands to the Teifi photograhed another...

Waders -- Teifi ..and....

1 Common Sandpiper at Jewsons, 1 Whimbrel at St. Dogmael's Quay. No small migrant waders to be found...... We are not alone....returning...

Martin's Haven and Marloes Mere

The wind has kept a lot of birds down today, but there is a party of 11 Chough, probably immatures, that have been on the Trehill Farm field...

NOW I know how a Grasshopper Warbler actually reels!

Yesterday I really saw a Grasshopper Warbler for the first time. Oh yes, I have had "views", "glimpses" and fleeting gla...

Woodchats ?

Dipped out yesterday at Abereidy, was at Whitesands within an hour of Dave`s text today only to miss out again. If one turns up in my garden...

Woodchat Shrike

A female (imm male?) was/is? present to the south of the track which runs from the old Whitesands Bay Hotel down to the beach at Whitesands....

Preseli

2 Redstarts & a Cuckoo today at Pantmaenog, along the track from Tafarn Sinc at Rosebush. At the E end of the Preselis 2 Crossbills in t...

Ty Rhyg

Pretty similar to Brian's observations yesterday, and great to see a pair of kestrels using one of the boxes. Also today was a snipe, a ...

Garganey

Still present at Marloes Mere this morning, in front of the Britton hide. Also someone`s reading glasses are still there too - handy - as I ...

Ty Rhyg

A leisurely stroll through Ty Rhyg. The kestrel pair very active, couple of buzzards appeared and were moved on. Whitethroats either side of...

St Davids Hd etc

A Hooded Crow out on the Head, associating with a Carrion Crow and the two heading north towards Strumble at 9:45am. Otherwise quiet with 4 ...

First Lesser

My First Lesser Whitethroat rattling away behind my garden this morning...nice!

early strumble

Quick look around no hoodie but probably not far away unless it took advantage of clear night to go home! Nice Gropper reeling near lookout ...

After the battery failed....

...I had a few goes taking 'phone 'scope pics! This was the best one....the bird was only about 20 feet away.

Minwear/Blackpool Mill & Llangloffan Fen

Leading a group from Orielton FC , a brief visit to Minwear produced a cuckoo (first bird heard as we left the mini-bus), 3 singing wood w...

Welsh/Pembs first!

Thanks to Richard Stonier for alerting us to the Hoodie in the ploughed feild en route to Strumble.It was there approximately 15.30 in among...

Woodchat @ Abereiddy

The male showing superbly to at least 5.30pm. From the car park, walk back to the car park entrance and turn left inland by Beach Cottage al...

Dale airfield

Quite a steady trickle of hirundines in off the sea between Dale & Marloes sands, including at least 15 House Martins. Not a single Sky...

Martin's Haven

Yesterday evening an immature/female Merlin over the Trehill fields. Then a female Sparrowhawk made a kill over the valley. This afternoon t...

Skokholm today

A wonderful, if windy, trip out to Skokholm: a huge number of volounteers and generous donors have made a massive difference to the accomoda...

Tresinwen (23 Apr 11)

Spotted Flycatcher just come down for a bath in the pond - first of the year for me (and quite early generally for a Spot Fly). I have just ...

Ty Rhyg

At one pm it was 10c and very windy so most sensible birds kept low in the bushes. Managed to see a pair of redstarts, 2 immature Crossbills...

Woodchat Shrike update

Update from Wdig Birder at 1550. The bird is showing well by the cottages on the left side of the beach by the car park.

Woodchat Shrike

I have just had a call from a visiting bird watcher (Heather Richards) passing on the news that both yesterday afternoon and today she has s...

Garganey & assorted

An early morning scouring of Martin's Haven & Marloes Mere with Paul G, highlights were a drake Garganey from the Britton Hide, seve...

The Gann

15 Whimbrel, 14 - 20 Dunlin, 2 Common Sandpipers, 1 Wheatear, 6 Shelduck & a solitary Brent.

Strumble (22 Apr 11)

Well done Steve. I went out this afternoon to try to find any birds with the colours of the rainbow but all I could find around Strumble wer...

Pen Anglas to Strumble

No bee eaters. But a merlin, lots of linnets and pipits, Grasshopper warblers buzzing away, Sedge Warblers in the damped valleys, lots and l...

Bee Eaters

I heard a call this morning up at Pen Anglas which I recognised, it took a few moments to register that it was a Bee Eater calling,I start...

St Margaret's

Plenty of birds and activity on the great little seabird colony of St Margaret's Island next to Caldey this morning. The overnight wind ...

Bee-eaters Pen Anglas

2 flew over this morning - more news later no doubt (Steve Berry).

Preseli area

On the hill a dead sheep was attracting attention from 2 kites, 2 buzzards, a black-backed gull, a raven & several crows. A useful food ...

Nowhere better on a Pembrokeshire spring day!

A pretty unique staff meeting with Skomer Warden Chris inviting us, Lizzie organizing the time and weather. Work was never pleasanter, also ...

St Davids Hd

A Tree Sparrow at the Youth Hostel this morning but fewer Wheatears today and yesterday (highlight yesterday 3 Redpolls sp). Thanks for help...

Freshwater West Area

From Andrew King, visiting birder from Breconshire........... During a short visit to Pembs' lovely beaches over the 19th-20th Apri...

Grey is White but not Pied!

These yarellii and alba wagtails were all in a newly harrowed field near Strumble this evening , at least 18 alba's and just the one ...

Teifi

Still waiting for waders to happen? Plenty stopping to feed on the Dyfi. During the past two days and late evenings, no sign of the Long-ear...

Turtle Dove -- Skomer

Turtle Dove this evening, the pale Red Kite still around today and a male Black Redstart. (Dave B)

Cuckoo - Rosebush

Cuckoo calling and watched - swaying in the breeze at the top of the mature block of conifers north of the quarries this evening.

Angle Bay

At Kilpaison mid morning 2 Whimbrel the only waders. Yesterday's Dunlin have presumably moved on unless they dropped in as the tide drop...

Marloes Mere & Gann

The pair of Garganeys` showing well from the Britton hide, lots of whitethroats in the bushes otherwise fairly quiet. Still one Brent Goose ...

Ramsey

No sign of the honey buzzard today. Best thing so far today has been a snow bunting that flew over my head going west. 2 pied flycatchers (f...

Skomer ..& .....St. David's.....

Skomer :- Been plenty of birds on here the last few days, lot's of Willow Warblers, increasing numbers of Whitethroats and Sedge Warbl...

Honey Buzzard - Ramsey

Not much to add. Lisa found the bird when carrying out a CBC this morning. It was on the ground in the centre of the island feeding on somet...

Garganey at Marloes Mere

1 male, 1 female, on the Mere, in front of Strawberry cottage - close to the track - good views. Nice.

Angle Bay

At Kilpaison this morning signs of wader passage with 31 very approachable Dunlin on the beach, the large majority well into summer plumage....

Pengelli, & Ffynone

2 male piedflycatchers disputing territory & singing; still a singing male redstart seen & heard. Ravens making some different calls...

Honey Buzzard -- Ramsey

Not a fly-over, grounded.....more from Greg later.

Mynachlog Ddu/Wauncleddau area

New arrivals since last week in this area were a tree pipit, several whitethroats and lots of reeling grasshopper warblers - still havent se...

Cuckoo - Rosebush

Cuckoo calling this evening at Rosebush reservoir.

Aberforest

Aberforest beach, not a migration hot spot, had a Common Sandpiper & a White Wagtail this morning.

Carn-ingli

Cuckoo and a pair of redstarts .

Teifi Long-Eared Owl

Teifi ...Long-eared Owl

The Long-eared Owl showing this morning at 0800, refound by Jon G. More later, with photos. The roost site is just inside Ceredigion, along ...

Long-eared Owl, Yellow Wagtails,....

The Teifi Marshes;- 20:56 the roosting (hidden) Long-eared Owl came out, flew along the track and gone! Poor silhouette views, only identifi...

Up North

From visiting birder Andy Middleton - Today at 9.00am on Nevern Estuary, Newport: Little Ringed Plover 1, Common Sandpiper 1 (possibly 2) . ...

Black Kite @ Marloes Mere

According to Birdguides there was a Black Kite at Marloes Mere from 1.10 to 1.30 before heading off south. Presumably seen by a visitor, no ...

No Megas - but .......

A superb day on Ramsey today - per falcon, buzzard, kestrel, Chough, raven, Singing and flight songs of birds such as Skylark, Pipits, Whate...

Down South

In St Florence this morning several Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs singing, GS Woodpeckers drumming and Wrens nest building. Several Swallows ha...

City news

Good views of a pair Dartford Warblers this morning in the St.Davids area. They are back on the same territory as last year. Great to see t...

Marloes /Martinshaven

29 White Wagtails in the graded field, left of the Mere, 2 Shelduck on the Mere. Martinshaven, 1 Grasshopper Warbler reeling at Rath cottag...

Hooded Crow

A Hooded Crow flew over Cemaes Head this morning heading in a southerly direction,fairly quite otherwise 6 Wheatears,several Whitethroats an...

Strumble (16 Apr 11)

Grasshopper Warblers are back on the same territories as last year. 2 singing males and at least 1 presumed female seen. Interesting to note...

Pengelli

Male Pied Flycatcher and male Redstart both singing between the entrance gate and the noticeboard early afternoon.

Teifi

Common Sandpipers now up to 4 at Jewsons. c12 Redpolls over Towyn Burrows this morning where also Common Whitethroats now present. Marshes ...

MidPembs Section ot the Wildlife Trust

Monday the 18thApril2011. Mid Pembrokeshire indoor meeting. The next indoor meeting of the Group is on Monday the 18th April 2011 at The Pa...

Cettis

A very noisy bird at Pwllgwaelod this morning. I even got a decent view (my first) of the cocked tail & dark grey underparts.

Common Sandpiper

1 Back on the Teifi this evening, few other waders, 10 Dunlin, 4 Ringed Plover on Patch.

Blackpool Mill

3 female Goosanders on the river this evening.

Marloes Mere Hirundines

Several hundred this evening - I counted 180 on the wires by Strawberry cottage + a similar amount feeding, roughly 50/50 Swallows/ Sandmart...

I`m free!

One Pied Flycatcher male looking for a female in Pengelli this afternoon Janet and Karen

Canaston woods

Saw a wood warbler and heard another two calling this morning

Hoopoe -- nr. St.David's Airfield

A flighty Hoopoe present on private land for the last 3 days (11-14 April) near Caerfarchell. (Tim Young)

Gann

33 Brent geese early afternoon until 4 people in a canoe chased them away.

Newport

5 Common Sandpipers, 1 Redshank and a single House Martin.

Arrivals

One of the two Whitethroats we found at Trefeiddan this morning. The Redpoll is one of the two visiting our garden at the moment.They firs...

Not the Teifi but....

White Wagtails are passing through in large numbers at the moment, but the 1 found nr. Detroit, Michigan (12 April) seems to be causing so...

Ramsey--Hoopoe

Hoopoe again this evening near the house

Teifi again

Quiet down at the estuary this afternoon - a Red-breasted Merganser and 4 Wheatear the highlights. From the river viewpoint this evening, a ...

Teifi

Grasshopper Warblers arrived en masse in the last 24 hours, once the Noctules were flying several G'roppers started singing. Still vey f...

White Wagtails and Greenland Wheatears

White Wagtails;- Plenty migrating through at the moment, good numbers on the Teifi where we have been catching a few, the highest, 18 caugh...

Wryneck -- Skomer

A quick call from a freshly landed ( from NZ) Dave Boyle......... 1 Wryneck this morning found in North Valley.

Ring Ouzel @ Marloes Mere

A trip down south this morning with Paul G showed that there were less migrants on the south coast (Bosherston to West Angle) than further n...

North Pembs.

An excellent days birding, Starting off in Tycanol Wood where I found 4 male Redstarts, numerous Willow Warblers, Chiffchaffs, Blackcaps, Nu...

Caerfai - Porthlysgi

As earlier post from Wdigbirder - similar numbers of white/pied wagtails (at least 25) in ploughed field above Porthclais together with a do...

Cemaes head later on...

In addition to the birds Steve had this morning, there was also a male Merlin and 4 Golden Plover in summer plumage.

Strumble Head / Pencaer 10th April.

This morning at Strumble in a newly ploughed field just beyond Tresinwen 80+ Wheatear & 30 Alba Wagtails ( 20+ White at least ), many Me...

Ramsey---Hoopoe

Hoopoe this morning near the water pump house. Not seen since around 11am though. Good fall of willow warblers (50+) plus at least 5 blackcaps.

Cemaes Head

This morning a fall of 50+ Wheatears,also 40+ Meadow Pipits,a cracking male Redstart on the way back. Plenty of butterflies several Orange T...

Osprey Llangwm-Picton Point

Superb views of the osprey directly over Llangwm Pill 9.10am and re-connected later with distant views of it over Picton Point. A couple o...

Bosherston

A single Egyptian Goose with two Greylags in the eastern arm (between Eight-arch Bridge and Grassy Bridge) this morning, not too far from an...

Kestrels

Thanks to everyone for posting their kestrel sightings on the blog - it really helps with the monitoring of breeding pairs. Most of the bird...

Ty Rhyg (Friday eve)

Willow warblers were the most noticable songsters - there seem to be more than last year, though perhaps there are some migrants to swell th...

St Davids Hd etc

A small fall of Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs with a few Blackaps, a couple of Grasshopper Warblers, Redpoll sp, 2 White Wagtails and 60-7...

Deer Park / Martinshaven

Spent a couple of hours in the area this afternoon - primarily looking for Adders, only to find a Slowworm. Birdwise was a tad disappointin...

White Wagtails

14 White Wagtails in a bare cliff top field between St. Bride's & Musselwick, not far from the derelict Musselwick Farm, this evenin...

Ramsey

A couple of rarities by Ramsey standards were 2 house sparrows and 2 rooks! We were hoping the St Davids hoopoe, or anything for that matter...

Ty Rhyg

Late afternoon. Grasshopper warblers reeling, willow tits calling and a faint Tawny owl hooting.

Osprey

Good views of the Osprey on the Eastern Cleddau at 9am this morning, seen from Minwear view on the south bank, it flew from further upstream...

Crossbills - Ludchurch

3 crossbills (one male and 2 young) with others calling out of site at the top of the bridleway near the pig farm. Other birds of note - sis...

Marine Boat Trips

A series of boat trips are planned for 2011 with CBMWLC and FoCB. Although Dolphin Survey trips they are a great opportunity for all birder...

Barn Owl

A splendid bird hunting around Lower Mullock farm early this morning. St Brides wood held, 1 Garden Warbler, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, 4 Goldfin...

Pied Flycatcher

From Vicky Swann - P ied Flycatcher at the Horse's Neck, Marloes this afternoon

Various Sites

The Gann this morning, one bar tailed godwit, 2 dunlin, 1 redshank and a wheatear. A pleasant boat trip around Skomer with 2 peregrinne spot...

Broad Haven to Druidston

Very quiet, only 2 Dunnocks in full voice. A raven on its nest and a male kestrel perched nearby. A few swallows and sand martins. And a cou...

Early migrant

A singing Garden Warbler at the Rhos today, eventually seen well. An early date though there have been earlier ones in the past but only just.

Fishguard Tysties

Two were seen in the vicinity of the converted trawler "Lady Kate" yesterday from te Stena Europe.

St. David's area

No sign of the Hoopoe, 5 Wheatear at Rhosson Farm. 1 Sandwich Tern off shore, few hirundines so far today, but 2 Common Whitethroats new. (J...

Whitethroat and Little Ringed Plover

Lots of birds on the move on Skokholm with our first Whitethroat of the year and a Little Ringed Plover on the North Pond. The latter a real...

Skomer -- Redstart

The 1st of the year today. (Chris - warden)

Osprey - Cleddau

A trip up the Cleddau on an idyllic, warm, sunny,spring evening from Cleddau Reach, Pembroke Dock to Minwear was rewarded with great views o...

Ramsey Today

Lapland bunting and hen harrier

Hoopoe --- St. David's, Trefeiddan

14:00 seen near Rhosson Campsite to St. Justinian road, flew North. (Heather Coats)

Skokholm -- Redstart

Our first Common Redstart of the year, a female around the buildings. Two White Wagtails amongst a few Pied passing through. Lots of singing...

Sedge Warblers ....Sand Martins....

Teifi Marshes:- This morning at least 6 Sedge Warblers singing in the small area surveyed. Yesterday evening:- c700 Sand Martins, a few Swal...

Black-tailed Godwits on Pembroke Millpond

Impressive flock of 184 Black-tailed Godwits on the Upper millpond tonight with lots in summer plumage. One Redshank and 5 Greenshank. One j...

Pantmaenog

Pair of kestrels hovering side-by-side on the slope above Pantmaenog House this evening.

Pen Anglas - Ring Ouzel

I saw a female Ring Ouzel 100 yards past the far end of Pen Anglas at 14:45 and lots of Swallows and Sand Martins passing along the coast be...

Grasshopper Warbler - Deer Park

Nice to hear the first Gropper reeling in the gorse at the Deer Park this morning. Apart from a lot of Linnets and a couple of pairs of Whea...

Newport Wed am

Highlights were a very smart Black Tailed Godwit, a Tufted Duck (!), & frequent visitor Herring Gull Blue BHS.

Angle Area

Pretty quiet around the Angle area this morning. At Rhoscrowther there were plenty of Chiffchaffs singing and a couple of Blackcaps. Reed...

Jack Snipe -- Teifi

1 still present on the marsh tonight. (Teifi RG)

Technical Issue

Those posting on this or other Blogger blogs (e.g. Ceredigion Birds) may have had trouble in formatting their posts as line breaks or paragr...

St. David's -

Week-end news;- From John & Marion B, in addition to the spectacular Willow Warbler fall already described, the first White Wagtail of t...

Martin's Haven

Astonishing that the large numbers of Willow Warblers that had filled the valley on Saturday had cleared off completely yesterday. A single ...

Red Throated Diver

A winter plumage bird in Newport Bay yesterday afternoon.

Pantmaenog this evening

Party of 5 wheatear, 3 willow warblers singing, 2 pairs of pied wagtails. Pair of long-tailed tits carrying nesting material. Male merlin pe...

Blackpool Mill

Two female Goosanders on the river this evening

St Florence

The trees along the Ritec in St Florence were alive with the song of Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs this afternoon. But, again, no Willow Warblers.

Woo Hoo! (Thanks to S*ds Law!)

See my posts last week re Dartfords in the North. On my travels today I stumbled upon 2 males and a female in the north of the county - and ...

Birds this week

A few Shearwaters seen in Cardigan Bay on Monday were presumably newly returned Pembrokeshire Birds, allthough I have only seen a couple pas...

Skokholm Update

As with elsewhere a good day for Willow Warblers with around 50 with a good number of Chiffchaffs amongst them. Two Black-tailed Godwits on ...

Strumble & Tresinwen (02 Apr 11)

Woke up this morning to find circa 15-20 Willow Warblers in my garden. Mmm looks promising! A conservative estimate from this morning is cir...

Pantmaenog up to Foel Cwmcerwyn

Cracking walk up to the top of Cwmcerwyn. Plenty of raptors on the wing. 3 sightings of kestrel, possibly the same bird (including a good vi...

St Davids Hd etc

Male Common Redstart, lots of Willow Warblers, (few Chiffchaffs other than those already established) a dozen Blackcaps, about 30 Wheatears ...

Martin's Haven: Willow Warblers

A lovely "fall" of 15-20 Willow Warblers this morning, several in sub-song. Also at least one Chiffchaff, singing more clearly. A ...

Martin's Haven & Gann

Not much visible in all this wind, but a trickle of Swallows throughout the day, and several good-size(20+) flocks of Sand Martins, all flyi...

House Martin

Very quite at the Teifi Marshes this evening over the river a small group of 6 Sand Martins and a single House Martin with them.

Freshwater West area

Despite a steady trickle of Sand Martins passing through Bosherston this morning, there were also a few signs that winter isn't quite fi...

Swallows

5 or 6 at Marloes Mere this evening along with a few Sand Martins. Nothing else -poor visibility & drizzle didn`t help. Last week ther...