Strumble (30 May 11)

The Sedge Warblers seem to have become more active again - they have been relatively quiet for last few weeks. All local birds seem to be s...

City News

In the absence of any large trees, the resident Great Spotted Woodpeckers on St. Davids airfield have set up home in this electricity pole. ...

Teifi

Patch this evening;- 3 Sanderling, 10 Dunlin, 5 Ringed Plover. See Teifi Ringing Group for ringing activity, including our 9 year old Reed...

Newport Mon am

5 Whimbrel, 15 Dunlin, 11 Ringed Plovers, 7 Sanderling & the Looe GBB.

Pantmaenog (Sunday)

Kestrel successfully hunting on the slope above Pantmaenog House, carried its prey westward into the conifers. A kite was repeatedly droppin...

Raptors -- Sunday

Merlin's Bridge;- 1 Red Kite Nr. St. Ishmaels;- 1 male Kestrel (Derek G)

Newport -- waders

Newport, 14:00;- 1 Knot, 3 Sanderling, 22 Dunlin, 5 Ringed Plover, by the boats. 1 Whimbrel calling. 1 Whimbrel mobile around the Teifi this...

Newport Earlier

There were 26 Dunlin feeding round the boats, but only 8 Sanderling. 7 Whimbrels on the beach. The 2 Shellduck chicks seem to have been lost...

Newport -- waders,.. &.. Pengelli

Newport;- Midday, 16 Sanderling, 9 Dunlin, 8 Ringed Plover. Pengelli;- more figures in a couple of weeks but.... 3 Pairs of Pied Flycatchers...

Tresinwen & Strumble (27 May 11)

While waxing my car this morning between 0730 and 1030 I noted a steady trickle of Siskins moving through over Tresinwen - slightly unusual?...

Strumble Head 18.00 - 19.45 26th May

A Bonxie past almost as soon as i got there & the normal stream of Manxies , the strong wind meaning some were passing as close by the l...

Newport Thurs pm

We've now got a Shelduck brood - just 2. Onthe early side, but no earlier than 2 years ago. Also a Black T Godwit, a Whimbrel & a Cu...

A wind-swept canary - from the canaries??

This morning Peter Hughes (who mans one of the Castlemartin Range entrance gates) telephoned about a small finch that was feeding next to h...

Teifi waders

Early morning;- 4 Whimbrel at Jewsons, -juvenile Shelduck brood down to 4. From the railings, 4 Sanderling, 50 Ringed Plover, 30 Dunlin.

Dipper.

A juvenile Dipper at Westfield Pill this morning,coupled with a similar record this time last year convince me that these birds are breeding...

Teifi waders

This evening, all feeding like mad;- 4 Sanderling, 1+ Whimbrel, 1 Redshank, 42 Ringed Plover, 10 Dunlin. All except a couple of Dunlin from...

Teifi -- Shelduck

Jewsons;- 5 Very small young, slightly earlier than last year, have other sites got their 1st young? Still c30 Black-headed Gulls along the ...

Newport

Parrog ~ 1 Black Tailed Godwit, 10 House Martins & 4 Whimbrel.

Newport Tues am

8 Whimbrel on the main beach.

Fledglings

Today on the river at Cilgerran a family of Dippers (at least 2 young) and first seen yesterday a family of Starlings (3 young).I wonder wh...

Strumble Head 17.45 - 19.15 Sun 22nd May

In with the 1000's of Manxies , a Dark Phase Pomarine Skua travelling slowly west at 7 p.m.

Newport

Parrog 16.30 ~ 8 Whimbrel, 11 Dunlin, 2 Ringed Plover, 1 Turnstone.

Pantmaenog/Ty Rhyg

Pair of kestrels above Pantmaenog House. And female hunting at Ty Rhyg along the path. Plus cuckoos calling at both sites.

City news

I was about to take another shot of this Stonechat, when suddenly another bird appeared in the view-finder. A Dartford Warbler appeared from...

St Brides to Borough Head (Fri even)

Linnets most visible and a few scattered pipits, 1 skylark (St Brides), male reed bunting, 5 canada geese, pair of mallard with at least 4 y...

Woodchat Shrike update

No sign of the bird today. Hopefully he has set off for where he should be! Rosemary

Angle Area

A day of mixed fortunes started with the sound of a Cuckoo calling as I lay in bed - the first I have heard in St Florence for many years. A...

Woodchat Shrike ......

...... still here. Rosemary

Enjoying the garden

I can't compete with Rosemary & Peter's Woodchat-from-the-garden sighting, but I have been enjoying my garden birds recently. A...

Skomer Garganey (Weds 18th)

A drake yesterday (Wednesday) on North Pond (from Dave Boyle).

Afon Nyfer

150+ sand martins over the trees - at least 4 swifts - adult & juv dipper - grey wagtails.

Derek G has not gone to Kathmandu ......

....... because he did get to to see the Woodchat Shrike here yesterday, I am very glad to say. (Though we weren't here at the time) It ...

Newport Wed am

In the drizzle, a flock of 20 Oystercatchers & another flock of 50 Dunlin, 8 Sanderling & 7 Ringed Plovers. Sadly one of the long-st...

Pectoral Sandpipers (late news) - Skokholm.

Apologies this is late – problems with the internet as well as wanting to verify sightings. Two Pectoral Sandpipers on North Pond on 13 t...

Woodchat Shrike

Viewable from our back garden at 8:45 this morning. Note that it is quite far away - no good for photos and closer access is not possible as...

Woodchat?

A man was once asked whether it was easier to climb Mt Everest, or find a Woodchat in Pembrokeshire. He was last seen traversing an ice wall...

Woodchat Shrike @ Mullock Bridge

Three pics of the shrike from Drew - superb! I didn't see the bird when I looked at 5.30pm, but on my way back past at 7pm it was sat on...

Ty Rhyg

As Johns - but no cuckoo. Spotted flycatcher past the log piles as the upper path starts, a second flycatcher at the top of this path. Willo...

Woodchat Shrike @ Mullock Bridge

A Woodchat Shrike this afternoon, on bushes to the N side of the B4327 at Mullock Bridge (east of Marloes). Found by Drew Buckley (pics lat...

Ty Rhyg

Cuckoo heard but not seen, plenty of Redpoll about and a spotted flycatcher was seen. Must have watched the wrong weather forcast as it rain...

Greenfinch

4 newly fledged greenfinch sunning themselves on a branch outside the bedroom window. Good to see that they have been successful!

North Pembs & Strumble (14 May 11)

A trip out this morning to look for the Dartfords I found a few weeks back in the north of the county was successful with both male and fema...

Canaston Woods

Tree pipits nesting in clearing where gas pipline was laid.

Pen Anglas to Carregwastad

Buzzards actively hunting, one carrying prey down on to cliff. 4 pairs of stonechat. A solitary chough. Blue tit carrying food items into a ...

Spring in The Gwaun Valley - a walk

The next outdoor meeting of the Mid Pembs section of the Wildlife Trust is as follows – A walk to see the plants and birds. Meet at 10.30am ...

Marloes Mere

Quiet this afternoon - 3 Barnacle Geese still in the Trehill farm area, 2 Tufted Duck & 1 Shoveler on the Mere & c50 Swallows feedi...

Blog Problems - now resolved

Regular readers will have noticed that postings over the last couple of days disappeared for a while. Also those who can post direct to the ...

Goodwick Moor pm

A Lesser Whitethroat singing at the bypass, audible from the Green Bridge and Swift.

Unusual Sighting

A pale phase Artic Skua over St Davids early morning in a strong WNW wind a few years ago i experienced two Artic Sskuas over St Davids in a...

The head

A breezy morning on St.Davids head turned up no fewer than 5 pairs of Stonechats, some carrying food, 4 reeling Grasshopper Warblers and a s...

Freshwater West

At Freshwater West this morning 2 Ravens were picking clean this carcase. We couldn't figure out what it was but on closer inspection it...

Newport Thurs pm

3 Common Sandpipers at the bridge. 3 Whimbrel. A 2nd CY Med gull too far away to read its Red ring, & a Gloucester Landfill Herring Gull.

Ty Rhyg - this evening

2 cuckoos calling (one close to the reservoir, the other above the top path). Pair of Great spotted woodpeckers and a couple of treecreepers...

Ramsey

10/5 - Yellow wagtail plus first spotted flycatcher of the year 11/5 - Cuckoo plus large swallow movement this morning (200+/hr all morning)...

WOW Seabird Course

Pembrokeshire College is running a 3 day Wildlife Observer Wales (WOW) course 31 May -2 June. The aim of the course is to provide training i...

Canaston Wood

4 Wood Warblers calling and my first pair of spotted flycatchers of the season.

Angle Area

Again, very quiet at Kilpaison this morning with just 4 Whimbrel, 6 Ringed Plovers and 20 Oystercatchers. This Grey Plover in magnificent su...

Strumble (08 May 11)

Stonechats showing well yesterday at Strumble!

Manorbier

With the wind still blowing hard late afternoon at Manorbier keeping up with the Swallows was hard work and great fun. A mixed group of 40 o...

Blackpool Mill

A male Redstart on a post in the carpark and a Red Kite overhead

Walton East

Earlier today my niece heard a commotion involving her nesting blackbirds. On her first glance out of the window she thought a bird of prey ...

Martin's Haven & Deer Park

Any time the wind drops, or you find a bit of shelter, there are birds singing. Lots of Whitethroats, up to 3 Sedge Warblers in the valley, ...

Pics.

Looking at the recent photos on the blog, we really like the Whimbrel pic. on Friday. Nice one Rich, but tell us did you arrange the pebbl...

Marloes Mere / Gann

The wind put paid to most songbirds this afternoon, highlights at MM flyover Whimbrel (2) and a Ringed Plover. On the mere itself 2 drake T...

Goodwick (08 May 11)

Hobby over goodwick at 1815

Rosebush/Pantmaenog

Two male redstarts chasing each other brightened up an otherwise dark-threatening visit. At least 2 Wood warblers singing in the tall stand ...

Cemaes Head

A Yellow Wagtail and Lesser Whitethroat were the best birds seen at Cemaes Head also a single Wheatear,plenty of Whitethroats around.On the ...

Tresinwen (08 May 11)

Jay in my garden before 10am. No sign of yesterday's Turtle Dove. Lesser Whitethroat still singing opposite the Nant.

Quiet

Pretty quiet down Angle way this morning, although perhaps not surprising with the tide well up. At Kilpaison no waders at all on two visits...

Crymych

There were 4 swifts about in Crymych yesterday.

Golden Orioles on Skomer

2 on the island yesterday (Saturday, from Dave Boyle).

Strumble / Tresinwen (07 May 11)

Turtle Dove flew over me at top of Porthsychan valley and appeared to land in my garden at 1745. Not subsequently relocated. Spotted Flycatc...

Penberry (07 May 11)

Green Winged Teal still present at 10am this morning. (Too far away to photograph - stayed close to far edge of pool).

The Gann

An early morning stroll - 2 Sanderling, 6 Whimbrel, 5 Ringed Plover, 1 Dunlin. Somewhere over by Crab Hall, I thought I could hear a Lesser...

More City News

GWTeal still on Penberry pond as darkness fell - looking lonely

Swifts

Four screaming Swifts around Cilgerran this evening.

Rosebush/Pantmaenog

Cuckoo very visible, calling and moving around just below the new car park all the while I was there. Pair of buzzards mating on fence post....

Freshwater West

Mid morning at Freshwater West there were 22 Oystercatchers, 2 Whimbrel, 1 Sanderling and 1 Turnstone on the rocks. As the tide dropped 14 B...

City News

Small unusual Duck reported on Penberri Pond by Glyn Davies, it turned out to be a Green-Winged Teal. Still on the pond this morning.

Newport Thurs am

Small waders down a bit - 75 Dunlins, 17 Ringed Plovers & a Grey Plover. Just 2 Whimbrels, but 3 Sandwich Terns resting, &, at last,...

Ramsey

The male ring ouzel first seen on Sunday is still here plus at least 1 whinchat today

Angle Bay & Freshwater West

Sunnier conditions at Kilpaison and a little warmer this morning but with a strong south easterly wind still blowing. As the tide dropped D...

Newport Tues am

140 Dunlin, 20 Ringed Plovers & a Sanderling. 5 prs Shelduck. & c 20 Whimbrels in several active flocks.

Ramsey

2 whinchats and 2 swifts yesterday

Angle Bay

At a very cold, Kilpaison this morning the windy conditions seemed to keep the waders on the move but there were good numbers with 300+ Dun...

Belated Strumble Stuff

On Sunday afternoon a brief visit to Strumble was rewarded with a dark phase Arctic Skua beating up some small terns (sp). Some rain was thr...

Angle Peninsular and Colby

From Richard Ellis - I did the Angle Peninsula circuit early this am, clockwise beginning and ending at the Fresh West war memorial. A whit...

Swift over Crundale

While enjoying an early cup of tea in bed this morning I saw, through the Velux window, my first swift of the year. Laid-back birding indeed!

tetrad-bashing in SM92

Walked through several tetrads during a four-hour stroll whilst Annie watched the sea (where very few birds were seen) at Ramsey Sound for t...

Marloes Mere

A pleasant hour in the hide - GreenWing Teal showing well & quite animated, interacting with the common Teals. 1 Cuckoo flew left to rig...

Rosebush/Pantmaenog

The ever present cuckoo calling above quarries. 2 Tree pipits singing. Grey wagtails carrying food at two separate nest sites. White wagtail...

Teifi am wader roost

05:30 - 08:00;- Much as last night, but we gained a Golden Plover on Patch overnight, and an increase in numbers. Dunlin 220, Ringed Plover ...

Gadwall

Fishguard Lower Town Sun afternoon; a M Gadwall consorting with a F Mallard.

Teifi -- waders....

Around the estuary nearing high tide this evening;- Nicely roosting on the Webley saltmarsh, 170 Dunlin, 50 Ringed Plover, 2 Whimbrel and a ...

Swifts

2 Swifts over Canaston Bridge this evening.

Marloes Mere, Gann & Skomer news

A quick spin out this afternoon. Marloes Mere: the 3 Barnacles in the field behind the 'old' (Scammel) hide, a Cuckoo, 20+ Teal, 1 S...

Tresinwen (01 May 11)

Ringtail Montagu's Harrier quartering the fields behind Tresinwen at 1715 for 5 mins then chased and mobbed by Jackdaws until lost to vi...

Some Migrants

A Hobby showing well near Mathry this morning. A Cuckoo on the cliffs at St Davids Hd (another calling @ Lleithyr) with a Garden Warbler in ...

Cilgerran Dawn Chorus

From Maura and Flo - thought you might like to see the list from this morning's dawn chorus Seen and/or heard - Sedge warbler, reed warb...

Marloes Mere

Drake Green Winged Teal still present this morning along with the 3 Barnacle Geese in the field opposite the Britton hide and a male kestrel...

Teifi -- early visit

05:30 -09:00;- 5 Whimbrel, 3 Common Sandpipers on Patch, 13 Whimbrel on Poppit. As the tide turned the small wader flock moved the Webley sa...

Ramsey - Ring Ouzel

Male Ring Ouzel here yesterday evening plus 2 white wagtails. Red kite 2 days ago. Kestrel probably breeding again this year but has moved t...

Newport

Before the spring bank holiday festivities here begin and the town is besieged, on the estuary were - 75 Dunlin, 65 Ringed Plover, 3 Sanderl...