Wryneck - St Govan's Head

I was visiting your beautiful county on Thursday and saw my first ever Wryneck near St Govans Head (SR971931) at around 10:00hrs. Also of note: Many Meadow Pipits, 2 Chough with 2 Rooks, Ravens, Peregrine, Rock Pipits, Stonechats, Whinchat, Wheatears etc.

Ian Coote

Warrington

England

Rose-coloured Starling, Wryneck, Buff-breasted Sandpiper & other goodies!

A superb day out with Paul G spent mainly on Skomer. Excellent views of the juvenile Rose-coloured Starling at the farm, also here a brief flight view of a Wryneck. Much better views of a second Wryneck out on the coast path at Bull Hole, and also 3+ Whinchat, a male Redstart, and to finish off a Black Redstart at the farm just before we left. Plenty of Chiffs about, lots of Mippits, a lark sp (probably Sky) and 3 Spotted Flycatchers along with a single Whitethroat. Back on the mainland Marloes Mere was quiet, as was the Gann, but Kete delivered with the 2 juvenile Buff-breasted Sandpipers showing quite well to 530pm until a Buzzard put them up (with all the gulls) and they landed in the next field to the north, out of view. Brian S turned up so we were able to shake his hand for finding these birds and sharing them with us through this Blog. A cracking day.

Newport Fri am

High tide: on the spit 3 Barwits, 20 Ringed Plover, 9 Dunlin & a Sanderling; on the Parrog rocks 3 Turnstones & 2 Redshanks; on the roost 29 Oystercatchers & 14 Curlew.

St Davids Hd am

6+ Whinchats present and 11 Wheatears, 9 Skylarks moving SW and lots of Meadow Pipits in evidence.

Wryneck - nr. St. David's

1 outside John & Marion's caravan this morning.

Pied and Spotted Flycatchers - Rhosson Farm this morning
Whinchat and 6 Yellow Wagtails near the farm yesterday.
(John & Marion.)

Rose- coloured Starling - Skomer

The juvenile R-c Starling still present this morning
(Sarah)
Pied and Spotted Flycatchers
(Dave B)

Ringing movements and Ringed Plovers

See Teifi Ringing Group or click on the Kingfisher Rich C tells me!
For some nice movements and our current wader ringing.

Skomer

We managed the double of not very exciting rare birds today - I was going to say dull rare birds but I actually really like Rosefinches!

The Rose-coloured Starling was around the Farm from mid-morning, I'm not sure if it was seen in the afternoon but might not have been looked for.

Sarah found the Rosefinch down North Valley at about 6:30 this evening & was showing quite well and was pretty vocal

Other migrants around today were: still 2 Wrynecks (1 at The Farm, 1 at Bull Hole), 2 Whinchats, 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 3 Blackcaps, 2 Yellow Wagtails and our first Redstart of the autumn & there was a Clouded Yellow on the west coast

Buff-breasts & Snow Bunting

The two juvenile Buff-breasted Sandpipers were still in the field at Kete, just north of the NT car park, at 5.30pm this evening. Considering the size of the field, they were quite close, but still not close enough for decent photos. Also a Golden Plover here.

On to the airfield and a Snow Bunting was a nice surprise on the main weedy runway - my first ever at this site in 23 years of watching! Also 10+ Wheatear and several Skylark & Meadow Pipit.

At the Gann 9 Little Egret, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 1 Common Sandpiper, 3 Redshank & 4 Dunlin. Also a Little Grebe on the pool.

rare!

I gather willow tit is officially "rare" now, so perhaps I should report the one in the garden today. However, as they are resident here I can't quite get me head around the "rare" title.

Ramsey

Great spotted woodpecker here today. Previously a real rarity out here it has become annual these past 3 years.

Single fly over redpoll too.

Common Rosefinch -- Skomer

1 found in North Valley by Sarah this evening.
(Dave B)

Buff-breasted Sandpipers -- Kete

2 still present at 13:00,
(Karen)

Buff-breasts

2 in the Kete field at 1020am. (Paul G). Nice one Brian! Sent from Yahoo! Mail on Android

Rose-coloured Starling - Skomer

1 juvenile at the farm this morning,
(more later from Dave B)

Kete

No sign of any waders in the fields at Kete early morning, Paul G will take a second look later this morning. Sent from Yahoo! Mail on Android

Buff-breasted Sandpipers - Kete

Right on the limit of my binocs but 99% certain 2 Buff-breasted Sandpipers in THE field at Kete SM802046. Associating with a Golden Plover, watched for a good while, seemed very settled and actively feeding, still there at 7pm. A visiting photographer did a couple of distant snaps with 400mm lens, but light was fading - will post if he emails to me.

Gloucester Landfill Gull

In the last 4 years Ive seen 15+ Blue ringed Herring Gulls ringed at Gloucester Landfill Site at Newport, some of them on multiple occaisions. Thus far none of them had been reported away from Gloucester sites by any one other than me at Newport.
Until Sept 26. EBW was ringed in its first year at GLS in Oct 08.It spent all of 09 at the same place, but since then was at Telford, Shrops in Dec 10, Liverpool in April 11, Back to GLS in July 11 then at Newport in Sept 11.

Skomer

This was a nice surprise down the bottom of North Valley this morning, and there's still a Wryneck at the Farm.

Managed the flycatcher set today with our first Pied Fly of the autumn (!) and a couple of Spot Flys. Not a whole lot else, just a Grasshopper Warbler, a Chiffchaff & a Blackcap

Red-breasted Flycatcher -- Skomer

1 this morning, more later.
(Dave B.)

Skomer - another Wryneck

A second Wryneck was seen today over at Bull Hole - I think we've had at least 4 now this autumn

Pembs Bird Group Indoor Meeting 3rd oct 2011

For a number of reasons the above meeting has been cancelled and will now take place on Monday the 9th of January 2012 My apologies for this change to the programme.

For more info please see
http://www.pembrokeshirebirdgroup.blogspot.com/

Newport

High tide this eve ~ 4 Bar Tailed Godwits, 4 Sandwich Terns, 2 Redshank, 3 Wigeon.

Ring billed Gull - Cardigan

Still showing well at Cardigan behind the Cattle market – park in Station road. It did however respond better to PaulG and Tuna, olive oil and wholemeal sandwiches on the North side compared to the cheapest Tesco white bread on the South side of the river.

St Davids Hd pm

A Lapland Bunting again, flying around near the Burial Chamber which I think is called Arthur's Seat? and half a dozen Wheatears in the wider area. Otherwise very quiet.

Skokholm Herons

Group of seven Grey Herons around the island today. I think that's an equal record count for here.

Skomer

There's been a Wryneck at the Farm again since Sunday - I think its got to be a new cos you can't walk past the farm without seeing this one.
A few birds popped up yesterday in the nice weather - 2 Reed Warblers, 3 Sedge Warblers, 2 Willow Warblers, 6 Goldcrests, 3 Chiffchaffs, 3 Spotted Flycatchers & about 30 Blue Tits.
About 30 Skylarks, 30 Chaffinches, 85 Linnets, 5 Siskins and the first Redpoll of the autumn went over.
Its very quiet today though!

Med Gulls @ Goodwick

This lunchtime, at the "flagpoles" - 10 Ist W, 1 2nd W & 2 adults. A further 2nd W on the Stena side of the breakwater.

Skokholm

As well as our German Reed Warbler yesterday there was a good movement of common migrants – hundreds of Swallows, a few Sand and House Martins, 7 Wheatears and 2 Goldcrests. Still up to ten White Wagtails on the North Plain and a Kestrel has been around for a few days now. Approximately 30 Robins and 40 Chiffchaffs.

Balearic Shearwater and Bonxie heading past the lighthouse.

The Gull population has dramatically reduced in the last month or so; counts yesterday of 4 Lesser Black-backs, 50 Greaters and 15 Herring Gulls.

Maximum Canada Goose numbers on the (still dry) North Pond this autumn so far have been about 50, compared to 300 last year. Currently only about a dozen flying in at dusk and leaving before dawn.

Very quiet this morning mind.

kingfisher

A kingfisher was by the (as was) flagpoles before high tide late afternoon; also at least 8 sandwich terns, ringed plover, dunlin, turnstones, curlew & oystercatchers.
Approx 24 scoter headed past Strumble head & a wheatear & stonechat were also about. Many swallows coming in off the sea.
Llangloffan, a barn owl, & near Crymych a hobby.

Third time lucky - Ring billed Gull

At last good views of the Ring billed Gull at Cardigan. Having arrived at 8am I did not see the bird until about 10.15am Every now and then PaulM 'casteth bread onto the waters’ and eventually the bird appeared from just around the corner up river.

Strumble Head 07.30 - 10.30 26th Sept.

Wind : WSW 2 or poss 3

Wigeon - 2

Common Scoter - 203 ( 142 m , 61 f )

Balearic Shearwater - 1

Knot - 5

Dunlin - 13

Grey Phalarope - 1

Pom Skua - 1 ( Pale Ad with Spoons )

Arctic Skua - 1 ( P )

Sandwich Tern - 25

Arctic Tern - 1

Commic Tern - 5

Black Tern - 8

A sgl Risso's Dolphin seen at approx 07.50

Porpoises showing well.

Anyone seen any Kingfishers?

I have spent (wasted?) quite a lot of time on the Western Cleddau in the last 4 days, fishing a large amount of the water from Haverfordwest up to Wolfscastle.
Sad to relate, not once have I seen a Kingfisher, and this on water where, in 2009, I estimated a pair nested at least every 2km of river.
It may be that I have just missed them all (although I have seen none earlier in the year either); I fear this is the result of two hard winters in a row.
The good news is several dippers were seen, and all along the river, not just at the upper reaches (i.e. Treffgarne upwards) where I have historically seen them most regularly.

Nice bird on Skokholm

Today a decent passage of swallows and a few warblers around along with the now resident robins. Ringing produced a German ringed Reed Warbler and some Chiffchaff until the sun got onto the nets and stopped catching.

Two more Buff Breasts (Last Wednesday)

Info via email forwarded by Jon Green :-

We have just returned from a very windy week in Pembrokeshire, which wasn’t entirely a birding trip but we did

see some quality birds. We even met some of the “Strumblers” on Monday.

On Wednesday 21^st, in gale force winds we walked around Stackpole Head and saw 2 waders on the cliff tops. We ruled out

Common, Green and Wood Sandpipers but couldn’t figure what we had seen.

On our return home we checked on your web site to see what we had missed and saw a report about Buff-breasted Sandpipers

at Dale. We then got the books out to have a look at this bird and we are convinced they are what we saw.

We have attached some photos that we took at the time and would appreciate your expert opinion.

Best regards, Dave & Jean Killick

Ring-billed Gull -- Cardigan

See John Davis narrative and photographs on CereBirds for a good summary of the bird's current behaviour.

Skomer

The only migrants I saw round the valleys today were 2 Chiffchaffs & 2 Goldcrests!
A bit of moment overhead early on - 90 Linnets, 6 Chaffinches & 2 Siskins

Dale Airfield (25 Sep 11)

No sign of the Buff Breasted Sandpipers this morning (0900 - 1030).  In fact no sign of any waders whatsoever.  Lots of Wheatears, Skylarks and Meadow Pipits and a red helicopter that kept buzzing the West end of the runways (just where the waders were supposed to be!).

Martin's Haven Woodpecker

Yesterday evening a Great Spotted Woodpecker in the valley and on the telegraph poles. Our second of the autumn.
Probably half a dozen Goldcrests in the sallows, a couple of Blue Tits, Robins, and a large family of Stonechats, mainly rather scruffy young. Also a Chiffchaff and a Willow Warbler.

Dale Airfield & Kete yesterday

Wonderful to see the Buff-breasted Sandpipers: lovely birds, and fascinating to see them feeding actively on the runway in the company of a Dunlin and 5 Ringed Plover. Many thanks to Mervyn for re-finding them despite the heavy rain!
Once the rain lifted there were large numbers of Meadow Pipits, Skylarks and Wheatears, mostly at the "far"(i.e. Marloes Sands) end. Amonsgt them was a really well coloured Lapland Bunting.
Prior to seeing the Sandpipers we had taken a look in the field at Kete that had the Doterel last week. Even on Thursday the crop was only just coming through, and the field had 20 Ringed Plover and 5 Dunlin. Yesterday morning the crop was up a lot, and there were no waders at all, although this could also have been because it was Low Tide.

St Davids Hd am

2 Lapland Buntings, 1 showing well at Arthur's Seat and a fly-over at Carn Llidi. 10 Wheatears and a few Chiffchaffs.

SKOKHOLM 15th-23rd Few migrants, just Chiffchaffs, Blackcaps and Goldcrests. Brief seawatches turned up Sooty and Bealaric Shearwaters with Arctic and Great skuas. Probable highlight 2nd ever Island Great Spotted Woodpecker. Probably!

Skomer

There was a bit of a flurry of Swallows for a couple of hours just after the rain stopped this morning - about 1500 went through as well as about 50 House Martins.
Its still very quiet around the valleys though, but did bump into a Reed Warbler & a Whinchat today, as well as 2 Blackcaps, 5 Chiffchaffs, 3 Goldcrests and the first couple of Siskins of the autumn flew over

Tresinwen & Porthsychan (24 Sep 2011)

A thorough search around Tresinwen and Porthsychan this afternoon showed that there has been a notable increase in the numbers of Goldcrests. A few Chiffchaffs, one Blackcap and one point blank 1w Grasshopper Warbler in the usual breeding location - unfortunately my camera was in its bag on my back! 4 Wigeon in Porthsychan bay (3 eclipse drakes and 1 female).

Buff-breasted Sandpipers

3 still on the airfield this morning. Loosely associating with 4 Ringed Plovers and 1 Dunlin.
(Rich D and Dawn)

Ring-billed Gull

Pic and info from John Green - Ring-billed Gull present all morning on the slipway between the two bridges in Cardigan, south side of the river.

Buffy Shock...

Dale Airfield ~ I think it was a mixture of shock & surprise while I was sat admiring 2 Greenland Wheatears suddenly 3 Buff~Breasted Sandpipers landed next to them, fantastic.

Earlier at the Gann ~ 7 Redshank, 1 Greenshank, 2 Dabchick, 10 Dunlin, 1 Sanderling, 1 Sandwich Tern.

Wooltack Point: Bonxie

An hour's seawatch this evening (1730-1830) was rewared with a cracking view of a Bonxie heading to Skomer and less than 100m off the point. Not a lot else except gulls, though.
The Deer Park has one group of about a dozen Chough and another family group of 5.

Llangloffan Fen: Bullfinches!

A flock of at least 13, and probably 20+ Bullfinches in the sallow and alder in the middle of the Fen this afternoon. I have never seen anything like this number of Bullfinches in a flock.A mixture of adults and juveniles.
Also 6-8 Chiffchaff (3 in full song), Treecreeper, Goldcrest, assorted tits, and a Buzzard and Peregrine

Buff-breasted Sandpiper update

At 6:30 pm the three birds were pottering around feeding on the big wide weedy runway which runs parallel to the tarmac "road". To get to this spot go along the road past the Hookses, through the earth bank barrier and along to where the road turns sharply to the right. Just after the sharp turn the wide weedy runway joins from the right - they were feeding here. Grid Ref 791064.

(PS We don't often twitch but this was a lifer for us! Thank you Pembrokeshire birds for alerting us to their presence - I had just been reading the Gower blog and noticed they had some good Yankee visitors so just checked the Pembrokeshire blog on the off-chance and there they were only just up the road!)

St. Ishmael's -- Little Owl

1 in my garden again last night.
(Derek G.)

Strumble

0730-0930
wind slightly West of South
1x probable Pomarine Skua (juvenile, dark phase), 1x Sabine's Gull (winter plumage), 10 Common Scoter (9M, 1F), 2 Commic Tern, 5 Manx Shearwaters.
Small numbers of Black-headed, Greater Black-backed and Herring Gulls, Kittiwakes. Regular Gannet, small groups of Razorbills (all in winter plumage).
1 Chough, 1 Wheatear, 100+ Swallows coming in off the sea. 20+ Meadow Pipits

Flagpoles: 12 Mallard, 6 Turnstone, 25 Oystercatcher, Redshank

Newport Canadas

A fairly accurate count this morning was 1150 + the 2 Snow, 2 Barheaded, & the 2 overlooked white farmyard geese (remarkably similar to the Snow but for the white wingtips) & 4 hybrids (though none of the Barhead crosses of earlier years).
Otherwise v quiet. 1 ea Greenshank, Kingfisher, Redshank, Barwit & Turnstone. Just 9 Dunlin & 8 Ringed Plovers on the Parrog Rocks.

Buff-breasted Sandpipers -- Dale Airfield

3 -- three, at 15:45 at the far end of the broken concrete runway.
more later from Karen, -- currently in shock ~!!

Skomer

Saw a Great spotted Woodpecker today but otherwise very quiet, just 3 Goldcrests, 1 Blackcap, 2 Whitethroats, 3 Chiffchaffs, 1 Willow Warbler, 5 Wheatears & a Golden Plover

Black Redstart

One today in St Brides Lane, Saundersfoot.
(Ed H)

St Brides to Mill Haven

Fairly quiet - a couple of recently ploughed fields but only gulls and three buzzards including a very pale one in them. c.150 Canada geese circling with some attempting to land on Stack Rock. 7 stonechat, 3 wheatear. 3 Chiffchaffs in Mill Haven and 3 robins. 20+ Mallard(?) flying over just as light was going, heading in direction of Marloes. Peregrine spooking the jackdaw roost at St Brides.

Lapland Bunting - Dale airfield

The highlight of a fairly birdless search around the Dale peninsula today was a Lapland Bunting at the far end of the main runway on Dale airfield. Very few birds on the airfield apart from a few Wheatear.
Other sites visited-
Kete fields - just some Ringed Plovers and 3 Dunlin.
St Annes head - 3 Wheatear (one was a Greenland) and 3 Chiffs. 1 White Wagtail with the Pieds.
Dale village - no birds of note but 2 Migrant Hawker dragonflies.
The Gann - another 3 Wheatear. The only waders were some Redshank on the pools.
Marloes Mere - another 6 Migrant hawkers and a Common Darter. 8 Teal and 3 Chiffs.
(Wendy J and Paul G)

Strumble Head 22nd Sept.

06.15 - 12.50

Wind Sw 4/5

Observers: Richard Davies ( Full Term ) , Wdigbirder ( 07.00-08.30 )

Common Scoter - 28

R T Diver - 1 ( SP )

Balearic Shearwater - 3

Sooty Shearwater - 12

Grey Phalarope _ 1

Pom Skua - 2 ( Ad with spoons & Juv )

Arctic Skua - 9 ( 3 P , 5 D , 1 Juv )

Long Tailed Skua - 3 ( All Juvs )

Bonxie - 7

Med Gull - 2 ( 1st W )

Sabines Gull - 2 ( juvs )

Commic Tern - 15

Newport.

Similar number of Canada's and small waders as yesterdays posting, but with the addition today of another Greenshank, 1 Barwit & 3 Dabchick.

WNFC visit to Stackpole

The WNFC visit to S.Pembs at the w/e was a great success & we have nearly 100% wanting to return next year. So thanks to Stackpole, Bob & Annie for the bat walk, & to the wildlife of our superb county. I hope to have links to a full report of the visit soon & will put it here. Highlight would almost certainly be the Bosherton otters, although this picture is of several people watching something on the Castlemartin cliffs.

Carningli Common.

A blustery and damp visit produced numerous Meadow Pipits & Skylarks, 3 Wheatear, 25 Golden Plover.

Wheatears falling & ...............

11:00 between Templeton & Narberth, 1 Wheatear just dropped onto the road amongst the traffic........
A few minutes earlier a Wheatear dropped onto the road in front of Paddy driving nr. Llandissillio..

Yesterday, Newport 17.30

Parrog ~ c800 Canada Geese inc 2 Snow & 2 Bar-headed, 34 Ringed Plover, 18 Dunlin, 1 Sanderling.

Iron Bridge ~ 1 Greenshank, 1 Kingfisher.
(Karen)

The 2+2 Snow & Bar-headed Geese, our classic markers in the Teifi flock, without going into the hybrids that we know.........& love !!

Sedge Warblers -- Teifi Marshes

4 late Sedge Warblers - all new, were trapped this morning, for more see
Teifi Ringing Group
(--later when I've updated)

Skomer

Its been pretty steady out here for the last few days, been seeing about 15 Chiffchaffs most days & up to a dozen Goldcrests, a few Blackcaps, a Reed Warbler and a Garden Warbler

Med Gull

A plain alloy ringed adult, feeding with B/H/G`s on the Tesco roundabout at Milford Haven this evening. The same one that`s been here for the past 3 winters?

Pembroke Dock

56 dunlin, 15 redshank, 2 curlews and a BH gull with a white ring on left leg opposite Front Street lunchtime today. Usually there's just a couple of dozen gulls!

Angle

At Kilpaison late morning - 6 Sanderling, 14 Dunlin, 26 Ringed Plover, 140 Curlew, 1 Whimbrel, 5 Bar Tailed Godwit, 150 Oystercatcher, 4 Little Egret, 17 Wigeon, 58 Mallard, 9 Little Grebe. A Sparrowhawk being mobbed by 2 Crows.
Round at Angle Harbour a further 14 Dunlin, 32 Ringed Plover, 2 Redshank & 2 Whimbrel, 5 Little Egret. Also 12 Med Gulls (all adults), 23 Black Headed Gulls and 1 Common Gull.
Rich C and Morris North

Dotterel @ Kete

Persistence finally paid off, with my 4th visit in 5 days to the fields at Kete rewarded with a nice juvenile Dotterel. It was in the recently sown field to the north of the National Trust car park, on the sharp bend. Not the best views I've ever had of this species, but it did give me a great opportunity to make a bid for Pembrokeshire Birds Blog Rubbish Photo of the Year 2011. Also there a Golden Plover, 3 Dunlin & 14 Ringed Plover. Nothing to speak of on Dale Airfield, and a quick look at the Gann in the drizzle and gloom produced 4 Bar-tailed Godwit, 4 Redshank, 3 Dunlin, 6 Ringed Plover, 3 Med Gulls & a Great-crested Grebe.

Ramsey Sound, Newgale

From Bronwen Davies - Last Thursday, we were watching harbour porpoises at the south end of RamseySound at about 15.00 hrs, then 12 choughs flew up and were visible on and around the cliffs for the remainder of the time we were there. We have never seen so many chough together along this stretch of coast, so it was a delightful sighting: they treated us to some lovely 'formation flying'.

And from Andrew Sinclair - At the south end of Newgale beach this afternoon(Sunday):
Sandwich Tern (3), Grey Heron (3), Dunlin (2), Whimbrel (1)

Cemaes Head

From John O'Sullivan -

Saturday 6:30- 9:00 - 3 Bonxie, 9 Arctic Skua, 1 juv Med Gull, 2 Black Tern, 12 Commic Tern, 4 Sandwich Tern, 2 Little tern, 8 Common Scoter

Sunday 6:30 -9:30- 1 Pom, 14 Arctic, 2 Bonxies, 3 Leaches Petrel (1 being chased by two Peregrines just before a heavy shower hit, didn't see outcome), 2 Sandwich Tern, 1 Balearic Shearwater, 28 Common Scoter, 1 Red T Diver (NE)

St Brides to Musselwick

Evening stroll. Very quiet - pair of kestrels hovering side-by-side at Nab Head, one broke away to move a buzzard on. 3 chough. Willow warblers calling by the Pump house. A seal pup in one of the coves.

Curlew Sandpiper - Newport

A new juvenile Curlew Sandpiper at Newport this early afternoon was a nice find on the way home after our visit to Strumble.

Teifi;-
1 juvenile Common Tern and 2 Black-tailed Godwits in front of Creek Hide on the Teifi Marshes Reserve unusual -- the tern especially?
Wigeon now up to 43 off the Railings.

Strumble (18 Sep 2011)

Time: 0630 - 1700

Weather: Sunny spells, showers

Wind: NW (F7) am then N (F8) pm

Balearic Shearwater - 15

Long Tailed Skua - 6 (6J)

Pomarine Skua - 6 (3P, 1D, 2J)

Arctic Skua - 52 (12P, 37D, 3J)

Great Skua - 34

Storm Petrel - 3

Leach's Petrel - 33

Grey Phalarope - 6

Sabine's Gull - 18 (1 Ad Win, 17J)

Little Gull - 3 (3J)

Mediterranean Gull - 1 (J)

Black Tern - 40

Comic Tern - 31

Sandwich Tern - 42

Little Tern - 4

Roseate Tern - 2

Common Scoter - 138 (26F, 112M)

Tufted Duck- 1

Red Throated Diver - 5

Bar Tailed Godwit - 1

Dunlin - 83

Little Stint - 1

Turnstone - 1

Puffin - 2

Chough - 25

Sunfish - 1

Risso's Dolphin - 3

Common Porpoise - showing off and on

Ramsey

Seawatch today (09:30-12:00) - NW 7, squally showers

Sabine's gull - 1 (adult)
Balearic shearwater - 1
Manx - 52
Arctic skua - 8 DP, 1 LP
Bonxie - 5
Common scoter - 9 (7m, 2f)
Storm petrel - 1
Sandwich tern - 5
Fulmar - 4
Kittiwake - c 400/hr

Also yellow wagtail at farm.

Strumble

No doubt a full summary from RS later, but personal highlights today (6.50-14.00) included 11 Sabine's Gulls (2 poor quality pics of juvs, 1 adult also went by), 6 Long-tailed Skuas, 7 Pomarine Skuas, 10 Leach's Petrels, 2 Roseate Terns, 2 Little Terns, 5 Balearic Shearwaters & a Storm Petrel. The portrait pic here has 4 species in it - can you name them all? Also a bizarre looking small leucistic shearwater picked up by Wdigbirder - presumably a Manx but it looked too small and had a distinctive jizz...weird!

Newport Webs

Despite the weather quite productive.
26 ea Dnlin & Ringed Plover + 1 Sanderling. 3 Greenshanks, 2 Knot & a Redshank.
7 Little Grebes, 12 Wigeon & @ c11am c1500 noisy Canadas.
On the roost 64 Curlews & 35 Oystercatchers.

Strumble (17 Sep 2011)

Time: 0630 - 1800

Weather: Sunny spells

Wind: W (F5-7)

Sooty Shearwater - 5

Balearic Shearwater - 20

Storm Petrel - 2

Leach's Petrel - 1

Long Tailed Skua - 3 (1Ad, 2J)

Pomarine Skua - 5 (3P + Spoons, 2J)

Arctic Skua - 50 (30D, 17P, 3J)

Great Skua - 46

Sabine's Gull - 2 (1Ad Sum, 1Ad Win)

Little Gull - 3 (1 2nd Win, 2J)

Mediterranean Gull - 1 (J)

Black Tern - 17

Comic Tern - 30

Sandwich Tern - 19

Common Scoter - 64 (6F, 58M)

Grey Phalarope - 2

Dunlin - 34

Knot - 50

Bar Tailed Godwit - 9

Curlew - 1

Grey Plover - 2

Puffin - 1

Chough - 3

Leatherback Turtle - 1 (About the size of a small car (!))

Pembrokeshire Bird Group

For details of the Pembrokeshire Bird group meetings this autumn and, for details of the annual conference, being generously hosted by ‘Valero Pembroke Refinery’ please use the link to ‘The Pembrokeshire Bird Group’ Blogsite.

Seconds out, round 2

A second visit to the Dale area this afternoon, and the number of waders in the field at Kete had increased again - now 5 Golden Plover, 26 Ringed Plover & 6 Dunlin! No change on the airfield and just 5 teal from the 'old' hide at Marloes Mere.

Sandpipers at Llys y Fran

Levels pretty high. Common sandpiper along edge of first field on east side (no fishermen today) - Green sandpiper up passed the hide beside the picnic table. 3 possibly 4 Little grebe, 6-7 GC grebe. Dozen or so herons sheltering from the drizzle along the west bank. Quite a bit of fly life and a few more butterflies on the wing than of late. Chiffchaffs and willow warblers picking through the bushes. Both willow and marsh tits calling.

Dale & St. Ann's

A quick scoot around early this morning with PG. Gann very quiet, 4 Ringed Plover, 1 Dunlin, 1 Redshank & 1 Whimbrel. On to the airfield, just 2 Curlew & 10+ Wheatear. St. Ann's was better, with 25 Ringed Plover & 4 Dunlin in the recently sown field at the sharp bend at Kete. Further down towards the head a wader seen briefly in flight over another recently sown field may have been interesting....Buff-breasted Sandpiper a possibility (though it may just have been a poorly seen Golden Plover!), off back this afternoon for another look.

Skomer

A few new migrants in today - the first 2 Reed Warblers of the autumn & 3 Spotted Flycatchers were the highlights.

More on Strumble legends!

Ray I had no idea you had ulterior motives for temporarily giving up your seat the other day! Mind you the next time an inquisitive and attractive woman hovers over me the next time I'm at Strumble I just might be tempted to give up my seat too!

Strumble 16.45 - 18.30 16th sept.

Wind: SW 4-5

Common Scoter - 2m

Balearic Shearwater - 2

Arctic Skua - 4 ( 3D , 1P )

Long Tailed Skua - 1 ( Adult , sadly without tail streamers )

Bonxie - 3

Sandwich Tern - 18

Common Tern - 8

Black Tern - 4

Risso's Dolphin - 2 or 3 quite distant beyond the tide race.

Rosebush/Pantmaenog

Young kestrel on fencepost beside track, 2 others above quarries at same time. Later Male kestrel hovering on the high path. 4 GS woodpecker, pair and two singles flying over. 5 jays. Group of 3 Wheatear. 2 stonechat. Swallows and pipits on top ridge. 2 ravens. A Red kite dropped into the paddock beside car park, 4 crows moved it on, it then cruised low over the area beneath car park flushing the wheatears and a large flock of pipits before drifting over the quarries and out of sight.

Sea Trust Pelagic 15 September

Miraculously we managed to get out on a Sea Trust Dolphin Survey yesterday on the Celtic Wildcat after a week of gale force winds and with the weather set to become stormy again later today. We were left sweating as to whether we would see any Dolphins as it was nearly 3 p.m. until we saw any when relatively close to land having been out to the Celtic Deep and drawn a blank. Thereafter we had some great encounters with some 150 Common Dolphins in all with one pod riding the bow wave for 20 mins or more.
The abscence of cetaceans in the first part of the trip was, however, well compensated for by the birds. Once out of the Haven we quickly saw small parties of Sandwich Terns and, whilst still quite close to shore, a lone Grey Phalarope which gave good views but sadly did not linger for photos. Kittiwakes were seen in good numbers all day and a total of 6 Sabines Gulls. Several Common Terns also passed the boat. Grassholm still has plenty of Gannets though numbers have thinned since I was last there a few weeks ago, with plenty of youngsters seen on the sea. A single Artic Skua was seen harassing a Commic Tern and the highlight for birds came when we caught up with a trawler which had a trail of birds behind it, 12 - 15 Stormies, loads of Kittiwakes and Fulmars, a few Gannets and 4 Bonxies.
To finish off the birds on the trip a small brown job flew around the boat when we were some 15 miles out eventually landing on the toecap of one of the passengers. Surely in view of it's location a Booted Warbler! Sadly no it was a Reed Warbler which was duly rescued and released safely when we got back to Neyland. For more pics click here

What makes a legend?

If Ray was not a legend before, he sure is now, talk about Noblesse Oblige!
Sadly Ray does not feature on this snap of Strumblers in the process of Strumbling!
WE also had some good birds off the Celtic Wildcat but I will leave that for Rich to decribe...

Strumble, Strumblers and the Hot Seat

Elfyn’s entry of 14 Sep awarding me the status of “Strumble legend “ rather took me by surprise. There are few who are entitled to such an accolade as most of us who strumble these day are, as John of Salisbury had it “... like dwarfs sitting on the shoulders of giants...” As to lending my seat and scope to a young lady while I went to the car for extra layers, I’m afraid the motive was not entirely altruistic: times are now past when the squire would have his bed warmed by a pretty serving maid, but one can still have one’s seat kept warm at Strumble if one plays one’s cards right.

Ramsey

Red kite over the island today. Also 5 white wagtails, a tree pipit and a pied flycatcher.

Newport.

Parrog 18.30 ~ 18 Ringed Plover, 6 Dunlin, 1 Greenshank.

Skomer

A handful of migrants around today, including the first Garden Warbler of the autumn, a couple of Tree Pipits, 10 White Wagtails and a few Goldcrests.

Ramsey Sound - from St Justinian area

Not a terrific amount of movement through the sound but pleasing to record this morning, a summer plumage black-throated diver heading south; about 100 swallows an hour for a short period; small numbers of sandwich terns also heading south and small numbers of grey wags coming in off the sea. Most surprising was a fine otter swimming south though the sound at around 1115. Notably more stonechats around today too - at least 12 in one flock at 0830.

Kete-Mill Bay

Plenty of white wagtails, one group of 25 flying over lane leading to St Ann's. A few pairs of wheatear. Flock of 30 linnets near Mill Bay with a Little grebe on the pond. 2 pairs plus a group of 5 chough. Family groups of 3 and 5 stonechats. 16 Ringed plovers in the harrowed field by Kete, along with good numbers of white wagtails and pipits. Seal pup in Mill Bay.

Goodwick am

From the Parrog and (ex)Flagpoles: 32 Sandwich Terns, 2 Commic Terns, Winter plumaged ad. Great Northern Diver, Wheatear, 4 Ringed Plovers, 4 Dunlin, 1 Knot and 1 Redshank.
Several Goldcrests with the tit flock on the Moor and Cetti's present.

Tegryn

The garden goldfinch flock is now well over 60. Knapweed doing it's job!

St Dogmaels

From Howard James - Highlights - 12 Bar tailed Godwit, 2 Common Sandpiper, 5 Little Egret, 1 Greenshank, 2 Red Kite.

Astounding 'Strumble'

I would just like to mirror Cliff's comments on sea-watching at Strumble yesterday (13/9/11).

I paid a visit to this iconic location with a friend of mine, namely Dave Cunliffe, Dave is relatively new to the 'refined art' of 'sea-watching' for seabirds at least so I was hoping that our trip down to Strumble yesterday would produce the 'goods' so to speak. When I walked into the legendary observation building I had a quick scan of the persons present and I knew immediately that here present was a crew of some of the very best 'sea-watchers' in the whole of the UK so I was rather pleased and excited about what these keen and experienced eyes might pick up during the day. Dave and I set ourselves up at the lower end of the 'pecking order' which effectively is on the 'right' side of the observation building (it's to complicated to explain here!) we arrived at 8.30am which was far to late really I reckon as one would need to be here at the crack of dawn like a true 'strumbler' to make the best of it. Anyway the list of birds seen during the day (listed on a previous blog entry) speaks for itself so I wont go into detail here all I can say is that Dave appears to have caught the Strumble bug! (Oh dear what an awful affliction! It probably means that he will want to pay another visit!). We left at around 5pm but not before being joined by Ray Wilkinson one of 'Strumbles' legendary figures. Ray duly set up his scope and chair in the location I'm accustomed to seeing him in and after a while he decided to go to his car to put on some extra gear due to the wind chill and in the interim period he loaned his seat and his scope to a lovely couple of coastal path walkers who had become fascinated by all this fantastic bird migration we were all observing. All I can say to you Ray is good on you my friend for not only being a gentleman and exhibiting the very best qualities of mankind but for giving your time and experience to these good people and clearly they went away with a good impression of Pembrokeshire birders and at the same time becoming more aware that there was a lot more out there than just a large body of water!

Blankety Blank

Off to Dale Airfield this morning with high hopes of a yank wader after all these westerlies................nothing, zilch! A few Mipits and a Pied Wag the only birds seen, not a wader in sight!
The Gann no better but an obliging Wheatear at least got me a photo or two.
Onto the Deer Park. A couple on Chiffchaffs and a pair of Blackcaps in Sash's garden and nice to see 12 Chough together. With the report from Walrus below sounds like they are really flocking up. Also 14 Seal pups on the beaches.
Pretty much the same experience yesterday at Angle with a grand total of two Ringed Plover at Kilpaison and at Angle Harbour rather better with 25 Ringed Plover, 3 Dunlin, 5 Redshank and 7 Little Egrets. Also a huge juv female Peregrine which flew out of a tree (perhaps off to Strumble to harass the Choughs?). On the shingle spit c.40 Black Headed Gulls and 3 Meds - 2 adults and a smart 1st. winter.

harriers - Dowrog

A report of Hen and imm male Marsh Harrier at the Dowrog yesterday.

Strumble 06.30 - 12.00 14th Sept

Wind: W 4 then NW 3-4

Common Scoter - 8 (7m , 1f )

Balearic Shearwater - 4

Sooty Shearwater - 3

Leach's Petrel - 7

Cormorant - 62 ( 2 flocks 8 & 54 )

Dunlin - 1

Barwit - 2

Grey Phalarope - 1

Pom Skua - 9 ( 4 pale , 2 with spoons & 5 Juvs )

Arctic Skua - 22 ( 7 Pale , 13 Dark & 2 Juv )

Long Tailed Skua - 1 ( Juv )

Bonxie - 39

Little Gull - 1 ( 1w )

Sabines Gull - 2 Ad.

Sandwich Tern - 16

Arctic Tern - 2

Commic Tern - 7

Roseate Tern - 1

Black Tern - 2

1 Sunfish

Strumble, best birding in Wales?

In a mere two and a half hours we Strumblers amassed  several Balearic Shearwaters a couple of Sooties, thousands of Manxies (so good to see them fit and coping with the elements),  scores of Skuas, (all four species), Sabines Gulls, Leaches Peterels, a couple of Black Terns, loads of Gannets Auks, Kittiwakes, etc.

A dozen Ravens flew over my head as I left the bleak bunker and climbed back to my car. Just as I began to unload my car I heared Choughs. Grabbing my camera I was amazed to see an angry mob twenty six strong, following another one which was mobbing a big female peregrine!!!

  

I have been thrilled, amazed and astounded by Peregrines for over forty years but never before seen such a wierd bit of behaviour. All this in two and a half hours, Strumble really does the business on occasions. I only wish I was a good enough photographer to do it justice!!

Sabine's, Leach's, Long-tailed, ++ Strumble

Adult Sabine's Gull, 4 Leach's Petrel, and 29 Bonxies by 08:30.
4 species of skua before 07:00...
Full species count later.........

Skokholm -- Sabine's Gull

1 adult summer plumage feeding offshore at 10:30.
06:50 - 08:50-
9 Balearic Shearwaters, 1 Arctic Skua, and 1 Bonxie.
(Mark H.)
1 Pied Flycatcher
(Jerry)

Skomer;-
1 Spotted Flycatcher,
(Dave B.)

BTO Migration blog

I've been too busy to keep up with everything that's going on, so I've only just discovered the BTO migration blog which uses birdtrack data, and puts sightings into perspective.

Dyfi Ospreys

Today was spent at the Dyfi Osprey project looking at an empty nest !! However, that is excellent news as having fledged three chicks possibly this morning was the day the last of them went off for the winter. Not only is this the first breeding in the Dovey for many years but the first time the breeding of both birds of a new pair has been studied in such detail. Not only that but the results and info have been made freely available to thousands of visitors as well as providing good and exciting views. Many congratulations to the Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust and the Dyfi Osprey team. Not strictly pembrokeshire but on our doorstep and following many sightings over the years of passage birds it would be truly wonderful if we had a story such as this of our own.
More info on
http://www.montwt.co.uk/dyfiospreys.html

Strumble 1610 to 1830 hrs

Wind W; dropped to Force 6 then increased to Gale 8

Bonxie - 17

Arctic Skua - 7 (all D)

Sandwich Tern - 3

Common Tern - 2

Oystercatcher - 6 (on the move)

Red-throated Diver -1 (Summer Plumage)

Chough - 1

Rosebush/Pantmaenog

Very quiet - apart from a handful of pipits and a pair of raven, just a female kestrel having a look around the lower areas.

Ramsey

2 quick 1 hour seawatches today produced of note:

Bonxie - 6
Arctic skua - 8
Common scoter - 6
Sandwich tern - 38
Bar-tailed godwit - 5

Wryneck still near house.

Strumble Head 06.30 - 16.10 13th Sept.

Wind : SW 6-8

Common Scoter - 30 ( 27m , 3 F )

Red Throated Diver - 1 ( Summer Plumage )

Balearic Shearwater - 13

Sooty Shearwater - 18

Leach's Petrel - 12

Knot - 5

Barwit - 5

Grey Phalarope - 1

Pom Skua - 5 ( 1 Pale Ad with Spoons , 4 Juv )

Arctic Skua - 52 ( 20 Pale , 29 Dark , 3 Juv )

Long Tailed Skua - 5 ( All Juv )

Bonxie - 41

Sabines Gull - 7 ( 2 Ad , 5 Juv )

Little Gull - 3 ( All 1st W )

Sandwich Tern - 215 ( Probably more )

Commic Tern - 91

Roseate Tern - 1

Little Tern - 2

Black Tern - 1

Puffin - 1

Sunfish - 1

Newport Tues am

Still 3 Greenshanks at the bridge. 300+ Canadas came in at 9-30 with a Greylag & a hybrid. 26 Oystercatchers, 43 Curlews & the Barwit on the roost. I couldn't see any small waders (from the N side).

Skokholm -- Sabine's Gull

06:45 -08:30;-
1 Juvenile Sabine's Gull, 2 Arctic Skua, 1 Bonxie, 10 Sandwich Terns, 34 commic Terns.
(Mark H.)

Leach's Petrels -- Strumble

7 Leach's Petrels past by 08:00.
Species counts later..... from Adrian.

Skomer

Managed to squeeze in a couple of seawatches today, very quiet in the morning but this evening saw 6 Arctic Skuas, about 50 commic terns & a Black Tern (Skomer tick!)

There were still 2 Wrynecks at the Farm on Saturday & 1 yesterday but I couldn't find any today

Flagpoles 17.00 ( Not strictly true , the poles have been sawn off ! )

5 Wigeon

Eclipse Drake Pintail ( You can just make him out in the bad pic )

Drake Common Scoter

16 Turnstones

Ad. Med Gull

13 Sandwich Terns

1st w Common Tern

Ramsey

2 x 1.5 hour seawatches today. The early morning one was quiet with only 2 arctic skuas, 2 common scoters and 4 sandwich terns of note. The late afternoon one was more interesting with 7 Balearic shearwaters, 2 arctic skuas and 1 bonxie.

Strumble 06.30 - 13.00 12th Sept.

Wind: SSW 8-9

Common Scoter - 15 ( 12m, 3f )

Balearic Shearwater - 4

Sooty Shearwater - 2

Barwit - 5

Arctic Skua - 6 ( 1D , 3P , 2 Juv )

Long Tailed Skua - 1 ( Juv )

Bonxie - 3

Sabines Gull - 5 ( 2 Ad , 3 Juv )

Sandwich Tern - 6

Common Tern - 9

Arctic Tern - 7

Commic Tern - 84 ( Probably many more )

Little Tern - 2

Solva

Little Egret in Solva harbour this morning, possibly the same bird that wintered here last year.

Strumble (11 Sep 2011)

Time: 0615 - 1630

Weather: Sunny spells

Wind: SW (F8)

Sooty Shearwater - 3

Balearic Shearwater - 6

Storm Petrel - 2

Long Tailed Skua - 3 (3J)

Pomarine Skua - 3 (3J)

Arctic Skua - 26 (7P, 18D, 1J)

Great Skua - 8

Sabine's Gull - 5 (3Ad Sum, 2J)

Little Gull - 5 (5J)

Comic Tern - 172

Sandwich Tern - 20

Roseate Tern - 2

Little Tern - 2

Black Tern - 3

Common Scoter - 29 (4F, 25M)

Puffin - 2

Whimbrel - 3

Curlew - 1

Bar Tailed Godwit - 10

Dunlin - 8

Ringed Plover - 2

Knot - 8

Chough - 2

Peregrine - 1

Sunfish - 1

Common Porpoise - showing well

Curlew Sandpipers, Osprey -- Teifi

Patch;-
HT c730am, 1 juvenile Curlew Sandpiper, 20 Sanderling, c40 Ringed Plover, c20 Dunlin, 3 Turnstone.

St. Doqmael's Quay;-
c half-time in the rugby....1 juvenile Osprey perched opposite the Quay, it then went fishing and returned flying upstream with fish.
Webley;-
1 Different juvenile Curlew Sandpiper with 5 Knot.
HT at 19:00 - 9 Black-tailed Godwits, 8 Bar-tailed Godwits.

Common Rosefinch -- Skokholm

Still present around the garden this morning.
Sea-watch 06:40 - 08:20;-
1 Balearic Shearwater, 4 Bonxie, 2 Black Tern, 292 commic Terns.
(Mark H.)

Free Birds.

L-R Sarah , Annie and Bob ringing shearwaters prior to release.

Just getting over a few hectic days and a great game of rugby (argghh so near...) , so sorry not to have posted this earlier.

The picture is of Sarah Allen assisting Annie and Bob Haycock, ringing shearwaters prior to release from the Stena Europe just off The Tusker Rock Lighthouse.  The waters were relatively sheltered there and there were also concentrations of Manxies  nearby.

It seemed that all of them were very healthy and of an optimum weight for migration (at between 350 and 400 grammes) . No need to feed them, no need to clean them and they were certainly as waterproof, as they were ever likely to be. There are no gaurantees but local experts Jean Haines and John Hayes had kept them calm and unstressed until we picked them up and got them on the ship. They were certainly fit and feisty, as our fingers bore the marks of their indignation at the indignity of being handled and ringed but this was minimal. They all flew off safely and we can only hope the brief interruption to their migration south will be the first of many more circumnavigations of the Atlantic.

In Calmer conditions and without the threat of continued storms we would have released them earlier from the ship, but our decision to wait until we reached the lee of the Irish mainland and Tusker Reef seemed to be confirmed by the number of birds already taking shelter there.

The next few stormy days will be a trial for many more migrating birds, lets hope not too many more will end up on the beaches but if they do, With Stena's Help and the expertise of local people we will do our best to get them back to sea as soon as possible. It was great to be a small cog in a team that worked together to help our birds, thanks for all the messages of support! Thanks too to Sea Trust Volunteers Barbara Davies who had to travel back to Burry Port in the early hours of the morning and Jessica  Creak who filmed the release on her i-phone!

If you find any lost manxies John Hayes (daytime number)  is 01646 649 337 if anyone has Jean Hayes perhaps they could supply that too, or call me on 01348 875639.

allthingsgood, cliff

Curlew Sandpiper -- Teifi

1 Juvenile Curlew Sandpiper was roosting on Patch at HT this evening with c40 Ringed Plover, c20 Dunlin. Slightly earlier, c20 Sanderling on Poppit.
HT roosting also brought 3 Black & 5 Bar- tailed Godwits to The Webley, with 2 Redshank.

The Osprey having been seen flying this afternoon, was found perched in trees opposite St. Dogmael's Quay at 18:00 where it remained until 18:30 when it flew towards the mouth of the river.
From The Quay today, Knot and 1 Wigeon.
(John O'S)

Ty Rhyg

Spent best part of an hour sheltering from the rain and watching the clearfelled area on the farside, some new ditches excavated since I was last here - quite a few wagtails (8-10 white and 6 grey) the whites seemed to be the most aggressive chasing off any greys that strayed onto their patch, group of 10 mistle thrush, pair GS woodpecker, nuthatch, jay, lots of chiffchaff/willow warblers, 2 spotted flycatchers and a male sparrowhawk, with a few swallows still around.

Turtle Dove

On the road between St Ishmaels & Mullock farm this afternoon, it flew up as I drove past & landed behind my car. I pulled into a gateway to get a decent look, but a following car caused it to fly off & vanish over the hedge. Pity, my first for Wales & the last one I saw was in Devon many moons ago. Elsewhere a Kingfisher at Sandy Haven Chapel, 1 Knot, 1 Barwit at the Gann & the tame Barwit at Dale airfield.

Strumble (10 Sep 2011)

Time: 0615 - 1400

Weather: Heavy squally showers

Wind: SSW (F7-8)

Sooty Shearwater - 1

Balearic Shearwater - 3

Arctic Skua - 26 (9P, 11D, 6J)

Great Skua - 4

Sabine's Gull - 3 (3 Ad Sum)

Little Gull - 1 (J)

Mediterranean Gull - 1 (J)

Comic Tern - 163

Sandwich Tern - 13

Little Tern - 1

Black Tern - 1

Common Scoter - 37 (5F, 32M)

Teal - 4

Wigeon - 5

Whimbrel - 4

Bar Tailed Godwit - 1

Dunlin - 20

Snipe - 3

Puffin - 2

Chough - 1

Wheatear - 1

Common Porpoise - showing well all day

slow worm - toad - birds etc.

The WNFC (Wexford Naturalist's Field Club) will be in Pembrokeshire for their annual visit next week-end; 16/17/18th Sept.
This year they have decided to head south for a change, so will be in the Bosherton area looking at the wide variety of wildlife down south.
The usual request has come from the party however...........
If anyone can let us know good spots for slow worms or toads, please get in touch.
Contact us via the Green Dragon website, www.greendragonbus.co.uk
or email: admin AT prta.co.uk

Ramsey - Wryneck

Wryneck still present around farmhouse today. Probably the same bird that has been here all week.

Freshwater West

On a stroll along the beach to blow away the cobwebs at Freshwater West the sun came out briefly and 14 Sanderling racing along the tide edge enlivened the scene. A dozen or so Ringed Plover were on the sands at Little Furzenip

Common Rosefinch -- Skokholm

Still present this morning.
Also 1 juvenile Little Gull and 1 Bonxie past.
(Mark H.)

From the middle of the Irish Sea . . . .

We have successfully released 60 Manx shearwaters into the western side of the Irish Sea this evening.  They all flew off happily down to the sea, probably relieved to smell the salt air again.

In addition we saw a few seabirds - including common, arctic, roseate and little terns, adult Sabine's gull, juvenile pomarine skua, bonxie, guillemots, puffins.  No cetaceans today.

Many thanks to Stena and staff for allowing us to use their ship - and to Cliff for organising it.  Not forgetting John Hayes and Jeans Haines and all others who have been looking after the shearwaters since they were stranded. And to the volunteers who helped us with the release.

Newport Fri am

At the bridge 4 Little Grebes, 2 Common Sands & 2 Greenshank. The small wader flock in the Boat Club creek - 33 Dunlin, 15 Ringed Plovers & 3 Sanderling. The Barwit still present, a regular (Blue BHS) Gloucester landfill Herring Gull, c35 Curlews on the roost & ,c10-30 c130 noisy Canadas flew in from the North.

Common Rosefinch -- Skokholm

1 Still around the garden this morning.
(Mark H.)

manx shearwaters

Can I, as someone not personally involved, just say a big thankyou to the people who are working so hard to get so many stranded shearwaters back out into the Irish sea where they belong. Good on you, & well done.

Skokholm -- Sooty Shearwater

1 Sooty, 1 Arctic Skua(PP), and 6+ Common Dolphins this morning before 08:00.
(Mark H.)

Teifi -- Osprey

The presumed 1 individual, Osprey ventured down to the mouth of the Teifi at 07:15 this for 5 mins before flying back upstream. Present now since 23rd August.

4 Sanderling, 7 Ringed Plover and a couple of Dunlin on Patch.
c60 small waders on the end of Poppit last night, presumed gone on the HT. 5 Bar-tailed Godwits flushed with the Curlews & Oystercatchers as the Osprey went back upstream

Newport last night -- all change too?
38 Dunlin, 24 Ringed Plover & 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, in a brief look on the mud.

Shearwater update...

Hi all,
Pembrokeshires birding communities finest are working flat out together to ring, box and deliver Manxies so we can release them with the feeding flocks off the Irish coast tomorrow afternoon. Hopefully we will be able to help out the RSPCA with the birds they rescued at some later date, allthingsgood, the walrus!

Strumble 1520 to 1840 hrs

Wind WSW to SW 3 occasionally 4.

Black Tern 1

Sandwich Tern 11

Common Tern 10

Dunlin 6

Balearic Shearwater 6

Arctic Skua 1 (P)

Pomarine Skua 1

Bonxie 7

Long-tailed Skua 1 (Juv)

Sunfish 1

Common Porpoise were showing well in the tide race throughout the watch

Dale

On the airfield a tame Bar-tailed Godwit on the flooded runway that not only had the good grace to allow close approach but also stood quite still at times, an essential quality for the opportunistic hand-held-digiscoper that I am. On to the Gann and another 5 Bar-wits (2 on the lagoon, 3 on the beach), and an impressive 31 Knot (1 on the lagoon, 30 in one flock on the beach), along with 7 Dunlin & 7 Ringed Plover. I was hoping for something more exotic somewhere - lots of Pectoral Sandpipers around the country (e.g. 4 together in Cornwall) and a mini influx of Buff-breasted Sandpipers (especially Cornwall, Scilly & Southern Ireland). Get out there!

Strumble -- Sabine's Gull

06:30 - 08:30;-
1 Juvenile Sabine's Gull, 4 Balearic Shearwaters, 3 Sooty Shearwaters, 12 Bonxie, 6 Arctic skuas.
(Adrian R. et al)

Skokholm -- Sabine's Gull

1 Juvenile Sabine's Gull past the lighthouse at 07:45 today.
1 Balearic & 2 Sooty Shearwaters, 2 Arctic skuas(DP & juv) 2 Bonxie, 1 Storm Petrel, & 1 Harbour Porpoise. also 23 Ravens overhead.
(Mark H.)

Wednesday Flagpoles

After an amazing morning at Strumble had a quick look at the flagpoles

Ad winter Med Gull

Sandwich Tern 4

Ringed Plover 10

Oystercatcher 20

Turnstone 4

Manxies continued...

Captain Bob Wheel  about to release a Manx Shearwater from the bridge wing of the "Stena Europe"

Bob Haycock and Steve Sutcliffe and other local experts will be working with John Hayes to ring about twenty storm blown manxies handed in to them from all over the south of the county. They will then box them up and we will take them on the Stena Europe on Friday for release amongst the manxie flocks sheltering off the Tusker Rock. John is hoping the RSPCA, having sorted out the birds they took to Taunton will return them here so we can take them as well in the next few days. Thanks to Stena Line and all interested parties for their willingness to work together for the shearwaters benefit, a great piece of teamwork!

Evening Shift Strumble 17.45 - 19.00

Wind WSW F 5 - 6

Sooty Shearwater - 5

Balearic Shearwater - 4

Arctic Skua - 2 ( Juvs )

Bonxie - 1 ( Heading East then later seen doing it's worst in a feeding flock ! )

Sandwich Tern - 3

Commic Tern - 4

Puffin - 1 ( Juv )

Wind still very strong when i left , see what tomorrow brings !

Strumble -- Wednesday totals

06:00- 16:00, wind generally W f3-6

4 Great Shearwaters,
82 Sooty Shearwaters,
12 Balearic Shearwaters,
2 Long-tailed Skuas,
29 Bonxie,
17 Arctic Skuas, (6LP)
4 Puffin,
2 Black Tern,
3 Roseate Tern,
10 Sandwich Tern,
50 commic Tern,
4 Sabine's Gulls,
1 Little Gull,
8 Storm Petrel,
1 LB Brent Goose.
For the morning, manxies at c5000 ph.

Newgale - this morning

I visited Newgale earlier following reports on TV last night. At the Rickets Head end of Newgale beach there were hundreds (yes) of Manx shearwaters in the surf trying to get out to sea, and safety. Gulls were simply waiting for the exhausted birds to come ashore and provide a meal. At least 50 dead MShears partially eaten were near the rocks. Victims of the storm also included some Gannets, both adult and this years birds and also an Atlantic Grey Seal in milk.

Unfortunately with storms from SW and W at this time of year we see this on Newgale beach. Well done to the RSPCA and people like the gentleman I met this morning for rescuing as many birds as they have.

I have chosen not to put any pictures along side this posting

Ramsey

Highlights from Lisa, Nia and Dewi's seawatching this morning between 08:50 and 12:00 were:

Sooty Shearwater 7
Balearic Shearwater 3
Bonxie 3
Arctic Skua 3
Common Scoter 9
Manxie 1,200/hr
Common Sandpiper 1
Turnstone 1

Wryneck still in farmhouse garden

Angle Area

At Kilpaison early afternoon the windy and gloomy conditions made counting the waders something of a challenge and photography even more so. Nevertheless it was worth the effort with 100+ Ringed Plovers, 4 Knot, 17 Sanderling, 15 Turnstone, 25 Dunlin, 2 juv Curlew Sandpipers and 1 (possibly 2) juv Little Stint. Also 3 Wigeon.
At Bosherston earlier it had been quiet apart from a couple of hundred Martins - mainly Sand- feeding over the ponds.
At Freshwater West up the road a little towards Castlemartin there had been a juv Cuckoo flying and briefly perched on the roadside fence. No sign at Fresh West or Kilpaison of Storm Driven Manxies so hopefully the worst is over.