An interesting day of sorts

A big day out today with Paul G on the Marloes/Dale peninsula. First light at Martin's Haven revealed a Ring Ouzel with Blackbirds & Song Thrushes, small flocks of Starlings heading towards Skomer, and 21 Chough in the field above Rath Cottage. On to Marloes Mere (virtually waterless) 19 Lapwing went over, 2 Snipe from the old hide, 14 Wigeon in flight and a total of 8 Teal. Walking through some long grass adjacent to a stubble field behind the hide I glimpsed a small gamebird at close range that was either a late Quail (last report on Birdguides 16th October) or a very late very young Pheasant! Needless to say it shot off into the long grass and we failed to relocate it.

However, intriguing/frustrating bird of the day went to a pipit that I virtually stood on in the corner of one of the fields being reclaimed as heathland near the Mere just after 10am. It called loudly, twice, as it flew up from virtually under my feet, a clear, flat, and penetrating 'spiz' very similar to a Tree Pipit....it's a bit late for that species, and the call sounded subtly different, plus Tree Pipits tend to not let you get that close (2m!) before flying. It most likely was an Olive-backed Pipit (played the call later on an MP3 and it was spot on) but will have to join the list of the-ones-that-got-away (a list to make you cry!).

Highlight of the day went to a total of 18 Lapland Buntings on Dale Airfield - 11 on the central triangle north of the main runway (flocks of 7 & 4), and a further 7 (4 & 3) in two stubble fields to the north of here. The stubbles held in excess of 200 Skylarks so well worth keeping an eye on. A male Merlin here (PG had an immature earlier at Marloes village), at the Gann a Greenshank & 4 Redshank (plis 2 Little Egret), and the only Chiffchaff of the day were 2 by the Pump House at St. Bride's. Not a bad effort for such a windy day.