Marloes Peninsular this weekend

A wonderful weekend in the Marloes area, with a very large flock of starlings (many thousands, perhaps 10,000+) doing the rounds of the local fields. Martin's Haven had a really interesting "fall" of thrushes, with a handful of Redwings and a Fieldfare adding to up to 30 Blackbirds that were feeding heavily on sloes in the valley, along with 4 Blackcaps (1M, 3F-type). Interestingly, a substantial majority of the Blackbirds were male 1W birds, with very dark bills. The valley also saw a steady stream of Chaffinches and Skylarks in and across, as well as regular small groups of tits and a pair of Reed Bunting.

A lovely surprise this morning was a Short-eared Owl that I flushed in the valley and which flew across the Deer Park. This evening it was back, hunting in the dusk. On the fields we have had up to 27 Chough on the Trehill Farm fields.

A couple of quick trips to the Gann gave up to 25 Teal, 27 Redshank, and 20+ Snipe, a Bar-tailed Godwit and a solitary Dunlin. Also up to 6 Dabchicks, my the first Goldeneye of winter (1M, 3F) and a pale-bellied Brent.

On the way to St Bride's, a male Black Redstart at Orlandon Farm cottages and a Female-type at St Bride's Church were my first ever in Pembrokeshire! Over St Brides Haven, a male Merlin chasing a Snipe (unsuccessfully).