Not much but...

A Kite seen off the A40 near the "Corner Post" pub between Scleddau and H/west late afternoon, moving west (21/12/11) may have been using the nearby landfil tip along with thousands of starlings and hundreds of gulls. Kites have been scarce hearabouts in North Pembs recently.  Probably a site worth checking by the serious birders...
Not particularly rare but the adult gannet I saw today off the Outer Breakwater at Fishguard was unusual for the time of year and the only animal of note, no Divers, no Snow Buntings and only waders seen were Oykers. As it was getting dark, a black redstart flipped over the lorry drivers restroom opposite the station platform seen very briefly.

One last look...

At the Gann this afternoon, only 8 Brent, 14 Wigeon, 19 Turnstones, 15 Dunlin, 4-5 Goldeneye 4 Little Grebe, 1 ad Med Gull. Earlier at Sandy Haven farm c500 Lapwing. Also at Talbeny, about 30 Daffodils in flower - not plastic! So much for long range weather forcasting.

Tresinwen (31 Dec 11)

1 Short Eared Owl hunting after 4pm tonight (after the low cloud finally lifted a little).  Hunting over sheep fields between Tresinwen and Bronmor.  So frustrating with this weather and such a cracking bird a stones' throw away!!!  Two days left before back to work - everything crossed that we might see the sun again soon.....

Ramsey - Little Gulls

2 Little Gulls in Ramsey Sound this morning - 1 adult winter and 1 1st winter

Marloes Peninsula

There seem to be around 1,500 Lapwings in the fields just south of Trehill Farm at the moment. Very hard to count with any degree of certainty as they are very mobile or hiding in the vegetation but by far the biggest flock I have seen in the area for some years.

There is a lot of water on Marloes Mere at the moment but relatively few ducks around and not a single snipe today - too warm I guess.

Pembroke Mill Pond

Hi,there was a smart male R-b Merganser on Pembroke mill pond at about 4.20 this pm.He was diving close to the road bridge near the bread-eating swans but keeping well clear of them.

Cheers,Alan Collens.

Water Pipit @ Newgale

A veritable Pipit-fest on the campsite at Newgale this morning with a Water Pipit, 11 Rock Pipits and 7 Meadow Pipits. Poor light and not easy to digiscope, but the picture shows the main features (with a Meadow on the right). The ducks on the marsh were all put to flight as a gaggle of shooters set to work on them - the two Canada Geese missing a pot shot as we left....

St.Davids Airfield

A mid morning walk round the Airfield produced two Short-eared Owls and Peregrine. No sign yet of the Shoveler that normally Winter on Vachelich Moor, and the Water Rails don't seem to have recovered from last December's cold snap.

Strumble

A seawatch at Strumble this morning (08:55 - 11:10) didn't produce anything unusual, best spectacle went to the auks (most were Guillemots in s/p) with a sample count at 9.30 producing an estimate of 3,276 per hour! Also 5 Common Scoter (3m, 2f), 19 Gannets (all bar 4 were adults), a sprinkling of Fulmar, a single Red-throated Diver and Kittiwakes moving at perhaps 100/hour.

A few sites checked around St. David's, most exciting was the Short-eared Owl flushed from beside the public footpath at Lleithyr - like the Strumble bird RS reports, I think I was more startled than the Owl!

With just two days left my year list stands at 211 - will there be any last minute surprises in store? if you know of a Green Woodpecker, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Tree Sparrow, Long-eared Owl, or anything scarce (e.g. Marsh Harrier, Hooded Crow, Long-tailed Duck) do let me know please!

Ramsey

4 Balearic shearwaters off the north end of the island in a feeding frenzy that formed in the same area as yesterday on the ebb tide. 4 gannets today and good numbers of auks again (c 800/hr going north to south)

Glaucous Gull

1 imm. in fields between Scleddau an Fishguard this afternoon.
(Ed Hunter)

Tresinwen (29 Dec 11)

Short sea watch from the garden this morning before horizontal rain stopped play produced streams of Auks flying West and one Juv Pomarine Skua close in trying to avoid a squall.

Noted a walker on the coast path flush a Short Eared Owl - don't know who was more startled as the walker seemed to jump out of his skin!  At least it proves the Owls are still around.  Unfortunetly the weather forecast for the next few days does not look good for photography - doh!

Plumstone Mountain last night

Another astonishing spectacle as thousands of starlings flew in almost continuous carpets of birds to roost.
No aerial displays, they just flew directly into the north-east corner of the plantation.
The raptors started flying in from 1600, and included 4 Peregrines (2m, 2f), up to 3 Buzzards, a Sparrowhawk, and 3 Hen Harriers (2f, 1m)

Elsewhere, in Martins Haven a Snipe and a Water Rail in the sallows, up to 15 Chough on the fields.

Tresinwen (28 Dec 11)

Over the last 4 days, in very poor weather, I have been studying the Owls here to try to understand where they like to hunt.  There is one field in particular that is a firm favourite.  I was therefore excited to wake this morning to actually see the sun!!!!!  This afternoon I planted myself at the corner of the Owls' favourite field, fully camouflaged, and waited with camera ready.....

.....and waited

.....and waited

.....and waited

They never showed!  Typical!

Some shots from the garden:

Glaucous Gull

A trip down south this morning to search Carmarthen Bay produced a single Eider at Amroth, and between here and Wiseman's Bridge at least 42 Red-throated Diver, 3 Red-breasted Merganserand around 50 Common Scoter. Plenty of ducks and waders at Lawrenny Quay including 2 Grey Plover and 4 Bar-tailed Godwit. A search of likely Lesser Spotted Woodpecker habitat along the Eastern Cleddau drew a blank, but at the end of the day Llys-y-fran Reservoir came up trumps with a juvenile Glaucous Gull (the first in Pembs this year?) - a nice dark biscuit bird with a stonking dipped-in-ink bill. Also here an adult Yellow-legged Gull and 2 adult Mediterranean Gulls amongst a sizeable roost - perhaps 2,000 LBBGs and 1,000 BHGs (plus 50 odd HGs and around 15 Common Gulls).

The Gann

200 meters out at low tide & blowing a gale - to concur with Dave, Brents now 34, 4 Grey Plover, in amongst some 500 B/H/Gulls I counted 7 Meds. I gave up checking through the Common Gulls as the wind was rocking my tripod (and me) so much.

Ramsey Sound 27th Dec - Med Gulls, little gulls, divers etc

From St Justinan end, watching for several hours, noted usual "resident?" mixed small gull flocks feeding in the tide-race mostly on the Ramsey-side opposite our watch-point. These included 200-300 kittiwakes (good numbers of 1st winter birds noted), similar number of black-headed gulls, at least 3 adult med gulls and 3 little gulls (2 first winter and one second-winter birds) - probably the same individuals recorded previously on 20th Dec. About 10 common gulls  went south through the sound but these did not appear to be staying to feed with the kittiwakes etc that hung around most of the day. Other birds feeding in the tide-race included razorbills (30+) and several guillemots. Very few auks in the Sound were noted in flight - most were typically just floating/swimming south today in the strong current, diving occasionally as they went.

There was also a small southerly passage of divers through the sound. Individual birds were noted flying through between 1100 and 1330 hrs.  They included a few red-throated and two black-throated divers.  It was noticeable that there were a lot more gulls and flying auks etc to the north that were heading along the north side of Ramsey and not passing though the Sound, so other divers etc may have been missed?

Ramsey - Balearics

Quick seawatch from 10:40-11:40. Highlights were 3 Balearic shearwaters and 6 gannets. Also a flock of 40 teal and auks passing at a rate of approx 400/hr. Few juv kittiwakes amongst the adults and good numbers of fulmars (which have been on ledges c. 50% of December)

Great Grey Shrike - Pantmaenog

GGS was relocated up the valley beyond Pantmaenog House, SN087316 it flitted along the path infront of me eventually moving between the tall tree remains at SN087311 before flying back in the direction where originally seen. Pair kestrels here.

Kestrel and 4 snipe at Ty Rhyg on way back, with numbers of fieldfare passing west in groups of 20-40.

Pembroke Dock & Bosherston

From Dean Maiden - 30+ Black Tailed Godwits, 10 Shellduck and a Mallard or ten down at Warrior Way in Pembroke Dock today feeding on the bottom of the tide.

And from John Ramm - Walking this afternoon from Castlemartin to Bosherston it was a delight to see vast numbers of guillemots on South Stack - a stupendous sight that never ceases to thrill - but at Bosherston there were also good views of goosanders (3 males and 2 females) and 7 goldeneyes (3 males and 4 females). Sadly not a single chough sighted all day.

Mandarin & Gann

A walk at Westfield Pill this morning finally produced the female Mandarin, half way up the pill on the right hand (east) side in front of the reed bed with a group of Mallard. Whilst I agree with Allan that the origin of the bird is uncertain, unless it can be proven to have escaped then the decent sized feral breeding population in the UK gives it adequate cover at least to make it tickable in my opinion. If not, I suggest everyone scrubs it from their County lists! Also here a Kingfisher between the two weirs.

Late afternoon at the Gann the Brent count had increased to 34, and on the beach at low tide at least 7 Mediterranean Gulls pre-roost (6 adults, 1 1stW).

Tresinwen (27 Dec 11)

Another sea watch and another Owl watch....

On the sea watching front, from the bottom of the garden, the Manx and at least 4 dark Balearics still present and also 1 Adult Med Gull, 1 Great Northern Diver and 1 Red Throated Diver seen.

Saw 2 Short Eared Owls this afternoon (2pm onwards) but no sign of the Long Eared.  (I suspected yesterday that there were three owls but never saw two Shorties at the same time).  The two Owls today were showing very well indeed.  Also seen were a juvenile Goshawk, a Merlin and a Sparrowhawk.

Cold Turkey...

The desire to break free of the vicious circle of Pinot Noir, dark chocolate & other blood pressurising foods, found me taking a walk from Musselwick to Monkhaven. On a far out tide, there were 31 Brent,(as per Dave) 1 adult Med, & few small waders that I couldn`t make out at distance, 1 Kestrel (f?) St Ishmaels WWTW was quiet.

Newgale / Goultrop

Had a look at Newgale marsh, plenty of gulls coming & going, no RBG, but another one of those LBB/Herring crosses, with so much streaking it`s head was almost brown. Stopped at Goultrop on the way back - 40 Common Scoter & 1 G/N Diver.

Newport

An excellent view of a single black tailed godwit from close to Newport Boat Club (2.00 p.m.), about 15 ringed plovers and a number of turnstones. At Newport bridge 2 pairs of dabchicks.

(John Ramm)

Tresinwen (26 Dec 11) (The Long & Short of it)

In between prolonged periods of horizontal rain this afternoon I tried to do some sea watching from the bottom of the garden.  Lots of birds - masses of Auks and Kittiwakes feeding along the tide race zone with small numbers of Gannet as well.  A Puffin seen along with one Manx and 4 Balearic in with the feeding Auks.

Late afternoon / early evening (when the horizontal rain finally stopped) the Short Eared Owl started to show off and on and then a Long Eared Owl showed briefly hunting in an area with lots of willow scrub!  (My first for Strumble).

Ring-billed Gull

A brief stop at Newgale Marsh this morning was rewarded with an adult Ring-billed Gull bathing on the flood, after a few minutes it flew off south (at 10.25am). Not the best pics but you can see what it is! My first ever RBG at Newgale (as far as I can recall without checking records) in 23 years of watching.

Brents & Meds

A late morning walk at Blackpool Mill produced 3 Dippers and a selection of woodland birds including Marsh Tit and Nuthatch. And lots of drizzle!

Late afternoon the Gann was lively (in weather and bird terms), most impressive was a count of 31 Brent Geese - 11 of these feeding on the edge of the pool below the road/farm, 1 of which was an adult bird that I would suggest is a hybrid Black Brant / pale-bellied Brent. Very dark upperparts, dark underparts (but not dark enough for a Brant) and a striking white flank flash, as well as a distinct, tall, pale neck mark (which did not meet in the middle). Well worth a look. One of the 20 birds in the beach may have been a dark-bellied bird but not good views. Also of note:

Grey Plover 2

Greenshank 1

Bar-tailed Godwit 1

Dunlin 1

Redshank 8

Ringed Plover 12

Turnstone 15

Little Egret 2

Wigeon 7

Teal 30

Goldeneye 8

Around at Dale a nice gull roost, with 11 Mediterranean Gulls (10 adults, 1 2nd-winter). Merry Christmas everyone.

Newport, Teifi.....

Newport;-
Gulls.......and c1000 at Newport this morning, surprisingly c800 Black-headed. 1 adult Med. and c50 Common Gulls alongside the large, mainly Herring Gulls. c50 Wigeon from the Boat Club, and 1 Goldeneye above the bridge.

Teifi- Webley, still only 14 Dunlin our meagre small wader population !!
(Karen & Rich D)

Westfield Pill.Mandarin Duck Records.

Still present this morning,and likely to remain until the end of winter.This site has claimed the majority of Pembrokeshire records.The first two were drakes,26/6/90,and13/4/97,all the others have been females,16/11/00,9/11/08 until 6/03/09,1/12/10 until 25/2/11.The current bird was found 8/12/11.Although this site is obviously suited for this species,other suitable locations have no records.Why?We may never discover the provenance of these birds,i suspect a nearby source,making them a very questionable tick.

Tresinwen (24 Dec 11)

Tried to see whether the Short Eared Owl was still present (see blog 2 weeks ago).  While scanning from the bottom of the garden just after lunch I found a large dog fox hunting the fields behind the house (a common sight around here).  After a while it started to head off, hunting along a hedge row.  As I watched it flushed a Short Eared Owl from the hedge!  Great stuff!

Merlin

A Merlin flew west over Westfield Pill this morning, sadly no sign of the Mandarin (again). At Newgale Marsh this afternoon an impressive 97 Teal with 2 Wigeon, and 8 Rock Pipits on the campsite. A wander around St. David's Head and surrounding fields found plenty of corvids but no sign of the Hooded Crow seen earlier in the week by Mike. Merry Christmas everyone!

Happy Christmas!

Happy Christmas to all from Pembrokeshire Birds. Many thanks to all contributors. Enjoy the festivities and good birding in 2012!

Click on the Robin for a festive greeting.

Richard Crossen & Richard Dobbins

Black Redstart

Still present at Pembroke Dock - feeding in the covered slipway, good views, a lovely little bird. Won`t see him until Jan 3rd, hope he`s still there when we return.

GP

There was a large flock of GPs in their usual spot between Frenni Fach & F-Fawr this morning. Unfortunately we were running late so an estimate of "over" 700 is a rather vague guess. If they are about tommorrow I'll stop for a better count.

Newport

A hop (not a skip, yet..) down to the boat club found ~ 9 Ringed Plover, 4 Dunlin, 1 Barwit, 5 Turnstone, 1 GC Grebe.

Black Redstart & Others

Still present today at Pembroke Dock. also 3 Woodcock flew over betwwen the 2 Cleddau bridges around dusk. 1 Barn Owl, close to the Old Hakin Road junction.

Hooded Crow

A Hoodie flew over Carn Llidi at 11:20am, heading Sw out towards Porthmelgan and the Head. No idea how far it went but could well be in the area.

Ramsey Sound - sooty shearwater, little gulls, Med gulls and colour-ringed kittiwake

The local feeding flock of several hundred small gulls in Ramsey Sound included mainly kittiwakes and black-headed gulls but also several common gulls, a few adult winter plumage Med gulls (no legs seen today, so not sure if any were ringed) and at least three little gulls (two first winter birds and a second winter bird) - excellent views of them all from the coast path near Treginnis Copper Mines.

It clearly pays to take photos, as one of the first winter kittiwakes (when the images were looked at later) turned out to be ringed - left leg: red/blue/metal; right leg: blue/red.

The photos were not brilliant and the upper part of the right leg could not be viewed properly to see if there was a third ring on this leg. As far as we can tell, there are no inscriptions on the rings. The details have been reported and hopefully we'll get some details to report later.

The other nice bird today was a sooty shearwater. This was noted by Annie (watching from St Justinian) between Ramsey and Gwahan. It was in a mixed flock of auks, gulls and shags at around mid-day. Not much else of note really, other than a flock of 15 wigeon that went through the sound at around lunch-time.

Hen Harrier

Cracking view of male hen harrier this morning on the north side of the angle road right opposite the Freshwater West turning. Took off from hedge as I came and gently glided low down the field. best view Ive ever had without bins or telescope.
(Trystan Parry)

Eider at Amroth

An Eider was off the rocks at the eastern end of Amroth at high tide this morning.
From Amroth to Wiseman's Bridge - at least 60 Red-throated Divers, 20 Red-breasted Mergansers, 20 Great-crested Grebes and 2 Med Gulls (adult and 1st winter).
No sign of the Water Pipit at Pennar on the Pembroke river but a nice wader roost including 200 Dunlin, 2 Greenshank, 5 Redshank, 12 Turnstone and a Bar-tailed Godwit.
(Paul G and Wendy J)

Pantmaenog and Ty Rhyg

Pantmaenog - Kite and kestrel beneath Cwmcerwyn
Brief look in at Ty Rhyg - Great Grey Shrike very distant to north side SN056300, kestrel and a snipe.

Plumstone Harriers...

At least 4 Hen Harriers at Plumstone Mountain tonight. 2 males and 2 females were trying their luck. There might have been more but light conditions worsened rapidly. Will go back later on in the week and let you know

Cheers

Paul Williams (Hants)

Dowrog Common;-sat evening, 4 Hen Harriers(2m, 2 rtail)

Another Black Redstart

From Melanie Felton in Monkton - I don't know if this bird is of any interest but she has been in and around my front drive and deck in my back garden for the last 2 days , she may have been here longer I just haven't been in.

9 Wells

Down Nine Wells Valley today a party of Long-tailed Tits had some 'hangers on', namely 3 Goldcrests and a Chiffchaff. After a very wet morning a Blackbird was tempted to break into song or perhaps more of a sub-song, but still a joy to hear.

Black Redstart

The male still around the workshops at Pembroke Dock today.

GPs

Many small groups of golden plover all heading west (towards the Frenni) passing over here in pretty poor weather conditions after lunch. Groups of 20 to 50 or so, but I suspect the total was more than 300.

A f gt-sp-woody on the feeders looks to be a second female as the red area is more a washed out pink.

Black Redstart

From Trystan Parry - walking along the clifftops from Barafundle to Broadhaven yesterday (Sunday 18th) and had a suprise male black redstart playing around the big hole in the ground, watched him for a while then he flew to the bottom of the hole and disapeared.

Strumble..

From first light to 9:40;-

Red Throated Diver 34 inc two flocks of 6 and two of 5

Great Northern Diver 3 (plus another probable)

Black Throated Diver 2 (plus another probable)

14 Common Scoter

1 first winter Little Gull

1 med Gull

only small numbers of auks and Kittiwakes, 3 Gannet and one Fulmar
(John O'Sullivan)

WeBS and Westfield Pill

My WeBS count at Hook/Sprinkle Pill was bird filled this afternoon, with a total of 4,663 waterbirds counted including:

Lapwing 1,580

Golden Plover 1,259

Dunlin 610

Teal 576

Canada Goose 301

Redshank 85

Wigeon 78

Shelduck 77

Pintail 6 (3 drakes)

Grey Plover 5

Knot 3

Greenshank 3

Jack Snipe 1 - walking along the saltmarsh I saw a small pool ahead and said out loud to myself "looks good for a jack Snipe" and 3 seconds later I flushed one! Great flight views as it circled around me with the light at my back before landing across the other side of the channel

Earlier a visit to Westfield Pill proved fruitless - I couldn't find the Mandarin.

Bosherston, Angle

At Bosherston this morning a Bittern showing briefly in the reed bed up by Broadhaven Beach. Also on the ponds 13 Goosander and a Kingfisher.
At Kilpaison 19 Brents and an adult Med Gull.

Westfield Pill.

The female Mandarin has returned for the third winter running.

Ramsey

A dunlin on one of the central ponds this morning was an unusual winter record out here. Woodcock today also. Three short eared owls hunting over the heath at dusk 2 nights ago.

Water Pipit at Pennar

Found by Paul G on Thursday, a Water Pipit on the north shore of the Pembroke River at Pennar again this afternoon. It was feeding along the seaweed on the foreshore at the end of Ferry Road, and up to 300m to the west, along with 4 Rock Pipits. Grid ref. SM 961 021. Not the most striking spinoletta I've ever seen, but nice all the same. Also here 6 Black-tailed Godwits (to the east), and another 20 Blackwits at Front Street, Pembroke Dock.

Strumble Head 17th Dec 10.00 - 15.00

Wind : NW 6

Wigeon - 1
Common Scoter - 37 ( 15F )
Scaup - 2 ( Pair )
Red Throated Diver - 19
Black Throated Diver - 2
Great Northern Diver - 1
Grey Plover - 1
Dunlin - 2
Grey Phalarope - 1
Pomarine Skua - 1 (juv )
Med. Gull - 1 ( Ad )
Little Gull - 13 ( 4 Ad , 9 1st w )
Puffin - 1

Adrian , John Harry ( Lincs ),Paul G.

Strumble Hd

An hour's watch 10:00 -11:00 at Strumble today produced a Great Northern Diver, 9 Red Throated Divers and 19 Common Scoter. There was a steady trickle of large auks (mostly Guillemots judging from those I could id and about 20% in summer plumage) as well as Kittiwakes and fewer Fulmars. The same pattern has been noticeable on most days this week at Strumble and St Davids Hd with 6 Red Throated Divers at St Davids on Wednesday and overall with fewer Kittiwakes but more Fulmars.

Castlemartin & Angle

Plenty of Lapwing scattered about over Castlemartin Corse this morning - over 900 in all. Also 130 Golden Plover, 48 Curlew and on the flooded areas 44 Wigeon and 12 Mallard. Above Freshwater West a Merlin sat on a fence post near the road for a fine view from the car whilst on the rocks by the beach there were two Grey Plover.
In a field by the top road to Angle there were a further 20 or so Lapwing and 200+ Skylarks.
Kilpaison was again bearing the brunt of the cold wind but with the tide receding there were decent numbers of waders - 18 Bar-tailed Godwit, 250 Dunlin, 5 Knot, 2 Redshank, 8 Curlew. Also 6 Brents and a load of Wigeon.
At Carew a pair of Peregrines soared over the Castle and back home in St Florence a fine male Sparrowhawk flew low along a hedge flushing out some Starlings and the Goldfinches in the garden were a nice splash of colour. Rich C & Morris North.

redpoll

In over 20 years we have only had one visit (that I am aware of) from redpoll to the feeders, so I am particularly pleased to have 2 (m & f) visit today.
The gt-sp-woody female here too with all the usual others including a good number of greenfinches.
& willow tit later in day.

Fishguard Outer Breakwater catch up to date

Been a bit busy so a bit of a catch up.  On Monday with quite a gale blowing from the wast I had a look at the outer breakwater and found three snowbuntings that flew away without giving a decent view. The innere side of the breakwater was sheltered and three Great Northern Divers were taking shelter and feeding out from  the entrance of the Lifeboat pen. Today I saw no buntings but was quitre surprised to see a bonxie creating havoc inside the harbour, amongst its harrased victims was a much larger GBB Gull!
I apologise for the quality of the pic's but they were a bit out of range. Its probably also worth pointing out that the bills of winter GND's and juveniles are pale...

Nov 2008 Fishguard OBW

Snow Buntings - name that subspecies!

Top - Dale Airfield September 2011

Bottom - Traeth Llyfyn January 2011

Over to Mike & Paul!

Angle

The wind was howling in at Kilpaison this morning and with no birds visible from the shelter of the car I went round to Angle Harbour where it was a fair bit calmer. On the shingle spit there were 12 Shelduck and 3 Brents as well as a few Herring Gulls, 11 Ringed Plover, 3 Dunlin, 2 Turnstone and 2 Curlew. The small waders were really getting buffeted by the wind. Also around the harbour  7 Redshank and 2 Little Egrets.
From the path round to the Lodge there were 11 Great Crested Grebes, 26 Wigeon and a good count of 28 Shoveller.
At Freshwater West it was white water for a long way out. A lone Grey Plover flew past over the surf followed by a Great Northern Diver.

Black Redstart

The male I saw in our workshop last week has turned up on the covered slipway, right next to the fabrication shops. The boys tell me it`s been there a few days, so a happy outcome.

Snow Buntings follow up

I've received a number of helpful comments and ideas, particularly from Paul Grennard, regarding Snow B's and he put me on to a short note and some photo's by Martin Garner on 'Birding Frontiers' - just google 'snow bunting races' to get it. I've become convinced that the birds at St Davids Hd recently were ssp 'nivalis' (whereas others I saw on St Agnes in October were 'insulae'. The photo's in Martin's piece are really striking and I think, helpful. Martin also mentions the scary possibility of 'insulae' being 'split' one day. In a Pembs context, it would be great if our local ringers could help by getting their mitts on some Snow B's (migrants & wintering birds). Is there a possible tie-in with N Wales' colleagues? I know there are birds at Kimmel Bay for example, any results could be posted here (racing results - sorry). Secondly, I wonder if anyone is able to post good quality photo's (with age/sex). Snow B's are often very confiding and easy to photograph. As far as I can see, the likelihood is that birds of Icelandic origin, ssp 'insulae', greatly outnumber nominate 'nivalis' (Greenland to Russia) here in the west but it should be possible to know for certain and apportion some individuals, at least, to race. I reckon some 'nivalis' individuals really can stand out from the crowd.

Great Northern Divers

Cwm yr Eglwys bay; 1 yesterday morning, 2 this morning.

Snow Buntings

In response to Mike Y-P's comments, the Pembrokeshire Avifauna entry on the origin of UK Snow Buntings is based on the information contained in both The Birds of the Western Palearctic and the BTO's Migration Atlas. The problems involved in assessing proportions of the races is discussed in the latter publication, which makes a request for more ringing of the species in western Britain.

Keep at it Mike, there is no reason why Greenland birds should not occur in Pembs as well as Icelandic, indeed Canadian birds have reached the UK as well. Look forward to further observations and thoughts.

Graham Rees

Ramsey - snow buntings

A flock of 4 snow buntings went over this morning (heading west but may have come down). Black redstart 2 days ago around the farm

St Davids Hd

A Snow Bunting this a.m. again but different to the 2 on 9th. A 1st yr male or ad female based on grey-brown in wing coverts. Again a bright bird with a lot of white in the outer tail particularly - in fact looking all white. I suspect these recent birds are not the darker Icelandic 'insulae' but 'nivalis' (pretty much everywhere else till Siberia and the even brighter 'vlasowae') . The Avifauna makes 'nivalis' very much the minority in Britain though without giving a reference.

Fishguard outer breakwater snow bunting update

This afternon my dogs flushed three snow buntings, seemed to be two males plus one jv/female. They flew up, hesitated a bit and then headed out to sea climbing steadily until I lost sight of them (heading vaguely towards Ireland). They may have continued or just coasted a bit. Same birds, new birds, old birds, your guess is as good as mine!

Guillemots at Stack Rocks

Several hundred Guillemots visited Stack Rocks today, 95% in summer plumage, and with a few 'bridled' individuals present.  Otherwise, in the eastern arm at Bosherston lakes, there were at least two Water Rails, a Kingfisher, ten Goosanders, five Tufted Ducks as well as small numbers of Gadwall, Teal, Coot, Moorhen and Little Grebe.

Plumstone roost

This evening: 5 Hen Harriers including 2 males, 2 Peregrines, Merlin, Sparrowhawk and Kestrel. The Starlings very impressive.

St. Bride's Bay

A short jaunt out in the cold this afternoon with Paul G, found a handful of Common Scoter at Druidston, around 40 at Broad Haven, and a further 3 at Goultrop Roads. A Chiffchaff was at the Slash Pond in Broad Haven, and 9 adult Mediterranean Gulls were in the roost at Goultrop. Paul had a possible white-winger distantly here, but sadly couldn't clinch it. I didn't even get on it!

Male Hen Harrier

Has to be the same bird as I saw yesterday, this time 1/2 a mile east, quatering the fields on the cliff top between Linsway & Monkhaven. could almost be a garden tick if just by chance, I had my scope set up in the right direction!

WOW!!! half a million visits!

I was pretty chuffed when the "Whales in Wales" blog passed the 50,000 mark of individual visits, but I just noticed Pembrokeshire Birds has logged over half a million to date. Five hundred and sixteen thousand,eight hundred and forty nine as I write this, to be momentarily precise. Its all about getting the message over!

Early Pembrokeshire ornithologists such as Murray Mathews helped start the ball rolling. The team of Lockley, Ingrams and Salmon followed up in 1949.
In the latter half of the C20 a new generation took up birdwatching and the hobby took off. We needed information and people to lead the way. People like David Saunders, Graham Rees and Jack Donovan with their Birds of Pembrokeshire in the 1990's, Peter Tythcot, Stewart Devonald, movers and shakers in getting out the Pembrokeshire Bird Reports and establishing the Pembrokeshire Bird Club. Many of us have followed in their wake and Graham continues to lead, with the Avifauna team and having developed and put Strumble Head in the top half dozen seawatching sites in Great Britain.

Graham Rees at Strumble: cb

Here and now in terms of letting the rest of the world know whats happening here in the wild west of Wales in the new era of Information Technology, the Pembrokeshire Birds Blog has broken new ground. It has also allowed us to contribute to a living breathing record of the more notable ornithological occurrences in our county, encouraging people to go out, discover and report them as it happens.
All it took was a bit of imagination, the willingness to embrace and explore the new technologies and put it all together and allow everyone to take part and share in it. Oh, and the ability to allow people to have their say without allowing things to descend into a slanging match.
In April 2012 the blog will celebrate its sixth anniversary and with over half a million visits it can only be termed a resounding success. There is of course nothing to tell the visitor who set the blog up. Of course it was Richard, and also he who quietly set up "Whales in Wales" and several other successful blogs as well. I would not be surprised if the half million visits milestone was passed without Richard noticing. A word of praise must also go to Richard Dobbins who helps enormously to ensure the smooth running of the blog.
As we all know, Richard is modest and self effacing and will be tempted to pull this off the blog, but those who work without looking for reward, deserve some recognition. This is well earned, leave it and take a bow Richard!!!

Rich Crossen aboard "The Cartlett Lady" : cb

Hybrid Gulls

Following Graham's comment, I've found the original paper by Mike Harris, and put the summary on the Avifauna as well as a link to the paper mentioned by Graham.

Tresinwen (11 Dec 11)

Short Eared Owl hunting coastal fields behind Tresinwen between 1030 and 1100.  No doubt hungry after the wet night last night.  My first from the garden!  (And not from a lack of trying).

Of interest a Starling in the garden has a Green Sandpiper call down to a tee!  Got me going for a while this morning!

Ramsey Sound

Another six hrs were spent watching the sound near St Justinan today. A few hundred black-headed gulls, dozens of kittiwakes and small numbers of common gulls were feeding, as usual, in the tide race at the northern end.

Noted at least 5 separate adult med gulls in the area and it was also nice to see two immature little gulls on the Ramsey Island side of the sound with bh gulls and kittiwakes at about mid-day. They appeared to be heading north through the sound. At about 13.30hrs a fine adult iceland gull also flew north through the sound.

Apart for usual small numbers of probably local resident guillemots (several now in full breeding plumage) and razorbills feeding in the sound, there was nothing much more of note, other than a fine black redstart on the coast-path fence, not far from the lifeboat station.

Lower Town.

Viewed from the end of the harbour~ 2 Great Crested Grebes, 2 f Common Scoter, 1 Great Northern Diver.

Jordonstone~ c250 Lapwings.

Janet & Karen

Hybrid Gulls

Info sent in by Graham Rees (who is unable to post on the blog direct at present) with a useful link -

M.P.Harris conducted cross fostering experiments on Skokholm by swapping eggs between HG and LB-bG nests. His review of hybrids between these species was published in Bird Study 

http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/00063657809476590Subsequently there have been occasional entries in Pembrokeshire Bird Reports. Mike Betts has some photographs of hybrids at Skokholm which might be of interest if he can be contacted. Hope this helps,Graham

Male Hen Harrier, Gt Northern Diver

A stroll from St Ishmaels to Monkhaven, via Musslewick this afternoon produced these two fine birds. The Diver was a target & I was pleased to find it some 300m off Monkhaven, the Hen Harrier flew along Dale Roads & headed towards the Mullock area. Good views of a stunning bird.

By the way, thankyou everybody for your Larid comments, very interesting - more to them than meets the eye!

GP

100 or so Golden plover this morning flying east from the Frenni direction; do they roost there & fly into Carmarthenshire for the day. I usually see some a few miles east when heading that way.

More snow buntings

CB

A quick look at the outer breakwater today, revealed two jittery snow buntings. So, sorry not the best of shots but in common with Mikes birds one appeared to be rather better marked than the other...

An even more jittery purple sandpiper eluded my attempts to photograph it and is the first I have seen this winter. 

Those Hybrid Gulls

Its not quite so simple as a single hybrid type as the Skokholm experiments are 40 years ago which means that the progeny of the egg swaps should have started breeding around the late 1970's so that we could now be looking at 7th generation birds so a whole range of cline within the hybrid structure might be expected. I suspect that most will have bred out the majority of their opposite genes but without doubt some will keep popping up.

Put simply the HG's which hatched in LBB nests subsequently tried to breed with LBB's and vice versa. I think that there was a subsequent bias towards HG's nesting with LBB's but I can't remember why.

However I have seen apparently pure HG's and LBB's breeding together on both Skomer and Caldey and in 2010 there was a hybrid breeding with an HG near the Skokholm landing and it was very easy to see the differences at close quarters in such circumstances. I agree with Dave's vew about Lyndons photo - it looks more like a second generation bird although the leg colour looks too bright in my experience.

The earlier pic from Derek looked a bit darker than most and the nape is a bit clean but everything else from mirrors to eye colour and structure all look more like HG than LBB. I suspect first generation HG/LBB hybrid - it could be 25years old!!!!!

Not sure all that helps a lot - just means that there are probably more hybrids out there than might be expected. I think I read somewhere recently of Yellow Legged Gulls also cross breeding with HG's.

Snow B's etc

The etc was a Red Kite at Sealyham and a Water Rail running across the road nr Penberi. The Golden Plovers and Lapwings still along the Glascrug rd, day- roosting at Cwmwdig Fm entrance a lot of the time, conditions and circumstances yet to allow a good grilling. The Snow Buntings were out at St Davids Hd, nr the Burial Chamber. Both seemed to be adult males, very bright and showy in the sunlight. The plumage variation was extreme, one bird was quite well marked foxy red on 'cheeks' and breast sides whereas the other was strikingly different; very pale and bright but lacking the contrasting brown markings. The reason is presumably just normal individual variation but I remembered that the Siberian race is paler and just wondered if we know that ours are Icelandic/Greenland birds or (less likely) Scandinavian in origin (but then with more possibility of further eastern birds). There are lots of colour ringed birds in east-coast flocks so presumably their origin is known - but I can't remember what it is even though I've sent off lots of records of these. I was surprised that the provenance of Snow B's in Pembs or Wales isn't mentioned in either of Jon Green's books and wonder if anyone (ringers?) can illuminate. Postscript - The new Pembs Avifauna says most British birds are Icelandic ('Insulae') with a smaller number of the nominate race 'nivalis' (Greenland certainly and I presume Scandinavia though it doesn't say). Still leaves a few questions particularly regarding our birds. Just to say - BWP says that Snow B's have an extended period of Autumn Migration shifting into December and today I notice a number reported on Birdguides from various east and west British sites. Leaving hurricanes in Scotland aside of course.

Lyndon's Larid

Looks certain to be a hybrid HG x LBBG - mantle colour is spot on for HG, the brightness of the bill points to LBBG, obviously the leg colour also, but if you enlarge the image you can see shades of pale pink tones in the feet.

Hybrid gulls..........

This photo taken in 2005 was discussed at the time as a Herring x Lesser Bb Gull hybrid
(Lyndon L.)

Hybrid gulls..........

I have just read with interest the recent postings about the possibility of Herring/LBB gull hybrids and looked at Derek's picture. On a very recent stay in Cardiff I walked around Roath Park Lake several times and was struck by the sight of several gulls where I really couldn't decide if they were rather dark Herrings or rather light LBB's. They were pretty much identical to the one shown in Derek's photograph. I wondered then if there was a possibility of cross breeding between the two. Could it be that in the cities gull morals have dropped so low that they really ain't fussy about who they consort with? Whatever next?

Cheers...
Graham Brace

Would someone with some knowledge of the details of the" egg-swapping" experiments that are known to have taken place on Skokholm, although some years ago I believe like to add to this ...
Thanks....

Green Sandpiper

A green sandpiper in Carew Cheriton this afternoon. (6th December) I've seen them in autumn over the years at Radford Pill or upstream of the Carew Bridge, and a couple of times flushed one from my neighbour's pond, but this is the first time I've seen one in winter.
(Richard Ellis)

Strumble

I watched from 1500 to 1620 (the later part of the watch aided by a bright moon!) with winds around F6 WNW and large rollers crashing onto Mackerel Rock. There was a light but regular passage of both razorbills and guillemots very close to shore, with a trickle of kittiwakes (c30% 1st winter birds); around a dozen gannet, all adult plumage; large numbers of herring gulls and great black-backed going to roost, and four red-throated diver.

I note from my records that five years ago tomorrow (8 Dec) in similar conditions, but watching from early morning to mid-afternoon, among other birds I had 57 red-throated diver, a couple of velvet scoter, a 1st winter glaucous gull, 14 leach's petrel, a balearic shearwater, a little gull and a single puffin. December can be productive!

Various sites in the north

At Heathfield GP the Cetti's Warbler still present, it gives a single call frequently and once a bubbling kind of trill but no song so presumably a female? Along the road to Glas grug Country Hotel (between Croesgoch and Carnhedryn) c 2000 Golden Plover and 300 Lapwing. Unfortunately a Peregrine put them all up late this afternoon as I was scoping them. At the Dowrog roost an adult male and juv male (together for size comparison) and 1 or poss 2 other ringtails.

Black Redstart

A male in the workshops, where I work at Pemroke Dock- flitting between the overhead cranes. I noticed him at 1:25pm & opened the roller door to let him out. However the lads came back from dinner at 1:30 & closed the door saying they were cold (wimps) I saw it 5 mins later fly into an adjoining shop, but no more. Despite looking around occaisonaly, it seems to have made good it`s escape. I hope so.

Strumble and Milford Haven

A watch at Strumble from 08:30-10:30 this morning produced a single Bonxie, two Great Northern Divers, one Black-throated Diver, four Red-throated Divers and two Common Scoter (F).  Called in at Milford Haven docks on my way back where there were two adult Mediterranean Gulls, a Shag and two Cormorants: the Herring Gull noted by David on Sunday was still present, but proved impossible to photograph in flight - needs two people really, one to throw the bread and the other to take the pics!

Miscellaneous - British Birds - Digital SLR

Seeing Derek's recent gull image and Dave Astins comments re possible hybrid reminded us of a probable hybrid lesser x herring that bred (mated with a lesser bb) at Stack Rocks, Castlemartin (previously reported on the Blog by us some while ago). Eggs were laid but breeding was unsuccessful in 2010. Although it was present at exactly the same nest site this summer, it is not certain that breeding was successful then either.

British Birds:
If anyone is interested in obtaining a set of BB (approx 1967 to 2009 volumes) then we are looking after them for someone who no longer has storage space and wants to get rid of them - any offers?

Digital SLR:
If anyone should happen to have an "entry level" digital SLR camera that they want to sell, we know someone who is interested in obtaining one.

Martin's Haven 4-6 December

A bit of a round-up of the last few days.
Good numbers of Skylarks and Choughs on the fields of Trehill Farm, the latter regularly exceeding 20 birds.
A female-type Merlin was a wonderful sight trying to chase a couple of small birds, but seemed to fail. A ringtail Hen Harrier has also regularly passed across the area.
At just before 1700 on Monday evening, a welcome sight was a Woodcock that seemed to fly in from the fields and cover to the North of the valley and into the muddy ground by the Deer Park Gates. They are not a regular as Snipe here, but that may be because they do not flush as easily.
Elsewhere, only around a dozen Common Scotor off Goultrop plus a probable Red-throated Diver (too much scope judder in the wind!). On the Gann, a nice Grey Plover, 8+ Dabchick, 3 Goldeneye and 5 Snipe

Strumble Head 5th Dec 10.00-13.00

Wind : NW 3-4

Common Scoter - 26 ( 3f )

Balearic Shearwater - 1

Red Throated Diver - 8

Pom Skua - 1 ( Juv )

Grey Phalarope - 1 ( Probably 2 but i couldn't get one in the scope before it disappeared round the corner ! )

Auks & Kittiwakes going through in small numbers. Fulmars into double figures.

Med Gull AATL

Derek Grimwood emailed me about a colour-ringed Med Gull seen in Ramsey Sound on 1/12 – Green AATL. Following the fitting of its plastic jewellery in 2006 the first sighting was on the Axe estuary in Devon, by me, in Feb 2007. When it comes to colour-ringed gulls one gets attached to one’s babies! Therefore I would very much like to ask for an up-to-date copy of its life history and a decent sized copy of Bob Haycock’s photo (as appears on your blog – I guess the ring is readable on a bigger image?) for potential use on my blog ‘Not Quite Scilly’ and would be most grateful if you could forward this on to Bob for me.

Many thanks

Gavin

PS. Don’t know if Derek has mentioned this to you, but your excellent Pembs Birds news blog was the inspiration for one that I set up for Devon birders in August last year, which in turn prompted one in Oxon. Thanks for the idea guys...

Teifi - Light-bellied Brent Goose

1 Still at the Webley yesterday with increasing numbers of Wigeon.
19 Dunlin, and 11 Ringed Plover on Patch.........otherwise a windy estuary.

Derek's Larid

Looks like some sort of hybrid LBBG & HG - not quite right for a Yellow-legged Gull (DA & PG conferring via e-mail!). Interesting nonetheless.

More from Strumble

A half-hour spent at Strumble around 1500 revealed a second pomarine skua - and a Lesser Whiskered Walrus: nice to see him again! There was also a steady trickle of kittiwake and auks and several gannets, both adults and immatures.

Strumble and Dowrog

A 90 minute watch between 08:45-10:15 this morning produced one Bonxie, one Pomarine Skua, and four Red-throated Divers of note.  At the other end of daylight hours between 15:50-17:00, there were three Hen Harriers (1 male + 2 ringtails), one Short-eared Owl and a kindly Woodcock that sat on the grassy verge, startled by the headlights, as I was leaving.

Marloes Mere

This rather dark Herring Gull (?) on the Mere this afternoon, having just read Dave`s post got me thinking..... Anythoughts ? 2 Merlin, c200 Lapwing, a couple thousand Starlings & the usual Ducks. Cold & windy. Somebody has also left a newish bush hat in the hide.

Spoonbill - Sandy Haven

Out and about with Paul today the highlight was a Spoonbill in the creek below the chapel at Sandy Haven, very close to the road. Unfortunately it flew off as we got out of the car. Presumably the bird that was around Dale/Marloes late October and then again once in November (6th - not since?). 4 Mediterranean Gulls at Sandy Haven (3 ads, 1 1stW) and another adult at Castle Pill, Milford. An interesting looking adult Herring Gull at Milford Docks, showing some features suggestive of American HG, but ideally need some good photos of the open wing. Not that BBRC would touch an adult anyway, but a very educational bird either way. At the Gann a juvenile Hen Harrier flew west.

Ramsey - Little Gull

1st winter Little Gull feeding with BH gull's just off the harbour this morning.

2 short-eared owls yesterday.

Great Grey Shrike - Ty Rhyg

Pleased to reacquaint myself with the shrike around midday today - keeping very distant on north side of track.

Strumble -- Sabine's Gull

Late on parade as usual !
08:30 Clive H had a juvenile Sabine's fly past close in.
Other December delights followed;-
(0830-1015) including, 1 Manx Shearwater, 2 Bonxies, 1 Great Northern Diver, 10 Red-throated Divers, 24m & 3f Common Scoter, 11 Fulmar, and a few Gannets.
Auks and Kittwakes passing in non-weather affected lowish numbers.

5th December Pembs Bird Group

The last PBG meeting of 2011 will be held next Monday evening starting at 7.30pm at the patch, Furzy park, haverfordwest. ‘The Xmas Bash’. A quiz with thanks to Byron Davies. Please bring something Christmassy for afters and any raffle prizes would be gratefully accepted. Everyone welcome. See the link to Pembrokeshire Bird group for more info or please phone 01437 721859.

Bosherston Pools

The 2 Bitterns were showing well first thing at the edge of the reed bed at Stackpole Court. 1 flew a short distance into the open where it remained hunting for the 3 hrs I was in the area affording brilliant views of this usualy skulking species. A male Blackcap here also and 10 Goosanders. Goodness knows how many Water Rails were hidden away, the calls were coming from all around the reed bed. Further away in the reeds between the Grassy Bridge and the beach a Cetti's Warbler gave a quick burst of song.

Med Gull AATL in Ramsey Sound

Things were pretty quiet in Ramsey Sound, although numbers of razorbills and guillemots are increasing.  Lots of gulls passing through, and many stopping to feed opposite the Bitches.  Among them this Mediterranean Gull, with a green ring AATL.  Sam Baxter has mentioned it on the blog before:

Monday, 2 November 2009

Green AATL, at Newport on Oct 27 was ringed as a fledgling on Pionierinsel, an island in the Elbe est in Germany in June 06 in a small colony of Meds with a lot of Commons.
It was at the Axe est in Devon in Feb 07 & returned to Pionierinsel this Summer to breed before hot footing it here.

Have there been other sightings?

Castlemartin & Angle

On Castlemartin Corse this morning good numbers of Lapwing & Golden Plover with 700+ & 600+ respectively. A few Teal & Wigeon on the flooded area in front of the reed bed as well as 2 Little Egrets and 2 Herons. Highlight was a Bittern seen briefly in flight before dropping into the reeds - I wonder how many more there are in this huge reed bed? On the raptor front there were 2 Buzzards and 2 Sparrowhawks and whilst having coffee in the car at Freshwater West a Ring-tail Hen Harrier flew past quartering the field behind the beach car park.
At Kilpaison around midday the 34 Brents were still present as well as 500+ Dunlin, 11 Ringed Plover, 20 Bar-tailed Godwits, 13 Knot, 10 Redshank, 1 Little Egret and a whole load of Wigeon.
Rich C and Morris North

Teifi from The Webley

A quick reply as usual from The Severn Estuary Gull Group with details of a Lesser Black-backed gull I spotted on Tuesday. Blue ALS was ringed at Stoke Orchard landfill site in Gloucestershire in Feb 2007. Since then it has been reported ten times in Coruna, Spain Feb 2008, Dec 2010 and Jan and Feb this year.
From The Webley today rather a lot of geese and Widgeon. The only waders were 3 Dunlin, 1 Grey Plover and 4 Redshank. Most of the geese were part of the 1200 Canada flock that are now around the estuary together with the regular hybrids and Snow goose. The Barnacles spend most of the time on Cardigan island so unusual to see them close up. The numbers are building by about 10 each year with 52 counted today.
A drake Pintail was seen from The Webley 2 days ago, a good record for the Teifi but it didn't stay long.

Angle area

A party of 34 Pale-bellied Brent Geese was at Kilpaison this morning, and three adult Mediterranean Gulls were in the fields to the south of Angle Village (near Hubberton Farm).

Harriers - Dowrog

Tuesday afternoon;-
2 male Hen Harriers, also 1 female, and 1 ring-tail .. a likely juvenile.
1 Short-eared Owl.
(Jan Morris)

Strumble & Dowrog

Paul G & I undertook a seawatch from 8am to 11.30, joined by Wdigbirder & Rich D from 10am, totals included:

Pomarine Skua 3 juvs (1 after PG & left)

Great Skua 7

Great Northern Diver 5

Red-throated Diver 5

Common Scoter 17 (2 females)

Manx Shearwater 4

Puffin 1 (late!)

Wigeon 2

A sample 5 minute count of auks came up with 1,440 per hour. Kittiwakes also moving in good numbers, maybe around 20-30 Fulmar and similar numbers of Gannets.

On to Pen Anglas where we were treated to great views of a male Dartford Warbler by the coast path. A search of suitable habitat around the Llangloffan/Castlemorris area failed to produce any Tree Sparrows. We finished up at the Dowrog with 3 Hen Harriers (2 males & 1 juv), 2 Short-eared Owls hunting in daylight, and a Barn Owl doing the same. Stopped in Camrose on the way home and heard a Tawny Owl calling and saw another fly across the road. Owl-tastic!

The Gann at last light

Following in the heels of Kim, 12 L/B Brent, 3-4 of which looked juvs, 5 Redshank, 5 Ringed Plover, Common Gulls, B/H/Gulls, 1 Bartail...... then the lights went out.

Various

A Mute Swan on the mudflats at the Gann was somewhat unusual, a smattering of Brent geese were also in attendance, heading towards Sandy Haven a Ring Tail crossed the hedge above the turn for H'west and at the junction for Ratford Bridge on the Broad Haven road a hovering Kestrel was briefly in company with a passing Short Eared Owl.

Hen Harrier - Watwick

Hen Harrier (female) snatching a skylark/chaffinch from stubble field above Watwick. Flushed about 50 skylarks and 20 chaffinch, managing to pick one out which it settled in adjacent field and wolfed down before passing back over same fields and then drifted off towards Dale. Peregrine also working same area. Male kestrel at Kete, 2 chough at lighthouse with a pair of Mallard, 2 moorhen and 2 drake Teal on the small ponds above Mill Bay. Fox crossing cattle field near Merryboro.

PembsBirdgroup Conference 26Nov2011

Many thanks to the Valero refinery at Pembroke for again hosting our annual conference and to all those who helped, came to or were involved in any way. More info via the Pembrokeshire Bird Group Link

City News

A most unusual sighting this morning by Jonathan B., a group of 7 Choughs feeding in amongst the Canada Geese on the bank side of Penberry Pond.

Pembrokeshire Avifauna

Congratulations to the Pembrokeshire Avifauna Committee - Graham Rees, Steve Sutcliffe, Bob & Annie Haycock, Jane Hodges - on Pembrokeshire Avifauna. As Bob & Annie say in the posting below this is the beginning of the project. But what a beginning! This new on-line facility contains a wealth of fascinating information on the birds of Pembrokeshire, both historic and more recent. A fantastic amount of work has clearly gone into the Avifauna and more is promised. Well done again!
A permanent link to Pembrokeshire Avifauna is now in the Links section of this blog.

Pembrokeshire Bird Conference and Avifauna

Thanks to everyone who supported the Pembrokeshire Bird Conference today.  Those who weren't there missed a good day out!

The beginnings of a comprehensive Pembrokeshire Avifauna are now on-line, with lots more items to be added during the coming months . .  and years . . .

Nordic Jackdaw & fun at the "Court of Crows"

The Nordic Jackdaw paid a brief visit to my garden feeders this morning, no doubt it's around the Dale Road/Furzy Park area somewhere.

A little trip out this afternoon with Paul G in search of Lesser Spotted Woodpecker proved fruitless, but Llys-y-fran (despite poor weather initially) provided ample compensation: an adult Ring-billed Gull (presumably the returning bird), 2 adult Yellow-legged Gulls and an impressive (for this site) 6 Mediterranean Gulls (5 adults, 1 2nd year). Good number of gulls in the roost, and an impressive flock of Canada Geese (c. 270). Also a single drake Goldeneye and one Great-crested Grebe.

Preseli Woodlands

Had a good look through Glynaeron and Pantmaenog with a quick check at Ty Rhyg. Very little of note apart from Red Kite over Glynaeron and same bird at Pantmaenog. Pair of Peregrines sparring at Pantmaenog. No sign of any GGS's, but weather probably didn't help.

Ringtail Harrier

1, at Mullock Bridge marsh, 1 Merlin there also.

Newport

I stopped briefly by the Iron Bridge this morning and saw a Red Kite (on the white House side of the river) It's LHS outer tail feather was bent upwards at 45Degrees. To far to see if it had any tags

Lapwings

Flock of 194 Lapwing and a lone Golden Plover in field just north of Rosepool on B4327 Dale Road, also large flock of Wood Pigeon in valley beyond (50+). Merlin the only bird of note in St Brides area.

Colour-ringed Little Egret

The bird I recorded at Sprinkle Pill on Saturday was ringed as a nestling in Bangor on 5th June 2011.

Dale airfield

Very blustery stroll from Kete to airfield. Peregrine ploughing through flock of bh gulls near West Dale. Large flock of Chaffinch (50+) in cattle field above beach.
Airfield:
Big flock of lapwing (100+) lifting off and heading towards Dale. 2 peregrines sat out in middle of airfield (1 big adult, one younger looking bird nearby) the younger bird spooked but the other stayed, possibly on a kill but didn't notice any plucking. Highlight was a fine male Snow Bunting that appeared on fencepost less than 10 feet away by the Flying Club gate.
Pickleridge:
7 Goldeneye (2 male 5female)
7 Little Grebe
8 Redshank
22 Teal
2 Little egret
Merlin across road at Ratford Bridge

merlin

A merlin seen in Frenni Fach area Wed lunchtime.

Eider

Not an award winning pic I know but as the Eider were so close inshore today (despite the low tide) I was able to take some digi-scope shots, not often I guess that Eider are photographed in our County? This I believe to be a juvenile male (due to the pale flash above the eye which isn't as obvious in the photo as it was in the field) - the other bird was similar in plumage but minus the flash.

A windy 6 hrs watching Ramsey Sound

As part of a weekly input to the Ramsey Sound "tidal energy project", it is always interesting to see what flies through the sound. Today numbers of birds were quite small but, despite the cold blustery conditions, we were delighted to see 2 adult med gulls (flying north through the Sound this morning) plus a small mostly northerly passage of kittiwakes. There have been one or two med gulls in the area during the last few weekly visits and they have been seen fairly often in previous years. No divers were noted today and only a single scoter this morning. Annie though, doing the afternoon shift, had the days highlight; a fine sabines gull heading south through the centre of the Sound - a first for her at this location in three years of more or less weekly-watching. Porpoises also put in a typical appearance - those seen today were heading north.

Last Sunday (WeBs) noted that there were more wigeon and teal around in the Carew/Cresswell estuary than this time last year - around 600+ and c. 500+ respectively. Four pintails were nice to see as was an unexpected female merganser on Carew Millpond - they have become quite scarce in the Carew/Cresswell complex of late. Numbers of little egret were quite low compared with usual typical counts in recent late autumns. A single merlin was chasing finches etc near Lawrenny along the shore.

Eider at Amroth

2 juvenile Eider still at Amroth first thing this morning, showing very well close inshore viewed from opposite Amroth Castle.  Very few scoter visible (5!), 3 Red-breasted Merganser, but no divers.  2 Dipper on the stream at the east end.

Newport

10.15 ~ 13 pale belly Brents from the Boat Club.

Sam Baxter.

Flagpoles 15.30 22nd Nov

7 Pale Bellied Brent Geese & Fishguards regular visitor Med Gull 3E71 back again.

Llys y Fran

Llys y Fran
Peregrine, Red Kite, Sparrowhawk
Little Grebe 3, Mallard 12, Teal 8'ish, Goldeneye 1

Ty Rhyg
Female kestrel, Red Kite (could be same one seen earlier)
Goshawk
No sign of GGS here or from car park at Pantmaenog

Strumble -- Pom plus....

0745-0845;
4 Pale-bellied Brent Geese, 14 Common Scoter, 1 Great Northern Diver, 1 Red-throated Diver, 1 juvenile Pomarine Skua, 2 Med. Gulls, and 4 Risso's Dolphins.
(Adrian)

Eiders -- Amroth

1 imm male and a female off the eastern end of Amroth c11:00 this am.
(John & Marion)

Outer breakwater snow buntings and BTD.

Hi Rich,
its difficult to keep tabs on the snow buntings but so far, I have seen several birds. A minimum of five on Friday in a group that took to flight, but previously a pair of males seen a couple of times, maybe the same ones? and a single male a couple of times, same question??
On Saturday I had another pair but this time a male and a female or juvenile. Today I couldn't find any but when you think about it, there is so much suitable habitat in the vicinity there could be a dozen or more.

Bird of the day today, was a nice Black Throated Diver, close enough for me to get a couple of fuzzy record shots.
A Kestrel was hunting on the cliffs above and I saw two there the other day. You would think the buntings would be easy prey for them.

R T Diver, Saundersfoot

From Peter Cadogan visiting from Cheltenham -There was a red throated diver in Saundersfoot this morning (21st). A dipper on the stream at Stepaside on 20th. A dark bellied brent goose, a goldeneye and a little egret at Dale on 19th. 1 family of 4 goosanders (1m 1f 2 juv)at Bosherston Lily ponds on 18th

Teifi

WeBS over the weekend held no surprises. The Canada Goose flock is now up to 1,200 with 2 Bar-headed Geese, 2 Snow Geese and 49 Barnacles.
These 2 Grey Plover have been around the estuary for a few weeks and are usually by the Webley at high tide with a few Dunlin.

Solva

Merlin put up 38 snipe along St Elvis stretch. 2 chough. Rabbits galore with two buzzards out on the hunt. 1,000s of starlings on the telegraph wires over fields at Pen-y-cwm and large flock of finches flying across road.

Strumble Head 09.45 - 11.45 21st Nov.

Wind : SW , very slight.

Brent Goose - 6 ( Dark Bellied )

Common Scoter - 12 ( 10 M , 2 F )

Red Throated Diver - 1

Great Northern Diver - 1

Curlew - 1

Bonxie - 1

Med. Gull - 1 ( Ad )

Little Gull - 1 ( 1st W )

1 very energetic Merlin which was chasing prey for most of the 2 hours !

A few Porpoises showing.

From Fishguard Fort at 16.00 1 each of Great Northern & Red Throated Divers. A sgl Adult Med. Gull in the roost.

Llys-y-fran Resevoir & bits

Very low numbers of waterfowl at Rosebush & Llys-y-fran resrs....not unexpected.
Black-headed Gulls numbers were a surprise though, with a massive 2000 birds alongside 4500 Lesser Black-backed Gulls. 10 Common Gulls were nice here too.

Fishuard;-
2 Snow Buntings on Saturday's visit, we wondered if different individuals from recent visits...
Cliff had 5 Snow Buntings on Friday on the Outer b/w.....later news and the answer.

Skomer

2 Hen Harriers came in to roost tonight - juv male & female, but only saw 5 Short-eared Owls.

That's it from Skomer this year, we're off tomorrow before the next lot of wind comes in

Plumstone mountain roost

A great variety of raptors at Plumstone late this afternoon. 3 Hen Harriers (1 male) came in to roost, 1 Goshawk, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Peregrine, 6 Buzzards and a Merlin which flew very close to our viewing point a couple of times.
The Starlings put on a good display with numbers which, by a rough estimate, must be at least one million.
(Paul G, Dyfed and Wendy J)

Dowrog roost

Four Hen Harriers (two male and two female) came into roost at Dowrog between 15:50 and 16:30, waited until 17:00 but no sign of any Short-eared Owls - all on Skomer by the sounds of it.

Common Gulls

Took a late afternoon stroll around the fields between Trewarren farm & the Gann, hoping to find something - what did surprise me somewhat, was about 50 Common Gulls feeding. 16 Moorhens on the irrigation pond was an odd experience too. Otherwise quiet

Out & about

Broad Haven: female Velvet Scoter with around 140 Common Scoter (in 2 flocks) also a drake Pochard and a drake Wigeon

St. Bride's: 2 Blackcap (pair), 1 Chiffchaff, 20 Blackbird, 2 Redwing

Dale: male Black Redstart on the roof of 97 Blue Anchor Way (south side of village, near cemetery)

Kete: female Merlin flew west

St. Ann's Head: Chiffchaff at the coastguard cottages by the new lighthouse

Dale Airfield: 180 Lapwing

Martin's Haven: male Blackcap

Marloes Mere: 250 Lapwing

This morning from Jonathon B

Jonathon had a great morning at St Justinians with a female (type) Black Redstart on the RNLI Station hand rail, a Merlin flying towards Ramsey Island and four Risso’s Dolphin right under the cliffs heading north – so close the blows could easily be heard and the so close he could see the blow holes opening and closing.

Richard's Pipit & WeBS

Pleased to find a Richard's Pipit this afternoon at Marloes Mere. It was in the long grass/stubble field behind the Britton Hide, and then flew N/E and appeared to land in fields to the east of Murchin Cottages. I had a look over there but couldn't relocate it, but the field I think it went down in looks perfect and is on your right just after you crest the hill leaving Marloes for Martin's Haven - it has some stubble at the bottom and the rest is medium length grass being grazed by sheep. Worth a look. Also at the Mere a juvenile Hen Harrier and plenty of ducks - c.20 Gadwall, c.30 Wigeon, c.25 Mallard and 40+ Teal. A flock of 30+ Chaffinch feeding behind the hide and 8 Reed Buntings. At the Gann 6 Goldeneye, 3 Little Egret, a Greenshank and a pale-bellied Brent.

Highlight of my WeBS this morning at Hook/Sprinkle Pill was a colour ringed Little Egret (I'm fairly confident it was an L in black on a white ring on the left leg, and a V in black on a yellow ring on the right leg - will submit and see what I get back). Also 16 Greylags flew over, heading towards Little Milford. Good numbers of waders here: 111 Redshank, 7 Greenshank, 480 Lapwing, 253 Dunlin, 350 Golden Plover & 89 Curlew. Good numbers of Teal, less Wigeon, but 4 Pintail was nice.

Mixed Bag

Early this morning a male Ring Ouzel showed briefly on a roadside post near the lay by’s at St Justinians whilst later as the sun was setting a flock of c100 Lapwing high at Crug Glas and c50 at Carnehedryn with a SEOwl floating inland over the main road from the Dowrog

Skomer

Nice to be able to do a bit of birding again!
Highlight of the day was a flock of 19 Short-eared Owls I flushed out of a 50m patch of bracken in North Valley!
Pretty quiet otherwise but still a Black Redstart in North Haven

Freshwater West

A Great Black-backed Gull picking clean a Seal pup carcas on the beach at Freshwater West this morning. In the dunes the other side of the road from the beach the male Hen Harrier again performing, at one point swooping down and putting up an immature Peregrine. Also 16 Chough, a Kestrel and, on Castlemartin Corse, in excess of 700 Lapwing and c.80 Golden Plover. Many Starlings about near the bridle path which leads up from the beach road together with several hundred finches.

Shrike alight

Ty Rhyg
8.20am - Great Grey Shrike (Shrike 1), south side of track. SN054296.
Pantmaenog
9.00am - no sign of GGS in usual spot by paddock.
10.00am - Great Grey Shrike (Shrike 2), on wires over paddock, then on conifers northside of paddock. SN082311.
10.50am - Great Grey Shrike (Shrike 3?), beneath car park moving between high perches. SN073300.
Ty Rhyg
11.15am - Shrike 1 distant view on northside of track. SN056298.

Llanstadwell.

Neither the Scandanavian Rock Pipit,or the Whimbrel could be found this morning,but two Red Breasted Merganser added to this weeks unexpected birds.

Marloes Mere

2 Ringtail Harriers this morning - 1 flew off East. Wigeon & Teal in good numbers, but all ducking & diving because of the Harrier. A Peregrine joined in causing more panic. A few Snipe (6) also. Many thousands of Starlings flying in to the fields around Trehill farm. Quite a spectacle.