North and mid Pembs

Today we went off to some remoter areas looking for missing "common" winter birds as a final mop up for the Winter Atlas. On route we met John and Marion Best nr Rosebush. Generally pretty quiet for winter finches and thrushes but we all commented on the reasonable number of fieldfares about in the area - generally in small flocks (up top 50 or so) noted or so in several areas between Mynachlog-ddu and Rosebush. Redwings around too but not as numerous. Kites in various places pretty well as expected but not as impressive as around 14 in the air together about 10 days ago on the Pembs/Carms border in the Llanfyrnach general area. No signs of any golden plovers today either - about 10 days ago there was a huge flock of at least 2,000-2,500 in the air over farmland in the Glogue area.

Perhaps it was Steve Berry noted watching (from a van?) the very obvious shrike near the Ty-rhyg gate this afternoon? Later on it had moved away and we could not relocate it again there. We ended up at the starling roost, numbers incredibly impressive - wave after wave - seemed to us possibly more than last winter? Annie managed some reasonable video-footage. At least 16 (prob 18) buzzards in the air but we were not in quite the right place to see harriers I suspect.

Thanks anyway Dave for trying to find the "odd" gull. Pity nothing out of the ordinary materialised. We have to do a weekly watch of the Sound, so will keep our eyes peeled again next week.