Marloes Mere

 The Glossy Ibis & Marsh Harrier were seen at 0730 this morning. (hide notebook) This evening, just a Cormorant on the irrigation pool. Can anyone ID these flowers? the top one has a square stem, the bottom one I thought maybe a Loosestrife & appear to be common on the Mere.

Some Teifi arrivals

At Jewsons, 8 Common Sandpipers and opposite St Dogmaels Quay, 6 Redshank and 2 Dunlin.
Numbers of juvenile Herring and Black-headed gulls are increasing.

Glossy Ibis?

Just the briefest glimpse of a pair of black wing tips, in the reeds where it usually hangs out, flew a few yards before vanishing. I`m 99.99% sure it was, but wanted to see more - mildly frustrating. Following Bernies post, Harrier not visible, in fact very quiet this evening.

Marsh Harrier _ Marloes Mere

Still present at 1310 when the bird drifted off high going inland.
(Bernie)

Marsh Harrier

Arrived as I departed this morning at Marloes Mere. Didn`t see the Ibis.

Marloes this morning

To follow on from DG’s posting the Marsh Harrier and Glossy Ibis were both present after he had left this morning. Just wondered if you give them ‘sit up and beg, smile please’ pills- If so can you please make them long lasting !! Thanks Derek for keeping us updated on both birds

Saundersfoot Sarnies

From Peter Cadogan - There have been more than the usual number of Sandwich terns at Saundersfoot this last week. A flock of 32 was on the beach at 6am on Tuesday morning (24th) and almost as many on Friday (27th)

Glossy Ibis, Marsh Harrier

At Marloes Mere this morning, they work well together - the Harrier flies over, up goes the Glossy! The Harrier landed in front of the Britton hide, on the reeds eyeing up the breakfast potential, close & showing very well, just waiting to be caught on camera.

Marloes Mere

The Marsh Harrier was hunting in front of the Britton hide this evening, it seemed to be after the Coot/ Moorhen juvs - going by the commotion, successfully. It was very close, perching on & in the reeds, a fine looking bird. No sign of the Glossy.

Migrating Oystercatchers

Like Richard Dobbins I suspected that about 60 Oystercatchers that left the upper Teifi estuary and flew over the visitor centre at Cilgerran at high tide on the 26th of July 1997, were heading towards the Carmarthenshire esuaries. They rose circling, climbing and calling loudly but once they had gained sufficient height fell silent, then set off steadily on a bearing towards Llansteffan, according to my reading of the compass bearing and reference to a map.

Glossy Ibis / Marsh Harrier

At Marloes Mere this morning.

Pantmaenog

Lovely evening though fairly quiet with raptors the most noticeable - 2 kestrels, a male sparrowhawk, buzzards and the young peregrine.

The Gann

My internal satnav went on the blink & I found myself at this place of vague memories... 3 Black Tailed Godwits, 1 Bar Tailed Godwit, c24 B/H/Gulls. 2 Garden ticks today at St Ishmaels - 1 Chough over, calling, likewise, 1 Curlew.

Teifi - Oystercatchers ....

Yesterday evening, the Teifi Oystercatcher passage peaked (likely) at 165 birds opposite the Quay.
This compares to 24 July 2011 with 200, and 22 July 2010 with a massive 350+, of which 100+ that evening flew high up the valley, presumably overland to the estuarine expanses off the south Wales coast.

14 Common Sandpipers at Jewsons  last night too.
1 Black-tailed Godwit around the river on the reserve.

A Med Gull's Wanderings

Med Gull 3J23 which I saw at Angle Harbour on 19 July has certainly moved around a bit but seems to have settled in the UK. Ringed as a pullus in May 2005 at Verrebroek, Belgium it has since been spotted in Warwickshire  August 2005, Dungeness June 2006, The Gann here in Pembs Oct 2007, Hampshire April 2011, Axe Estuary, Devon February 2012 before it's visit to Angle. Fascinating stuff - many thanks to Derek (Mr Glossy Ibis) Grimwood for obtaining the bird's history.

Glossy Ibis & Marsh Harrier

The Glossy`s back at Marloes Mere this morning, flushed by the Harrier. The Harrier was a juv - also seen at MM yesterday - the same one seen on Skokholm Wed? I wonder if the Ibis has been to Ireland again, there has been two in the Wexford area lately & I`ve been to Marloes most evenings this past week without seeing it. Good to see two decent birds there again. Also, 2 Curlews over & House Sparrows seem to have had a good season at the YHA,some 70 birds around the buildings.

Harrier pics from Elwyn Davies.

Grassholm and Beyond

After 3 attempts this year thwarted by the weather it was great to get out on the Celtic Wildcat with Sea Trust yesterday. Conditions turned out to be pretty choppy once we were out of the Haven but nevertheless we enjoyed some good bird sightings whilst looking for Cetaceans.
First stop was South Haven, Skomer where there were plenty of Puffins on the water with a few still flying in with fish. Kittiwakes were noisy on the cliffs and young LBB Gulls were loafing around. Just one or two Razorbills were seen - the rest no doubt out at sea with the Guillemots which have now departed the island.
Passing some feeding Gannets, in company with a group of Porpoises just off the island, we saw 5 or so Common Terns on the way out to Grassholm which in the warm sunshine was a truly glorious spectacle.
Out to the Smalls with a fast passing Bonxie we arrived to find a wonderful feeding frenzy of Manx Shearwaters with several thousand birds milling around in a pretty tight flock - spectacular! We then headed further out to the Celtic deep and altogether saw some 15 Storm Petrels including one group of 8 sitting on the water taking off only when the boat approached. A couple of Pufflings were seen together with small numbers of Guillemots and the highlight was another Bonxie. It first thundered past the Wildcat, turned to make another close pass, and then pursued a Herring Gull for a minute or so, at one point grabbing it's tail - a real tussle!
Last stop was Skokholm where there were more Puffins in the landing stage bay with several Grey Seals hauled out on the rocks.
See Whales in Wales for details of the Cetaceans seen on the trip and click here for more pics from the trip.

Collared Pratincoles - ?? Bosherston/St Govan's

Message earlier from Matt Sutton followed up by a phone conversation this evening, Matt had two (!) probable (Collared) Pratincoles over Mere Pool Valley, Bosherston, late morning today.  Unfortunately he was without optics due to doing a fauna survey, but watched the birds hawking insects high over the valley before heading of the in the direction of St. Govan's Head.  The shape/jizz could only have been a Pratincole species, and on listening to calls this evening (Matt was first alerted by a bird calling) it closely matches the call of Collared.  Matt is an experienced birder but clearly didn't get enough to be 100% sure, but sounds like the 2 that got away....unless they are still around somewhere??  How about Castlemartin Corse or Frainslake? Apologies for the late posting but this is my first chance to post after speaking with Matt.

Oystercatchers

44 at Newport yesterday. 63 at Goodwick flagpoles this morning.

Marsh Harrier - Skomer

1 juvenile Marsh Harrier - Skomer this morning.
(Dave B)

Angle

At Kilpaison this morning c.20 Curlews, 1 Whimbrel, 5 Redshanks, 1 ad. med Gull and c. 45 Black-headed Gulls. Very quiet at Angle Harbour except for 3 Little Egrets roosting in a tree.
At Freshwater West 1 Dunlin and 4 Sanderling flew in along the waters edge as the tide came up.

greenfinch

8 greenfinches on the newly mown lawn this morning including several juvs.; good to see them about. The last few days seem to have suited the local hirundines too!

Pantmaenog

2 kestrels on top path this evening both appear to be females.

Chough -

A flock of 24 flying southwest towards Abermawr the evening, the largest flock that I've ever seen pass over.
(Rob Johns)

Abermawr

From Sandrajane Young - Just South of Abermawr two peregrines,  further South again 5 chough and 2 young stonechats.

Teifi -- Med.Gull

1 2nd year bird for a couple of days now at the Webley.
 Yesterday out of 150 Black-headed Gulls there, 15 were juveniles.

Ty Rhyg and Pantmaenog

Ty Rhyg - a single Spotted Flycatcher and Red Kite following tractor over Morvil way. Female Golden-ringed dragonfly along the track.
Pantmaenog - Pair kestrels very active, highlight was really good view of a juvenile goshawk being pursued by 4 crows that kindly pushed it straight towards me.

Marloes Mere

1 Cormorant on the irrigation pool. Otherwise quiet, the Ibis was last seen on Wed,(18th). Last night a couple of shotgun blasts put what little there was up, but no Glossy was to be seen, which suggests it`s not there. Or deaf.

Pantmaenog

Lots of Meadow pipits, 2 groups of 25-30 and plenty of smaller groups. A few groups of Redpolls with males sporting their raspberry faces and bibs. Flock of 14 Goldfinch on thistles. 2 stonechat families with 3 and 4 youngsters. Pair Tree pipits carrying food. 2 Grasshopper warblers and a well grown young Peregrine sat on top of pile of logs. Clouds of midges with martins and swallows having a banquet. Lots of swifts over Woodstock on way home.

Newport Fri am

16 Oystercatchers, 2 Redshanks & 1 ea Curlew, Whimbrel & Greenshank.

Ramsey

4 little egrets and 3 grey heron was quite a sight on one of our small ponds this morning. Also today - 4 chiffchaff, 3 blackcap, 4 female house sparrows, 2 goldfinch and a chaffinch

Mwnt to Strumble, a Storm Petrel...

 Strumble Head, during the night;-
10 Storm Petrels, including a bird ringed at Mwnt (Ceredigion), 6 day's ago.
See Teifi Ringing for more...

Teifi - Black-headed Gulls

Wednesday at the Webley high tide roost;-
Of the120 Black headed Gulls present only 12 were juveniles.

Skomer

A couple of Whimbrels today

Angle

At Kilpaison this morning a few returning waders - 4 Dunlin, 2 Ringed Plover and 1 Redshank. Not quite enough to get the pulses racing but a start at least. Also there 17 Black-headed Gulls, no juveniles amongst them.
Round at Angle there were 5 Curlew, 1 Whimbrel and 2 Oystercatchers on the shingle spit in the harbour. Also there c.40 BH Gulls (again no juveniles) and 7 Med Gulls all adults starting to lose their black hoods apart from one 2nd summer bird. Amongst the Meds a bird with a white ring on the left leg - 3J23.

Nine Wells

Down the valley this morning a pair of Spotted Flycatchers feeding 4 hungry youngsters were awarded 10 out of 10 for entertainment value. Providing colour were a pair of Bullfinches, a male Stonechat and several Dark Green Fritillaries.

Glossy Ibis

Seen yesterday (Tues) at Marloes Mere, not seen today..... yet.

Willows / Tern -- Skokholm

Pair of Willow Warblers today - the first returning birds of the autumn.
Monday evening had a Sandwich Tern heading west.
Cliffs all but empty of Razorbills and Guillemots now.

from Twitter

I noticed this tweet from @walesbirds (Glamorgan Bird Sightings) of a sighting by "Dave L".....Out of area, St Dogmaels; Sunday: 3 Peregrines on high cliffs to south. I would take an educated guess that they were 2 adulds and offspring. Very impressive flight displays - better than a Eurofighter by a long way! I'm sure Dave will not mind it being shared here too!

Glossy Ibis

At Marloes Mere last night. (Monday)

Skomer

A few waders around in the last few days - an adult Black-tailed Godwit was around for about a week, there's been the odd Whimbrel, the first Common Sandpipers on the 15th & an adult Redshank on North Pond the same day

Birding the Preseli ridge

Yesterday, beautiful weather. Crymych to B4329. 7 miles, 3 hours. c10 Mipits, 1 Stonechat & that's it

Glossy Ibis

At Marloes Mere this evening, at last fully visible again. c2oo Starlings.

Nine Wells

It looks like Wheatears round here at least have had a decent breeding season. Good numbers of juveniles on The Morfa this morning, and the local Choughs have managed to raise 3 young. Most noticeable is the massive increase in the Rabbit population, a reminder of pre Myxomatosis days, for those of us old enough to remember!

Hobby again

A Hobby was chasing Swallows at Rudbaxton this afternoon, outcome unknown as they passed behind a row of trees. Could this have been the same bird as seen there on the 12th June? The episode was too brief to be able to put an age to the falcon.

Teifi- waders

Opposite St. Dogmael's Quay;-
At high tide this evening, 2 Black-tailed Godwits, 95 Oystercatcher, 83 Curlew, and 1 Whimbrel over Patch.

Bonxie

Loads of Gannets close to Skokholm yesterday, with one Bonxie moving through. Good number of Porpoise and Common Dolphin too.
Up to four Black-tailed Godwit on the pond the last few days.

Newport waders

At the bottom of Long St 24 Redshanks (I think my record for here), only 1 of which appeared to be a juv to my inexpert eye. Also 2 Dunlin & 22 Oystercatchers.

Ramsey

Few birds starting to trickle through. Yesterday - juv common redstart, 2 juv willow warblers, 3 redpoll (1 ad and 2 juv) and 2 dunlin.
Redshank, presuambly the same 3 redpoll and juv willow warbler today.

Skomer

A couple of nice pics from Drew Buckley, taken yesterday.

Ringed Lesser B B Gull

Red BKBS, at Newport yesterday, was ringed as a pullus on Havergate Island Suffolk in July 2010. In Feb this year it was in Morocco, by June it was at Minsmere & then doubled back to Pembs. The ringers have ringed >5000 LBBs since 1996 & this is the first one seen in Wales.

Glossy Ibis

Yesterday, (11th) at Marloes Mere - hide log book.

Teifi - waders

7/8 Common Sandpipers at Jewsons on both the last 2 evenings.
1 Dunlin on Patch last night, and the 12 juvenile Shelduck still around.
1 juvenile Kingfisher from the Creek Hide too...

Falkland Islands

Best of luck to Jerry in his new job down south. I spent two years in the Falkland Islands: a wonderful place!

Marloes

Very quiet, just 9 Chough on the cliffs. No Ibis - is it still on Skokholm?

East Llanion Kite

From Trisha Southern- This morning at 08.00, whilst walking my dogs,  I saw a red kite flying low over the big fields by the marina in East Llanion (by the e-commerce centre). It was a lone bird and stayed for around 20 minutes before flying off in the direction of Neyland.

 

It was a fantastic sight and as it was flying quite low I was able to see it's markings - what a beautiful bird. This really made my day.

 

Carew

From Alan Collens - There were 2 Green Sandpipers and 1 Common Sandpiper at Carew this morning(about 11.30).

They were by the river close to the road bridge.

To The Smalls and Grassholm

Last night 2 RIBs left to venture out to waters around The Smalls and Grassholm, via Skomer and Skokholm to pick up staff, volunteers etc - The reason, to enjoy Jerry's company before his promotion from Skokholm Warden to albatross study in the Falklands Islands..

Out at the The Smalls, a few of the large gull species present, the commonest bird though were roosting Kittiwakes, presumably non-breeders, though have they attempted to nest on those ledges in the past....?

Storm Petrels seen from both boats, I guess the same 2 birds, all other expected breeding seabird species seen in numbers. Small schools of Common Dolphins kept appearing, and porpoises seen close to Grassholm.

Below the view of nesting Gannets from the SW of Grassholm, not the sight from the mainland or islands.

We also picked out  a couple of bridled Guillemots on a ledge and 2 Whimbrel roosting on Grassholm. 1 Whimbrel was seen taking off  from near the Mewstone, as Skomer was passed too.
A great evening out !
Thanks to Chris, Jerry and those who made the trip possible, and good luck Jerry being stuck on an island in The Falklands for 18 months ....!!
Skokholm perhaps isn't that difficult to get off after all ...??

Some breeding season figures from the Teifi

Read "CES 7 supports the poor breeding season"...
 for some numbers to support his year's poor breeding season for common birds.

Glossy Ibis - Skokholm

The presumed "Marloes" Glossy Ibis was seen on Skokholm today.
(Jerry - warden)

Marloes & Dale area and a bit further afield

A bit of a round-up of the last week or so, generally between the showers etc.

Martin's Haven:
Sedge Warblers (at least 2 pairs, vs. none last year) and Whitethroats all singing strongly in the valley, presumably for their hoped-for second broods. The Renny's Slip Choughs appear only to have two young this year (4 is a more normal number of fledgelings). A Redshank over the valley was an unusual record. The Glowworms have been glowing in almost all weathers.


Wooltack Point

There appears to be either more Porpoises, or an altogether new pod, with at least 10 regularly seen; the "normal" number of Porpoises here has been 3-4 throughout most of the year. This possible new pod has been feeding and showing very actively, leading to some great Gannet action, most often (but no longer  exclusively) on North-flowing tides. The number of Manx Shearwaters seen in the evenings (sometimes from as early as 6.30pm) has been into the thousands; on some evenings they have come within a few hundred yards of the Point.

The Gann:
The Curlew roost is building up, but was quite hard to see clearly on the biggest Spring tides, when it moved to an islet up the Pill. The highest number of birds that I counted was 54, but these may have included at least one distant Godwit sp. (seen) and Whimbrel (heard). A Great-crested Grebe feeding in the outflow of the Pill on a high tide was a nice surprise for July. The pair of Shelduck appear to have failed to breed this year. A wonderful sound one Thursday evening was a pair of Common Sandpipers that dropped down onto the pools at dusk and then proceeded to call loudly and melodically to each other for 10+ minutes. A Grasshopper Warbler was reeling on the far bank earlier on, and large number of Swifts (100+) have been feeding high over Dale.

Gelli
Several otherwise-abortive fishing trips here brought me large numbers of Swifts, a Kingfisher, and Ringlet butterflies. Another fisherman reported a Hobby over Gelli Woods, typically seen in the evenings, possibly hunting bats. This report ties in with the report last week on the Blog of a Hobby at Canaston Bridge.

A walk along the Coast Path from St Bride's Haven to Little Haven highlighted to me how under-reported this area can be. The big surprise for me was the range of passerines, most still in song, including 2 Yellowhammers (very scarce in the area, but I recorded them here last year for the Atlas), Grasshopper Warbler as well as more numerous Wheatear, Stonechats,Whitethroats, Sedge Warblers and Blackcaps, a Bullfinch and 2 Grey Wagtails on Mill Haven beach. Plenty of Chiffchaffs in the Goultrop woods.

Marloes Mere

This evening - c130 Starlings, 1 solitary Lapwing, same one as a couple of months ago? No sign of the Ibis.

Teifi - Med. Gull

21:45 this evening,
At the Webley high tide roost, 1 adult Med. Gull (unringed), 88 Black-headed Gulls, only 2 of which juveniles.

Glossy Ibis

1 still at Marloes Mere, well worth the early morning (& evening) drenchings from the continuous rain! The Curlew(s) also still about, Starlings too - are they "our" birds? Can`t recall seeing so many there, so early.

Kite near Pembroke Dock

Red kite near over field just south of A477 opposite turning to Nash Church. I still need one for my garden list - so far the kites are bracketing the target!

Fishguard Outer Breakwater

one single turnstone

Osprey - Westfield Pill

10.45 am on the 7th July 2012
Westfield Pill
Osprey flew over lake heading north east, 5 minutes later it came back

and was clearly searching/fishing, flew to far end of lake ( out of view )

but returned almost straight away with fish. Flew again in a north easterly

direction .
Straight after a red kite took its place, playing in the thermals,

heading in the same direction, just as beautiful !
Steve and Julia
 

Teifi - 1st thing

Jewsons;-
10 Common Sandpipers (and yesterday evening)
Quay / Railings;-
66 Curlew, 40 Oystercatcher. 1 Little Egret, creches of 8 & 4 juvenile Shelduck,
The moulting flocks - small by recent years so far only.... 220 Canada Geese, 1 Snow Goose, 20 Mute Swans.
Webley;-
 No Med. Gulls, and amongst 50 Black-headed Gulls only 2 juveniles.

Newport Iron Bridge Sat 1st thing

5 ad Med Gulls (sadly none ringed) had gone an hour later. A flock of 8 Redshanks (all with bright red legs)& 3 Summer plumage Dunlin. 8 Curlews, 4 Herons & a Kingfisher.A Kestrel over the sand dunes. Oddest was a red head Goosander which flew up the estuary from the sea.

Common Sandpipers -- 27 !

27 Common Sandpipers at Jewsons on the Teifi this evening...
PS...
Having been asked  about previous annual high counts on the Teifi, annual maximum as follows with no peaks in July.;
6th Aug  2011 .....19
1st Aug  2010......16
9th Aug  2009......21
2nd Aug  2008......21
I guess as we are in early July, this year's early rush is likely a sign of breeding failure....?

Newport Thurs pm

1 1st & 1 2nd Summer Med Gull. 7 Curlews & a reported Kingfisher.

Deer Park -- Black Guillemot

1 adult Black Guillemot off Wooltack Point this afternoon.
(Dave Boyle)

Teifi - Greenshank.....

1 Greenshank appeared to be a new arrival at 0600 this morning flying over the marsh, landing nearby on the river.                  We also ringed our 1st juvenile Kingfisher and juvenile Sedge Warblers of the year..

unexpected

There is rarely much to report from here at Pencarnan during the months of high summer, and less so this year given the appalling weather we have endured recently - apart from the fact that the wild grasses are taller than in previous years and Tree Mallow stands shoulder high in many places.

But, we were surprised to see a Short-eared Owl sat close to the camp entrance during a pre breakfast walk this morning.

The sun has appeared today. Maybe we shall see a decent show of butterflies.......that would make a change.

Gos, Treginnis today

What I took to be a male Goshawk (light build, photographed at distance)   was seen after a visit to Ramsay Sound with our WOW course students today harrassing a flock of Starlings

Marloes Mere

The Glossy Ibis wasn`t visible this evening, though it was recorded in the hide log for yesterday.(3rd) Today - 5 Curlew in the field next to the car park, Starlings, now around 200! more suprising was a Cormorant fishing in front of the Britton hide. A lone Tufted Duck, 3 Swifts & a few Hirundines. Not bad for early July.

Greenfinches

Karen and I were discussing the sad fact of the re-emergence of this horrible disease amongst the fledglings of this season in my garden.
  There was I, thinking I`d managed to control it, and wallop! It`s back!  Despite regular cleaning and such I`m just going to have to stop feeding. The core population of greenfinches in Felindre , seemed to have recovered, and although the numbers dropped considerably, ie. 3-4 pairs from 20 or so , I was hopeful.
  This weather seems to have exacerbated the effects as not only have greenfinches been hit hard , but the chaffinches too, and tonight I`ve seen an affected great tit. Next it will be the sparrows and siskins, so that`s it----I`m going to stop.
  While out in the field , there has been a continual presence of greenfinches , so they are still around and, out of gardens, probably unaffected by Trichomoniasis

Hobby

A Hobby flying downriver at Canaston Bridge this afternoon diverted across a meadow where a gathering of Swallows, House Martins and Swifts were hawking low over the grass. The falcon went close but did not pause but flew on towards Canaston Farm and out of sight.

PS is it only MW and I who consider Greenfinches worthy of attention? ( See entry for 19/6).

Bee Eater last week

A late report of a single Bee-eater perched on an overhead wire in Portheiddy (near Abereiddy) at midday on Thursday June 28th seen by Hillary Wade and her daughter.

Newport Sun am

A noisy Greenshank, 10 mobile Curlews & a Redshank. There must be a second brood of 3 Shelducks as the ones I saw today were much less than 3 weeks old.

Bird Report 2011

The 2011 Pembrokeshire Bird Report is OUT !

Many thanks to editors Jon Green, Steve Berry, Clive Hurford and Adrian Rogers and to all others who have contributed to the report. Thanks also to those who submitted records. The number of records received is reducing - please see the Record Submission link opposite for information on how to submit records.

The report is available from Jon Green, at a price of £7.00 (including postage). Please send cheques payable to Pembrokeshire Bird Group to:

Jon Green, Crud yr Awel, Bowls Road, Blaenporth, Cardigan. SA43 2AR.