Spoonbill - Sandy Haven

Spoonbill, Sandy Chapel this 10am morning, stopped by on way back from Dale, gone.

 Dave Perry

Lapland

At least one still in the St. Ann's Head stubbles today (Peter Howe).  It was blowing a hooley up there!

Glossy or Ortolan?

A mathematical dilemma - the Glossy won out, for two reasons. 1, I know where to look. 2,Its easier to find 3, The weather put me off. As I was walking my dogs, the Ibis flew over me, I didn`t have to look. Is that three, or four? Anyway it`s still at Marloes Mere.

Pom

Seen from Irish Ferries on Saturday afternoon, out by Grassholm, 1 pomarine skua.

Buntings, buntings...

Whilst putting out signs for tomorrow's Pembrokeshire Half Marathon in Dale this afternoon, an interesting diversion at St. Ann's Head with a possible Ortolan Bunting and at least 3 Lapland Buntings.  The birds were in the stubble field which is the 2nd to last field on the right (west) as you approach the head.  The possible Ortolan was seen flying around from the road, calling, but I could not pick it up on the ground.  Also in the field a good number of Meadow Pipits and Skylarks.  Well worth a look from the gate on the road to St. Ann's Head (park at Kete).

YBW Fishguard

Did a circuit around the local gardens for approx. 30 minutes this morning. 

House martins

Noticeable passage of house martins over the Carew area today - flying directly in SSE direction.

Turtle Dove

Flew up in front of me as I drove round the bend a few hundred metres West of Mabs Gate. At Marloes Mere, the Glossy`s still there, an adult male Grey Wagtail added a splash of colour.

Glossy Ibis

At Marloes Mere this evening - closer to the Oriole hide than usual, 1 female/imm Kestrel.

Kete-St Anns

St Anns - c10 Pied wagtails, flock of 30 goldfinch, 2 chough, stonechat and a wheatear.
Valley by Walled Garden - lots of birds inc willow warbler, chiffchaffs, chaffinch, stonechat, blue tits, linnet, blackbirds, dunnock, wrens, robins, goldfinch but no sign of yesterdays YBW. A bit cooler and not as much fly life.
Mill Bay - Also full of birds, the flock of goldfinch, wrens, small flock of linnets, a couple of blackcaps, blue tits, dunnock, robins, long-tailed tits, chaffinch, chiffchaff in the scrub beneath the dam. An unfamiliar hi-pitched note had me going until I traced it to a fencepost creaking in the breeze (!) - someone with a more discerning ear might pick out something of more note.
Kete - 4 stonechats, wheatear and a whitethroat. Driving past the Gann around midday - flock of c25 Canada geese dropping onto the sea and 2 chough flew across the road.

Skomer

The Wryneck was at the farm again today, and a few Chiffchaffs, Goldcrests & Blackcaps round the valley, plus single Pied & Spotted Flycatchers
At about 10:00 what I'm pretty sure would have been an Olive-backed Pipit went over the farm in a flock of Meadow Pipits - I watched it for as long as I could but it didn't look like it came down on the island. Richard Brown was on for the day & had a good kick around the nw coast but there was no sign of it

Newport

Carningli Common ~ c400 Golden Plover.

St Govan's

A Whinchat at St Govan's this afternoon. Also 5 stonechats, 2 Wheatears, 4 Chough.

Newport Fri am

The Canadas came in from 11.00 for the next 30 min. Yesterday I counted c1300 but my impression today was of more than this.
At the bridge 3 x 1st w & 1 x 2nd w Med gulls.
I couldn't find any small waders (nor yesterday).

Richard's Pipit - Penally

One on the coast path above Penally firing range with mixed flock of Meadow Pipits and Skylarks this morning (Colin Gittins).

Skomer

Nice to be out birding with not too much wind! About 25 Goldcrests, 10 Chiffchaffs, 8 Blackcaps & a couple of Spotted Flycatchers round the valleys this morning & the Wryneck popped up again at the farm. Bird of the day though was a Pale-bellied Brent Goose heading NW across St Brides Bay this morning

Talbenny-Mill Haven

Female kestrel repeatedly dropping to ground for inverterbrates(?). Young peregrine heading out and settling on Stack Rock. 3 wheatear, 2 stonechat, single Blackcap, mixed flock of linnets and goldfinch on thistle above Mill Haven. A chiffchaff calling and flitting through sycamores in valley at Mill Haven. Robins everywhere. Weasel dashed across road by caravan site.

St Davids Hd am

A Pied Flycatcher in a sycamore at Whitesands this morning. Quite a few Goldcrests present along with a couple of Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps and a Willow Warbler.

Yellow-browed Warbler / Lapland Buntings

A Yellow-browed Warbler at St Ann's Head, just north of the walled garden (Brian S).



3 Lapland Buntings on Dale Airfield, west of the pond (Paul G).

Yellow-browed warbler - St Anns

A nice bright Yellow-browed warbler at 11am in the scrubby valley just beyond the 'walled garden' SM 80793 03199, viewed from coast path between the cottages and Private quay. Also a couple of chiffchaff and a very yellow-breasted willow warbler which caught my attention until the YBW popped into view. Also at St Anns - male kestrel flushing large flock of c100 linnet. A dozen or so Pied wagtails in cattle field and 3 wheatear. Kete - A couple of wheatear, 3 stonechat, flock of 7 chough and peregrine hunting over the stubble field. Lots of craneflies again today. Earlier at Gann: 5 Teal, 3 little grebe, 3 Little egret and 2 heron on Pools. 5 wigeon. a bar-tail godwit, 3 Med. gulls, 3 small waders (dunlin?) put up by Peregrine which blasted through 3 times before returning to its lookout on telegraph pole above parking area.

Lapland Bunting.

My best ever views of one at Dale Airfield this morning.
The Glossy Ibis was feeding in front of the Oriole hide at Marloes Mere.

Cormorants over Crundale

At around 1140 hrs today there were three common buzzard with two red kite very high over Crundale. Shortly afterwards eleven cormorants were seen, again high, flying south in a tight V formation.

Airfield & Gann

As Brian reports the airfield runways have plenty of water on them, especially the 'main' east-west runway where the overgrown grassy borders create nice bunds to hold the water in - no waders, but it's surely only a matter of time.....best I could manage were 2 Wheatear and 4 Meadow Pipits.  Gann little better, with a Bar-tailed Godwit, a Ringed Plover, a Little Egret, 2 Wheatear, 1 Pied Wagtail, 2 Little Grebe and a lone Wigeon in the bay.

Makes me wonder, with a little management of the main runway, whether some semi-permanent shallow pools could be created?  Just a thought.

Dale

Gann - 15+ Rock pipits, 6 white wagtails, 1 turnstone. Little grebe, little egret and heron on pools.
Airfield - lots of pools but nothing much in them apart from 3 snipe. 53 Canada geese flying over from direction of Marloes heading towards Kete. Single white wagtail, flock of 50 starlings, 2 wheatear, 7 mallard.

Carew

On the Carew River this morning by Carew Mill - 1 Greenshank, 6 Redshank, 3 Curlew, 4 Black-tailed Godwits, 2 Grey Plover, 1 Little Egret.

Newport

Boat Club ~ 43 Ringed Plover, 17 Dunlin, 1 Redshank, 1 Barwit, 8 Wigeon.

Dale airfield

Dale airfield - 2-3 chiffchaffs on road up, airfield pretty quiet - 6 wheatears, single pied wagtail, 2 chough, small flock of starling, a few meadow pipits and a solitary lapwing on eastern runway. Lots of cranefly.

Saturday circuit of Kete-St Anns-Watwick area - female kestrel, 2 chough, small groups of pied/white wagtails in amongst the various herds of cows, couple of chiffchaffs above Watwick, 13 wheatear and 7 stonechat and a fox stalking a pheasant (pheasant shot-up and sat on top of hedge sqwauking).

Melodious Warbler - video Skokholm

I took a bit of video of the melodious warbler on Skokholm, while I was there. A very nice bird at a cracking location. It was filmed on the 17th, the last day Mike and I saw it.

Cheers

Mark Hipkin

Melodious Warbler  - Skokholm

Newport Sun am

The Canadas were in fine fettle. I sort of counted 1000, then another 200 flew in. The only followers were a Greylag & 2 ?Greylag/Canada crosses.Swimming calmly amongst them were 5 Teal.
I couldn't find any small waders, but most unusually a flock of c25 Golden Plovers whizzed around but did not land.
At the bridge 4 Med gulls, 3 1st year in the full range of transitional plumage, & an adult.

Steve`s Turtle Dove....

Just as a point of interest, I saw one too, on the road between Mabs Gate & Mullock farm on the 10th Sept 2011.

Yesterday and the day before!

On Friday a Turtle Dove on the road between Marloes and St Ishmaels - near a place called Mabs gate.

Yesterday (Saturday) at Martins Haven - 19 Chough (perhaps the same birds as the previous weekend) and on the crossing to and from Skokholm a first year and an adult Med Gull along with a few Black headed feding in the current just off the Stack.

Skomer

Got round the valleys first thing this morning before the rain started - very, very quiet just a few Goldcrests & the odd Chiffchaff

Marloes Mere

Glossy Ibis in frontof the Orielton hide, earlier this morning. 16 Snipe.

Wryneck - Skomer

1 Wryneck still at the farm this morning
(Dave B)

Teifi warblers

At the CES site, 4 Reed Warbler, 5 Blackcap, 5 Chiffchaff, 1 Cettis and 3 Goldcrest
this morning before a Teifi RG wander to the Dyfi (see Teifi Ringing)

St Davids Hd pm

A Firecrest loosely associating with Goldcrests in the Sycamores at the Youth Hostel this afternoon. A few Chiffchaffs present and Swallows moving north west. Also 3 Red Kites between Mathry and Croesgoch.

Ramsey - Red Kites

6 Red Kites over the island today. Also of note, 5 White Wagtails. Large Swallow movement with up to 500/hr going through for several hours this morning and then again late afternoon. Wheatears still moving through with at least 5 birds present today.

Glossy Ibis

Still at Marloes Mere.

Mediterranean Gulls @ Newport

For the last 10 years the flock of Black Headed gulls at the bridge has been a good site for Autumn Med gulls. This year is no exception. Yesterday a 1st year, a 2nd year & an adult. Today 2 1st years & an adult.

Little Stint - Skokholm

1 Little Stint,
(Mike YP and Mark H.)

Firecrest - Skomer

1 Firecrest this morning.
(Dave B)

Skokholm news

This morning one Pectoral Sandpiper still, along with a Wryneck and a Whinchat new in today (Mike Y-P and Mark Hipkin).

Marsh Harrier

A single female Marsh Harrier today between Trewellwell and Middle Mill near Solva at 2.30pm – No Camera !!

Welsh Ornithological Conference

The Welsh Ornithological Conference will be held on Saturday 10 November 2012, at Myddfai Community Hall, Llandovery, Carmarthenshire. The theme is Marvels of Migration and full details can be found at  http://www.birdsinwales.org.uk/activities/conference.htm

Wryneck - Skomer

1 Wryneck present this morning, 2 Red Kites over on Tuesday.
(Dave B)

Pectoral Sandpiper - Skokholm

1 Pec. Sand this morning, 2 Balearic Shearwaters past the lighthouse.
Mike YP. and Mark H.)

Ramsey and St Justinians

10 purple sandpipers on the Ramsey roost site yesterday (Ffion Rees)
1 red kite over St Justinians (Zeman McCready)

Still there....

This evening. Met a visiting birder/photographer, Mike, who saw a Red Kite yesterday, over the Mere.

Dale & Marloes Area

Just to prove that the Glossy Ibis is not a figment of Derek G's imagination here is photographic evidence. It flew across Marloes Mere early afternoon landing quite close to the path near the end of the pool in front of the Britton Hide. Otherwise pretty quiet at the Mere.
Earlier at The Deer Park there were loads of Grey Seal pups on the beaches and a flock of 19 Chough some of which spent ages playing in the air currents across the cliff face, later feeding on the cliff top. In the bushes at the bottom of Sash's garden a Goldcrest and a Blackcap.
Earlyish morning at Dale Airfield it was also very quiet with just 2 Wheatears and 3 Stonechats. Ditto at St. Anne's Head - a few Pied Wagtails and 3 Wheatears.

Newport Thurs am

Boat Club end. Just 5 ea Dunlin & Ringed Plovers + 1 Redshank. (The?) 2 1st W Meds still there. On the roost c40 Curlews & 30 Oystercatchers.

On the beach

On Monday (17th)there was a dipper on Tenby beach! Also, Tuesday (18th) a wheatear on Frenni fawr.

Leach's Petrel - Strumble

06:45 - 08:30;-
10 Leach's Petrel, 1 2yr Long-tailed Skua, 1 Balearic Shearwater, 3 Bonxie, 43 Common Scoter, 1 Teal, 10 Sandwich Terns.
(Adrian R)

Marloes Mere

Glossy still there this evenig, I`ve spent the last 3 evenings trying to find, (as Sash says) the right kind of woodpecker at Martins Haven. without any luck, haven`t seen one yet in Wales. Jynx Torquilla!

Newport Tues pm

Long St - Bridge. 2 1st W Med Gulls, regular Herring Gulls Blue BHS & EUX & upstream a rh Goosander. One of the Bar heads with the Canadas whose influx this year has been much down on previous years.

Ramsey - Leach's petrels

A quick 1 hour seawatch from 12:30 yielded 2 Leach's petrels - both together. Also of note, 1 Arctic skua, 1 bonxie and 6 sandwich terns

Strumble

To 10:40;-
1 Adult Sabine's Gull, 7 Leach's Petrel, 2 juvenile Long-tailed Skua, 3 Sooty Shearwater, 1 Balearic Shearwater, 2 Pomarine Skua, 27 Arctic Skua, 12 Bonxie
(several obs)

See CeredigionBirds for Mwnt comparison

Newport

1 Bar Tailed Godwit, 6 Wigeon, 13 Ringed Plover, 7 Dunlin.

Osprey - Cleddau Reach

Lunchtime - Osprey over entrance to Cosheston Pill at Cleddau Reach.

Angle

At Kilpaison this morning 12 Bar-tailed Godwits and 4 Pale-bellied Brents.
Rather more going on round at Angle Harbour with 8 Med Gulls (all adults), 17 Sanderling, c.50 Ringed Plover, 40 Dunlin, 15 Turnstone, 1 Redshank and 3 Little Egrets.

Wryneck - Skomer

1 still present today.
(Dave B)

Martin's Haven: right sort of woodpecker

A Wryneck (my first ever!) on the Deer Park wall just south of the gates at 0830. It then flew into the gorse just opposite the gates.
Also in the valley a Whitethroat, several Willow Warblers, a large group of Stonechats and Linnets, 3 Reed Buntings.

Wooltack Point
A seawatch from 7 til 8am today had lots of Gannets and Fulmars. still some (distant) auks around. No shearwaters seen.
A group of 25 Choughs on the Point and later by the Coastwatch hut.

Melodious Warbler and.... Skokholm

08:30;-
Melodious Warbler relocated this morning, and the 2 Pectoral Sandpipers still.
(Mark H & Mike YP)

2 Pectoral Sandpipers - Skokholm

By this evening, 2 Pec Sands and the Firecrest. No sign of the melodious today. 1 Sooty Shearwater past,
(Mike YP & Mark H)

N. Pembs and WeBs

Newport;-
1 1st W Med. Gull, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 13 Dunlin,and 13 Ringed Plover.
Llys-y-fran and Rosebush reservoirs;-
No surprise for September, nothing of note at either.
Teifi;-
1 Common Sandpiper from Creek Hide. 4 Greylag Geese from St. Dogmaels Quay..
(1 Greylag in Fishguard Harbour yesterday)
Nice to ring 5 species of warbler at the CES site this morning including, Reed and Sedge Warblers .

Martin's Haven: wrong sort of woodpecker

The wind calmed down a lot after 6pm this evening and, as it did, a number of Willow Warblers emerged in the valley, as well as Stonechats and at least 3 rather territorial Robins. No sign of the reported Barred Warbler in an hour and a quarter's watch, but I got rather excited by periodic tapping from the depths of the sallows: a Wryneck, perhaps? Alas, instead a juvenile Great-Spotted Woodpecker. Looking at my records, these juveniles are a regular autumn occurrence in this pretty treeless valley.

The Gann at 5pm, about 2 hours before high tide.
Very few waders except for 11 Oystercatchers, and a single Whimbrel and juvenile Turnstone feeding in the weed on the timeline near the Pill. A flock of at least 15 Rock Pipits a White Wagtail and a Wheatear. At least 2 Sand Martins over. One Dabchick on the pools.

Marloes Mere

Glossy still present this afternoon. I had a look at Martinshaven as well as DA,PG et al & again this afternoon - nothing, cold & windy.

A wonderful garden tick

I have just had a message from Barbara Priest that last Tuesday she was treated to an Osprey flying over her garden in Templeton towards Kilgetty. Wish it was on my garden list !!

Pectoral Sandpiper - Skokholm

1  This morning.
(Mike YP & Mark Hipkin)

Barred Warbler

One at Martin's Haven around 5pm, in the willows in Sash's garden, as viewed from the turning circle by the hole in the wall below Lockley Lodge (Peter Howe).

Ramsey - Wryneck

1 in the Waterings Valley this evening (Nia Stephens)

Brent Geese

4 L/B, at the Gann this afternoon.

An interesting(ish) Herring Gull

Black T4XJ, at Newport on Aug 30th was ringed as a chick in the Isle of Man on 23 June 2011.It is their 1st to be seen on the UK mainland, though some have gone to Eire. www.manxringer.blogspot.com

Melodious and more.............

Wryneck;-
Martins Haven, showing well on wall south of the access gate to the Deer park at  08:30.
(Steve Hinton)

Melodious Warbler and Firecrest;-
Skokholm this morning,
(Mike YP & Mark Hipkin)

Skomer:-
Tree Pipit and a couple of Spotted Flycatchers
(Dave B)

Teifi Marshes;-
18 Chiffchaff this morning, but only 1 acro, a Reed Warbler.

Marloes Mere

Glossy Ibis at the gate this morning, quite obliging as I walked slowly past, some 10 metres away. 5 Snipe.

Skomer

The Wryneck popped out of the bracken again at the farm this afternoon

Glossy Ibis

Good views at Marloes Mere, from the barbed wire gate. Had a look at Dale Airfield, nothing but Corvids. (1,000?)

White Wags

A minimum of 26 White Wagtails in a freshly ploughed field this afternoon between Manorbier and Jameston.

Leach's Petrels - Strumble

This morning to 08:15, so far....
4 Leach's Petrel, 4 Sooty Shearwater, 2 Arctic Skua, 5 Bonxie - the highlights

Skomer

No sign of the Greenish Warbler or the Wryneck today

Another contender for worst photo of the year - this Lapland Bunting flew west over The Neck early on

St Davids Hd am

Not much happening so a Long-eared Owl roosting and preening in the withies in Porthmelgan Valley (southern block) was a real bonus. My entry for worst photo on the blog here.

Skomer - boats

The Greenish Warbler will not be looked for until later, but boats are running.
Lapland Bunting over.
(Dave B.)

Glossy

At the Mere, at sunset this evening

Ospreys

Two Ospreys were fishing over the Cresswell River at West Williamston Reserve early this afternoon. One flew over to Lawrenny and out of sight to return some 10 minutes later with a fish. It then climbed quite high, still carrying it's catch, and flew off over Lawrenny Church towards Garron Pill/ Beggars Reach on the Daugleddau. The other bird appeared soon after and flew over the trees on the West Williamson Reserve.
Also seen, 6 Wigeon and a very lost Manx Shearwater.

Long-tailed Skuas, Balearic Shearwater.....

2 Juvenile Long-tailed Skuas and 1 Balearic Shearwater past by 1100 today,
see Strumble blog for more

Greenish Warbler - Skomer

13:50 update,
 Greenish Warbler still showing at North Stream crossing.
(Dave B)

Greenish Warbler has been seen again this morning at North Stream crossing
(Sarah)

Boats running 10,11,12 o'clock.
(Dave B)

Dale airfield and Gann

Airfield: 3 ringed plover scurrying along, 10 wheatear, 3 chough, 1 white wagtail, skylark and flock of 50 starlings.
Gann: 3 grey herons, little egret, 4-5 white wagtails, single wheatear and a bar-tailed godwit.

Hobby over Crundale

A hobby flew north-west over Crundale at 1020hrs today.

Marloes Mere

Glossy Ibis.

Skomer

The Wryneck was at the farm again this afternoon

Ramsey Seawatch

A 2 hour seawatch this morning produced of note:

Leach's petrel - 1 (09:55)
Grey Phalarope - 2
Balearic shearwater - 1
Arctic Skua - 10 (6DP, 4LP)
Bonxie - 1
Common Scoter -  4m

Not many land migrants around - just 2 willow warblers, 10 wheatears and 1 goldcrest seen today

Osprey

Early this afternoon an Osprey was fishing in the creeks on the Cresswell River side of theWest Williamson reserve. After several attempts it caught a fish and disapeared into the trees to eat it's catch.

Strumble - Leach's Petrel .....

Numbers to 08:30

1 Leach's Petrel, 1 juvenile Long-tailed Skua, 21 Arctic Skua, 4 Sooty Shearwaters, 3 Bonxie the highlights.

(Adrian R and sev obs)

Hook/Sprinkle Pill

My second visit of the autumn, not ideal at low tide, but some success with 20 Ringed Plover, 12 Dunlin, 1 Whimbrel, 1 Greenshank, 1 Redshank, 1 Little Egret, 4 Grey Heron, 18 Teal, and & 10 newly arrived Wigeon.  Good numbers of Black-headed Gulls feeding across a wide area and a flock of larger gulls taking it easy in one group.  A flock of 14 Stock Doves was notable - this area of the Daugleddau still seems to be a stronghold for them in Pembrokeshire, at least from my own records of recent years.

Skomer

The Wryneck was at the farm again this afternoon

Glossy....

Still there.

Skokholm Firecrest

A lone bird around the buildings this morning:

Lewis

Wigeon to warblers...(Teifi)

Four Wigeon seen at Creek hide yesterday were perhaps the first back, an additional 15 in the estuary this afternoon. 4 Goosanders on the river for several days now, and 1 in the estuary too. 2 Tufted on Mallard Pond no doubt won't stay, presumably Little Grebes back at 3 sites around the reserve will.

Canada Geese numbers are well down, so not counted yet, 52 Barnacle Geese put in an appearance today, presumably our Cardigan Island birds which may have been wandering ? To complete the geese !! 2 Bar-headed Geese appeared today, associating with the 4 Greylag which arrived a few day's ago, but only 1 Snow Goose around.

John O'S did the Cemaes Head circuit this morning, nothing on the small bird front in windy conditions, the best 4 Common Scoter flying west. 

6 Ringed Plover, 1 Sanderling, 1 Dunlin on Patch this afternoon. Yesterday at Creek /Mallard Hide, 2 Greenshank, c20 Snipe, and unusual to see 2 Dunlin and 1 Ringed Plover feeding in front of Creek Hide.

Our 4 commonest warblers on the Teifi still recorded daily see Teifi RG for more, with daily maximum over the week-end  13 Chiffchaff - friday, though 11 today.

Sedge Warbler 10 - Saturday, Reed Warbler - 8 Saturday, Blackcap, 6 on Friday.

(several obs.)

A day out on the Dale peninsula

The day started with a bang with a crisp juvenile Red-backed Shrike on the Deer Park, found at 8.20 this morning.  Also a Spotted Flycatcher in the valley.  On to the Gann which was quiet, a Bar-tailed Godwit, 4 Teal, and 4 White Wagtails.  Up to the airfield and the second good find of the day, a very confiding juvenile Dotterel at the far west end of the main E-W runway.  Another 7 White Wagtails here.  Some wader footprints in the muddy margins of the pool that remains, no idea what though!  Relatively quiet at St. Ann's HEad & Kete, finished at Marloes Mere where the Glossy Ibis was showing quite close to the track, and 2 Black-tailed Godwits circled a few times before flying off SEwards. (Dave A & Paul G)

Dotterel - Dale airfield

Juv Dotterel west end of airfield main runway. (Dave A and Paul G)

Red-backed shrike

Still there at 10.30am but elusive - moving between SM 758091 and SM 759091 south of lookout seemed to be keeping low. Mervyn on stake-out at 11am. Did Dale airfield earlier - only a snipe and 30 canada geese in the stubble field looks like Dave and Paul have had better luck. Kete - St Anns: a few wagtails and chough roosting on cottage roof. 2 peregrines and a kestrel.

Red-backed Shrike

A juvenile Red-backed Shrike this morning (08.20) at the Deer Park, Martin's Haven by the main path to Wooltack Point, 150m beyond the coastguard lookout.
Still present at 09.20 left of the main path.
(Dave A and Paul G)

Marloes Mere

Glossy at the same place as yesterday morning, close to the track, just beyond the barbed wire gate. Also, 1 female/imm Yellow Wagtail.

Newport

Beach ~ 128 Canada Geese, 1 Greylag, 2 Black Tailed Godwits (all had flown in the Dinas direction by 07.20), also 11 Gannets fishing in the bay.
Amongst the boats ~ 20 Ringed Plover, 13 Dunlin, 3 Redshank & c20 Swallows hawking over the salt marsh.
Iron Bridge ~ 131 Mallards (common I know, but unusual to see in such a large group here), 3 Canada's, 1 White Wagtail & 1 Kingfisher.

Newport

In amongst the boats later this afternoon 1 White Wagtail, 1 Wheatear, 13 Ringed Plover & 14 Dunlin.

St Davids Hd am

The Pied Fly still present at the Youth Hostel, a few more Chiffchaffs in evidence, 6 Wheatears and a similar number of White Wagtails. 2+ Grey Wagtails over again.

Glossy

Still at the same area of the Mere, though now moved more towards the white cottage. Maybe "old hat" now, with these Sandpipers & Warblers around, but it may well be here after the autumn`s done & dusted. Maybe another influx later?

Pectoral Sandpiper pics

Courtesy of Charlie Sargent - some stunning pics of the Skokholm bird.  It may have been around since 20th August as I saw a very similar bird then at a distance which I took to be a Ruff at the time although worried about the clean belly and the tail pattern then too.  Anyway it was still around this morning too although otherwise very quiet in the still early morning.

Skomer

Stunning Greenish Warbler at North Valley Crossing today, first saw it at 10:45 & it was still in the same bushes until I left at 12:15. Its staying hidden most of the time & only usually getting fleeting glimpses of it.
As usual when we get a good bird it doesn't look like boats are going to be running for a while!

Wryneck at the Farm as well, found by Richard Kipling, hanging around in the garden - I got some photos of that as well but they look like every other bad photo I've taken of a Wryneck on a wall at the farm

Skomer & St Justinians

News phoned in by Richard Dobbins:-

Skomer - Greenish Warbler (Dave Boyle)
                Wryneck (Richard Kipling)

Near St Justinians - Ortolan Bunting (John Best) On private caravan site and not seen since sighting early morning.

Glossy Ibis

At Marloes, where the track is closest to the marsh. 23 Snipe, 4 Wheatears.

Skomer

Very quiet out here still, been a few Spotted Flycatchers & Goldcrests in the last few days

Pectoral Sandpiper

A single Pectoral Sandpiper found by Steve Sutcliffe today on Skokholm, seen on North Pond.

? Hybrid Gull

At Newport today what I guess was an adult Med/BH Gull hybrid.White wingtips, a thick red beak with a black spot, but BH shape with a small head & BH winter head markings, though black rather than dark brown. Also 250 Canadas (which had flown in from the West over Dinas - does anyone know where they go to when they move W rather than back to Cardigan?),a Greenshank & a few Redshanks, Ringed Plovers & a solitary Dunlin.

St Davids Hd am

Dead as a doornail apart from a Pied Flycatcher at the Youth Hostel and a few White Wagtails.

St Davds Hd am

Second day of Grey Wagtail passage, 5 yesterday and 3+ today flying w/nw. A small number of Swallows and a Green Sandpiper south. 6 White Wagtails and lots of Mipits present.

Cuckoo

Out in the Garden yesterday I saw what at first looked like a female Sparrowhawk fly from the Birch tree, but as it came round to fly past me the characteristic pointed droop winged outline of a Juvenile Cuckoo clearly identified it. Never had a Cuckoo actually in the garden before.

Swallows -- Skokholm

c400 Swallows moving this morning.........otherwise a quiet day.
(Steve S)

Marloes Mere

Glossy Ibis still here. c80 Canada Geese flying out from Skomer, heading East,3 of them landing on the Mere. The quest for dominating the area has re-started!

Glossy

At Marloes Mere, looking new & shiny in the evening sunshine. Also 15 Snipe buzzing around.

Wheatears on the move

Several wheatears dotted about Lydstep Headland. Instead of being on the ground like they usually are, they were all perched or flying between the tops of bushes or those stunted dead trees. Also 4 chough, which is twice as many as usual.

Ramsey

Red kite and white wagtail today plus a small swallow movement this morning

Fishguard

08.45 Lower Town ~ 2 Grey Wagtails, 1 Dipper.
Flagpoles ~ 8 Turnstone.
Middle Breakwater ~ 3 Turnstones, 2 Meadow Pipits.

Wryneck - Strumble

Wryneck on telegraph pole by Trenoweth - Strumble Head - 08:15
(Adrian R)

Melodious Warbler - Skokholm (late news)

Skokholm;-
Monday and Tuesday, 1 Melodious Warbler. c200 Swallows through this morning so far.
(Steve S.)
Skomer;-
Yesterday, of note Pied Flycatcher and Redstart.
(Sarah)

Teifi

Teifi Marshes this evening;-
Two red head Goosanders and 1 juvenile Black-tailed Godwit from Curlew Hide. 1 Coot and 1 Tufted Duck on Mallard Pond.1 Greenshank calling from the river, and a few White Wagtails feeding on the mud at Creek Hide before going to roost at Kingfisher Hide reed-bed.
Earlier, 4 Greylag Geese from St. Dogmael's Quay.

Seven Whistlers over Abereiddi

Checking on preparations for the Red Bull diving competition later in the week, I watched a skein of  7 whimbrel flying down the valley then out to sea. In view of their Celtic nickname one hopes this is not a bad omen. (see "Titbits")

Wagtails - St Anns

c.30 White wagtails this evening, majority in field near lighthouse and going to roost on the row of cottages. 6 wheatear. 100+ linnet with a few goldfinch in the ploughed field. Otherwise: peregrine sat on cliff face getting annoyed at a young fox getting too close.

Marloes Mere

Arrived rather late this evening - didn`t see the Glossy, however, 3 Herons heading West in line astern, c80 Starlings

Newport Tues pm

At the bridge c300 Canadas, 75 Mallard with 2 Teal & a Wigeon. Also 3 Herons & a Kingfisher. At the Boat Club 6 Redshanks, 5 Dunlin, 4 Ringed Plovers & a Blackwit.

Pied Flycatcher - Site fidelity ?

See Teifi Ringing for  the movement of a Pengelli bred female to North Lancs....

Great White Egret -- Fishguard

c08:55 this morning, 1 flew over Fishguard Fort and continued up the Gwaun Valley.
Steve Berry

Roosting Wagtails - refinery jetty

c300 wagtails roosting on the Valero jetty last night.
(Paul Warren)

Sprinkle Pill & yesterday at Dale

Haven't visited this site for a while (has anyone? not according to Blog posts!) so a nice walk this evening in flat calm conditions was lovely.  A good count of 13 Little Egrets, around 60 Teal (all in eclipse), on the wader front 15 Ringed Plover, 2 Dunlin and 4 smashing juvenile Greenshank.  Amongst a sizeable gull flock (mostly Lesser Black-backs & Black-heads) was an adult Common Gull and a smart juv >> 1st winter Mediterranean Gull.

Yesterday at the Gann 6 Dunlin, 4 Ringed Plover, a single Knot, 4 Wheatear & 6 White Wagtails.  Very little at St. Ann's Head in the fog (if anyone has £950k going spare you can snap up the 5 coastguard cottages!), at Dale Airfield a neat little flock of 8 Dunlin making use of the water on the main runway.

Glossy Ibis

At Marloes Mere, this evening.

Skomer

Still pretty quiet for early September - 3 Willow Warblers, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 8 Grey Wagtails, 1 Pied Flycatcher, 7 White Wagtails & at least 1 Marsh Harrier still around

Newport Beach

Viewed from Parrog ~ 3 Knot, 8 Ringed Plover, 2 White Wagtails, House Martins landing briefly on the strandline &  a commotion behind me as c20 Swallows were mobbing a juv Sparrowhawk.

St Ann's Head

Kete: Pair stonechat, few linnet, 2 wheatear, 2 chough St Ann's: 3 Rock dove-type pigeons in cereal field, I'm assuming these are probably feral? plenty of swallows and house martins. Mill Bay: 3 oystercatchers West Blockhouse: 20+ goldfinch on thistles, 2 stonechat and 2 whitethroat snatching flies, of which there were lots. Merryboro: lots of swallows. Collared dove carrying nesting material at Dale.

Light-bellied Brent Geese -- Teifi

Two at the estuary mouth early this morning.
Also 1 Kingfisher, c5 Ringed Plover, 1 Dunlin & c6 Rock Pipits.
(Teifi RG)

Glossy

At Marloes Mere this morning. Marsh Harrier there yesterday, according to the hide notebook.

Skomer - 2 Marsh Harriers

2 marsh harriers having a bit of scrap with interlocking talons at Moorey Mere! Both juvenile/female. (spotted by Annette, PhD student)
Chris

Arctic skua in Jack Sound

A bracing walk round the Deer Park - an all-dark Arctic skua powering up Jack Sound.

Marloes Mere

Glossy still here this morning, along with 28 Chough in the field in front of the white cottage. 3 Ringed Plover, a Willow Warbler in front of the hide & a Whimbrel calling somewhere over.

Dale airfield - raven heaven

More like the Serengeti - 51 raven tucking into a dead sheep, with 2 foxes and 4GBB gulls - not surprisingly the ravens seemed to be calling the shots. 37 on the carcass plus 14 others sitting on fenceline. A second dead sheep with 8 ravens. Also: 2 dunlin, pair teal, 2 wheatear. Couple of wagtails passing over. Popped down to St Ann's - no sign of any wagtails. Family group of stonechat.