Martin's Haven: a Woodpecker and a Harrier

After a very quiet evening yesterday the valley was wonderfully active this morning: several big groups of linnets (each 30+), Stonechats all over the place, a dozen meadow pipits all descended in a group, and a similar very tight group of Pied Wagtails (as well as a pair of Grey Wagtails). The scrup in the valley was notable for a persistent party of 6-8 Blue Tits (unusual here), accompanied by a pair of Great Tits (ditto). These were present at around 0800 and still in the sallow bushes at 1700, when they were joined by a rather unexpected House Sparrow. The real surprise, though, was the source of persistent tapping in the morning, which turned out to be a juvenile female Great Spotted Woodpecker. It clearly found enough wood to peck amongst the sallows and willow, and spent some time working on an old gorse stem in the Deer Park, before finally flying off East at around 1700. Other highlights were 6-8 Chiffchaffs and a pair of Blackcaps, while careful study of the wagtails in the afternoon revealed at least one clean adult White Wagtail amongst the Pieds.

Having dipped on the Skomer Wryneck today (consolation prize: a Wood Warbler, and good numbers of raptors, especially Sparrowhawks and Buzzards) a quick look at the Trehill fields facing Skokholm at around 1800 revealed a beautiful Harrier flying towards the island. I am fascinated by the two different reports of Harriers in the area in the last 24 hours: Dave B's possible Monty's on Skomer yesterday evening and the Ringtail at Marloes Mere this morning. My contribution is that the bird I saw was large, with very thin wing tips, no obvious black patch on the underside of the wings and a VERY bouyant ("bouncy") flight; a real surprise for such a large bird.

Well worth checking the Mere tomorrow morning if the bird gets bored on Skokholm!