Out in the Castlemartin Range today it was nice to see c.50 sand martins back at a usual colony area at the Furzenips. There were at least 20 or more house martins too, probably passing through, although some might have been returning summer residents at the Furzenips. Here there are also usually several cliff-nesting pairs - sand martins on the eroding softer cliff-top and house martins in rocky crevices/small overhangs below. We wonder if the two species breed close together elsewhere in natural sites on the Pembs coast.
Of 14 ringed plovers (with a couple of dunlin) on the beach this morning, 2 pairs
appeared to be settling into a usual breeding spot, although the beach profile is
much steeper than last year with more limited potentially suitable breeding habitat
present.
This morning there was a small
passage of curlews plus a dozen or so whimbrels in separate small groups heading
up the coast.
Lots of whitethroats are back on territory in usual patches
of scrub, plus large numbers of linnets across the Range. Kestrels are also back
at a usual breeding location, where a mating pair was observed a couple of weeks ago.
Most of the resident pairs of chough seem to be well settled
and breeding, although a few (likely new/younger pairs) are still giving us the
run-around. Also, the same along other parts of the southern Limestone coast where some pairs had still not settled earlier
in the week.
In the south of the county, we also noted a grasshopper
warbler singing in some good breeding habitat at Cors Penally mid-week. Another grasshopper warbler was at Templeton Airfield, along with willow warblers and yellowhammers in their usual breeding habitat.
From Sandra Young - Pwll Deri
Two Cuckoos were very close together on Plumstone Mountain this afternoon. We heard the male calling near the top initially, then unintentionally disturbed the pair hidden in a bush on the way back down the hill. I think I can guess what they were doing.
From Bryn and Ros Burgess
From Bryn & Ros Burgess
Sunday 12/4/26 from The Point Little Haven 3 Sandwich Tern, a Great Northern Diver in nearly complete summer plumage and at least 3 Guillemot. 3 Swallow above Little Haven. Monday 13/4/26 around St Justinians east along the coast. 2 male Wheatear, 3 Stonechat, 3 House Martin, 12 Swallow, single Sand Martin, Rock Pipit, 4 Chough and my first Whitethroat of the year in scrubby area above the Lifeboat station.
The Pinkfoot and the White-front were still in Trehills fields to the west of the mere with a small group of canadas, when I left they were settling down in the field to sleep. Mallard with ducklings tonight. The 2 male lapwing were visible and quiet hopefully the female is sitting tight now.
Hi all, just thought you would like to know I had an Arctic Skua, in flight over St Ishmaels at a campsite I was staying at, heading south west, yesterday Monday 13th approx 15.00, attached a dodgy pic, well done with the blog, I am a regular reader of it
A sunny day and winds coming from the south was an opportunity not to miss, so, inspired by Caroline's report of a Greenland White-front Goose, I headed to Marloes. A quick scope from the car park revealed a smallish pale goose amongst the 29 Canada Geese, but no white was obvious on the face. On arrival at the barbed wire gate there was a Pink-footed Goose and the Greenland White-fronted Goose appeared a little later. They seemed to like being close together for a lot of the time.
The White-front obligingly did a circuit of the pool and came near to the hide for a photo shoot. It was interesting to note how the bill colour and darkness of the head and breast changes depending on the strength and direction of sunlight.
The pool was busy with ducks - about 40 Teal and good numbers of Shovelers, Mallards, Tufted Duck, Gadwall and a few Wigeon. A pair of very noisy Little Grebe stayed close together in front of the hide and a single Sedge Warbler burst into song unseen in the willows just below the window. A Willow Warbler and some Chiffchaffs were feeding quietly nearby. At least 50 Sand Martins were feeding over the water and briefly settled onto a very crowded bramble patch. Small numbers of Swallows and a single House Martin passed through. The three Lapwings were still around, a pair once going up together to chase off a crow and returned to their favourite patch of wet grass.
The relative calm was disturbed by a low flying helicopter which put up the Canada Geese and ducks. Immediately afterwards an adult female Marsh Harrier appeared from the west, quite high up. I suspect it may have been lurking nearby and took the opportunity to scan for unattended nests. It only managed one circuit before the local Buzzard attempted to chase it off, but failed badly. The harrier was much more aggressive and agile in the skirmish. The Buzzard gave up and drifted off eastwards before the harrier went south towards Skokholm. The rubbish picture indicates the aggression, if nothing else.
A bonus for staying most of the afternoon was the late appearance of eight or nine Whimbrel, that dropped in and landed out of sight. I could not find them despite their calls and some singing. Fortunately they did a couple of circuits before heading off northwards.
And Happy Birthday to the Blog and thanks to Rich, Brian et al. It has become my daily read and way better than looking at a newspaper.
Long time readers of the blog will know that although the archive goes back to January 2008 the first couple of years entries were deleted. I actually set the blog up in 2006 and the first entry was on 14 April that year so the Pembrokeshire Birds blog is 20 years old today!
I’m really chuffed that in the age of Facebook, X and other social media that it continues to be well supported and provides a useful source of information for local and visiting birders. Over the 20 years there have been more than 24000 posts with, in recent times, over 1300 per year and, with over 6 million views logged, the blog continues to be popular.
........from a pair of wily Ravens!.
While having stroll at dusk around the mill pond to the castle, a single Raven flew purposefully into the castle airspace and was immediately mobbed by the pair of resident Crows. A dramatic aerial tussle ensued resulting with the Raven flying off followed by BOTH Crows, at which point a second Raven suddenly appeared with what looked like a crow egg from the castle walls!
Was the second Raven simply taking advantage of the Crows being distracted by the first bird, or was this a deliberate cooperative tactic by the pair?! wouldn't be surprised if it was the latter..
Very few waterbirds around: just a handful of Redshank, a pair of Shelduck, a Heron, Mute Swan, and a Lesser Black Back. Lovely evening though.
