Corse and Kilpaison

I could see the cattle at Starmans as I started to walk down Castlemartin Corse, was partly relieved to see that there was an electric fence creating a strip along the edge as if it was a path. Only the electric fence is attached to the fence line further down so you have to ‘negotiate it.’ I assume it will only be in place for a day or two till cows are moved on but thought worth a mention so people are aware.  

There were 6 Canda Geese hanging out in front of the hide today, when the Mute swan arrived on the scene it was not overly impressed by their presence. A handful of Teal and Mallard. Other ducks included 2 Shoveller, 3 Pintail and 2 Gadwall. There was also 3 Grey Heron. Odd Cetti’s on territory singing away. Did have brief sighting of a Marsh Harrier, a Kestrel far off towards Starmans being the only other bird of prey. 

I then went to Kilpaison with Richard Reees. There were 6 Shelduck and 7 Brent Geese on the shoreline, latterly joined by a flock of Oystercatcher and mixed flock of gulls, mostly Common with a few Black Headed, Herring and Lesser Black Back Gull. There were quite a few Gannet diving in the distance in the main waterway.

On way back, thanks to another car stopping and occupants spotting them, there were two Buzzard in a field looking for food.

Its spring!

A quick visit to Strumble this afternoon cut short by cold NW breeze. Three R.T.Divers on the sea, several groups of Kittiwakes heading West and my first Manxie of the year, makes it officially spring!  

Pembroke Castle Pond 13th March

From Paul Fraser: On a late morning walk to the barrage today, the female goosander was seen fishing with great energy on the rising tide as the exposed mudflats were covered with the rising tide.  

Skokholm Annual Report 2024

2024 was a cracking year on Skokholm, full of surprises. Our FREE report chronicles everything from bird numbers to a ship wreck, from new moths to volunteer work parties. Notable birds in a Pembs context included Squacco Heron, Nightingale, Rose-coloured Starling, a couple of Common Rosefinch, Red-backed Shrike, Barred Warbler, Marsh Warbler, Pallid Harrier, Red-footed Falcon, Corncrake, White-rumped Sandpiper and Richard's Pipit. There were daycount records for Spotted Flycatcher, Blackcap and Tree Pipit. Just click on the link and hit download. Enjoy bit.ly/4cHizoM

Causeway Plantation Crossbill

A very smart male Crossbill was hanging around on the leeward side of Causeway Plantation this afternoon. He did not move around much, just sitting around in the relatively warm sun with no singing or calling. I guess he might have a partner nearby doing something more important

Nearby were the usual resident species and only one singing Chiffchaff, surprising after hearing a handful in Haroldstone Woods  a couple of days ago.

Plumstone Mountain was pretty quiet, with only a few Skylarks having a sing in the sun despite the stiff chilly breeze. One large distant non-Buzzard raptor flew around the corner of the Plantation towards Dudwell Mountain just as I was leaving and did not reappear.

Tefi Marshes 16.00 Kingfisher Hide 10/3/26

 Mandarin Drake splashed into pool at Kingfisher hide for about 15 minutes (Teifi Marshes), This afternoon, also Chiff Chaff heard and a handful of Sand Martins overflying.

Belated post - Stackpole Estate 09 March

Went for a bit of a walk around Stackpole Estate yesterday. No auks on the cliff as I passed though aware that they have been seen on the cliffs at Stackpole Head and at ElegugStacks recently. There were a few Fulmars on strategic ledges along certain sections. Plenty of Jackdaw about. The Skylark were singing and being territorial on the Warren. A Herring Gull took umbrage to a Raven passing along the coastal margin resulting in some impressive aerial aerobatics by the Raven. The lakes were quite quiet other than seeing some Cormorant in full breeding plumage and spotting a female Blackcap in some thick undergrowth. A Grey Heron returned to Herony as I passed, I only clocked two nests by the resulting necks up and noises. 

Jackdaw 

Fulmar

Skylark

Raven in avoidance mode!

Cormorant

Skokholm

The first Firecrest of the season today.

Newport Beach 8/3/26

 Thanks to very calm sea, seven dots about 300m off the beach, turned into seven Great Crested Grebes in my telescope.

Newport - Fishguard coast

A Great Northern Diver at Aber Rhigian yesterday and at Aber Bach today.  Also a pair of quite magnificent Cormorants displaying, on Carrig Duon.

Strumble

Fran had wheatear beneath the lookout at Strumble head @17.00 brief view, I missed it watching dolphins!

Castlemartin Corse cont.

 Further to Richard's note below, a couple of photos of one of the harriers, a lighter coloured bird. The other was very dark, probably a 2CY bird. 

Re Merlin

I have just come back from a holiday in Colombia and noticed the conversation about Merlin on the blog. We tried Merlin at the Hacienda we stayed in, which had an extensive bird list, and at first it did well. All the birds it found I could also see or hear and most of them were not actually singing, just doing contact calls. But then it seemed to go off on flights of fancy - it found Chestnut-headed Orependola, and both Yellow-legged Thrush and Pale-eyed Thrush, none of which are known at the property whereas it missed Black-billed Thrush which is common there. 

And we tried it in our garden on 6th May last year - it found Greenfinch and Goldcrest which were definitely not there. (I can still hear Goldcrest calls - there weren't any- and Greenfinch have been regretably absent for about 10 years)

So the verdict - surprisingly good but it makes big bloopers as well. I think it just tries to hard too identify every little squeak. (I wonder if the Orepondola at the Hacienda was actually noises from the kitchen!)

On thing which is very useful is that it highlights the bird that it is hearing at any point in time so maybe ir could be useful for learning bird sounds and calls.  

Rosemary Royle 

Whooper Swan??

Thought I would report my unusual observations today while here in Pembs for a short birding trip.
7/3/26
From the coast path a lone swan on the sea offshore from a point at Porth y Rhaw, Nine Wells was spotted. Too far out for a photo but an unusual sighting off this rocky shoreline. Judging by its long straight neck, angular bill and glimpse of yellow, possibly a Whooper? Weather good and sea calm.
Also a male Hen Harrier flew over the road at 1700 near Pointz Castle, heading North.
Regards
Richard and Christine Harris. 

Castlemartin Corse

The Corse this morning with David Ord. Still plenty of water, but no sign of the swans, either whooper or mute. Several Cetti's, a pair of chough, teal, mallard, one shoveler, a water rail in the ditch by the track. Two sand martins were the birds of the day. This chiffchaff was in the brambles in front of the hide. A call from a bird passing over defeated us both. 

Two marsh harriers - David's photos to follow if they make the grade! 

Jonathan Bennett - funeral arrangements

For those that would like to pay their respects, Jonathan's funeral is in St David's Cathedral on Friday 20th March at 1pm, followed by tea at the Old Cross, St David's.

Marloes

 From Vicky Pearson - A lovely hour or so at Marloes Mere.  The normal suspects: mallard, coots, Canada geese.  

Good numbers of Shovler, Gadwall, Teal, Wigeon, Pintail, Moorhen.   

Plus 3 Snipe, 3 Lapwings displaying (very lovely to watch and hear), 2 Dabchicks, 4 ish Tuffted Ducks, juvenileBuzzard