From David Meanwell:
Black Kite-Haverfordwest on 26th.
Have just reviewed some images which I had assumed were of a distant Red Kite. About midday on the 26th,from my back garden,I saw what I thought was a Red Kite circling above the Uzmaston Road. I went in and brought out my camera since sometimes, Red Kite fly directly overhead.However, the Kite moved north behind a large fir tree and emerged much further off and higher up. I just fired off some shots to test the autofocus. When I eventually checked the very small images, I was surprised to see the bird was in fact a Black Kite. This fits in well with the
Yesterday morning (Sunday 26th) we walked the coast path between Goodwick and Strumble Head. A cuckoo was calling at Ciliau Moor where they have been seen/heard in previous years. A few sedge warblers were singing in coastal wetland areas and a lesser whitethroat was singing in dense blackthorn scrub patch where there is usually a likely breeding territory. One was also singing in dense scrub on Trewent Point on 25th April, during a walk from Freshwater East to Stackpole Quay. Small numbers of whimbrel (flocks of 5-6) were passing west along the coast on that morning.
Today we visited Caldey. There had been no boats last week due to easterly wind, and it could be the same for the next few days, so were were pleased to get over there today. During the crossing we could see a huge gull and auk feeding frenzy, involving hundreds of herring gulls, many kittiwakes, razorbills and guillemots, in Caldey Sound. The moving but dense feeding flock stretched eastwards and closer to Saundersfoot.
On the island we were impressed with the number of likely water rail territories present. Based on presence of calling males, we recorded and mapped not less than five likely territories. All involved patches of gorse or bramble scrub, four were near the coast, one was nearer the village, but none involved wetland habitat. We have noted water rails in similar places on Caldey in previous years. Here they appear to have adapted to a completely different type of habitat - perhaps they should be re-named Caldey scrub rails!
A grasshopper warbler was also singing in one of the scrub patches on the east side of the island. A pair of greylags are likely to be breeding near Sandtop Bay. Herring and LBB gull breeding activity was well underway, with many seemingly incubating.
It was a disappointing day for choughs though; only one territory seemed to be occupied. None were seen or heard at two other sites where we usually expect to confirm them to be present and breeding.
On the return trip to Tenby, a puffin was heading in the direction of St Margaret's Island, where there is usually a small population. As we passed the lifeboat station, we noted 3 turnstones and a purple sandpiper resting under the old lifeboat station slipway support structure.
We also had a Grasshopper Warbler in scrub behid St Brides Church when doing our BBS on Saturday. I assume that most of them are on passage - it reminds of a BBS we did years ago on April 22nd 2004 when we had FIVE Grasshopper Warblers, singing from all sorts of places!
Rosemary Royle
2 cuckoos and a grasshopper warbler reeling in full sight the highlights of my BBS this morning between Mynydd Dinas and Bedd Morris before the mist rolled in.
Grasshopper warbler reeling in the little marsh opposite the Leisure Centre car park early this morning. Still going as I left after my swim.
The wild area behind South Hook really comes alive in spring, especially first thing in the morning, with a wide variety of birds. Today, it was good to watch this Grasshopper Warbler reeling away for several minutes.
As I got out of the car at 0930 in the N side car park, a lesser whitethroat was rattling away in the bushes along the N side of the Millpond. He was working his way up and down, and most uncharacteristically helpfully perched in full view in a tree. He worked his way east up the road, but an hour later when I returned he was back along the edge of the car park.
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From Paul Fraser: A number of Swallows arrived last week but House Martins did not make an appearance until after we visited on Tuesday of this week. Good numbers of House Martins today, about 20 birds but Swallow numbers still low. However, a number were feeding low over the stream upstream of the Carew road bridge.
Some Reed Warblers were in full voice this afternoon in reed bed at the Broadhaven end of the ponds. One species that I usually hear rather than see so did enjoy a brief glimpse through the reeds of one individual!
Highlights from a walk around NT Castell this morning included 2 cuckoos and a lesser whitethroat calling from the scrub. Plenty of common whitethroat singing as well as chiffchaff and one willow warbler
A fine (breeding plumage adult) hobby flew along the coast between Skrinkle and Lydstep late this afternoon, heading swiftly towards Penally.
Kestrels are back in residence and hopefully will be breeding in the area. The adult male was hunting over rough grassland near the Youth Hostel.
At least 2 pairs of starlings are breeding at Manorbier Range. These appear to be part of a scattered breeding population between Manorbier Newton and Tenby area.
Mid afternoon a Great White Egret on the north side of the airfield below Waun Llechell. Thick cover there so often hidden. Plenty of Whitethroats about, a few Chiffchaffs and just one Willow Warbler heard.
Found in Spam:
Interesting sighting at Little Haven by local resident on 16th April
Andy Fryer
From Sandy Hill
Mid afternoon visit to Minwear today
From car park up to picnic site by the road produced plenty of Chiffies, Chaffinch, Blue & Coal tit but no Tree Pipit or Wood Warbler. Crossing the road I heard a cuckoo & there were plenty of Willow Warblers singing in sunshine. Nice views & brief song from Garden Warbler as I arrived at block of Sitka Spruce, with small flock of Siskin also present. Re-tracing my steps produced a brief Tree Pipit before I got back to picnic site. Visit capped off with beautiful male Brimstone.
Sadly the Small sand martin colony above the beach seems to have collapsed. I saw no birds last year and none so far in 2026.
Small group of scoter flew over the Welsh road heading out to sea....where had they been?
Grasshopper warbler in scrub behind Welsh road, near start of coast path to nolton haven
Small numbers of Wheatears this morning and a light passage eastward of Swallows and House Martins, with singles of Sand Martin and Swift. Offshore 5 Whimbrel flew east and a Sandwich Tern was lingering off Manorbier beach.
A look around this evening produced a Garden Warbler singing at Skrinkle, plus a few more Wheatears.
A passing Arctic Tern was the highlight of a quick look at the sea late in the evening. Seemed to be a fair bit moving so wish I could have given it longer!
The most wheatear so far with 30 on my walk, many looked big and bright. A first swift dwarfing the hirundines over the mere. 9 whimbrel, a ringed plover, a dunlin and 2 lapwing, one of the males chased off a herring gull. 2 other ringed plover opposite the entrance to West Hook on the little flood. 13 coot, a couple on nests, 9 moorhen was a surprise, Shoveler 4 pair and 3 male was on the low side, teal 7 pairs, 3 shelduck and 3 pair Tufted duck. Still a bit quiet, just a couple of sedge warbler and 3 whitethroat.
A garden warbler singing in the garden this morning was our
first of the year here. Its appearance was a bit later than usual, but we
have been out and about quite a bit recently so perhaps we missed its actual arrival
date.
It was interesting to see how the local territorial male
blackcap responded. One has been resident nearby for a few weeks now. Not only
did he appear to sing much louder than usual but, for a short period, he also started to mimic the garden warbler.
Our garden usually forms part of a breeding territory for a pair
of garden warblers, so hopefully this one (with a partner) will not
be too intimidated by the rival blackcap and will stay around in this area.
