The heron was on the foreshore around 8:30 this morning.
3 greenshank on Marloes mere first thing but soon flew off as I approached. Another example of what can drop in here. 100s of gatekeepers.
A first visit of the year. Just a single nightjar flying around and likely same bird churring in the big clearfell between 10:15-11pm. At times it flew up surprisingly high. Lovely evening for it.
Shame on me - I have only just got round to twitching the Reef Heron. Having only seen this species in non-breeding plumage before I was struck by how smart the breeding plumage was - a silvery bluish grey - and how bright the feet were! It was continually moving along the far bank, fishing as it went, half-opening its wings before diving forwards - it must have been catching fry I suppose. There was also a big flock of Oystercatchers - about 50 - and also a flock of Redshank.
I have never seen the pools so low - the outlet stream was completely dry and the sea level wasn't going to come anywhere near - high tide today was only 5.64 metres - barely enough to cover the bridge. There were shingle banks in places where I never knew they existed.
NB Not birds: A nice piece of grasslands is developing at the far end of the bank - good grassland plants (trefoils etc) and plenty of 6-spot Burnet moths.
Rosemary Royle
The heron was skulking around under the roadside trees at 8:30pm, fishing along the edges up to Crabhall Barn and back. Hard to see in the shadows and overhanging branches. It eventually flew across towards the beach. 6 Little egret clustered on the low tideline. Note: It spent around 15 days in North Wales before coming back to Pembrokeshire, it's been here around 15 days now, might it be getting itchy feet for another adventure?
Lots of youngsters on the moor this afternoon included meadow pipits, reed bunting, stonechat, whitethroat, chaffinch, linnet. Nice to see two Whinchat families (and a singing male), and a young redstart being fed by his mum. Crossbills and redpoll flying over. First Small red damsel of the year.
The heron was just below the crossing point at the mouth of the river when I arrived. As the tide flooded in it moved above the crossing, a Little egret chased it around quite vigorously but soon gave up and left it fishing above the submerged crossing when I left around 8:45pm. Sandwich tern flew over and a Common sandpiper on the pools.
