Gulls

From Mike B: Large number of Gulls with some Oystercatchers by the flag poles at Goodwick 16 44 this evening.

 

Manorbier

Yellow Wagtails and Tree Pipits are a near daily occurrence at the moment, most flying east in the mornings but a few Yellow Wagtails have stuck around to feed in the cut fields (at least one still present yesterday). 

Waders passage has been particularly noticeable over the last week or so with Green Sandpiper, Greenshank, Redshank, Snipe and Ring Plover all seen flying over Skrinkle Haven in the mornings.

Small flurries of warblers are also passing through including 15 Willow Warblers in the valley by the castle yesterday morning, a couple of Spotted Flycatchers, and Sedge Warbler and Reed Warbler elsewhere along the coast. 

Sparrowhawk

From Mike B: Just had a Sparrowhawk try twice to fly through my closed kitchen window in Puncheston. He then flew off seemingly unhurt.

Baird's Sandpiper

At Dale Airfield yesterday. Report and picture by Damon Hart. 

LATE SUMMER WALK AROUND MANORBIER 30 AUGUST 2026

Painted Ladies

I know it is a birds website but I thought some might like to know that two days ago I had approx 30+ painted lady butterflies in my garden. 

Regards, Mike B.

Sparrow Plague in Mathry.

Yep agree with Roger, I havenot seen a Blackbird for some time probably due to the drought, although they were raising young here earlier in the year. What I do see here in Mathry, is literally hundreds of House Sparrows! At least three pairs breed in the eaves of our house and seem to raise young throughout the year. They also congregate in a large sycamore clearly visible from our bedroom window, about two hundred metres away. As i say, maybe a couple of hundred of them, or more. We have been getting through 25 kilo's of sunflower hearts a month, so not only are we giving them a place to stay but also full board and lodgings! I should point out all our feeders are thoroughly cleaned regularly. We also supply fresh water every day in a clean container. We have recently started feeding them only every two days not every day, to encourage them to find food elsewhere. Green Finches, Goldfinches, Chaffinches, Blue and Great Tits along with occasional G.S. Woodpeckers, also take advantage of our largesse. Collared Doves, Dunnocks and Robins clear up whatever drops to the ground before any rats can also take advantage. We are surrounded by green/now sun baked brown desert that offers little natural food. And so despite the warnings of so called experts, will continue to supplement the diets of our visiting and resident avifauna and would encourage others to do so with the proviso that they use hanging feeders NOT bird tables, and thoroughly clean feeders before refilling. Our garden is small but full of insect friendly plants and trees, so these also provide more natural food. As for the pesky Sparrows, if anyone wants to catch a few dozen and transport them to places where they are scarce, I would have no objection, as they have destroyed or usurped all of our local House Martins nests!

Carew castle

 Little egret 4

Grey heron 3

Dunlin 5

Ringed plover 1

Swallow 10

East Haverfordwest, Buzzard/ Blackbirds.

I have lived here for 6 years and each spring and summer, there is regularly a circling Buzzard over fields to the south, and a party of 3 post breeding. I assume the Buzzards breed in woods down near the Eastern Cleddau, but this year there has not been one sighting.  Our local Blackbirds left the area probably the 3rd week of July, some weeks early, presumably due to the hot weather. That is, except for a pair in my neigbours garden who are making a 3rd nesting attempt. However, I think the hard ground is against success in raising young.

On the positive side there have been 4 Painted Lady butterflys and 2 Huming-bird Hawk-moths regularly on the Buddleia bush.

The moths occassionally get caught up in high velocity chases with the P.L.

 

Spoonbill - the Teifi

Spoonbill off from the Webley! Also 11 Sandwich Terns...Great Egret - St Dogmael's too..   (Benj Bond)

Parakeet continued

From Kevin Caley: Regarding Melanie's Monkton ring-necked parakeet: interesting, as I recorded a parakeet here on the 28th July.  Didn't think anything more about it, as I assumed it was someone's escaped pet as well (and posted enquiries locally to that effect). The 'interesting' bit is that Monkton is due West of here in Llanteg, which is roughly the direction I last saw the bird flying. 

Sightings from Castlemartin Range

From Carl Mitchell:

Belated posting:

9/8/2026

1 ring-tail Hen Harrier at Frain's Lake, nr Freshwater West (SR8997)

2 Dunlin and 2 Whimbrel at Bluck's Pool, nr Freshwater West (SR8897)

(seen while on guided walk through range)