Tuesday, 29 December 2009
starlings -- latest update
I reckon well over a million last night (could easily have been 2 million or more)- absolutely huge numbers putting on a magnificent show; biggest this year by far. Hen Harriers (one making a spectacular strike) and a Peregrine also present, along with usual buzzards.
Mark Charlton
Mark Charlton
Deer Park: Snipe and Med Gulls
Relatively quiet out here in the last few days, but 2 Snipe flushed on the Deer Park yesterday. The remnants of a large finch flock on the Trehill Farm fields are still in evidence, but now down to 100+ birds (vs. 3-4x that a few weeks ago); mainly Chaffinches, some Goldfinches and Greenfinches.
Lots of Song Thrushes on the Deer Park and in Martin's Haven valley, as well as slightly smaller numbers of Blackbirds.
Not much on the sea off Wooltack except for small numbers of auks. No Red-throated Divers seen at all this year so far: the same period of 2006 had a regular 3-5 divers there. However, the North-flowing tide again produced a steady feeding party of c200 Black-headed Gulls, together with a couple of immature Kittiwakes and at least 2 (probably several times this) Mediterranean Gulls. One of these was an adult with a partially developed black hood and a heavy bill: very distinctive against the other gulls. It is possible that a significant proportion of those Med Gulls that appear in the Dale Roads gull roost in the evenings spend at least a proportion of their "working day" in Jack Sound.
Lots of Song Thrushes on the Deer Park and in Martin's Haven valley, as well as slightly smaller numbers of Blackbirds.
Not much on the sea off Wooltack except for small numbers of auks. No Red-throated Divers seen at all this year so far: the same period of 2006 had a regular 3-5 divers there. However, the North-flowing tide again produced a steady feeding party of c200 Black-headed Gulls, together with a couple of immature Kittiwakes and at least 2 (probably several times this) Mediterranean Gulls. One of these was an adult with a partially developed black hood and a heavy bill: very distinctive against the other gulls. It is possible that a significant proportion of those Med Gulls that appear in the Dale Roads gull roost in the evenings spend at least a proportion of their "working day" in Jack Sound.
roost flightlines
About a week ago I was watching many thousands of starling flying over Bwlch-y-groes heading east.
Starling roosts
Observations and pictures of Starling roosts entertain us on the blog from time to time. Do we know how much these roosts have changed over time? "The Birds of Pembrokeshire", 1994, listed roosts, catchment areas and flight-lines. Are these elements still the same, particularly regarding the largest roost at Dudwell/Plumstone? The book also mentions a large roost in the plantations of Mynydd Preseli. Is there still a roost there now that many of the trees have been felled? If not where do birds feeding in that area by day go to roost?
The active and alert blog-network might find it interesting to answer these questions.
The active and alert blog-network might find it interesting to answer these questions.
Monday, 28 December 2009
Brents
Students of the Brents in Pembrokeshire may be interested in the following web-sites:
http://www.irishbrentgoose.org/
http://www.sligobirding.com/CanonNettingBrent.html
On Boxing Day I had 2 adult Med Gulls in a coastal field between Nolton Haven & Druidston, along with at least 150 Lapwing.
http://www.irishbrentgoose.org/
http://www.sligobirding.com/CanonNettingBrent.html
On Boxing Day I had 2 adult Med Gulls in a coastal field between Nolton Haven & Druidston, along with at least 150 Lapwing.
Whoopers over St Davids etc
At Dusk, 5 Whooper Swans flew over Dowrog Common in a south westerly direction heading for Trefeiddan maybe? Worth looking for in the morning on the pools around St Davids.
Also over the Dowrog, a ringtail and a male Hen Harrier and a Little Egret.
On Penberry pool, 16 Shoveler and 85 Wigeon. over 200 Lapwing nearby.
St Davids airfield, 2 ringtail Harriers and 20 Shoveler on the pool.
Earlier from Fishguard fort a Red-throated diver and 2 Great-crested Grebes.
Also over the Dowrog, a ringtail and a male Hen Harrier and a Little Egret.
On Penberry pool, 16 Shoveler and 85 Wigeon. over 200 Lapwing nearby.
St Davids airfield, 2 ringtail Harriers and 20 Shoveler on the pool.
Earlier from Fishguard fort a Red-throated diver and 2 Great-crested Grebes.
Spoonbills -- Pembroke River
Report from Barry Potter of 2 Spoonbills on Pembroke river this morning on the Pennar side.
Pembroke millponds
Top pond
water level dropping so 10 Black-tailed Godwits back + 20 Snipe
main pond
22 Dadchicks, 18 Coot, 1 Pochard, 2 Gadwall, 1 Common Sandpiper
Pembroke millponds
Top pond
water level dropping so 10 Black-tailed Godwits back + 20 Snipe
main pond
22 Dadchicks, 18 Coot, 1 Pochard, 2 Gadwall, 1 Common Sandpiper
Scaup, & 3 !! Pochard -- Rosebush
Rosebush Resr;-
The female Pochard now joined by a pair today.... also the fem. Scaup, & ....c7 Goldeneye.
Llys-y-fran Resr;-
2 rh Goosander, the only birds of note!!
c6 Gt. Ctd. Grebe, & a couple of GBB's in the v. disappointing gulls (still less than 1500).
Is all our farmland too frozen .. & no slurry spreading?
The female Pochard now joined by a pair today.... also the fem. Scaup, & ....c7 Goldeneye.
Llys-y-fran Resr;-
2 rh Goosander, the only birds of note!!
c6 Gt. Ctd. Grebe, & a couple of GBB's in the v. disappointing gulls (still less than 1500).
Is all our farmland too frozen .. & no slurry spreading?
Blackcaps ..& .....Black Redstart.
Blackcaps reported today;-
Male -- Jon Green's garden, Ceredigion!
Female -- Merv's garden,Llangym
Female -- Janet's garden, Felindre.
Black Redstart;-
A male on St. David's Cathedral today,
(Chris Moore)
Male -- Jon Green's garden, Ceredigion!
Female -- Merv's garden,Llangym
Female -- Janet's garden, Felindre.
Black Redstart;-
A male on St. David's Cathedral today,
(Chris Moore)
Newport -- waders
Richard,I have seen several references to the black tailed Godwit off Newport bridge but not seen a photograph so here is one taken today (Monday). I saw no bar tailed Godwits today – just the usual gulls, one heron, one redshank and one little egret. The photograph of the redshank was taken, also today at the Creek hide, Welsh Wildlife Centre, Cilgerran. There was also 4 or 5 Snipe there among the 100+ Teal but I did not get a good photograph of them.
Happy New Year to you and all contributors to the Blog.
Tommy
Plumstone -- Starlings
Hi,
I viewed this roost from the rock, they soon vanished from view as more gathered, do they go behind the woods as viewed from plumstone rock?
Thanks Dave Britain
I viewed this roost from the rock, they soon vanished from view as more gathered, do they go behind the woods as viewed from plumstone rock?
Thanks Dave Britain
HWest
(see posting below for "best" directions)
A very cold Gann at high tide
25 Brent - including the colour ringed individual that Dave picked up on the 13th Dec.
2 Grey Plover, 5 Snipe, c7 Goldeneye, 8 Little Grebe. On the sea, 1 Gt/C/Grebe, otherwise quiet.
Sunday, 27 December 2009
Starling Roost -- Plumstone
Is it worth mentioning that the Starlings at Plumstone are generally roosting in a different area to last year -
-- this year they seem to be heading to the northern end of the wood, behind the industrial buildings. The roost can be reached by following the woodland track for about 600 metres. I notice there are lots of cars at the road layby (where all the action was last year) and new observers are leaving somewhat disappointed when they miss the main spectacle.
Hope this helps
Mark Charlton, Llandeloy
-- this year they seem to be heading to the northern end of the wood, behind the industrial buildings. The roost can be reached by following the woodland track for about 600 metres. I notice there are lots of cars at the road layby (where all the action was last year) and new observers are leaving somewhat disappointed when they miss the main spectacle.
Hope this helps
Mark Charlton, Llandeloy
starlings
This was also a cold visit to Plumstone mt., but was great to see all those starlings flying in. A million, I haven't a clue, but if anyone has counted them well done. Thankyou Wendy
Also approx 200 lapwing flew over shortly before the main event.
Also approx 200 lapwing flew over shortly before the main event.
Tresinwen & Goodwick (27 Dec 09)
Water Rail still in the shadows behind my pond.
Adult Mediterranean Gull at Goodwick late afternoon along with 8 Turnstone.
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Little Auk - Teifi
While scanning the small wader flock late afternoon at Patch, a Little Auk was spotted off the end of the spit. It swam around for 5 minutes, just allowing time for a record video, before flying upstream towards St Dogmaels.
Despite scanning the estuary until dusk it was not seen again.
Rosebush Resr -- Scaup
Still present today in very brief look at resr.
Ringtail
Still at Marloes mere, around 2:45pm.
Saturday, 26 December 2009
Tresinwen (26 Dec 09)
Water Rail in the garden today - first for the garden! No photo as it stayed in the shadows behind the pond all day.
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Resevoir -- ducks ....&...Goosander
Rosebush Resr;-
This afternoon, 2 rh Goosander new to go with the fem Scaup, fem Pochard, 7 Goldeneye etc.
Llys-y-fran Resr;-
By 16;30, 5 Goosander, 1 ad male, (3 rh seen earlier). 5 Gt. Ctd. Grebe.
Again a poor gull roost, less than c1000 birds, although a couple of Common & GBB Gulls.
This afternoon, 2 rh Goosander new to go with the fem Scaup, fem Pochard, 7 Goldeneye etc.
Llys-y-fran Resr;-
By 16;30, 5 Goosander, 1 ad male, (3 rh seen earlier). 5 Gt. Ctd. Grebe.
Again a poor gull roost, less than c1000 birds, although a couple of Common & GBB Gulls.
Blackcap -- Felindre too
Janet saw her 1st garden Blackcap of the winter today, a female.
Siskins still in low numbers.
Siskins still in low numbers.
Newport Sat am
Not much change from Thurs except the Teal have mostly gone & there are now 2 Bar T Godwits to compare with the long stay Black T.
Friday, 25 December 2009
Angle Bay (25 Dec 09)
Over high tide this morning:
Great Crested Grebe - 3
Bar Tailed Godwit - c.15
Dunlin - c.150
Knot - 8
Ringed Plover - 10
Pale Bellied Brent Goose - 7
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Snow Buntings
3 Snow Buntings on the Crymych side of Foel Drygarn in the Preselis late afternoon. SN161333
Pen-Caer peninsula
Small flocks of lapwings about the area, counted a flock of approx 45, nother of 14 & nother of 9.
Red-throated diver flew past the lighthouse, heading south, & 3 black-redstarts brightened my day.
In a 3 hour spell we saw no gannets at all!
Red-throated diver flew past the lighthouse, heading south, & 3 black-redstarts brightened my day.
In a 3 hour spell we saw no gannets at all!
Back for Lunch.
I got a Black-Cap for Christmas !
Very happily feeding on an apple for his xmas breakfast !Best Wishes for Christmas & the New Year.
Teifi -- Common Sand.
As last Christmas Day, 1 (the same?) Common Sandpiper at Jewsons.
Redpolls -- Ty-rhyg
Yesterday whilst at Ty-rhyg,(no sign of shrike yet) I did have over the time of the visit up to a dozen redpolls flying about--- a couple of which caught my eye due to whiteness of underparts--
the birds only seen in flight.
the birds only seen in flight.
Thursday, 24 December 2009
Manorbier-Jameston area tetrad-bashing
This afternoon visiting tetrads - lapwings (c.400+) golden plovers (500+) feeding mainly in several Brassica fields. Song Thrushes greatly outnumbered blackbirds and redwings - probably around 100 seen in fields during a walk through 3 tetrads. Closer to Manorbier firecrest and black redstart both put in an appearance (the former on the village outskirts; the latter near Atlantic View. All in all a very pleasant afternoons birding.
Spotted Redshank -- Llangwm
All you need to know...
Hi Richard...
Living in such close proximity to Llangwm Pill I've been monitoring the birds around here for 30+ years (I currently do the WeBS count for Llangwm). As a matter of interest, the spotted redshank that Mervyn reported in the recent posting has been over-wintering with us in the Pill for the last 5 years. It was first 'spotted' one December day in 2005 by ex-Skomer warden Juan Brown when he himself was over-wintering in the village. I see it most days on my early morning walk around the shore. It turned up later this year in early October and, if true to form from previous years, will leave again at the end of March. There are two distinct parts of the Pill which it seems to favour for feeding and at high tide can always be picked out clearly as it joins the congregation of its common cousins either under the trees at Ferry Bay or on the rocks on the Rectory Point. Can I presume that it is the very same individual that returns year after year...or is it just a coincidence?
Seasons Greetings!
Graham Brace
The oldest known British ringed Spotted Redshank was 7 yrs 5 mths old -- shot in Morocco, originally ringed in Norfolk.(BTO)
The Finnish scheme does have the oldest recorded European bird at 8yrs 7 mths.
(EURING)
Hi Richard...
Living in such close proximity to Llangwm Pill I've been monitoring the birds around here for 30+ years (I currently do the WeBS count for Llangwm). As a matter of interest, the spotted redshank that Mervyn reported in the recent posting has been over-wintering with us in the Pill for the last 5 years. It was first 'spotted' one December day in 2005 by ex-Skomer warden Juan Brown when he himself was over-wintering in the village. I see it most days on my early morning walk around the shore. It turned up later this year in early October and, if true to form from previous years, will leave again at the end of March. There are two distinct parts of the Pill which it seems to favour for feeding and at high tide can always be picked out clearly as it joins the congregation of its common cousins either under the trees at Ferry Bay or on the rocks on the Rectory Point. Can I presume that it is the very same individual that returns year after year...or is it just a coincidence?
Seasons Greetings!
Graham Brace
The oldest known British ringed Spotted Redshank was 7 yrs 5 mths old -- shot in Morocco, originally ringed in Norfolk.(BTO)
The Finnish scheme does have the oldest recorded European bird at 8yrs 7 mths.
(EURING)
Woodcock
Just back from some upland fields nr Cilgwyn -- now thawed.
c18 Woodcock in 3 fields, including a group 4 & 2 more birds close by.
The oldest known European Woodcock, a Scottish bird ringed in 1921 & shot in 1937!
If Paddy keeps his Woodcock interest going ...he may better this, he ringed his 100th Woodcock of the year earlier this week (& has caught many more which others have ringed.)
--All part of a project by the Woodcock Ringing Network.
c18 Woodcock in 3 fields, including a group 4 & 2 more birds close by.
The oldest known European Woodcock, a Scottish bird ringed in 1921 & shot in 1937!
If Paddy keeps his Woodcock interest going ...he may better this, he ringed his 100th Woodcock of the year earlier this week (& has caught many more which others have ringed.)
--All part of a project by the Woodcock Ringing Network.
Plumstone mountain
A male Hen Harrier was the highlight of a very cold visit to the mountain. Also a Merlin.
The starling roost was as dramatic as ever with an estimate in excess of one million birds arriving from 16.20 to 16.35.
The starling roost was as dramatic as ever with an estimate in excess of one million birds arriving from 16.20 to 16.35.
Rosebush Resr... Scaup
Rosebush Resr;-
The fem Scaup still & 7(1m)+ Goldeneye, & 7+ Tufted the highlights.
Llys-y-fran Resr;-
7+ Gt. Ctd. Grebes, the gull roost beginning to grow when I left, but it didn't look as it would be that large.
The fem Scaup still & 7(1m)+ Goldeneye, & 7+ Tufted the highlights.
Llys-y-fran Resr;-
7+ Gt. Ctd. Grebes, the gull roost beginning to grow when I left, but it didn't look as it would be that large.
Gann
Highlights this afternoon: 23 Brents, 2 R B Mergs (fems), 1 G C Grebe, 1 1st W Med Gull, 1 Grey Plover, 11 Dunlin, 12 Turnstone, 13 Ringed Plover, 7 Redshank, 5 Little Egrets, 8 Reed Bunting.
On the way down around 50 Lapwing & 30 Golden Plover flew over the road east of Hasguard Cross, obviously using the fields there.
Have a peaceful festive season everyone.
On the way down around 50 Lapwing & 30 Golden Plover flew over the road east of Hasguard Cross, obviously using the fields there.
Have a peaceful festive season everyone.
Season's Greetings
Happy Christmas to all Bloggers and Viewers of Pembrokeshire Birds. Enjoy the festivities and good birding in 2010!Click on the White Capped Albatross for a festive greeting card.
Richard Crossen & Richard Dobbins
Newport Thurs am
Lots of birds on the rising tide.
Upstream 40 Teal. The Black Tailed Godwit at the bridge
On the Long St mud 50 Common Gulls, 20 Lapwings, 30 calling Curlews, 14 Redshank & a Bar T Godwit.
By the Boat Club 85 Wigeon, 30 Dunlin & 20 Ringed Plovers + a Knot.
2 Little Egrets & 4 Little Grebes around.
I even had a lifer - a Jack Snipe. Yes Ive seen (briefly) flushed snipe flying silently & not very far, but this is the first time Ive had a good enough view to confirm the short beak.
Upstream 40 Teal. The Black Tailed Godwit at the bridge
On the Long St mud 50 Common Gulls, 20 Lapwings, 30 calling Curlews, 14 Redshank & a Bar T Godwit.
By the Boat Club 85 Wigeon, 30 Dunlin & 20 Ringed Plovers + a Knot.
2 Little Egrets & 4 Little Grebes around.
I even had a lifer - a Jack Snipe. Yes Ive seen (briefly) flushed snipe flying silently & not very far, but this is the first time Ive had a good enough view to confirm the short beak.
Ringtail
Still present at Marloes mere this afternoon.
Goosander
A pair of Goosander this morning on the river at Cilgerran
Wednesday, 23 December 2009
Flagpoles 16.00
2 New Ad. Med. Gulls at the Flapoles , 1 with a white plastic ring with black lettering but too distant to read with bins & the other had a very advanced black hood.
Black Redstart
I saw perhaps the same male black redstart that was with the female on Pen Anglas point at 12:30.
odds and...
On a bright still starlit night, Tawney Owls were calling from two seperate terretories, Trefwurgi and Carne farms. Woodcock sprung up from a couple of roadside mudpatches over the last few days, and a Buzzard paid particularly acute attention to my poultry today before I banged on the window to discourage it.
I heard lapwing in the gloaming as I put the chooks to bed but did not see if there were more than one.
Anyone interested in joining our "fun outing" to highlight the proposed Badger Cull in North Pembrokeshire on Cristmas Eve "The Great Escape" when several of us will dress as Badgers and escape to Cardigan via the Welsh Wildlife Centre Reserve and the bridge over the Teifi are welcome , meet at Welsh Wildlife Trust Car Park at 1 pm , bring warm drinks, scoff, and a sense of humour! we will provide Tee shirts and Badger Masks
allthingsgood, Walrus
I heard lapwing in the gloaming as I put the chooks to bed but did not see if there were more than one.
Anyone interested in joining our "fun outing" to highlight the proposed Badger Cull in North Pembrokeshire on Cristmas Eve "The Great Escape" when several of us will dress as Badgers and escape to Cardigan via the Welsh Wildlife Centre Reserve and the bridge over the Teifi are welcome , meet at Welsh Wildlife Trust Car Park at 1 pm , bring warm drinks, scoff, and a sense of humour! we will provide Tee shirts and Badger Masks
allthingsgood, Walrus
