Skomer

Plenty of birds over the island in the last few days incl. 2 Grey Phalaropes two days ago; Ring Ouzel, Black Redstarts, Common Redstart and Yellow-browed Warbler yesterday and a few more Black Redstarts today with plenty of common migrants beside.

Yellow-browed warbler, St Brides

Yellow-browed warbler at St Brides between 8:30-9:30. In willows seaward side of the car park at first but then seemed to favour small sycamore above the limekiln/slipway.

Pembroke Millpond

A walk around the Millpond this afternoon produced the usual expected birds for the time of year. Nothing of particular note but it was interesting to see that the juvenile little grebes we've observed over the last few weeks, although looking fully grown now, are still seemingly very dependent on the adults for food. It was nice to see them anyway in a small feeding flock of 18 on the middle mill-pond.

Knot often associate with freshwater areas, particularly near the coast. One was roosting on the opposite rocky-bank of the middle pond, we couldn't recall seeing one over there before though.

Black-tailed godwits are quite regular visitors to the upper millpond, perhaps less so to the two other ponds. It was nice to see two of them feeding below the Castle ramparts. Both were so tame that anyone wanting to study the plumage subtleties of these rather fine and elegant waders wouldn't really need a telescope.

We also had a look for ringed black-headed gulls while there, none were seen today.

Penally

A steady stream of Swallows numbering 50+ headed NW over Penally village  early afternoon and 2 Buzzards passed over in the same direction being harassed by 3 Rooks and 2 Chough as they went.

Red kites

Two Red kites tumbling and claw locking near the toilets at North Johnston this afternoon

Yellow-browed warbler, St Brides

At last, a YBW in front of the Pink 'scouts' cottage, behind the WC at 8:30am this morning. Calling and showing well. SM 80430 10828. It was moving around the blackthorn scrub and also into the large ash beside the cottage. No sign or sound when I returned around 11. Otherwise 100s of pipits around the coastal fields.

Ramsey

After the storm, we managed to get out and had a decent couple of days birding:

A Garden Warbler first thing on Sunday (14^th October), was followed by a Black Redstart, Lesser Whitethroat, the first Brambling of the autumn and 5 wheatears. Lots of finches moving; over 350 linnet and 100 plus goldfinches, bluetits and 35 chough at Aber Mawr. 

Today a Ring Ouzel was on the sheep fields and the Lesser Whitethroat from yesterday was still in the gorse on Carn Ysgubor. Also, our first Redwings and Mistle Thrush of the autumn.

Lisa and Greg

Whoopers

Much the same as Andrew, I went to the Gann after work around 5:30pm only to find it quiet, the Whoopers weren`t around so I went Dale AF &found them in the usual place.                                    
Otter at the Gann 0645am

Shoveler @ Penberry Pool

A female on the pool this evening with 2 Little Grebe and a Mute Swan.

Kestrel at Newport

By the path between the golf course & the dunes, sitting on a tuft of grass, a male Kestrel. I think a young one, though I am no expert on Kestrel plumage. It ignored me, looking at it from c 30m. Then a golf ball landed about 10 m away, followed by the golfer, also taken aback, who slowly skirted it. Again it didn't seem concerned. Just as I was beginning to think "I really don't want to be responsible for a sick/injured Kestrel" it, thankfully, finally flew off.
I don't ever remember seeing a Kestrel sitting on the ground in the open, & to underline how rare they are now in the Newport/Fishguard area, it's the first I have seen this year.

The Gann Whoopers

The four swans were resting quietly on the river again at 2pm in a tight group until they flew off  in formation towards Dale. Plenty of gulls were loafing around with them. Nothing else unusual was arouund and not much was flying, but four crows were persistent in mobbing a Kestrel and a Peregrine glided over towards Marloes.

Newgale

Solitary juvenile - 1st winter Sanderling on the middle section of the beach. Very approachable, ignoring the walkers as they ignored it!

Yellow - browed Warblers - - Skokholm

A second Yellow-browed Warbler of this Autumn has been found on Skokholm this morning.
Brambling and House Sparrow  - new arrivals too.
(Skokholm Bird Obs)

Mandarin.

A lovely drake at Westfield Pill this morning.

Martin’s Haven Merlins

I was distracted at breakfast by alarm calls from Jackdaws feeding in the field by the car park, and looked out to see what looked like a thrush-sized falcon flying vertically up to try to attack a Jackdaw. The Jackdaws all rose into the air, and as I tried to follow the Merlin, a second, much larger individual flew towards the house, chased by half a dozen Carrion Crows. This female dodged around the house, bunting over the end section and giving a stunning view of her chocolate plumage and eye, the crows in pursuit.

Later, with the valley calm again, a Water Rail, Chiffchaff, female Sparrowhawk, and two Greenland-type Wheatears, positively glowing orange in the sun. Lots of finches around, mainly Linnets and Goldfinches, as well as a regular trickle of Blue and Great Tits.

Newport Estuary, Saturday

In the rain and wind at Newport Estuary there was a Mediterranean gull,a common tern and a nice flock of widgeon, mostly eclipse birds.

Castlemartin Corse

Some unseasonal behaviour by two marsh harriers at the Corse witnessed by Rob and Christine Lewis this afternoon - I shall be heading down there tomorrow morning!

The Gann

2 Optimistic visits today following yesterday's inclement weather, only to see a couple of brief views of an Otter at first light & later (12:15 - 13:15)  the four Whoopers heading for Dale around 1300hrs & 12 +Redshank. Somewhat messy on the foreshore with tons of seaweed, however it's bouncing with hoppers & other edible things.

Redwing - Keeston

11 Redwing this morning, also several groups of Starlings.

Cetti's, Swallow, Starlings....

Cetti's Warbler heard with a short burst of song from willows next to the reedbed boardwalk at Freshwater East.
(Chris Taylor)

A Swallow still around Boncath this afternoon in some pretty awful wind and rain. c2500 Starlings went to roost in the Teifi Marshes reedbed this evening.

Arctic Skua @ Strumble

A full days Pembs birdwatching in awful conditions! Arctic Skua best at Strumble. 2 Arctic Terns with a few Commons at the Parrog Fishguard with one of the Commons on the beach with a Med Gull. 2 Chiffchaff & 2 Swallow at Porthclais, Common Gull at Newgale Campsite, 3 Commic Terns at Goultrop Roads with a Med Gull. St Brides - very quiet save 7 Common Terns on the beach and two more just offshore.

Brambling at llandilo

The first brambling of the autumn for Llandilo flew overhead on Weds 10th, but did not land. Lots of beech mast in the area this year which may encourage a few to linger. Still no redwings yet, and very low numbers of goldcrest present this autumn. Not the weather to encourage much movement at the moment though.

Terns on the Teifi

A look in the poor conditions at 4pm produced 3 Common Terns (1ad) feeding in the wind at St. Dogmael's Quay and a Great Crested Grebe resting off Webley - what will tomorrow bring...?

Skok

Whinchat, Yellow Wagtail and Marsh Harrier all on the late side. First Redwing too.

The Gann

At the Gann this evening one Green Sandpiper- flew off calling - the four Whoopers flew over me heading towards Dale around 6:30pm. About 1500 Corvids mostly noisy Jackdaws milling around overhead on a pre-roost gathering.