Dale Airfield and other recent highlights

 A female Merlin was the highlight of a trip to a Dale Airfield this morning. Amongst the other birds that I encountered were 4 Chough, 2 Stonechat, a Buzzard and a Snipe, with a Grey Wagtail at the bottom of the road leading up to the Airfield. As I drove out of Dale, another Merlin flew across the road in front of me. 

Yesterday, in a field near Penberi Pond, it was good to catch up with the Russian White-fronted Goose that has been with a group of Canada Geese in that area for over a month now. 

On Tuesday evening, a real surprise was a Barn owl that flew up from the ground, as we drove along Jetty Road in Hakin (which runs beside Milford Haven Golf Course) at about 10.30 pm. 

Grey Plover at Rhoscrowther

 Large flock (I’ve counted 43) of grey plover at Rhoscrowther on rising tide - I don’t have a camera with me unfortunately , this seems like a large number of these waders. Also circa 20 Bar-tailed godwits, large flock of dunlin, ringed plover and 1 knot. 13 light bellied Brent geese also present . 

Bits and pieces from south Pembs

We’ve not been out much recently, but we have been quite busy checking records entered to BirdTrack in 2025 – almost 52,000 - sent to Jon Green County Recorder (eventually to be archived at the West Wales Biodiversity Information Centre). A big thank you to everyone who has submitted records to BirdTrack and to other systems.

With fine weather at last, yesterday morning we managed to do winter bird surveys in a couple of 1km squares. Despite nice survey conditions, it seemed very quiet for most species. Where we are near Martletwy, we’ve not seen many fieldfares this winter. Yesterday, a single one was feeding with a couple of mistle thrushes in sheep-grazed pasture near Minwear. However, in general, there were very few winter thrushes or finches around in areas we visited. 

So far, we haven't seen many fieldfares near where we live

Later in the day we noted that the female goosander was still overwintering on Pembroke Millpond, also now joined by a single male shoveler, but numbers of waterbirds were generally low. A kingfisher (always nice to see) was perched in a usual location on the far side of the middle pond.

There is an old saying that an “early bird catches the worm”. Yesterday, it was a late afternoon robin that caught a very large earthworm (probably Lumbricus terrestris) near Pembroke Castle. It was probably longer than the robin and, judging by its overall size and girth, might have been almost as heavy as the robin too! Having taken some time to devour it, the feisty bird just about managed to fly into some nearby shrubbery presumably to digest it – a good feast before bedtime!  

It took a minute or two for this large earthworm to be successfully devoured

A bit late in the day, but about 10-days ago we were pleased to see quite good numbers of pintail at Angle Bay. In one location closer to the harbour end we counted at least 79 feeding and resting alongside smaller numbers of wigeon. There were probably quite a few more pintails in more distant parts of the bay we didn’t get to, where we could see larger numbers of wigeon etc feeding. 

Part of a flock of pintails in the Angle Bay shallows

Caspian Gulls @ the Gann

We managed to get out late afternoon for an hour at the Gann.  Nice to see the sun for a change, but still quite breezy.  After crossing the footbridge with the aim of walking up the river on the east side to try and read a couple of Curlew rings, a handful of large gulls dropped in for a wash and brush up.  With the bins I picked up a bird which I initially suspected to be a 2nd-calendar year Caspian Gull, and whilst looking at that Lisa picked up an adult bird which raised her suspicions enough to bring my attention to it.  Another Caspian!  Knowing how difficult these birds can be, after taking in the key features at rest, I focussed on getting some photos to peruse later whilst Lisa had a good look through the 'scope. Both birds departed towards the bay after about 15 minutes.  Also a Kingfisher and the long-staying female Goosander. (Dave & Lisa)

The 2CY

Nice pale underwing, whitish rump with contrasting dark tail band

The adult: white headed, small dark eye, pale yellow slim bill, slightly darker mantle than Herring Gull 

Black extending onto P5 (primary 5, the outer one is P10), 2 big mirrors on P10 & P9, with the P10 mirror merging with the white tip, some grey 'tongues' extending into the black

Rosebush Ring-necked Duck

 I found one of Brian’s female ring-necked ducks at Rosebush today (thanks for the info on how to view them), also 2 little grebes and 1 GC grebe, 3 tufted ducks (2 male) and a handful of coots. 

Firecrests

Whilst doing a Winter BBS this morning we found two Firecrests at St Brides, one in the scrub behind the beach, and one in the hedge along the track to the stables. A bright note in an otherwise rather birdless and waterlogged expedition!

Rosemary Royle 

Teifi Marshes

From Mike B:  Attached acouple of photos taken at the Teifi Marshes Wild Life Centre this morning

Martin's Haven; Marloes peninsular to Dale

 Belated reports from the weekend:

- Definitely the wrong weather for the Garden Birdwatch on Saturday! Totals 3 Jackdaw, 1 Robin, 1 Woodcock......

- The Trehill Farm fields are really loading up with Snipe, especially around the scrapes cleared last year - totals 20+ walking through the open fields towards Gatelholm/Albion

- 6 Bullfinch between Mullock and Dale

- a male Sparrowhawk flushed 30+ each Oystercatcher and Curlew on the fields by Jubilee cottages

- a female-type Merlin near Tavernputt

Eastern Arm Lily Ponds

Nice to see 3 Redwing hanging out with 3 Blackbirds today along the lake. Also saw 3 Goosander, 9 Little Grebe along with 12 Coot.  One of the Cormorant was into its breeding plumage. Quite windy so lacked seeing many smaller birds though plenty of Robins begging to be fed along the edge of the path.  

Iron Bridge Newport

From Chris Dighton: Drake Green-winged Teal at the Iron Bridge on 25th. Looks like it’s paired with a female.

Also two snipe, five little egret and a female blackcap. 

 

 

Oriel Y Parc

As part of day at work at Oriel Y Parc today, got to go out and count the birds and log for the RSPB Birdwatch.  

Just thought I would share my results here too! 

As expected a few Rooks and House Sparrows in the count! 

Rook 35

House Sparrow 16 

Herring Gull 2  

Starling 2

Jackdaw 4

Robin 2

Wren 1

Song Thrush 1

Dunnock 2

Blackbird 2  

Blue Tit 3  

Long Tailed Tit 1 

Great Tit 2

Chaffinch 1 

Goldfinch 1 

Greenfinch 1 

The Greenfinch was my personal highlight, enjoying the dreg ends of some rosehips in the hedge line on the entrance path, car park end of the grounds.  

Ring-necked ducks, Rosebush reservoir

2 female ring-necked duck at Rosebush reservoir this afternoon, apart from being no closer than 400m, they were frustratingly often out of sight behind the overhanging tree in the NE corner where the stream runs in, or sleeping. Probably best viewed from the track through the willow scrub off the B4313, park in Pantmaenog car park and walk carefully down the road, view from about here SN 06601 29596. Also 11 Tufted duck (8m).3 Coot, 3 little grebe, single GC grebe.

Llys-y-fran: a brief pre-dusk visit. The roost was pretty much already set towards the top half opposite the hide so given my arrival time it was a distant watch. 5 Yellow-legged gull (4 adult and a 3cy), 3 GBB (2 adult and a 2cy), 2 adult Mediterranean gull. 4 goldeneye (3m), 5 GC grebe. 2 Chiffchaff one in song.