Preseli golden plovers

 A small flock dashing about the mountain pass this morning, my first of the autumn. 

Pied flycatcher, St Brides

George had a Pied flycatcher at St Brides earlier.

Strumble Herons and Egrets, Geat White followed by three Cattle Egrets Tuesday/Wednesday

Anna Webberley and our Sea Trust Porpoise Photo ID team were at Strumble on Tuesday and were delighted to see; firstly two grey herons came in off the sea closely followed by a Great White Egret. Ken Barnett and one of our Sea Trust Wales volunteers, Harry, were also at Strumble on Wednesday. They noticed three large white birds circling high up above them, seemingly getting a lift on a thermal. After attaining the required height, they then drifted off to the east; one of which Ken managed to get a couple of shots of (see below). Having consulted with Adrian Rogers, the bird/birds were identified as Cattle Egrets!

Stackpole

Went for a bit of a potter on the headland today. 

Noticeable number of Meadow pipits on the walk around especially on warren area. A few small groups of Swallow passing over headland. There were 8 Chough loosely as a group in one area. They were choosing to be in sections where there was some footpath erosion where they could get beaks into the softer sandy ground, maybe that’s where the insects and grubs currently are! A Kestrel was hunting behind box beach. Highlight had to be a very lucky sighting of a Peregrine as it had a momentary lull before continuing to bomb at high speed across the headland. Sat at side of lakes for a moment or two on way back to car and a Grey Wagtail landed just in front of me, unsure which of us was more surprised!  

Grey Wagtail 

Rook feeding out on headland

Peregrine

Chough utilising the footpath erosion 

Yellow-browed Warbler

 A YBW was at Ty Rhyg this morning. Apart from that there were small numbers of the usual species including crossbills, willow tits, redpolls and chiffchaffs. No redwing or fieldfares yet.

Something a little different From Ken Barnet!

For Kens full report and pics, see:https://whaleswales.blogspot.com/ I was on the seafront at Goodwick yesterday looking for waders to photograph when I noticed a crow skulking around the boulders on the shoreline. There has been a great number of bait fish in the bay the past few days and it looks like some of them got caught by the dropping tide. This clever corvidCarrion Crow had cottoned on to this and decided to have itself a fishy feast. What was amusing was the way it was going about it. It was picking up three or four at a time, (Puffin like), then bringing them to a particular rock and covering them with seaweed so other passing gulls, etc, could not see them. It did this several times until it had built up enough for a decent meal and only then decided to eat them. Very clever tactics and just shows how intelligent these critters are. Nature is wonderful isn't it.

White-tailed eagle, Ramsey

A white-tailed eagle has been on Ramsey since Tuesday still there yesterday.

Yellow-browed warbler, wryneck and pied flycatchers, St Davids area Wednesday

George and Fiona reported a wryneck at Porthselau, south of Whitesands, and yellow wagtail in cattle field nearby. YBW and couple of pied flycatcher at Rhosson.

Marloes peninsula

A pretty damp look around the usual spots. Thankfully the old Britton hide gave me some shelter from the heavy downpour. 25 wigeon were new in with 10 teal. 2 black-tailed godwit flying around and settling out on the mere out of sight, a wheatear was sheltering from the rain. After waiting for the rain to pass I was late getting to Martin's Haven but it was jumping with birds all common stuff as far as I could see in the last bit of light - dunnocks, robins, blue tits, blackcaps, wrens, stonechats, young blackbirds, chiffchaffs and a single willow warbler. 

Red Breasted Flycatcher.

Immediately after a very heavy shower several birds descended on my apple tree.A couple of Blackcaps ,and a very dainty ,juvenile Red Breasted Flycatcher.

Kingfisher

Just had the need to get out for an hour or so today. Went along Eastern Arm of Lily Ponds. Quite quiet but there was plenty of activity from the kingfisher hearing them way before seeing them. Without a doubt 2 maybe 3 individuals seen between 8 arch and grassy. Some very distant images taken looking across the lake. Images only of a female. Other than that the usual suspects. Mute Swans today comprised 9 adults 5 1CY birds. 

St Govan's Head

From John O'Sullivan: Watch from 7:30 to 9am this morning 

Great Northern Diver 1 West

Red Throated Diver 1 East

Teal 2 East (with 5 Scoter)

Dabbling Duck ?? Pintail 3 West

Common Scoter small numbers E&W

C 50 Kittiwakes, & Gannets & Manx Shearwater, 

c10 Razorbills also seen

Small scattered pod of Common Dolphin throughout 

Linnets, Meadow Pipit and Alba Wagtail pausing on the tip of the headland before moving west presumably coming in-off. 

2 Jay alongside the road on the way out. 

Lydstep Point

First Firecrest of the autumn for me at Lydstep this morning in the sycamores east of the car park. Also a Wheatear, handful of Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps. Good visible migration in action during the hour after sunrise, including 328 Linnet, 12 Chaffinch, 16 Swallow, 35 Meadow Pipit and 3 Grey Wagtail all east off the Point. 

Deer Park

 This afternoon two flocks of Chough converged simultaneously at renny slip before  being  scattered in the strong updraf , I could only  guess  at least 40+ birds. A North bound Marsh Harrier  was the only other interest.

Rare Moth

 I had a rare moth in the trap a day back, L-Album Wainscot, odd name! A few to the UK each year, but pretty scarce north of the south coast of England. First for me in more that 40 years of trapping. Not a bird of course, but I imagine it would be of interest to most here.

Hi Kim, They are not uncommon around here - search the Skokholm blog to see plenty of records, and I record them regularly here at St Brides. The "L-album" refers to to the white L shape. They are still a nice moth though!

 

Skokholm

A Wryneck found yesterday was ringed today. 

Haverfordwest

 A couple of Jay still this morning, which reminds me Paul messaged me, he had 35 Jay around the St. David’s peninsula and I had a further 5 down Merlin’s Bridge area yesterday, also couple of Mistle thrush however best bird in the garden today Firecrest!

White Stork

From Cathy & Brian Clarke: I believe we saw the White Stork flying above a farm between Reynalton and Broadmoor about midday...very exciting.