Spoonbill - Teifi Marshes

Spoonbill in front of Curlew hide on the Teifi Marshes 1813 - 1836 then flew up river (Jason Medcraft)

Western Reef Heron, the Gann

Good to catch up with the heron at the Gann this evening. At first it was resting on the shingle bank at the mouth of the river, side by side with some oystercatchers, it then moved up river above the submerged crossing point but always on the far side. It fished around getting some grief from a Little egret who pushed it back down stream. A dog walker inevitably flushed it to the saltmarsh side and from there it flew on to Pickleridge Pools where it had a good dash and slash chasing fry. After a while it disappeared behind the large island at Crabhall. 

Following it around on the road to try and reconnect with it, Dominic Davidson and I got really lucky when it flew in to the sycamores just as we were walking by, photos turned out ok for a change as it nodded off barely 10m away.

Reef Heron

Still at Sandy Haven, mobile, round and about the chapel area at lunchtime on Saturday.

Rosemary Royle 

Western Reef Heron, still Sandy Haven

Thanks to Adrian Hickman for passing on the herons latest location I stopped off on the way back from Marloes Mere. I found Adrian and Toby Carter watching the heron at the top end of Sandy Haven near Rickeston (SM 86498 08998) in a narrow creek. Its slate blue plumage was striking in the fading light. It seemed to be catching small flatties (flounders or dabs) as the other day. Nice to see Roger Devonald who popped by as well. 

A bit of a surprise at Strumble...

A strong offshore wind looked like putting the kybosh on our seawatch with little showing to begin with, and a bank of fog about two miles out. However i persevered and it seemed that the clear visibility inside the offshore fog bank was bringing sea birds closer in, despite the offshore wind. I had soon logged Gannets, Kittiwakes, Manxies, Guillemot, Fulmar and Shag when in among a chain of Manxies, a much bigger high arcing shearwater was passing by. It took a few milli-seconds to register, that i was watching a Cory's Shearwater heading east with its smaller cousins!

Lesser Black-backed Gull N:7K4 Carew Castle

 At the castle yesterday morning a colour ringed LBB Gull, N:7K4 with the following life history.

Reef Heron

Here`s a few of the Western Reef Heron, taken earlier today approx 100mtrs downstream from the Church 

John Freeman

Western Roof Heron (did you mean Reef Heron Derek??!!)

 Upstream of Sandy Haven Chapel at spread eagle pill, feeding & moving slowly  towards Rickeston. 

Western Reef Heron @ Sandy Haven - it's back!

Following the sighting of this 1st for Britain at Sandy Haven back on 13th May, and it's presence in North Wales from 5th to 20th June, today it reappeared at Sandy Haven!  After speaking to a local resident it transpires she saw it yesterday, let's hope it stays for a while so that everyone can enjoy this special visitor to our County.

The bird can range anywhere from Sandy Haven beach up to the top end at Rickeston, subject to tide and disturbance.  There are VERY limited places to park along the west side of the pill, the best place to view from is the creek at Aenon Baptist Chapel where perhaps half a dozen cars can be parked safely on the wide side of the bend at the chapel wall.  The largest car park is on the east side at Sandy Haven Beach, accessed from Herbrandston, but across the high tide period you cannot access the pill itself much beyond the stepping stones opposite the caravan park (the crossing was cut off today over 3 hours before high tide).

Please do park considerately and good luck!  For anyone trying on Saturday please note there is a large cycling event passing through the area, details here.

Out of the fog at Strumble!

Thick fog at 11 am cleared slowly from 12.30 and then an cracking adult Med gull and soon after two Black Headed Gulls . Both breed on "Our Ladies Island near Rosslare, so probably from there!

Western Reef Heron

 

Kingfisher buzzed by just as I'd pressed the shutter button, heron looks a bit startled. What a cracking bird.

More on Spotted Flycatchers

From Maggie Bissmire: Spotted flycatchers have returned to an old mossy nest in a trellis  on an outbuilding in our garden in Henry’s Moat.  There are at least 4 fledglings there this morning.   Last year they had 2 broods (4 and 2 eggs) but no chicks made it to adulthood from the second clutch.

Quail

From Matt Sutton: At least 3 quail singing on Castlemartin Range today