Pen Anglas - Dartford Warbler

Dartford Warbler calling and singing quietly whilst flitting around between gorse patches.  Towards Crincoed, with a backdrop of Harbour Porpoises.

Rosebush and Llys-y-fran reservoirs

First visit this winter to Rosebush, 11 Tufted duck (6 male), 7 coot, 2 Little grebe and 2 GC grebe.

Llys-y-fran:  nothing spectacular but always something interesting. It was a very late forming roost and when it did very jittery with gulls lifting off and repositioning, the cause, as is often the case, a big male adult GBB was marauding through the roost. After the huge numbers of LBBs in recent visits, tonight had a much paler grey flavour. BH gulls eventually numbered 3500, Herring gull 730 (inc 2 big 1w argentatus types), Common gull min 57, Mediterranean gull 12 adults, 4 adult Yellow-legged gulls. The roost formed way up the reservoir beyond the radio mast, the LBBs arrived very late and settled up beyond the hide. 3 GC grebe, 1 Little grebe and 2 chiffchaff. Trudging back in the near dark couldn't help but think of the Tom Courtney black and white classic, Loneliness of the long distance guller (or something similar!).

Castlemartin Corse

Today’s highlight was a Merlin that was chasing some snipe along the corse. The only other noteworthy observation was a flock of 39 curlew flying down the corse in the early afternoon.

Merlin 

Ringed Marsh Harrier - Castlemartin Corse - update

Some further information on a ringed Marsh Harrier seen at Castlemartin Corse on 8th September.

It was ringed as one of 4 nestlings on 13th June 2025 in Frodsham Marsh, Cheshire. Thanks to the ringer, Steve Binney, for the information.

Eastern Arm Lily Ponds

Along with the usual birds was nice to see a little egret and a treecreeper today. To get an image of a Goldcrest is always a bit of a challenge but this one was quite obliging! 

I have noticed the last few times of walking the Eastern Arm that I have not seen the resident pair of mute swans.

Little Egret 

Treecreeper 

Goldcrest 

Pembrokeshire Bird Group AGM

Ahead of the (fully booked) Bird Conference on Saturday. The Agenda and Minutes from the last Bird Group AGM are available online via the Bird Group link on the right hand side. Looking forward to catching up with lots of people and hearing some nice talks on Saturday. Chris Taylor Chair Pembrokeshire Bird Group

Castlemartin Corse

Decided it was time to touch base with the Corse today.

Firstly, for anyone visiting its back to wellies time. Track is back to a few wading puddles in the usual spots.

The main puddle that needs wellies

The water level was good after all the rain, yet it felt relatively quiet! A good number of teal came in later in the day but shoveller were single figures and mallard were not as many as perhaps to be expected. Two moorhen and a little grebe were also seen, with a water rail heard calling from the reedbed as I left. Number of snipe intermittently lifted from the reedbed, mostly in region of 10-20 birds at a time. One grey heron flew in after being disturbed by a passing buzzard. Heard a few Cettis warbler from hide. 

Teal 

Little Grebe

On the far fields there were Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Starling, lapwing (c300) along with a good sized flock of golden plover (c300).

A flock of 30 black tailed godwit flew over high in middle of day looking like they were heading to Kilpaison. 

A small number of Fieldfare along with a couple of Song Thrush were feeding on the hawthorn berries off the gully on my way back. 

Poor quality image of a fieldfare, light was fading by this point 

 

The birds of prey intermittently put in appearances. A kestrel was seen hunting over the upper farm fields not far from Gupton on my walk in. There are currently at least 3 Marsh harriers on the corse. A buzzard was seen a few time and a lone red kite was drifting about high in the sky. Saw a sparrowhawk twice during my time there. 

Sparrowhawk

Sub adult Marsh Harrier (Probably CY1)

One of the older birds

Adult Female 

Is this same adult female as above or a different bird?.... more observation time needed!

Highlights though were the female kingfisher who briefly sat on a post for a moment or two after a sparrowhawk failed to get her, and a goshawk who tried to go after some teal on edge of reeds. Both very brief encounters but worth the wait. 

Female Kingfisher 

Goshawk 

Old Mill Grounds Haverfordwest

 On the 18th November heard short bursts of a call, which didn’t sound right, as they were half type bursts but also slight mimic calls thrown in, Paul was able to go to site the next day but nothing out of the ordinary calling.

At last! tonight a full song up at the footbridge, and it was a cetti’s, which was a bit of a surprise as not had one there in the past. Also there little egret, 2 water rail calling, kingfisher and dipper.

Llys-y-fran

Paul, George and myself had another look at the roost. Pick was the Ring-bill/LBB hybrid, we haven't seen it for a couple of years, so it was nice to see it again. Min 6 Yellow-legged gulls (5 adult, 1 first winter), c5 adult Mediterranean gulls, c50 Common gull tonight. 4 GC grebe, single little grebe, roosting Little egret, male Goldeneye first this winter and a Tawny owl hooting on and off from 4pm, and a chiffchaff.

Waders

 A large (500+) flock of small waders, mainly Dunlin and Ringed Plover, a good number of Lapwing and the large canada flock all nr the entrance to Milin pill today, the waders put on a good show flying around for a short while before landing again and very busily feeding.

Certainly one of the largest flocks of small waders I have seen in Pembs. Viewed from Nr the end of Lower Quay Rd, Hook.

Whooper Swans

 The family of six now relocated to the next field along towards Milford, just beyond spread eagle pill.

Black redstart, Spittal in the snow

Immature/Female Black Redstart fossicking about St Mary's Church Spittal 

Also 2 Lapwing and 20 Golden Plover near Froghall.

Trevor Theobald