Sightings

From Roger Wilkinson:

A little summary from the last 2 weeks based in Treleddyn/Pencarnan/Whitesands.

The most striking feature was the number of Mediterranean Gulls. Consistently 30-40 in a mixed flock with similar numbers of Kittiwakes and 200-300 BHGs. From Ramsey sound round into Whitesands Bay but also over the fields and Trefeiddan Moor. Great to spend time watching so many.

1 GN Diver, 2 RT Diver in the area.

13 Curlew regularly on Porth Sele 

4 Shoveler, 4 Teal, 2 Little Grebes on Treleddyn pond

1 Peregrine regularly

Castle Martin Corse today 19/2

 From Sam O'Donell: Lots of good birds at Castlemartin Corse today: 

Goshawk, Merlin, Marsh Harrier, 3 Red Kites, 170+ Golden Plovers, 100+ Lapwings and Common Snipes, Jack Snipe, Whooper Swan, Pintails, Shovelers, Wigeons, 3 Choughs, Skylarks in song, 2 Reed Bunting, Cetti's Warbler. 

St Brides Bay

Had a sweep of St Brides Bay this morning from Little Haven in the south to Newgale in the north.  Highlight was a Red-necked Grebe off the point at Little Haven, which drifted south to Goultrop Roads and was seen there later by David Ord.  Also off Little Haven 2 Great Northern Divers, 2 Red-throated Divers (including one in full breeding plumage), a Great-crested Grebe and 8 Common Scoter.

At Broad Haven there were 6 Purple Sandpipers roosting on Emmet Rock at the north end, with a single Red-throated Diver and a single Common Scoter offshore.

After that I saw very little, partly due to the visibility, but not a single further scoter in the bay.  Quite a change from the several hundred that used to winter here.

WeBS Castlemartin Corse

Thanks goes to Richard for joining me today.

The water level has dropped a little so the upper section of the Corse does not have a lot of standing water. It felt rather deserted! It took a while before it felt like the count really got going!

The walk through the fields (and around the hide) revealed a total of 127 snipe! It was Richard’s turn this time to locate the lone Jack Snipe!  

There was a reasonable sized flock of 750 lapwing which were observed between the hide and upper corse (location depending on how much the Marsh Harriers are disturbing them).

Lapwing near Hide

The young Whooper Swan is now developing its yellow bill. It was ‘talking’ yesterday so I wonder how long it will remain.

Whooper Swan

Though at first sight the area around the hide looked quiet for the duck species the count slowly built to a total of 58 Shoveller, 42 Teal, 17 Mallard,7 Wigeon and 8 Pintail. There was also 3 Grey Heron, 6 Little Egret, 3 Moorhen, 1 Little Grebe and 2 Mute Swan. 

Pintail

Shoveller

We gained 5 Graylag geese on the way back (having only seen one in flight on the way down).

Three Marsh Harriers (1 Adult female and 2 x 2CY birds) made an appearance which was unexpected, and Richard spotted one Red Kite gliding on the opposite side of the corse. A buzzard had been seen earlier on in the upper section of the corse. 

Adult Female

One of the 2CY birds

What was noticeable was we did not hear any water rail calling from the reedbed (nor did the one who has been enjoying the bramble bush and ditch near hide do a running dash while we were there). It is also abnormal to not hear a Cettis along the route, maybe a bit cold today! I commented on way back that the Reed Bunting and Stonechat had also eluded us! Though it was nice to see a Grey Wagtail near farm and a Pied Wagtail part way along the route.

Less of a surprise though still a bit disappointing was no Golden Plover today. I cannot say I have seen a decent sized flock on my visits this winter (max I have seen is 35). There is obviously better feeding and sheltering conditions elsewhere as from other posts and conversations I have had with others, numbers are fine in other areas of the county.

Harriers at the Dowrog 16/2/25

From Sam O'Donnell: The Pallid Harrier showed well this evening with 5 Hen Harriers including 3 males. Also a very brief Merlin and 4 Golden Plovers flew high North East. 

Hook WeBS

The Golden Plover flock was still present for today's WeBS count, albeit with slightly fewer birds (3400) than the January peak. Lapwings have thinned out in the last few days with only 168 birds showing today. Wigeon were also scarce - 7 this month whereas Teal numbers are still high at 590. A single female Pintail was the most unusual bird of this count.

                        The majority of the Golden Plovers at the mouth of Sprinkle Pill earlier this month

Nevern

From Sam O'Donnell:    Nevern Estuary today: 

Green-winged Teal, (Still East of the Iron Bridge), 103 Curlews, 96 Wigeon, 12 Dunlins, 8 Ringed Plovers, Pair of Goosanders, Guillemot and 5 Great Crested Grebes offshore and 4 Med Gulls.

Little Egret - Eyes

I associate Little Egrets with having a pale usually yellowy iris as the image below shows.

A picture of Little Egret with pale iris 

I have not knowingly noticed this before, but a few days ago I captured some images of a bird that has darker coloured iris (bluey-brown). This bird just looks a little different to the norm to me! Was just wondering if anyone has seen Little Egrets with a darker coloured iris before?

Some images of Little Egret with dark iris

 All the above images are from Castlemartin Corse on 09^th February.