Castlemartin Corse x2

Following Caroline's excellent report from the NT section (we met up later at Castlemartin Church to compare notes) it was indeed a good session upstream even if the going on the track was atrocious. 

Indeed, I had a staggering count of a flock of 170 dunlin feeding vigorously on the edge nearest me of the flooded meadow. I was grimly counting teal (keeping an eye open for Toby's Green-winged) when I realised there were loads of dunlin skittering about. I've never seen more than single figures on the Corse before and then not this far upstream. I had the scope with me even if keeping myself upright in the mud was a challenge. 

It is a tragedy, given how good the upstream section can be, that our vision of 18-19 years ago (when Matt Sutton was my opposite number at CCW) of managing the whole Corse collaboratively as a landscape-scale wetland was never realised. It was endorsed by the National Trust's Nature Conservation Panel in 2012 only to be abandoned shortly after my retirement.

Last of all - a singing chiffchaff. Is this a record? 

WeBS Castlemartin Corse

I covered the National Trust owned Lower Section of the Corse today, while Richard counted the Upper Corse. Was great to touch base with Rob on the way in today too.

I started off well with a flock of gulls sitting next to the slack comprising 51 Herring Gulls, 8 Lesser Black Back Gulls and 2 Great Black Back Gulls. There were also 6 Curlew. 

For the rest of the count, I got 4 Mallard, 166 Teal, 2 Mute Swan, 3 Moorhen, 27 Snipe and 12 Shoveller. I also heard 2 Water Rail on the land upstream beyond the bounds of National Trust land.

The Teal and Shoveller count were based on a flock coming in for less than 3-4 minutes in front of the hide after being disturbed. They were quick to move back out of sight again. If this had not happened their numbers for the count for the lower section would have been 20 and 4! 

Other birds of note were, I heard a Chough calling on my walk down, 2 of the Marsh Harrier occasionally lifted from reedbeds (an adult female and the 2CY bird), there was a flock of 120 startling not far from the slacks and the skylarks were up singing and chasing each other in field near Starman’s. A sign that territories are starting to be worked out!

Richard had a fantastic count on the Upper Corse. I will not spoil his thunder for the Dunlin count which is significantly higher than any previous WeBS count for Castlemartin Corse. Looking back at the previous WeBS records the previous highest count was in November 2014 with a total of 5! 

Of the other birds he counted for WeBS he got 31 Mallard, 8 Pintail, 195 Teal, 5 Gadwall, 17 Shoveller, 2 Shelduck, a pair of Canada Geese, 1 Whooper Swan, 60 Lapwing, 40 Golden Plover, 44 Black Headed Gull, 8 Common Gull and 6 Herring Gull. 

It is perhaps slightly unexpected that looking back at the records, it is the first time since 2004 that Canada Geese have made a WeBS count for Castlemartin Corse!

It has been quite noticeable over the last few months counts that the Upper Section has consistently had good numbers and diversity of species, whereas the Lower Section feels a bit more hit and miss with what is there. 

P.S. Sorry no images to add this time!   

Cosheston WeBS and Pembroke

A Common Sandpiper was the most unusual bird at Cosheston Pill this morning. Of the 40 Teal present, only two were males. Perhaps they have departed for their breeding grounds before the females? Also 26 Curlew, 11 Snipe, 6 Greenshank and 32 Dunlin. 

At Pembroke, the male Red-breasted Merganser and female Goosander were still present on the Castle Pond. A Kingfisher and a Blackcap were by the Mill Pond. 

Castlemartin Corse

Went for a quick visit today. Was nice to see 7 Whoopers and 2 Canada Geese. There were also 3 Marsh Harriers two adult females and a 2CY bird (due to size possible male). The other highlights being a pair of Chough passing through and a lone curlew flying about over field to east of hide as I left. 

 

 

The Gann and Marloes mere

Pair of GC grebe displaying to each other in the bay, distant GN diver, 22 bar-tailed godwit on the foreshore, an adult ringed Herring gull, red ring right tarsus ? 956 (it was standing in the water). Dusk at the mere, a handful of lapwing, the geese flock were just west of the mere, the 2 whitefronts were still here and a Barnacle goose had joined them. Bit showery but lovely sunset to end the day.

 

Early WeBs to thwart the rain! Millin Pill

Grabbed the opportunity of a dry morning (as did David O at Sprinkle Pill) to get the WeBs done, which even in dull weather is a beautiful site. 

Wildfowl numbers were fairly average with 74 Mallard, 70 Teal, and 10 Greylags, couple of  Shelduck and a single Little Grebe, but it was nice to see 2 Green Sands and a Common Sand at the top of the Pill, both new for the year for me,

The 2 Green Sands together 

Other waders included 7 Snipe, 2 Greenshanks, and 20 Redshank. Good to see 4 adult Herons around the mini heronry there and other signs of spring included a Buzzard carrying nest material,  multiple vociferous Song Thrushes, and a Mistle Thrush in full voice!

A lone Redwing that flew out of some trees when I arrived was the only winter thrush.

Belated entry - Marloes Peninsula

Went for a bit of a potter around Marloes Peninsula yesterday. Excluding the mere it felt oddly quiet!

Was nice to see three Fulmar resting up in usual area they breed and Chough in usual spots on Deer park. While watching the Chough for a short while some Carrion crow came in to investigate why I was sat there. They then started flipping all the cow pats looking for grubs. Also saw a pair of Raven flying about.

On way back, at distence a small flock of Golden plover got lifted from one of Petes fields. I did not see what disturbed them.

Lots of wildfowl on the mere, always nice to spot a few Gadwall and Pintail amongst the Wigeon, Shoveller, Teal and Mallard. The usual Coot, Moorhen and Little grebe also present. Some Lapwing were still hanging out on the high points. A Grey Heron was skulking along one of the hedge edges and there were plenty of Canada Geese.