Saturday 20 December 2008

Notes from Pencarnan

On several days in recent weeks a mixed flock of Black-headed Gulls (c320) and Kittiwake (c80) have been dip feeding at the outer limit of Whitesands Bay close to the tide race.

The flock of 170 Lapwing first noted on Nov 20th now number 300+ and are seen daily in the fields close to the campsite.

Following several weeks when Song Thrush and Blackbird were common around open fields in the area of St Davids, numbers of both species have dropped dramatically, and, following daily observation of Merlin since mid autumn we have no recent records.

Starling numbers are however holding up well. Interestingly, (with ref to an earlier posting), during a journey to Plymouth and back earlier this week, the only Starlings seen was one flock of c30 while driving across the Somerset Levels. Enter Pembs and they are seen in their thousands. We ask, are the Starlings of Southwest England confined to the tip of Cornwall?