Noted Paddy's observations of route being taken by starlings, suggesting another possible starling roost somewhere in the Tenby area. My guess is that it is the roost at Kiln Park caravan site. Large numbers often congregate in the mature Cupressus trees bordering the site. It is usually occupied each winter (variable numbers) but I have not personally checked whether they are roosting there at present. I don't think they will have been using the Bosherston reedbed roost. Although this is still occasionally used they appear there now in nothing like the numbers they did quite regularly in colder winters 20-25 years ago.
A small flock of redpolls (probably all lesser) mixed with siskins and goldfinches are regularly coming to nyjer seed at Whitehill, Cresselly. The redpolls are regular at the feeders outside a kitchen window and today I watched really well marked adult males (breast already flushed bright pink) from about 3 feet away. In fact pretty well all the plumage details were fairly easy to see without the need of any optical assistance. Quite a colourful site and nice to see dozens of mixed Carduelis finches feeding together at such close range.
Other recent observations have included firecrest, 3 goosanders and about 7-8 great-crested grebes at Llys-y-Fran reservoir (on Boxing Day) and green sandpiper at a small pond at Norchard on Christmas Day (One or two green sands seem to regularly winter at ponds in the Lydstep, Manorbier Newton area - where noted in previous years). Wigeon, shelduck and teal numbers had increased quite markedly on the Carew/Cresswell rivers the other day but wader numbers (notable dunlin) were still very low despite the cold snap. Black-tailed godwits present but not as many as seen by Annie on Cosheston Pill (60) on Sunday.
