With the harsh weather continuing, hopefully there will be a chance to add to the winter atlas species so far unrecorded in the current survey period that were recorded in the early 1980s atlas survey. We have previously listed species in coastal 10 km squares SM71, SM81, SM84 and SM94. So now its time to look at the south coast squares SR89, SS09 and SS19 - it might require a trip to Caldey to help find species in SS19. But here they are anyway - a New Years challenge!
Little Grebe SS19
Slavonian Grebe SR89
Black-necked Grebe SS19
Grey Heron SS19
Gadwall SS19
Pochard SS19
Eider SS19
Common Scoter SS19
Kestrel SS19
Coot SR89 SS19
Grey Plover SS19
Lapwing SS19
Snipe SS19
Woodcock SS09
Redshank SR89 SS19
Turnstone SS19
Little Auk SS19
Stock Dove SR89
Collared Dove SR89
Barn Owl SS09 SS19
Little Owl SS19
Tawny Owl SS09 SS19
Short-eared Owl SS19
Green Woodpecker SS09
Black Redstart SS19
Fieldfare SS19
Blackcap SS09 SS19
Chiffchaff SS19
Marsh Tit SS09
Nuthatch SS19
Jay SS19
Brambling SS09
Yellowhammer SR89
Yesterday (4th) at Stackpole Bosh Lake still partly ice-covered but there are not less than 18 goosanders still present, also a couple of male pochards and a few tufted ducks (seems strange that pochard are still so scarce). Quite a lot of snipe scattered across the warren,seeking soft sandy areas to feed. Several woodcock noted feeding out in the open in broad daylight (1400 hrs) in some less frozen grassland areas. Last time I noted this at Stackpole was during the severe cold snap in the mid 1980s but it was much colder then with hundreds of golden plover and lapwing dying across the peninsula. Yesterday in excess of 500-700 redwings estimated with many other thrushes feeding in the shelter of the wooded areas on the NNR.
