Since just after the start of the New Year we have noticed that starlings were still using the Slebech reedbed roost (at the time peak numbers were being reported at Plumstone). Sunday 7th March was no exception.
Whilst returning from an early evening bat survey trip to Slebech, at least two huge waves of starlings converged in the area at about 1800 hrs from the south and the east. There were probably in well in excess of 50,000-100,000 birds. One very large flock was several hundred metres long and a couple of hundred metres deep. They made a fantastic site against a clear blue sky and a setting sun. Starlings have also been roosting at Penally (in conifers) over the recent weeks. Are these birds part of the flock that never went to the main Plumstone roost? Or does this reflect larger overall numbers in Pembs in recent weeks since the cold weather set in?
Did not see the RN duck today at Bosherston but, the local mallards were partaking in some interesting diving exhibitions, witnessed by the NT staff John Medwell and Ian Bennett and later also by RJH.
BWP indicates that mallards will dive occasionally but this morning at least 2 mallard pairs in different parts of the lake were regularly diving for up an estimated 10-20 seconds at a time. They continued to do this for some time - for probably well over an hour, behaving just like normal diving-ducks but making a bit more of a splash on entry. We assumed they were bottom-feeding on something but no obvious food was brought to the surface.
The regular goosanders were still on the lake later in the day.
Still small numbers of fieldfares and redwings about in south Pembs in numerous fields. This evening on the way home I estimated at least a dozen (probably more) woodcock feeding in several places on the rural roadside verges between Cresswell Quay and Martletwy - many more than I have seen here during regular journeys all winter. Are they seeking new feeding areas during the current spell of cold nights? Or has there been an influx of migratory woodcock heading back?
