Strumble (30 May 11)

The Sedge Warblers seem to have become more active again - they have been relatively quiet for last few weeks. All local birds seem to be singing all day long again. (Sign of post breeding relief or getting ready for round two?)

City News

In the absence of any large trees, the resident Great Spotted Woodpeckers on St. Davids airfield have set up home in this electricity pole. It's made a great Woodpecker Des. res. but stand by for power cuts!!

Teifi

Patch this evening;-
3 Sanderling, 10 Dunlin, 5 Ringed Plover.
See Teifi Ringing Group for ringing activity, including our 9 year old Reed Warbler

Newport Mon am

5 Whimbrel, 15 Dunlin, 11 Ringed Plovers, 7 Sanderling & the Looe GBB.

Pantmaenog (Sunday)

Kestrel successfully hunting on the slope above Pantmaenog House, carried its prey westward into the conifers. A kite was repeatedly dropping out of sight into a stream channel, crows and a LBB gull also in the area suggest possible carrion. Quite a few wheatear - counted 8, with a nearby GS woodpecker causing a pair some alarm. White and grey wagtails carrying food. Cuckoo still calling. (Thurs early am - Cuckoo perched on a roadside boulder on north side of the Preselis)

Raptors -- Sunday

Merlin's Bridge;-
1 Red Kite
Nr. St. Ishmaels;-
1 male Kestrel
(Derek G)

Newport -- waders

Newport, 14:00;-
1 Knot, 3 Sanderling, 22 Dunlin, 5 Ringed Plover, by the boats. 1 Whimbrel calling.

1 Whimbrel mobile around the Teifi this morning.

Newport Earlier

There were 26 Dunlin feeding round the boats, but only 8 Sanderling. 7 Whimbrels on the beach.
The 2 Shellduck chicks seem to have been lost already.
The Looe GBB was back.

Newport -- waders,.. &.. Pengelli

Newport;-
Midday, 16 Sanderling, 9 Dunlin, 8 Ringed Plover.

Pengelli;- more figures in a couple of weeks but....
3 Pairs of Pied Flycatchers breeding in boxes this year (1 last year).
c85% of Blue Tits have fledged already, an early year.
(Teifi RG & Mike Snow)

Tresinwen & Strumble (27 May 11)

While waxing my car this morning between 0730 and 1030 I noted a steady trickle of Siskins moving through over Tresinwen - slightly unusual? Later this afternoon the Grasshopper Warblers were showing well. Whitethroats still very numerous.

Strumble Head 18.00 - 19.45 26th May

A Bonxie past almost as soon as i got there & the normal stream of Manxies , the strong wind meaning some were passing as close by the lookout as i have ever seen.

Newport Thurs pm

We've now got a Shelduck brood - just 2. Onthe early side, but no earlier than 2 years ago.
Also a Black T Godwit, a Whimbrel & a Curlew.
A 2nd CY Great Black Backed Gull on May 14 had been ringed on the nest in June 2010 in a colony on St George's Island, Looe, Cornwall, & not been reported in the interim.

A wind-swept canary - from the canaries??

This morning Peter Hughes (who mans one of the Castlemartin Range entrance gates) telephoned about a small finch that was feeding next to his hut at St Govan's Head. I went over to check and sure enough the bird was still there - a male canary. It looked quite shattered and was avidly feeding on small seeds taking advantage of some shelter afforded by some ruts in the track and around the hut. It appeared out of the blue early this morning during a stormy spell of southerly winds and rain so, although most likely an escape and possibly not a genuine migrant, the question has to be asked - did it get blown up this way from the south somewhere? Are there others around too?

Peter, who is there most days, is in quite a good spot for unusual wind-blown birds - last autumn (during a westerly storm) he recorded a Pectoral Sandpiper in exactly the same spot. He has some nice images of both birds.

Only other relatively note-worthy birds of late have been a good scattering of lesser whitethroats on territory in several places between Skrinkle Haven in the south and Fishguard in the north. One bird at Skrinkle today was carrying food to dense scrub in the bay.

Teifi waders

Early morning;-
4 Whimbrel at Jewsons, -juvenile Shelduck brood down to 4.
From the railings, 4 Sanderling, 50 Ringed Plover, 30 Dunlin.

Dipper.

A juvenile Dipper at Westfield Pill this morning,coupled with a similar record this time last year convince me that these birds are breeding in Rosemarket Brook.

Teifi waders

This evening, all feeding like mad;-
4 Sanderling, 1+ Whimbrel, 1 Redshank, 42 Ringed Plover, 10 Dunlin.
All except a couple of Dunlin from the railings....what will be feeding in the early morning after tonight's (not very) high tide?

Teifi -- Shelduck

Jewsons;-
5 Very small young, slightly earlier than last year, have other sites got their 1st young?
Still c30 Black-headed Gulls along the river. Otherwise a very quiet estuary at yesterday evening's low tide.

Newport

Parrog ~ 1 Black Tailed Godwit, 10 House Martins & 4 Whimbrel.

Newport Tues am

8 Whimbrel on the main beach.

Fledglings

Today on the river at Cilgerran a family of Dippers (at least 2 young) and first seen yesterday a family of Starlings (3 young).I wonder which is the scarcest as a breeding species in Pembrokeshire these days.

Strumble Head 17.45 - 19.15 Sun 22nd May

In with the 1000's of Manxies , a Dark Phase Pomarine Skua travelling slowly west at 7 p.m.

Newport

Parrog 16.30 ~ 8 Whimbrel, 11 Dunlin, 2 Ringed Plover, 1 Turnstone.

Pantmaenog/Ty Rhyg

Pair of kestrels above Pantmaenog House. And female hunting at Ty Rhyg along the path. Plus cuckoos calling at both sites.

City news

I was about to take another shot of this Stonechat, when suddenly another bird appeared in the view-finder. A Dartford Warbler appeared from nowhere and joined the Stonechat on the same Gorse bush. In the excitement I got the focus all wrong, but it does however demonstrate how these two species appear to enjoy each others company.

This liaison is not fully understood, but from the Dartford Warblers point of view, it could be enjoying an intruder alarm system for free.

St Brides to Borough Head (Fri even)

Linnets most visible and a few scattered pipits, 1 skylark (St Brides), male reed bunting, 5 canada geese, pair of mallard with at least 4 young, 10 whitethroat clustered in groups in suitable areas (certainly the most vocal), 2 pairs stonechat, grasshopper warbler (seen), female Yellowhammer, 2 chaffinches, 2 chiffchaff, 1 dunnock, 1 blackbird, 1 buzzard. 2 seals in Mill Haven. Quite a few lizards scurrying across the path.

Woodchat Shrike update

No sign of the bird today. Hopefully he has set off for where he should be!

Rosemary

Angle Area

A day of mixed fortunes started with the sound of a Cuckoo calling as I lay in bed - the first I have heard in St Florence for many years.
At Kilpaison c.8:50a.m a distinct lack of waders with just 1 Whimbrel on the beach. No waders at all at Freshwater West. The passage seems to have fizzled out altogether - perhaps there will be a late burst?
St Govan's was more interesting late morning with 8 or more Wheatears, Stonechats feeding young and several Whitethroats singing their scratchy song - still, it would seem, establishing territories. There does seem to be a fantastic number of Whitethroats about this year. A Kestrel hovered obligingly overhead and 4 Chough also seen as well as plenty of hirundines and a few Swifts over the cliff tops.

Woodchat Shrike ......

...... still here.

Rosemary

Enjoying the garden

I can't compete with Rosemary & Peter's Woodchat-from-the-garden sighting, but I have been enjoying my garden birds recently. About 4 weeks ago I bought a nyger seed feeder, and within 10 minutes of putting it out I had a pair of Greenfinches using it - amazing as I hadn't had a Greenfinch in the garden for months! A few days later the Goldfinches found the nyger and 1 or 2 pairs have been using it daily ever since. Today a final surprise with a pair of Siskin on the nut feeder - my first for over a year in the garden. I'm hoping that sometime next winter/spring Redpoll discovers my nyger and adds a new bird to the garden list!

Skomer Garganey (Weds 18th)

A drake yesterday (Wednesday) on North Pond (from Dave Boyle).

Afon Nyfer

150+ sand martins over the trees - at least 4 swifts - adult & juv dipper - grey wagtails.

Derek G has not gone to Kathmandu ......

....... because he did get to to see the Woodchat Shrike here yesterday, I am very glad to say. (Though we weren't here at the time)

It was still here today though it moved around a bit. Yesterday it perched on the same twig most of the time, apart from regular feeding sallies. It semed to find quite a lot of large insects, possibly newly emerged 4-spotted chasers, and even emperors, which are around here at the moment.

Rosemary

PS We have just come back from Jordan where Woodchat Shrikes were a very prominent bird!

Newport Wed am

In the drizzle, a flock of 20 Oystercatchers & another flock of 50 Dunlin, 8 Sanderling & 7 Ringed Plovers.
Sadly one of the long-standing resident pair of Swans was found, a few days ago, to have a broken wing & I believe has had to be euthanised.

Pectoral Sandpipers (late news) - Skokholm.

Apologies this is late – problems with the internet as well as wanting to verify sightings.

Two Pectoral Sandpipers on North Pond on 13^th and 14^th, with one on 15^th. Associating with Dunlins which, after initial confusion, allowed good comparisons to be made. Previous Skokholm records show 13 individuals up to 1990 (records after that currently unavailable) although three in early June the only spring records.

Thanks to Chris and Deborah for their photos and making the initial call.

Elsewhere on Skokholm in the last few days up to four Spotted and one Pied Flycatchers, four Whimbrel, Shelduck ducklings and young Ravens fledging.

The April summary and highlights are now on our blog: http://skokholm.blogspot.com/2011/05/late-april-summary-and-highlights.html

Woodchat Shrike

Viewable from our back garden at 8:45 this morning. Note that it is quite far away - no good for photos and closer access is not possible as it is on private land. Still here at 14:30.

If anyone wants to come and look please ring 01646 636970 first.

Rosemary

Woodchat?

A man was once asked whether it was easier to climb Mt Everest, or find a Woodchat in Pembrokeshire. He was last seen traversing an ice wall at 26,500 feet......

Woodchat Shrike @ Mullock Bridge

Three pics of the shrike from Drew - superb! I didn't see the bird when I looked at 5.30pm, but on my way back past at 7pm it was sat on the nearest bush to the road and did not seem concerned by me or passing cars! After 10mins it flew about 100m north and landed on a hedge that can't be far from Peter & Rosemary Royle's garden! My best effort also attached, click on images for larger versions.

Ty Rhyg

As Johns - but no cuckoo. Spotted flycatcher past the log piles as the upper path starts, a second flycatcher at the top of this path. Willow tit (?) carrying food near where they we calling earlier in the year. Great spotted woodpecker calling. A male crossbill. Two sightings of male kestrel hunting, one bird flew off in the direction of Tufton.

Woodchat Shrike @ Mullock Bridge

A Woodchat Shrike this afternoon, on bushes to the N side of the B4327 at Mullock Bridge (east of Marloes). Found by Drew Buckley (pics later). Interestingly another Woodchat was e-mailed to Birdguides today, seen yesterday in 'Haverfordwest' (no further details yet) at 7am. The guy who reported it has been asked for more details.

At the Gann this morning a Little Egret, 10 Whimbrel, 4 Curlew, 1 Common Gull & 2 Shelduck.

A great day/night on Skomer on Friday (13th), 3 species of owl but very few migrants around, other than Sedge Warblers & Whitethroats everywhere.

Ty Rhyg

Cuckoo heard but not seen, plenty of Redpoll about and a spotted flycatcher was seen.
Must have watched the wrong weather forcast as it rained all the time I was there and the wind
was quite strong!

Greenfinch

4 newly fledged greenfinch sunning themselves on a branch outside the bedroom window. Good to see that they have been successful!

North Pembs & Strumble (14 May 11)

A trip out this morning to look for the Dartfords I found a few weeks back in the north of the county was successful with both male and female birds carrying food and actively feeding.

Later this afternoon back at Strumble the Stonechats were doing the same!

Canaston Woods

Tree pipits nesting in clearing where gas pipline was laid.

Pen Anglas to Carregwastad

Buzzards actively hunting, one carrying prey down on to cliff. 4 pairs of stonechat. A solitary chough. Blue tit carrying food items into a hole in stone wall. Dead sheep on the beach at in Aber Felin raven and gulls circling overhead. Steady flow of gannets offshore. 3 seals in Aber Felin. Pair of oystercatchers mating.

Spring in The Gwaun Valley - a walk

The next outdoor meeting of the Mid Pembs section of the Wildlife Trust is as follows
– A walk to see the plants and birds. Meet at 10.30am atSychpant car park. SN 045350 .Bring packed lunch. Leader RobinTaylor
- When - Sunday 15th May
Please wear suitable clothing and footwear and bring a packed lunch. Both members and non members are welcome and there is no charge.
Further details from Robin Taylor on O1834 860175

Marloes Mere

Quiet this afternoon - 3 Barnacle Geese still in the Trehill farm area, 2 Tufted Duck & 1 Shoveler on the Mere & c50 Swallows feeding over.

Blog Problems - now resolved

Regular readers will have noticed that postings over the last couple of days disappeared for a while. Also those who can post direct to the blog were unable to sign in. This was due to a problem which Google had with all blogs and which now appears to have been resolved.

Goodwick Moor pm

A Lesser Whitethroat singing at the bypass, audible from the Green Bridge and Swift.

Unusual Sighting

A pale phase Artic Skua over St Davids early morning in a strong WNW wind a few years ago i experienced two Artic Sskuas over St Davids in a strong NW winds but that was in September.

The head

A breezy morning on St.Davids head turned up no fewer than 5 pairs of Stonechats, some carrying food, 4 reeling Grasshopper Warblers and a steady stream of Swallows and House Martins heading down the Boquer valley. The number of Swallows especially was impresive.

Freshwater West

At Freshwater West this morning 2 Ravens were picking clean this carcase. We couldn't figure out what it was but on closer inspection it was an adult Gannet turned a beige colour by the sand.
On the field behind the car park there were 100 plus waders (Dunlin and Ringed Plover). An unusual place to see them but as the field is covered in sand I wonder if they thought it was part of the beach?
At a windswept Kilpaison midday very quiet with just a dozen or so small waders, again Dunlin and Ringed Plover.
Rich C and Morris North

Newport Thurs pm

3 Common Sandpipers at the bridge. 3 Whimbrel. A 2nd CY Med gull too far away to read its Red ring, & a Gloucester Landfill Herring Gull.

Ty Rhyg - this evening

2 cuckoos calling (one close to the reservoir, the other above the top path). Pair of Great spotted woodpeckers and a couple of treecreepers. Garden warblers singing away in the willows by the log piles.

Ramsey

10/5 - Yellow wagtail plus first spotted flycatcher of the year

11/5 - Cuckoo plus large swallow movement this morning (200+/hr all morning). Chough feeding young for first time.

WOW Seabird Course

Pembrokeshire College is running a 3 day Wildlife Observer Wales (WOW) course 31 May -2 June.
The aim of the course is to provide training in seabird survey and monitoring skills and methods. It includes classroom training on basic seabird biology and ecology, survey methods and seabird identification. For further details, on the Pembrokeshire College website, please click here

Canaston Wood

4 Wood Warblers calling and my first pair of spotted flycatchers of the season.

Angle Area

Again, very quiet at Kilpaison this morning with just 4 Whimbrel, 6 Ringed Plovers and 20 Oystercatchers. This Grey Plover in magnificent summer plumage was, however, ample compensation for the lack of numbers. The wing stretch shows the black axillaries ("armpits") which are kept in winter plumage nicely. Shame the sun didn't come out to light up the bird but I guess I'm being greedy.
At Freshwater West the strong south westerly wind made for an impressive stormy sea. Again there were few waders - 4 Sanderling and 3 Whimbrel. As I left c.25 small waders flew over the dunes heading inland - Dunlin probably.

Strumble (08 May 11)

Stonechats showing well yesterday at Strumble!

Manorbier

With the wind still blowing hard late afternoon at Manorbier keeping up with the Swallows was hard work and great fun. A mixed group of 40 or so Hirundines were racing around the car park - mainly Swallows with c. 10 Sand Martins and 5 House Martins.

Blackpool Mill

A male Redstart on a post in the carpark and a Red Kite overhead

Walton East

Earlier today my niece heard a commotion involving her nesting blackbirds. On her first glance out of the window she thought a bird of prey had landed on the garden arch, but on a second look she realised it was a cuckoo. It hopped into a poplar tree & headed around to the far side.
The blackbirds took exception to it's presence near their nest in the hedge, & they attacked the cuckoo, which did a tactful retreat to a tree further up the garden!
The blackbirds stayed about apparently “on guard” for a while before relaxing.
Later in the afternoon there was another blackbird commotion & it may be that the cuckoo returned to the garden although it was not seen again.
The blackbirds are feeding at the moment, so it maybe that the cuckoo was scouting for something else when it ran into a pair of aggressive blackbirds.

Martin's Haven & Deer Park

Any time the wind drops, or you find a bit of shelter, there are birds singing. Lots of Whitethroats, up to 3 Sedge Warblers in the valley, good numbers of Stonechats, Linnets, a Chiffchaff and Wheatears. As well as Swallows, good numbers of House Martins, especially around Wooltack Point, 2 Swifts and a Sand Martin. Several groups of Whimbrel over during the morning, the largest of 9 birds.

A wonderful sea watch on Wooltack Point this morning from 0830-1000: dozens of Gannet diving furiously, roving parties of Kittiwakes amongst the larger gulls and auks, and small groups of Manx Shearwaters, generally with the Kittiwakes, so presumably feeding on the same-sized food.

Frustrations: a petrel of some sort that was just too far off to identify, and which we could not get the scope onto in time. Later my brother watched what looked like a small-ish skua chasing a gull (this time no binoculars to hand). And a visiting birder from Suffolk said he had heard a Dartford warbler. I went back just after lunch and heard what could have been a bird calling just below the Coastguard hut, but nothing visible.

Elsewhere, a pair of Kestrels nesting on St Anne's Head below the Lighthouse, and a Bar-tailed Godwit on St Bride's beach

Pics.

Looking at the recent photos on the blog, we really like the Whimbrel pic. on Friday. Nice one Rich, but tell us did you arrange the pebbles? (Many thanks - sorry, can't divulge my secrets! Rich C)

Marloes Mere / Gann

The wind put paid to most songbirds this afternoon, highlights at MM flyover Whimbrel (2) and a Ringed Plover. On the mere itself 2 drake Tufted Ducks, 7 Teal (5 drakes) and the usual Canada Geese, Little Grebe & a single pair of Gadwall. Hirdundines were quite numerous, in excess of 50 Swallow and single Sand & House Martins.

At the Gann 13 Whimbrel, 1 Grey Plover, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit & 8 Curlew. No small waders (Mark C had a Dunlin earlier today).

Goodwick (08 May 11)

Hobby over goodwick at 1815

Rosebush/Pantmaenog

Two male redstarts chasing each other brightened up an otherwise dark-threatening visit. At least 2 Wood warblers singing in the tall stand of conifers that the cuckoo favours (he's still calling down in Rosebush). Fleeting view of a small dark falcon, always in silhouette, followed it down towards Rosebush reservoir. Called in there on the way home but only a couple of Great crested grebes.

Cemaes Head

A Yellow Wagtail and Lesser Whitethroat were the best birds seen at Cemaes Head also a single Wheatear,plenty of Whitethroats around.On the Estuary by the old Jewsons 9 Whimbrel.

Tresinwen (08 May 11)

Jay in my garden before 10am. No sign of yesterday's Turtle Dove.

Lesser Whitethroat still singing opposite the Nant.

Quiet

Pretty quiet down Angle way this morning, although perhaps not surprising with the tide well up. At Kilpaison no waders at all on two visits and at Angle Harbour a lone Whimbrel. Freshwater West was a little better with 1 Common Sandpiper and 11 Whimbrel including one in the middle of the road running through the dunes which ran along in front of the car for 200 yards or more before taking to the wing. The bird photo'd looks pretty bored with the whole scene!

Crymych

There were 4 swifts about in Crymych yesterday.

Golden Orioles on Skomer

2 on the island yesterday (Saturday, from Dave Boyle).

Strumble / Tresinwen (07 May 11)

Turtle Dove flew over me at top of Porthsychan valley and appeared to land in my garden at 1745. Not subsequently relocated.
Spotted Flycatcher resident again in my garden. Lesser Whitethroat singing all day opposite the Nant.

Sedge Warblers and Whitethroats very numerous.

Penberry (07 May 11)

Green Winged Teal still present at 10am this morning. (Too far away to photograph - stayed close to far edge of pool).

The Gann

An early morning stroll - 2 Sanderling, 6 Whimbrel, 5 Ringed Plover, 1 Dunlin. Somewhere over by Crab Hall, I thought I could hear a Lesser Whitethroat.

More City News

GWTeal still on Penberry pond as darkness fell - looking lonely

Swifts

Four screaming Swifts around Cilgerran this evening.

Rosebush/Pantmaenog

Cuckoo very visible, calling and moving around just below the new car park all the while I was there. Pair of buzzards mating on fence post. Wood warblers singing.

Freshwater West

Mid morning at Freshwater West there were 22 Oystercatchers, 2 Whimbrel, 1 Sanderling and 1 Turnstone on the rocks. As the tide dropped 14 Bar Tailed Godwits appeared on the beach and a further 5 Whimbrel flew in. The latter walked up to the back of the beach to feed in the dunes.

City News

Small unusual Duck reported on Penberri Pond by Glyn Davies, it turned out to be a Green-Winged Teal. Still on the pond this morning.

Newport Thurs am

Small waders down a bit - 75 Dunlins, 17 Ringed Plovers & a Grey Plover. Just 2 Whimbrels, but 3 Sandwich Terns resting, &, at last, 2 Little Egrets, the first I have seen here since Jan 4.
The Mute Swans, which I haven't seen for 3 weeks +, reappeared briefly.

Ramsey

The male ring ouzel first seen on Sunday is still here plus at least 1 whinchat today

Angle Bay & Freshwater West

Sunnier conditions at Kilpaison and a little warmer this morning but with a strong south easterly wind still blowing. As the tide dropped Dunlin numbers were down from yesterday with c.150. Also 20+ Ringed Plover, 12 Oystercatchers and 14 Whimbrel.

When I got to Freshwater West the tide was well out and there were 12 Sanderling and 11 Bar Tailed Godwits on the beach. 25 Whimbrel also flew in over the dunes.

Newport Tues am

140 Dunlin, 20 Ringed Plovers & a Sanderling. 5 prs Shelduck. & c 20 Whimbrels in several active flocks.

Ramsey

2 whinchats and 2 swifts yesterday

Angle Bay

At a very cold, Kilpaison this morning the windy conditions seemed to keep the waders on the move but there were good numbers with 300+ Dunlin, 1 Sanderling, 25 Ringed Plover, 3 Knot (in splendid red plumage), 6 Whimbrel and 12 Oystercatchers.

Belated Strumble Stuff

On Sunday afternoon a brief visit to Strumble was rewarded with a dark phase Arctic Skua beating up some small terns (sp). Some rain was threatening and I had turned up in the hope of it bringing migrants down. The Skua was extremely aggressive and kept up a relentless attack on one tern, whilst another (its mate?) followed, seemingly trying to distract the Skua. Eventually after an extremely prolonged attack the skua gave in without reward. It seemed likely that the rain (visible out to sea) had in fact brought the skua and terns down, which might explain why the skua was so persistent and the tern was unable to eject stomach contents to escape. Yesterday two Sandwich Terns were feeding off Newport Beach.

Angle Peninsular and Colby

From Richard Ellis - I did the Angle Peninsula circuit early this am, clockwise beginning and ending at the Fresh West war memorial. A whitethroat approx every 50 metres all the way round. A couple of sedge warblers in E Blockhouse area. Last year I reported 3-4 garden warblers in the RNLI-Old Point House area, no sign of them (or lesser whitethroats) so far this year tho' a few blackcaps in the sycamore woodland along the Haven.

6 whimbrel at N end of Fresh West beach.

A good area for garden warblers (and for sorting them out from blackcaps!) is along the upper (western) woodland edge of Little Craig-y-Borion Wood on the Colby Estate. Follow the permissive bridleway up from Colby Lodge past the back of Club Cottage, past the ruined Little Craig y borion Farm and right up to the top. They really are beautiful birds with very subtle coloration. Little Craig-y-Borion Wood held wood warblers in the late 90's (after the clearance of conifer understorey from the oak woodland) but no sign of them for several years now.

Swift over Crundale

While enjoying an early cup of tea in bed this morning I saw, through the Velux window, my first swift of the year. Laid-back birding indeed!

tetrad-bashing in SM92

Walked through several tetrads during a four-hour stroll whilst Annie watched the sea (where very few birds were seen) at Ramsey Sound for three hours. Despite blustery winds it was nice to find between Wolfscastle and Little Newcastle yellowhammers on territory; dippers at two separate locations on the Cleddau (including fledged young); grey wagtails feeding young in one location; red kite hunting near Little Newcastle; several stock doves on territory, treecreeper breeding (feeding young) in a crevice in the stonework of a bridge; grasshopper warbler singing in scrub patch; good numbers of whitethroats around (including a few nests with young). Along some good low hedgerows territories seemed to be approx every 150-200 metres. No cuckoos heard though and no spotted flycs seen in potentially good habitat for them.

Several sand martins were seen over farmland (no-where near any water) and seemingly still on migration. It was nice to see a farm-house with not less than 16 house martin nests (some birds back and prospecting) rather than noting anti-house martin deterrents that seem to be appearing more and more on houses that used to have martin nests in the past.

Overall, quite a few recently fledged young were seen - mostly robins, blackbirds, song thrushes, dunnocks, mistle thrushes, long-tailed tits etc. It seems that the resident species at least may be benefiting from the good spell of weather!

Marloes Mere

A pleasant hour in the hide - GreenWing Teal showing well & quite animated, interacting with the common Teals. 1 Cuckoo flew left to right & sat on the fence in front of Strawberry cottage for a few minutes. 3 Barnacle Geese still present, though they flew off somewhere & I never found them again. therapy at it`s best!

Rosebush/Pantmaenog

The ever present cuckoo calling above quarries. 2 Tree pipits singing. Grey wagtails carrying food at two separate nest sites. White wagtail. Pair of Tree creeper. 2 red kites over head. Kestrel hunting (another at Ty Rhyg from gate and a third near Tufton Arms on way home). Noticed a few fingerling trout rising in one of the small pools and 6 or so Broad bodied chasers.

Teifi am wader roost

05:30 - 08:00;-
Much as last night, but we gained a Golden Plover on Patch overnight, and an increase in numbers.
Dunlin 220, Ringed Plover 50, Sanderling 1, Knot 2, Bar-tailed Godwit 1.
Whimbrel and Common Sandpipers around the estuary, both c10 of each.
At least 6 Teifi birders are going missing for a while, Howard & Siwan in Lesvos, Wendy, Dyfed, Dawn & I off to Long Point Bird Obs, Canada, if other birders fancy a look at the fascinating daily changes in the waders, the roosts at the moment, are for the large waders opposite St. Dogmael's Quay, and for the small waders on the saltmarsh at the Webley....Go and enjoy !!

Wheatear and White Wagtails still on Patch this morning. 2 Barnacle Geese on the river.

Gadwall

Fishguard Lower Town Sun afternoon; a M Gadwall consorting with a F Mallard.

Teifi -- waders....

Around the estuary nearing high tide this evening;-
Nicely roosting on the Webley saltmarsh, 170 Dunlin, 50 Ringed Plover, 2 Whimbrel and a few White Wagtails. On Patch 3 Sanderling with a c10 small wader flock.
Opposite St. Dogmael's Quay, 3 summer plumage Knot and a more advanced sp Grey Plover than yesterday. Common Sandpipers at their most numerous at Jewsons(4), but calling from several sites, as Whimbrel scattered all around the estuary. Probably the star this evening a May 1st Dark-bellied Brent Goose off St. Dogmael's Quay....
(Teifi RG)

For the results of our CES ringing see Teifi Ringing Group Blog

Swifts

2 Swifts over Canaston Bridge this evening.

Marloes Mere, Gann & Skomer news

A quick spin out this afternoon. Marloes Mere: the 3 Barnacles in the field behind the 'old' (Scammel) hide, a Cuckoo, 20+ Teal, 1 Shoveler, 2 Little Grebes, and 10+ Swallows. Gann: 2 Barwits, 6 Whimbrel, 2 Greenshank, a Teal, 14 Dunlin, 2 Ringed Plover & a Lesser Whitethroat. Yesterday's Lesser Whitethroat still singing this morning at Haverfordwest Cricket Club (heard as I crossed a triathlon finish line!).

News from Skomer (Dave Boyle): female Garganey (N Pond), Whinchat, Pied Fly, lots of Wheatears.

Tresinwen (01 May 11)

Ringtail Montagu's Harrier quartering the fields behind Tresinwen at 1715 for 5 mins then chased and mobbed by Jackdaws until lost to view over Garn Fechan. (Not a bad garden tick!!!). Also my first 2 Swifts of the year.

Some Migrants

A Hobby showing well near Mathry this morning. A Cuckoo on the cliffs at St Davids Hd (another calling @ Lleithyr) with a Garden Warbler in a tiny bush out at Arthur's Seat and a Lesser Whitethroat @ the Youth Hostel. 15 Wheatears noted and a trickle of hirundines but only a single Whimbrel.

Cilgerran Dawn Chorus

From Maura and Flo - thought you might like to see the list from this morning's dawn chorus
Seen and/or heard - Sedge warbler, reed warbler, reed bunting, cetti's warbler, mallard (ducklings), coot, song thrush, blackbird, wood pigeon, robin, barn owl, willow warbler, blue tit, great tit, pheasant, canada geese, swan, blackcap, chiffchaff, wren, carrion crow, tawny owl, swallow, kingfisher, greater spotted woodpecker, jay, a wadery sort of bird in flight..., otter (ok not a bird)
I know that there were grasshopper warblers about but didn't hear. cooled down just before 6 seemed to quiten the birds

Marloes Mere

Drake Green Winged Teal still present this morning along with the 3 Barnacle Geese
in the field opposite the Britton hide and a male kestrel was spotted.

Teifi -- early visit

05:30 -09:00;-
5 Whimbrel, 3 Common Sandpipers on Patch, 13 Whimbrel on Poppit.
As the tide turned the small wader flock moved the Webley saltmarsh, 1 Sanderling, c100 Dunlin, c40 Ringed Plover.
1 Swift over, also a continuing steady but small of Swallows East.
3 Wheatear dropped in on Patch during the watch, and by my visit to The Webley / Poppit, White Wagtails numbered c15.

Ramsey - Ring Ouzel

Male Ring Ouzel here yesterday evening plus 2 white wagtails. Red kite 2 days ago. Kestrel probably breeding again this year but has moved to a new, as yet undiscovered, new site.

Newport

Before the spring bank holiday festivities here begin and the town is besieged, on the estuary were - 75 Dunlin, 65 Ringed Plover, 3 Sanderling, 1 Whimbrel, 1 Bar Tailed Godwit, 4 Common Sandpipers and 2 screaming Swifts.