Marloes Mere

At least three Glossy Ibis were visible from the usual gate with barbed wire - and from the hide opposite it - at lunchtime today. 

Also, a single Whimbrel on the beach at West Angle this morning.

Marloes Mere

I was able - just - to make out 2 Glossies this evening,in the fog. Sounds like an irrigation pump running at Trehill, could be interesting as the water level drops.

Pencarnan Report

The St Justinian Kestrels are rapidly maturing. Two chicks now advance to the entrance on delivery of food. We have not eliminated the possibility of there being more chicks within the rock cavity.

Glossy Ibis

Only 2 visible from the barbed wire gate this morning, 1 adult, 1 immature.

Red Kite @ Mathry

A Red Kite this morning gliding lazily over the Castlemorris side of the hill (Andrew Tuddenham).

More on Glossies

I have just had Javier Hidalgo as a guest prior to a visit to Skomer.  Javier lives in San Lucar de Barrameda adjacent to the Coto Donana and is involved with ornithological conservation there.

We were discussing the Glossy Ibis invasion into the UK over the last few years and he explained that conditions are disastrous in Spain this year.  The driest winter for decades and no rain since means that the marismas are bone dry providing no food for herons, spoonbills and ibises.  The usual large colonies near the Valverde Centre have been abandoned and very little nesting if any is taking place leaving the birds to wander extensively.  These conditions could happen again and so populations of Glossy Ibises could start nesting further north.  Indeed I have just heard of a pair nesting successfully in western France.

This species could well follow the Great White Egret and be nesting in the UK.

Derek Moore

Glossies

3 from the barbed wire gate this morning.

Still moving !

A single Whimbrel was on Goodwick beach this lunchtime. A party of presumably non breeding Common Scoter flew west c10 with one male plumaged bird.

Short-eared owl - Pantmaenog

Beautiful evening and plenty of birds. Pair of Red kites drifting around, appeared to be just the one calling cuckoo above Rosebush quarries. Firsts for this year were a couple of Tree pipits and Spotted flycatchers. 3 sightings of a male kestrel, 2 grasshopper warblers. Highlight was a Short-eared owl flitting along the high path west of Foel Cwmcerwyn in full sunlight around 7pm.

Shelduck

Just upstream from the Jewson slipway (St.Dogmaels) a pair of shelduck with 4 ducklings, this evening.

Marloes Mere, 3 Glossies today.

Looking at the Glossy Ibis these past couple of days, there seems to be a subtle change in their behaviour - can`t quite put my finger on it though - with the male out of the way the birds appear to be more relaxed, not always flying together & sometimes quite a way from each other, as though tension has been removed. I wonder if he has gone off to look for a mate back where he came from.

Gann & Marloes Mere

A mixed party of waders on the Gann this evening contained 10 Sanderling, about the same number of Dunlin, 4 or 5 Ringed Plover and 3 Bar-tailed Godwit.
At 6.45pm the 3 Glossy Ibis were visible from the usual gate, but rather distant.

Glossies

Same 3 this evening, same place.

Porthlysgi

From the coast path towards Porthlysgi this morning, we could see that the Canada Geese have raised young again this year on one of the offshore islands ( Carreg-Y-Fran), possibly 4 or 5. On the beach a solitary Whimbrel and a trio of Dunlin were feeding, taking little notice of our presence.

Glossy Ibis

3 Still at Marloes Mere this morning, at the barbed wire gate - 2 adults, 1 immature.

Cuckoo, Merlin

From Dave Edwards and Sarah Earl - Whilst walking in Ty canol yesterday afternoon, we heard a cuckoo calling all the time we walked through the woods.
Today on the way to St.David's from Dinas we were joined just after Croescoch, by a Merlin flying though the fields following alongside the road.

Waders at West Angle

Light wader passage only on the Castlemartin Peninsula this weekend, with just a single Dunlin seen at Kilpaison, and the highlight being a mixed flock of 12 Sanderlings and five Dunlins at West Angle yesterday morning, with three Whimbrels also on the beach.

Ty Rhyg

Cuckoo(s) calling at both farside and roadside, female sparrowhawk sparing with buzzard, 3 spotted flycatchers.

Ramsey Trip

Whilst waiting for the boat at St Justinians, at 9am, a Hooded Crow flew past heading south; later we discovered it had been seen on the north end of the Island before that. We had a really enjoyable day (thanks to Greg and Lisa) with at least 6 Spotted Flycatchers present and a couple of Blackcaps. The highlight though was the fellah below.

Newgale

A sedge warbler was singing in the reeds by the Pebbles car park this morning, oblivious to holidaymakers within a few feet. Good numbers of gannet were feeding well-out into the bay, and the lone ringed plover which has been present for at least two weeks was resting on the stone bank (it was high tide) until disturbed by a passing dog.

Glossy update.....

3 now at Marloes Mere, the adult & immature bird were present yesterday in Ireland, the other pair haven`t been seen today. Where is the fourth one? winging it over the Irish Sea I hope. 1 pair Garganey still present.

Newport.

Whilst in the garden enjoying this glorious sunshine & watching the antics of a Mason Bee and Ruby-tailed Wasp, above me 6 Swifts were doing synchronized screaming fly pasts; reminded me of the Red Arrows.

Glossy Ibis back at Marloes Mere

2 This morning, 1 adult, 1 immature, will the other two follow I wonder? Also 1 Short eared Owl, 3 Dunlin, 1 Redpoll over. Talking to a party of birders from Essex - they told me they had seen (for those whose interest is deeper than mine) a Red Veined Darter at the Gann last night, along the ridge.

Ty Rhyg and Pantmaenog

Ty Rhyg - plenty of linnets, Meadow pipit with food, group of Bullfinch, Red kite over, robins nest with 2 very small chicks. Family of crossbill, superb scarlet male gleaming in sunlight, a buff coloured juvenile and a female.
Pantmaenog - cuckoos very active and seemed to be everywhere at least three, 2 males chasing a female. A surprise was a Green Sandpiper put up from one of the track side pools, it boomeranged around and dropped back down. Reed bunting singing. Male Kestrel by car park.

More on Red Kites

From Dave Edwards and Sarah Earl - Whilst sitting on Port Lisky beach (near Porthclais) we saw 10 Red kites fly over us between 11.25a.m. and 11.30 a.m. on Friday!! Also a Whimbrel and three Dunlin were on the beach when we arrived.
Ties in with Greg and Lisa'a report of 9 Kites over Ramsey on Friday.

Skomer, Honey Buzzard

From Derek Moore - 26 Choughs at Martin's Haven 8.30am. Honey Buzzard in from sea from the west headed east towards mainland being mobbed by Lesser Black-backed Gulls at Skomer.

Ramsey

2 red kites today - possibly part of Mike's group from St D Head below. Single spotted flycatchers and 2 swifts. Great tit confirmed as breeding for first time on record! Seen carrying food yesterday. Nesting in a stone wall like the wheatears!

St Davids Hd am

A male Firecrest present still and sometimes singing at the Youth Hostel or along the path above. Two Spotted Flycatchers present, 4 Red Kites through more or less together, 2 Collared Doves, 8 Swifts and a handful of Hirundines.

Marloes Mere & The Gann

An early morning visit to the mere was rewarded by finding a lovely pair of Garganey. 2 Black-Tailed Godwits, 6 Dunlin & 1 Rp flying around. A steady trickle of Swifts through & 3 Lesser Redpoll. Later at the Gann at least 20 Dunlin, 7 Rp's & 2 Redshank, 2 Whimbrel, 13 Mute Swans & a SP Adult Bh Gull lingering.

Glossies gone....

Three now in Ireland, (as yesterday) I wonder will they return again? 1 pair Garganey at the Mere - I met Trevor P there, does he count as a three star vagrant?

Glossies in Ireland!

Tacumshin to be precise, had a text from Dave, telling me that there were two adults there. The remaining adult & immature bird were seen today at Marloes Mere, but were conspicuous by their absence this evening, with a nice SE tail wind they could be at Tacumshin already. Must like it there - perhaps they`re fed up with the Chorizo I keep slinging at them!

Ramsey

9 red kites together over the island this morning. 12 collared doves.

Red Kites

News from Ben & Andre who met a birder who saw 4 red kites going over Ramsey heading towards the mainland.

And from Mervyn Jones news of a Red Kite over the Deer Park this morning.

I have had single Red Kites from my house (last Sunday) and near Bosherston (Tuesday) so loads of them about!

St Justinian Kestrels - 2

07:00 today...a short break from hunting. The outlookfor this chap is several weeks of unrelenting toil.

Newport.

An exciting couple of hours spent in the Carninli Lodge area found us a Chaffinch nest bursting at the seams with ready to fly fledglings, then a f Redpoll suddenly appeared on the same bush, plus many Linnets and Willow Warblers around us and a stunning m Redstart on top of a close telegraph pole. Fantastic views were had of a pair of Whinchats sitting on the fence line.

Karen & Dawn

St Justinian Kestrels

Looking into the nest cavity with our 'scope revealed two chicks, close to the entrance, jostling for position. If last years success story is repeated in the coming days, there will be three more siblings queueing behind them.

Are they in snyc with the pair on Ramsey?

St Davids am

A Firecrest was a surprise in the blackthorn hedge above the Youth Hostel and two male Cuckoos were heard. Yesterday 2 Redpolls flew below my vantage point and showed whitish rumps as well as an impression of brightness, they seemed quite robust too. I know it was suspected years ago that Mealies were going through Strumble in May and sightings this year maybe help support this and suggest a pattern.

Cuckoo

At about 5 o'clock this morning there was a cuckoo in the middle of Tegryn village calling & a second (silent) bird with it, probably the f. So nearly a garden tick, less than 50 metres away. This is the first one I am aware of in the village, both ends yes, but not here before.

Glossies?

Not visible this morning.

Ty Rhyg

Last night: Lots of Redpoll buzzing around. A male kestrel sat on treetop perch surveying the area. Pair of Mistle thrush visiting nest site. Robin carrying food. Spotted-flycatchers but no sign of the Wood warbler who was singing a week ago, perhaps he's moved on. Sounded like a couple of Water rails squealing by the pond. 3 canada geese flying over.

Glossies

Just 2 at 0630am, only managed to get back at 9:30pm for another look, but it was far too optimistic of me to think I could see anything!

Ramsay sound/Treginnis this afternoon.

Whilst walking over from Treginnis Farm towards the copper mine at Ramsay Sound I noticed a large raptor (Honey Buzzard)  coming in off the sea. It wasn't hanging around and I just managed to snap it as it flew overhead towards St Davids. It looks pretty ragged but hopefully will find plenty of bees and wasps having made a landfall! 

With Wheatears still arriving here on migration, it was good to see a mainland breeding bird obviously feeding young. I have also been hearing Cuckoo's quite frequently mornings and evenings, around my house, something that has been sadly missed over the past ten years where they were once abundant, a real feature of the spring and early summer. Perhaps a revival, lets hope so!

Still two Glossies

As this morning - 1 adult, 1 immature, the log book in the hide says that there were three(?)today. I tried really hard to see another one but it didn`t work, I`ll try again tomorrow morning, before I ring Specsavers. Also other birds, masses of Swallows, Sand Martins & a few House Martins in there too, guesstimate a total of 250 birds. 1 male Teal dived into the reed from out of the blue, 1 Kestrel (male?) heading towards Martins Haven.

Bits and pieces

3 Grasshopper warblers were whirring-away in a hedgerow at Kete a few days ago but two visits since and not a murmur. 5 Mute swans taking a cruise between West Dale and St Ann's. 2 starlings entering nest sites in Pembroke Dock today, one by Cleddau Bridge Hotel and another by the Watersports Centre. And a swift beside a possible nesting crevice on property on St Thomas Green, H'west.

Whooper

Most surprised to see an adult Whooper Swan at Castlemartin Corse this afternoon. Seen from the top road it was in front of the reeds - a white blob we assumed was a Mute. Later it flew and passed by closer and it turned out to be a Whooper.
This morning at Kilpaison extremely quiet with just 4 Whimbrel and a lone Bar-tailed Godwit. Rich C & Morris North

Whinchats and an eider at Brynberian

While surveying breeding whinchats at Brynberian moor yesterday with Tansy Knight we had a bizarre sighting of an fully adult drake common eider flying fairly low over the bracken. It was heading north at about 10:30.

At the end of March this year about 350 Ha of the moor was burnt and there was some concern that this may have had an adverse effect on the whinchat habitat so it was a relief to find at least 15 different pairs of whinchats here with only two potential territories damaged by the fire.

Also present was a single curlew, 2 cuckoos calling, plenty of redpolls, stonechats, wheatears, redstarts, kites and a peregrine.

Glossy Ibis

Just two this morning, 1 adult, 1 immature.

Out of County / Country (just)

I do hope the Blogmasters forgive me this one time for veering off the Pembrokeshire path a little, but I couldn't resist showing two pics I took early this evening of the adult Cream-coloured Courser which is currently on a golf course in Herefordshire, just about a mile from the Welsh border, at Bradnor Hill (Kington).  It is a stunning adult and very confiding.  I believe there have been just 22 ever in Britain & Ireland, the last in 2004 on the Scillies, and prior to that in 1984 in Essex - both of those were autumn juveniles so an adult in spring is quite something.  It was found by a lady walking her dog....just goes to show what might be around the corner!

Locally a Red Kite this afternoon south of Southwood Farm, Roch, with Cuckoo calling there too (Andrew Tuddenham).  Also fledged Starling noted this morning in Haverfordwest (Mark C).

Glossy Ibis Puzzle

Only 2 visible this evening, I had a good look around the Mere & if they were there I would`ve seen them,so it appears that two may have flown - which begs the question, if two took off, why not all four, as happened when they flew to Ireland 3-4 weeks ago? Many birders there this evening & one or two said there was a third....

St David's

From Ben & Andre, 2 Dutch guys who are surveying the Porpoises in Ramsey Sound - Yesterday at Point St. John we saw a female kestrel sitting on the cliff. Today we went for a survey at Penllechwen and St. David's Head. Saw at least 17 Choughs hanging around the road towards St. David's Head. Thought that might be interesting 'cause we didn't see that many of them before (just 3 to 5).Also a peregrine falcon in the valley in between our two survey platforms.

St Davids Hd am

A Hooded Crow at Carn Llidi was the ninth sighting at the Head (eight by me) since December 21st. It's tempting to make these a single bird but I've made in excess of 60 visits in that time and others have visited too and it's hard to believe it has been missed so much if it is regularly present. So maybe it just visits from elsewhere? but then where are the other records? Just one or two on the Islands that I'm aware of. Or maybe there has been more than one bird. I suppose it's unknowable. A group of about 10 Redpolls were buzzing about Whitesands, mostly Lessers I think (quality of pics not good but getting used to new camera). One did stand out as being quite robust and much brighter, a possible 'Mealy' (not photographed) particularly pale and frosty around the head where the Lessers were consistently dark. 

Following recent posts, there have been two or three Cuckoos present for the last few days. Collared Doves have moved through, though in small numbers at the back of Whitesands Bay. There was, however, one trapped by two Sparrowhawks in the Porthmelgan withies.

Glossy Ibis

Caught a glimpse of 1 Glossy early this morning, saw only two this evening, but other birders told me, that other birders had seen four sometime today.

Angle and Marloes

Made the most of the glorious weather today starting off at Kilpaison where there was a nice little collection of waders - 120 Dunlin, 2 Sanderling, 1 Knot and a Bar-tailed Godwit. On to Freshwater West where it was very quiet apart from lots of activity at the Sand Martin colony with birds landing in the grass to collect nesting material.
At Marloes around midday plenty of singing Whitethroats, Sedge Warblers and Willow Warblers and on the mere one adult Glossy Ibis flew into view from the long vegetation. Some visiting birders had seen the other Glossies as well.
Lastly at the Deer Park 3 Stonechats, a few Whitethroats and a couple of Wheatears. Two Chough showed well foraging on the cliffs.
Click on photo for more pics from the day.

Cuckoos in north Pembs

Have spent the last few days based in north Pembs, where an encouraging number of Cuckoos were seen and heard, e.g. in the foothills of Preseli, at Ty Canol, Tretio, Dowrog and St David's airfield - where a male and female were courting.  Redstarts also present at several sites. 

Collred Doves

It is laudable that JB & M are recording migrant Collared Doves and there is a tie up with Ramsey observations. May I draw attention to a pertinent entry in the online Pembrokeshire Avifauna:

"1994

Collared Doves were seen flying out to sea towards Ireland during the major expansion period of the 1970s, mostly in flocks of less than ten, although 26 flew over the South Bishop on 7 May 1976. They still visit the offshore islands as far out as the Smalls, particularly in spring, so although present throughout the year there is a dynamic element at work within the population. Closer study might well show our Collared Dove population to be far from stable."

Another entry from the same source indicates an increase in breeding numbers both nationally and locally. Marrying these statements with the nature (possibly a genetic variation) of Collared Doves that triggered its spectacular expansion out of the Orient, should we be surprised that they are still restless?

I hope JB & M's lead will result in others recording the movements of this species in the coming years.

Marloes Mere

4 Glossy Ibis, looking stunning in the sunshine. Good numbers of Hirundines, 4 Swifts & a Garden Warbler.

Skokholm -- Nightingale

Sat on the cliffs counting gulls, was more than surprised to see a Nightingale perch up right in front of me before heading into the next bay.

Last few days have seen up to four Spotted Flycatcher, Garden Warbler and small numbers of Willow Warblers, Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps. Many of these have also been found around the more sheltered bays rather than nearer the ponds.

Re: Ramsey Collard Doves

Following on from Greg and Lisa's blog, we too observed the same flock. They were very high over Rhossen Farm at 07:30. A little earlier 7 more flew high to the North East. Last Friday flocks of 9 and 11 did likewise.

As we reported a few weeks ago, a flock of 40 (with an embedded Stock Dove) appeared at Treginnis on 23rd May 2010. We have observed this pattern of movement each year for the past four or five years here along the coastal strip beyond St Davids. Surely they are migrants? Where do they come from? All of us dutifully report the arrival of all the passerines. Why not this humble creature? What is their story?

St Justinian's Kestrels - Progress Report

The female can now be observed sitting opposite the nesting cavity where she waits for the delivery of food by her mate. His arrival is signalled with a few bursts of excited kee-keeing, a passing of food prey, followed by his departure and her return to her chicks.

Last year the first chick appeared at the nest's entrance on 29th May.

Ramsey - Collared Doves

A 'fall' of collared doves this morning - 32 in the willow trees in the farmhouse garden. A record I think!

Stuart........

They out - witted me!

Marloes Mere

 4 Glossies by the Scammel hide this morning. Also this brown Canada goose, which has been around for a couple of weeks or so, talking to Paul G last week about it - as it has orange legs, we thought it  could be a Greylag cross.

Marloes Mere & Gann

At 5.45 pm this evening the 4 Glossy Ibis flew into their usual spot in front of the barbed -wired gate at Marloe Mere. (Derek please note)!!
At the Gann:  11 Bar-tailed Godwit and c. 40 Dunlin in Pickleridge Pools.

Amrtoth & Canaston Woods

From David Finch - A whimbrel and two peregrine falcons to the west of the beach at Amroth this afternoon. Two spotted flycatchers, two willow tits and three wood warblers in Canaston Woods this morning.

Ty Rhyg

Plenty of birds making the most of the milder conditions and the flies that are on the wing. Firsts here this year inc. 3-4 Spotted flycatchers and both a Wood warbler and a Redstart singing away. A party of Willow tits in the scrub, a few Blackcaps, lots of siskins and a Reed bunting was singing beside the pond.

Ramsey - Red Kites

Belated news from yesterday - 16 red kites over the island at one point

St Davids Airfield and Beyond

An early visit to St Davids Airfield (very early, ahead of the doggy walkers), produced: 2 Dunlins,       2 Ringed Plovers, 2 Whimbrels, a single Curlew and 29 Wheatears.

Later, at Porthclais, we comfirmed successful breeding for Long-tailed Tits. Also present, 3 Spotted Flycatchers.

Passing by Trefeiddan Moor a Cuckoo called and a Short-eared Owl was seen hunting (08:45) - always special. A SEO has been present here for a couple of months or more.....so to, too many foxes, and the Cuckoo has been working the area for several days now.

Out at Point St John headland 15 more Wheatears, another Whimbrel and a further Spotted Flycatcher were added to the early morning total.

One that got away?

Late news in from a holidaying birder of a male Woodchat Shrike at Kiln Park on Thursday. At back of the park in a conservation area with pool and bushes, in field to right (?). No news yesterday. Nothing on Birdguides.

Marloes Mere

The 4 Glossy Ibis enjoying the rain, by the barbed wire gate this evening.

Pencarnan Report

While birding around Point St John headland this afternoon we could have been fooled into believing it was mid-winter - there are no trees out there and, therefore, no leaves to inform us otherwise. 10c in a F5/6 was not friendly.

A flock of C120 Linnets, held up in passage, evidently agreed with us, and spent the day feeding in long grass, though two flocks of Collard Doves (9&11) flew in off The Sound making light work of the strong easterly.(flight too rapid to nail any possibilty of a Turtle Dove in close company).

An early morning count around the camp-site produced 3 Swifts, 8 Wheatears and 10 Redpoll Spp, and a passage of all the hirundines with Sand Martin the most common. (SM passage here at Pencarnan began 50 days ago on 19th march).

Later in the morning, over at Pen-cnwc, we found a flock of 11 Redpolls giving perched views and the satisfaction that it held both Lesser and Mealy .

On our arrival here at Pencarnan yesterday a Cuckoo sat and called beside the caravan next door, while a Spotted Flycatcher sallied from The Bush....(bush species now numbers 41). Maybe this wretched spring isn't so bad.

Skomer

A few birds around today - 2 Red Kites came over for a little while around midday, they tried to grab a couple of Lesser Black-backs, missed them & headed back to the mainland, seen at least 10 Spotted Flycatchers, a Cuckoo & a Reed Warbler (ringed) around the valleys, a Yellow Wagtail flew over & Tom's just seen a Turtle Dove near the farm

Kites

From John Medwell - 5 Red Kites at 9-50am this morning 18th May over Manorbier Castle they were drifting the coast line towards Manorbier Range.

Also from Ben and Andre a report of a Red Kite over Point St. John on wednesday afternoon.

Newport Fri am

c250 small waders dashing around. Mostly Dunlin, but c 30 Ringed Plovers & 10 Sanderlings. Plus a Little Egret - the first I've seen here this year.

Marloes Mere

Several hundred Swallows & Sand Martin feeding on the myriad of flies this evening, + the 4 Glossies at the barbed wire gate, looking splendid in the sunshine. No record of the Garganey in the hide notebook.

Kite Near Milford Haven.......Take 2

Following Richard's blog from yesterday I too had a Kite just north of Steynton only over the main Haverfordwest to Milford rd this morning on the way to work (7.45 am), not being mobbed, drifting peacefully along...a nice start to the day!  Later while working in Johnston I think there is a pair of Starlings nesting in a tree hole, the first I personally have seen in quite a few years......perhaps I spend too much time on council housing estates!!

Ramsey - Red Kites

2 red kites over the island this morning. Also of note today - 1 redpoll, 1 chiffchaff, 1 spotted fly, 250+ swalllows, 3 house martins, 2 sand martins, 1 collard dove and 10 whimbrel

Western Cleddau - Little Milford - H'west

Very quiet on the waterway just a couple of whimbrel and a few shelduck. Highlights were: Yellowhammer singing near Haroldston church, peregrine overhead and two fleeting views of what looked like a Green Woodpecker at Fern Hill - will try and have another look asap. Called in at Wickes - Pied wagtail bringing food to a nest site amongst building supplies.

Out & About Wed am

The colony of cliff nesting House Martins has arrived en masse at Aberforest - none yesterday, perhaps 30 today. Several singing Cettis on Goodwick Moor, & I finally saw, albeit distantly, 2 of the Fishguard Black Guillemots - very distinctive. A lifer.

St Davids Hd am

A curate's egg of a morning. The good bits about today were 3 Common (Mealy) Redpolls grovelling about under the Hotel Sycamores at Whitesands and a singing Lesser Whitethroat in Porthmelgan Valley. The bad bit was hearing a Bee Eater and not being able to locate it somewhere over Carn Llidi; unfortunately it didn't join the large numbers of Hirundines, mainly Martins, over the fields and in the lee of the rock.

St David's Airfield

From Sandrajane Young - 1 kestrel, 1 short-eared owl, several skylarks.

I heard a sedge warbler and cuckoo. Earlier today witnessed a sparrowhawk flying over the road adjacent to the Airfield, Solva end.

Glossies

All four this evening, very close - 20m, at the barbed wire gate. 2 visiting birders told me that they saw a summer plumage Curlew Sandpiper at the Gann today.

Pantmaenog

Cuckoo moving and calling along the top path. Kestrels very active - appears to be 2 pairs. Plenty of birds enjoying the sunny weather including a Reed bunting singing away, couple of Grey wagtails, lots of whitethroats, wheatear, just one male stonechat, a couple of redpolls, treecreepers and a female Redstart.

Kite near Milford Haven

On my way back from Marloes this morning - a Red Kite low over a field just north of the road between Steynton and Sentry Cross Roundabout, being mobbed by a large flock of jackdaws.

Ramsey - Great Egret

15:30 - We were in the middle of the island when we noticed a Great Egret coming up the Sound! It then flew over the island and crossed over the top of of us.It was getting a hammering by the gulls and looked like it carried on west out to sea but may have come back on itself after it was out of view. Will have another scout around later but my feeling is it didn't stop with the all the attention it was getting.

Hooded Crow

News from Stuart Matthews of a Hooded Crow at St David's Head.

Marloes Mere

Report from Dave Boyle via Dave Astins who is in Ireland (!) - all four Glossy Ibis plus a drake Garganey and a Dunlin at Marloes Mere this morning.

Osprey at Westfield Pill.

One this morning at 7.15,being given a hard time by L.B.B.Gulls.

Marloes Mere

4 Glossies, (nice pics Stuart!) lots of Hirundines - a male Sparrowhawk took a Swallow right in front of me, if I`d blinked I would have missed it! Seen by others:- 2 male Garganeys & a Yellowhammer.

Yesterday at The Gann & Martins Haven

A rather restless party of 10 Dunlin were all I could find on the Gann pools mid-morning yesterday, but a nice surprise in the dense bushes on the other side of the road were a pair of Bullfinches and a singing (but elusive) Lesser Whitethroat. The lovely surprise about the hirundines around Marloes Mere this week has been the large numbers of House and Sand Martins mixed in with the Swallows. In Martins Haven, no more reeling Grasshopper Warblers, but Sedge Warblers are nest building actively, and a pair of Wheatear seem to have decided to nest in a rabbit burrow right by our house.

Gann and Airfield

Gann - 7 Turnstone, 3 Bar-tailed godwits and 33 Dunlins
Airfield - c10 whimbrel, 2 shelduck, 3 wheatear, flock of 15 chough plus a couple of individuals, skylarks singing and pair of stonechat with a youngster.

Ramsey - Turtle Dove

A turtle dove in the farmhouse valley this morning was the first since 2007 and only the 6th record in the past 10 years. By chance a new initiative aimed at conserving this species has recently been launched called Operation Turtle Dove. One of the ways to help is simply by contributing records to the scheme. If anyone is interested follow this link

The 4 Glossy Ibis were very close to the barbed-wired gate down the YHA lane this evening. They glowed in the evening sun. Huge numbers of Hirundines over the mere.

Glossy Ibis

 This picture taken by Paul G. this morning, shows the contrast between the immature ibis (fresh back from the Emerald Isle) & the adult behind it. All 4 still there this afternoon.

Goosanders

On an estuary & beach dog walk at Newport this morning the birding highlight was 3 recently hatched Canada Geese. A final look upstream from the bridge - amazed to see 4 red head Goosanders which swam on round the bend.

Picton Point

Plenty of mullet topping but no osprey to take advantage.  20 shelduck, 15 whimbrel in scattered groups, a common sandpiper, redshank, and a small mixed flock of waders comprising 4 ringed plovers and 3 dunlin.

Marloes Mere / Glossy Ibis

Had a good look at the 4 birds this morning, close to the barbed wire gate. There are 3 adults & 1 immature.I spoke to Paul Kelly in Ireland, who told me that the imm bird was last seen on Friday, in the Cork/ Wexford area & he thinks that all the Ibises have now returned to Pembs. As I left this morning they all flew over to the Trehill farm side,& vanished - maybe visible from the car park or North hide. Also 3 Dunlin, 13 Chough, lots of Hirundines but no Bee Eater as reported on Bird Guides.

Glossies

Just to confirm there are 4 Ibises, talking to a visiting birder - he seemed to think that one was an imm bird, which suggests that it could be last week`s latecomer, flown back from Ireland. I saw four flying as I arrived, landing over Trehill farm side, where I could only make out three in the rush. Hoping for a closer look tomorrow, Also noted in the hide, 2 Drake Garganey.

Marloes

From Mike Wallen - Having spent the last few days on Skomer I called in at the Mere this morning, about 1030-1100.

There are 4 Glossy Ibis there, they were close to the track at the end by the metal gate, they then flew and landed on the North side of the mere. There was a male Garganey visible from the car park and a Dunlin flew around the mere but I didn't see it land.

Talbenny area

Cracking walk from Little Haven to Mill Haven this morning - birds galore mostly whitethroat, which seem to have arrived in numbers (similar scene at Mill Bay yesterday evening) with both them and Sedge warblers rasping away and giving display flights. 2 Grasshopper warbler whirring from the brambles. Plenty of flies on the wing with Swallows and House Martins pouring down the coastal slope and Sand Martins and a few swifts on the higher sections. Lesser whitethroats, Blackcaps and Garden Warbler all tuning up. Nice to see a few Yellowhammers (4-6 males and 3 females). The surprise was only 2 male Stonechat both at Mill Haven end.

Glossy Ibis

Marloes Mere, 3 partially concealed in the rush, three crimson heads popping up in the sunshine, looking very handsome.

Gann

Pretty much as Dave had earlier today but a few more godwits and dunlin - 6 Bar-tailed Godwits including the summer adult male and 20-25 Dunlin, 39 Oystercatchers, 1 Ringed Plover, 1 Turnstone, 6 Shelduck and 10-15 whimbrel.

Martins Haven: a 4th G

A Grasshopper Warbler reeling on the side of the Deer Park at just after 9pm tonight. Walking back up the valley I caught two snatches of sub-song that sounded like a Golden Oriole in the sallows near Lockley Lodge. I will check first thing in the morning.

Osprey at Westfield Pill

Mark Woodward rang at around 1845 to tell me he was watching an Osprey fishing at Westfield Pill - click on Osprey for full sequence!

Marloes Mere / Garganey

1 Drake Garganey, visible for just a couple of minutes, a few metres West of the Britton hide. 3 Glossies, still over by the farm. About 150 Hirundines, 1-2 Swifts. Nothing at Martinshaven

3G: Golden Oriole, Glossies & Gann

A female/first summer male Golden Oriole this morning on the Deer Park by the Coastwatch building, flew towards the valley below by Rath Cottage but not seen to land or seen since (Mervyn Jones).

At the Gann no sign of yesterday's Bee-eater, however 2 Bar-tailed Godwits included a superb brick red summer adult, around 10 Whimbrel, 7 Dunlin, 5 Ringed Plover, 1 Turnstone, 8 Shelduck, 2 Sandwich Terns, a singing Reed Warbler and a surprising 14 Mute Swans.

The 3 Glossy Ibis still at Marloes Mere (9:55am), viewable from the Britton Hide but distant across the north side. Still a good number of hirundines, 3 drake Shoveler, a pair of Gadwall and a pair of Teal.  A few Swifts moving north - 3 here, another 5 at St. Ann's Head and another on the way home.

Glossies

3 at Marloes Mere this morning, over by Trehill farm - difficult to see.

St David's

From Steve Jarvis - A stroll before Golf Thursday 10th May:

No sign of the the Oriole in the mist and drizzle! 8 Whitethroat, 2 Grasshopper Warblers and several Wheatear in evidence though.

Kete to Dale Airfield

Not surprisingly very few birds about. Kete to West Dale - 3 pairs of stonechat, a solitary swift being buffeted to a standstill, a wheatear, a whitethroat, 2 chough, 3 whimbrel, 2 dunnock and few linnets. Airfield -  4 wheatear, 9 whimbrel, a couple of individual chough, pair of mallard, a few skylarks singing and 2 goldfinch. 12 whimbrel across the road near Hasguard Cross heading towards Sandy Haven.

Bee-eater ......

...... just reported (18:30) on the road into Dale, where it runs alongside the side of the Gann, just outside the village. I can't go and look for it as Peter has taken the car!!
Rosemary

Glossy Ibis

3 at Marloes Mere at 0630 this morning.

They`re Back!!

3 Glossies - all adults feeding by the barbed wire gate at 0630. Bon Jour!

Canaston Wood Warblers

I popped in to Canaston Woods this morning at about 0830 and was nearly deafened by the bird song! It really was stunning: a good mix of tits, thrushes, finches and warblers. About 400 yards from the car park I first heard and then watched three Wood Warblers all displaying and marking out their (relatively small) territories. An utterly wonderful sound and sight: it reminded me what lovely birds these are, and what a great experience a wood on a May morning can be.

Martin's Haven: a Spotted Flycatcher by the Deer Park gates

More Gloss

The two Glossy Ibises were still feeding peacefully at Marloes Mere at 1515 hr. No sign of a Garganey but a pair of Teal in addition to a Gadwall, five Shovelers and several male Mallards which were driven away by two male Shelducks each time they approached the irrigation reservoir.

Glossie!!

Yes, following Richard`s post, I saw one this evening from the barbed wire gate, an adult. If there are two, where`s number three? Is it the same group? What`s the situation in Cork - are there any there still? Is the Guinness not to their liking? Questions, Questions. I`m a happy Hector again!

Glossies Back?

Just when we thought the Glossies had gone for good! This via e mail from Kevin Shales - 2 Glossy Ibis at Marloes Mere today @14.30

Pengelli

Visited Pengelli this afternoon and had no sooner stepped over the threshold when a redstart made it`s presence known by calling "fooee" Very soon found it zipping about mid-story then got distracted by 2 pied fly`s. Walked up to the notice board following the sound of a wood warbler, which was singing both parts, and found it further up, towards M.P`s bench. While watching this little beauty, there was a p. fly overhead and another singing, towards the back of the coupe.  I wonder what the total will be this year?

Golden Oriole update

A bright female Golden Oriole was flushed from a gorse bank at 9:2O, it was carrying what looked like a big, hairy caterpillar and dived into cover about 50 metres away. At 10:38 I saw it again, with another caterpillar in a spindly bush above the original site. It dropped down into the gorse and blackthorn presumably to eat its meal. I kept the area under view until Paul G and Lyndon arrived but could then find no sign of it. It wasn't seen to 12:15 when I left but fingers crossed. It didn't appear to want to move on and seemed to be feeding well. The directions are: head for Porthmelgan Beach, and go straight up the bank in front of you rather than follow the path out to the Head or up into the valley. The bird was in the next bank in front of you across 'The Hollow'. One other sighting of note, a Brimstone butterfly  (Paul).

Golden Oriole St. David's Head

A female this morning in gorse above Porthmelgan beach (Mike Y-P).

Re: Glossies in Ireland

It does not surprise us that the Glossies "hopped" across to Ireland.

Under favourable atmospheric conditions we can see the Irish mainland from our 'van at Pencarnan - as the attached pictures reveal.

Imagine a birds' eye view from, let's say, 200ft......let alone our's from clifftop perch.

Glossies - they are in Ireland!

I have been in contact with Paul Kelly who is a regular birder at Tacumshin in County Wexford.  I put my theory to him, and his initial response is that he agrees that the Marloes birds have moved to Wexford.  Their 4 birds appeared to be 3 adults and a younger/less well developed bird, the latter breaking away from the other 3 as they flew around the lake several times before they settled and spent the day there yesterday.  This morning just one bird was present, whilst a flock of 3 was found in County Cork....amazing!  I have attached a picture from Paul of 2 of the birds yesterday, the lower of which is possibly our '4th bird'.  Fascinating stuff.  If only Wexford could reciprocate by sending just a fraction of their autumn rares our way...Derek has calculated that the distance to Wexford in a straight line is a little over 60 miles so with a tail wind perhaps the birds could have got there in an hour or so.

Paul is going to put more information on his web-site: http://www.irishbirdimages.com

Marloes Mere

The 2 drake Garganey still at the mere this evening, but not easy to see.  One was not far from the Britton Hide, but easier to see from the track down from the Youth Hostel due t the angle/vegetation.  The other was further towards the Scammel Hide, viewable from the car park.  Stacks of hirundines - perhaps 200+ Swallows, 50+ Sand Martins & 30+ House Martins.  Also very wet.

They made it back today

Despite some very iffy weather today here in Narberth, "our" House Martins spent much of the morning prospecting last year's nest sites opposite our house. Maybe Spring is here -  though you could fool us.

Garganeys

There are two drake Garganeys now at Marloes Mere. One showing well from the Car Park at 1:30pm then two from the gate to the west of the Youth Hostel at 2:00pm (P Grennard).

ex-Glossies

I searched for the Glossies yesterday morning at about 10:00 am and was unable to find them. The car park attendant also had not been able to find them. So maybe they upped and off just after Derek had seen them?
Rosemary

Garganey - Marloes Mere

Drake Garganey this morning from the north hide (Paul G). Wasn't there yesterday evening!

Bon Voyage...

Following Dave`s post yesterday, it does appear that our Glossies have legged it, I searched their usual haunts this morning willing them to materialise, even tried abracadabra! Pity, they certainly put Marloes Mere on the map, maybe they`ll return someday.

Strumble to Pwll Deri

From Sandrajane Young - Pwll Deri (walk from Strumble to Pwll Deri)

50+ guillemot and some razorbills (Pwll Deri), At least 2 pairs of fulmar, 1 kestrel (half way to Strumble), Swallows and martins (too many to count), 1 buzzard, 6+ white throats, 1 stonechat (Pwll Deri), 10+wheatears, 1 pair choughs (Pwll Deri), Lots of cowslips, bluebells, sea campion, kidney vetch and foxgloves not quite out, Lots of black flies to keep the hirundines happy

1 buzzard, Seals heard at Pwll Deri and one spotted en route

Marloes Mere - Glossies gone?

A nice walk around Marloes Mere this evening.  Lots of Swallows and Sand Martins, with a couple of House Martins thrown in for good measure.  At least 4 Whimbrel present - 1 quite well hidden along the bank below the white cottage, 3 more in the field by the coast at the W end.  A pair of Gadwall, pair of Teal, at least 4 male Shoveler and one female.  Several Sedge Warblers singing and a good scattering of Whitethroats, Wheatear numbers down but still at least 8 birds scattered around.

No sign of the Glossies this evening, despite an extensive search.  Derek had them around 7.30am this morning, has anyone seen them for certain since?  I ask because at 10.25 this morning 4 Glossies came in the off the sea at Tacumshin in County Wexford.....if you'd have taken off from Marloes Mere with the prevailing wind the way it was, you'd end up in.....you've guessed it.  Will be interesting to see if there are any more records at MM tomorrow.....

It seems that Tacumshin is blessed, Greg has a Golden Plover today on Ramsey, Tacumshin has an American Golden Plover today!  Along with 6 Garganey...11 Little Gulls.....and a Purple Heron yesterday....and now our Glossies probably!

Ty Rhyg

4 Wheatears in the cleared area at farside, a female kestrel and Whitethroats rasping away this evening. Earlier in the day Red Kites over Llantood and Eglwyswrw

Ramsey

After the first since 2008 a few days ago, a second reed warbler appeared today. A summer plumage golden plover was a nice find too. 2 pairs of SEO confirmed this year and 3 pairs of lapwing (they are on the increase!)
Chough feeding chicks at some sites now, few still incubating. One north facing site was sadly lost in the NE storm force winds last week. Seen 'nest building' again the next day but no activity seen after that.

Cuckoos and redstarts

Near Mynachlogddu today, despite the cold blast, a pair of cuckoos surveying meadow pipit nests. The male giving an escort and catching the odd whopping great hairy caterpillar (no, he didn`t share) and the female dropping into the tussocks when the male had decoyed the crowd of annoyed mipits away.  2 stonechat males on Rhos Fach, despite the gorse having been torched .  Redstarts singing in the trees so it must be Spring !

Angle Area

Quiet at Kilpaison this morning with 5 Whimbrel and 8 Dunlin on the beach together with a couple of Wheatears. In the bushes behind the beach a couple of Sedge Warblers and a few Chiffchaffs were singing.
At Freshwater West there were seven Whimbrel.

St. Davids Airfield

50+ Wheatears still on the airfield this morning, also a smart Yellow Wagtail.

Four Glossy Ibis

Still at Marloes Mere this morning. Looking at them close together in the sunshine, I could see that bird number 4 - the recent arrival - had a much browner head & neck, lacking the rich red/brown of the others. The field guide indicates that this could be 1st winter, so it would appear that it is a young bird, though I have little knowledge of these beautiful creatures.

Skomer

Sarah found this stunning male Nightjar at the Farm this afternoon just after the boats left.
Lewis got some really nice in flight shots here:
http://lewisy.wordpress.com/2012/05/05/nightjar/#more-347

Other than that still loads of Wheatears around, plenty of Blackcaps and a couple of Whinchats

Ramsey Island

A fantastic day on RSPB Ramsey Island today. Buzzard, Kestrel, Peregrine Falcon taking a pigeon, Blue skies – refreshing wind, alive with wheatears, lots of passing Swallows, Sand martins, Chough, fledged Ravens, Warblers, Seals, Porpoise etc etc. Also, a lovely cuppa before boarding the boat home followed by ‘feet up’ and a glass of red in front of the fire – retirement gets better!!

Pied Flycatchers- the good and the bad

 A pair of Pied Flycatchers were in Ffynone woods this afternoon.

The sad news is that half of the nest boxes made by the children of Ysgol Clydau have been vandalised including one with the start of a nest in it.
We have bought them home to mend and will be putting them up in more secluded areas but it will probably be too late for this season.

Newgale, Strumble

From Hugh James - Friday: Newgale, 70 whimbrel on the shore around midday. 2 sandwich terns.
Today: Strumble Head. Wheatears everywhere, males & females. Just sit there and they come to the camera. 2 Choughs and a lone one. Whitethroat, stonechats, linnets. Swallows and martins coming through but no swifts. 2 kestrels were busy.
Nothing of note out to sea.

St Govans (cont)

I bashed my BTO chat square at 0600 this am - bitterly cold wind, Richard's wheatears (by the sounds of it outside my square - typically the best bits of habitat are outside the square)  were probably keeping their heads down. The only wheatear I saw was a male perched in the middle of a large stand of gorse, pretending to be a stonechat. I think there's a pair nesting in one of those dry stone features.

I did see about 10 wheatears, all but one females, later on at at around 12.30 dodging about the rocks just east of Broadhaven South - just to the left of the chough in Richard's banner photo.

Skomer nightjar

Nightjar spotted at the farm.
Sarah harris

Teifi Curlew Sandpiper

From John O'Sullivan - Amongst other waders at the Webley this morning was an almost full summer-plumaged Curlew Sandpiper. Otherwise a few sanderling,ringed plover, dunlin and Whimbrel with a Sandwich tern offshore Poppit and a Red Kite low down river at the Ferry. Whitehtroats very obvious and a nice male Stonechat at the Lifeboat Station.

St Govan's

Pretty quiet in the small valley at St. Govan's this morning apart from several Whitethroats - a couple apparently paired up and two males singing away to try and attract a mate.
Around 10 Wheatears on the short grass, all but one females. A steady passage of Swallows was passing through.
At Stack Rocks the Guillemot colony is in full swing. A brave/idiotic and thoughtless walker went down the Green Bridge of Wales and put up half of the Guillemots on the small stack below. Many eggs were exposed, though I didn't see any gulls taking advantage of the situation.

Glossies / Short Eared Owl

Yes! 4 this morning at Marloes Mere, good views from the barbed wire gate. A fabulous Shorty quartering the fields, East of the YHA. 7 Ringed Plover, 1 Dunlin, 1 Swift, 17 Whimbrel, + all the now usual summer visitors.

St Brides

This morning a steady movement of Wheatear (mostly Greenlands) going morth along the coast plus many many Swallows and everywhere I have been in the last couple of days outstanding numbers of hirundines.  Many House Martins today all the way between Tenby and Marloes. Swifts at Little Haven, Broad Haven, Marloes, Milford, Sageston and Tenby. A flock of 16 Starlings feeding on the grass at Hamilton Terrace Milford Haven - a recent record for May????

Martins Haven & Upper Solva

From Mervyn Jones - Martins Haven: Flock of 15 Chough today full of the joys of spring belting around the Deer Park and a Spotted Flycatcher,my first of the year. Yesterday  a  Grasshopper Warbler  showing well and in  song until chased off by a Whitethroat.

From Sandrajane Young - 4 wheatears 2 male 2 female seen at 6.15 pm in my garden in Upper Solva this evening.

Newgale

A quick look at Newgale mid afternoon, a nice group of waders on the beach - 14 Sanderling, 10 Whimbrel, 4 Dunlin and a Ringed Plover.  They were pushed up by the incoming tide and walkers, and soon moved on.  At the marsh a couple of Sedge Warblers singing, and plenty of Swallows and House Martins there and over the pub.

St. David's Hd.

Ravens on their favourite perch out towards St.Davids Head. This year it looks like they have raised four young.

Marloes Mere area

What surprised me this afternoon was 7 Ringed Plover in the field to the West of the YHA - the footpath to the clifftop. As Rosemary said good numbers of Hirundines, I`ve never seen so many House Martins there before. A total of 24 Whimbrel, c10 Wheatears & 1 Lesser Whitethroat popping up in the bushes along the track. I saw 3 Glossies, but I`m so used to seeing only three that I quickly scanned past them, tomorrow morning will see me paying more attention!

FOUR Glossy Ibises!!!!

Marloes Mere - I kid you not - where there were three there are now four! At the waters edge beyond the gate below the white cottage at 11:30 and 12:30 today.
Also loads of Sand Martins (late for these??) plus House Martins and Swallows feeding over the water, still loads of Wheatears (4 bathing in one puddle in the path), plenty of Chiffchaffs and Willow Warblers passing through, singing Sedge Warblers etc etc.
Peter and Rosemary

St Florence

Decidedly cool, dank and damp this morning. I had expected plenty of Willow Warblers after the fall on Skomer on Wednesday but couldn't see or hear any around the village. A couple of Chiffchaffs were singing occasionally but there were plenty of Blackcaps, seemingly oblivious to the weather, with the males singing their heads off and chasing each other around.

Newport Thurs pm

c120 Dunlins, 20 Ringed Plovers & a Sanderling.2 Whimbrels overhead. From our conservatory a Sparrowhawk, a Peregrine, a hovering Kestrel & finally a Fox across the lawn.

Pen Castellcoch

From Phillip Lees - Group of 42 Whimbrel, 6 Dunlin and a lone Bar-tailed Godwit were feeding in the sheep fields by Pen Castellcoch just west of Abercastle on the coast path earlier this afternoon.

Skokholm - Nightingale and April summary

Nightingale at the Well Pond yesterday afternoon, the first here for ten years.

April summary here.

Dinas Mountain

Many wheatears, skylarks and meadow pipits on the damp and blackened slopes of Dinas Mountain now.  Twenty-two ravens on the summit boulders.  A distant cuckoo calling to the south from the direction of Cwm Gwaun.

Quick picture of the redpolls...

St Anns - West Dale 

2 different male kestrel, 13 wheatear, a solitary whimbrel and a Lesser Whitethroat singing just above West Dale.

Earlier today - 14 whimbrel - Pembroke River and 12 whimbrel - Cosheston

Skomer

I spent a glorious, sunny day on Skomer and as Dave Boyle said in his post below the island was alive with birds. There seemed to be 10 Willow Warblers and 3 Blackcaps in every bush.
The sea birds were performing well too - no doubt glad to be able to get on with breeding after a spell of awful weather. Plenty of photo opportunities as usual and you can see a few of todays shots by clicking on the Razorbill above.

Marloes Mere & Fields

24 Whimbrel in the field to the left of Sandy lane, a glimpse of a Redstarts tail as it dived into the bushes at the YHA, I didn`t see anymore. I had the pleasure of meeting Deri & his wife (who`s name I`m desperately trying to remember - apologies!) they had seen the 3 Glossies just before I met them, though I couldn`t find them. A pleasant evening.

Hobby

A Hobby flew downstream over the bridge at Lancych this morning.
A look for Pied Flycatchers or a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker which have historically been seen here was unsuccessful though.

Ramsey

Jumping with migrants here again today. An unusual record for us was reed warbler (first since 2008). Also our first spotted flycatchers of the year (2) plus 110 willow warbler , 54 blackcap, 7 chiffchaff, 12 whitethroat, 4 sedge warbler, 2 whinchat and a wood pigeon (rare out here!).

re the collard dove question - we had our first of the year on 19/4 this year, then a second on 30/4. Looking back at the records, we had 20 between April and June last year but that was a good year. Usually about 5 or 6 spring records, nothing through summer then in some years a few autumn records.

Skomer

Stacked out with birds today, not sure I've ever seen so many warblers in the valleys - 160 Willow Warblers, 60 Blackcaps, 20 Whitethroats, 20 Sedge Warblers, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 4 Garden Warblers, 3 Redstarts, a Tree Pipit, 6 Whichats, 2 Pied Flycatchers & a Spotted Flycatcher
There was 2 Collared Doves here as well this morning, so somethings going on with them. They pop up at odd times throughout the year here, sometimes appearing on days with lots of other migrants, but other times when nothing else is going on at all - Peregrines like them!

Angle Peninsula

Great 10 mile walk round the peninsula early this morning, clockwise from war memorial above Fresh West. A scattering of whimbrels on the move all round the peninsula - several singles, 3 on West Angle beach, 5 on a field on the N side, 1 in Angle Bay. Wheatears - nothing to compare with St Davids area but about 24 inc. small groups on the move and a few more settled looking pairs. 7 species of warbler singing - whitethroats (lots), 1 lesser singing in blackthorn north of W Angle Bay, gropper, sedges, chiff chaffs, willow and blackcap. The only absentees were the garden warblers normally present on the N side - they were also not yet at their usual location on the Colby Estate yesterday (near the ruined Little Craig y borion farmhouse, on the bridle path).

First orange tips yesterday in my garden. St Mark's flies bang on time this year - lots of them at Bosherston last Thursday (the black ones with the dangly undercarriages), loads today.

Llangloffan

Alive with birds today ~ Sedge, Willow & Grasshopper warblers, Chiffchaff, Whitethroat, Blackcap, Reed Bunting, Swallows overhead, a constant frog chorus and my first male Orange Tip of the year.

Caerbwdi

From Gill Lewis - I saw a party of 6 Swifts  sweeping low over Caerbwdi yesterday morning, 1 May, about 10.30am . I was down by the bridge near the beach and they were feeding over my head above the scrub in the quarry/ hilside.They were feeding for about 7 or 8 minutes before heading off northwestwards.

About 1/2 hour later there was a party of about 25 Whimbrel came in off the sea at the Trelerw valley  (ie about 300m east of Caerbwdi).  Could hear them later on in the evening calling up on the fields behind our house ...... a sure sign of spring as there is always a time when Whimbrel use those fields on passage.

Skokholm

Coincidentally, first Collared Dove of the year this morning. In 2011 had 12 records between April 4th and September 1st.

Three Ring Ouzel, six Whitethroat, Garden Warbler and Redstart. Fewer Willow Warblers, Blackap and Wheatears than the last few days but still approx 60, 40 and 75 birds respectively.

St Davids Hd am

Wheatears were everywhere today and lots of Willow Warblers too. Whitethroats and Sedge Warblers were present in numbers for the first time and there were about 10 Blackcaps and 2 Garden Warblers present. There were probably just about eighty Whimbrels again. A Hooded Crow flew north along Whitesands Bay towards the Head early on and there was a female Whinchat at the Crossroads in Porthmelgan Valley. At the Youth Hostel there were 2 Lesser Whitethroats singing and an elusive female Redstart. 5 Swifts and good numbers of Hirundines moved through along with 4 Redpolls (sp) and a few Siskins and Goldfinches. All very exciting.

Collard Doves

On May 3rd last year we found 40 Collard Doves near the top of Portlisky Valley: newly arrived on a strong southerly wind.

Today, flying high in a north-easterly direction, above Trefeiddan, were 5 C.D's, with others yesterday. Sightings of this species, here along the coast west of St Davids, are not infrequent at this time of the year. They rarely stay.

Collard Doves are not often spoken about in a migratory context. Any thoughts out there, perhaps from the Islands?

Another good start here at....

.....Pencarnan and Trefeiddan Marsh. 07:00 nil wind, nil cloud and 3.5c. Willow Warblers in the bush  plus a Whitethroat   -  all the encouragement required for a pre-breakast walk up to Trefeiddan Moor.

By 9 o'clock we had recorded 12 Sedge Warblers (overnight arrivals) 8 Groppers, several small flocks of Whimbrel. Also the first Reed Bunting of the Spring - always nice to see on the moor. Still about this morning - an amazing number of Willow Warblers and Wheatears. A second look at the moor, later in the morning, revealed a Whinchat. A single Sandwich Tern was seen passing through Whitesands Bay during the lunch period.

Cuckoo at Marloes

There was a cuckoo singing around Marloes yesterday for most of the day - this is quite unusual - if we see them at all it is usually just one "cuckoo" as they whizz through.

This morning there has been a mass arrival of Sedge Warblers around Orlandon Kilns, frantic "zzzing" from even the most unlikely bush, with 3 singing birds at Mullock Bridge including one song-flighting. You'd think they might need a rest after the journey .....

When I got home from my stroll I was mightily relieved to see that our resident Swallows were sitting on the wires as if they'd never been away - this is at least 10 days later than they usually appear. But no Whitethroats here yet.

Update from this afternoon - Whitethroats now here!

Osprey

From Andy Hatton & Helon McDermott- single Osprey sighted at 19.10 hrs flying low following the Pembroke river from the power station towards Pembroke past Bentlass. We kept watch for some time but no further sightings.

Marloes Mere

A fabulous evening, warm, with the sunshine sparkling on the Mere. Willow Warblers seemed to be everywhere, Swallow numbers down on the past few days, just 4 Whimbrel over & 6 Wheatears. 3 Glossy Ibis too.

Ramsey this afternoon

As other places once the rain stopped the birds came out! Never seen so many wheatears here. Our 3 lambing fields alone had 300 in them so there must have easily been 500+ in total on the island (can't beat 14 on one boulder though Byron!)

Other birds this afternoon were willow warbler (100+), blackcap (30), grasshopper warbler (1), chiffchaff (1), cuckoo (1), swift (2), whitethroat (3 - first of year), sedge warbler (2 - first of year), redstart (female), whinchat (cracking male), tree pipt (1). Also small hirundine movement including a few sand and house martin.

Excellent conditions for Viz Mig

Our day began bashing the area inland of Whitesands Bay. Nearby Treswny Moor, in a field occupied by horses, were 40 or more Wheatear, and close, by a rattling Lesser Whitethroat. Passing Treleddyn Farm Ponds, we put up a Green Sandpiper.

Returning to Pencarnan for lunch, we recorded a single Siskin and 2 flyover Redpolls. Now the weather closed in with heavy drizzle and poor visibility. From our caravan window we watched a large concentration of Swallows build up. Many Wheatears  also appeared in the hedgerows. Despite the discouraging conditions, we headed over to the cliffs above Porthseleau Beach. Here we were surprised to find a large gathering of many more Swallows, hawking above and close to a becalmed sea surface. Beyond flew a solitary Sandwich Tern.

And the sky cleared and the sun shone. And all the swallows departed  -  those above the sea and all those hawking over the fields. There was a total, and immediate, mass exodus.

Our afternoon continued with a walk around Trefeiddan Moor. During the following 90 minutes we did not record one hirundine though their presence was replaced by a zillion St Mark's Flies, and perhaps, predictably, the appearance of our first Spotted Flycatcher. Along the moor's perimeter we registered 5 reeling Grasshopper Warblers.

Our day ended, sat on deck, overlooking the bay with a glass (or 2) of red in hand listening to a Blackcap singing in "our" bush while the next wave of swallows began to assemble.  

Skokholm after the rain

Finally got a Ring Ouzel on the year list.
Redstart, Pied Flycatcher, lots of Swallows and around 100 Wheater.

Skomer - after the sun came out

A couple of Pied Flycatchers & Garden Warblers appeared this afternoon, & loads of Wheatears - into the 100s

Black Kite Update

The Black Kite was seen again briefly at 4.15 this afternoon. It was viewed from the Priskilly crossroads SM914306 looking north towards Heathfield Farm. (Clive J and Stuart D)
Karen and I had spent the morning looking for it with no luck.

Manorbier

Quite a few Wheatears around Manorbier this afternoon too with 12 in one recently ploughed field. A Goshawk soaring over between Jameston and Manorbier was a fine sight.

Little Bittern

Having been in communication with Richard Millington regarding the recent Teifi Marshes Little Bittern, he gave his view that the bird was a first summer male rather than an adult as I reported. He's right of course, a single adult tertial clearly stands out as being of a different generation to the rest of the retained juvenile wing. The head, neck and body have attained adult-like plumage during the partial post-juvenile moult. Mea culpa.

St. Davids Airfield

It looks like the pair of Whitefronts may have finally left. They were first seen on the airfield on the 5th. of April.

The 'wow' factor for today was a flock of 24 Ringed Plover sharing a runway with 8 Whimbrel.

5 Swifts were hawking low over the north end, and there were Wheatears, looking a little bedraggled, everywhere. They seem to be drawn to the piles of boulders put in place by the National Parks . I have previously counted as many as 14 just on one boulder pile - can Ramsey beat that?.

Skomer

Got round the valleys this morning, plenty of birds about - about 80 Willow Warblers, 30 Blackcaps, 10 Sedge Warblers, the stunning male Whinchat at the Farm, a male Redstart in North Valley, a couple of Tree Pipits went over & heard a Ring Ouzel calling somewhere west of the farm but couldn't see it

St Davids Hd am

A really enjoyable Spring day, even the weather better than forecast. A Hobby started  things, giving excellent close, low views as it flew south along the back of Whitesands Beach. A day total of 79 Whimbrels with a very red Barwit was the best for me so far. The 1st s Male Redstart was still in the Porthmelgan withies and associating with another male which I think was the same age. There were 6 Tree Pipits, 4 over and 2 hanging around at The Gesail (where I thought I heard one yesterday but the roar of the wind made it difficult to be sure). 3 Swifts went through and there were good numbers of Hirundines around the area. Also 54 Wheatears and quite a few Willow Warblers still with 4 Blackcaps.

Newport

Boat Club ~ c12 sp Dunlin, 5 Whimbrel, 1 f Wheatear, plus a good passage of Swifts and Swallows.