Newport

From Alastair Proud - Some observations from Newport area, Sunday 31st March.

 Comma butterfly along by estuary, teal in small numbers, pair wigeon, redshank, shelduck, curlew and pair greylag geese.  On the cliffs 2 ring ouzel, 12+ wheatears, 2 pairs chough, kestrel, stonechats, 2 willow warblers, meadow pipits and female black redstart.

In addition 2 hares and fox. Also sighting of comet Panstarrs as we returned to the car, a good day!

Marsh Harrier

There's a likelihood that the Marsh Harrier with the two green wing tags originated from a ringing-scheme in Norfolk. If there are any further sightings please pass the details onto Phil Littler, phillittler10@yahoo.co.uk North West Norfolk Ringing Group www.nwnrg.co.uk. In particular the black or white code on the tags.

Cemaes head and Teifi‏ / Milton Bridge

From John O'Sullivan - Cemaes Head - At least 6 Wheatear at the headland this morning with 8 Siskin overhead. Offshore a handful of Gannets, and auks and a red-throated diver first seen heading South West that landed offshore with a couple of the auks. 3 more wheatear at the webley with a Black Tailed Godwit and a single Dunlin. Later 4 Siskin flew over the Ferry Inn. and three little egret were across the river.

From Ian Bartlett -  Radford Pill - Lots of birds out on the river this evening approx.19.00,several shelduck, redshank, pintail, curlew, 2 greenshank, 1 egret and 1 green sandpiper.

Dale-Marloes part 2

Too nice to be indoors despite the cool breeze so headed back out again. Ring ouzel still on airfield (little plan to indicate its favoured spots). 11 Golden plover on the airfield. Bumped into Derek at Marloes mere, no sign of the Harrier. Female kestrel at Marloes Sands.

Calling divers

On rare occasions over the years both Red-throated and Great Northern Divers have been heard calling as they passed Strumble Head. Quite so Sash, their haunting sounds so evocative of wild lochs do add an atmospheric dimension to the Pembrokeshire scene.

Martin's Haven & around

Not much in the valley in recent days apart from a handful of Chiffchaffs, so a Water Rail near the Deer Park gates was even more of a treat this afternoon.

A good walk around the Deer Park and then to Marloes Mere this morning produced a lovely group of 6-7 male Wheatear at the end of the Deer Park. The Stonechats have also returned in the last 2-3 days with males and pairs taking up territory. The last two years have really shown me that most Stonechats around here are migrants, with the hard winters taking a heavy toll of those birds that remain resident; the sudden influx in spring is then very noticeable.

The drake Pintail on the Mere is a very active bird and  real treat. We missed the Marsh Harrier, but thoroughly enjoyed two very vocal Peregrines displaying, and putting up all the gulls on the fields in the process. One gull that subsequently landed back on the Mere looked to me to be a candidate for a 3W Yellow-legged Gull, with the black bill ring, relative lack of "mirrors" on the folded primaries and almost white head. Possibly worth watching out for if you are a larophile!

Lesser Whitethroat

I hesitated to note a snatch of Lesser Whitethroat song yesterday from our garden hedge where they have been regular in early summer for several years (first noted by Steve Berry before I knew the distinctive song), because it seemed far too early. But Donovan & Rees quote 2 earlier dates &  there has been at least 1other March record since.

St Davids Hd am

A first walk around after returning from Skokholm produced a couple of Sandwich Terns in Whitesands Bay, a dozen Wheatears and a Chiffchaff. The first White Wagtail was on the Golf Course with 15 Pieds and a single Manxie and a flock of 20 Chaffinches were notable. An Otter at Ivor's Pond was good value.

Skokholm was generally quiet but possible Scandinavian Rock Pipits provided hours (and hours) of enjoyment. See Mike's Bird Notes for photos and comment.

Dale-Marloes - Ring ouzel and Marsh Harrier

Ring Ouzel on airfield west of The Hookses feeding in the rough grass and flushed from beside the runway at the intesection on return. Female Merlin along cliff edges. Chiffchaffs calling along coast path. Marsh harrier with green wing-tags at Mere brief views from hide, but better views from western end of path as it repeatedly quartered this area for 20mins also drake Pintail, a Ringed plover flying over and pair shelduck. Pair kestrels above Marloes Sands.

Divers and Terns

Yesterday morning (Saturday) two astonishingly confiding Great Northerns in Dale bay. One is moulting into full summer plumage, the other may be a 1W bird; still essentially white and grey. They were close together, and seemed totally unconcerned by the boat, swimming gently towards it to within 5 metres. Alas, no camera to hand. Of note, friends in Dale whose house is on the sea front believe that they have heard a Great Northern wailing at night in recent weeks: what a wonderful sound that would be in Pembrokeshire!

On the pontoon in Dale Roads 6 Sandwich Terns.

Skokholm

Grey Wagtail and Greylag Goose new for the yearlist and a female Black Redstart joined the stonking male at the Lighthouse. No auks to speak of but the Manxies are very vocal this evening. 13 Wheatears was the lowest count for a while.

Ty Rhyg

Really quiet with pond and drains still frozen solid, spring still on hold here. Last few years its been alive with chiffchaffs, but just a few groups of goldcrests flitting through the conifers today.

Nine Wells

from Steve Jarvis - Nine Wells Saturday - 8 Chiffchaf  1 Blackcap, 2 Goldcrest, 4 Wheatear and 4 Stonechat on a lovely afternoon.

Ring Ouzel - St David's Head

A male was in Porth Melgan Valley early morning only (Jonathan Bennett). I had 11 Wheatears and 2 Chiffchaffs late morning. Also 10 Red-throated Divers were in Whitesands Bay with a further 3 off Porth Melgan.

Angle Area

At a very cold, windy St Govan's this morning 4 Wheatears.
Middayish at West Angle 8 Wheatears and a couple of Chiffchaffs. A Sandwich Tern close in in the Haven.

Ring Ouzel - Dale Airfield

A male this morning west of The Hookses - elusive though (Steve Hinton).

St Davids

From Andrew Sinclair - 18 Wheatears (all but 3 were males) plus three Chough ( not ringed) this pm

 at St David's Head this pm. Three RTDs and a single GND offshore with about 8 Harbour Porpoise

 feeding offshore. About 35 Golden Plover over Simpson Cross on way home? Good to be back in the

 county!

Llys y fran

From Maggie Bissmire - Sand martins have returned to Llysyfran Reservoir. Also a wheatear near cafe.

Dale

Somehow I managed one more Brent than Graham - and a dark-bellied bird at that!  On the airfield no sign of Brian's Ring Ouzels from yesterday, but lovely all the same in the cold sunshine with 6 male Wheatear, 6 Snipe, 4 Chough, a Kestrel & 10 Golden Plover.

Skokholm

A few good candidates for littoralis Rock Pipits (see the Skok blog). Two Merlins showing interest in three Goldcrests, a Song Thrush fresh in, a Redwing, a single Chiffchaff and four Puffins (after over 2000 yesterday).

Golden Plover and Godwits

Drive out to Stack Rocks had 300+ Golden Plover in the short grass fields on the left and no birds on the Stack, can't blame them really as it was freezing out there in the wind.
Back to Pembroke upper pond and the flock of 148 black-tailed Godwits still there, one with colour rings but it wouldn't lift its leg out of the water or from under it's feather whilst it was sleeping.
the cold weather is keeping the tit flocks together with a mixed flock at Pwllcrochan containg Blue tit, Coal tit, 10 Long Tailed tit, Goldcrest and two Treecreepers.

Talbennny area

Goultrop and Mill Haven today, very quiet in stiff easterly. A raft of 20 razorbills and 4 scoters were all I could see in the bay. A few chiffchaffs in the willowy valleys. c 12 Wheatear passing in 2s and 3s hugging the coastal slopes and a chough calling.

Skomer

Another very cold day on Skomer, especially in the wind, plus first visitors of year. Unfortunately the puffins did a no show in North Haven in the afternoon, which was particularly disappointing after such an impressive show yesterday evening. There was a male Ring Ouzel again around the central fields and sightings of Merlins, Kestrels and Peregrines throughout. Today also saw the first Little Owl sighting of the year.

Marloes Mere

A brief cold walk after work this evening produced nothing, however, the Glossy Ibis was recorded in the hide notebook for yesterday.

Gann

Brief stop at car park at about 2-30 this afternoon, tide low, group of 42 Brents (LBr) standing at waters edge, the furthest they could be from bait diggers.

Round up

Photo sent in from David - Red-legged Partridge on the steps of a block of flats in High Street Tenby !!

From Hugh James - Had 2 sightings of a house martin on coast path between St Justinians and Whitesands. It seemed to be finding flies etc to feed on as it stayed over one spot for a while. Good views with binoculars. My first of the year, but so cold for it. Also 5 wheatear.

From David Finch - At least one, maybe two velvet scoter amongst the rafts of common scoter off Amroth this afternoon. Only picked out by their white wing bars while flying in. David Finch

West Angle

A walk around the East Blockhouse area produced half a dozen wheatears. Otherwise just song thrushes, robins, wrens, dunnocks etc. Two golden plover flew over, calling.

My first sandwich tern of the year, fishing in West Angle Bay.

Sunny and spring-like day on the Range

Yesterday (28th March) went out to the Range to check progress at chough nest-sites. Several pairs were still nest-building but at least a couple are probably close to egg-laying now. There were fewer choughs seen than expected but it's still a bit early in the season to draw conclusions.

Other notable birds included 30+ wheatears (mostly in pairs and several near known/typical nest site locations); most males were displaying.  There were at least 20 chiffchaffs in Frainslake valley - most were near the coast on the edge of low swamp/wetland - suggesting that they had only recently arrived. There was also a ring ouzel feeding in the dune grassland on the edge of Brownslade Burrows, feeding on soil inverts in the short turf along side a chough. The photo below is cropped from an image taken 100 metres plus from the bird with only a medium telephoto lens.

A flock of 35 golden plovers also feeding nearby were all in full summer plumage as were 7 more feeding alongside the coastal track near Pen-y-holt Bay. Other species included kestrel (male hunting on Linney Head and a female just to the east); a merlin (perched in a low bush inland from Pen-y-holt); and at least 25 grey plovers at the Furzenips with a similar number of dunlin plus a few sanderling and ringed plovers. Ravens were on nests at two sites. Small numbers of teal (c. 15) and mallard (8) were on Frainslake Millpond as were 2 pairs of little grebe in adult plumage (males trilling).

In all, it was a beautiful sunny and relatively warm day. Three peacock butterflies were seen on the wing along the coast and a few marsh fritillary spring larval webs were found with caterpillars basking in the sun.

Reed Bunting Haverfordwest

Not especially rare in itself, but a male Reed Bunting in a garden on the outskirts of Haverfordwest during the last few days reflects the long run of cold weather we are experiencing (Stella Mathias).

St David's

A very enjoyable walk late morning from Porth Clais to Treginnis along the coast path produced 11 Wheatear and 3 Chiffchaffs.Six Med Gulls(2 adults, 2 3cy and 2 2 cy) were a pleasant surprise at Lower Treginnis feeding in a recently ploughed field with c200 large gulls.A quick stop at Newgale on the way home where 3 Great Northern and 4 Red-throated Divers showed reasonably well towards high tide.

Ring ouzels - Dale airfield

2 male Ring Ouzels on the airfield, 1 in the gorse by Hookses and the second in the gorse 'avenue' overlooking Marloes Sands at Hoopers Point. 2 chough. 6 wheatear, with another 6 on walk over to Marloes. The male kestrel near Gateholm. Marloes Mere: Plenty of chiffchaffs, drake Pintail, 3 Tufties (2m,1f) and the Glossy Ibis did 2 fly arounds.

Feeding Well Part 2

A little, very welcome, warmth this afternoon and in St Florence this Chiffchaff was definately feeding well. It took a little while to get the large fly down - a few of those should see it through another night okay.
A few Blue Tits were bathing in the stream. Getting their plumage in tip top condition to keep out the cold and for the breeding season.

Feeding well ?

This Starling with an interesting bill has been feeding in a Pembroke garden for the past few months, amazing how the bird feeds successfully...

(photo Carolyn Fortune)

Skomer

A few Red Kites over the last couple of days including three on the 25th. Another spankin male Ring Ouzel today along with a few Blackbirds, Song Thrushes and Redwings. The four pink feet still present. Puffin numbers increasing with 3,000+ just outside North Haven this evening.

Radford Pill/Carew Mill

Red kite over Carew Mill - made its way gradually downstream. The kites are really bracketing the target (my garden).

Otherwise quiet on Radford Pill - >50 teal, 4 shelduck, a few redshank, 1 greenshank, 1 curlew, 2 snipe.

Long-tailed Duck

Still off Wiseman's Bridge today (Ed Hunter)

Marloes Mere - Ring Ouzel

At Marloes Mere this morning good views of the Ring-necked Duck looking very smart in the sunshine, with Tufties, viewed from the Britton hide. No sign of any Pintail, Godwits or GI. Also a male Ring Ouzel along the edge of the big field at the end of the track. A few Chiffchaffs and Wheatears - but no visible/audible Meadow Pipits or Skylarks at all in the grasslands along the cliffs.

Bosherston / Carew

Sunny walk around Bosherton Lily Ponds this morning was rewarded by a Water Rail in the reeds at the beach end. Four male and Six Female Goosanders towards the 8 arch bridge. A lone Greenshank, two redshank at Carew on the way home at 4pm.

 
David Finch

Little Ringed Plover - - Newport

The LRP still above the iron bridge at 17:50 - though calling and running out of island on the rising tide!
Even better one Hare, on way home.

WOW !

Sea Trust and Pembrokeshire College will again be running a number of Wildlife Observer Wales (WOW) courses this year covering a number of Marine wildlife subjects including Seabird Observing for Beginners and Seabird Monitoring. Click on the pic above for a larger version with further details.

Deer Park

From John Freeman - visited the Deer park, Martins Haven this morning for a couple of hours and managed to get a few shots of Wheatears. They kept their distance so these are a couple of thumbnails. There were also a couple of pairs of Stonechats, a pair of Choughs and a female Sparrowhawk hunting.Pretty quiet which is understandable, it was blooming cold !

Tenby

Just west of Giltar Point this afternoon 3 Wheatears (2 female, 1 male) and, close by, a female Black Redstart.
Also a group of 6 Chough which is the most I have seen together on this stretch of the coast.

St.Davids Airfield

A distinctly winter feel to the Airfield this morning. Lots of Starlings still about, and a good few Fieldfares in amongst them. The plaintive call of a Golden Plover drew attention to a flock of about 150+ feeding in between the cow pats, many of them now in summer dress.  

A Ringtail Harrier was being harassed by the pair of Kestrels who appear to have taken up residence on the Airfield. I believe it's very likely that the last Kestrel nest site on the aerodrome was in one of the old hangars, which were taken down in the sixties.

Newport

Indeed a Little Ringed Plover upstream from the bridge this morning.
Also in the area a pair of Gadwall & a Kingfisher.

Pencarnan Report

Again, we are here to "bird our patch" AND protect our caravan from freezing up!

From the window, late Sunday afternoon, we listed 2 Black-throated Divers rafting with 6 Red-throated cousins, plus our first fly-by Sand Martin for the year. What happens to these martins when they reach the snowline....?

On the campsite this morning:- 12 Wheatears in the horse paddocks along with 2 Redwings, and below us at Point St John another Black-throated Diver with 2 Red-throated Divers around the corner in Whitesands Bay.

We have mentioned on many occasions during the 8 years we have been coming to Pencarnan, the delight of having, outside our window, the first bush to be found this side of the Irish Republic. We assume that Greg and Lisa are too exposed on Ramsey to have anything exotic as a bush! To date we have listed 46 species alighting upon this bush. While standing at the window this morning, with a bowl of cereals in hand - who would sit for breakfast with an attraction like this? - we recorded this year's first summer visitor.

St Davids Hd am

A Black Redstart this morning but fewer Wheatears (12) and only a single Chiffchaff. There have been c10 Red-throated Divers in Whitesands Bay, joined today by a Great Northern.

Little Ringed Plover - Newport

One from the iron bridge - more from Sam soon.......

Goodwick Moor

Just had an email from Juliet telling me of a Bittern seen from the boardwalk on Wednesday the 20th

Black-tailed Godwits

Good numbers of Black-tailed Godwits on the Pembroke Upper Millpond this weekend with numbers still at 135 many of which are coming into full summer plumage.

Newgale

Two Great Northern Divers and four Sandwich Terns this evening.

Stackpole wheatears

At last some wheatears on Stackpole Warren - 5. 1 near Raming Hole, 4 in the sandy area at the back of Box Beach/Sandy Pit and Saddle Point.

Skomer

A male Ring Ouzel, many more Wheatears and Robins a flock of six Ravens and a Short-eared Owl yesterday. Three Red Kites over in this mornings sunshine. Otherwise, flippin cold. 

Ring Ouzel - Strumble Head

 One Ring Ouzel this morning, with 10+ Wheatears,
(Adrian R)

Newport

Iron Bridge 07.20 ~ No luck trying to locate the m Garganey; Hopefully he's a late riser so maybe there later....!

Elsewhere along the Nevern ~ 1 Grey Plover, 10 Redshank, 8 Dunlin & a pair of Shelduck.

Short-eared Owl - Ceibwr

1 Short-eared Owl seen along the coastal strip north of Ceibwr Bay this evening.
(Peter Byles)

Broad Haven

At the end of a cycle ride this morning 7 Great Northern Diver off the beach (1pm), earlier a Red Kite between Treffgarne & Hayscastle.  A return visit to Broad Haven with Paul G late afternoon was cold but rewarding: a Black-throated Diver, 6 Great Northerns, 2 Red-throats, 3 Purple Sandpipers, 6 Sandwich Terns and perhaps 70 or so Common Scoter widely scattered in ones, twos and small groups up to 10 or so.  Finally, the Nordic Jackdaw was again in the garden this afternoon.

Dale area

Yesterday it was merlins today Peregrines. 3 sightings all looked different birds - a big female, juvenile and another at the Gann taking an unsuccessful (for the peregrine) swipe at a teal. It slowly drifted up and down the length of the pools causing much panic before gaining speed and coming in incredibly low over the water. A pair of teal got up and the peregrine snatched at the duck but either couldn't hold it or just missed it, anyway the teal dived for cover in the reeds and the peregrine settled on the trees above - waiting for another opportunity. 5 wheatear St Anns, 2 chiffchaff Watwick otherwise very quiet.

Ramsey

Yesterday (23/3) - Fieldfare and golden plover


Today (24/3) - highest wheatear total of the year so far with 18 birds present of which 4 were our first females of the season. 100+ meadow pipits were dotted around along with an arrival of 8 pied wagtails in one of the northern fields. The long staying merlin was seen today too.

Lots of chough about - regular flock of 14 and over 20 birds on the island in total but still only 3 pairs have started nest building. Most of the other regular territories are occupied but in this weather birds are too busy feeding to think about anything else it would seem. In contrast, by this date last year when we were basking in temperatures of 20 degrees, 7 pairs had started nest building.

Cold weather garden birds

Feeding frenzy on the nut and seed feeders, this the first blackcap (fluffed up like a Lars Jonsson illustration) I've seen in the garden for a while. (My new point and shoot camera, bought in the wake of the Bosherston egret fiasco a few weeks ago)

Newport Garganey

Lovely to see a Garganey in the north of the county.

After enjoying close views of the detailed vermiculations on this handsome bird we went on to Ceibwr bay. Here there had been a fall of Chiffs and six were fly catching around the stream.

Also a Sand Martin over the beach and a couple of Pied Wagtails, one with a ring.
(Wendy and Dyfed J)

Iron Bridge----Midday again

A record shot of the Garganey. Also a Greenland Wheatear amongst the 7 Wheatear that Karen counted.

St Davids Hd am

Now 9 Wheatears and 2 Chiffchaffs and also a Sandwich Tern on Whitesands Beach.

Garganey Newport

Yes, a stunning male Garganey with Teal upstream from the Iron Bridge. So exotic looking that I initially assumed an escape & came home to consult Peter Scott's Key to the Wildfowl of the World.
Also a M Goosander, & while we (me, Karen & Janet) were looking 5 Wheatears flew in including a possible Greenland.

Garganey - drake - Newport

Drake from iron bridge - more from Sam soon

Glossy Ibis

At Marloes Mere, nothing else to speak of, very cold.

Skomer sightings

Three Water Rails, two Short-eared Owls, Sand Martin, a male Wheatear, three Redwings and two chiffchaffs on Skomer today as weather improves.

Skokholm

Nine Wheatears, eight of which were males, seven Chiffchaffs, two Redwings including one looking very coburni-like, a stunning male Black Redstart at the Lighthouse, two Goldcrests on the northern cliffs, two Stonechats, 77 Meadow Pipits and the first Blackcap of the year. 

Marloes Mere

In addition to birds already mentioned the Glossy Ibis put in a flight appearance this afternoon and 10 Chiffchaffs dropped in just before i left.

The Gann

The Long-billed Dowitcher was still present on the north side of the pool loosely associating with a Redshank.Also 2 Greenshank, 2 Goldeneye, adult summer Med Gull, 2 Great Crested Grebes and a Great Northern Diver.

Marloes-Deer Park

Hot on Pauls and Dereks heels, the godwits were still just beyond the gate, they did a little fly around and dropped higher up the bank, nice close-up views. 6 wheatear (4m,2f) on coast path towards Martins Haven, no sign of any on the Deer Park. Pair stonechat by lookout female carrying food and male agitated. Whilst watching pod of porpoise off Wooltack, a female merlin shot past. Later at the Mere, 2 Sand martins, male kestrel and 6 chiffchaff flying in front of me along the track. Quick look at the Gann - another merlin (3rd sighting today) and a female sparrowhawk upsetting 2 buzzards.

Roch

A nice flock of around 200 Golden Plover late afternoon, in various states of dress, in a ploughed field just to the south of Roch beside the main St. David's Road.

Marloes Mere

 9 Black Tailed Godwits in the juncus below Varna cottage. (1 just out of frame) Drake Pintail still present - No sign of our GI though.

Newgale

Still one Sandwich Tern offshore this afternoon also 18 Common Scoters, a Red-throated and a Great Northern Diver. A solitary Gannet showed no apparent interest in two Porpoises but a group of 7 first winter Herring Gulls did, hovering and fluttering above them, apparently just following their progress with no dipping down to the surface of the sea, so probably just curious rather than looking for a meal.

Sandwich Terns @ Newgale

Despite the bitterly cold wind, signs of spring with 2 Sandwich Terns slowly working their way south along the beach at 10.15 this morning.

West Angle

A Little Ringed Plover was on the beach at West Angle this morning, with a Ringed Plover and two Teal

St Davids and Heathfield GP

Only a single Wheatear and two Chiffchaffs of note until I picked up an Osprey as it flew towards and circled quite low over the Golf Course at 10:30am then slowly making its way north over Pwllderi. It was attended briefly by a couple of Lesser Black-backs and then a Buzzard had a go at it. It was notable how much longer winged the Osprey appeared. Also on the Golf Course 14 Pied Wags but still no Whites. About 70/80 Mipits about. I stopped at Heathfield on my way home and there were half a dozen Sand Martins with a Swallow which was another nice surprise.

Kete-St Anns

Kete-St Anns: 4 wheatear (all male), 2 chiffchaff, c20 meadow pipits (inc flock of 15), 6 rock pipits, stonechat (m). Snipe from beside coast path. Female merlin. c12 shag off St Anns Head. 2 pairs chough one with 2 yellow rings left leg (red/BTO right). Gann - 1 GC grebe, 5 Little grebe, 3f Goldeneye, 2 Little egrets, 8 shelduck. c35 teal tucked under the sedge.

Wisemans Bridge

I really like the description "unbirdable" and think it pretty apt, although the Skokholm crew have taught us all lessons today about birding in hostile conditions.

We drove by Wisemans Bridge just before lunch, and found very large numbers of Scoter in the strong swell and surf. It is possible that they had been pushed into this corner of the bay by the ESE wind; I counted well over 200 birds in the very narrow arc that the wind and the relative shelter of the car would allow.

The Scoter were very active (even for Scoter; I love watching these duck): groups of 10 or more would fly around in tight groups before landing close to where they had taken off. Other groups were surfing the waves very dynamically: lots of wing flapping and neck bobbing.

I looked for the Long-tailed Duck without joy, but found 3 Mergansers (2M, 1F) and a Great-crested Grebe before incipient hypothermia drove me into the car.

Skokholm

Wild weather and a Ring Ouzel today.

The Gann

News for the Gann from Wednesday 20 March from Jeremy Moore - 

An apparent  “pair” of black-tailed godwits  @ 6pm.  The dowitcher was still there; it was keeping company with a redshank. My field guide describes the species as a large and robust wader, but in fact the bird is actually slightly smaller and more slender than the redshank.

 The attached photo, while otherwise being quite useless, shows this to be the case!

 

There was a male pintail at Marloes Mere Wednesday morning and at least four pairs of shoveler.

Unbirdable

An apt description I came upon during my perusal of other blogs. So with a mix of addiction/habit/optimism, I drove to Marloes Mere. And so it proved to be. Unbirdable. See below.

Spring is Here !!!

Seems we are still in the depths of winter despite it officially being spring. Yesterday was a rare day for Pembrokeshire Birds - no postings! With the wind howling and the rain lashing I expect we may well have few if any sightings posted today.

All is not lost, however, as the Islands of Skokholm, Skomer and Ramsey are weathering the storm and if you can't get out birding you can can at least see how the wardens and volunteers are faring with preparations for the new season. Check out their blogs by following the links to the right.

The Teifi Ringing Group and the Pembrokeshire Ringing Group have also been as active as ever - again, check out their blogs using the link on the right.

Bosherston

Not much birding today but walked around most of Bosherton Lily Ponds and highlights as follows:

 Goosander (5) 3 male, 2 red head
Water Rail (1 seen at reed bed nr single arch bridge)
Reed Bunting (1) male
Goldcrest (at least 5/6)
Gadwall (4)
Treecreeper (1)
Raven (2)
Mistle Thrush (1)
Great Spotted Woodpecker (3) inc 1 drumming all day in village
Common Gull (2) with a few Herring Gulls

 Also first butterfly of the year - a Red Admiral at the Mencap Gardens and a Common Lizard along the path near Broad Haven.

 Steve Hearn
Devon

Llys y fran

Highlights of a walk round the reservoir this morning were a Willow Tit, 3 Tree Creepers, 3 singing Mistle Thrushes, a Chiffchaff, 3 Goldeneye, several Great Crested Grebes, a Little Grebe & c30 Teal. A drumming Woodpecker didn't press any "not a GS" buttons.

Down South

The female Long-tailed Duck and 2 Red-throated Divers showed well at Wiseman's Bridge (Mervyn Jones)

Surf Scoter

The female was still off Broad Haven this morning with a Velvet Scoter and 3 Purple Sandpipers were on rocks at the north end.The Scoters had decreased to about 50 and there were good numbers of Guillemot/Razorbills offshore.At Newgale 3 Great Northern and 2 Red-throated Divers showed well on a calm sea at high tide.Later, at St Davids Head 2 stunning male Wheatears and a singing Chiffchaff could be seen.

Dale

Gann: Male wheatear up by the stepping stones, 5 goldeneye (2m,3f), 5 Little grebe, 2 Little egret, c10 wigeon, bar-tailed godwit, greenshank, c10 redshank, 8 shelduck and 4 dunlin roosting on island.

Ramsey

An arrival of meadow pipits today. 47 were feeding together in Parc-y-Lloi and a further 50+ came in off the sea during the day in small parties (from the west). First house sparrow of the year appeared  along with another goldfinch. 3 wheatears, 1 merlin, 50 starling and 3 linnets. Still no goldcrests or hirundines and only 1 chiffchaff so far.

2 more chough sites nest building today. Entertaining battle going on between 2 pairs of raven that have built nests too close to each other!

Kilpaison and Carew

 At Kilpaison this morning pretty quiet on the wader front with c.60 Dunlin and 25 Ringed Plover plus a couple of Redshank. 37 Brent Geese was a good count.

I spent some time this afternoon hoping for some pics of the Black-tailed Godwits but only 2 showed up and landed way off. Pretty quiet here too with 9 Redshank and 1 Greenshank. A Little Egret with muddy feet flew over carrying something also covered in mud - couldn't tell if it was prey or vegetation.

Sea Trust Stena Irish Sea ferry survey, Spring

Fantastic calm sunny conditions for our return voyage today, having copped our first Manxie of the year yesterday on our way out. A Black Throated Diver got us off to a fine birdy start as we left Rosslare and then the big surprise were a pair of Common Terns which flew calling over our heads! soon after we spoted our second Manxie! All the way across we were overtaken by ones and two's of Meadow Pippits with one perhaps two Alba wagtails amongst them. We also had Common Dolphins and Porpoises so quite a nice trip for the back end of winter/equinox!

Midday at Iron Bridge

A Greylag Goose wandering around, 1 Greenshank, 15 Redshank.

St David's

More from Steve Hearn - Another fabulous day on holiday in Pembrokeshire.
Walked to St David's Head (pm) and watched a stunning sunset.
Not many birds but good to see my much looked for Wheatears (2 males) but also a nice surprise - a female Black Redstart with the Wheatears. Also 1 or 2 Meadow Pipits.
Finally 1 Chough between St David's Head and Whitesands plus another Chough over the car park. Roll on tomorrow!
Steve Hearn - Devon

Great Northern, Skomer and Skokholm

This was not even the highlight of the two days that we have spent around and on the Islands, but it certainly counts as the only half-decent bird picture I have (ever) taken with our point and shoot camera (Canon G12). We found it off Dale Fort this afternoon, and it was astonishingly confiding: it preened a bit, but seemed utterly unconcerned by our presence, down to around 5 metres.

Both Skomer and Skokholm are hives of activity. On Skokholm a massive work party of so-called "volunteers" (in reality pressed men and women; HUGE thanks to them all)  are rebuilding the top of the jetty and large parts of the Farm; next stop the Lighthouse. Incredible work, in sometimes horribly cold conditions.

On Skomer the buildings have been opened up, huge amounts of cleaning done, and workmen have been installing extra solar panels and repairing other parts of the water and electricity systems. Highlights for us were Manx Shearwaters last night and the first Puffin ashore this morning! See the Skomer Blog for more details.

I know migrants feel in short supply at present (a single Chiffchaff in Martin's Haven is our total to date!), but it really is starting to feel like Spring!

Counting Birds

The Black-tailed Godwits were again at Carew River late afternoon though flying past towards Lawrenny as I arrived.

Yesterday it was easy to count the birds as they were feeding in two groups on the mud. Today, with a fairly brief fly past it was much more difficult. What would your estimate be from a quick look at the flock?  Click on the photo for a larger version

Having blown the photo up and looked in detail I reckon there are 69 Godwits though it is hard to be precise with some birds hidden behind others.

St Davids Hd am

4 Wheatears this morning including the first female, also the first Siskins over. 60+ Meadow Pipits and 15 Pied Wagtails present (no Whites) as well as a few Goldcrests.

South Pembs...

3rd full day on holiday - still sunny but about to change apparently.
Visited Bosherston Lily Ponds (am) - didn't see Otter today but nice to see 2 Kingfishers - one perched in small tree. Also 6+ Goosander, singing Chiffchaff and singing Reed Bunting. Also 2 Gadwall at single arch end and 2 Goldcrest.
Visited St Govans Head (pm) - still no Wheatear for us. Nice to see 2 Chough though, Snipe (rear of first lookout (if that's what they are!) and quite a few Meadow Pipits around. Also male Stonechat.
No birds of prey apart from a couple of Buzzards over Bosherston.

Forgot to mention 100+ Redwing through the Stackpole Estate yesterday.

 Steve Hearn
Devon

Long-tailed Duck

The wintering female was off the north end of Amroth this morning with 18 Red-breasted Mergansers, a good count i thought.In addition to Rich's waders at Tenby there were 4 Red-throated Divers offshore, including one in almost summer plumage which was rather special.Such a shame the Surf Scoters couldn't be seen from Amroth.

Ramsey

Few new birds today. 3 goldfinch, 5 wheatears (all males), 15 carrion crows 10+ stonechats arrived, 50+ meadow pipts this afternoon and 1 curlew.

Carew

A look at the Carew River this afternoon was productive with 83 Black-tailed Godwits, a dozen or so of them well into summer plumage. Also 2 Greenshanks, 18 Redshanks, 15 Curlew, 10 Wigeon, 35 Teal, 4 Pintail and 2 Little Egrets.

This morning on Tenby South Beach 8 Sanderling and 9 Ringed Plover.

Surf Scoters off Telpyn Point, Carms

Every so slightly out of County, but two drake Surf Scoters found this morning by Paul G.  Nice!

Dowrog Common (yesterday)

Rob Davies had two male Hen Harriers roost on his BTO count.No Hen Harriers roosted at Plumstone yesterday evening on my count.

South Pembs...

(yesterday,17th March)

On holiday from Devon staying in Bosherston.
Superb sunny weather so just walked and walked in the stunning Pembrokeshire scenery.
Heard first Chiffchaff singing at Bosherston (am) and also saw Otter very well (dog otter?) at the Lily Ponds.
Also 9 Goosander across two ponds (3 male, 6 red head) from a peak of 13 last night and 2 Little Grebe.
Saw 2 Chough east of Stack Rocks.
5 Razorbill seen at Stackpole Head close in shore plus 2 Shag - one on nest at the green bridge of Wales.
Also heard 3 Skylarks singing - first of the year for me. Finally Raven on nest near Stack Rocks with at least 3 noisy chicks seen!
No Wheatears but I note 2 were seen at St Govans which we missed.
All in all though a good full day in sunny Pembrokeshire.

Steve Hearn
Devon

Chough...

(yesterday, 17th March)

Four chough feeding on the fields in which horses have been grazed, just west of Caerbwdi this morning; this included the one with a yellow legring which had been seen in this area in 2012. Apart from that, no wheatear, no stone chats....

Regards

(Bronwen Davies and Jon Evans)

Skomer

Goldcrests and Chiffchaff and still up to three Water Rails. Also Meadow Pipits displaying and Blackbirds singing. Seven plus Chough present including one with double white colour rings which is probably from Ramsey breeding population, to be confirmed.

Ed

Martin's Haven

The only migrants around this morning were 3 Goldcrests in the scrub. There is also still a rather late Snipe that flushes really very reluctantly: more like a Jack Snipe in behaviour.

On the Deer Park only a pair of Stonechats and a Peregrine. Only 2 pairs of Fulmars on the ledges at the end; I could not see if the ravens have laid yet.

There were at least a dozen rather noisy Canada Geese in Midland, and I was surprised to see the 4 Pink-footed Geese along with them. With the fields on the Marloes peninsular now almost all ploughed for sowing, we may not see them back on the mainland much more.

The tide flows north through Jack Sound early in the mornings at present, and there was a lovely flock of 60+ Kittiwakes dip-feeding North of Wooltack Point. 10 Gannets were present for half an hour, but no sign of any porpoises.

Nice views of the Ring-necked Duck at the Mere; I am glad that Derek and Dave have re-found the Glossy and Dowitcher respectively: I was worried they had left us.

Gann - Long-billed Dowitcher still there

An hour at the Gann late afternoon - the Long-billed Dowitcher still present in its usual spot, though it was only on the way back from a walk up the river that I saw it (looking across the lagoon).  Wildfowly things included a drake Goldeneye, 4 Little Grebe, 4 Great-crested Grebe, 17 Wigeon, 16 Teal & 5 Shelduck.  Waders included a Bar-tailed Godwit, a Greenshank, and 8 Redshank.  The gulls contained 10 Mediterranean (3 ad, 3 3CY, 3 2CY), c.130 Common & c.40 Black-headed.  Finally, 2 Little Egret on the river.

It`s back!

 Glossy Ibis at Marloes Mere, I`m quite satisfied that it`s been somewhere else - I`ve spent enough time this weekend searching for it, from dawn till dusk!

St Govans Head

 Great morning out in beautiful sunshine   2 stunning male Wheatears seen by stone target area. 
 This must mean warm weather is on it's way!!
 Also several pairs of Stonechats, Meadow Pipits and 2 Chough.
 Freshwest 2 very sharp looking white  (alba ) Pied Wagtails by seaweed hut,  no Sandmartins yet.

Dale - Marloes

Gann - 3 snipe, single female goldeneye, greenshank, 7 shelduck, c 10 wigeon, 5-6 Little grebe, 2 GC grebe in bay. Dale airfield: quiet 6 chough by Hookses. Marloes area: Male kestrel west of Gateholm, and flock of 13 chough on the set-aside near Martins Haven. Also plenty of meadow pipits and 6 pairs stonechats along the coast.

Ramsey - Irish Red Kite

Turns out the red kite I saw here yesterday is from the Irish re-introduction scheme, tagged as a chick in Wales in 2011. To pin it down to release site the Irish team need to know the letter / number / symbol. I didn't manage to get it but it might still be doing the rounds so if anyone else sees it and gets that info could they please email Liz Snell on e.a.snell@btinternet.com

The tag colours are left wing - blue / right wing - white

Ramsey yesterday - SE Owl (they have bred on and off for last few years so fingers crossed) and another wheatear plus a single redwing

Today - first chough nest building plus 1 chiffchaff

Teifi area

An early start found a Brambling in the garden, quickly followed by an out of county (but close !) visit to Mwnt producing a movement of Meadow Pipits, 1 Northern Wheatear and a Black Redstart.

Duck numbers down as expected, 49 Wigeon at The Webley with 38 Oystercatcher and 1 Knot.
3 Little Egrets from St. Dogmaels Quay, and only c30 Teal on the Marsh.

Yesterday, 8 Goosander on the river and  4/5 Cettis singing  around the marsh from the usual territories.

Marloes Mere

Ring Neck Duck on the irrigation pool, without the Tufty flotilla. Still no Glossy, Ireland maybe?

Ramsey - Red Kite

Red kite feeding on a rabbit carcass this morning. Wing tagged (left wing = blue, right wing = white?)

Silver beauties!

A walk around the outer breakwater was chilly but springlike and i was hoping for a wheater or a glimpse of the long staying black redstasrt but could find neither. Probably a more reliable indicator of spring was a male rock pippit performing its "parachute" display and singing, a dull bird in many ways but the song flight makes up for it!
Later on as I was watching some very distant bottlenose dolphins, a single alba /white wagtail flew in off the sea its call attracting my attention. Surely they should be renamed "silver" wagtails, it really shone coming in off the sea in the low clear sunlight!

Marloes Mere

Again, very quiet this morning, still no sign of the Glossy. Big gull flock on the field again but unable to find anything in the melee.

Marloes

Nothing on the Mere, not even one Glossy, however walking down the track to the beach (Sandy lane)in the field to the left, which had recently been muck spread, were a couple of hundred gulls that looked interesting so I scanned through them hoping to find a White Winger - one did fly in, but it had two or three black spots on the outer primaries that reminded me of a second winter Med Gull. It promptly vanished as they were feeding, leap-frogging over each other, moving up the field. The whole flock flew past me some 15 mins later on the cliff top by Gateholm, heading towards Skomer, but I couldn`t find it again. Stumped!

Skokholm

The first five Puffins of the year.

Mill Grounds - Haverfordwest

Green sandpiper seen daily for last couple of weeks, today peregrine over and sparrowhawk, 4days ago 3male Goosander and 1 female, greater spots drumming every where and kingfisher yesterday first, for months
(Peter Howe)

St Davids Hd pm

A Merlin and Wheatear present, fewer Meadow Pipits and yesterday's half a dozen Pied Wagtails have moved on.

Pencarnan Report

For the 9th consecutive year we are back in residence here at Pencarnan. Our efforts this month have focused as much on Patch Birding as on preventing the pipes from freezing up!

Notable observations for the first half of the month have been the unusual number of Red-throated Divers in Whitesands Bay. Previous Spring counts have shown 1-3 birds passing through. Daily counts this year have been between 4 and 9. Movement has been confirmed by the change in ratio of winter and summer plumage birds within the same day. (9 yesterday. 4 today).

On the 12th we listed our earliest Wheatear and on 14th the earliest Chiffchaff.

Also seen on 14th 100+ Meadow Pipits near Rhosson Farm - the first indication that their migration is now underway.

Dinas Head

Yesterday - a pair of Kestrels & a min 3 Stonechat pairs.

Moving birds

Incredible mass exodus of birds from Slimbridge last night. Looks like 90% of the remaining winter wildfowl migrated on west wind last night.
(James Lees, Twitter)
Willow Warbler - Cornwall this morning.
(RBA)

Skokholm

The first Manx Shearwater of the year this evening. Single Black Redstart, Wheatear, and Stonechat today, along with three Chiffchaffs, 41 Meadow Pipits including the first singing birds and a male Kestrel. The auks were back on the cliffs. More on the Skok blog.

Dead Tawny Owl - Haverfordwest

Recently deceased Tawny owl on St Thomas Green, Haverfordwest this morning.

Colour-ringed Kestrel

I think this reply by Paddy summarises the value of colour-ringing, please continue to report sightings.

Hi David,

Many thanks for reporting your sighting - excellent shots too. This individual was ringed as a nestling at Stackpole Head on 5th July 2011. She was seen 
shortly after fledging near the nest site, and then not recorded again until October 2012 near Tenby. Your sighting confirms that she is likely to be 
resident in this area, and now she is old enough to breed, she will almost certainly be attempting her first brood nearby this Spring.

 

The colour-ringing scheme was started in order to gather more information about the survival of fledged birds and sightings such as this make an extremely 
valuable contribution. 

Thanks once again,

Paddy Jenks

Skokholm

The first Jack Snipe of the year, along with 25 Common Scoter, two Cormorants and a Dunlin all new for the Skok 2013 list. Also 14 Snipe, 17 Curlew, a female Stonechat, 15 Blackbirds, a Fieldfare, three Song Thrush, three Chiffchaff, a Chaffinch and three male Reed Buntings.

One of those moments...

Was it or wasn`t it? Just a glimpse of a "black" bird winging it West up the Cleddau, away from me, over the Llanstadwell side - by the time I realised what it may`ve been it was out of sight. I didn`t see our Glossy Sunday (others did on Sat) could it have been returning from another foray? The time was 5.30pm approx. Then another thought crossed my mind! Has the cold weather in S England displaced the bird in Dorset /Hampshire area? I dunno, then I had to remind myself that I didn`t really get a definite view... Blast!

Chiffchaff

Chiffchaff in the garden today - feeding on the rambler rose on the south facing house wall where it was warm and sheltered. Not sure how much he found to eat though.
Incidentally we have not had overwintering Chiffchaffs around the garden this year or last year, whereas they were regular from 2003 - 2010.
Rosemary

Skokholm

The first Merlin and Short-eared Owl of 2013 today.

Picton Ferry

Still a fair showing of birds on the falling tide, predominantly 148 Teals and c320 Dunlins but also 5 Shelducks, 4 Mallards, 3 Cormorants and a single Curlew, a Lapwing and a Greenshank. Two Greylags flew high overhead  towards Fowborough uttering a contact call which hitherto I've only associated with migrating birds, first experienced with geese departing over the Butt of Lewis heading for Iceland but also once in Pembrokeshire from a flock passing Strumble Head. 

Ramsey - chiffchaff

Following a presumed mainland overwintering bird in Feb, the first probable migrant chiffchaff of the year appeared today (showing pollen horns) - in our bedroom! Don't blame it, it was blowing a NE 8 at the time!

Teifi WeBS count

Yesterday's Wetland Bird Survey counts were down as expected for March, particularly Wigeon and Teal. The wintering single Knot and Grey Plover turned up to be counted along with just 4 Ringed Plover, 2 Dunlin and 2 Turnstone. 7 Goldeneye have spent the winter above the bypass bridge.
Having seen Cormorants already back on their nests it is no surprise that only 2 were around the estuary.

It was good to see this one very close up to be able to enjoy its rather nice plumage and bright face pattern.

Slebech gulls

This morning around 500 black-headed gulls and 50 lesser black backs were following the plough in Slebech Park, then resting in the furrows. A handsome Mediterranean gull with almost complete black hood was among them.

3 species of chat today...

Wheatear, Black Redstart and Stonechat.........an update to the post below.
Cliff confirmed late morning a Northern Wheatear on Fishguard outer breakwater.
The bird was suspected ! A flyby and over - seen by Adrian and I.

Newport Webs

Highlights were a Greylag with the Canadas & a rh Merganser.Wigeon still holding up at 76, but all other numbers well down apart from a mini influx of presumably Scandinavian (ie very dark) Lesser Black Backs.

Castlemartin Corse & Carew

Pretty quiet at Castlemartin Corse this morning for the Webs count. A few Teal, Wigeon, and Shoveller on open water in front of the reed bed. Also there 3 Little Egrets and on the fields viewed from behind Castlemartin Church 4 Greylag Geese. No Golden Plover seen and just 55 Lapwing. 4 Chough were in fields on the north side of the Corse with another 4 just behind Freshwater West Car Park.

Around midday at Carew River there were 2 Greenshank, 20 or so Redshank, 50+ Teal and 1 Little Egret.

Rich C & Morris North

Dale

A circuit of St Anns revealed only 3 Golden plover in field by Mereboro Farm, one in almost full summer plumage. 5 GC grebe and c30 wigeon from the car park at the Gann. Red Kite drifting over the road at Dreen Hill.

Black Redstart, Great Northern....

WeBS visits this morning produced a Black Redstart on the Fishguard outer breakwater, looking and behaving identical to the bird on January 13th. 1 Great Northern Diver in the harbour with 1/2 summer plumage Black Guillemots.
Rosebush and Llys-y-fran Resrs very quiet, but as occasional breeders in the county go, 1 pair Great Crested Grebes at Rosebush and 8 G C Grebes at Llys-y-fran. I expect breeding will fail at both sites as usual with water levels falling already, it has been dry !

Trefeithan

Other than a single Sand Martin at Trefeithan this morning, the moor was very quiet, as indeed it has been all winter.  

Whitesands am and Herons

Four Whimbrel dropped in near St Davids Golf Course but were gone a couple of hours later and a Chiffchaff in the Car Park Privet hedge. Only for the second time I know of and for the first time in many years we have two pairs of Grey Herons nesting in our grounds. (Photos on my blog - Link in 'Websites')

Skokholm

The first Black Redstart of the spring, two Chiffchaffs including one with rather continental looking pollen horns, Fieldfare, two Water Rails, the first two Goldcrests of the year, two Whimbrel and good numbers of ducks for Skok, 18 Shoveler, 15 Wigeon and 13 Mallard.

Dale

A Jack Snipe just north of the pond on the airfield.At the Gann early evening 2 adult s Med Gulls, 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Greenshank and 4 Redshank.I also had a Merlin and a Peregrine at Marloes Mere early afternoon.Unlike the folk in the north i couldn't find any migrants in any of the sites i visited in the Marloes/Dale area.

Hook

Last WeBS count of the winter, and as usual many less birds than recent months.  Still reasonable numbers of Teal (295), Redshank (131) & a 200 strong flock of Golden Plover were looking for somewhere to land as the tide covered the mud.  2 Bar-tailed Godwit, a single Black-tailed, and interestingly 9 Greylag Geese in a rough field on the Black Tar side of Sprinkle Pill where I saw them the same time last year....a possible breeding site?

Sand Martins - Teifi

Whilst having a pre-CES look at the ringing site at lunch time 2 Sand Martins over.
2 Goosander on the river, 1 Goosander and 18 Shelduck in the estuary.

Shelduck at MM

Yes Graham, the same thought crossed my mind. (not the greatest of journeys!)

Dales - Marloes

2 Lapland bunting still at the airfield, a few skylarks staking their claims only 2 snipe. Male kestrel at Marloes Sands. Red kite over the Mere at 10.30am. Glossy popped up and dropped back. Gann: 5 Goldeneye, 1 Little grebe, 6 snipe. 4 GC grebe out in bay. 1 little egret here and 2 more at Mullock Bridge.

Ramsey - Wheatear

First wheatear of the year today (male), outside the bungalow. 3rd earliest date in past 20 years (3/3 in 2007 being the earliest)

SKOMER: Puffin

SKOMER: Two puffins in North Haven today - 11,998 to go! Red Kite and Goldcrest too. First puffins of the season.

/chris

St Davids am

A male Wheatear and Chiffchaff present this am along with about 50 Meadow Pipits and a few Pied Wagtails, all expected early migrants. Also a handful of Goldcrests which I don't normally think of in this category.

Marloes Mere earlier

The pair of Shelducks were investigating the grassy area on the mere side of the Briton hide at around three thirty in the afternoon. Maybe prospecting for a nest site?

Marloes Mere

 Very quiet last night & this morning, Glossy not seen, just a few Mallard & Teal. Last night this pair of Shelduck were here briefly.

Sand Martins - Cardigan

A late afternoon walk on the Teifi Marshes was rewarded with the lovely sight of the first Sand Martins back. At least six flying over the marsh in the sun.

Also Cetti's Warblers singing from their usual territories and 7 Goldeneye on the river.

Chiffchaffs

Two Chiffchaff's singing at Solva sewage works this morning.

Mid Pembs Section Events for February

The Mid Pembs Section of the Wildlife trust events for Feb 2013 can be on the Pembs Bird Group Blog site, also more re KJSD, follow the link on the right or click here

Wrong martin but not!

Whilst trying to film porpoises (unsuccesfully)  at Strumble from the car park this afternoon about four o' clock,  I noticed  to my surprise, a small hirundine flip in off the sea, skirt over the lookout and then flip back along the coast eastwards following the contours. Early yes, if early, yes, should have been a Sand Martin. Yes... but it was very distinctly not , no, it was a House Martin, clearly dark black/blue with a very obvious white rump!

Black Redstart

A very smart male black redstart flitting around just inside the green fence area at South Hook LNG the last couple of days
(Trystan P)

Landshipping Quay

Some lovely birding from the quay at Landshipping this afternoon;
800 dunlin, 300 teal, redshank , curlew, widgeon, snipe and 20 black-tailed godwit - presumably well-sheltered from the wind. 

(Jane)

Ramsey and Trefeiddan

Trefeiddan (yesterday) - 3 red kites between Trefeiddan and St Davids (Derek Rees)

Ramsey (today) - minimum of 20 chough on the island including a flock of 11. Long staying merlin still present. 2 lapwing displaying.

Skokholm

A male Wheatear and a Chiffchaff today. The first of our new Heligoland Traps, the Garden Trap, is now up and running. More at skokholm.blogspot.co.uk

St Florence & Radford Pill

Making the most of another sunny morning I walked along the Ritec on the outskirts of St Florence. 3 Water rail were the highlight as well as a couple of Snipe and 18 Teal.

Middayish I spent a couple of hours at Radford Pill. Very quiet here with just a few Redshank, 1 Greenshank and a Curlew. Also a Little Egret with magnificent plumes. It took great exception to another Egret further downsteam and spent some time chasing it off.

Surf Scoter and a Firecrest

The female Surf Scoter was showing well this morning at the north end of Broad Haven with 2 Great Northern Divers and 3 Red-throated Divers also offshore.Later at Porth Clais i found a cracking female Firecrest by the entrance to the sewage treatment works.Finally on to the Dowrog Common where 2 Hen Harriers (1 male) put on a fantastic show before they roosted.A great day in the field.

Picton Ferry

Hazy, mild and tide half down created a calm atmospheric period full of birds. Waders dominated with c300 Dunlins, c40 Golden Plovers, 28 Lapwings, 6 Redshanks, single Oystercatcher and Curlew and a surprise at this locality a flock of 38 Black-tailed Godwits. Add 44 Teal, 5 Shelduck, 3 Little Grebes and 2 Cormorants, all adding up to a pleasant afternoon.  

Dale airfield

2 Lapland buntings still at the airfield - these birds have been incredibly flighty and impossible to approach inorder to get a good look at them on the ground.

Skomer: Spring is in the air

First Northern Wheatear today opposite the Mew Stone (Eddy) - Turns out to only be four other Skomer records earlier than this since 1969.

One Chiffchaff (chris) in North Valley.

Four Pink-footed Geese on North Pond at 13:00hrs flew to the mainland.

Chris

Firecrest

Good views of male Firecrest at Llwyngwair Manor, Newport on Sunday 3rd March. First sighting in Pembrokeshire for me!
 
Dafydd and Heather Richards

Skomer - 1st Manx heard, White Wagtail

One lone Manx Shearwater calling above North Haven last night (picked up by Eddy).
White Wagtail at the farm.
Chris

Surf Scoter

A quick scoot down to Broad Haven after an early-ish finish from work, the female Surf Scoter still fairly close offshore in the middle/south end of the beach.  In fact, the only scoter I could see from a scan from here south to Goultrop!  Also notable that there was no small gull roost at Goultrop - surprising given that it was quite sheltered from the easterly wind.

W Cleddau

Stopped off at Wolf's Castle to see if the river level had dropped following the recent dry weather. It had and the Dipper was in its usual spot beneath the A40 road bridge but with more solid perches available than when seen there three weeks ago.

A Red Kite at about 50 feet leisurely followed the river downstream imperviously passing over the gardens, housing and traffic. Think we'll have to guard our sandwiches this summer?   

Black Guillemot

One in summer plumage in Fishguard Harbour midday also a Merlin at St Davids Hd earlier.

Teifi & the north

Like Dave's posting below -  a great way to end an early March day
Only 1 adult Med Gull with 120 Common Gulls - the best of a poor gull roost -
On the marsh after 6pm still Reed Bunting and Cettis singing, Water Rail calling and lot's of calling Snipe and Teal as they moved for their evening activity.
Last night in the commercial reed bed cut (reeds cut and removed last week), Jack Snipe amongst c20 Common Snipe present. 1 Woodcock  flying over the car as I drove home -

Redpolls now seen in two North Pembs / Teifi gardens, joining increasing but small numbers of Bramblings along with the hundreds of garden feeding Siskins.
See Teifi Ringing for an update about these finches

Rosebush area

Ty Rhyg and Coed Glynaeron, both very quiet and from what I can see there appears to be very few cones this year. Ty Rhyg: Red kite over, the resident ravens cavorting, robin on top of one of the nest boxes, and sounded like a sparrowhawk calling. Glynaeron apart from a Coal tit tuning-up, not a murmur. Rosebush Res: 20 Fieldfare and smaller number of redwing in field, pair Tufties, 3 Goldeneye (2m,1f), 3 Little grebe and a single GC grebe.

Late afternoon at the Gann

A cold wind blowing in from The Haven this afternoon, made checking the gulls on the beach at low tide eye-watering.  After confirming that the Long-billed Dowitcher was still present in its usual spot, a check of the lagoon revealed 6 Goldeneye (3 pairs), a Little Grebe, a Black-tailed Godwit and a Greenshank.  On the river 2 Little Egrets with plumes seemed to be checking each other out.  On the beach a single Bar-tailed Godwit, and altogether 10 Redshank and 2 Dunlin.  A decent gathering of gulls on the beach at low tide, and I had great fun picking out Mediterranean Gulls one after the other - amounting to 23 in total (17 adults, 3 3CY, 3 2CY).  Many of the adults were in, or close to, breeding plumage, and at least 10 seemed to be in pairs within the larger flock of Black-headed and Common Gulls.  A lovely way to end the weekend.

The Gann

From John O'Sullivan -

No sign of paler pipit at high tide at the webley this morning. Just 4 dark well streaked rock pipits, plus 1 knot and a barwit. 3 little egret and a goldeneye from the moorings.

 

Yesterday the LBDowitcher at the Gann was in and around the back of the Island at the top left hand  (northern) side of the lagoon. Viewed from just before the house on the bend in the road.  Park in the little lay-by  more towards Dale and walk back. Also on the lagoon/estuary Greenshank and Blackwit.

 

Thanks to the guy on the bike sat amongst the trees who told a couple who eventually told me. I wouldn't have seen it without direction.

Skomer and Skokholm re-stocked with new wardens

All wardens are now back on the islands (subject to a bit of boat antics):

Skomer. Highlights today: 1000s Guillies/Razor on the cliff. 35 Teal, 2 Shovelar, 5 snipe, Hen Harrier.20 Song Thrush 15 Redwing. Fulmar on the cliffs. PAir of Peregrine on double cliff. Ravens look like they have established their territories (further observations to be made)

Skokholm Blog updated yesterday: LINK HERE

Ed and Birgitta also updated the Skomer blog a few days ago LINK HERE

Chris (the departing warden!)

Newport Area

From Alastair Proud -  I thought that I would pass on these observations from a walk northwards from Newport yesterday.  Exact locations are not disclosed to protect sensitivity of breeding sites.                                
No peregrines seen in usually occupied non breeding site, however a pair of peregrines was present soaking up the warm sunshine just around the corner from their usual breeding cliff, which is in a shaded position.  Also at same location, a pair of choughs, one with rings [black over green right, yellow over BTO left leg].  Interestingly, at near enough the same place, the rather macabre remains of a meadow pipit, impaled on barbed wire fence; the barb entered through the throat and exited through the open beak. Coincidentally this was about half a mile from the place where several years ago two bats, a pipistrelle and natterer's, had got caught on wire by their wing membranes.

I attach a photograph of the pipit's head impaled, [could a shrike be responsible, any suggestions?] and a sketch of the female peregrine sunning itself.

 

A frosty Marloes Mere

Glossy Ibis, pair Shelduck - frozen water margins not to everything`s liking.

Surf Scoter

Broad Haven-1 female Surf Scoter, 1 Velvet Scoter, 4 Purple Sandpipers and 3 Red-throated Divers (Mervyn Jones)

Water Pipit - Webley Hotel, Teifi

 Just after 1pm If you go seawards from The Webley Arms there is a small place to park on your right.
 About 100 yards along there are stepping stones over a stream. The bird was 30 yards downstream.
 It was in company with 3 Rock Pipits which were bathing in the fresh water and sunning themselves. The Water Pipit came onto the mud on my side of the stream. It was paler, less speckled, and seemed slightly larger than the Rock Pipits. It had a brilliant white outer tail feather.
(Peter Byles)