Masked Wagtail -- parking and viewing in Camrose.

                                     photo by Jon Hudson, the finder of the Masked Wagtail

I have spoken to one of local residents who is talking to neighbours re parking and access. If as seems likely that Camrose receives many visitors over the weekend, there will be a request for ALL BIRDERS to park outside the village to the north towards Camrose FC. I have just spoken with Roger Mathias a local landowner and the field where the Annual Vintage Fair is held will be made available for parking. Details tomorrow for weekend parking arrangements.
Whilst the stream of visitors remains quiet ...c60 today, then see below.

Please tell any of your members they are welcome to come and park in my drive, it holds about six cars and I have a box outside to put money into for my sisters Chemowize Cancer charity..all donations graciously accepted…I provided tea today and will do so for anyone who knocks at my door.

Great news for everyone

all the best, Daghda and James

Hawthorns 

Camrose

SA62 6JF

Masked Wagtail - Access

Whilst number of visitors remain reasonably low I am happy for 2 cars outside my house (number 5 Croft Villas) when I am out....Usually 9am...ish until 3pm...ish. For the weekend please see details in earlier posts for arrangement for parking just outside the village.

Chiffchaff - Berea

Two Chiffchaff feeding in my Berea garden conifer this morning - 30th Nov.
John Shrouder 
PS Very enjoyable conference on Sunday

Common Gull Newport

Another Norwegian Common Gull today. J582 was ringed as a nestling near Oslo in July this year & this is it's 1st resighting.

Bosherston

Seems to be a pattern emerging with all this back garden birding. First the Squacco, then the Pallas's and now the Wagtail. As the rest of they guys have said we had a nice welcome from Jons neighbours. Theres even an article on Daily Mirrors website with a video!!
After a cold start is was nice to be out in the sunshine at lunchtime with look at Stackpole end of Bosh. Pair Tufties, dozen or so Goosander, the Scaup, Cettis in reedbed beneath Court and a Firecrest by the boathouse.

Camrose, Haverfordwest Airfield and Plumbstone

After going to see the Masked Wagtail first thing in the morning, which was a slightly surreal but interesting experience (thanks also from us to the people of Camrose, especially Daghda and James), we went to Propellers Cafe at Haverfordwest Airfield for a well earned second breakfast. The airfield had more birdlife on it than we had expected. There was a Peregrine sat on one of the runways and the grassy areas were literally covered in Snipe. There were at least 20 on a single scan of a small portion of the available habitat so there must have been many more than that.

Later in the day, with advise from Paul, who we had been speaking to earlier at Camrose, we went to look for harriers at Plumbstone. We arrived just at the right time and were in for a real spectacle. Hundreds of thousands of Starlings put on a show and roosted in the plantation - this is a proper wildlife spectacle if you ask me, and there were two grey male and one ringtail Hen Harrier. Thanks to Paul for the advise.

Ed, Bee and Leighton

Llys y Fran and Rosebush

A drake Pochard was slightly unexpected at Llys y Fran along with 4 Great Created Grebes and a lone Greylag with the Canada Geese flock. At Rosebush 3 Wigeon, 12 Teal, 3 Goldeneye, 6 Tufted Duck and 10 Mallard. Disappointingly no Hen Harriers or owls were seen at dusk at Puncheston Common. 2 Woodcock on the drive back from Puncheston to Haverfordwest.


Paul G and Raf L

Masked Wagtail - Camrose

Still showing nicely at Croft Villas when i left at 9:30ish. Many thanks to the people of Camrose for being so tolerant, and in particular the kind lady who invited birders into her front garden for a better view of the wagtail. Fabulous stuff!

Wagtail

Ok. Here is a better image. It does indeed look like a masked Wagtail. If  people are going to descend on the village I would ask they remember that this bird spends its time on my roof and the roofs of my neighbours. It  will be very intrusive for them to have bins trained on the houses all day. The village has no carpark, narrow roads and no facilities. Please be respectful.

Err...if this is a masked wagtail......what`s it doing here, on my roof??

Sunny but cold Stackpole/Bosherston lakes

We had a short visit to Stackpole this afternoon. We were informed that, earlier in the day, Mathew Oates of the NT had seen a late swallow flying over the buildings, as well as the black redstart on the Stackpole Centre roofs.

The swallow had probably moved on, but the fairly confiding black redstart was flitting from roof to roof in the cold glorious sunshine, in search of insects around the gutters.

We had a quick look at Bosherston Lake's eastern arm before dusk. At least 19 goosanders were close to the shore half way down the lake and a couple of kingfishers were flying around the upper arm of the lake. Numbers of coot seemed very low and there were no obvious gadwalls around.

Masked Wagtail - Camrose

We are still waiting to hear back from Jon and post some more photos. Camrose is a small residential village and will prove difficult to park. If you are visiting Camrose to see the Wagtail please park sensibly, the residents are not used to hosting visiting birders.

Richard Dobbins on behalf of PembsBirds

Masked Wagtail ...see below

Hi, I just saw this amazing picture, surely this is a Masked Wagtail Motacilla alba personata??? I have seen them in Northern India at this time of they ear and it looks pretty good to me!!


Wishing I was in Pembrokeshire
Norman McCanch (resident in Kent)

Wagtail

Jon, your Wagtail looks like a Masked Wagtail an Asian subspecies of White Wagtail.

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Weird Wagtail??

Correct me if I am am wrong but is this little fella a bit unusual? He seems to be wintering on my roof in camrose and I cant see one like him in my bird books (have checked all the sub species etc)?? Anyone got any ideas??

Jon Hudson

Teifi

A Red-throated Diver off the estuary mouth is a first of the winter - I think.
Wader counts are still proving interesting, 52 Dunlin and 2 Grey Plover yesterday.  Two Bar-tailed Godwits, 116 Curlew and 13 Ringed Plover today. Gull numbers building, including 2 Common Gulls and 1 Med. Gull this morning from the Webley. Up river on the Reserve, 3 Goosander and 2 Goldeneye.
(sev obs)

Newport Mon

3 M Goosanders upstream. With the gulls Common Gull Green JJ58. This bird was ringed as a breeding adult in June 2014 at Bergen, W Norway. It was seen in the same place in the summer of 15 & 16, though not anywhere else until Newport today.
Otherwise a smattering of Redshanks, Ringed Plovers & Dunlin, rather few Oystercatchers & Curlews, 3 Snipe on the S wall upstream, 35 Teal, c6 Little Grebes & single Little Egret, Greenshank & Moorhen.

Water Pipits @ Newgale

Just goes to show that timing is everything.  I had a look at Newgale mid morning, and in contrast to Peter's visit a short while later, there were some 30 or so pipits feeding on the campsite.  I had a minimum of 7 Water Pipits amongst the Rock & Meadow Pipits, possibly more but they were sometimes hidden in dips and also commuting over the hedge to the field beyond & adjacent to the marsh.  The second highest number I have seen here in 28 years.  A really good chance to practice your pipit identification, a telescope really helps here.  At least 700 Common Scoter in the bay between Druidston & Rickett's Head, but most very distant.

Marloes Mere & Martin's Haven

A late afternoon clockwise walk in almost windless conditions. We flushed a Water Rail on the Coast Path just below West Hook Farm, and then had a lovely immature male Sparrowhawk circle close above us.
No Brambling seen or heard in the very large finch flock(s) between Trehill Farm and Marloes Mere, but many thousands of Starlings seemed to coalesce before flying overhead in a dense mass, heading inland.
Over the south Coast Path a hunting Short-eared Owl, and then a two Merlins seemingly buzzing each other.
Back in the garden, another Water Rail flushed from a patch of dead nettles and bramble!

Plumstone/Brawdy/Newgale

Plumstone was quiet with a few reed bunt and a Red Kite, Land at RAF Brawdy, had 2 Red Kite, Buzzard and a cracking male Hen Harrier, at Newgale 15 + widgeon, teal, about 35 snipe, only a single Rock Pipit on the flood, a Sparrow Hawk, and a Kestrel. On the way back to Haverfordwest, the Turkey farm on the bend seems to be home now for a further 3 Red Kite, as seen over the past couple of weeks. A winter raptor day!

Stackpole/Bosherston

Cetti's below the Court Site yesterday PM. Also, there's been a shelduck on the upper Eastern Arm recently, unusual here.

Whooper Swan - Teifi

One adult Whooper Swan was found by Jon G late afternoon in the middle of the estuary. Presumably this bird was seen flying north over Gwbert at 16:27.

Still 400+ Wigeon, maybe below normal numbers of Teal....?
Waders continue to impress, with Grey Plover, Greenshank, Bar-tailed Godwit and Knot (max 4) present with the commoner waders in the estuary.

Two of our waders ringed in mid-September, a juvenile Dunlin and a juvenile Knot have been recaptured on the Dyfi since. I guess wandering around Cardigan Bay, whilst migrating south ?

A large adult female Goshawk was seen over Kingfisher Hide on the Reserve this morning by Jon.

Firecrest - Fishguard

A Firecrest was feeding with Goldcrests this afternoon along the path from the area of Goodwick known as the Drim to the rugby pitch/ club.
(Adrian R)

The Gann - two visits between 3 & 5pm.

4 Knot, 2 Greenshank, 1 GC Grebe on the sea as were about 20 Wigeon, 24 Brent, 2 Kingfishers, c6 Redshank, 8-9 Grey Plover, two large Starling flocks, maybe a total of 10,000 flying from the Marloes direction heading up the Cleddau either towards Slebech or Castle Martin.

St. Bride's Bay Scoter & an Eider

I had a look for Common Scoter off Broad Haven last Sunday and only found 4...so this afternoon with an hour spare before sunset I decided to try the middle part of the bay at Nolton.  If you take the coast path south from Nolton Haven you get a good panorama south towards Druidston and north to Newgale.  This is where the scoter are!  In scattered flocks, mostly quite distant, with birds mostly off Nolton and north towards Newgale beyond Rickett's Head, I counted at least 1,000 birds...easily the most I have seen in the bay for many years.  A sign of a good wintering flock, or late birds still heading south to Carmarthen Bay?  Be interesting to see.  Despite the poor light (for viewing distant scoter) I picked out a young male Eider, could be something else good in the flock with better light (and if they come in closer).

Newport

Spent an hour this morning trying (& failing) to pin down a darvic ringed Dunlin. White ring, 3 black letters - it's almost certainly a Polish ringed bird.

Dale airfield

Spent about an hour walking around the airfield up till noon. Loads of activity, if anyone's in the vicinity tomorrow well worth checking out, probably about 200-300 skylark in the stumble fields opposite the car park, followed by some huge finch flocks in the hundreds again mainly goldfinch and linnet, some reed bunts and sparrows mixed in. Did not have any laps, but unusually a single Greenland white front goose grazing by the shoals.

Dowrog Common

Short-eared Owl and ringtail Hen Harrier at dusk.

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Broad Haven - Druidston

A look along St Brides bay today. Broad Haven: 20 Scoter, 3 RT diver, 2 GN diver, a Wigeon and a distant small grebe (probably a Slav but just beyond comfortable viewing distance).
Haroldston chins: 25 Scoter, GN diver. Druidston to Rickets Head: Flocks of very mobile scoters moving towards Newgale c 200. 3 RT divers. Scattered groups of Razorbills. A couple of Peregrines sat on fenceposts eyeing-up the BH gulls that were nervously feeding in cattle field!

Skokholm

A Long-eared Owl was bird of the day, probably only the seventh for Skok. Totals from a fine supporting cast on the Skok blog.

Firecrest - Teifi Marshes

One Firecrest was trapped and ringed on the Pembs part of the marshes this morning, also a Chiffchaff.

We've also eventually found out about the Belgian ringed Firecrest that we trapped on the 20th November 2014; this was ringed about 2 months earlier at a site midway between Bruges and Antwerp, a distance of  572 km.

A sunny morning at Marloes Mere

A beautiful morning with plenty of birds, though nothing hugely exciting. There were at least 150 visible Teal, all sheltering on the southern lee-side of the tussocks and therefore visible from the barbed-wire gate and the Britton Hide, though how many more there were out of sight can only be imagined. Also quite a few Wigeon, and a supporting cast of Shoveler, Mallard and Gadwall. Something disturbed the Snipe and at one time there were about 40 in the air. Also overhead were Lapwings (75), pipits and plenty of Skylarks, quite a few singing. Flocks of Starlings all around, a few Reed Buntings and perhaps the most exciting bird - a lone Golden Plover in the middle of a grassy field.
PS At Orlandon Kilns at the moment we have 20 Blackbirds, 1 Redwing, 1 Song Thrush, 1 female Blackcap  and a rapidly reducing supply of apples but alas nothing more interesting .....

Great White Egret -- Teifi

Here are some of the images I took today of the GW Egret. These were taken from the Heron Hide with the egret in  the marsh below. It then flew towards the creek. Did not find it there. Took car round to look at the river viewpoint and Jen saw it in the fields on the right on the way down the drive - last seen flying towards Cilgerran.
(Tommy)

Stackpole

Lunchtime walk from Stackpole Court along the east arm of the lake,  24 Teal, 14 Gooseander (7 pairs), 14 Cormorants, and 1 Yellow Browed Warbler heard but I couldn't see it in the holm oaks.
Yesterday on the A477 between Broadmoor and Sageston 1 Red Kite

Scaup -- Bosherston

Female scaup by 5 arches bridge, E arm at Bosherston, along with the usual suspects, kingfisher, goosander, grey wagtail.
(Jane Herbert)

Skok

Much improved conditions today and some good Skok birds logged. Full totals on Skok blog include Barnacle, Greylag and 'Lesser' Canada Goose, some good duck counts, two late Manx Shearwater, the Whimbrel, more thrushes and another flyover Lapland Bunting.

Some Sunday observations in South Pembs

A roosting flock of 54 ringed plovers on Frainslake beach, was probably the highlight at this location yesterday morning. Numbers there of oystercatcher (67) and curlew (49) being lower than last months counts.

Several little grebes were on Frainslake millpond. Although this small pool attracts quite good numbers regularly each winter, the November total was not nearly as high as that on Pembroke millponds (see a recent posting by Clive Hurford) who recorded 39 there recently - possibly a new record count for the site? A quick look at WeBs count trends over the last few decades shows the gradual rise in importance of Pembroke Millponds for little grebes.

Little Grebe WeBs count trends at Pembroke Millponds during the last c. 30 years

A late morning look at the Carew/Cresswell river system revealed that teal and wigeon numbers had increased significantly there during the last few weeks. There were at least several hundred teal but more than 1,250 wigeon - the highest early winter wigeon count there for more than a decade.

Numbers of other waterfowl were fairly typical for the time of year with a few greenshanks roosting, c. 90 redshank, a dozen or more grey plovers and a similar number of black-tailed godwits. The latter species seems to be to be appearing more regularly now and perhaps in increasing numbers along this section of the Cleddau estuary complex.

Later in the day, we had a look at the Slebech starling roost. Numbers coming in to the reedbed weren't spectacular, but seemed to be higher than they were a couple of weeks ago. There must have been at least 50,000 to 70,000 (possibly up to 100,000) present.

Must get round to counting the dots one day!

Small numbers of redwings were among various thrushes roosting in the woodland near the viewpoint, where a firecrest was also heard close by at probable regular roost location.

The Teifi this Winter

Before we left in September the Teifi estuary gave me a feel that we had regained some of our estuarine feeding habitat. Whether sand movements have uncovered food sources or more likely the food sources have grown and are now within reach of birds is interesting. Sightings over the weekend compliment Wendy's WeBS.
Almost 500 Wigeon are grazing the main estuary. Small  feeding flocks of Dunlin are developing, and Knot, Grey Plover, and Bar-tailed Godwits are present. A Greenshank is with the Redshank, roost now up to 40 birds. These are large numbers for the Teifi in recent years and we look forward to see what this nucleus of feeding birds may attract....
From the River View Point, 5 Goosander, 4 Goldeneye. c8 Little Egrets are still around.
(sev obs)

Puncheston Common

From Maria Hemmingway - Spotted a colour ringed Reed Bunting on Puncheston Common 20th November. Orange grey right leg green left leg. Brightly marked bird, probably female although it appeared to be displaying at times.
Two Red Kite and Ring Tailed Hen Harrier.

Ramsey

Single Whooper Swan heading west across the island and out to sea yesterday morning.

Black Redstart and Red Kite today plus wood pigeons in every bay.

Lisa

Skomer

Up to three Hen Harriers have been hunting around the island in the last few days. Unfortunately they didn't really play ball during this evenings Hen Harrier roost count (they never do!) and only one was seen briefly. Quiet otherwise, a Lapland Bunting and a few common migrants yesterday but not much today.

Plumstone Mountain

A cracking adult male and a ringtail Hen Harrier roosted on my BTO count this evening. What Starlings there were flew over the conifer plantation in a Roch direction to roost somewhere else.

Wild Goose Chase

Had a look at the Gann - though I never saw the LT Duck, I ended up loitering around at Marloes watching the Canada`s fly in from Skomer, they settled in a stubble field midway twixt Trehill & Martins Haven, quite distant but no Whitefronts. There was however 1 Greylag & this Barnacle Goose.

Roughly centre of the frame, camera maxxed out! Also 109 Lapwing.

Plumstone, Brawdy, and Newgale

Plumstone produced 3 Red kite, 4 Buzzard, 1 Sparrow Hawk, backroad from Hayscastle to Brawdy saw 1 Merlin, and a Brambling and at Newgale 1 widgeon, 15 teal.

Long-tailed Duck -- The Gann

A message from Gary Reynolds -- a Long-tailed Duck at the Gann, just in the sea water part of the estuary.....

(photo Gary -- seen at c11am)

Those Whitefronted Geese

Tacked on to the end of a large Canada Goose flock, landing in the stubble fields to the West of Trehill farmaround 8am this morning.

Gann again, Marloes Mere.

Feeling the need to have a closer look at those Brents for colour rings I ventured back at low tide to take a closer look, now increased to 30 from this morning. Not a single ring visible, obviously escaped the rocket nets in Ireland! Still worthwhile though with two GND`s by the blue & white buoy, 8 Med Gulls - further to Dave`s comments - eight were adults & one second Winter, 9 Redshank, 4 Blacktail Godwits & a handful of Common Gulls, just 3 Wigeon on the sea, the lagoon was almost empty of birds bar the Teal, Swans & a couple of Little Egrets. Still no Little Gull....
Marloes Mere around 4:45pm 5 White Fronts flew in from the West & settled down right in front of the Britton Hide. Readers of this blog may be relieved by the fact that I never had my camera.....

The Gann

A total of 24 Brent Geese, 17 Grey Plover, 6 Lapwing over, 2 Greenshank, 4-5 Redshank, c8 Snipe in the reeds, 17 Wigeon on the sea. Usual others - Teal, Little Egret (3) Curlew, Oystercather, 4 Bartail Godwits(?) nothing much in the way of Gulls, was hoping to see a Little Gull though......

Marloes Mere

A late afternoon stroll just before 5pm, about 59 Snipe flying around above the Mere, couldn't see what (if anything) put them up. Plenty of Teal, Wigeon etc - not enough light to have a good scan.

Pembs Bird Conference: still time to book

A quick reminder that the Pembs Bird Conference is next Sunday, November 27th. at the Picton Centre Haverfordwest.  See the events page at the Pembs Bird Group Blog for details of the Conference and how to book.

That Squacco again!

Photo from Keith Richardson taken on Nov 15, in garden in Sandy Hill Road, Saundersfoot.

(Never seen a photo of a Squacco on a fence before! Rich C)

Ramsey - Seawatching

17 November

500+ gulls feeding and sheltering in Ramsey Sound yesterday morning; 300 Black-headed, 200 kittiwake and at least 2 adult winter Med gulls.

When the wind veered more NW in the afternoon I managed a quick hour in the sea-watching hide (14:40 - 15:40). Two Manx shearwater and an Arctic skua the only birds of note.

18 November 

Black Redstart still at farm, but very few gulls in R Sound this morning.

Another short seawatch this morning from the hide (09:45 - 11:00) was more productive but cold!

6 Red-throated Diver,
1 Black-necked Grebe,
1 Bonxie,
2 Common Scoter,
17 Gannet (16 adult, 1 immature)
5 Black-headed gull

Lots of kittiwakes, fulmar and razorbill

Lisa

Wandering Whimbrel

Just had news of a resighting of a whimbrel C52 ringed at the Gann on 14th September 2013. It was photographed on 6th November 2016 from a boat in Gambia. It has probably made the journey every year in between via its arctic breeding grounds.

C52 -just about legible under the mud

Angle Bay

A first winter Little Gull was feeding with the Black-headed Gulls along the Rhoscrowther shore of Angle Bay this morning.  There was also a male Pintail and at least 12 Grey Plover.

Llys y fran

Another look at the gull roost this evening started well with a bonus Black redstart by the bonfire remains and 3 Goosander (2m, 1 f) beyond trout cages.  Gull-wise 1500 BH gulls and c100 Herring gulls were noticeable increases. 20 Common gulls. 2 adult Yellow-legged gulls.

Skok

Two Lapland Buntings, a Black Redstart, the Siberian Chiffchaff and the Hen Harrier today. Only 98 Mediterranean Gull and, like Dave, all adults/second-winters. Only five of the 234 count were first-winters and our maximum first-winter count this autumn is 12.

Whooper Swan

From M Y P 1Whooper swan in a roadside field near the Ocean Haze garage St Davids which is on the main road to Hwest.

Gann

A sizeable flock of 34 pale-bellied Brent Geese on the incoming tide late afternoon.  Good numbers of gulls too, mainly Lesser Black-backs.  The gull roost was widely dispersed and therefore difficult to count, but I managed at least 51 Mediterranean Gulls (46 adults, 5 2CY - not a single bird hatched in 2016).  Still not a patch on the 234 recorded in Broad Sound on Monday, but not bad!

Black Redstart-Haverfordwest

Female type Black Redstart, at the bottom of Goshawk road in Haverfordwest.

Teifi - high November counts

Some high counts of ducks and waders for November Teifi WeBS count.

At high tide there were 460 Wigeon around the estuary. The highest previous count for November was 322 in 2011. Around 200 is more usual. Teal at 68 was a typical November count.
33 Redshank was the highest count since 2009. The high tide was a help to counting of course as they were all pushed to the saltmarsh by the Webley Hotel.
Other waders included 1 Grey Plover, 1 Knot, 12 Dunlin and 3 Bar-tailed Godwit.
A Coot was the only unexpected species on the Teifi Marsh. 4 Goldeneye from the river viewpoint.

Similar numbers and species on a quick look at the Webley again this morning.

Skok

Couldn't do any better than a Siberian Chiffchaff in grim conditions.

A Further report of the Squacco Heron - at Pentlepoir on 12th Nov

Returning home very late last night, after checking emails etc only this morning, we note a report on the Pembs Bird Group Facebook page by Suzanne Gyseman of the Squacco Heron visiting her brother's garden pond at Pentlepoir on Saturday 12th Nov.

Here also are a couple of images taken of it in a Saundersfoot garden the day before on 11th Nov. (See Peter Royle's posting of it reported there a few days ago).

Gardens/garden ponds clearly still seem to be its main haunts at present. So where next, perhaps Tenby?

A "super pink-footed moon" - but sadly not in Pembs

A weekend away in Norfolk is always quite rewarding. Numbers of geese were very impressive as usual.

A large skein of Pink-footed Geese heading out to the Wash area 

Among many of the interesting birds were shore larks. Flocks of 60-70 were being reported at Holkham for example (out largest flock there was about 35). Maybe some of these will turn up somewhere on the Pembs coast in the coming days?

Newport

Boat club ~ 1st winter male Black Redstart.

Marloes Mere & Sands (yesterday)

A nice female-type Merlin on a telegraph pole by the Marloes Sands car park yesterday.
And on the way down to the beach (the direct route, not the path via the old youth hostel) there is field on the right, just past the cottage, that is full of barley that has been left standing. This was full of finches and buntings, including at least one Brambling. As long as the field is not ploughed up too soon, I think it could be well worth a visit through the winter.
At least 16 Chough feeding in the fields nearby.

Skok

A whopping 234 Mediterranean Gulls today.

Teifi

A brief look at the Webley just after high tide early this morning. 2 Lapwing 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 1 Dunlin and 2 Redshank. A flock of c20 Golden Plover flew and c20 Teal amongst  the 220 Wigeon and a Kingfisher.

(Wendy J and Rich D)

4 Goldeneye on the  river yesterday 

(Gary)

Skomer

Pallas's Warbler today (our second of the autumn) plus plenty of common migrants. See Recent Sightings for details.

Gann, revisited late afternoon

Just an update really, 17 Grey Plover flying around displaced by the high tide & some 50 Pied Wagtails feeding on (I think) emerging sand flies, before heading off to roost.

Pembroke Millpond

There was an immature male Pintail at Pembroke Millponds today (record shot above), as well as at least 39 Little Grebes, a Kingfisher and two confiding Water Rails.  

Blackpool Mill

Lots of Dipper activity at Blackpool Mill this morning. With the river pretty high 4 or 5 birds were chasing each other around and singing. Otherwise pretty quiet in the woods.

Gann, around Sunrise

Slight variation to previous posts, 2 Little Grebes, 2 Goldeneye, 4 Common Gulls, Kingfisher, 3 Bartails, 13 Wigeon on the sea as were 5 Brent (flew off to Angle?)  1G/C/Grebe, c15 RP/Dunlin offshore,7 Shelduck  c100 Starling over, 2 Fieldfare.

Dowrog Common

From Hugh James - We had a couple of good views each of a merlin and a male sparrow hawk and distant view of what a local chap confirmed as a hen harrier.

Ps dead seal pup on Whitesands earlier.

Westfield Pill - Red-necked Grebe and Woodcock

The Red-necked Grebe was on the lower pond, near the road bridge at 2pm. It was close to where the kids were feeding the Mallards and Black-headed gulls, but did not join in. Earlier a Cetti's was calling from the North Eastern reedbed in the warm sunshine. Mistle Thrushes and Redwings were busy eating berries on the hill behind.

On the way back to Westfield Crossing in the fading light, we were surprised by a Woodcock flying low overhead along the wooded section of the track.

Marloes Mere

We re-found the family group of 5 White-fronted Geese at the Mere late morning; they then flew off to a nearby stubble field.
The Mere itself had very large numbers of Teal (hundreds) and smaller numbers of Mallard, Wigeon, Gadwall & Shoveller (tens to high tens). Also a Curlew and a couple of very active Snipe.
A large female Pereagine came in a perched on a post for a while, and we flushed a Short-eared Owl from one of the open fields.
16 Chough feeding in the grass field jsut to the south of the YHA.

Castlemartin Corse

WEBS this morning, with Mike Robinson and Rob Lewis - 240 lapwing, 97 snipe, several water rail heard. No ducks, but then not a lot of standing water. The female marsh harrier put in a belated appearance.

No fewer than 4 Cetti's singing - 3 scattered along the reedbed, 1 in the old decoy ponds near the clump of Monterey pines.

Squacco Heron reappears

A lady in Saundersfoot has sent me photographs of the Squacco Heron which has been feeding on fish from her garden pond on Thursday and Friday, so it appears that it has moved on from Narberth.

Peter Royle

Skok

A Snow Bunting today. Numbers increasing in the Broad Sound gull flock.

Marloes Hen Harrier Yesterday

From Tommy Evans - images of yesterday's hen harrier at Marloes as seen by
Brian. This one was seen about mid-day.

Dale airfield

Plenty of pipits and skylarks on the runways, with dozen or so Reedbuntings among them to keep me on my toes. The western section of the inner grassy triangle, traditionally favoured by Lapland buntings, is fast filling in with gorse, a bit of sympathetic management might restore what was a reliable area. A female Kestrel by the Hooksies. c300 Lapwing with 50 Golden plover flying over near Talbenny.

Martin's Haven

Some nice surprises in an otherwise rather quiet valley this morning: a Woodcock flushed from under my feet, and a male Bullfinch calling persistently as it moved slowly amongst the sallows. And a pair of Mistle Thrushes on the Deer Park wall.
On the Trehill Farm fields near the car park, 200+ Lapwing; could not see any Golden Plover amongst them.

Bosherston Lily Ponds - eastern arm

An interesting selection of birds present along the eastern arm of Bosherston Lakes this morning, including a Firecrest, several Goldrests and at least two Chiffchaffs in the trees near the boathouse: the Firecrest was feeding in the ivy covering the trees.  Also an interesting selection of ducks including what appeared on size and shape (the light wasn't great) to be a juv/female Scaup, a female Tufted Duck (associating with the Scaup), Shelduck (not common at this location), several Goldeneye, Shoveler, Teal, Gadwall and Mallards.  Last but not least, one, possibly two, very active Kingfishers.

St David's Black Redstart

From Robert and Jenny Briggs - Having tracked down a black redstart in Goshawk Road Haverfordwest yesterday we could just have stayed in St Davids since we've had frequent views of a female around lunchtime today over our garden fence. The bird has hopped on to roofs and decking on the two houses - 1 and 2 Caerfai Road - opposite Oriel y Parc.

Gann, Marloes mere and Llys y fran

Gann: 30 Teal, 25 Wigeon, 4 Goldeneye. 12 Grey plover, 10 Turnstone, 8 Redshank, 7 Dunlin, 6 Bar tailed godwit, 5 Black tailed godwit, a Greenshank and a snipe. GC grebe in bay and another at Dale. Kingfisher. 2 Chough. 2 Common gull.
Marloes mere: Hen harrier (f) flushing all the duck inc 10 Gadwall and 10 snipe, before moving over to the stubble field behind Trehill farm. A juv Merlin and 3 Golden plover.

Llys y fran: much smaller roost this evening c 3500 total, perhaps 3000 LBB, 500 BH, 26 Common gulls, 4 adult and a 1st w GBB. 2 adult and a poss sub-adult Yellow-legged gulls.

Fishguard Breakwater 8/11/16 (yesterday)

Looks like we have the cock Snow Bunting back or maybe another

Firecrest - Bosherston

One in scrub below Stackpole Court this afternoon. At Angle: 40 pale bellied Brent Geese, c600 Wigeon, 2 drake Pintail, 6 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Bar-tailed Godwits, 8 Knot and 40 Dunlin. Castlemartin Corse: 1 Merlin, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Sparrowhawk, 15 Teal, 40 Lapwings, 6 Snipe and finally a nice murmuration of Starlings at dusk.

Paul G and Raf L

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Great Northern Diver

From John Edwards - One close in at Gellyswick Bay today around 15:30. Drifted off around Milford Fort.

3 Black Redstart -Haverfordwest

1 splendid male Black red and 1 female type Goshawk Rd. Another cracking male on Jury Lane.

Black Redstarts Broadhaven

From David Meanwell - This year we have a pair in Puffin Way BroadHaven enjoying the puddles in the driveway
Dates vary each year but usually between mid November in 2014 and mid December as in 2013

This afternoon two

Whooper Swans seen in a stubble field going from St David's to Solva.  One wonders why only one adult and one Juv (which looks worn out)  Hopefully the weather will be better tomorrow for a search around in case there are more locally.

Black Redstart - Haverfordwest

A female type at Goshawk Rd in Haverfordwest, today at 12.30

Wiston area - winter migrants

During a walk around the country lanes today near Wiston, there were some good sized flocks of winter thrushes around, mostly perched in trees or in flight with numerous starlings. There must have been in excess of 500 fieldfares in the general area. None were very approachable for a quick photo, even with a lightweight compact camera. Those perched for long enough high in the trees were also often in terrible light, or else hidden by branches. Just as well too, as a female sparrowhawk, a peregrine, a red kite and five buzzards were all hunting over the general area!

Small numbers of blackbirds, song and mistle thrushes were also present plus a few redwings, but these were all greatly outnumbered by fieldfares.

There were mixed flocks of finches in trees near the church, including 100+ chaffinches, at least 5 bramblings (there seem to be more around our general area this autumn) and at least 30 goldfinches.

A couple of small flocks of golden plovers flew over, they appeared to be heading north towards Mynydd Preseli.

A message received from Richard Darwin (Narberth) suggests that the Squacco Heron may still be around the Narberth area. He caught sight of it again on Saturday morning, taking off from beside his garden pond. So it must still be feeding and roosting somewhere in the Narberth area (and surviving the cold weather - so far?).

Westfield Pil (yesterday)

Red Necked Grebe yesterday i just got a record shot when it stretched its wings

Gann & Westfield Pill

Now 17 Little Grebes at The Gann - definitely the most I have ever seen there. Also 7 Brent Geese. On the pools, there was a feeding frenzy of Cormorants, Black-headed Gulls, 3 Little Egrets and one Grey Heron all stabbing and diving at something - fish fry? If so, what species I wonder?
The Red-necked Grebe was very obliging at Westfield Pill this afternoon, actively feeding right near the path close to the pond. Of course, no camera!

Ramsey

2 black redstarts the highlight of today plus a Dutch ringed blackbird in the garden (photo showed enough to determine country of origin but not the number)

At least one merlin still present and a variety of winter thrushes. Flocks of chaffinches moving through last few days. 25 in garden yesterday and 30 heading south along the west coast this morning

Westfield Pill

The Red-necked Grebe was still present at Westfield Pill this lunchtime.

Newport

This am at the bridge 3 Goosanders (2m), a f Goldeneye, a Green Sandpiper at the top end of the island (a favourite site) & a (the?) Greenshank. Elsewhere of note 98 Wigeon (my highest Nov count), 3 Little Egrets, at least 8 Little Grebes (also a lot), 38 Common Gulls.
The main news from Newport recently was the very early trailing off of the Teifi Canadas influx. My highest count in Oct was only 160, the lowest since 2010.

Llys y fran

Massive gull roost this evening, a rough count was 8500, majority LBB est 8000. Plenty of BH gulls est 500. 4 1st w GBB and c25 Herring gulls.  A frustrating roost as light was poor so could only see a tiny part clearly but within which were 2 Yellow-legged gulls a pristine adult and a 1st winter, 2 Med gulls also adult and a 1w and a single adult Common gull.

Westfield Pil

Red necked grebe 1 juv 

Little Grebe 10

Mandarin 2 male 1 female 

Little Egret 2 

Grey Heron 4 

Nuthatch 3

Treecreeper 2

Great Spotted Woodpecker 2 Chiff Chaff 1

The Gann

Brambling on the way to Dale in road side hedge , then at the Gann on the high tide in a very cold northerly, 3 Little Egret, 3 Knot, 4 bar wit, 4 Grey Plover, 5 Brent Geese, 15 little grebe, 1 red breasted merganser, good numbers of song thrush, redwing & fieldfare going through, and a Snow Bunting on call heading North East.

Red-necked Grebe

Middayish the Red-necked Grebe was showing well at Westfield Pill. About halfway down the Pill opposite the pond which is on the left side of the path as you walk away from Neyland Marina. It favoured the far side of the Pill but made one sortie over towards the footpath side whilst feeding. So some decent shots to compensate for two soakings in the showery weather!

Red-necked Grebe

Red -necked Grebe showed quite well late morning. Despite staying in the Britton hide at Marloes Mere until the light had completely gone no White-fronted Geese roosted.

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Red- necked Grebe - Westfield Pill

Showing nicely this morning at the top end.

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Marloes and Gann

The White-fronted geese were still there this morning, also the Greylag came in with the Canada flock. 500+ Teal counted, many more no doubt out of sight. 3 Gadwall and a female Goldeneye. 50 Lapwing, 2 Snipe. Heron. Couple of Waterrails squealing. Large flock of finches 60 Chaffinch, 20 linnet, 10 Goldfinch, 10 Reedbunting in weed field just along track from Britton hide. Male Merlin. Quick look at the Gann: 4 Brent (inc a Dark bellied bird) 14 Little grebe (groups of 6 and 8, both groups visible simultaneously) was most I've seen here. A dark brown buzzard flew through with some intent (I suspect this was my 'harrier'!) flushing 50 Teal and all the waders inc 12 Grey plover, 6 Bar tailed godwits, 4 Snipe, 4 Redshank, 2 Dunlin and a Knot. 10 Common gulls on foreshore. 7 Little egret (4 on pools 3 on river).

Plumstone mountain

very quite a couple of reed bunts and mippits and a jack snipe

Red Kites

We saw 23 Red Kites together this afternoon, riding the thermals on the Blaenffos Road just outside Crymych, where the road goes along the ridge. We often see them there, and get superb views because they are more or less hovering not far above the ground, but have never seen that many in close proximity at one time before.

White-fronted Geese - Marloes Mere

At around 2pm a flock of a dozen or so geese flew in from the direction of Deer Park towards Gateholm. They were eerily silent for geese. Ten minutes later there were six Greenland White-front geese resting directly in front of the Britton hide among the Teal and Wigeon. Two were clearly adults and three were juveniles with no white on the face, the sixth having a slight blaze. They looked like they were settling in for the night. I guess the flock I saw fly in had split into family groups, but I could not locate others around the mere. The White-fronts would have made a great picture in the sunlight - pity the phone died when I turned on the camera mode!

Earlier a Peregrine spooked the Wigeon, with 86 circling in a tight flock until they calmed down. The Teal all stayed down. Four Gadwall, a Curlew and four Snipe were also present, but the willows only held a couple of Reed Bunting.

Earlier at the Gann there were 17 Grey Plover in two groups, 20+ widely-dispersed Black-tailed Godwits, three Pale-bellied Brent Geese, a single Greenshank, a few Snipe and Teal plus the usual supporting cast. A very noisy Kingfisher put on a great display of hovering - it almost looked like a humming-bird.

Westfield Pill this morning

Stimulated by Alan's and Clive's recent postings re: the red-necked grebe, and a lovely sunny morning, we decided to have look up Westfield Pill this morning. Having realised that neither of us had actually set foot in the nature reserve for probably some 25 years at least, it seemed about time that we visited the area again!

The grebe provided us with some excellent views. Initially it was on the far side near the top end but then it came closer to the old railway track as it gradually moved further down towards the broader end of the open water area.

Apart from typical woodland residents, plus the odd fieldfare etc, there weren't too many other obvious birds of note. A single chiffchaff was heard, as was a kingfisher near the marina, but neither were seen. Surely a yellow-browed warbler must have been there at some-time this autumn, or perhaps could still be lurking somewhere in the woodland?

Having not been to Westfield Pill for many years (there was no tarred path when we were last there) we were interested to see how much more overgrown/wooded the area seems to have become. There wasn't much (if any?) obvious open ballast/grassland habitat for small blue butterflies, a species now long gone from the area we assume. They used to be one of the star butterflies when a weekly butterfly transect was being walked there many years ago. Still, it was at least still warm and sunny enough today for a couple of red-admirals to be on the wing.

On our way back home much later from Haverfordwest at dusk, it seemed evident that the starling roost must be growing now at the Slebech reedbed. We watched large numbers flying south over the A40. A single huge flock must have included at least 20,000 to 30,000 birds, probably more. Most seemed to be coming in from the north; relatively few from other directions.

Whoopers

Five Whooper Swans flew over Goodwick this morning (per A Rogers) and I believe 2 were seen over the Gwaun Valley recently. Still without internet, maybe for a week but Black Redstart yesterday at St Davids Head.

Yellow-browed Warblers in Pembs

Though we don't get the huge numbers recently recorded in the North and East of Britain, nevertheless it's interesting to see how the status of Yellow-browed Warblers has changed in the County. In the 5 year period 1996-2000 there were 6 records; between 2001 and 2005 there were 37; between 2006-2010 the total was 44 and had increased to 60 between 2011-2016. This year alone the total, as far as I can see, is well over 30. It's strange to think that Skomer had only its second record as recently as 1994. It's hard to know why this increase has happened, unlike Red-flanked bluetail there's no evidence of range expansion to the west but long may it continue I say. There may still be a few more to come this year but there it is certainly worth looking out for wintering birds in Pembrokeshire, there have been two or three found in recent years and our sheltered valleys can be ideal havens even in hard winters.

Minwear area late this afternoon

Annie walked along minor roads around Minwear area late this afternoon. Small flocks of winter migrants were noted near Minwear Farm, including redwings, fieldfares and at least three bramblings, probably more.  

Red-necked Grebe at Westfield Pill

The 1st winter Red-necked Grebe was still at Westfield Pill this lunchtime, though often upchannel / east of the reedbeds and in areas with limited visibility.

Lapland buntings (Marloes Mere) and Marsh harrier (The Gann)

Monk Haven: Couple of hours in Monk Haven was uneventful. As always looks great but finding things there such a challenge! The church is having building work which might go on until January so take care of builders vehicles on narrow track.
Gann: 30 Teal, 3 Goldeneye, 2 Brent. 36 Lapwing, 10 Grey plover, 8 Bar tails, 5 Redshank, 4 Greenshank, 2 Dunlin and a Knot. 50 curlew and a Snipe on marsh. Common gull. 7 Little grebe, 5/6 Little egret. (Cattle egrets over in Ireland and Glouc surely due one this way soon). Female type Marsh harrier over the reedbed by Crabhall as I drove past! Dale car park quiet. Dale fort: Kestrel and 20 Redwings. Marloes mere from road: Greylag among Canadas, 6 Lapwing over, 3 Lapland buntings in stubble field opposite where the YBW was recently. Red kite at Ratford Bridge.

Some images of the Narberth Squacco Heron - 1st November

Richard and Lesley Darwin have kindly forwarded some images of the Squacco Heron recorded in their Narberth garden on 1st Nov. It is perched near or on a netted fish pond - presumably not a potentially suitable feeding area!

Thanks Lesley and Richard for sharing your observations. It would be interesting to know if it is still in the general area (at another garden pond perhaps?) or somewhere else in the County?