Hen Harrier, Dale airfield

What appeared to be the pale Ring tail Hen harrier that's been frequenting Marloes Mere, was active over the airfield and surrounding fields late this afternoon, flushing numbers of skylark, which caused it to twist and turn as it attempted to grab one. Otherwise very quiet, despite pretty much walking every yard of the grassy inner triangle. Stopped off at Mullock Bridge until dark. A probable Ring tail (distant and in the gloom) was quartering the saltmarsh. The 3 Little egret were joined by a 4th just before heading off in the direction of Dale around 4:45. Probably to roost opposite the Griffin, or possibly in the sycamores beside Pickleridge Pools. Happy New Year and good birding for 2019.

Canaston Whoopers

3 whoopers flew NW over the A4075 near the Bluestone roundabout at 12.50 this afternoon.

Marsh harrier

A female type Marsh harrier over the marsh at St Davids airfield lunch time today otherwise very
quiet on the peninsula over the last few days.
Happy New Year to you all.

Cattle Egret - - The Teifi

The Teifi Cattle Egret still around, today feeding with 1 Little Egret and cattle best viewed from The Webley. 35 Dunlin and 18 Ringed Plover roosting and on the central mud c1000 Lapwing and 50 Redshank.

Carew

A walk this morning along Radford Pill round to Carew Mill produced an ad.W Med Gull, 79 Black Tailed Godwits. 30 Redshank, 1 Greenshank, 14 Curlew, 2 Little Egrets and a few Teal and Wigeon.

Marloes Mere

Nipped down for last light. The pale Hen harrier appeared at 3:30 and put up c100 Snipe as it crossed the mere, it must have been successful as it didn't reappear. The Redshank, Dave mentions, flew over high calling. The four Tufties in north irrigation.

Avocet, Hook

Single Avocet seen this afternoon on South bank of Western Cleddau near Hook, opposite Millin pill. 
Harry Grubb

Marloes Mere

Finished the 2nd visit winter farmland bird survey this morning, surveying the fields to the south and west of Runwayskiln (thanks to Pete Smithies for access). Biggest surprise was a male Yellowhammer, mobile and calling a lot so perhaps recently arrived...only my 2nd record here in at least a decade. Also a very vocal Redshank continually circling the mere, and a female Pintail visible - most ducks well hidden so clearly a Harrier hadn't been through in a while.

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy smartphone.

St Brides

Black Redstart on the church roof this morning and couple of Chiffchaff in the churchyard. GN Diver in bay.

Lisa

Out and about

Had a look around a few spots with Paul G this morning. Good start with 2 Ring-tail hen harriers at Marloes Mere. One was a smaller, paler bird most likely a young male. Quite a few duck inc 20-30 Shoveler, reacting to their presence but surprisingly no Snipe. 4 Tufted duck in the north irrigation pond. The drake Pintail seems to be a permanent fixture. A Merlin flushing a flock of 50-60 Goldfinch near Martins Haven and a dozen Snipe in the wet rough pasture. Travelling past a herd of cattle near Mullock Bridge, 3 snow-white birds caught our eye but alas only Little egret! Monk Haven was quiet, only a couple of Grey wagtails and flock of Siskin. Sandy Haven, high tide, no mud showing, but 4 adult Med gulls and a Common sandpiper was nice. Hang-on another snow-white bird up in the field among another herd of cows, but again of the Little variety, infact there were 8 Little egret. Also 3 Red kite between here and Milford. Milford Marina next to check the gulls for a poss white-winger, an adult Med was the best we could find, but what's that white bird flying over? You've guessed it, our twelfth Little egret of the day. Also a Kestrel perched on a building near Foam cafe and c10 Turnstone.

Pembroke Millpond area - over-flying greylags late this afternoon

Not too many birds of note on the Millpond but it was interesting to see three separate high flying skeins of greylag geese flying over at about 15:30 to 15:45. One skein of c. 80 was followed shortly by one of 43 and then another of 32 (total c.155).

The c.80 might have come from the Milford Haven direction (perhaps the birds seen earlier by Richard at Castlemartin Corse?) but the other two seemed to be coming over from the north (perhaps flying down the Cleddau from somewhere upstream?). They were all heading east towards Milton or Carew area, perhaps beyond?

Cattle Egret - The Teifi

The Cattle Egret was feeding with cattle in field opposite St Dogmael's Quay late afternoon.
Like other sites, good numbers of waders including a flock of Lapwing  counted a couple of days ago by Dyfed James with a  Photoshop programme - 1150 birds. Today the flock was on the central mudbank with Golden Plovers, Curlew and Redshank. Shelduck and Gull numbers building too - hopefully we can do some counting tomorrow !
(Sev obs)

Hooded Crow

At the Gann yesterday afternoon, first time we've seen it in 9 days of walks here.  3 Great Northern Divers in the bay, at least 9 Med Gulls at low tide (and at least 4 this morning on the pools, nice addition to the house list!). (Dave & Lisa)

Foughborough Point, Saturday

Several thousand Golden Plover and Lapwing being hunted by a Peregrine Falcon on the entrance to Sprinkle Pill. Also Several hundred Widgeon and Teal along with 50 Shelduck and 7 male and 6 female Shoveller. Best of all were a pair of Whooper swan.

Castlemartin Corse

Yesterday and today - 2 female marsh harriers, 80 greylags upstream of the pines, huge numbers of lapwing (yesterday 2000 on Kilpaison Burrows, 1000 on the flood meadows). One peregrine kill on the fen meadow - a lapwing, unless anyone knows better:

Hen Harriers

Three possibly four ringtails two Merlins and a Barn owl at the Dowrog
roost this evening.

Withybush Pied Wagtail roost

We watched the wagtail roost at Withybush hospital this evening - nice calm conditions helped.

We estimated that at least 780-800 pied wagtails (it could even have been somewhere between 800 and 1,000) arrived at dusk from various directions - some dropping in steeply from quite a high altitude. We observed quite impressive flocks of 100-150 flying around. Many initially perching on the main hospital roofs, or in some of the nearby ornamental trees, before eventually heading to their preferred roost location above the renal unit.

Some stayed alert on the roof-tops until it got quite dark (looking-out for raptors?) but no obvious predators troubled them. Our last winter max count was about half the number we estimated coming in to roost there this evening. They do seem to have a perfect location.

Whoopers - Croesgoch

Today 12.30

4 Whooper Swans - 2 Kms S E of Croes Goch in g.r. SM841287 in middle of winter cereal from Terry Allen.

Llys-y-fran

Loads of gulls this evening c7,000 in total spread over 800m. Approx 5,000 LBB and 1,000-1,500 BH. Beautiful millpond-like conditions made for excellent viewing. 5-6 adult Yellow-legs stood out, a single adult Med gull and an interesting adult Med/BH hybrid plus an adult Argentatus-type herring gull. Moments after I took the photo a Peregrine flew through the gulls causing panic.

Kilpaison and Pembroke Dock

From Mike Davey: At Kilpaison this morning, 17 Brent geese, About 200 Dunlin, 28 ringed plovers, 3 bar tailed godwits.

At Fort Road Pembroke Dock, 1 Great Northern Diver, 1 R-B Merganser.

Kilpaison ringed Oystercatcher.

Gann

Now 4 Great Northern Divers offshore, quite close in at low tide late afternoon with the R-B Merganser. Also at least 9 Med' Gulls, 2 of which were 1st calendar year (1CY). Also the 17 Brents still (1 dark bellied). (Dave & Lisa)

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy smartphone.

Monkstone Point

A nice afternoon at Monkstone Point. The plan was to look for wintering Purple Sandpipers. Eventually I found 2 feeding just apart from 5 Turnstones. Lots of activity offshore including 9 Eider (5 first winter males and 4 females) just off the rocks. Also a Great Northern Diver a bit further out, 3 Great Crested Grebes and 3 Red-breasted Mergansers.

Teifi Estuary

2 adult +1 juv Med gulls
Little egret 5
Ravens 3

Solva and Newgale

Our regular winter visitor to Solva Harbour is with us, today, catching Prawns.  Also a Water pipit at Newgale

The Gann & THAT Royal Tern

Well we certainly wot be catching up with the Royal Tern seen briefly at the Gann on 22nd...it has just appeared on the Isles of Scilly!

A nice walk across the bay at low tide on Christmas Day, 17 Brent Geese (16 pale-bellied & 1 dark-bellied), a Bar-tailed Godwit, a Red Kite, 2 Great Northern Divers & 2 Great-crested Grebes offshore and a red-head Red-breasted Merganser on the river above the footbridge. (Dave & Lisa)

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy smartphone.

Angle Bay and Harbour this morning

This morning we headed down to Angle Bay, the weather remained gloomy but dry. At Kilpaison waterfowl numbers were quite good including large flocks of wigeon (1,000+), 12 pintail and 14 pale-breasted Brent geese feeding as the tide ebbed.

A few hundred dunlin, 40-50 ringed plovers and 3 bar-tailed godwits, were roosting on the shore alongside small numbers of other waders. Common gulls were fairly numerous - at least 112 were bathing or resting on the shore with other gulls including a couple of Med. gulls.

Part of a flock of c.250 Black-tailed Godwits feeding on the shore at the harbour end - none appeared to be ringed.

At the harbour end the main waders there were black-tailed godwits - a flock of 250+ feeding on the shore plus a few bar-tailed godwits with them.

Curlew black ring 24 in white numerals (above the tarsus on the right leg) and orange ring left leg above the tarsus was roosting and then feeding on the shore before being spooked by a passing sparrowhawk. Presumably this is one of the birds ringed by Paddy, Mike and co?

The 2 was quite easy to see but the 4 was often hidden by feathers

Late last Saturday afternoon we had a look at the Lys-y-fran reservoir gull roost. It was the first time we'd been up there for ages. At least 3,500 LBB gulls came to roost plus 1,500 or more black-headed gulls, a few hundred herring gulls, at least 5 adult yellow-legged gulls, at least a couple of Med. gulls, a small number of common gulls plus the adult ring-billed gull. It was seen quite well briefly before the majority of LBB gulls arrived.

Newgale

1 Water Pipit with about 7 Rock Pipits on the flooded campsite around 11am.

Castlemartin Corse

A damp and drizzly Corse this morning. Lapwing and greylags on the upstream meadows (no sign of any golden plover today), snipe everywhere, and two female marsh harriers on patrol. One of them had repeated scuffles with a first winter peregrine which also hunting over the reedbed, chasing crows and generally annoying everybody.

Ringed Gulls At Newport

Today & yesterday were a bit of a bonaza, mostly of returning birds.

Sat 1. Common Gull Green J3M6 was ringed as a juv in Norway in Aug 2015. All reports since are from Newport - Jan & Dec '16 & Jan '18.
       2. Med Gull Red PYT8 was ringed as a chick in Poland in May '16, seen again in Poland in Feb '18 & then at Newport in Sept & Oct this year.
       3. Med Gull White 3NNT, whose pic I posted recently, from Holland via Cornwall, Shropshire & County Down.
       4. Black Headed Gull Black 2AXJ was ringed as a nestling in Meriden (W Midlands) in June '16 & reported from Newport in Mar '17.
       5. & 1 new one - BHG  White 205H from a UK scheme.

Sun  Just one. Common Gull White J5R1 was ringed in Norway as a breeding adult in June '11, then disappeared till 2 sightings at Newport in Dec 15 with subsequent reports from Norway in April of '15 & '16.

Sadly all too far away for my primitive photo set up.

Marloes, Saturday

Dave, Derek and I had another visit for the NT wintering farmland birds survey around Trehill and West Hook farm fields. Thank you to Pete Smithies and Rob Thomas for allowing us access across their fields. Pick of our visit was a pale juv Hen Harrier, putting up 60-70 snipe off the mere, the drake Pintail and a pair of Tufted duck, c300 Lapwing and a flock of 70 Goldfinch in a fallow field.

Puncheston Common

From Jean Dovey - Activity from Puncheston Common, Peregrine with prey flying over, seemingly on a long haul flight, perhaps unusual at this time of the year?  The 2 harriers putting up snipe in their quest for a meal.

Royal Tern

Great find by Dave this morning. Despite Lisa getting there within 7 minutes of the news reaching me from Richard D at 1032, there was no further sign of the bird by dusk. It has already proved to be highly mobile (North America-Guernsey-Sussex-Guernsey-Anglesey-Pembs-??) so perhaps a chance it is still here somewhere...

Royal Tern - The Gann

Royal Tern
Brief phone call from Dave Jackson who is visiting Pembs. Following some nice birding and records from Landstadwell and Castle Pill yesterday... this today....

A Royal Tern ringed on right leg.

See link to video...Royal Tern at The Gann this morning by Dave.

Many thanks to Dave for the news whilst he was still watching the Tern.

Solva and St Davids

From Steve Jarvis - 2 Red Kite, a Brambling and a small flock of Golden Plover in Lochvane. 50 or so Lapwing, a Ring Tail and a female Sparrow Hawk on the Dowrog. 12 Snipe, a Peregrine, 2 Shoveler and a small flock of Wigeon visible from the airfield.

Newgale

2 Water Pipits and a Kittiwake on the flooded campsite this morning and a ringtail Hen Harrier over the Marsh.

Hooded Crow

The long staying bird still at the Gann this afternoon, also 2 Grey Plover,18 RP`s, RB Merganser, 1 Goldeneye, 3 Greenshank, c80 Lapwing over good numbers of Teal & Wigeon. Red Kite over our house at St Ishmaels

Dowrog Common

Hen Harrier - 2 ( possibly 4) Ringtails plus 1 Merlin and 1 Woodcock

from Terry Allen

Milford Haven

Barn owl hunting along the verge near Robeston Cross, Milford Haven this evening.

Newport update

Med Gull white 3NNT was ringed as a chick in Holland in June 2015. It has since been reported in Cornwall, Shropshire & N Ireland but not back in Europe.
Incidentally, the count of both Common Gulls & Water Pipits sent Birdtrack into the red.

Castlemartin Corse

Flooded again - it won't be for long so catch it while it lasts.....

The main action was once again inland from the pine trees - >100 greylags, > 300 black-tailed godwit (following Bob's post and Clive's sightings the other day). Just one marsh harrier on patrol today, 2 buzzards. Uncountable golden plover overhead,  lots of lapwing, a few curlew. Still, puzzlingly, no ducks.

Newport am

2 Water Pipits on the grassy island by the bridge. 96 common Gulls & Med White 3NNT.

Great Northern Diver

Great Northern Diver still at Solva harbour at high water which was around lunch time today.

Buff-tailed Bumble Bee

Not a bird I know, but interestingly we have had a queen buff-tailed bumble bee in our garden regularly for some weeks now, probably Bombus terrestris. She feeds on the three winter flowering honeysuckle bushes and usually has two large pollen baskets aboard. Hopefully, once the hellebores come out in the next few weeks she will be able to transfer to those. We have had queens on hellebores at Christmas before.

Pen Anglas

It was wonderful watching a couple of Risso's dolphins at Pen Anglas this afternoon - close in and leaping all over the place. Really cheered me up in spite of the rain and passing hail storm. Also, 2-3 harbour porpoises, even closer in - within 10 m of the rocky shore at Crincoed Pt. and often visible when they were swimming just below the surface. Plus a yearling grey seal struggling to consume a cephalopod that was stuck to its face, while being harrassed by two great black-backs! And a fabulous red-throated diver. (A flock of 30 fieldfares up at Dinas Mountain yesterday evening.)

Whooper Swan - The Teifi

A Whooper Swan over Mallard Hide on the Teifi Marshes at 2pm today

Sighting and Photo Colin Dalton

Marloes Mere

Good numbers of duck despite the wind, including the very smart drake Pintail. Strangely, no Gadwall seen today, but a Water Rail flushed. Also regular Snipe all across this end of the Marloes peninsular.
At least two Hen Harriers seen around the Mere, and then later over the Trehill Farm fields: a clearly-marked immature bird and a female. These were seen flying West after 1500, presumably to roost on Skomer.
A Peregrine diving into a flock of Jackdaws was the first that I have seen out here for several months.

GNDiver

Great Northern Diver still at Solva earlier this morning. Still catching lots of crabs - very mobile, as they are.

Kilpaison and Pembroke Dock

Kilpaison this morning 2 hours after high tide, 14 Brent geese, 150+ Dunlin, 8 Ringed plover, 4 Turnstone, 1 Grey plover, 20 Oystercatchers, 5 Redshank.

At Front Street, Pembroke Dock, 14 Redshank, 2 Curlew, 2 Oystercatchers, 1 Shellduck.

Fort Road, Pembroke Dock, 2 Great crested grebes.

Mike Davey.

Black-tailed Godwits at Angle Harbour yesterday - a record count?

Clive Hurford emailed to say that he'd counted 451 black-tailed godwits on the shingle spit at Angle Harbour on Wedns morning.

This must surely be a record flock-size for this species in the vice-county or, if not, very close to one!

Purely based on WeBs data, the previous highest totals in Pembs are of 226 at Pembroke River in October this year, and 200 at Angle Bay just a few days ago.

The pattern of increasing numbers during the last 20 years is pretty clear though from the WeBs data below. This graph is based only on single monthly counts from the various embayments of the Cleddau Estuary/Milford Haven system, between Sept. and March each year (since Sept. 1965).

Although WeBs counts are a valuable means of recording species population trends, around the UK etc such counts will inevitably often miss peak numbers of birds passing through particular areas. 

Part of the Black-tailed Godwit flock photographed by Clive Hurford yesterday

Were any others seen at Castlemartin Corse, or in other areas of the county, that day?  
A very good count anyway!

A windy wander around Dale and the Gann

A very blustery morning out at Dale today where I was treated to a wonderful lapwing display on arrival. Easily over 100 birds in the fields around the perimiter of the airfield.

It's safe to say that when in doubt, still head out! There were lots of skylark, reedies and some stunning starling murmurations.

Whilst the Gann was mostly quiet there was good fishing to be had for cormorants and a number of curlew were sat roadside of the estuary so got to observe them at close proximity. Absolutely bitter cold, but a good few hours birding!

Cattle Egret -- The Teifi

The Cattle Egret in the field opposite St Dogmael's Quay at 330pm today and a flock of  c180/190 Lapwings are current residents in or around the main estuary.

Great Northern Diver @ Solva

A GN Diver in Solva Harbour close to the car park was catching crab after crab this morning. At the sewage works a Chiffchaff and Coal Tit. 300 Lapwing at Penarthur crossroads nr St Davids. Merlin and ringtail Hen Harrier at Dowrog. 27 Wigeon at Penberi Pool.

Tawny Owl on Dredgeman Hill

A tawny owl was flying south-west along the hedge on the western side of Dredgeman Hill at 2015hrs yesterday.

Hook

Surprisingly high numbers of Golden Plover (1,550) & Lapwing (1,380) on my WeBS count today at Hook, given we haven't had a really cold spell, nearly all the birds at the mouth of Sprinkle Pill on the mud on the falling tide.  Some Lapwing were also using the adjacent fields which contained 260 Canada Geese & 8 Greylags.  Just the 1 Greenshank, but Shoveler now seem to be regular here with 7 birds recorded today.  In total, 4,524 individuals of the 25 recordable species (with Lisa Morgan).

Plumstone Harriers

An adult male Hen Harrier was hunting around Plumstone Mountain this afternoon and was joined by two more adult males and a female towards evening.

Sunday

From David Ord - I called in Marloes Mere on Sunday and enjoyed the spectacle of it bursting to life as a hen harrier passed overhead. I’d estimate about 40 + snipe rose in alarm and, lakes with a few shoveler and mallard on them suddenly became full of teal and other ducks. I saw the drake pintail - very nice. Also a female pintail. 

From Vicky Pearson - On Sunday 9th I saw 2 turnstones and 2 grey wagtails on the beach at St Brides Haven and a kestrel hovering over the church yard, pretty quickly chased away by a raven, although the kestrel gave as good as she got and returned the chase!

Castlemartin Corse

Yesterday Rob Lewis saw 7 Whoopers at the Corse. By today the water levels had dropped sharply (outfall flowing again) and no sign of the whoopers, or the marsh harriers. Where are the harriers the rest of the time? The 3 adult females seem to come and go. Rob saw 5 water rails in front of the hide today. I was also down this morning and witnessed a spectacular peregrine chase - it made 3 attempts to catch a woodpigeon, the two birds flying about 800m before the peregrine gave up. Also 2 kestrels having an unseemly scuffle - I think an adult female chasing off a young bird, which I'd been watching as it sat on an electricity pole looking for things on the ground.

Whoopers yesterday

Water rail today (photos Rob Lewis)

The Gann

The Hooded crow, still on the foreshore. 3 GN diver,  GC grebe and a Razorbill in the bay. Merganser and Goldeneye on the pools. 32 Brent geese, c30 Wigeon. 10 Turnstone, 3 Grey plover and a Greenshank plus a scattering of Ringed plover. 4 Med gulls. NB some gulls here with oil staining as well. The drake Pintail was looking smart a little earlier over at Marloes Mere also c100 Lapwing with a single Golden plover among them. Monk Haven, was devoid of anything of note. With Paul G.

Oiled birds at Westfield Pill

A beautiful dawn walk at Westfield Pill sadly spoiled by the sight of badly oiled birds attempting to preen.

On a nicer note, there were good numbers of little grebes, cormorants, nuthatches, finches and tits enjoying the feeders which is always a delightful sight and sound to start the day with.

Divers, Ducks - North Pembs

I caught up with 4 of Richard's Great Northern Divers, close in to the breakwater and one Red Throated Diver further out.
One Eider possibly first winter over towards the ferry terminal.
(Clare Ryland) 

Four Purple Sandpipers were the other highlight of this morning's visit to Fishguard on the Outer Breakwater. 8 Turnstone, 4 Ringed Plover and 55 Oystercatcher other counts of interest. Fulmar, Kittiwakes, Gannet, Razorbills and Guillemots seen too - signs of the windy conditions.

Over at Rosebush Resr, visits by ourselves followed by Steve Berry found 3 male Goosander, 7 Tufted Duck, 8 Goldeneye, and 4 Coot. All good winter visitors to North Pembs.

(Sev Obs)

Starlings

Following Cliff's post, in early November there was a roost of Starlings on private land near Letterston, by the sounds of it they are still there or nearby.  But perhaps easier for people to see, Starlings are also roosting at their usual reedbed site at Slebech, viewable from Minwear viewpoint near Blackpool Mill. Like last winter, I'm not aware of any using the traditional site at Plumstone, but once the reedbed is flattened at Slebech, they've got to go somewhere!

Cattle Egret - the Teifi

The Cattle Egret was feeding in fields opposite St. Dogmaels's Quay mid afternoon.

Ring-billed gull, Llys-y-fran

Despite a couple of heavy downpours the visibility was much better than the last couple of visits. Nice to see the Ring-billed gull was still around. Also 4/5 adult and a juv Yellow-legged gulls and 5 adult Meds. Rough counts were 3,000 LBB gulls and 1,000 BH gulls. 2 GBB.

Great Northern Divers - Fishguard

Five Great Northern Divers, two Common Scoter and three Great Crested Grebes were an increase on a count I received earlier in the week for Divers in Fishguard Harbour.
(More from some N Pembs WeBS counts later)

Falcon friction and where are our starlings?

A shrill call drew my attention to a Peregrine, probably a Tiercel, Which was pursuing a Kestrel which I think had just avoided the Peregrines stoop. The Kestrel made good its escape whilst the Teircel shot around the sky looking for some other prey before I lost sight of it. My quest to find out where the Starlings from the Roach/Plumstone roost have moved to...Fran had noticed a bit of a "murmuration" near Letterston.
Yesterday we tracked them down to a wooded valley, where several thousands flighted in at dusk. Conditions were far from helpful so with a bit of luck we will get a better Idea of the size of the roost when the weather improves. So far as I know there is no direct access so we will also be looking for the best vantage point before releasing any more information.

Castlemartin Corse N side

I decided to do my Broomhill Burrows WEBS when the rain stopped, and walked in along the N side of the Corse to my vantage point where I can see it all at once - there were 4 marsh harriers hunting, mostly together, over the flooded meadows and the upper end of the reedbed. I watched them for an hour, frequently having 3 in my binoculars at once, and for a few magical moments all 4. Three were typical adult females, the 4th all dark apart from creamy head which looked like a first winter bird. Towards the end of my watch, one of the females peeled off, flew west past me along the reedbed and circled back along Kilpaison Burrows.

I did not have my scope but could clearly see large no's of lapwing, golden plover and a black-tailed godwit flock (as the other day) in the distance, plus lots of snipe flying about. Around 140 wigeon were flying about over the reedbed, quite possibly put up by the harriers. I'm hoping the flood lasts until we can do the Corse WEBS!

The E end of the Corse, from the N side, Castlemartin Church on the skyline

Burton Ferry Oil

Western Telegraph news about some oil reported on the shore near Burton Ferry. NRW investigating.

https://www.westerntelegraph.co.uk/news/17284644.oil-clean-up-at-cleddau-shore/

Hooded Crow

Still at the Gann this evening. 2 Grey Plover, 16 RP`s

Oiled Birds.

Dozens of oiled Black Headed Gulls at both Llanstadwell,and Westfield. Pill today.Any reports of an incident?

Great White and Cattle Egrets - The Teifi

A Great White Egret was feeding in front of  Otter Hide at 230pm today.
(Martin)
A Cattle Egret was roosting with 11 Little Egrets opposite St. Dogmael's Quay at 4pm.

Great White Egret

A great white egret flew downstream past Picton Point at around 1545hrs today possibly going to roost in the wood to the west of the Point.

Cattle Egret - The Teifi

The Cattle Egret was feeding with cattle and sheep in the field opposite St. Dogmael's Quay this afternoon.
One Light-bellied Brent Goose still present and a high count of 130 Barnacle Geese in the estuary too - almost certainly more than the Cardigan Island population.

Water pipit, Newport

 A couple of photos fom Andy Bookless of the Water Pipit at Newport last week.

Westfield Pill.

An immature Whooper Swan this morning is the first I have seen on the lake.Up to 3 Marsh Tits around the feeders.A few recent sightings of Merlin,Woodcock,and Yellowhammer.

Gupton/Castlemartin Corse this morning

A second winter bird survey visit was made to Gupton/Castlemartin Corse this morning by Clive Hurford, Richard Ellis, Paul Culyer and myself with some help from two placement students based at Stackpole and a staff member from Orielton FC. 

It was a bit showery with gusting wind at first but fairly productive non-the-less. On arrival we were greeted by a fine aerial display of a couple of thousand golden plovers and lapwings, constantly wheeling overhead. There could have been 1,500 or more higher up the valley. 

The photos show only a small fraction of the numbers of birds that were wheeling overhead this morning 

In the weedy stubble zones Paul and I flushed possibly a couple of hundred skylarks and smaller numbers of linnets. There were also small flocks of goldfinches and reed buntings keeping close to cover. Chaffinch numbers seemed quite low though.

Snipe numbers were quite good - many flushed from the wetter areas, including 2 jack snipe in a damper area of stubble.

It was a pretty good raptor morning – six species being seen – 2 merlins (females), 2 sparrowhawks (male and female), 2 buzzards, 2 marsh harriers (male and female), hen harrier (spotted by Clive) and peregrine.

Richard’s group noted 150 black-tailed godwits and some greylags but, surprisingly, no ducks in the wetter areas.

Bob

Llys-y-fran

4 adult Yellow-legged gulls was the best Paul and I could manage in poor viewing conditions this evening. Very large but late forming roost hugging the far bank and stretching well up the reservoir. Heavy drizzle reducing visibility to a few hundreds yards.

Fishguard harbour

2 Great Northern Divers, 1 Great Crested Grebe and 1 female Common Scoter, from 

Dave Evans

Hooded Crow

Still at the Gann this afternoon around 3pm.

Water pipit, Newgale

A Water pipit, (found by Paul G earlier in the week), still on the flooded campsite at Newgale 8:30am. Campsite can look deserted, be patient as the pipits do come and go to the marsh if spooked.

Llanstadwell 01.12.18

A short but fruitful half-hour's birding near to my folks' house at Llanstadwell this afternoon. Plenty of mallards, a fine mix of gulls and mute swans also in good numbers. Nice to see dunlin, oystercatcher, curlew, redshank, spotted redshank and a curlew sandpiper tucked away in the mix. Not seen one of those in a long while!

Southwood

A large mixed flock on the arable at Southwood today. I estimated around 150 - 200 birds in a mixed flock of Chaffinch and a few Linnet, Meadow pipits, Skylarks and Reed buntings. Hard to be sure what was what in the thick mizzle but I estimate that it was around 40% chaffinch/linnets, 40% meadow pipit/skylark and 20% Reed bunting. There were certainly at least twenty reed bunting sitting in a patch of Elder in the hedge at one point. Surprised by the number of Reed bunting - the most I have seen in Pembs!

Not quite five a day!

Near mathry in a huge, partly flooded arable field a male Merlin sat on a rock, at Trefin/Abercastle a pair of Peregrine and a pair of Kestrel hunting along the coast with a buzzard drifting over the fields made four raptors......I managed to not see a red kite (unusual these days) and so failed to get my five a day!

Hooded Crow

Back at the Gann this afternoon. Other birds; 1 Grey Plover, 7 Turnstones, 3 Dunlin, 7 RPs, 1 Goldeneye, 1 RB Merganser.