Sanderlings - Penally

Small numbers of waders appearing on the coast now, these Sanderlings were with a few Ringed Plovers on Penally beach.

Four of the Grey Plovers wintering at Freshwater West.

(photos and counts from Craig Lewis)

Black Redstart - St Brides

The Black Redstart showing well on the church roof at St Brides this morning,
 

A Ringtail Hen Harrier hunting over Marloes Mere too.

(Tommy Evans)

Cattle Egret, Water Pipit - The Teifi

The mobile Cattle Egret chose to have a riverside morning - near St Dogmael's Quay today rather than in the more distant fields.
The Water Pipit was showing well at it's usual feeding stream, the outflow by Swallow Boats.
Redshank and Dunlin numbers both holding up well c 40+ of each, and the c1000 Lapwings are still in the estuary as the tide drops when mud available to roost.
(Wendy J and Rich D)

Porthclais Harbour this am

1 Water pipit with a couple of Rock pipits as well as a very active Dipper first thing this morning.

Cleddau, Hook Area Yesterday

From David Ord - The usual mix of waders and ducks yesterday, without Avocet but with high number of Grey Plover (21) opposite Millin Pill.

Black Redstart

From Mike Davey - Managed a photo of this Black Redstart today, A regular visitor to my garden over some 5 years now, South of Pembs dock fire station.

Twitter

Following on from James' post last week I have added links to the @PembsBirds Twitter page on this blog (see to the right) and on the Pembrokeshire Bird Group blog.

The Twitter page created by James will include sightings for Pembrokeshire which have been reported on this blog and other sources and will, hopefully, help to improve the sharing of bird information for the county.

Ring-billed gull, still Llys-y-fran

The adult Ring-billed gull again this evening, 2 adult Yellow-legged gulls and a 2cy, 6 Med gulls (4 adult, a 2cy and a 3cy), 5 GBB gulls. Many gulls already on the water at 2:30 but tight to far bank. Single Goosander, 3 Goldeneye. 460 Canada geese (plus the Greylag).

Pied Wagtail Roost

The pied wagtail roost at Withybush Hospital continues in good numbers. We are around that area quite often in the evenings and it is a delight to see them.

Marsh Harrier at Abercastle

Seen quartering stubble fields between Longhouse Farm and Square & Compass this morning.

Tufted Ducks - Rosebush Resr

Sixteen Tufted Ducks inc 12 drakes was a good count on Rosebush Resr this morning, 4 Goldeneye, 2 Coot and 1 Great Crested Grebe too.
.....Just found out as I look back at historical records, this January marks the 50th anniversary of WeBS counts at Rosebush Resr.-- 40 Pochard on that Jan 1969 count !!!

The Teifi...
Eleven Little Egrets and 1 Grey Heron roosting opp St Dogmael's Quay at high tide - no sign of the Cattle Egret which sometimes is at the water's edge at high tide.

Status Quo at the Gann

No, not them!  Just the regular monotony of the past few weeks broken only by the arrival of six Shelducks, Two Chough on the grass spit & a solo Brent on the tiny island.

Marloes Mere

The Scaup pair were still present at Marloes Mere this morning (visible most easily from the Car park), along with at least 3 Tufted Ducks and the Drake Pintail. Hundreds of Lapwing were flying over. No sign of any Harriers while I was there.

Common Sandpiper - - The Teifi

The elusive wintering Common Sandpiper was on the river behind the old Jewsons in St Dogmael's yesterday, and we still have a Lapwing flock of c1000 birds.
A Barn Owl is still appearing for photographers at dusk.
(sev obs)

Newport

Iron bridge - m Pintail (minus his tail) roosting with the Mallards, 1 Common Sandpiper and c34 Pied Wagtails.

Great Grey Shrike - Puncheston Common

Great Grey Shrike this afternoon about 3.45pm, Puncheston Common.

Jean Dovey

Divers at Little Haven and St Brides, Scaup at Marloes Mere

After Steve Jones's post yesterday, I thought I'd go have a look for these divers at Little Haven. I didn't quite expect to see as many, as close in as I did! Around mid-afternoon, just south of Little Haven, between Musselwick and Goultrop Roads, there were 2 Great Northern Divers, 5 Red-throated Divers and 1 Black-throated Diver. 5 unidentified divers were a bit further out. Also out in the bay were 2 Shag, 2 Guillemot and 1 2cy Iceland Gull. A Red Kite was also circling quite far out above the bay.

Next I stopped in at St Brides. No sign of the recently seen Black Redstart, but plenty of Meadow pipits and Rock pipits feeding on the beach with 12 Turnstone. Out in the bay there were 2 Great Northern Divers and 1 Red-throated Diver.

Finally, I stopped in at Marloes Mere. It was pretty windy by this point so everything was mostly tucked away. Briefly saw the drake Pintail, but had good views of 2 Scaup (drake and female) which were with 4 Tufted Ducks. Later on at dusk, 1 Ringtail Hen Harrier, 1 Merlin, 1 Peregrine and 1 Buzzard all made an appearance within a 15 minute period.


James

Pembs Bird Group now on TWITTER! @PembsBirds

For those of you who use social media, (or now may suddenly want to!), Pembs Bird Group now has a presence on Twitter. We will attempt to keep up to date with any Pembrokeshire bird related news and sightings.

So, if you post any relevant content, make sure to include either our handle (@PembsBirds) or the hashtag #PembsBirds


Thanks,


James

Teifi estuary - Black-throated Diver

Teifi WeBS count started well today with the Cattle Egret in a field with cattle opposite St Dogmael's slipway. At least 800 Lapwing were flying around. Redshank have numbered about 60 for several weeks now. Shelduck are increasing with 26 today. Teal and Wigeon numbers seemed low for January.
Jon G refound the wintering Water Pipit by Swallow Boats for the first time this year causing a mini Teifi twitch! He also found a Black-throated Diver in the bay towards Cemaes Head. Two Great-crested Grebes were near the old Poppit Lifeboat station, one winter, one summer plumaged.

Once again the regular Barn Owl was hunting over the Teifi Marsh late afternoon from 16.15 giving the gathered photographers good views.

Llys-y-fran

Checked the reservoir with Paul G and Paul M. 4 adult Yellow-legged gulls, 6 Meds (4 adult, a 2cy and a 3cy). 22 Great-crested grebe was most I've seen. 12 Goldeneye (5m) and pair Goosander. Unfortunately the roost was really late to form, with the majority of the gulls only coming onto the water once the light had almost gone. They eventually formed a good sized roost stretching almost a kilometre from the trout pens to almost the hide but too dark to check thoroughly.

Black Redstart - St Brides

The Black Redstart wasn't seen today but ...yesterday.
Black Redstart at St Brides again, jumping about on the church roof.
(Chris Taylor)

Raptor day

Woken at 7 ish by the pair of Tawney’s in the wood at home, followed by a run to the trip, (to dispose of fly tipping from the woodland) a male Kestrel at light a pipe farm (not observed here before) Buzzard and Sparowhawk, finished at Plumstone with a Red Kite cruising around at about 4pm followed at about 4.45pm by two ringtail’s and a single male Hen Harrier.
And nearly ran a Woodcock over on the road heading home.

Red Throated Diver @ Broadhaven

6 RT Divers between Broad Haven and Little Haven this morning with a single Great Northern.  30+ Common Scoter with some very close in and a single Guillemot just off The Point at Little Haven.
Later a male then a ringtail Hen Harrier hunted the fields between Trefin and Square and Compass.

Gann

Quick walk around the Gann between 14:00 - 15:00.

Ring-tailed hen harrier and sparrowhawk hunting over salt marsh and the Raven pair busy carrying large sticks to their nest. 170 lapwing high overhead, a flushed flock of 45+ snipe and 65 curlew (flushed by harrier not me!) and an arrival of redwing in the hedgerows.

Of note on the beach 15 Brent geese with the hooded crow.

On the pools an additional 7 mute swans (5 ad + 2 1st-winter) have joined the resident pair, kingfisher and woodcock in the Crabhall stream.

Swans

I had a report early this morning of 32 swans flying in a line near St David's golf coarse then over
Penberry rock and out to sea species unknown.I had 5 Whooper swans flying low over St David's
Rugby club later this morning heading west,wonder if they were all Whoopers heading to Ireland.

Dowrog dusk raptors

After a couple of blank visits to Dowrog Common we had an incredible last 3/4 of an  hour of daylight Firstly some nice views of a ringtail Hen Harrier that tried to sneak up behind us but gave close views as it crossed the road and on over the moor and thorns. It disappeared for a little while before appearing with a second ringtail  and  a lovely Barn Owl.
One of the Harriers jousted with the Owl but to no real effect and the owl carried on hunting as the harriers  flickered  around in the background.A Goshawk shot low and fast  across the moor like a low level bomber, its barred breast very obvious but a much smaller falcon almost eluded me until it started chasing a  Meadow Pipit  ascending after it, obviously a Merlin!

Little owl, Marloes Mere

Late visit to check for harriers, nothing appeared but met Paul who'd had a Ringtail earlier. The adult Pintail looking splendid, a Kestrel flew through and a Water rail was paddling around out on the mere. Walking back in the gloom a Little owl called from the direction of the old Youth hostel.

Teifi Marshes - Barn Owl

Barn Owls on the marshes have been pretty nocturnal until recently. We now have either a "new Owl" or a regular bird that now hunts in early dusk, hunting from c1630 to 1700 this evening.

Best watched from Mallard hide, providing compensation to locals for the current lack of Starlings. The above photo taken this evening by Tommy Evans.

Little Milford...

Plenty of Common Snipe and small waders...

This flock of Snipe in flight and c200 Dunlin feeding along the estuary.
(John Archer-Thomson)

Castlemartin Corse

WEBS with Rob Lewis. A good morning for raptors - 2 marsh harriers, 2 ringtail hen harriers, 2 buzzards and a male peregrine. Snipe about 120, lapwing 1200, 50 golden plover, 40 curlew, 20 black-tailed godwit. A Cetti's sang briefly. But no wildfowl, not so much as a teal.

Starman's Hall and rainbow

Green Sandpipers

One or two Green Sandpipers winter around our garden but we beat the record today with three on the pond. A Little Egret at Ivor's Pond, St Davids was unusual this morning.

Common Gulls Newport again

A footnote to yesterdays post.
At lunchtime I counted 124 Common Gulls. There were 2 Norwegian birds.
White JA956 had been ringed as an ad in June 17. The only sightings were at Newport in Dec 17 & today.
Green J3M6 was ringed as a juv in Aug 15. Before today the only sightings have been at Newport in Jan & Dec 16, Dec 18 & New Years day 2 weeks ago.

Gann and St Brides

From Sandy Hill - Trip to Gann either side of noon as tide began to fall produced female/imm Goldeneye, half a dozen dabchick, good numbers of Wigeon & Teal on pools, alongside oiks, Redshank, at least 2 Greenshank. 30+ Curlew on saltmarsh. 5+ Reed Bunting in shrubs close to estuary was new for me here. No obvious signs of oil along shoreline, with 22 Ringed Plover & single Dunlin only waders roosting on near shore. Hooded Crow feeding on shoreline & R B Merganser once picked up on sea kept drifting further out towards G N Diver which was way off in the bay.
Black Redstart was immediately evident on church roof when I arrived at St Brides at 1.15, but then became more mobile. Nice group of 8 Turnstone at top of beach, with couple of pairs of Stonechat working fence lines. Red Kite joined Buzzard briefly to forage over newly ploughed field & despite working the local woodland, nothing of note added.

Cattle Egret and Teifi gulls

The Cattle Egret was on the riverside this morning (Wendy J) by 4pm the Cattle Egret was back in a field above the estuary feeding with Herring Gulls, viewed best from roadside on way to Poppit.

Gulls -- having read Sam's excellent post below on the Newport Common Gulls a few notes from the Teifi. Today we thought 500 Common Gulls was likely conservative estimate with 5 Med Gulls amongst the Black-headed. Post Christmas the Teifi regularly holds numbers high numbers, though  high counts of 2000 Common Gulls in the winter of 1999/2000 stand out.
(Arfon W and Rich D)

Black redstart, St Brides

From Steve Cook - just about to leave when I noticed a grey bird on the seaweed looking at me, it moved a little flashing its red tail. A Rock pipit lunged at it and it flew to the rocks. Did not expect a Black redstart on the seaweed, and was able to watch it for a few minutes.

Hook...

Good numbers of Black Tailed Godwit (29) on the mud flats opposite and just upstream of Millin Pill at low tide today.
(David Ord)

Little Stint at Cosheston

Quick look at lunchtime - amongst the Redshanks a Little Stint on Cosheston Point, seen from the Car Park. 8 Black Tailed Godwits a few hundred Lapwing and a Greenshank were there also.

Common Gulls at Newport

The number of Wintering Common Gulls at Newport has increased markedly over the last few years. There is no suggestion from the annual reports of any overall change in numbers in Pembs, though the Atlas suggests more gains than losses in SW Wales. This amateurish graph shows the average of the Winter (Nov - Feb) Webs counts at Newport recently.

The first ringed bird I saw was in Dec 2012, & since then I have seen 13 different Norwegian birds. The Norwegian ringers allow access to their data so that you can follow later sightings of "your" birds. All have been ringed as chicks or nesting adults at a variety of sites in SW Norway. All subsequent Summer sightings are in Norway, usually at the ringing site & never more than a couple of km away. Apart from one report from Devon all UK sightings have been at Newport, with most birds being seen in several years. There are no other reports of these birds from anywhere.

The only other ringed birds were 2 ringed in Hamburg as chicks & both seen c 6mo later. I don't have access to later sightings.

Presumably there are Scottish colour ringed birds. Where do they Winter?

(Apologies for the formatting & the graph migrating from its original position between paras 1 & 2. All outwith my control)

Cattle Egret, Common Sandpiper - -The Teifi

The Cattle Egret was showing well mid morning on the river edge opposite St.Dogmael's Quay and the wintering Common Sandpiper was on the river behind the old Jewsons today. c1000 Lapwings are still roosting in the estuary, and we have a regular flock of 6 Black-tailed Godwits (and one Bar-tailed Godwit yesterday). One or two Med Gulls always around - no larger white-winged Gulls yet this winter.
(sev obs)

Carew

Quiet in Radford Pill late morning, though the tide had not dropped far, with just 5 Redshank, 1 Little Egret and a few Teal and Wigeon. c.50 Lapwing and a couple of Curlew were on mud at the mouth of Ford Pill and on the Carew River great to see 9 Greenshank, also 12 Redshank. I flushed a couple of Woodcock in a small patch of wood by Radford Point.

Iceland gull(s), Llys-y-fran

A juv Iceland gull appeared around 4:30pm, too far and too dark for photo. Plus another 'white-winger', that I initially took to be a leucistic Herring gull as I thought I could see some darker areas on the primaries, but looks more Iceland now. Interesting.

Also 3 adult Yellow-legged gulls and 2 Meds (an adult and a 2cy). 7 Goldeneye (3m). An unusual sight of c100 Lapwing skimming the water, probably spooked by something.

Kilpaison....

At Kilpaison this morning, 150 Dunlin, 7 Bar tailed Godwit, 17 Brent Geese, 1 Kestrel.

(Mike Davey.)

Wiseman's Bridge

Three red throated divers and another 2 unidentified divers in the bay, one very close in, along with 4 great crested grebe. Very many scoter scattered around - too distant to see if there was anything unusual amongst them.
(David Ord)

Dredgeman's Hill Tawny

The Dredgeman's Hill tawny owl has been showing well most evenings this week - spectacular to see flying overhead. Keep an eye out if you're on the road at around 5pm. We have seen the owl Monday, Tuesday and Thursday eve so far.

Marsh harrier, Marloes Mere

From Elwyn Davies Marsh harrier Marloes Mere, earlier in the week.

Common Gulls @ Goodwick

Following Sams post. There were 5 Common Gulls at Goodwick flagpoles in a quick search this lunchtime. One also had an un-readable green ring (on its left leg). 5 GC Grebes in the harbour.

Firecrest.

First of the winter at Westfield Pill this afternoon.

Common Gulls @ Newport

This lunchtime I counted an amazing 186 birds. Just 1 ringed one, an unreadable green Norwegian.

Newport Bay

6 Turnstone, 1 GC Grebe, 2 RT Divers and 11 Common Scoter.

Ring-billed gull, still Llys-y-fran

The Ring-billed gull was already on the reservoir when Paul and I arrived around 3pm. Only a single adult Yellow-legged gull. 6 Med gulls (4 adult, 2 2cy). 5 Goldeneye (2 m). Overall estimates were about 8,000 gulls majority LBB with est 1,500 BH.

St Davids area

Tuesday 4pm:     2 Ringtail Harriers at Dowrog
Wednesday 10am: 5 Purple Sandpipers sunning themselves, facing Whitesands, at the very end of the Ram’s Nose.
Robert and Jenny Briggs

The Gann

Popped to the Gann yesterday but I was so overwhelmed with emotion I didn’t stay. Totally heart breaking but in all fairness the guys seem to be working endlessly to prevent any spread. 
There were noticeable signs of oil on the edge of the shingle/shells etc near the car park but the whole shore had had the top surface taken off so looked strangely flat but was relatively clean. 
Many Curlews calling & feeding on the waters edge alongside the Oystercatchers. Nothing seem to be stained or struggling. 
I couldn’t see much else due to teary eyes so just left. Paula Lazar

Jack Snipe

A Jack Snipe, 6 Common Snipes and 4 Lesser Redpolls were at Goodwick Moor today.

The Gann

A bit sad to see oil pollution prevention measures at the Gann this afternoon, 22 years on from the last time they were needed following the Sea Empress disaster. Just one oiled Black-headed Gull seen.

In the gull roost a minimum of 33 Mediterranean Gulls (30 adults, 3 2CY), one Great Northern Diver offshore and 2 Brent Geese on the tideline. (With Lisa Morgan & Rosie Thomas).

Hen harrier, Marloes Mere

The pale Ring-tail put in an appearance at 9:45, 10:30 and 10:45.  A female Merlin flashed across, Red kite drifted slowly west, single Golden plover among the Lapwing. Juv Tufted duck and the drake Pintail. Earlier 30 Scoter, 5 RT diver, a Guillemot and a GC grebe out from Broad Haven / Goultrop, with Paul G.

Curlew - Colour Ring

It would appear to be '29' but unfortunately our photo enhancing capabilities are limited. Number 29 was first ringed on the 14^th October 2018 at the Gann and has not been resighted since then. 

It is the second resighting of Gann colour ringed Curlew in as many weeks at Angle Bay, number 24 was resighted by Bob & Annie.

Thank you for the resighting.

Pemb’s Ringing Group

The Gann

Hooded Crow, 4 Brent's the only birds of note this afternoon. The response team were present bagging up contaminated seaweed that had come ashore since yesterday. 1 oil stained BH Gull trying to clean itself on the rivermouth looked like the only casualty.

Water Pipit - Llanstadwell

Good afternoon for waders at Llanstadwell - curlew, redshank, oyster catcher, turnstone, sanderling, dunlin, black tailed godwit and 2 common sandpiper. Unusual so wonder if this is a breeding pair? Sat watching a seal for a while and right at the water's edge - a water pipit! Excellent!

Golden Plovers...

Today at Abercastle:-
Red Kite , Grey Heron, pair of Stonechat AND 2000+ Golden Plover off Longhouse @ 08.30
(Graham Tierney)

Colour ringed Curlew at Kilpaison

Hi, I had this Curlew at Kilpaison on Wednesday, it’s a shame I can’t quite make out the number, 28 or 29 on black ring.
(Colin Dalton)

 Mike, Theresa, Paddy.....I guess this may be good enough to be a sighting ..?

23:00 edit....
This photo in from Mike Davey may help... 

The Gann

Following Lisa`s post, I went to the Gann after work around 3pm, there was a response team there who`d set up a barrier across the river mouth but it appeared to be precautionary. There was no sign of pollution & all seemed normal, the only birds of note were the 3 GC Grebes, 3 Brent & about 15 Turnstone above the bridge on the shingle bank, otherwise quiet so one assumes any future oiled birds would be those flying / swimming in from nearer the incident.

Hen Harriers @ St Davids Airfield

A superb male Hen Harrier at the east end of the runway this afternoon with a ringtail nearby flushing Snipe in all directions. At Waun Llechell 6 Shoveller with the Wigeon and Teal (crying out for a hide at that location).
On a tour of various other sites 180 Common Scoter close-in off Newgale, no sign of the Water Pipit just 7 Curlew at the campsite. 3 ducks on the sea disappeared around the corner in to Pwll March were possibly Scaup. Chiffchaff at Haroldston and Solva Sewage works with a Dipper singing on the river at Solva car park.
The 600 Golden Plover and 200 Lapwing still at Llanon.

Plumstone Hen Harriers

An incredible seven Hen Harrers came into roost at Plumstone this evening.  An early ringtail at around 1540, and then 3 males followed by 3 ringtails in quick succession from around 1610-1620.  Also a Merlin whizzed through, also may have roosted.

Avocet, still opposite Millin Pill

The Avocet was in it's usual favoured spot opposite Millin Pill at 9am this morning, SM996118.

Oiled birds - Gann

I went out first thing this morning to check the Gann following yesterday's incident.

2 oiled Black-headed Gulls were recorded, photographed and reported to NRW and my contact at Milford Haven port. I assume the oil was fresh based on the birds frantic preening behaviour.

The usual waders; 105 Curlew, Oiks, Redshank, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit appeared to be feeding as normal on the shoreline with Wigeon and Teal, the Goldeneye and RB Merganser on the pools and river. A Kingfisher was also present on pools.

I know we'll all keep checking during the coming days for further oiled birds - the advice remains to contact NRW in the first instance, either directly (Jon?) or 03000 653000.

Lisa

OIL SPILL

There has been an oil spill from the Valero Refinery dock and work is underway to protect The Gann Estuary, though the boom being erected is just across the River mouth so, as far as I could see, likely to have only a limited effect. The position of the oil is uncertain at the moment and it may well have sunk in the calm conditions. It seems very likely it will appear in the forthcoming days however. IF YOU SEE THIS OIL OR BIRDS AFFECTED BY IT, PLEASE POST YOUR SIGHTINGS ON THIS BLOG. John Hudson of Natural Resources Wales will be monitoring posts, hoping to garner information which will help in protecting wildlife.

Cleddau Avocet

From John Whitehurst - Avocet still present on Western Cleddau this morning between Millin Pill and confluence with Eastern River. Plenty of other activity, particularly a mobile flock of 450+ Dunlin. Golden Plover flock with Lapwing in fields south of Sprinkle Pill.

Golden Plovers, Trefin

600 Golden Plovers with 200 Lapwing and a few Fieldfare in a field between Llanon and Llanrhian this morning. 200 more GPs with 100 Lapwing at Penysgwarn Farm, just a few Lapwing at Longhouse where the winter cereal crop has grown too long for them. 2 Razorbills close in off Aberfelin / Trwyn Llwyd. No sign of the Whoopers at Croesgoch.

Whooper Swan -- Kilpaison

The Whooper Swan flying over Kilpaison at 11:22 this morning.

Photo Colin Dalton

Kilpaison

At Kilpaison this afternoon, On a rising tide, 18 Brent geese, 93 Dunlin, 28 Ringed Plover, 3 Turnstone, 1 Whooper swan flew over, heading east.

Mike Davey.

Hooded Crow

At the Gann around 12:30 this afternoon.

Castlemartin

A good walk at Castlemartin Corse early afternoon. Near Starmans Hall there were c.80 curlew and a couple of Marsh Harriers and a Buzzard put in brief appearances as I walked up the Corse. In the field before the stand of pines 32 Snipe got up and beyond the pines there were plenty of Lapwing - 800 plus, and Golden Plover - 600 plus. There were also good numbers of  Lapwings and more Curlew in the fields up on the North flanks of the Corse below Corston Farm. 31 Greylags were some way off at the far end and a Merlin perched briefly on a fence post before hacking off and putting all the birds up.

Walking back to Freshwater West there was a good Harrier display with 3 Marsh Harriers in view for long periods and, occasionally, all together in the bins at once. Halfway back I looked back and was lucky with a superb adult male Hen Harrier flying across the reed bed and up over the dunes. 15 Snipe got up from the large pool near the beach car park.

Earlier, mid morning, there had been 500 plus Golden Plover roosting in the field next to Flimston Chapel on Castlemartin Range.

Angle Bay....

Only had an hour before dusk this alvo, but walked away from Angle village on tarmac drive towards Kilpaison on coastal path. 2 Barwit were roosting with Curlew, Oystercatchers and c 20 Dunlin, on part of creek closest to village. Single female Common Scoter & GND added a little interest to the 6 Great Crested Grebe on the sea. Late Greenshank was nice & contrasted by several roosting groups of Redwing joining half a dozen Fieldfare that had settled noisily into woodland edge. All rounded off by several distinct Starling murmur actions over Fort Popton & land above Angle village as dusk set in.
(Sandy Hill)

Avocet, G N Diver - Hook area

Avocet...

I walked round the Cleddau at Hook to see if Harry’s Avocet was still around. Was treated to the sight of a Peregrine chasing a Curlew down the river, stooping twice but missing both times and then trying to take Wigeon off the water, also unsuccessfully as they crash dived as it passed. Was about to call it a day when the Avocet flew up river to the spot where Harry had reported it - opposite Millin Pill. Took a couple of photos before realising I had no disk in the camera - doh! Half an hour later, with disk, the bird was still there with half a dozen lapwing. Before I could get close enough to take a shot, a noisy flock of Greylag geese passed over and put the birds up, to fly downstream. What I had taken to be a Cormorant turned into a Great Northern Diver once I saw its white chest and bothered to look through my binoculars - the first time I have seen one this far up river. I caught up with Harry at Foughborough Point, who generously pointed out the Pintail and Grey Plover he had found there. All the usual birds present in the mouth of Sprinkle Pill, with the addition of the Avocet, foraging at a distance on the south bank. By this time a light drizzle had started and distance and poor light allowed only a very low quality record shot. On the walk back I flushed a Snipe and Woodcock which brought the day's sightings to 48 species - not a bad start to the year!

 (David Ord)

Cattle Egret - The Teifi

The Teifi Cattle Egret was in his current favourite field mid-afternoon opp St Dogmael's Quay. The field on the horizon with the wind turbine.

Odds and ends

A Merlin was at St Davids Head and at least 3 Chiffchaffs at Porthclais water treatment works. There were two (male and female) Yellowhammers, possibly more, around Crug Glas and about 1,000 Golden Plovers and 400+ Lapwings nearby. At Plumstone later, two Hen Harriers, male and ringtail before the cold drizzle sent us off home.

Turtle Dove - Camrose

Happy New Year all!!

An out of season Turtle Dove in a Camrose garden this afternoon

+ the song thrushes at WWC Cilgerran have noted the calendar change, and are already practising their spring nuptial solos!! Lovely in the grey gloom. A pair of otters on the river took little notice of excited visitors. Similarly a pair of goosander which floated by, spending more time under the water than above seemingly. 

(Roger Mathias)

Avocet - nr Hook

The Avocet was present in essentially the same place today @ 11ish but left soon after. Apparently put up by low flying Greylags and flew downstream. A pair of Pintail were present at the confluence.

(Harry Grubb)

 

Location -  South bank of Western Cleddau near Hook, opposite Millin Pill.