Our search for willow tits for the national survey hadn't revealed much evidence of them in tetrads they were recorded in 10 years ago in SE Pembs. Today we headed up to the Letterston area to check out some valley woodland next to the upper reaches of the Cleddau. For a while, it wasn't looking too promising even though there was plenty of very suitable habitat. Pleasingly we found a territory occupied not far from the Fishguard railway line. They are in some nice mixed valley mire habitat (similar to Llangloffan Fen where they hopefully still occur just a few km further along the same tributary of the upper Cleddau).
Chiffchaffs were pretty much in evidence (perhaps a dozen or so singing) plus the expected usual woodland residents. At least 8 nests were occupied at the heronry in this area, a couple more than last year. Small flocks of redwings and fieldfares were also noted, reminding us that winter migrants are still around. About 40 redwings were near Martletwy earlier in the week and a fine adult male goshawk at Whitehill.
