Various

Close to the Gann, a Lesser Whitethroat singing between Crabhall & Philbeach this afternoon.  At least one singing Reed Warbler in the Crabhall reedbed, and a Little Egret (scarce of late) on the lagoon.

Highlights of a 2-day trip to Skomer (Sunday/Monday) included a Black Redstart, Merlin and a late Hen Harrier.

St Brides

A small fall of Hirundines - c70- all three species in the lee of the trees between the church & the  Castle road this evening. 1 Common Sand on the beach with 3 Whimbrel.

Swifts

They are back, 3 Swifts over Haverfordwest.

Newport this morning

15 Whimbrels, 2 x 3cy Med Gulls & oddly a Dark Belly Brent were the highlights. Swallows seem to have finally returned in numbers.

Preliminary results from from year one of a 2019/20 National Willow Tit survey

A small band of observers took part in the first year of an important national willow tit survey being run by the RSPB in association with others, including the rare breeding birds panel.

The aim is to record and to map the number of willow tit territories found along transects through suitable habitat in a selection of 2km x 2km squares (tetrads). The selection of priority tetrads allocated for coverage was based on previous positive distribution evidence in the most recent (2007-11) national breeding birds atlas. The current survey (utilising a playback method) collected records between mid Feb and mid April.

Preliminary results from the first year recorded some 38-44 willow tit territories in the county. As expected, NE Pembs turned out to be quite an important "core area" for them, with between 2 and 7 territories per search area in some tetrads. It was a different story though in S/SE Pembs, and at some locations in NE Pembs, where none were found.

The distribution of the tetrads visited in 2019 is shown on the map below. Solid circles = willow tits recorded; open circles = no willow tits recorded.

Contributors to this years fieldwork were: Chris Taylor, James Roden, Jane Hodges, Mark Underhill, Paddy Jenks, Wendy James and ourselves.

This important national survey will continue between mid Feb. and mid April in 2020 when hopefully all the remaining allocated priority tetrads will be surveyed - most of these are in the NE of the county. Anyone who wishes to help would be welcomed. For more information see here

    

Castlemartin Corse

An excellent morning. 10 greylags were in the wet dune slack behind the car park at Freshwater West - these later flew inland to join the two who have been hanging out upstream.

A "new" marsh harrier was flying around, not one of the (up to) three well-marked females which have been here during the winter. Viewed from across the Corse this was an all-dark bird apart from creamy head and may have been a first year male. 9 mallard, 2 grey herons, still a few snipe, 2 chough at Starman's Hall. Lots of reed and sedge warblers and whitethroats (only one grasshopper warbler so far), a few sand martins...and at Starman's Hall a brilliant yellow wagtail popped up, perched briefly on the fence near me and then bounced away over the buildings.

A drizzly morning along the coast path in Castlemartin Range East

We had a walk through Range East this morning with Guillem (a placement student from Catalonia based at Stackpole). The main purpose of the visit was to check up on chough breeding activity.  All seemed well at most sites although a lone territorial male at one location has still to find a mate this spring. 

Breeding adult males were busy as usual feeding their partners at or near the nest. Possibly due to the cooler, drizzly conditions one particular male was clearly finding a good source of invertebrates, including mining bees on a patch of bare ground. He and others were also probably feeding on what appears to be quite a good tipulid (Crane-fly) larval population this year in the coastal grassland. 

Choughs often feed on Hymenoptera - this one seemed to be tucking into mining bees

Migrants were rather few, although there were some passing whimbrels and a dunlin and a small number of swallows all heading west along the coast. Wheatears seemed quite scarce with just a couple of likely breeding pairs at expected locations. 

A couple of grasshopper warblers were reeling briefly near Stack Rocks. One of them spent quite a while perched up in a patch of scrub. 

There were plenty of guillemots on the stacks but only a single pair of kittiwakes at a half-built nest.  Such a contrast to the time not so long ago when there were 500+ pairs nesting in this general area.     

Pengelli

From Dave & Julia Evans - Today, a pair of Pied Flycatchers nest-building. At least two Garden Warblers. No sign of any Redstarts.

Newgale to Dale

Had a couple of hours out, 11 GN diver, over whole bay from Newgale, picked up with bins, two male eider, went to get scope - gone, 6 male 4female scoter, unusual ( I thought) winter plumage guilemot, sedge warbler at Newgale marsh, whitethroat everywhere, dale too many dogs, st. Anne’s, 4 wheatear, skylarks, linnet (no wags) maroles end very quite.

Marloes Peninsula

A blustery walk this evening. 50+ White with a few Pied wagtails behind Oriole Hide, with smaller groups in virtually all ploughed fields down to Martins Haven. 6 Wheatear by Martins Haven looked new in. And 6 Whimbrel and a Snipe feeding in a damp pasture. 30-40 Carrion crows patrolling through the fields. Female Merlin doing her best to dash through. At the Mere: 10pr and 4m Teal, 3pr and 3m Shoveler, pr Gadwall, drake Tuftie, Shelduck and Pintail. 3 Black-tailed godwits and a Redshank on the mere.

Ramsey

A male ring ouzel on Carn Ysgubor was the second record of the spring

Swift

From John Whitehurst - Swift over valley beside Caerfarchell to Middle Mill road 12.30pm.

Martin’s Haven Hobby

A brief, fast, fly-past this morning at 0830.
I was alerted to it by the Carrion Crows giving their alarm call. It has been fascinating how, on both views this week, the corvids have been very hostile to a strange raptor, but seldom mob or warn when  a Peregrine or Kestrel is around: these may be seen as “regulars” or residents.

Penberry Pond

Just a little unusual these days were two Tufted duck and a Red Kite drifted past heading in the direction of St Davids Head/Ramsey

Wood Warbler - - Abercych

I caught a clip of David Attenborough on Radio 2 today talking about the Wood Warbler and he played the call on the radio. While out walking this evening I heard my first Wood Warbler, or at least I knew what it was after hearing it on the radio today. Warbler was calling in the woodland behind the Nags Head.
(Rob Wilson)

Ramsey - Moorhen

The run of island rarities continues with moorhen today! The 7th island record and the first since 1996

Marloes Mere

Well worth a very wet post-lunch walk: a cracking male Pied Flycatcher in the sallows to the left of the Britton Hide. And a female Sparrowhawk came crashing through.
From the Oriole Hide, 7  Black-tailed Godwits. But I could not find the female Garganey seen by two visiting birders from Derbyshire.
The ploughed field behind the hide was full of White and Pied Wagtails: Lyndon’s 100+ is easily possible. I only got a glimpse of a Yellow Wagtail: the two visiting birders had great photos of a bright male.

Marloes Mere

A visit to  Marloes Mere yesterday (23rd) with Owen and Glynnis Roberts produced 2xYellow Wags and 10+ White Wags  on the Mere with 100+ White Wags in an adjoining field.  Also a Drake Pintail, 5xBlackwits and a brief Marsh harrier sighting

Skok

Hobby over Skok as well today. Also two Yellow Wags and a Tree Pipit.

Ramsey

Vocal Tree Sparrow still present today, a Red Kite over and 24 Whimbrel feeding in sheep grazed fields at the north end early afternoon.

Hobby, Deer Park

A Hobby soaring over the south side of the Deer Park at about 1300, being mobbed by the resident Choughs. It drifted away towards the North.

Lesser Whitethroat

Singing at the Gann this morning, little else the four Bartails still present & 14 Whimbrel over.
Nice to meet Owen & Glynis Roberts of Pembrokeshire Birding Hall of Fame as well.

Tree Sparrow

One on Ramsey briefly this morning, the first since 2003 when a pair bred. Lots of Blackcaps around first thing but most soon disappeared, also another Lesser Redpoll over and 2 White Wagtails.

Minwear/Pickle Wood and Canston areas this morning

It was an almost perfect morning for a first BBS visit to the Pickle Wood 1 km sq. this spring and to look at other nearby woodland.

Wood Warblers are back at some expected territories, a few males were trilling away and visiting the ground at some likely nest-sites. Hopefully by next weekend most of their usual territories will be occupied.

Tree Pipits were singing well in one clearing and a garden warbler was singing in nearby scrub.

The total number of willow warblers recorded along the transect route was the highest here for a few years which was nice to see and hear. Mistle Thrushes too seem to be doing well in the area this spring - several singing males were noted and at least two pairs were feeding young.

Siskins were collecting nest-material near the picnic site - this being quite a good spot to see them well first thing in the morning. Judging by the song, there seemed to be a reasonable number of reed warblers over in the Slebech reed-bed.

A distant high flying (presumed male) red kite was on full alert - displaying and stooping at a  male sparrowhawk (which was also displaying high over the forest) and also giving the local raven and a passing heron a bit of a hard time.

A nice range of woodland species anyway and a lovely sunny morning to absorb it all.

  

Abermawr, N Pembs.

Several sedge warblers singing at Abermawr today. And loads of sand martins below the path - more than I've personally seen there in recent years, I think.

Yellow Wagtail - Skomer

A Yellow Wagtail on Skomer this morning.

(Alison Rees)

Black Guillemots - Fishguard Harbour

Three summer plumage Black Guillemots in the harbour this morning (& yesterday).
As usual best viewed from the middle breakwater looking towards the ferry terminal. Though sometimes a bird is seen below the Fort, closer to Lower Town.

Western Cleddau, Treffgarne

Highlights from yesterday evening were a Kingfisher and Dipper, and a pair of Greylag Geese that flew over, calling, at dusk. I wonder where they are roosting?

Reasonable numbers of Blackcaps calling and singing, but otherwise felt a bit empty of summer visitors: no hirundines of any sort.

Short-eared Owls near Nolton Haven

Received an email from Richard Harris on holiday in the area to say that this afternoon he had been watching 2 Short Eared Owls quartering a rough fields near Nolton Haven. He sent a digital image of one of the birds (the view of it is a bit distant) and also managed some video clips but hasn't had chance yet to upload these yet. 

They'll most likely be transient birds but worth looking out for perhaps over the following days. 

There were plenty of whitethroats on the Angle peninsula coast yesterday - some appeared to be back in their usual breeding territories.

There were quite good numbers of swallows moving along the Castlemartin peninsula coast this morning (probably in excess of 4-500 in an hour between 09:00 and 10:00) plus a few dozen or so house martins. A female merlin was hunting some of the hirundines above Pen-y-holt Bay.  

Marloes Mere

Stunning evening to be out and if the sunset wasn't reward enough a male Pied flycatcher just out from the Britton Hide certainly made it worthwhile. c50 Pied/ White wagtails in Trehills field by Oriole Hide and also on hedges and fences, and loads of Swallows low over the water. The Swans were away from the nest and a GBB gull was having a good look while they were distracted. Also 6 Snipe flying around.

A first for Ramsey

Nice to discover a Little Ringed Plover on Ramsey Island during a Breeding Bird Survey this morning, more of a surprise was that it is apparently the first for the island!

Also a Red Kite, a Lesser Redpoll and a colour ringed Wheatear which took 2 attempts to read but read it we did thanks to the trusty Lumix FZ330....C6A. Look forward to hearing more about it.

Gann

2 Common Sandpipers being the latest arrivals,  5 Whimbrel on the shoreline with c 12 over calling heading North. About a dozen RP / Dunlin flock flying around with 1 GN Diver in the bay first thing this morning.

The Wandering Osprey

Presumably the same bird seen over Valero and at West Williamston - one calling as it flew over the Daucleddau near Landshipping on Friday afternoon.(from Alan Lewis)

Offshore today on a very quiet sea.  Puffins seem to be on eggs already and similarly the first Razorbill and Guillemots have laid - its going to be a record early season for the seabirds. The Puffins could be gone by early July if they are incubating en masse byt mid April.

Lots more migrants around with Whitethroats and Blackcaps along the hedges but there still seem to be few hirundines around.

A clifftop walk

We went for a walk past Marloes Mere then along the cliff tops this morning in order to find some Whitethroats. We succeeded - there were plenty singing though I think the full complement had not quite arrived yet. One was even carrying nest material - a very fast worker! Other fast workers were a pair of Stonechats - they were feeding young with big caterpillars so their young must have been well grown. A few Sedge Warblers were singing loudly at the Mere and there were plenty of skylarks between the Marloes iron age fort and Martins Haven. (However, this area had about 10 crows on patrol - marching around on the ground looking for things to eat I presume - I fear for the lark and pipit nests.) Linnets were everywhere, in pairs and in small groups, and singing. But the best thing about the walk (off-topic alert) were the flowers - thrift, kidney vetch and spring squill all blooming together. And the carpets of spring squill on the rocky banks above the little stream that tumbles over the edge at Marloes fort were spectacular.

Cuckoo - The Teifi

Garden Warbler was new for the year on the reserve, with Lesser Whitethroats singing on the reserve and in Poppit Dunes. Gary Reynolds picked up a Cuckoo calling  three times whilst watching waders from the Webley. Two each of Whimbrel, Ringed Plover and Dunlin present on this morning's high tide. A female Goosander still present on the river and a Common Sandpiper from the river view point too.
(sev obs)

Freshwater East

First Whitethroat and Lesser Whitethroat heard singing this morning, near the toilets and in the Burrows, also an over flying Red Kite and Whimbrel foot prints on the very narrow beach.

West Williamston

High spring tide first thing this morning - no sign of Alan's osprey but loads of whimbrel - 25 on the West Williamston shore, more heard on the opposite shore and in the Cresswell River. 5 greylags flying about, more heard.

The Teifi

Lesser Whitethroat in Poppit Dunes was the our first on the Teifi this year.
Grasshopper Warblers still reel from the marsh amongst the Sedge and Reed Warblers and 81 Black-headed Gulls on the river opposite Curlew hide seemed a good mid- April count.
A slow increase in the small waders - 20 Ringed Plover and 15 Dunlin around the estuary this evening.

Osprey - Lawrenny

I had a great view of an Osprey yesterday at 11.45 am.It was carrying a fish and circling above the Cresswell river near Lawrenny, before drifting off in the direction of Carew.
(Alan Collens)

Castlemartin Corse, West Williamston

Corse early - lots of sedge warblers singing, one grasshopper warbler reeling. West Will later - 6 whimbrel.

WTSWW Llangloffan Fen, morning walk

Firstly well done Wildlife Trust for repairing the boardwalk and habitat management, scrub clearance etc. It would be nice if NWR could do the same on their reserve!
It was one of those Spring Mornings when it was good to be alive and all the birds were singing! Not all were showing  particularly well and a gropper (Grasshopper Warbler) was skulking and throwing its voice making it hard to locate. I eventually got a couple of record shots. Willow warblers seemed to be everywhere at least half a dozen singing but again not a particularly brilliant shot.. A pair of Reed Buntings were much more accommodating  but Sedge Warbler and Whitethroat only showed odd glimpses and a pair of Blackcap's were hiding deep inside some blackthorn blossoms!

Marloes Peninsula

Blackcap, particularly female and Whitethroat most evident on usual circuit. Dozen White wagtails and same of Wheatear in West Hooks fields. Tree pipit calling over the Deer Park, also 2 Grasshopper warblers. 2 Whimbrel flying over Marloes Mere, others calling out of sight. Male Kestrel. Good to see Sash and thanks for the little tour, you didn't miss anything.

Great Northern Divers

Five in the bay at the Gann this morning.

Martin’s Haven & Marloes Mere

I had never seen a “fall” of Blackcaps before today, but it was a wonderful experience. Most of the morning, the bushes in the valley were full of the birds: a pretty even mix of males and females. In total probably 40, and maybe 50: hard to be precise, but I frequently had five birds in the field of vision of my binoculars.

Of interest, they were remarkably silent: no sub-song or even contact calls. Instead they fed steadily, generally by “hawking”, and flying up from the top of willows and sallow to catch flies, before diving back down.

Also coming through the valley were good numbers of Whitethroats: 3 males singing, as well as Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs. A single Sedge Warbler started singing: terribly welcome, since they have not obviously bred here in recent years.

This evening at Marloes Mere, 15+ pairs of Teal, a Shelduck and the Pintail. 7 Black-tailed Godwits flew in and around, but I could not see them land to roost.

That Hoopoe at West Lambston

Stunning views of the Hoopoe at West Lambston this evening, which came within 20 feet of us as we sat in the car.

Many thanks to Joy Squires for allowing us to view it. The bird flew off before we left, having attracted the attention of the farmyard cat, but it may not have gone far.

Ffynonne woods

Willow warbler 10
Blackcaps 5
Chiff Chaff 10
Swallow 2
Tawny owl 1
Great spotted woodpecker 2
D

Hoopoe

At West Lambston, just had a phone call from Joy Spires (owner of west Lambston) that the bird has been present most of the day. She is happy to have a birder or three visit if anyone wants to pop over.

Summer spectacular - St Brides/Martin's Haven

Brilliant summer birding along this particular stretch of coast today. Highlights were fulmar, gannets, rafts of razorbills and guillemots, spotted fly, wheatear, willows and chiffchaffs and good numbers of whitethroat too. The warmth also brought out some beautiful butterflies such as orange tips and common blues and some WHOPPING jellies. Careful if you are a sea swimmer!

Pied Flycatchers - Martin's Haven

Taken this morning just below  Lockley Lodge adjacent to the gateway to the park,

There was also a male but was unable to get a shot of it. Several Blackcaps, Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler in the gorse alongside the Lodge, plus a Whitethroat displaying.
(John Freeman)

Osprey - Milford Haven

Swallows, Whitethroats, Chiffchaffs all back on the Refinery site, also an Osprey heading towards Pembroke River 1430.
(Paul Warren)

Castlemartin Corse

Ringtail hen harrier hunting over Kilpaison Burrows - probably the one that's been here all winter. Minimum of 5 Cetti's along the length of the Corse. Several swallows, willow warblers singing in the old decoy ponds area but sedge warblers heard a couple of days ago not singing.

Newport - whimbrels

Yesterday evening - 5 x whimbrels in the ploughed field NW of the iron bridge. And 14 x ringed plover (no sign of Cliff & Fran's special one), 14 x dunlin. A little gathering of linnets, meadown pipits, stone chats and a female reed bunting around the Bennet pond.

Black Redstart Marloes

One at East Hook Farm last Saturday to Monday (Alastair Mylechreest).

The Gann, Thursday

From Mark Cherry : 2 whimbrel, accompanied by 3 Bar-tailed godwits.

3 pairs of shelduck but no courtship calls heard. Teal pair near the houses. 4 linnet, headed for the haven. 60 Oyc’s. Blackcap, chiffchaff, dunnock song. 3 Magpie which I rarely get to record here. Unusually tolerant heron. 1 GBBG and its juvenile. 

Cresting the ridge disturbed a rock pipit and - a personal first for this location - a wheatear.

Ramsey

Male Ring Ouzel on the slopes of Carn Ysgubor this afternoon, first Common Whitethroat of the year and plenty of Blackcaps today.

Marloes Mere

3 Black-tailed godwits, a few Sedge warblers tonight. Duckwise: 42 Teal, 6pr plus 3m Shoveler with 6m and 2f courting, pr Wigeon, pr Shelduck, drake Tuftie spending more time in the south irrigation channel. Blackcaps in numbers inc first females.

Waldo Stone pressli hills

Cuckoo male calling
Willow warbler 10
Blackcaps 5
Chiff Chaff 10
Swallow 4
Red kites 3
Buzzards 2
Great to see cuckoo and there has been a large movement of migrants in the last couple of days

Marloes Mere

We didn't see the drake Garganey late morning or early afternoon, but there was a Whitethroat singing, which was my first of the year, and at least 4 Black-tailed Godwits as well as the long staying drake Pintail.

Garganey - Marloes Mere

A male Garganey was with a group of Teal at Marloes Mere this morning. There were also plenty of Swallows and some House Martins, and a Grasshopper Warbler could be heard reeling from a marshy area at the right of the Britton hide.

Spoonbill - The Teifi Marshes

Whilst watching he first Noctule of the Spring at 830pm, I managed to pick up a Spoonbill drifting down the valley of the Pilau, gently circling lower and appearing to drop near Heron Pond. Otherwise only c100 White Wagtails but Sand Martins are still impressive with c200 again this evening.
(Teifi RG)

Tenby and Amroth

A Grasshopper Warbler reeling at Tenby marsh this morning was my first of the year. Plenty of Willow Warblers, Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs in song too and a Cetti’s Warbler.

At Amroth this evening c40 Eider were quite a surprise close offshore. The choppy sea made getting an accurate count difficult. Also 10 Manx Shearwaters offshore. A Sandwich Tern ysterday and 14 Whimbrel flew through east on Monday 

Priskilly/Llangloffan this morning; Minwear/Blackpool Mill this afternoon

A walk around Priskilly Forest and parts of the valley wetlands below and at Llangloffan Fen produced an expected mix of resident and migrant species.

Willow warblers were very vocal in the wetlands, as were 2-3 were grasshopper warblers and 3 Cetti's warblers in the valley mire below Letterston and at Llangloffan. At least three garden warblers were in full song at Llangloffan, competing with the more numerous blackcaps.

A goshawk over woodland near Letterston upset the resident species as it flew overhead. A pair of kestrels flying over Llangloffan were having a bit of a tussle with the local buzzards for a while.

We suspect that a lesser spotted woodpecker was in the valley wetland at Letterston. We didn't see the bird and only heard it call briefly but the riverine woodland habitat seems ideal for this species. Many years ago they were resident in the upper Cleddau valley so hopefully they are still in the area!

Later in the day at Minwear Forest we watched a chiffchaff collecting food for nestlings - a reminder of how quickly they get down to breeding when they arrive. The grey wagtails at Blackpool Mill were also feeding young, as were the local dippers. We failed to see or hear any redstarts this afternoon though.

Sandwich Terns

Two at the Gann between 5 - 6pm at first resting on the small island, then fishing for 15 mins on the lagoon before heading out to sea.

The Teifi Marshes

Much the same this last 48 hours, c200 White Wagtails came to roost, a large female Sparrowhawk comes to feed c8pm and scatters the birds. A Kingfisher is usually feeding at Mallard Pond with c150 Sand Martins and c30 Swallows.
3/4 Grasshopper Warblers are singing in the evening - a better performance than I can remember for a number of years.
1/2 Whimbrel have been seen  daily since Sunday and a Common Sandpiper yesterday must be one of a few around the estuary. 5 Black-tailed Godwits are generally on the river opposite Curlew hide.
(Teifi RG)

Marloes Mere

Couple of hours around the Mere and across to Martins Haven this evening was pretty quiet. 42 Teal at the mere, 3 pr Shoveler, 2 Wheatear and first 4 Whimbrel of the year flying over towards Skokholm.

Adder sightings

Adder sightings are occasionally reported on this blog, and we as birdwatchers are well placed to observe and report them. There is  a lot of effort and interest in adders at present – their population seems to be declining and the reasons are not really known. ARG (Amphibian and Reptile Group), under the auspices of Sam Langdon are carrying out surveys to try and find hibernation sites (hibernacula), as it is vital that these are protected. To help with this, if you see or have seen any adders, especially more than one together, during the usual hibernation period (October to the end of April) please email Sam on sam.langdon@arguk.org with full details. Historical records of sightings between these months are also very important.

All casual adder sightings throughout the year are also valuable – please record these on WWBIC or use the LERC app which can be downloaded here https://www.lercwales.org.uk/app.php. Also it would be good to carry on mentioning them on this blog. 

(I realise this post is slightly off topic but I have had clearance from the authorities!) 

Narberth Town Chorus

Narberth Novelties. Early this morning (very) a Blackcap belted out its song in the garden behind The Malthouse here in the very centre of town, while at the same time a second bird was also in full song in the car park next to the town's old school.

White Wagtails ...

An easy 200 White Wagtails on the freshly tilled field, N side of  estuary at Newport yesterday evening.
A first good Hirundine morning at Lys y fran resr with 150+ present and a male Goldeneye too.
(Den Vaughan)

Garden Surprise

I certainly didn't expect to find a Peregrine in my South Pembrokeshire garden when I came down for breakfast this morning, but there it was only about 20 feet from the kitchen window !

St Davids Hd this afternoon

A Ring Ouzel and Brambling in Porthmelgan Valley with a few Blackcaps, Wheatears, Willow Warblers etc

Ring Ouzel - Pen Anglas

A male Ring Ouzel feeding around the gorse covered stone wall at SM94945 90043, Pen Anglas.
Seen at c1115 - 1130 this morning.
(Alison Rees)

Another Hoody

Hooded Crow seen early this morning in recently sown field close to St Justinian L.B.S.

I get the impression that sightings of this visitor to our shores are on the increase.

How long before we see two together?

Gann

In a near gale  three Goosanders (?) flying over the bay towards the Field Centre earlier, looked like 1 male & 2 females - However  given the blustery conditions they may've been RBMs but 99% sure they weren't.

Marloes Peninsula

Numbers of White wagtail (25 and 30 in fields near West Hook and behind Lockley Lodge and another 20 near the mere). 6 Wheatear by entrance to West Hook. Plenty of Linnets with flock of 50 opposite NT car park, Martins Haven. Chiffchaffs and Willow warblers all along my walk, with 2 Blackcap in Sashs garden. The female Merlin dashing through the fields must have been spoilt for choice tonight. Dozen Swallows among 40 martins feeding up high over mere. 26 pr Teal seemed a good number, 5pr Shoveler plus 2 male, pr Shelduck plus a male (with the 2 males squabbling and one being driven off) and single male Wigeon. Marsh harrier recorded in Britton Hide logbook today and earlier in week.

Whimbrel

2 at the Gann late afternoon & what sounded like a Lesser Whitethroat singing over Dave`s direction but too breezy & too distant to be certain.

Carew Millpond Spoonbill

This afternoon - adult Spoonbill feeding in shallow water near the castle, near a small group of gulls.

Dale

Walk round Dale Peninsular Wednesday 10th April yielded 3 Wheatears just past the lighthouse towards Marloes. Also charms of linnets and goldfinches, 2 chough, a buzzard, willow warbler and chiffchaff and the stunning scenery only Pembrokeshire can offer.
David and Jane Finch.

Crymych Marsh Area

3 Grasshopper warbler 3
Willow Warbler 4
Chiff Chaff 10
Red kites 3
Golden Plover 500 flying over

White Wagtails - - The Teifi Marshes

At least 2 Grasshopper Warblers singing tonight, c50 Sand Martins was a poor count by recent evenings, but made up by an impressive 200 White Wagtails, They had no intention of feeding, they mainly sat around the back of Mallard Pond before disappearing into the reeds.
(Teifi RG)

Little bit of a surprise!

Went off to try and find some Pied Flycatchers up in the Cambrian Mountains at the Dinas Reserve... and failed. 
On way back dropped in on the Nevern Estuary, Iron Bridge and spotted two odd looking ring plovers on the mud.. Luckily had my scope so copped the yellow eye ring! Pics not brilliant but very distant so OK for record shots (same place i had one about twenty years ago!} 
I wonder if they are breeding on the Nevern, or just stopping off en route elsewhere..

Shelducks at Newport

The norm for this time of year would be 5, occasionally 6 pairs ie a max of 12 birds. Yesterday at high tide there were 23 birds on the water in 2 flocks. Today they were more obviously in twos with 9 pairs & a singleton. These are by far the largest numbers that I (or Karen) have ever seen there.

Migrants

60 Fieldfare being harrassed at Blackpool Mill this morning, good number of Redwing still in Minwear Woods yesterday and a House Martin at Minwear farm.
(Den Vaughan)

Several Grasshopper Warblers singing on the Teifi Marshes this morning, at least one singing this evening. c80 White Wagtails came into roost at Mallard Pond, disturbed by a large female Sparrowhawk showing interest. Snipe, Black-tailed Godwits and Curlew still present around the marsh.
(Teifi RG)

Angle - Eiders

Early afternoon at Kilpaison 5 Eider were out in the middle of Angle Bay - a Summer plumage male, ad. female and 3 imm types. They were diving frequently and bringing up shellfish with some harassing gulls in attendance.  On the beach with the tide dropping quickly 4 Knot, 1 Barwit, 30 Oystercatchers and a Curlew. In the bushes behind the beach 4 Blackcaps and half a dozen Chiffchaffs singing.
Earlier at Angle Harbour very quiet - 1 Little Egret and a lone Swallow.

Brambling - Pen Caer

A male Brambling in one of my fields this morning.
(Rob Johns)

Hen Harrier South of Plumstone.

Crossing some arable land and heading northwards about 4pm, female.

Osprey - Newport

An Osprey, harangued by Herring Gulls, flew up-river towards Nevern, passing the Iron Bridge at 11:19 BST this morning. Quite a sight :)

Migrants - Teifi Marshes

c30 White Wagtails and 300 Sand Martins the highlights this evening. As the tide rose 5 Curlew and several Snipe flew from the river to roost on fields near Heron Pond. Just before dark a Peregrine flew through and a Common Sandpiper called.
(Wendy J and Rich D)

Skok

Our first Tree Pipit of the year today.

Black Swan

Solitary Black Swan on Broad Haven Slashpond  today  3pm
(David Meanwel)

Marloes area and Plumstone Mountain

Lots of Willow Warblers around Marloes area this morning estimated 40+ between Martin’s Haven and Marloes Mere, also 20+ Blackcaps and a few Chiffchaffs. The odd swallow and 3 Sand Martins flew through. 2 Merlins flew east through the Deer Park, one likely caught a Skylark! Plus 3 Wheatears. At Marloes Mere a drake Pintail, c30 Teal, 3 Wigeon and 3 Shoveler and the ringtail Hen Harrier. 

Later in the afternoon the Great Grey Shrike was still at Plumstone Mountain.

Grasshopper Warblers - Teifi Marshes

At least 3 Grasshopper Warblers singing early this morning, Sedge Warbler too - an interesting evening ahead.

Coot

You say - only Coot, but don't look away!

Trefeiddan Marsh, mid AM today, 2 Coots.

There are just two significant bodies of water that fall within the count area that we have watched annually since 2005 here near Pencarnan: Trefeiddan Marsh and Treleddyn Pond. Both attract a good variety of water species, though in small numbers.

Today's Coot sighting on the marsh was a first for us. Previous records show 2 in 2010 and a single in 2016, all at Treleddyn Pond. So today's sighting was a bit special.

So too the Ring-tailed Hen Harrier that quartered the marsh flushing Moorhens, Mallards, Shoveler, Snipe, a possible Redshank -  and of course, the Coots.

It's always difficult to appreciate what's lurking in Trefeiddan's vegetated shallows without the helping hand of a harrier. J and M

Eastern Cleddau near Gelli

An hour's fishing on the Eastern Cleddau yesterday evening, and some nice birds.

3 Snipe flew up from a meadow that had clearly been flooded during the winter.
And the calls of several Siskin from the large pine plantation to the SW of the village.
On the river itself, a Dipper, and a Kingfisher flying downstream carrying a fish: can they have started to nest already, or was this an offering to a mate?

Most interesting was a male Goosander: I have never seen either these or Mergansers on the upper reaches of Eastern or Western Cleddau in over a decade of fishing both rivers. No signs of a female, so likely a winter visitor, but it suggests a (slightly) better stock of fish than my lack of success would suggest (or its causal...).

Great Grey Shrike - Plumstone

Again the GG Shrike very mobile this morning, often perching high.
(Alison Rees)

Martin’s Haven

Much quieter this morning: three Blackcaps, two Chiffchaffs and a Willow Warbler.
A reminder of how early in the season this still is: a glimpse of a Water Rail, and a Snipe flushed in the Trehill Farm field. But at least 5 Skylarks singing there.

White Wagtails on the Teifi

White Wagtail passage picked up a gear this evening with c100 coming to feed on the commercial reed-cut then to roost in the reed-bed.  A good feeding flock of Sand Martins c200 present with less than 50 Swallows. As the tide came in, the waders flew to Heron Pond or the adjacent fields, 5 Black-tailed Godwits, c6 Curlew and a Snipe appeared at dusk.The day started nicely with 5 Willow Warblers ringed at Mallard Pond reedbed.
(Teifi RG)

Marloes Mere

Pintail still present, it was in the far corner by the old hide in company with a couple of shovelers. A couple of Gadwall also present quite near the gate offering good views. Also a Black tailed Godwit on the grass bank at the eastern end of the mere, several chiff chaffs and willow warblers as well as a solitary Blackcap were in the usual bushes in front of the Britten hide. Two female Sparrowhawks over the far side rested on the fence posts. No sign of a Gargany though. Also, a Fox wandering along the bank to the right of the hide. No Swallows or Martins over the mere at around 16:45.

More Martin’s Haven migrants

As noted by Rosemary, a nice fall of Chiffchaffs this morning: several dozen feeding in the grass and low vegetation towards the bottom of the valley. All surprisingly quiet: almost no contact calls, which made the solitary Willow Warbler stand out.

A rather frustrating wader overhead flying towards Skomer at c.0815: plover-sized with no obvious bill, making regular monosyllabic calls with almost a hint of a yelp. Can’t find anything that resembles it in the Collins guide: Xeno Canto next.

The Chiffchaffs and Willow Warbler(s) were still feeding in the sallows at 1830-1900 this evening; birds jumping up to hawk for insects all over the place. And a smart male Pied Flycatcher, who worked his way from the Deer Park gate posts up the valley, and then back down again, over 10 minutes. First one I have ever seen in Spring.

"Our" swallow

Sitting in the conservatory this afternoon with a cup of tea, we were watching a single swallow cruise around the area for about 10 minutes when suddenly it swooped in a big circle over the roof then zoomed down and went straight into our ex-Army pumphouse through a smallish gap over the door. It must have been one of the swallows which bred successfully last year, or was youngster from that brood. (Though the youngsters never had much practice at zooming over the door as the door is mostly open in the summer.) Anyway, this is by a long way the earliest we have ever had a breeding swallow back - usually they turn up about the 17th April. 
On another springlike note, Martins Haven was hopping with migrants at lunchtime, all flycatching in the sunshine. Nothing rare, but lovely to see such obvious passage.

St Davids Hd am

Very few migrants this morning but a male Common Redstart was a nice surprise.

Sandwich Terns

A total of Seven birds flew in & out at the Gann over a 30 minute period this afternoon.
Also 22 Brent Geese, 2 Wheatears, 2 Swallows & 1 GC Grebe on the sea.

Great Grey Shrikes - North Pembs

I have just been talking to Steve and Roger re the timings of these sightings today...

At 1430 a Great Grey Shrike sitting on top of conifers near the lay-by on the road between Llanychaer and Puncheston, this is the only the third time Steve has seen a shrike at this location since his first sighting in Oct.
(Steve Berry)

At 1440 a Great Grey Shrike at Plumstone by the northwest boundary.
(Roger Mathias)

Teifi migrants....

We added White Wagtail at Kingfisher Pond.  One House Martin, and several Swallows were amongst the  c200 Sand Martins feeding  in the rain this evening, whilst the Chiffchaffs, Willow Warblers and Blackcaps kept singing. The very mobile and agressive drake Gadwall is still present.
(Wendy J and Rich D)

Martin’s Haven migrants

A trickle of migrants first thing this morning brought some nice surprises for the garden. A female Common Redstart fed briefly at the Renny’s Slip end before being chased off by a male Stonechat. A Willow Warbler sang for about 5 minutes in the sallows before moving on. And an extremely large, well-marked Redwing attracted the ire of one of the two male Blackbirds holding territory here.
Later, what can only be described as a “gang” of 7 male Blackcaps came through: tightly bunched together, and rather purposeful: they didnt stay long.

This afternoon, 4+ Chiffchaffs and 2 Blackcaps in the sallows, and a Redwing on the Deer Park wall. And a delightfully confiding immature Black Redstart around the cottage: really nice to be able to compare the two redstart species on the day from the same room!

House Martin

House Martin. Pencarnan's first of the year passing through with a handful of Swallows above Porthselau Beach.

Always good to get this one ticked off having spent the past two weeks carefully looking through flocks of Sand Martins, baiting me as they flick over their white bellies as they head off into the distance. I can now relax from looking at all the hirundines. Or can I? How about a Red Rumped Swallow? Must keep the bins at the ready.

6 alba wagtails around the legs of the camp's horses earlier today. They look so clean in their breeding plumage. (0 pieds).

Cuckoo

From Terry Allen - Today (Thursday) 08.15 - Cuckoo - in my garden 1 mile S. of Croesgoch

Freshwater West

4 Sandwich Terns and a single Swallow flew north through the bay this morning.

Ringtail hen harrier, Marloes mere

Ringtail at Marloes Mere this evening flushing 10 snipe, the Lapwing and the Black-tailed godwit. Couple of White wagtails near old Youth hostel. 25 Teal, 2pr Tufties and a drake. 6pr Shoveler, pr Gadwall, pr Wigeon, pr Shelduck. (Garganey in Britton hide notebook from today). Swallows steadily passing west, no Sand martins in cold breeze. Kestrel and big female Sparrowhawk.

Sedge Warbler - Teifi Marshes

A Sedge Warbler burst in to song at 1615 this afternoon, no sign since this morning of the Teifi Osprey. An Osprey seen near Fishguard today too.
On Tuesday a Hoopoe was reported (BirdGuides) feeding on lawns opposite the Creek on the Teifi Marshes, not seen since.
(Sev obs)

Whimbrel

Five Whimbrels were at Picton Ferry this afternoon, my first of year.

Osprey - Teifi

An Osprey was over the river through the Teifi Marshes late morning then headed downstream towards the estuary.

Manx

At last, for several evenings now I have 'scoped the sea beyond Whitesands Bay, from my caravan at Pencarnan, for a returning Manx Shearwater, and today - bingo. The annual caravan list continues to grow.

Hooded Crow

Scoped from the caravan here at Pencarnan today - HOODED CROW

St Davids Head

A steady trickle of Hirundines yesterday along with a couple of very obvious Greenland Wheatears. In Whitesands Bay 2 Sandwich Terns and 4 Red-throated Divers. An adult male Merlin today along with 3 White Wagtails, a couple of Greenland Wheatears and a flock of 10 Blackcaps (all males).

Whooper swan

The Whooper swan still at Penberry reservoir feeding on the bank early evening.