When it comes to birding in Pembrokeshire, Rich Crossen has been an incredibly modest but extremely important contributor. The blog democratized birding, anyone could contribute and hundreds if not thousands have done so, with to date, three and a quarter million page views. As a resource and archive it is probably the modern day equivalent of Graham Rees and Jack Donovan's "Birds of Pembrokeshire", especially with the way digital photography has developed in the ensuing decades. Thanks Rich, and good luck Rosemary! Having just looked at the Guidance notes it seems i should have got Rich's permission to mention him. Oh well I was never much good at sticking to the rules!😇
Wednesday, 30 September 2020
Angle Bay - Rhoscrowther end
Early yesterday evening, over at Angle Bay on a rising/near high tide we noted 7 light-bellied Brents resting offshore. They moved over towards the harbour-side of the bay.
On the Sawdern Point-side, there were three separate roosts occupied by waders, including: c.100-120 Curlews, 70-80 Oystercatchers and at least 30-40 Dunlin (probably more). Around 6-7 Knot were also visible but views of the area were distant.
A Kingfisher flew across the bay, where there were at least 500 Wigeon resting offshore, plus some possible new arrivals occasionally dropping in from the Milford Haven direction. At least 5 GC Grebes were feeding out in the bay. The Mute Swan flock feeding just offshore numbered 23.
The previous day at Landshipping was fairly quiet, but a 1CY Goshawk (possibly one that has been around for a few weeks now) was chased across the mouth of the Eastern Cleddau by the resident crows.
Finally, a big thankyou to Richard C. for setting up the Sightings and Bird Group Blog-sites all those years ago and for your input to maintain these sites now, pleasingly, to be run as one combined site.
Marloes Mere this afternoon
It was very quiet on the ponds with just Mallard and Moorhen visible but lots of cover. The "Buff breasted" field had no waders but over 425 Herring Gull and 77 Great black-backed gulls (59 adult or near adult and 18 this years juvs) and not one had a Skokholm or indeed any colour ring on. About 90% were standing up and visible - quite a collection of birds mostly loafing or preening and maybe a pre roost gathering (it was 1630 when I left).- wonder where they all came from? One exceedingly dark juvenile presumed LBB gull might be worth a look in better light if it returns.
On Tenby golf course yesterday only 16 Chough but a good movement of Meadow pipits noted.
Newport Green ringed Med Gull
It's R2JN, ringed as a chick in the Vendee (W France) in June 18. It was in Finisterre later that Summer, then disappeared for a year before turning up in Cornwall in Jan & Feb this year. It was on the Isle of Wight in March, Llanon in Ceredigion (where they have flocks of several hundred Meds) in July & August, & has been at Newport for the last c10days.
& many, many thanks to Richard for the blog, which has seriously widened the horizons of Pembs birding (& mine too).
Under New Management
After 14 years running the blog with the invaluable help of Richard Dobbins, Mike Young Powell and Brian Southern it felt like time for a change.
I have now handed over control of Pembrokeshire Birds to the Pembrokeshire Bird Group which neatly brings all matters to do with birding in Pembrokeshire under one umbrella. Readers and contributors to the blog will not see any material change to the blog apart from an update to the Contact section above and the addition of an Events section on the right. The Pembrokeshire Bird Group blog has now been discontinued and all matters concerning the Bird Group can be found via the links on this blog.
Rosemary Royle, a long time, active, member of the Pembrokeshire Bird group will monitor the sightings and queries received by e mail with the help of myself and others.
The change in control of the blog is probably a good time
to remind those posting on the blog or, indeed, emailing in
information, of the guidance notes which can be found as a link from the
About section above.
Tuesday, 29 September 2020
Skokholm
A Little Bunting and another new Yellow-browed Warbler along with a fine variety of migrants.
Newport
From Clare Ryland - Newport Bridge 3p.m. 2 Common Sandpipers, c300 Canada Geese , 1 Knot and 2 Bar-tailed Godwit. Also 2 Med Gulls – one had a green ring on the left leg, I have attached a photo,sorry the definition is not great but someone who knows what they’re looking for might be able to decipher the ring!
Hubberstone, Gann
From John Whitehurst - Lovely, very visible stream of swallows crossing low and heading south over the road between Hubberstone and the Gann during the 5 minutes? or so journey around 9:30.Quite spectacular and impossible to estimate numbers. Many on wires around the Gann or picking a last few insects from the pools in the sunshine before shooting off down to the haven entrance on their way. Perfect day to move.
Kete and Martins Haven
No sign of James's starling, those gardens and bits of cover always worth a grilling. The Chaffinches were there but nothing better. 70+ of the Common variety with the cattle down by the lighthouse gave me something to check through, just a handful of Meadow pipits and Pied wagtails. 2 Wheatear. Most noticeable was the constant chirrrup of Skylarks passing high overhead.
A quick check of Martin's Haven before light went. Very quiet and quite a chilly breeze. 4-5 Blackbirds behind the toilet block looked new in.
Swallows & Redwings
Hundreds of Swallows passing through Camrose West to East mid morning, also an early start produced two Redwing both adults.
Rosy Starling
A Juvenile Rosy Starling was in a tree of the garden of Kete House, near St Ann’s Head this morning. It was with a group of about 10 Chaffinches, showing really well from the road at 8am. After a short walk on to the coast I walked back past the house at 8:30, but there was no sign of the bird or the Chaffinches it had been with. Hopefully it will still be in the area.
Later this afternoon, a smart male Whinchat was at Trefrane Farm, near Newgale.
The Gann
Late yesterday afternoon, 5 Barwits, 1 Blackwit, Kingfisher & 4 Wheatears. Dave put me onto the Osprey in the Pines after scoping it from his garden.
Osprey still here today, managing to catch a small fish around midday.
With the usual bothersome Crow
Monday, 28 September 2020
Brent Goose at the Flagpoles
There was a lone brent goose feeding with a small flock of mallard in the outflow of the stream at the Flagpoles this afternoon.
Gann
Maxed out on gull colour rings this morning, with 15 red ones from Skokholm Island, by far and away my best return in one session - previous best was 4 I think! Also a yellow ringed bird (5AA4) which was ringed on Guernsey in 2014, and see on Skokholm August 2019. Three ringed Herring Gulls (2 from Skokholm, 1 possibly from Skomer) and 2 Mediterranean Gulls (1 red, only partially read, 1 green RU93, awaiting details).
A few small waders flying around included a (the) Curlew Sandpiper.
Dale airfield
Good check of the airfield before the constant drizzle sent me packing. 12 Snipe along the runways, so probably many more in the 'rough' and 2 Wheatear. Goldcrests along the track up and in Dale Castles sycamores gave hope of something better.
Dinas - Bedd Morris
Nice walking around on high ground between Dinas and Newport on Saturday. Two flocks of 25 and 45 golden plover; a gang of rooks mobbing a male kestral and then a red kite; a few groups of up to 60 linnets; small numbers of meadow pipits and skylarks; 2-3 buzzards; 2 ravens, 1 snipe.
In one area there were large numbers of fox moth caterpillars and devil's coach-horse beetles. One of the nature highlights for me this year was the flight of 100s of male fox moths on the evening of 1st June, Dinas Mountain.
Scaup - Pen Beri
A 1st-year female Scaup on Pen Beri pond near St. David's on 24th (Owen & Glynis Roberts).
Sunday, 27 September 2020
Dale Airfield
Dale Airfield was brimming with bird life first thing this morning. Although not at all rare, the most surprising birds for me were two Great spotted Woodpeckers working their way along the fence posts not far from the entrance gate - the first time that I have seen them there.
Apart from that, there were maybe eight Wheatear, Skylarks, plenty of Meadow Pipits and Linnets, a white Wagtail, a couple of Chough and a very tame Grey Plover, which seemed totally unconcerned by my presence. I'd like to have stayed longer to see if the Whinchat that Brian spotted on Monday was still there (I also saw it on Tuesday), but I ran out of time. One thing I love about the airfield is that almost anything can turn up.
Marsh Harrier - the Teifi
A Marsh Harrier is providing great views as it hunts over the marsh from along the main path through the reserve.
(Photo Colin Dalton)
Broadhaven
From David Meanwell - Broad Haven North beach at 5.30pm today a Brent Goose flying solo Landed to feed on the high tide. Photo taken on my phone from just few feet away
Gann & around
The Osprey's amazing run continued to its 24th day today! Even if you can't see the leg ring, it is quite easily identifiable by the broken outer primary (P10) on the right wing, clearly visible in this photo:
Also the Curlew Sandpiper still on the lagoon, and 10 Mediterranean Gulls this evening (the most for quite some time - 5 adults, 2 2CY, 3 1CY).
Had another look over the airfield late afternoon, extremely quiet - 2 Wheatear was the best I could muster.
Swallows
A walk along the south coast of the Marloes Peninsula to get my annual fix of seal pups was enlivened by the almost continous eastwards passage of swallows, just in ones and twos, not much higher than head height, flicking along the top of the cliffs and over the fields.
Saturday, 26 September 2020
Marloes and the Gann
A blustery walk out to Martin's Haven not surprisingly was pretty quiet. A flock of 50 House sparrows and same of Goldfinch was about as good as it got. A female Pintail on the mere was best I could see there. Lots of large gulls (c500) mostly Herring gulls were hunkered down in the buff-breast field with others in a stubble field by Trehill.
Whooper Swan
Flew into the Gann from Marloes direction & landed on the sea close to the shore around 0745 this morning, there was also another Swan out in the bay too far out to be certain but I suspect it was a juv Mute. The Osprey flew out of the Pines about 0815, being heckled by four Crows & headed for Mullock marsh, it seemed to settle somewhere at the end of Slate(?) Lane where it promptly vanished from sight.
Friday, 25 September 2020
Dale Airfield
My first Merlin of the autumn (year?) and a single Ringed Plover. No sign of the Grey Plover, which was still present yesterday.
Osprey
Still at the Gann around 12:30 today, cruising around the lagoon - it didn`t make any serious attempt to catch anything - I wondered if the rough water & windy conditions were to blame. 22 days now, must be some kind of record ?
Spent a therapeutic seawatch at Strumble with Brian, Paul & George between 0730 & 10:00, being a lazy so & so I just enjoyed watching everything fly past, Brian & Paul did the counting.....
Ramsey - seawatch
Morning seawatch: 2 sooty shearwaters, 6 Bonxie, 2 Arctic Skua, 14 Manxies, 1 Sandwich tern, 46 common scoter. Large auk and kittiwake movements
St Govan's
With a howling North Westerly blowing I travelled to St Govan's this morning more in hope than expectation. Unsurprisingly there was no sign of the Dotterel or the Buff Breasts. Wheatear numbers were also down considerably with 9 seen altogether in the areas on both sides of the car park. No Chough seen either. Still, it was a nice walk!
Thursday, 24 September 2020
Gann
A very brief look at the Gann as I was in the area dropping off another Manxie with Dave and Lisa. An intriguing smallish 1cy gull with charcoal black legs and bill, had George, Fiona and myself guessing, eventually it took flight and revealed itself as a Med gull of diminished proportions (definitely looked on the small size hunkered down against the BHs, don't you love gulls).
2 1cy GBB gulls: a Skokholm ringed (red ring, white 'W') and a Bardsey ringed (green ring, white 'B'). Too blustery and damp for reading the digits. Otherwise 4 Dunlin, 1 Ringed plover and 4 Bar-tailed godwits flew up to the marsh.
The Gann
An adult Little Gull "dancing" in the surf for a few moments before flying upstream, the presence of windsurfers probably not encouraging its return.
Wednesday, 23 September 2020
Loads more Chough...
A flock of 18 birds on the Deer Park early evening, busy feeding on the clifftop as they do. Then, all hell broke loose....a mass of squawking and jumping up and down, and one bird was pinned to the floor and pecked vigorously, before it managed to break free and two birds chased after it and saw it off. Most birds were bystanders, but they certainly cheered on. Amazing!
Loads of Chough
Every time I visit Tenby there seem to be more Chough on the golf course - largest flock yesterday was 26 but there were small groups and pairs all over the place - although of course they could just be the big flock broken up. Only other birds of note were a couple of Wheatear.
Today at least 300 small gulls on the Llanstadwell spit around 1400hrs so just after half tide on the ebb but no bins in the car so no ID although the close ones all seeemed to be BH Gull. 17 Mute Swans too.
Gann & Dale Airfield
The Osprey was still present around 9:30am, fairly high up and being mobbed (as usual) by corvids, but it was not seen to attempt to fish. An adult Arctic Tern sitting on a small buoy offshore was nice, as were the 3 Wheatears which included a smart winter male. Skylarks were moving westwards in groups of up to 6, while a flurry of Swallows were all going in the other direction. 2 Bar-tailed Godwit, 11 Dunlin and 2 Ringed Plover were the pick of the waders. On Monday, there was a smart male Ruff on the river, still in some of it's breeding finery.
On Dale Airfield lots of Skylark, Meadow Pipit and Linnet, along with 4 Wheatear. A single Grey Plover was presumably the same bird seen on Monday, and there 3 Golden Plover on the weedy field at the western end, and a Snipe flew over.
Angle
Early afternoon at Kilpaison with the tide dropping no waders other than a couple of Dunlin which flew in then headed inland. 29 Brents were on the water then came ashore when the tide dropped. The Mute Swans were joined by 4 juvs making 20 in total. Several hundred Wigeon were some way out in the bay.
A Manx Shearwater was on the beach but shuffled in when a dog approached - pic Mike Davey, who advises it later succumbed- nabbed by a Great Backed Gull. Another victim of the disorientation of the bright lights of Milford Haven.
Round at Angle Harbour very quiet but 12 Meds with a similar number of Black Headed Gull on the shingle spit.
Castlemartin Corse
I reluctantly dragged myself to the Corse for a WEBS count - the place is in a desperate state, rank and under-grazed, and with not a drop of standing water apart from a small puddle near the hide. The only water birds were one grey heron, and 2 water rail heard. 2 Cetti's sang, 2 chough were knocking about and 4 raven flew over. Reed bunting heard. I didn't put up a single snipe.
Tuesday, 22 September 2020
Goodwick
From Mike B - at Goodwick this morning just after 10 a.m. , 3 Dunlin , 17 Turnstone, 21 Ringed Plover, 1 Wheatear and 1 White Wagtail.
The Gann
At dusk last night 12 Little Egrets roosting in the Sycamores, first thing this morning a Pochard was out in the bay, with the long staying Razorbill close inshore. On the foreshore a small group of c12 Dunlin escaped a spectacular a high speed attack by a male Peregrine.
West Williamston
A look along the Carew and Cresswell Rivers at West Williamston just before high tide this morning drew a blank on Ospreys. There were however a good number of Little Egrets with 16 in total. Also 3 Greenshanks, 19 Curlew and 2 Red Kites.
Yesterday afternoon in a field near Park Farm just north of Manorbier there were 22 White Wagtails.
Monday, 21 September 2020
Dale - yesterday
From Peter Howe - Hi just a note walked Dale to St. Anne’s head to Dale, along the coastal path. Lots of willows and chiffs, the latter calling well, 33 chough west of Kete and some interesting behaviour at St. Anne’s male and female kestrel I think displaying? shouting/calling at each other, and clutching each other’s talons and spiralling To the ground, before breaking off.
Gann
From Alan Seago - The Osprey flew over the pools at the Gann at 10.20. Made a couple of false dives and was mobbed by a heron. It disturbed a flock of gulls in amongst which were three lapwing and a bar-tailed godwit. A perigrine flew over and flushed a flock of 30 dunlin and 3 ringed plover.
Dale airfield
Had a good look around Dale airfield late afternoon, 3 Curlew the only waders. A Whinchat along the SW-NE runway was the pick. Single Wheatear. A large flock of Linnet with a few Meadow pipits were bathing in the pool created by the overflowing watertrough gave me something to look through. Clouds of Red Admirals in the ivy along the track up, and just a lone Chiffchaff.
Osprey at Landshipping briefly
Having had no electricity for much of the day, we went out for the day including
doing one of our usual walks to Landshipping Quay. We were not there long before
the local corvids spotted an Osprey heading down-stream from the Millin Pill
direction at about mid-day (presumably the bird that Brian saw yesterday?). The
large crow community around here is generally hostile to any passing raptor and
it was soon escorted out of the area. It headed on towards the Llangwm
direction. We waited a while, but it didn't return. Hopefully it will stick
around and perhaps it will turn up in the Carew/Cresswell area? One to watch out
for Richard!
Later we had look for the Chough roost at St Govan's. There was a
smaller number than yesterday (probably no more than 16) and they went to roost
on Chapel Point (a regular spot). Earlier, we had a quick look for the B-b
Sandpipers and the Dotterel but didn't seen them.
A single Whinchat was perched on
gorse at Buckspool Down and, as over the weekend, there were lots of Wheatears
about.
Little Milford - Little Stint
A juvenile Little Stint was busy feeding on the mud on a falling tide on east bank of the river around 1pm, almost opposite the two waterside houses. Initially it was with two Dunlin and a few more arrived later. These, along with eight Greenshank, some Redshank and a few Curlews and gulls were put up by a Sparrowhawk cruising south along the hedge before landing on an ash tree opposite me.
After things calmed down, the numbers of waders increased to over 30 of both Dunlin and Redshank, but I could not see the Little Stint. Five Little Egret, three Teal and singles of Kingfisher, Grey Wagtail and singing Chiffchaff put in an appearance.
Single Glossy Ibis
A quite autumn day here at Pencarnan - literally - no waves, no wind,no barking dogs, no notable bird activity. Or so we thought.
Sat on deck in the late afternoon wall to wall sunshine listening to Lucky Dube strum out Jamaican rhythms while Marion popped two corn cobs into the microwave, I sat idly, bins in hand, digesting the scenic beauty of Whitesands Bay back-dropped by Carn Llidi when a Raven flew overhead heading in the direction of Ramsey Sound. Not far behind followed its mate and then a second dark bird, a flying cross with a long down curved bill. Marion! Grab your bins, hurry.
This was our second addition to the caravan list this year following on from a Tree Sparrow during the lockdown on April 4.
Such unexpected moments are the thrill of birding, a magic moment, the excuse to turn up the reggae beat and pour another glass.
Kilpaison colour-ringed wader update
Replies have now been received for the colour-ringed Ringed Plovers spotted by Mike Davey on Saturday at Kilpaison.
Red/Yellow flag XTT was ringed as a 1stW at Giske Ornithological Station, Norway on 6 September 2020, so a fairly rapid movement SW covering 1350km in 13 days.
The bird with a pink and black colour combination was ringed as a nestling at Beltringharder Koog, Germany on 14 May 2019. It was observed on two other dates in May 2019 at the ringing site, but not seen subsequently until this sighting.
News has already been posted by Dave for the bird with the Green/White combination first seen at the Gann on 25 August beforen moving to Kilpaison, and all three ringing sites are shown on the map below. For such a small wader, its an amazing result to have three colour-ringed birds all from different locations at the same place and time, and get good enough views to read the combinations fully.
Thanks Mike - great stuff!
Dinas mountain
2 Chough, 1 Snipe, 1 m Kestrel, a flock of c100 Linnets and a good passage of Skylark overhead.
Black Kite at Dowrog Common
Sunday afternoon. The bird was sitting on a wooden post or rail across a small field by the Fishguard road side cattle grid, apparently feeding on something, I only had my Bins so I wasn't sure what it was, when I got to the grid I looked over the hedge and the bird took off, obviously a Kite, but with no grey head and no rufous colouring, as it then turned and flew overhead the almost square tail made it clear what we were seeing. Not seen one before, so a bit of excitment too! It flew higher and drifted off to the west accompanied by a couple of Jackdaws.
Sunday, 20 September 2020
Yellow Legged Gull
From David Meanwell - A solitary adult yellow legged gull remaining after Herring Gull flock flew off
6.45pm Broad Haven North beach.
Skokholm
A second Yellow-browed Warbler and a second Lapland Bunting today (both unringed and thus different to those logged in the last couple of days). Plenty of common migrants again.
Gann
From Sid Simmons - 9 days since my last visit and white on blue 422 is still hanging outat the Gann.
Carew/Cresswell and Daugleddau WeBs (a.m) , Castlemartin Range (pm)
It was a pretty decent Sept WeBS count along the Carew/Cresswell estuary this morning, despite the higher than usual amount of boating and kayaking etc traffic. Totals from various roosts included 37 Oystercatchers, 120 Redshanks, 25 Greenshanks (including flocks of 10 and 12), 150+ Curlews, 18 Black-tailed Godwits, 40 Dunlin, 15 Little Egrets, 75+ Teal, a single Pintail at New Shipping (scarce here at this time of year). The count ended with a Great White Egret flying up the Carew River but it didn’t seem to land anywhere.
Over at Landshipping there were about 100 Redshanks, 3 Common Sandpipers, c.20 Dunlin and 2 Curlew Sandpipers that appeared on the falling tide and started feeding with the Dunlin. At least 100 curlews flew down towards Sprinkle Pill from the Eastern Cleddau direction, perhaps disturbed by numerous watercraft in the area. A passing adult male Goshawk caused a bit of a panic, but the shore birds quickly returned to carry on feeding.
 |
| One of the two Curlew Sandpipers feeding with Dunlin |
The previous evening, we had recorded 50+ Ringed Plovers, 16 Sanderlings, several Grey Plovers, a few Bar-tailed Godwits and a couple of Whimbrel amongst good numbers of Curlew and Oystercatchers at Frainslake/Bluckspool area at Castlemartin and a single 1CY male Merlin was seen briefly at Bulliber Down.
It was pleasing to see the Dotterel and the two
Buff-breasted Sandpipers between Huntsman’s Leap and Stennis Ford, Castlemartin
– the latter being a new bird for Annie. The flock of 24 choughs was still present
late in the afternoon, feeding in the same area.
10 of the flock of 24
Lunch at Marloes
A quick look at the field by the car park for the Buff-breasted Sandpiper - I thought it might have gone as I am usually too late for these things, but there it was, right at the northern end of the field loosely associating with about 4 Wheatears. Followed by a Runwayskiln lunch and of course all in fantastic weather. This made up for an aborted WEBS count at the Gann - there were loads of people there waiting for the Osprey to appear, quite a few toting very big lenses. There was even an inflatable canoe hovering in the river mouth. Not good conditions for small waders! Try again tomorrow.
Kilpaison and St Govan's
A quick look at Kilpaison around 0945 as the tide was starting to drop. Pretty quiet with a smallish group of waders flying back and forth along the waterline not wanting to settle - c.50 Dunlin, c.10 Ringed Plover and a Turnstone. 16 Mute Swans were close in and several hundred Wigeon way out over towards Angle. 9 Little Egrets were roosting on the north side of the bay.
So, onto St. Govan’s hard on the heels of Dave A for another look for the Buff Breasts. Arriving there they were found quickly in the sloping, grassy area immediately to the west of the car park so had obligingly moved closer since Dave's visit (to the same location where they were seen yesterday evening). Incredibly confiding they allowed a very close approach and ignored the many non birding visitors which were around. A big thanks to Angie and Andy Polkey for e mailing in the info on these birds yesterday.
Another look for the Dotterel was also rewarded with good close views. It was on it's own this time and, without the Golden Plover, allowed a close approach.
24 Chough back near the car park rounded off a great morning.
Osprey, Hook Reach
An Osprey cruising along Hook Reach, Western Cleddau about 1pm, was the highlight whilst doing Daves WEBs. It drifted down to almost Millin Pill before gaining height and looping back up river.
Buff-breasted Sandpipers & Dotterel
Had to go back & try again for the 2 Buff-breasted Sandpipers at St Govan's, and I'm glad I did! Couldn't find them initially, and ended up about a mile west of the car park, where the Dotterel was still present with 3 Golden Plover.
I returned towards the car park, checking every grassy patch on the coastal side of the path, and I'm glad I did as I discovered the Buff-breasts around 9am on the second grassy patch above Huntsman's Leap, about 800m west of the car park (basically, where they were first seen on Friday). Clive Hurford saw them around midday closer to the car park, still on the slopes above the cliffs. They showed well - I just love this species, and without a doubt my best views ever.
Little Stint - the Teifi
The juvenile Little Stint still present this morning feeding with c 100 small waders in the estuary.
(Dyfed James)
Saturday, 19 September 2020
Dotterel @ St Govans, & those Buff-breasts...
I decided to have an afternoon away from Dale, so headed over to St. Govan's Head to look for yesterday's Buff-breasted Sandpipers. I failed to find them (although Ed Hunter did locate them after I left, just to the west of the car park at St Govan's, on the first grassy slope on the clifftop). I did, however, find the same Dotterel seen earlier by Richard Crossen - I had no idea it was there, amazing that we both encountered it! It was still with 3 Golden Plover, just beyond the cattle grid west of the car park (about 15 mins brisk walk). A stunning bird.
Great White Egrets
2 Great White Egrets this morning 10 am, came from the sea and headed East towards Fishguard.
(Rob Johns)
Swallow Spectacular
For the second evening running a brief but spectacular display of Swallows around 18:40 as several hundred birds, probably well over a thousand, swarmed low over the field at the back of our house in St Florence. There is a large field of maize nearby where, I suspect, they are roosting.
Begs the question whether these are the same birds returning to the roost having been out foraging near and wide for the day or another passing congregation. I suspect the former as I did not see a strong passage of Swallows today at St Govan’s or back home.
Angle colour-ringed waders
The colour-ringed oystercatcher and two ringed plovers posted by Mike this morning are not from local schemes. The oystercatcher is from a scheme registered in The Netherlands, the yellow-flagged ringed plover is from a scheme in Norway, and the other is perhaps from Germany. The project organisers have been notified and once any information comes back, I'll post it here.
Skokholm
Melodious Warbler still here. Bonxie, Lapland Bunting and Firecrest all found their way into the ringing hut. Nice variety of other migrants including Whinchat, Grasshopper Warbler and Ring Ouzel.
Wryneck
A report from Andy Dawe of a Wryneck between Tavernspite and Llanteg. Unfortunately the bird was delivered to the back door by their cat!
Pembroke castle.
The moat around the castle has been drained, 48 Black-tailed Godwits and 4 Dunlin on the mud flats.
Angle bay.
At Kilpaison this morning, Dunlin 165+, Ringed Plover 60+, Knot 8, Bar-tailed Godwit 1, Curlew Sandpiper 1, Brent geese 7, Also 4 ringed birds on the beach, Bobs German Ringed Plover, And 2 other Ringed Plover and a ringed Oystercatcher, Perhaps someone with the ringing Knowledge could research and post ringing info.
Castlemartin Dotterel
Late morning I had a look at St Govan's for the Buff Breasted Sandpipers reported seen yesterday. No luck but some nice compensation in the form of a juv Dotterel with 3 Golden Plover near Buckspool Down on the Castlemartin Range footpath west of St Govan's - SR 95655 93446. It seemed quite happy keeping the Plovers company.
In the same area 1 Kestrel, 2 Chough, 12 Wheatears with 17 on the walk from St Govan's in all. Also 2 White Wags, 3 Stonechats perhaps 20 Meadow Pipits.
Early afternoon I had a look to the east of the St Govan's car park and saw 21 Chough, 3 Wheatears, and, in the small valley at Trevallen Downs, 4 Stonechats and a Spotted Flycatcher.
Turtle Dove
A beautiful Turtle dove was in the carpark at Porthclais early this morning in
the big Sycamore tree to the left of the toilets very quiet otherwise.
Martin's Haven and the Gann
Great morning birding!
Stopped off first at NT Marloes car park about 7am - 1 Buff-breasted Sandpiper was still in the field by the car park. It was on it's own, with no other waders in the field, just Gulls.
Next on to Martin's Haven. Unfortunately much quieter than I'd hoped. A Juvenile Marsh Harrier flew over from Skomer, heading no doubt for the Mere. 2 Grey Plovers also circled calling for a while, before flying south. I flushed a Snipe on the Deer Park, the first I have seen this autumn. 19 Chough were feeding on the coast. The valley was pretty quiet with a few of the usuals. 1 Blackcap was the best there.
Finally on to the Gann. I quickly caught up with the Little Stint reported earlier by Derek. c40 Dunlin, 3 Knot, 11 Ringed Plover and 1 Curlew were keeping it company on the beach. The lagoons were really busy with waders coming and going. Briefly had another Buff-breasted Sandpiper (or the same one??) with 5 Greenshank, 2 Ruff, 1 Barwit, 3 Blackwits, 3 Dunlin and a few Redshank but these quickly scattered upon the arrival of the Osprey from the Mullock direction. Some of the waders returned shortly after, but sadly the Buff-breast and Dunlin did not. A Kingfisher sitting in the blackthorn was also nice.
Little Stint at the Gann
In with some 30 Dunlin & 4 Knot this morning, with George Mee & Lionel Self
