Saturday 19 September 2020

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 Dunlin3 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.