Gann

The Glossy Ibis flew in from the direction of Dale just before 5pm and went to roost with 5 Little Egret in the trees overhanging the lagoon just below Crabhall.  The Hooded Crow was on the beach on the Musselwick side of the river just before this, and 3 Brent Geese (all adult pale-bellied) flew in from the bay and were stood on Cormorant Island at dusk. (Dave & Lisa)

Llangwm Ferry and Pill

My early morning walk around the shore and Pill at Llangwm this morning began with a veritable swarm of noisy goldfinches in the trees overlooking the shore at Ferry Bay. Feeding along the tideline at Llangwm Ferry were 79 blackwits with further 33 on the tideline on the opposite side of the Pill (probably the most I've ever seen in Llangwm at any one time). Also present were a couple of hundred lapwing and at least 100 dunlin. There were 38 shelduck plus our ruddy hybrid and maybe more unsighted in the gullies. The usual numbers of teal and redshank were widespread along the Pill together with 19 mallard and solitary curlew, greenshank and little egret. Our two mute swan youngsters are beginning to exchange their grey/brown feathers for white. We are hoping that their parents will attempt to raise another brood this spring and their 'raft' has been refurbished with a new ramp and wooden rails and is sporting a lush mound of grass in readiness.

Cheers...

Graham Brace

Glossy Ibis

The Glossy Ibis was still in its usual field in Dale early afternoon yesterday (Sunday). It has become quite a local celebrity!

Sightings - Goodwick

From Dave Perry: Goodwick - Rising Tide, Westerly 4-5, Bright, Cold 

20+ Oystercatcher between Ocean Lab and Flags(poles)

6 Curlew

1 Whimbrel

1 Med Gull in with the crowd out from The Flags

1 Redshank

Willow Tit, Henry's Moat

A willow tit returned to our bird feeders this morning just in time to be recorded in the Big Garden Birdwatch.  First sighting since last spring.

Maggie Bissmire

Whooper swans

 

Very distant photo of 6 of the 8 Whooper swans on St Davids airfield this morning.  Difficult to photograph as they are a long way from the path - but - lovely to see in the sunshine

Sightings

Here are a couple of photos of the Glossy Ibis taken from the road in Dale . Also a heavy cropped photo of the Hooded crow which was on the far spit at the Gann . Great to see. 

Happy Birding Cheryl Hewitt 

 

Water Pipit

Slightly delayed report but there was a Water Pipit on the rocks,  Cwm yr Eglyws beach, on Friday. Also Fulmar were prospecting their nest sites on the cliff opposite Needle Rock, Pen Dinas, including pair bonding behaviour.

Marloes Mere report

From Brennig Hughes: Quick trip to Marloes Mere gave views of a female Tufted Duck, ringtail Harrier and a Peregrine. Then off to Dale for the Ibis before a Merlin at the airfield, and another Peregrine at the Gann.

Newport Iceland Gull

From George Mee: Adult Iceland gull in the flock on the estuary late morning. Seems likely its the bird reported from the Teifi last week. The bird remained distant and was sleeping for most of the time we were watching it. 

Ring-neck duck, still at Rosebush

Managed to grab a couple of hours late this afternoon. The drake Ring-necked duck was looking nice, if a bit distant, in the setting sun at Rosebush. 9 Tufted duck (7m) and a drake Goldeneye visible, others probably out of sight.

Later than usual getting to Llys-y-fran, lots of gulls already on the water at 4:15pm, majority up around the hide so had to view from distance. The small biscuity coloured juvenile Iceland gull appeared at 5pm,with at least 7 Yellow-legged gulls (6 adults and a 2cy), quite a few smart looking Herring gulls and hooded BH gulls coming into breeding plumage, 10-15 Common gull, 2 adult GBB gulls patrolling menacingly, just a single adult Med gull. The last waves of gulls came in from the west this evening. 3 Goldeneye (2m), 4 GC grebe pairing up and courting, a Little egret flew in at dusk had a brief fish along the eastern arm before heading off and a female Goosander.

Hook - Big Garden Birdwatch

 21 species made the list in this morning's hour of Big Garden Birdwatch in Hook. The most unusual was this smart male Brambling.

Glossy Ibis and more (Thursday)

From Linda Kingsnorth:

Today at Dale the Glossy Ibis was in its usual field around 4pm, it wasn’t there at 3:30pm. At The Gann we saw wigeon, oystercatcher, redshank, moorhen, black tailed godwit, teal and a green shank. All helped by the sunshine! 

Newport Bridge Thursday

 Thursday lunchtime at Newport bridge : 7 little grebes, 2 little egrets, 1 greenshank, 2 common sandpipers, 9 redshank and 5 ringed plover. 22 curlew feeding in the field north of the river on the seaward side of the bridge. One great-crested grebe visible from the beach and a chiffchaff actively feeding in the scrub. No sign of the water pipit.

Castlemartin Corse

With a sunny end to the day in prospect I thought I'd give the Short Eared Owls recently sighted at Castlemartin Corse a go. In the car park I bumped into David O and we walked down the Corse together.

A flock of 150 or so Golden Plover were flying over the south side of the Corse and flew down to the ground to join a group of a couple of hundred Lapwing. A 100 yards or so past Starmans Hall 2 Merlin flew past quite close across the Corse and over to the dunes on the north side. The reed bed was very quiet though a single Marsh Harrier was seen perched on a bush in the reeds some way off. 

Walking back to Starmans Hall the action started soon after 4 p.m. when a couple of Short Eared Owls were seen quartering over the dunes on the north side of the main drainage channel just a couple of hundred yards or so east of the road. Then 3 Owls were seen flying around together. I watched as one pounced down, stayed on the ground for a while and then flew off with a rodent. 3 birds were then seen flying quite high up including the one with prey. A further Owl was perched on a pole at the back of the Corse so 4 birds in all. By 4:45 p.m. the action had died down with just the bird perched on the pole and another on a fence in view.

A Ringed Tail Hen Harrier picked up in the distance flying over the reedbed by David rounded things off nicely. It put up 50+ Snipe.

A great couple of hours in the almost spring like sunshine.

Castlemartin Corse

Counting roughly on screen in tens, 1600-ish golden plover in this flock? Swirling masses over the fields at Gupton, with lesser numbers of lapwing in the second picture of goldies on the ground. Plenty of snipe in the fen meadow (where were they the other day?), marsh harrier, water rail and 3 Cetti's singing. But as Richard C observed recently not a lot of small birds. 

1600 golden plover in the air

Some of them on the ground, with lapwings above.

Glossy Ibis @ Dale

The Glossy Ibis still present this afternoon in Dale, in the usual field adjacent to the car park.  Best viewed from the road, I didn't even get out of the car.  Nice to see it in better light, although I missed the sunshine.  The Hooded Crow was also still present at the Gann today (Sam Debens).

Tenby

 3 Purple Sandpipers with 3 Turnstones on the rocks under the new lifeboat station this afternoon.

The Teifi...

A drake Goosander and at least 1 drake Goldeneye still on the river through the reserve. An  arrival / movement of Reed Buntings has started, a greater proportion of non ringed birds present on the Marshes. Down in the main estuary -  like watching a murmuration of Starlings as the flocks of 950 Golden Plover and 750 Lapwing swirl in the sky before coming back down to roost on the mud.

Short-eared Owls at Freshwater West

A belated record from Chris Orsman who saw 3 Short-eared Owls over the dune slacks, just inland of the road at Freshwater West last Saturday afternoon, at about 15:45.He watched them for almost 10 minutes. They were hunting and interacting, flying up at times, and one or two seemingly (mock?) displaying. His views were from the Freshwater West road behind the dunes.

Apologies Chris, I've been quite busy during the last few days or so, and I've only just read your email!

Bob 

Lesser Redpoll - Hook

 One on the seed feeder today was a welcome surprise, being the first here since January 2015.

Colour-ringed Shag (sadly deceased)

On 29th December Peter Munn noticed a dead Shag with a red darvic ring (BALB) on the beach at Druidston whilst doing a litter pick. He sent me the photo and we now know that the bird was ringed on Ynys Gwylan Fawr off Aberdaron on the Llyn Peninsula on 13th June 2021.  Details of the project can be found HERE (thanks to Steve Stansfield, Bardsey Bird & Field Observatory, for the information).

Gann

The Glossy Ibis was in the trees overhanging the lagoon 1t 16:50, it then flew and landed at the top of the lagoon.  At 17:00 it went back into the trees, but looked a bit uncomfortable as the SE wind was directly into those trees (so much so that zero Little Egrets roosted there).

Also 9 Brent Geese (pale bellied hrota, 8 adults & 1 2CY) and 10 Mediterranean Gull (8 adults, 1 3CY, 12CY) at low tide pre-roost at dusk. 

Castlemartin Corse

It's just coming up to the 50th anniversary of my first marsh harriers, at Minsmere (when they were still quite rare and largely confined to East Anglia, hence the obsession). The Corse bird put on a good show this morning. No short-eared owls (I must go down at dusk - great pictures from Alan by the way). But more snipe, parties of lapwing and golden plover flying about, and a surprise flock of 40 fieldfares dropped into Gupton. The usual water rails and Cetti's.....

Short eared owl - Stack Rock

From Karen Lumley: I have seen the reports of the bird down at The Corse but just to let you know my husband and I saw one hunting between the car park and Green Bridge of Wales at about 16.30 last night after we had been watching the guillemots.

St Davids Airfield & Llangloffan Fen

From Bronwen Davies:

Saturday 22 January: large flock of approx. 100 lapwings flying between 3.45 - 3.50 over the northern edge of St Davids Airfield, the first we have seen here for some time.

Sunday 23 January: water rail heard at Llangloffen Fen (Wildlife Trust Reserve). 

Glossy Ibis

From Chris Dighton: Early morning visit to Dale (Sunday) and the glossy ibis was feeding close to the road giving some lovely views. Good to meet and chat with Derek whilst we watched the ibis. Brief visit to the Gann on the way back but not too much about as it was high tide. A couple of greenshank, small groups of oystercatcher, curlew, the odd redshank and about 50 wigeon. Also two distant Brent geese out on the estuary.

PS Still there today Monday - Rosemary Royle

 

 

Barafundle Choughs

A walk from Stackpole Quay to Barafundle Bay yesterday afternoon produced at least 4 Chough. A pair came to land on and drink from the cattle trough along the coast track, only metres away, before flying down to the cliff tops. On the beach at least 4 could be seen, and heard, on the northern cliff edge, feeding. A female Kestrel flew over. 

A pair of Ravens were giving superb close views near the arch to the steps down, and overhead at the beach. The Robins at Stackpole Quay are rudely tame. And 4 on one picnic table posturing at each other was a sight to behold. (Some uneasy truces going on here with so much free scran on offer!)

Pam & Phil

Whooper Swans

 Eight Whooper swans St Davids airfield pools again mid morning.

Ring-necked duck, Rosebush reservoir - Cattle egret, Llys-y-fran

After an uneventful walk through Ty Rhyg a look at Rosebush reservoir was much better. The diving duck were rather scattered, with birds feeding in different areas, so getting a clear idea of what was present was trickier than usual. After watching birds submerging and popping up Paul and I tallied 5 Goldeneye (3m, 2f) and 13 Tufted duck (7m, 6f) with a bonus pristine adult drake Ring-necked duck very much the pick. It seemed to favour the bay in the north east corner and was feeding around a fallen tree. Otherwise, 4 Wigeon, 3 Teal, 3 Coot, 2 GC grebe, 2 Little grebe and a Moorhen. 5 Cormorants was more than usual. 

After enjoying the Ring-neck we headed to Llys-y-fran. Surprisingly the first bird we spotted was a roosting Cattle egret, can't recall any previous records here. It was in the oaks on the small cliff on the west side, with a few cormorant not too far away, and looked settled. However 15-20 minutes later it had vanished, probably disturbed by something or someone, or gone off to feed, and no further sign in it's original spot until we left. Gull-wise one of those frustrating roosts with gulls eventually settling towards the top of the reservoir and birds reluctant to leave the surrounding fields. min 4 adult Yellow-legs, 6 Mediterranean gulls (4 2cy, 2 adults), 4 GBB and just 2 Common gulls. Many more Herring gulls tonight with majority silvery backed 2cy birds and lots of BH gulls. The LBB gulls coming in late and settling the furthest away. 4 Goldeneye (2m, 2f), 12 Cormorant, 5 GC grebe and 3 Heron.

Dale / Gann

As mentioned by Steve below, the Glossy Ibis still in Dale today.  It was present until 16:38 when it got up and flew towards the Gann, where Lisa picked it up from Crabhall.  It spent 10 minutes or so on the 'Cormorant Island' in the lagoon, before heading over the ridge onto the estuary.  Just before 17:00 it reappeared, and circled Crabhall a few times before seeming to drop into the trees overhanging the lagoon although we couldn't actually see it there.

The Lapwing and Golden Plover really are impressive.  Yet to get an accurate count, but estimate at least 300 of the former and 700 of the latter.  Good numbers have been on or over the lagoon during the day.

Carew/Cresswell and upper Daugleddau this morning

This morning WeBS counts on the Carew/Cresswell Rivers produced 260 Shelducks (quite a high count for this part of the Cleddau estuary). Wigeon numbers were low, less than 100, but Teal numbers were better (460+). Other duck species included 6 Pintails and 5 Shovelers.

Waders included 53 Oystercatchers roosting at a favoured Lawrenny location. Other waders included c.150 Lapwings, 120+ Dunlin, c.40 Redshanks, 9 Greenshanks, 2 Black-tailed Godwits and about 30 Curlews. These species were more spread-out around the river system.

In the upper Daugleddau section, there were another 8 Greenshanks, c.100 Lapwings, 220+ Dunlin, 160+ Teal and 90+ Wigeon. A couple of hundred Canada Geese arrived from the Eastern Cleddau, before moving over to feed in the fields above Sprinkle Pill. Five Great Crested Grebes, disturbed by some boating activity, flew up and down channel for a while, but eventually settled on the water between Brickyard and Sprinkle Pill. Eleven Little Egrets were feeding in a regular winter spot, along-side cattle in some damp pasture between Landshipping Quay and Sam’s Wood. Unfortunately, there were no Cattle Egrets with them. 

Fortunes Frolic Hwest 23 01 2022

From Trevor Theobald: Earlier this afternoon estuary walk with Common Sandpiper among usual waters edge species and Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming.

Non-avian interest being a fungus, the unusual Hazel Gloves Hypocreopsis rhododendri 

A quick visit to the Gann

 After a pretty quiet Marloes Mere WEBS count with best being 18 Gadwall I decided to have a look at the Glossy Ibis which was feeding well quite close to the road by the beach at Dale and stopped at the Gann which looked quite busy.  

The quite busy turned out to be 500-600 Golden Plover and 150'ish Lapwing.  The Golden Plover were initially around the pools but then aerial and impossible to get a good count while 120 of the Lapwings landed on the mud just upstream of the bridge with others flying around and dropping into the ponds and the nearby old sandpit fields.  140+ Wigeon was a good number on the ponds with 10 Little Grebe and a couple of Greenshank but with the dropping tide Redshank were spread around the tideline as were the Oystercatchers and a few Curlew.  An impressive 80 Carrion Crow dropped in to forage on the shoreline, but no Hoodie,  and a good mixed flock of gulls upstream but I didn't want to disturb the Lapwing so kept well away.

Kilpaison.

 250+ Dunlin, 17 Turnstone, 13 Bar-tailed Godwit, 70 Oystercatchers, 4 Curlew, 7 Redshank., 18 Pale bellied Brent Geese, 1 Dark bellied Brent Goose, 2 Little Egrets, Still a good number of Pintails.

Pembroke Mill Pond 22.1.22

Brief visit in the afternoon produced the resident wintering Blackcap and a Cetti's Warbler. The Cetti's gave one explosion of song and some really close views from the viewing platform at the reed-bed end. It then flew into the reed-bed where it melted away, after showing briefly again. A Kingfisher was heard twice on the far side.

Pam B and Phil B

Castlemartin Corse

From Alan Merrett: Hope you don’t mind me reporting my sightings at Castlemartin Corse this afternoon.

From the hide it was very quiet, approx. 20 Snipe feeding where the pond would be.

The Marsh Harrier showed quite well flying over the hide and headed off to the South.

As I approached Starmans farmhouse in the rapidly fading light, there was a Short Eared Owl sat on a fencepost just below the farmhouse and another on a post on the track leading to the farmhouse.

I was then treated to the largest Starling murmuration I have ever seen, my guess would be in the tens of thousands. They came up the valley from the east and landed in the field next to the farmhouse.

 

Fishguard Outer Breakwater

Thanks to Dave Ramsey for organising the Mid Pembs Group of WTSWW trip to Fishguard Outer Breakwater today which was a very popular event. As soon as we hit the breakwater, a Black Guillemot appeared quite close in on the seaward side. A pod of Common Dolphins were creating quite a splash, mainly at some distance from shore. Closer in a few Guillemots, in both winter and summer plumage, were fishing. As we turned to view the harbour side 20 Dunlin were roosting near the lighthouse and we could see a Red-throated Diver which was, typically, close to the inner breakwater. So far the sought after Purple Sandpipers were proving elusive but a single bird on the inside of the Breakwater saved the day and foraged away quite happily despite a multitude of excited naturalists in close attendance. All in all a grand morning out.

Milton, pm

 Two firecrests together, in the same spot. Two regular chiffchaffs feeding along the stream. 

Castlemartin Corse

After the excitement of a week ago, today's WEBS counts at the Corse was dire - no waterbirds at all on the upper Corse (no water), not so much as a BHG. Will the farmer said that the lapwing and golden plover were all on the range feeding around the outwintering cattle. I relocated to Gupton and walked down to the hide to join Rob Lewis who had walked in from the west, seeing 2 snipe on the way.  The ponds have almost dried up. There was a flock of 400 golden plover in the air from time to time, but these were feeding in a field where cattle were being fed on big bales on Gupton, and belong in a different count, along with the single curlew. 2 Cetti's were singing, one near the hide and one near Starman's Hall. Water rail could be heard in the reeds. Otherwise just 2 grey heron. The 2CY female marsh harrier was flying about.

I them moved to Broomhill Burrows, where the WEBS count is normally one snipe. This was sensational - plenty of water in the pond for a change, with 28 teal and 2 mallard. From the dunes looking east along the Corse I could see the marsh harrier perched on a blackthorn bush half a mile away. 

 

2CY ♀ Marsh harrier, lower centre

Guided Walk at Cilgerran

From David Parry:

An interesting walk and talk with Nathan at Cilgerran Wildlife Centre yesterday. New hides are ready and due to be coated with anti arson product.

Birds: Golden Eye, Curlew, Teal, Mallard, Buzzard, Marsh Harrier, ??Bearded Tit, Nuthatch, Blue/Great/Coal-Tits, Robins. Info for a foray to see Barn Owls.

A pleasant two hours. Thanks Nathan and the organisers.

 

Hooded Crow

From Julie Nic: Managed to see a hooded crow at the Gann today (21st). A first for me

Iceland Gull - the Teifi

An adult looking Iceland Gull was roosting with a mixed gull flock c400m down river of the gun battery this evening. Certainly a different bird from the two previous Iceland Gulls on the Teifi this winter. Also this evening, a little further towards St. Dogmael's a lovely wader flock, 600 Golden Plover, 500 Lapwing, 20 Dunlin and 1 Bar-tailed Godwit. Earlier this morning a Willow Tit feeding in the reserve car park and 2 drake Goldeneye off the river view point.

Dale Glossy

 Managed to catch up with it after work this afternoon, watched it for half an hour or so from the road from the comfort of my car from 50m - it seem relaxed & unfazed by passing cars & pedestrians - later at the Gann a visiting  birder & myself  saw it fly in to roost in the trees around Crabhall.

Cosheston Pill

WEBS at Cosheston Pill, just as the tide was starting to fall. So many birds can be concealed in the three saltmarsh embayments on the south side that walking the shore from the top has proved to be the most productive option, although it inevitably causes disturbance - preceded if time allows with a look on the dot of high tide from the lower end. Good duck numbers - wigeon 210, teal 230, mallard 30, shelduck 31 - and plenty of greenshank 16, snipe 31, redshank 52, lapwing 150, dunlin 40. Notable absentees were black-tailed godwit (just one) and mute swan - also one, normally 20-30. Highlight was a first-winter (2CY) female peregrine. 

Teal, wigeon, lapwing, redshank, black-headed gulls

The only black-tailed godwit with a redshank

Mostly lapwing

Greenshank

Newport Estuary Wednesday PM

 Newport Estuary Iron Bridge Wednesday, Common Sandpiper and Water Pipit.

Dartford Warbler

From Roger Wilkinson: G'day pembs birds,

Been birding today (20th) round from Porth Clais to Treginnis. Dartford Warbler seen, pic attached (I've not seen them on that bit before which is why I thought I'd mail you)

Also Raven 2,Sparrowhawk 1, Buzzard 1, Chiffchaff 1,Shelduck 1

 

Our first visit to Milton Carding Mill trail

After a brief chat with Richard at Carew Castle car-park, we walked the footpath to Milton and then along the Milton Carding Mill trail in the late afternoon, noting only a Little Egret feeding in a slurry-drenched field on route.  

A rather pale/washed out looking Chiffchaff was spotted fairly quickly, perhaps the bird photographed earlier by Caroline Pickett? A contact-call that we heard briefly was that of typical Phylloscopus collybita. It disappeared into the undergrowth before a photo could be obtained. 

We then met Mike Davey and another observer, just as a mixed flock of mainly Long-tailed Tits and one/two Goldcrests we had seen earlier along the track caught up with us. We had good, but frustratingly brief, views of a fast-moving Firecrest that was actively feeding and moving through the trees near the stream - decent photos were not forthcoming, although a reasonably sharp one was obtained of its rear end! 

Glossy Ibis

 Hi, Its Steve the birder from Manchester visiting your lovely county again. 

After drawing a blank for the Hooded Crow on the Gann I made the short journey around the corner to Dale and instantly managed a sighting of the Glossy Ibis so i parked up in the car park and viewed it properly from the five barred gate  where it was happily feeding in the field directly behind the car park at about 100 metres distance.

 

A day with Karen and Paddy

 We met up in the morning for a days birding around the county. We started an Newgale marsh where it was quiet but a nice adult male Kestrel flew through. Next to Broad Haven where we scanned the various flocks of Scoter but only Common Scoter today. in the bay were also 6 Red Throated Divers. On the way to Marloes we stopped at Goultrop where 2 Sparrowhawks were hunting. At the Mere there was a nice flock of 32 Stock Doves and a large mixed finch flock (approx 500 birds)  repeatedly being put up by a Sparrowhawk. On to Dale where we were lucky to see the Glossy Ibis in the field where reported on the Blog. Monk Haven car park and SWT was the next stop and the Chiff -chaffs were feeding in the SWT and along the stream totaling 12 birds, mixed in with a few Goldcrest and Woodcock. Over head A Merlin put in 2 fly pasts but was not seen again. Bentlass was next on the list where we managed to find 6 Cattle Egrets and 13 Little Egrets. We rounded the day off at Castlemartin Corse where a ringtail Harrier flew towards the range. then the Starlings arrived on-masse, thousands dropped in to the scrub and reeds and finally we estimated a total number of 50,000 birds, absolutely brilliant spectacle to round off a great day out. 

Haverfordwest Garden Firecrest and More

A Firecrest visited the patio in my garden on the edge of Haverfordwest as I was making my 11am coffee this morning. This was the fourth one in the last six years, the previous one being on 22 Jan 2020 and is getting a bit predictable.

Less predictable was a gathering of Red Kites at dusk last night. Four were right over the house at 4pm and drifted westwards and joining more, giving a total of at least 16 circling pre-roost. Last year I had a peak count of eight in early February in the same area.

On Monday I popped down to Monk Haven/St Ishmaels SWT. Unsurprisingly there was a Firecrest on the way to the treatment works, a reliable place to find them. Two Chiffchaffs were feeding on the aeration bed, one taking a ride on the rotating sprinkler arm. Both had some greenish tints. Later, over Mullock marsh, about 1,000 Golden Plover and 300 Lapwing put on a bit of a murmuration catching the low-angle sunlight before heading west towards Marloes, presumably to roost.

Chiffchaff at Milton

From Caroline Pickett:

Saw Richard in passing today at Milton (see below).

Though not great quality images, I was able to get a capture of the chiffchaff that he mentions in his blog post. 

 

Dale

As I pulled into the car park at lunchtime Tony Swann was watching the Glossy ibis from the padlocked gate. The Glossy seemed settled over towards the back of the houses along Blue Anchor Way finding plenty of worms. It was still in the same place after a look around a very quiet airfield (some quite extensive gorse cutting going on, Merlin, female Kestrel, 200 Skylark, 2 Chough and just a single Snipe despite walking through in my wellies) . I headed over to the mere and down to Martin's Haven which was equally non eventful (Pintails, Tuftie and the flock of Chaffinch, lots of gulls following tractors but could only see Herring gulls) so nipping back around 4:10pm I was just in time to see the Glossy flying over Allenbrook (adjacent to the car park) in the direction of the Gann presumably to roost. 

Glossy Ibis

From Elwyn Davies: Glossy Ibis at Dale

Milton Firecrests

Firecrests outnumbered by birders today. Good to meet Mark Saunders, new to the area but finding his way round fast. Also in the same place a chiffchaff, brown above and greyish white below with no hint of green. I couldn't manage a photo. Red kite high overhead. 

Glossy Ibis - Dale

The Glossy Ibis still present in Dale this morning.  See below for details.  (Tommy Evans)

Cattle Egrets.

 5 Cattle Egrets, 6 Little Egrets, Pembroke river late afternoon.

In the corner field just off Jacobs pill, If anyone does go for a look they could be in the field above, 

So if you do walk up the bottom field to view there is a bull present, The owner who i know quite well assures me it is used to people and very quiet, So thats up to you. Wellies a must.

Park at bottom of Ferry road Pennar 15 min walk.

3 of the 5 Cattle Egrets, And 1 Little Egret.

Glossy Ibis

Glossy Ibis in Dale early afternoon, in fields in the village centre (Lyn Hambidge)

Milton Firecrests

Along the Milton end of the Carding Mill Trail, 50 metres upstream from the ruined mill where the path runs between the stream and Milton Water Works [aka Firecrest Alley] - 2 firecrests, feeding together in the willows overhanging the stream. There were also several goldcrests around, including two singing, but the firecrests put on a superb performance. I had been drawing a blank all winter so far (and all last winter, though we know a couple wintered in a garden in Sageston). They were constantly on the move, I finally caught one as it stopped for a preen. 

Old Mill Grounds

A Little Egret flying downstream, a Cormorant flying high over heading south, a Red Kite, 4 Mistle Thrush, 39 Redwing including a flock of 22 in a field, 43 Blackbird, a Grey Wagtail and two Bullfinch highlights from a walk around the fields and Wood. 

Angle to Angle Point Revisited 17.01.22

A return to Angle yesterday afternoon on a flowing WolfMoon high tide produced much better views of the 2 Great Northern Divers.

They were seen best either side of Angle Point beach. And through the scope looked fabulous in the strong sunlight. (When they weren't constantly diving!)

(Poor record shot of one of the GNDs with its foot hanging out to dry.)

We only saw 7 pale-bellied Brents. The 2 Common Scoter were absent. And the list of birds were similar to recent reports. The wader roost on The Ridge was as good as the previous day. 31+ Turnstone here came along the beach, almost right up to us, as we quietly sat. And more Snipe pretended to be seaweed.

2 males and a female Bullfinch fed on dock seeds in the horse paddock beyond the old pub.

A Greenshank was vocal. 4 Great Crested Grebes were in the bay. Lots of Pintail arrayed along the southern shore, but distant, and 3 Little Egret were on the mud in the middle at one point. A bonus was a Sanderling that almost landed near our feet while we were watching a Loon dispatching a crab.

A huge Starling flock made its way, from the West, to Castlemartin Corse near dark. And we were again wowed by the impressive Rook and Jackdaw roost in the trees at the east end of Angle. They were less wowed by the 2 Buzzards that flew low over them when they'd got settled for the night.

It's all a bit addictive!

Pam Buckle & Phil Baber

Angle

From Pam Buckle & Phil Baber: We paid our first visit to Angle yesterday, and mopped up some of the birds that have recently been reported.

Angle - Village to Angle Point. 16 Jan 22. Mid Afternoon to dusk.

In line with recent reports:

The 2 Great Northern Divers were eventually seen near each other well into the bay on high tide near dusk. Earlier one was briefly seen in the mouth of the bay, and it, or the other, was seen in flight a bit later heading out to the Cleddau.

The 2 female Common Scoter were seen distantly within the bay. A group of 20 light-bellied Brent Geese were towards the point.

A Kingfisher perched in the hedge alongside the road briefly, which was bizarre.

Otherwise 6 Great-Crested Grebe. 3 Knot. 22 Blackwit. 20+ Turnstone. 90+ Dunlin. 70+ Oystercatcher. Plenty of Redshank. A few Curlew and a single Greenshank. Plenty of Snipe delighted with some very close views out in the open.Wigeon in abundance, but only 3 pintail in the immediate area.

Our first visit here and a huge area to cover. We will certainly be back!

Recently 1 Blackcap still present at Pembroke Mill Pond and Water Rail still calling from the reeds (3 the other evening.)

Dowrog Sunday evening

From Chris Dighton: Great couple of hours at Dowrog common this evening began with a male Merlin fly past. Met another birder (also Chris) and we watched a ringtail and a stunning male hen harrier which gave great views. Then a couple of shorties put on a show for 15-20 minutes and at one point had a coming together in mid air as they quartered the common in front of us. After they broke away, one was then buzzed by a barn owl. Other birds included a common buzzard, kestrel, red kite, redwings a single snipe and 2 distant little egrets flew through. Chris also had a couple of woodcock.