Haverfordwest swifts a single bird last night that was also around this morning, now joined by a second bird so presume the usual (only) breeding pair in St. Martins Park.
Also as others first time in perhaps a decade hearing the wheezing of green finch’s around SMP, and surprisingly starlings are back breeding, which have been missed for the last 3 or so years
From Dave Ramsey: Two Swifts arrived over Milford Haven this morning (29th), first arrivals. later, both divebombing Sparrowhawk. This afternoon, five Swifts bombing 2 Red kites.
Unexpected bonus when out last evening taking part in the Rivers Trust 'Big river watch' on the Cleddau when I heard a distant Pied Fly singing in Tal-y-bont wood, then on the way back great views of another by the river-bridge at Llawhaden, flycatching and singing its heart out!
A local farmer heard a Cuckoo from the direction of Tal-y-bont wood a couple of weeks ago.
We now have 3 Swallows and 7 House Martins in residence in the village so fingers crossed for a successful breeding season. Saw Spotted Flycatcher near the Castle last August so hoping they may return and breed here....
Have failed to find any Tree Pipits during recent visits to Canaston Woods. On 26 April had 7 Willow Warblers, just 2 Blackcaps, one Garden Warbler and 2 separate singing Mistle Thrushes, quite a few Siskins too..maybe the pipits will arrive late......
My wife, Ali, had a brief view of a Barn Owl last Thursday (24 April) at dusk while walking the dog through the village :)
Around 15-20 whimbrels were at Nevern Estuary – feeding along the edge of this morning’s high tide. A few curlews, dunlin and redshank were also present, plus a presumed resident pair of shelducks.
A pair of kestrels was on the cliff between Newport and Cwm-yr-Eglwys at a likely crevice nest site, although the male was probably an immature bird. Two large raven young were close to fledging stage at a usual nest site for this species. Two pairs of Canada Geese were at a usual Cat Rock location.
This afternoon, between Goodwick and Aber Felin, we noted one of the resident black guillemots in the harbour. Further west, in heathland habitat, grasshopper warbler and lesser whitethroat were singing. A silent male cuckoo flew down into Porth Maen, then westwards towards Carnfathach, initially scattering the feral pigeons who presumably thought he was a raptor.
Earlier, an immature female goshawk (a probable non-breeding bird) was observed hunting along the coast. She only seemed to upset the numerous linnets and mipits. It was nice to see a likely resident pair of choughs along this stretch.
A male Eastern Subalpine Warbler today. Also a Hooded Crow missing its central tail feathers - has anyone seen the mainland bird well enough to confirm it as the same individual?
It was good to catch up this evening with the Hooded crow that Brian reported on Saturday, still at the Dale end of Dale Airfield, in a field to the right of the entrance. There were also 2 Whimbrel, and a high number (for this location) of 17 Chough.
As I haven't posted on here for some time, and some of this information could be useful for visiting birders, or those unsure where to look, here is a round-up of some of the birds I have seen, or heard, fairly recently, most of them migrants:
12th April - Grasshopper Warbler on the Deer Park.
17th April - male Redstart singing for about 10 minutes near the smallholding on the path below the quarries in Rosebush.
19th April - Reed warbler and Sedge Warblers at Westfield Pill.
21st April - Tree Pipit in the large clearing in Minwear Woods. Also Yellowhammer on Folkestone Road.
24th April - male Pied Flycatcher - about 200 yards from the entrance to Pengelli Forest.
26th April - 3 Swifts near East Blockhouse, Angle, along with a few House Martins and plenty of Swallows.
27th April - 8 Whimbrel at the Gann.
Among some interesting heathland species recorded on the Castlemartin peninsula this morning were at least two grasshopper warblers in full song in one patch of low scrub. Sadly, I have to be quite close to them these days to hear them!
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| I could just about hear this one |
Whitethroats were incredibly numerous. There must have been 30+ singing males at least.
A lesser whitethroat was also singing in one especially dense patch of mature scrubby-heath.
Linnets were very numerous too with small colonies in most of the gorse patches checked.
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| A lot of nest-building was being undertaken by the linnets this morning |
Stonechats seen today included several pairs busy feeding young on caterpillars.
No cuckoos here today though. During the 1990s/early 2000s they used to breed at Castlemartin and could be watched feeding on large hairy garden tiger moth caterpillars in the heathy areas. This moth species is also probably not as common here as it used to be.
From Craig Nicoll: My first photo of a Cuckoo just below Carnedd Meibion Owen at Ty Canol this morning
Very impressive numbers of Cetti’s Warbers (well, minimum five), Reed Warblers (several) and Sedge Warblers (few). Reed Bunting. Amongst nearby trees, lots of Chiffchaffs, Willow Warbers, 1-2 Blackcaps, Chaffinch, and a Garden Warbler singing just a few metres from traffic on the A40 hill.
A Cuckoo on the lower slopes of Dinas Mountain yesterday. And a cloud of ~100 Swallows over the Gwaun, upstream of the weir and foot-bridge.
Cuckoo 2 males possibly 3 calling
Willow warbler 3
Chiff Chaff 3
Whitethroat 2
Wheatear pair
Swallow 5
stonechat 6
Red kite 1
Buzzard 2
Linnet 2 pairs
Hooded crow Dale side of the airfield this afternoon just as the mist was burning off. 7 Ringed plover, 3 Whimbrel and a Dunlin.
Singles of Yellow Wagtail, Cuckoo and Pied Flycatcher today, along with two Swift and a few common warblers
A visit to Caldey yesterday was generally a fairly quiet one bird-wise, although pleasingly three pairs of chough (the main reason for our visit) had seemingly settled in at their usual sites. A pair of greylags was probably resident and if so likely to be breeding. It was also interesting to hear male water rails calling from at least three separate coastal patches of scrub where, like last year, they too are likely to be breeding. Perhaps rat eradication is helping their population to expand?
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| The coastal landscape (e.g. above/near Redberry Bay) is quite colourful at the moment |
Over at Bosherston Lakes this afternoon, a few reed warblers were singing strongly in the Upper Eastern Arm reedbed. A drake teal (perhaps a pair) was swimming within the reedbed shallows, where it was keeping to cover and not very easy to see (probably a late migrant). Recently hatched mallard ducklings were zipping about all over the place in shallow open water, feeding on small surface insects etc. Their resting mother did not seem at all bothered when they disappeared from view for a while – hopefully a pike was not lurking nearby! Herons were breeding at their usual site.
Earlier in the week, a flock of 12-15 non-breeding choughs moved around between various horse-grazed pasture fields near Cemaes Head.
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Part of a flock of non-breeding choughs on the move between foraging fields near Cemaes Head
The 2023 Annual Report is now available to download for free. It was an amazing year full of great birding and some very special Pembrokeshire birds. The link is to the WTSWW website
Whimbrel 4
Oystercatcher 4
Chough 2
Guillemot 10
Manx Shearwater 25
Gannet 50
Kittiwake 200
Rock Pipit 2
Stonechat 2
From Harry Grubb:
4 Yellowhammers on farmland feeder at the bottom of the lane. Flew off toward Plumstone. First I have seen this year.
Two immature male Goldeneye and still a pair of Tufted Duck +1 male on Rosebush res. Family party of Crossbills and 1st Redstart on my quarry patch. - Den Vaughan
This morning and yesterday morning, a whitethroat singing at Pwllgwaelod with a bill full of nesting material. Two chough nearby.
Yesterday (Saturday 19th) a visit to the Iron Bridge Newport revealed seven red head Goosanders resting on the furtherest gravelly end of the large island above the bridge which seems strange! It may be youngsters that have been moved on from their parents terretories i guess... Also a single Common Sandpiper there and another on the Green Breakwater, Fishguard Harbour on Thursday.
I'm in my study hibernation for my A-Level exams currently, but had time for a walk around Higgons Well yesterday morning and a quick visit to Druidstone in the evening.
The first two Common Sandpipers of the year, a single Swallow, a few Willow Warblers and a singing Sedge Warbler in the reeds were all firsts of the year for me. Single Grey Wagtail, no Teal.
Walked north from Druidstone, two Sand Martins and a Swallow, Willow Warbler, plus my first Whitethroat of the year and a reeling Grasshopper Warbler in the lower valley.
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| A rather nice showing male Stonechat. |
From Chris Dighton: An early morning visit to western part of Llangloffan fen today with Common Whitethroat, Willow Wablers, Sedge Warblers, and Chiffchaffs all competing for the airwaves.
No sign of Grasshopper Warbler though so I made my way down to the other part of the reserve and on exiting the car at the roadside lay-by was greeted by one singing in the scrub directly opposite.
Cuckoo 2
Grasshopper warbler 2+
Willow warbler 5
Swallow 3
Stonechat 4 pairs
Raven 3
Buzzard 2
Before heading out to the coast for a long walk between Elegug Stacks and Skrinkle, our first garden warbler of the year was singing in our garden hedge and trees, close to where one usually sets up a territory at this time of year. Long-tailed tits were collecting lichens and mosses from one our birch trees the other day, so they also appear to be breeding nearby.
Out on the Castlemartin coast small numbers of swallows were moving west this morning and a couple of whimbrels were also calling as they moved west. The auk colonies were vacant last Sunday but the birds were back today, with large numbers of noisy guillemots on the Elegug Stacks.
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| Several thousand guillemots were back on the main stack; most available spaces have been taken and all other colony locations were also occupied. The first eggs should appear very soon but a nearby raven family will consume quite a few! |
There were good numbers of singing whitethroats along the coast, probably 20+ noted in various coastal territories between Freshwater East and Manorbier and some earlier between St Govan's Head and Crickmail Point. A single yellowhammer was singing from a tree near some coastal scrub at Freshwater East, close to where there was a territory last spring.
From Bronwen Davis: Just reporting that we heard a cuckoo calling several time on the edge of St Davids at 2.00 pm today (Thursday 17 April). We hear him around St Davids on occasional years, but have never heard one from the front door, before.
From Amy Nicholass:
A soggy pair of greenfinches on the seed feeder this morning. Male has appeared a couple of times in the last few days, otherwise they were last recorded in the garden on 30.03.2023. A bit of a queue formed up behind them while they ate their fill, but I didn't want to disturb them by filling up the feeder while they were there.
Understandably thin pickings here, especially since the weekend!
But really very large rafts of Manx Shearwaters in St Bride’s Bay, easily visible from Wooltack Point. Also some birds audible even from the car park after dark.
On the cliffs at the end of the Deer Park we counted 12 Fulmar sites occupied with one or two birds each. This is pretty much as many as we have counted here. 2 pairs of Wheatear on Monday afternoon.
In the valley, occasional Swallows coming through, good numbers of Linnets and Goldfinches, and a Water Rail on camera trap.
On the Car Park field on Monday, a flock of what sounded like Ringed Plover roosted - could hear them calling over 30-45 minutes well after dark.
Sunday evening: at least one Kingfisher flying up and down the river below Treffgarne Bridge.
Plus a Dipper and a Buzzard, the latter mobbed mercilessly by a Raven.
At 2030h, 4 Greylag Geese flying upriver, presumably to a roost?
... singing this morning from a usual spot in Winterton Marsh above Mullock Bridge
Rosemary Royle
From Vicky Pearson:
At least one Grasshopper Warbler heard this morning around 7am in the scrub above Druidstone Hotel, there might have been a second unless he was good at throwing his voice! Also plenty of wrens, linnets and stonechats and the occasional skylark all along the coast path.
Black Guillemot 2
Great Northern Diver 1
Rock Pipit 2
All seen from the inner breakwater yesterday evening
Waldo stone
Grasshopper warbler 1
Willow warbler 6
Chiff Chaff 2
Swallow 2
Wheatear 2
Kestrel female
Buzzard 2
Red kite 1
From Chris Alford: Yesterday and this morning near Penberri there was a very photographic female Kestrel, a dozen or so Choughs, and also a female Peregrine struggling to carry a pigeon.
A coolish misty start soon lifted for another beautiful day. Wheatears everywhere, must have been getting on for a 100, there were 10 in the cattle paddocks by the golf club (along with 12 White wagtails.) it then seemed every few yards of wall, field or boulder had a wheatear present, 25 counted between YHA and the track down to the top of Porthmelgan valley, with 10 more Dar y Cadno side towards Carnedd-lleithr and easily 25 on the Head itself. Most seemed to have cleared out when I retraced my steps a few hours later just a handful among the highland cattle opposite the golf course. Swallows passing north all the time I was there. Lesser redpolls buzzing over as well. Pair of chough. A ringtail harrier was along the coast just north of Porthmelgan. A kestrel and a male sparrowhawk. Stonechat carrying a beakful of insects. At least 4 Ring ouzel, 1 chacking on the slopes down to Porthmelgan before flying up to Carn Llidi and 3 together (2m and a female) in the pasture at the top of the valley (SM 73840 28825). Just Chiffchaffs and 4 Blackcap in the withies. Finished off with a look for Clives Ring-neck duck on Ifors Pond, there was a bit of ploughing going on and the ducks were right at the far end but eventually the ploughing stopped and they ventured just a bit closer. Looked like 8-9 Tufted duck and the RND. A Cettis' was singing here and below the YHA.
From Gerald Dewsbury:
Four Black Redstart today. A Grasshopper Warbler just one day later than our earliest ever.
Still showing well this evening, on the patch of grass between the churchyard and the road. Best strategy is to sit in car and wait....
Two swallows going in and out of the window in our old army pumphouse today - this is the earliest arrival since we have been here (since 2004) by at least a week.
From Sash Tusa: Awash with singing Chiffchaff and Blackcap, as well as Mistle Thrush. 2 Treecreepers. 1 Firecrest (loads more Goldcrests!). 2 Marsh Tit by Walled Garden.
2 hoopoes seen at midday just outside the entrance to the caravan park, could also be heard calling . One lone swallow heading towards Fishguard .
Another Pembs hoopoe this morning, heard then seen in a private garden near Fishguard Bay Resort.
Very mobile, last seen heading west towards Fishguard.
Dave
An immature male Black Redstart in full song at Skrinkle this morning. I think the first time I have heard one singing in the UK.
From Francis Tusa. Just had Honey Buzzard!!! Thermalling with 2 (smaller) Common Buzzards, so good cross ID for 10mins+. Larger, thicker wings, "Cuckoo Head", easier wingbeats.
I had a fleeting visit from a Wryneck to my garden this evening at about 6.15. It flew up from the rough grass where I had been digging a new pond, onto the hedge for a minute but disappeared into the wood before I could grab my phone. I've had a good look round the area but couldn't find it again. Nice garden tick!
Having waited 63years it was certainly worth the wait as it eventually showed on and off around Marloes Church today 5.15 - 5.45pm (I’ve been fascinated since age 10 when I first saw a picture of one!)
A very happy David Meanwell
A slow wander around the mere tonight. At least 5-6 Black redstart, (3-4 around the edges of the sheep field beside the car park, and 2 on Runways kiln cafe). The blackthorn is alive with small black midges which the redstarts were snatching, as were the plentiful chiffchaff, willow warblers and a handful of Blackcap inc first female. A Short-eared owl was doing circuits of the rough area near the trig point.
Female Black Redstart on the top of Foel Cwm Cerwyn this morning, feeding along the top forestry fence through the burnt ground. (Den Vaughan)
From Francis Tusa - 90mins walk around the Deer Park, and then watching Rath Garden...
From Vicky Pearson - Up to 20 sand martins seen yesterday, 4pm ish, at Druidston beach, in and out of holes at the top of the cliff on the left (with back to the sea) of the footpath. Watched for about 10 minutes and then they suddenly went!
First two Pied Flycatcher of the year, a couple of Black Redstart, a Ring Ouzel and another small fall of common warblers.
Lisa and I (joined by Brian) had great views of this Hoopoe this evening in Marloes, on the grass in front of St Peter's Church around 720pm. It has been seen yesterday and earlier this morning by others.
Great views of a pair of Wheatear early evening on the Deer Park, the female with a metal ring on which we managed to read enough of (with photos) to prove she was ringed on Skokholm last year. A single Swallow flew over and there were 2 more in Marloes. At least 8 Blackcap in the valley at Martin's Haven and a scattering of Willow Warblers.
Pair of Garganey, found by Paul earlier were still on Trefeiddan this afternoon, along with 2-3 pairs of shoveler, 2 pairs teal and 2 pairs of Wigeon. Pair of coot. A Greenfinch singing on Rhosson side. A circuit via Pencarnan to St Justinians. Swallows heading out over Whitesands Bay. 2 Red kite, lots of chiffchaff and a couple of Willow warblers in the willows and alexanders along the coast snatching the plentiful flies. 7 Wheatear in the paddocks. 4 Sandwich tern towards Whitesands. Around 30 Chough, including a flock of 25 at St Justinian. Lots of Peacock butterflies, a few Whites and 4-5 Painted Ladies. Good to bump in to Steve J enjoying the garganey.
Redstart in song this morning nr Pengelli. Also two Willow Warblers singing at Ty Canol & Ludchurch on Monday. Very early days for both in N. Pembs. Male Goshawk from Rosebush to Ty Rhyg this evening.(Den Vaughan)
Good to hear greenfinches dweej-ing in the hedge by the Clicketts car park opposite the Leisure Centre. The dawn chorus en route to my early swim also includes goldfinches, house sparrows and (in the small marsh opposite) Cetti's warbler.
