Sunday, 1 June 2025

Garganey, Marloes Mere

The drake Garganey revealed it's presence by repeatedly giving its dry 'plucked comb tooth' rattles. It showed briefly when it preened, otherwise spending much of the time rooting around in a channel. No sign of the female. A moorhen with well grown young chased off a coot that was getting too close and the Garganey in turn pecked at the moorhen to move it on. 

There's a few nice bits of mud starting to appear. There had been a few dunlin in the week but no waders tonight (I had hopes of Skokholms Pec Sand dropping in). One of Skokholms GBBs a 2cy (W:455) was around the mere. A weasel carrying a small vole or mouse dashed across the road, it dropped whatever it was carrying and I stopped the car thinking it might have been a kit but whatever it was looked dead, the weasel came straight back and retrieved its prey. The second weasel in a week, after another near Hwest cricket club also carrying prey. Highlight though was the stunning flower display in one of the fields overlooking St Brides Bay, spectacular.