Yesterday morning (Sunday 26th) we walked the coast path between Goodwick and Strumble Head. A cuckoo was calling at Ciliau Moor where they have been seen/heard in previous years. A few sedge warblers were singing in coastal wetland areas and a lesser whitethroat was singing in dense blackthorn scrub patch where there is usually a likely breeding territory. One was also singing in dense scrub on Trewent Point on 25th April, during a walk from Freshwater East to Stackpole Quay. Small numbers of whimbrel (flocks of 5-6) were passing west along the coast on that morning.
Today we visited Caldey. There had been no boats last week due to easterly wind, and it could be the same for the next few days, so were were pleased to get over there today. During the crossing we could see a huge gull and auk feeding frenzy, involving hundreds of herring gulls, many kittiwakes, razorbills and guillemots, in Caldey Sound. The moving but dense feeding flock stretched eastwards and closer to Saundersfoot.
On the island we were impressed with the number of likely water rail territories present. Based on presence of calling males, we recorded and mapped not less than five likely territories. All involved patches of gorse or bramble scrub, four were near the coast, one was nearer the village, but none involved wetland habitat. We have noted water rails in similar places on Caldey in previous years. Here they appear to have adapted to a completely different type of habitat - perhaps they should be re-named Caldey scrub rails!
A grasshopper warbler was also singing in one of the scrub patches on the east side of the island. A pair of greylags are likely to be breeding near Sandtop Bay. Herring and LBB gull breeding activity was well underway, with many seemingly incubating.
It was a disappointing day for choughs though; only one territory seemed to be occupied. None were seen or heard at two other sites where we usually expect to confirm them to be present and breeding.
On the return trip to Tenby, a puffin was heading in the direction of St Margaret's Island, where there is usually a small population. As we passed the lifeboat station, we noted 3 turnstones and a purple sandpiper resting under the old lifeboat station slipway support structure.