Spoonbill - Teifi Marshes

Spoonbill in front of Curlew hide on the Teifi Marshes 1813 - 1836 then flew up river (Jason Medcraft)

Western Reef Heron, the Gann

Good to catch up with the heron at the Gann this evening. At first it was resting on the shingle bank at the mouth of the river, side by side with some oystercatchers, it then moved up river above the submerged crossing point but always on the far side. It fished around getting some grief from a Little egret who pushed it back down stream. A dog walker inevitably flushed it to the saltmarsh side and from there it flew on to Pickleridge Pools where it had a good dash and slash chasing fry. After a while it disappeared behind the large island at Crabhall. 

Following it around on the road to try and reconnect with it, Dominic Davidson and I got really lucky when it flew in to the sycamores just as we were walking by, photos turned out ok for a change as it nodded off barely 10m away.

Reef Heron

Still at Sandy Haven, mobile, round and about the chapel area at lunchtime on Saturday.

Rosemary Royle 

Western Reef Heron, still Sandy Haven

Thanks to Adrian Hickman for passing on the herons latest location I stopped off on the way back from Marloes Mere. I found Adrian and Toby Carter watching the heron at the top end of Sandy Haven near Rickeston (SM 86498 08998) in a narrow creek. Its slate blue plumage was striking in the fading light. It seemed to be catching small flatties (flounders or dabs) as the other day. Nice to see Roger Devonald who popped by as well. 

A bit of a surprise at Strumble...

A strong offshore wind looked like putting the kybosh on our seawatch with little showing to begin with, and a bank of fog about two miles out. However i persevered and it seemed that the clear visibility inside the offshore fog bank was bringing sea birds closer in, despite the offshore wind. I had soon logged Gannets, Kittiwakes, Manxies, Guillemot, Fulmar and Shag when in among a chain of Manxies, a much bigger high arcing shearwater was passing by. It took a few milli-seconds to register, that i was watching a Cory's Shearwater heading east with its smaller cousins!

Lesser Black-backed Gull N:7K4 Carew Castle

 At the castle yesterday morning a colour ringed LBB Gull, N:7K4 with the following life history.

Reef Heron

Here`s a few of the Western Reef Heron, taken earlier today approx 100mtrs downstream from the Church 

John Freeman

Western Roof Heron (did you mean Reef Heron Derek??!!)

 Upstream of Sandy Haven Chapel at spread eagle pill, feeding & moving slowly  towards Rickeston. 

Western Reef Heron @ Sandy Haven - it's back!

Following the sighting of this 1st for Britain at Sandy Haven back on 13th May, and it's presence in North Wales from 5th to 20th June, today it reappeared at Sandy Haven!  After speaking to a local resident it transpires she saw it yesterday, let's hope it stays for a while so that everyone can enjoy this special visitor to our County.

The bird can range anywhere from Sandy Haven beach up to the top end at Rickeston, subject to tide and disturbance.  There are VERY limited places to park along the west side of the pill, the best place to view from is the creek at Aenon Baptist Chapel where perhaps half a dozen cars can be parked safely on the wide side of the bend at the chapel wall.  The largest car park is on the east side at Sandy Haven Beach, accessed from Herbrandston, but across the high tide period you cannot access the pill itself much beyond the stepping stones opposite the caravan park (the crossing was cut off today over 3 hours before high tide).

Please do park considerately and good luck!  For anyone trying on Saturday please note there is a large cycling event passing through the area, details here.

Out of the fog at Strumble!

Thick fog at 11 am cleared slowly from 12.30 and then an cracking adult Med gull and soon after two Black Headed Gulls . Both breed on "Our Ladies Island near Rosslare, so probably from there!

Western Reef Heron

 

Kingfisher buzzed by just as I'd pressed the shutter button, heron looks a bit startled. What a cracking bird.

More on Spotted Flycatchers

From Maggie Bissmire: Spotted flycatchers have returned to an old mossy nest in a trellis  on an outbuilding in our garden in Henry’s Moat.  There are at least 4 fledglings there this morning.   Last year they had 2 broods (4 and 2 eggs) but no chicks made it to adulthood from the second clutch.

Quail

From Matt Sutton: At least 3 quail singing on Castlemartin Range today

Marloes Mere

Female Marsh harrier around the mere this evening, attracted by the moorhen and coot chicks that are only just appearing. (unless I've completely missed earlier broods), Little grebe also have two young. 2 groups of well grown mallard ducklings. Large flock of around 400 young starling as well. 100s of Painted Ladies,  counted 50 along the track and the surrounding fields were bursting with them. Single Lesser emperor, couple of bright red, male red-veined darters and a ruddy darter. Black-tailed skimmers the most abundant.

Young Great Green Bush cricket

 

Ruddy darter (female)

 

Manxies?

From Vicky Pearson: 

We were out last night (Sunday) to watch the solstice sunset from Carn Ingli.  We sat for a the actual sunset on a big rock not far from the Bedd Morris car park.  Out a sea, on the east side of Dinas Mountain, not far off the coast, we could see a huge raft of birds, so close together it was just a dark mass, with dots of outliers.  (Between 9.15 & 9.45pm).  They were moving around, with the ‘dark mass’ dispersing and reforming, flying low over the sea.  It looked like a feeding frenzy on a fish ball.  

They didn’t ‘feel’ like gulls in behaviour and I guess they could be guillemots and razorbills from Needle Rock, but my feeling was Shearwaters.   Having seen Chris Peirpoint’s post about Manxies in Fishguard Bay the same evening, I’m hopefully someone can confirm that….

Breeding lesser whitethroats! Carew Millpond

Exactly where I saw a singing male lesser whitethroat on 26.04 (see blog) today a singing male was moving along the roadside hedgerows in Butts Lane by the entrance to the north car park. As far as I could make out a  brood was moving about - only brief views as they were keeping below the shrub canopy...(consults book)...says here they can have two broods? 

Breeding common sandpiper?

 Kayaking along the bottom of the woods at Goultrop Roads, little haven, I saw a pair of common sandpiper. The time is right for breeding as is the habitat (if a bit atypical)! The pair were behaving just like I've seen them when around nests in the lake district. Unconfirmed but interesting.

Preselis by horse

 On a ride up into the hills from Llandilo on a perfect day we recorded nesting House Martins at Ty Mawr (so close to home but they are only occasional flyovers at home). 2 adult Great Spotted Woodpeckers, singing Whitethroat, Reed Bunting, Grasshopper Warbler, Stonechat and Skylark, juvenile Mistle and Song Thrushes and Pied Wagtails and song flighting Meadow Pipits all along the edge of Coed Glyn Aeron. Also here was a singing Greenfinch which was a treat. Then across to Pantmaenog where several flyover Lesser Redpolls and Siskins were heard and juv Coal Tits in the trees. No Redstarts along the quarry track (used to be a cert in bird race days), Moorhen heard on the pond in Rosebush caravan park, 4 Swifts in Maenclochog village then back to our stable where our Great Tits have just fledged. 

Hobby - Dowrog

 At lunchtime today a Hobby was, briefly, hawking insects around the pools on the Dowrog. Also, a Cuckoo was being chased off the Dowrog by a Meadow Pipit.

Great Egret - Eastern Cleddau

 On Saturday, a Great Egret in its summer finery by the Eastern Cleddau at Slebech. This area also seems to be acting as a creche for Canada Geese in particular and also other waterfowl.

Manxies Fishguard Bay

There was cacophonous calling from Manx shearwaters, below and to both sides of my tent at Crincoed Point last night, from 00:30-02:15.  There must have been a substantial raft of birds down there.  Some very close fly-bys too.  They arrived in the dark and had left by dawn.  Magic!

Quail

Quail calling in fields near Talbenny on 20th at 5pm.

Chris and Karen Hatch 

Blackbird

From Steve: So glad that this juvenile Blackbird in Thomas Chapel had the white ring around the back of its neck otherwise I would have been thinking juvenile Ring Ouzel. I forgot to send it on the 9th sorry for the delay.

A great day in Pembrokeshire

From Samuel Levy: A great day in Pembrokeshire today. We had a few random things and some more expected. 

• Lots of Swifts on the move heading North along the coast from the Marloes peninsula potentially in the region or 100 to 200 N during the middle of the day so likely many more passed. 
• We had a Lesser Redpoll briefly at Martin's Haven sat on the walk of the gangway to get on the skomer boats. 
• 2 Yellow Wagtail were in the field next to Marloes Mere car park.
• Finally the Gann had lots of life today with 75+ Curlew, 40+ Oystercatcher, 3 Redshank, 4 Sanderling and a minimum of 1 Common Ringed Plover but likely more.

Hobby, Martin’s Haven

A Hobby came over the Deer Park from the direction of Skomer this afternoon at about 1630. It was jinking around, but not obviously chasing any of the Swifts and Swallows also present, so maybe after insects?

Last night, in the mist and fog (!), hundreds of Manx Shearwaters over the valley. Most were remarkably quiet, but we could hear their wingbeats as the swooped low around the cottage.

Pembrokeshire Bird Group Event- Storm Petrel Ringing

 

Strumble - Storm Petrels

Last night we were at Strumble Head ringing and monitoring Storm Petrel movements.   The Pembs Bird Group and intern students from Sea Trust joined us for a couple of hours as we processed and released the birds.

A successful night involved a  Storm Petrel ringed on Bardsey last July and  birds we had ringed at Strumble in 2024 and 2025 amongst the 23 birds handled.

Many thanks to Mike Hayes for arranging the guests.

Click here for ...   A summary of our  movement studies in 2025..

Teifi Ringing Group

Spotted Flycatcher

I am delighted to say that we have a Spotted Flycatcher nesting in our garden here at Orlandon Kilns. This has happened once before, in 2006, when they used a nestbox. After that, there were rather few sightings until 2021 when we started seeing them again regularly in late summer, often juveniles or family parties, giving the impression that they had nested nearby. The current pair are in a climbing rose. Here are some pictures taken through the study window. 

Rosemary Royle 

Starlings

From David Butler:

In Johnston the first starling fledgling was noted on the 19th May, appear to have new arrivals most days since,  approx 30 birds in my small garden today.

At Hakin Point a GBB gull W339 was on the beach, ringed on Skokholm on the 17th June 2020, this was the 3rd sighting since. Thanks to the warden for the info.  

Teifi Marshes

 An Osprey over the Marshes this afternoon, seen earlier in the day by others too. 

Dartford Warbler

Earlier in the spring a pair of Dartford Warblers were discovered in the west of the county, and since then a few of us have been checking in on them when passing.  Last week I was delighted to locate the pair with at least 2 fledged youngsters (possibly more).  The male was regularly singing so hopeful that a 2nd brood could be on the cards.

You can read up about Dartford Warblers in Pembrokeshire on the Pembrokeshire Avifauna here:

https://pembsavifauna.co.uk/category/dartford-warbler/

Photos of the male taken from a public footpath with a long telephoto lens 8/6/26.

Swifts

3 swifts this morning (10am) over Broad Haven beach and sea front properties.    Ya! (First I’ve seen thus year 😊)

Vicky Pearson

Ty Rigg

Nightjar  heard 2/3 calling but didn't see any

Tawny owl 2 calling

Hornets

Not actually a bird but interesting none-the-less. See below from Steve Smith:

Not sure if this the right place but I'm sure that you can pass on the information to the relevant people but I have seen two European Hornets in Stepaside today.  About 5pm and at 18.45pm. They were definitely European and not Asian Hornets.  Brownish/ yellow about 1" 1/4 maybe 1"1/2 long. So chuffed as they are only the 2nd and 3rd time that I have ever seen them.

Caldey

From Steve Smith: Spent the day on Caldy island.  Highlights--- Meadow Pipits everywhere,. Linnets, Stonechat,  Willow Warbler, Whitethroat, Goldfinch,  Goldcrest, Swallows,  Sand Martin, House Martin  sadly no Swifts even in Tenby before and afterwards, Heard a Chough but didn't get to see it. Whilst I was having lunch sat on the beach there was 3 Terns offshore but no bins or scope to identify them,  only had the 70mm-200mm lens with me.  

Brynberian moor

Another cracking afternoon on one of my favourite hideaways. Dragonflies were the main reason but these were a bit thin on the wing. Dozen Southern damsels the pick, golden ringed, four-spot chaser, emperor and a few keeled skimmers plus commoner species. 7 whinchat (4 male, 3 female), first cuckoos seen this year looked like a female getting grief from the pipits and male calling. Numbers of Redpoll, their buzzing was ever present today with groups moving between the patches of gorse. Siskins as well passing. Family groups of linnet, couple of whitethroat visiting nests and reed buntings also at a nest. Highlight for me though were 3 grasshopper warbler (just when I thought I was losing their song) and finished off with a family of Redstart.

Lower Fishguard

From Samuel Levy: This afternoon (11th June) we had a Drake Pintail hanging out with the moulting Mallards by the Lower Town Car Park in Fishguard. 

WESTERN REEF HERON, 13 May, Sandy Haven

Looks like another good bird that almost slipped through. A first for the UK if accepted. Images from Facebook via Whatsapp.

Dale Airfield and the Gann

From Samuel Levy: The Euro Golden Plover was still present on Dale Airfield this morning but then flew strongly North after being spooked by a Kestrel and didn't return. 

We then headed down to The Gann where little was happening, however while we were eating lunch 3 Black-tailed Godwit appeared over the Bay circling high up before continuing high South!

The best of the rest was a Drake Teal at Marloes Mere later in the afternoon. 

Dale Airfield

From Samuel Levy: 

A quick visit to Dale Airfield this morning saw a small passage of Sand and House Martin over head. But the biggest surprise was a summer plumaged Euro Golden Plover on the western runway    51.715350,-5.196216

Bullfinch

5 Bullfinch including 4 juvenile in the cottage garden where I'm staying in Stepaside and a Red Kite over this morning.  Hopefully i will update with plenty of sightings this evening after a visit to the Deer Park / Marloes / Dale areas later on

 

Steve 

Minwear 5/6 Llawhaden update

Unexpected sight of a Black Swan on the Cleddau down-stream from the viewpoint on 5/6!, loosely associated with a pair of Mute Swans. Despite its escape status it is amazing bird, check out those crinkly tertials!

Also brief view of a sub-adult Peregrine, and distant views of what looked like a family party of Shelduck (pair plus 5 juvs).

Good variety of song birds in the woods but no sight nor sound of any Wood Warblers.

Llawhaden update

First fledgling House Sparrows are out, House Martins are still busy nest building, a pair of Blackbirds are on their second nesting attempt (after we think losing the first brood possibly to a local cat), a male Bullfinch is visiting the apparently collecting seed food and a family party (or 2) of  7+ Mistle Thrushes are around. A pair of Swifts are taking an interest in a nest site under a loose tile in an adjacent house that is already occupied by House Sparrows that are feeding young! 

Pallid harrier, Skomer heading towards mainland

Report of a male Pallid harrier heading east around 2pm.

Cetti, Broad Haven

Found lying on the doorstep of a friend who lives next to the Broad Haven slash pond

David Meanwell

Tenby

From Steve Smith.  

Whilst I was mooching in and around Tenby this morning I saw 3 Chough on St Catherine's island. Adult Gannet over the Bandstand. Male Linnet on bushes near Tenby museum . Juvenile Greenfinch opposite the Croft. 

Sightings

 From Mike Browning. 

Rock Pipit song flight at Strumble.  A pair of Razorbill close in. Kestrel hovering up by the lighthouse.  On the way down to the Observatory a pair of Chough, at least 100 Gannet feeding offshore, with good numbers of Manxies and Auks.

At Abermawr, singing Whitethroat, 3-4 Gannet, a Chough, a Fulmar and the Sand Martin colony.

At Abercastle a single Oystercatcher and Whitethroat.

Spoonbill, Newport (25 May)

From Derek Evans. While on holiday in Newport with the  fabulous hot weather 25th May Spoonbill between 18 00 and 18 30 just from white bridge Nevern Estuary.

Gull and jackdaw roost, 3 curlew, shelduck parents with 12 young, spoonbill feeding with great views, canada geese, oystercatchers, cormorant, shelduck groups 29c.

Dipper, Haverfordwest

From Steve Smith. Dipper on Western Cleddau in Haverfordwest town centre about 3 metres below the weir this morning 

Marloes mere and Brynberian, arrivals and departures

5 whinchat (3f, 2m), on a look around another bit of Brynberian on Saturday afternoon. 2 of the female carrying food and visiting nest sites. Similar numbers of reed bunting, males singing and a female with food. Buzzy redpoll around as well in the gorse. No sight or sound of any cuckoo, so maybe already heading off. 

A lap of Marloes peninsula last night, 18 coot some still on nests, still not seen any youngsters, same with the moorhen but a pair of little grebe were carrying a newt or dragonfly so they must have a nest hidden away. 2 lone male shoveler and a pair. No sign of any shelduck last night, could have just been out of sight. Pair of oystercatchers noisily and persistently driving off a buzzard over the rough pasture towards Martin's Haven. A flock of 21 chough Deer Park side of Renney Slip.