Birds scarcely visible through the mist at West Williamston this morning, though a great white egret flying up the Carew River shone through the gloom. Geese heard long before they were seen - around 160 greylags and 30 Canadas flying together and landing on the opposite shore. Most things heard not seen.
A smaller Gull roost today than of late, mostly Herring Gulls, 3 were red colour ringed all "W" two were partly submerged & the only I could read looked like "W98" Also there was a slightly darker individual present, maybe the result of some long ago hybridisation?
A quick circuit of the millpond this morning - adult Mediterranean gull with the HGs and BHGs. Below the barrier, 16 black-tailed godwits, redshank, curlew, 2 greenshanks, little egret, grey heron. A few mallard and teal.
An adult Iceland Gull on the Teifi from the Teifi Waterside (WebleyHotel) on the rising tide this lunchtime (Joshua Brown)
Maybe the returning adult - found Dec 23rd 2023 and stayed into Jan 2024...
With thanks for a rapid response from Camille Duponcheel the ringer of this bird at it`s nesting ground at Antwerp Belgium as a 3cy on 11/05/20. It`s first recorded sighting was by Lisa Morgan at the Gann on 23/12/19, five years to the day yesterday! since then there has been 32 subsequent sightings, some 12 times at it`s ringing sight at Antwerp, twice in Dorset/ E Devon & four times in the Swansea area which means it`s been recorded 15 times at the Gann by Dave Astins! All between the months of December & February. Prior to yesterday`s sighting it was last seen at the Gann on 03/01/24 by................ Dave. 10/10 for dedication!
An hour or so at the Gann this afternoon with Brian scoping through the Gull roost hoping to find Dave`s Caspian Gull drew a blank, plenty of the more "common" Gulls, including Common Gulls` LBB`s ,GBB`s & Herring. Med Gulls were in good numbers including this ringed individual. Two Great Northern Divers offshore also
A quietish morning (no other birders). Outfall still looks blocked but water level has dropped 1-2 feet with natural drainage - no diving ducks. Shoveler, mallard, teal, wigeon etc., now 6 swans - the 2 whoopers and 4 mutes. Moorhen, little grebe... Just one ad female marsh harrier, 1 ad male peregrine. The two chough as usual in the field by Starman's.
Yesterday on the mud flats at the pill mouth were large flocks of Lapwing (791), Dunlin (1541) and Golden Plover (c 3000). Also, 65 Wigeon, 59 Shelduck and 21 Mallard, with a single drake Pintail amongst the Mallard.
Nice (albeit brief) views this morning of a pair of crossbill in the trees behind Fishguard Bay Resort, before they flew off west.
The juvenile Great Northern Diver was still in Tenby harbour over the high tide today. Feeding on a good supply of shore crabs. Also a smart drake Common Scoter in the harbour. 9 Great Crested Grebe off North Beach.
6 Purple Sandpiper and 2 Turnstone on the lifeboat station ramp.
Back in Llanteg. 5 Woodcock and 4 Snipe over at dusk.
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| Great Northern Diver (juvenile) |
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| Common Scoter |
Late news - Adam Seaton saw a male pochard at the Corse on Friday. This adds to the impressive roster of diving ducks seen at the Corse since the outfall became blocked - tufted, scaup, goosander, not to mention lots of little grebe and the whoopers, and the high raptor numbers. The Corse is trying to tell us something.
Morning out checking the bay started at Amroth but with choppy seas there was little offshore there.
Wiseman's Bridge was more sheltered. 4 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Red-throated Diver and a drake Eider the best. On the beach 32 Turnstone were feeding along the tideline.
From Glen beach, Saudersfoot: 5 more Eider (4 Ad drake + female), 6 Great Crested Grebe and 3 Red-breasted Mergansers (they seem quite scarce this year).
Tenby: great views of Great Northern Diver feeding in Tenby harbour (plus a second off South beach), 9 Great Crested Grebe off North beach, 3 Guillemot and 3 Red-throated Diver. A single Purple Sandpiper was on the rocks below the lifeboat station.
Went back out for the gull roost off Glen beach this evening. 250 Black-headed gulls, 40 Common gull and 66 Kittiwake in. Unlike the Gann, no Meds!
An evening walk around Llanteg produced a Woodcock, a few Commom snipe and surprisingly a Jack Snipe all dropping into the wet fields around the village.
Nice to find an adult Caspian Gull at the Gann late afternoon. It was amongst a decent sized pre-roost gathering on the beach as the tide dropped, amongst which was a minimum of 80 Mediterranean Gulls, most of which were adults.
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| Distinctive primary pattern visible here - check it against the illustration in the Collins Bird Guide |
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| Dark mantle, un-streaked head, dark eye & straight bill all visible (just!) here |
A Black Redstart was on the side of the Haverfordwest High Sports Hall (Strength Academy Wales gym) yesterday afternooon.
The male Green-winged Teal still showing well (midday) with Teal and Wigeon up river of the iron bridge at Newport.
