Saturday 31 August 2013

One to add

Did an hour at Strumble 5-6 pm all I could add is single Balearic Shearwater,as Richard said Porpoise showing very well.

Strumble Head (31 Aug 13)

Time: 0600 - 1600
Weather: Sunny
Wind: NW (F5)

Sooty Shearwater - 1
Balearic Shearwater - 1
Great Skua - 5
Arctic Skua - 12 (1J, 6P, 5D)
Pomarine Skua - 1 (J)
Grey Phalarope - 1
Mediterranean Gull - 1 (1stW)
Sandwich Tern - 29
Common Scoter - 8 (M)
Dunlin - 8

Common Porpoise - showing well all day
Risso's Dolphin - 1
Sunfish - 1

Friday 30 August 2013

Strumble - 1600 to 1630hrs

A single dark phase arctic skua,seen from the car park,caused consternation in a flock of around 60 black-headed gulls.

Strumble Head (30 Aug 13)

Time: 0600 - 1500
Weather: Intermittent light rain
Wind: SW (F 4-5)

Balearic Shearwater - 3
Great Skua - 6
Arctic Skua - 17 (6J, 2P, 9D)
Pomarine Skua - 1 (J)
Long Tailed Skua - 1 (J)
Mediterranean Gull - 2 (Ad, 1stW)
Sandwich Tern - 2
Comic Tern - 6
Black Tern - 2
Common Scoter - 16 (1F, 15M)
Great Crested Grebe - 1
Turnstone - 1

Common Porpoise - showing very well in large numbers.

Thursday 29 August 2013

Swift and Sand Martin

Single Swift and Sand Martin near Jordanston this evening  first of both I have seen for a few weeks. No sign of Sedge Warblers around pond the first day I have had none since the spring.

Strumble Head (29 Aug 13)

Time: 0600 - 1630
Weather: Cloudy at first then sunny spells.
Wind: SW (F3-5)

Sooty Shearwater - 1
Great Skua - 3
Arctic Skua - 19 (5J, 2P, 12D)
Pomarine Skua - 3 (2J, 1P)
Sandwich Tern - 13
Comic Tern - 6
Mediterranean Gull - 3 (AdWin, 2 1stWin)
Little Gull - 1 (2ndWin)
Common Scoter - 15 (2F, 13M)
Wigeon - 2
Curlew - 1

Whimbrel - 4 (Including one bird with dark rump and no white tip to the tail.  It had an overall cold plumage tone compared to the other bird it was with - seen at reasonably close range.  Having read up on Hudsonicus I cannot confirm whether the head pattern was any stronger than normal and whether the under-wing was darker.  Certainly all Whimbrels past so far this year have shown a white rump including the 1,498 last week - oh well!)

Dunlin - 3
Ringed Plover - 1
Puffin - 1
Grey Heron - 1

Common Porpoise - showing very well with a number leaping clean out.
Basking Shark - 1 (Full Breach from very big individual)

Wednesday 28 August 2013

Strumble Head (28 Aug 13)

Time: 0600 - 1600
Weather: Sunny.
Wind: NE (F3-4)

Balearic Shearwater - 2
Storm Petrel - 1
Great Skua - 1
Arctic Skua - 15 (1J, 4P, 10D)
Pomarine Skua - 1 (J)
Grey Phalarope - 1
Sabine's Gull - 1 (Ad)
Mediterranean Gull - 3 (AdWin, 2 1stWin)
Sandwich Tern - 16
Comic Tern - 75
Black Tern - 1
Common Scoter - 21 (4F, 17M)
Red Throated Diver - 1
Whimbrel - 1
Sanderling - 5
Grey Wagtail - 4

Common Porpoise - showing well all day.
Common Dolphin - 2 pods (c.10) and (c5) moving through
Minke Whale - 1 (distant breach)

Tuesday 27 August 2013

Strumble Head (27 Aug 13)

Time: 0600 - 1600
Weather: Cloudy (am), sunny spells (pm)
Wind: N (F3-4)

Balearic Shearwater - 1
Great Skua - 2
Arctic Skua - 12 (1J, 2P, 9D)
Pomarine Skua - 1 (J)
Sandwich Tern - 25
Comic Tern - 8
Mediterranean Gull - 3 (Ad, 2 1stW)
Common Scoter - 66 (18F, 48M)
Whimbrel - 8
Teal - 1
Mallard - 1

Common Porpoise - showing very well (including a group of 5 all tail slapping for nearly 5 mins)
Common Dolphin - 8 (0715)
Sunfish - 1

Strumble Head 27th August

Time: 07.45 - 09.00
Weather: Cloudy
Wind: N 4

Common Scoter - 22 ( 15 m )
Arctic Skua - 3 ( 1p, 1d, 1 Intermediate )
Bonxie - 1
Sandwich Tern - 4

Full roundup from Richard S later.

Monday 26 August 2013

Strumble Head (26 Aug 13)

Time: 0600 - 1600
Weather: Sunny (am), Fog (pm)
Wind: NNE (F3-4)

Balearic Shearwater - 3
Great Skua - 1
Arctic Skua - 7 (2P, 5D)
Pomarine Skua - 2 (1J, 1P)
Sandwich Tern - 17
Comic Tern - 30
Little Gull - 1 (1st Win)
Mediterranean Gull - 4 (1st Win)
Common Scoter - 55 (15F, 40M)
Teal - 6
Shoveler - 2
Dunlin - 3

Common Porpoise - showing on and off.

Wood Sandpipers

Two Wood Sandpipers flew low over at Pen Anglas this morning heading Fishguard/Newport way. A single Snipe,4 Chough a Redpoll and a Grey Wagtail also double figures of Whitethroat were the best of the rest.

Sunday 25 August 2013

Flagpoles

There were at least 105 oystercatchers at the Flagpoles this afternoon, with a lone whimbrel and a single redshank and a single dunlin (down from 4 yesterday). I was unable to get a count of the curlews due to disturbance by dogs.

Strumble Head (25 Aug 13)

Time: 0600 - 1700
Weather: Sunny
Wind: NNE (F5-6)

Great Skua - 9
Arctic Skua - 28 (2J, 4P, 22D)
Pomarine Skua - 1 (P)
Grey Phalarope - 1
Comic Tern - 9
Sandwich Tern - 16
Common Scoter - 59 (17F, 42M)
Teal - 2
Whimbrel - 3
Sanderling - 2
Dunlin - 15

Common Porpoise - showing well surfing the big rollers.

Chough

A flock of 17 Chough in a field at Pen Anglas this morning,several Porpoise off the point,very few migrants around just the odd Whitethroat and Willowchiffs.

Saturday 24 August 2013

Strumble Head (24 Aug 13)

Time: 0600 - 1530
Weather: Sunny.
Wind: NW (F5-6) (am), NW (F4) (pm)

Cory's Shearwater - 1 (0733)
Balearic Shearwater - 3
Great Skua - 7
Arctic Skua - 16 (1J, 13D, 2P)
Comic Tern - 2
Sandwich Tern - 27
Mediterranean Gull - 1 (Ad Win)
Common Scoter - 54 (25M, 29F)
Whimbrel - 1
Dunlin - 1
Snipe - 1
Puffin - 4

Common Porpoise - showing well most of the day.

Friday 23 August 2013

Flagpoles 16.00

A good mix of waders,

Curlew - 10
Oystercatcher - 50
Redshank - 27
Sanderling - 3
Common Sandpiper - 8

Both the Redshank & Common Sandpiper personal records for me at the Flagpoles.

Strumble Head 23rd August

Time: 07.15 - 09.00
Weather: Cloudy
Wind: SW 2

Wigeon - 1 ( F )
Common Scoter - 19 ( 9 Males )
Little Egret - 1
Cormorant - 4
Oystercatcher - 9
knot - 3
Whimbrel - 1
Curlew - 3
Redshank - 1
Sandwich Tern - 9
 

Thursday 22 August 2013

Willow Tit

A single Willow Tit near Jordanston again today.

Goodwick Moor 22nd August

Haven't seen any Common Lizard on the Moor for a couple of years so finding 4 today was quite pleasing, birdwise very quiet.

Strumble Head 22nd August

Time: 08.15 - 13.15
Weather: Overcast, Mist out to Sea
Wind: SW 1/2

Common Scoter - 13 ( 4 Males )
Oystercatcher - 12
Whimbrel - 1
Curlew - 1
Arctic Skua - 1 ( Dark Adult )
Sandwich Tern - 1
Common Tern - 1

Common Dolphin - A pod of approx. 12 animals beyond the Tide Race moved East then back West between the 10 & 11 o'clock position were present for approaching an hour. The pod contained at least 1 small individual.

Wednesday 21 August 2013

Strumble Head 21st August

Time: 07.15 - 09.00
Weather: Overcast, spots of rain
Wind: SW 4/5

Common Scoter - 9 ( 4 Males )
Bar Tailed Godwit - 1
Curlew - 1
Turnstone - 2
 

Sunday 18 August 2013

Whimbrel Record

Records are for breaking and Strumble is just the place to do it. Previous largest day passage of Whimbrels there was of 370 on the 5th August 1998 and that caused a great deal of excitement on the day. The nature of wader passage is such that they may not land again until they reach Africa. 

Counting Whimbrel in my sleep !

Who saw the Great Shear ( when he was awake ! ) though & i didn't get on it !!

Strumble Head 18th August.

Time: 12.00 - 15.00

Common Scoter - 1 ( male )
Balearic shearwater - 1
Sanderling - 1
Black Tailed Godwit - 19
Whimbrel - 201 ( Grand Total for day 1498 )
Bonxie - 1
Mediterranean Gull - 1 ( Juv )
Sandwich Tern - 1

Additions to Richards totals below on what was an outstanding watch today.

Strumble Head (18 Aug 13)

Time: 0545 - 1200
Weather: Sunny.
Wind: W (F5)

Great Shearwater - 1 (0805)
Sooty Shearwater - 1
Balearic Shearwater - 12
Great Skua - 7
Arctic Skua - 2 (1P, 1D)
Sandwich Tern - 14
Common Scoter - 15 (9M, 6F)
Whimbrel - 1,297 (I think that might be a record!!!) (More to follow from Adrian...)
Black Tailed Godwit - 1
Turnstone - 10
Dunlin - 9
Ringed Plover - 2
Puffin - 5

Common Porpoise - showing off and on.
Sunfish - 1

Whimbrel

A very large flock of Whimbrel past Pen Anglas this morning 130+ but quite difficult to count as the flock was tight and chopping and changing,they seem to split into three smaller groups as they went round the coast,it will be interesting to find out how many past Strumble Head this morning. Also a Grey Heron flying west along the coast.

Saturday 17 August 2013

Strumble Head (17 Aug 13)

Time: 0600 - 1000
Weather: Cloudy, showers.
Wind: SW (F5-7)

Balearic Shearwater - 3
Great Skua - 1
Arctic Skua - 1 (D)
Mediterranean Gull - 2 (Juv/1stW)
Common Scoter - 2 (M)
Whimbrel - 12
Puffin - 1

Common Porpoise showing well all session.

Friday 16 August 2013

Strumble Head 16th August.

Time: < 07.00 - 09.00>
Weather: Bright
Wind: NNW 5

Common Scoter - 34 ( 26 Males )
Balearic shearwater - 2
Dunlin - 1
Whimbrel - 31  ( Approx. Very tight  flock )
Arctic Skua - 1 ( Pale Adult )
Mediterranean Gull - 5 ( 3 Ad, 2 Juv )

In the conditions one would have expected more. Tomorrows another day !

Many Thanks to Chris Grayell for the full totals.  

Thursday 15 August 2013

Strumble Head 15th August.

Time: 06.30 - 13.30
Weather: Generally overcast, some rain showers
Wind: SW 3/4

Common Scoter - 24 ( 12 Males )
Black Tailed Godwit - 1
Pomarine Skua - 1 ( 3rd Summer, almost had spoons )
Arctic Skua - 1 ( Pale Adult )
Bonxie - 4
Mediterranaen Gull - 1 ( Juv )

Despite the more lively sea conditions than recent days Porpoises were showing very well & frequently, with fairly good numbers estimated.

Later at the Flagpoles either the same or another Juv. Med. Gull.
 

Tuesday 13 August 2013

Caterpillars

Two of the three what we think are Elephant Hawkmoth Caterpillars found in the garden today.

Strumble Head 13th August.

Time: 08.00 - 09.00
Weather: Bright
Wind: SW 2

Common Scoter - 23 ( 15 males )
Whimbrel - 5

Slightly disappointing but looking good for the weekend if the weather predictions hold.

Storm Petrels

The Teifi Ringing Group trapped & ringed 5 Storm Petrels over the last weekend at Strumble, one of the birds pictured below.
Many Thanks to Wendy for the pic.

Monday 12 August 2013

Whimbrel at the Flagpoles

There was a lone whimbrel at the flagpoles this afternoon.

Strumble Head12th August.

Time: 08.00 - 09.00
Weather: Bright
Wind: NW 4

Common Scoter - 26 ( 12 Males )
Cormorant - 3
Whimbrel - 9
Arctic Skua - 1 ( Dark Phase Adult )

Chough

A flock of 21 Chough at Pwllderi this afternoon,plenty of Grayling and Wall butterflies around as well.

Sunday 11 August 2013

September Cottages near Strumble Head

Discounts available on Full week Bookings at cottages near Strumble Head in September, come & get those Seabirds & Cetaceans !!

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Friday 9 August 2013

Strumble Head 9th August.

Time:06.15 - 09.00
Weather: Bright
Wind: NW 2/3

Common Scoter - 41 ( 27 Males )
Balearic Shearwater - 2
Pomarine Skua - 1 ( Adult in winter plumage )
Arctic Skua - 1 ( Dark Phase Adult )
Bonxie - 1
Common Tern - 1

Quieter than expected in NW wind.

 

Thursday 8 August 2013

Strumble Head 8th August.

Time: 07.00 - 12.00
Weather: Bright & Sunny
Wind: NNE 1 then SW 2/3 after 11 a.m. 

Common Scoter - 347 ( 232 Males )
Grey Heron - 1 ( Flew directly out in a NE direction )
Oystercatcher - 37
Knot - 1
Curlew - 2
Redshank - 1
Bonxie - 2
Sandwich Tern - 3
Puffin - 1

Porpoises showing very well after 10.30 a.m.


Wednesday 7 August 2013

Willow Tits

Two juv Willow Tits near Jordanston this evening in exactly the same location as I saw two last year.
To me there seems to have been a big increase in Red Admirals,Peacocks ,Small Tortoiseshells and Comma butterflies over the past few days.

Strumble Head 7th August.

Time: 07.45 - 09.00
Weather: Bright
Wind: NE 1/2

Common Scoter - 173 ( 129 Males )
Curlew - 4 ( east )
Redshank - 1
Arctic Skua - 1 ( Intermediate )
Common Tern - 2

No Porpoises seen at all during the session.

Tuesday 6 August 2013

Strumble Head 6th August.

Time: 07.45 - 09.00
Weather: Bright
Wind: NW 1/2

Common Scoter - 205 ( 147 Males )
Red Throated Diver - 1 ( In Summer Plumage, Very early)
Sandwich Tern - 3
Puffin - 1


Fairly busy hour+ due to Common Scoter flocks, number already well in excess of ONE THOUSAND for August.

Monday 5 August 2013

Strumble Head 5th August.

Time: 07.00 - 09.00
Weather: Drizzle & harder rain
Wind: Varying from SW to NW f 2/3

Common Scoter - 32 ( 28 Males )
Ringed Plover - 1
Common Tern - 1
Arctic Tern - 1
Puffin - 58

Visibility better than expected, bird numbers lower than expected ?

Abermawr

On the beach at Abermawr this morning 3 Ringed Plover and a Common Sandpiper,the Sand Martins are still at there nesting colony.
Pen Anglas yesterday 15 Common Scoter flew past west.
Rosebush Reservoir Saturday a single Tufted Duck and Teal,plenty of exposed mud but no waders.

Sunday 4 August 2013

Strumble Head 4th August.

Time: 06.30 - 11.30
Weather: Overcast with Drizzle
Wind: SSW 1

Common Scoter - 144 ( 101 Males )
Dunlin - 8
Turnstone - 4
Mediterranaen Gull - 2 ( 1 Ad, 1 Juv )
'Commic Tern' - 1
Puffin - 9

Porpoises showing well & quite close in.

 

Saturday 3 August 2013

Strumble Head (27 Jul 13) - Sunset pics

Strumble Head sunset pics from last week as promised:



Strumble Head 3rd August.

Time: 07.30 - 09.00
Weather: Bright, Sunny
Wind: SW 2/3

Common Scoter - 64 ( 41 Males )
Balearic Shearwater - 1
Whimbrel - 8
Turnstone - 2
Arctic Tern - 1 ( Ad )
'Commic Tern' - 6
Puffin - 16

 

Friday 2 August 2013

Departure

An hour before high tide a Curlew rose from the rocks near the Flagpoles, it circled as it rapidly gained height, calling all the while, and at about 300 feet it joined three other Curlews which were passing towards the west. Calling ceased and the four birds flew steadily along a course which would have reached the outer coast around Carregwastad. Over the years observations at Strumble Head have shown that Curlews often pass in small groups like this one.

Strumble Head 2nd August.

Time: 07.45 - 09.00
Weather: Bright
Wind: SW 2/3

Shoveler - 1 ( Female in a flock with Common Scoter )
Common Scoter - 493 ( 255 Males / 238 Females )
Sanderling -8
Dunlin - 2
Whimbrel - 12
Turnstone - 2
Puffin - 8



 

Thursday 1 August 2013

Strumble Head 1st August.

Time:09.00 - 13.30
Weather: Overcast
Wind: SSW 2

Common Scoter - 171 ( 116 Males )
Balearic Shearwater - 1
Dunlin - 31
Turnstone - 3
Mediterranean Gull - 1 ( 2nd Summer )
Sandwich Tern - 4
Arctic Tern - 1 ( Showing non breeding head pattern so Juv or possibly 1st sum )
Puffin - 5

Porpoises showing well early on in large numbers.