Saturday 30 September 2017

Tresinwen (30 Sep 17)

Spotted Flycatcher, Coal Tit, a few Chiffchaffs and Goldcrest in the garden today.

Friday 29 September 2017

Late Bottles at Fishguard yesterday!

Although it was pretty wild and windy out on the breakwater, some gannets were visible across the bay beneath the Caravan Park. I squinted through my bins trying to see in the glare of sun on the scattering waves. Eventually I made our what seemed to be three or four bottlenose dolphins making their way out towards Pwllgweaelod.
With Kens Commons and Porpoises, it was nice to have recorded three different cetacean species from the shore in one day within five miles of each other!



Wednesday 27 September 2017

Sea Trust Pelagic Survey 26/09/2017

A trip out to the deeps off SW Pembs on a Pelagic survey on board the Cartlet Lady gave us many Common Dolphin sightings but we also keep an eye out for our feathered friends too. A quiet sky overall with the usual Gannets and lots af Auks. Several sightings of Bonxies although most were distant but one did come close enough for a shot. The other was a late season Manxie spotted among some feeding Kittywakes which I managed to capture taking off as the boat approached.





Monday 25 September 2017

Pen Anglas

A bird flew in from high up and landed after circling a few times, I strongly suspect was an Ortolan Bunting by call ,build and flight. It landed near to the point at Pen Anglas in the grass and heather I searched for it but was unable to relocate it.
Fairly quite otherwise except for 4 Sandwich Terns fishing just off shore.

Saturday 23 September 2017

Strumble Head (22 & 23 Sep 17)

Tawny Owl sat on the road just before Carreg Lwyd last night was a bit unusual.

Loads of Goldcrest around today.

Wheatear Bathtime

After the ferocity of the peregrine something a little calmer at the lookout as a wheatear takes a bath in a water filled rock hollow closely watched by the resident rock pippit.








Thursday 21 September 2017

Peregrinus wants his Sandwich

A short but brutal story from Strumble Head.
This morning's porpoise watch was moving along nicely when my brother spotted this Peregrine taking a Sandwich Tern off the water to the right of the lookout. I quickly trained the binos and then the lens on them and this is what unfolded over the next twenty minutes or so. The Peregrine at one stage was actually in the water wrestling with the tern. It lifted it out and tried to carry it off. By this time several gulls were in the chase and the scene was electric. With several gulls chasing it was forced to drop the tern. Not daunted though it quickly did a 360 and swooped to reclaim it's prey. Again mobbed it dropped the tern and amazingly the tern flew off the water but was taken again as the Peregrine snatched it out of the air. By now I guess the Peregrine was getting tired and eventually he gave up and flew off to the east followed unbelievably by the tern leading a pack of chasing gulls. Some twenty minutes later we spotted the tern now in a sorry state drifting past the lookout on the tide when shortly after it was despatched by some hungry herring gulls.



With chasing gulls it was forced to drop the tern.

It picked it up again only to drop it a second time.


Amazingly the tern flew off.

but only to be taken again in mid air.

Eventually the Peregrine now tired flew off without the tern and again the tern flew off toward Makerel point chased by gulls.

Twenty one minutes later and the tern was drifting past the lookout some 80mtrs out.

Only now it was to be despatched by this and other herring gulls as it drifted away.

Tuesday 19 September 2017

Strumble Head 19th Sept 2017.

Time: 06.35 - 13.35
Weather: Bright & Clear ( Ireland & Lleyn Peninsula visible )
Wind: WNW then SW very light

Teal - 1
Common Scoter - 108 ( 74 Males )
Red Throated Diver - 1
Grey Heron - 1
Pomarine Skua - 1 ( Pale )
Arctic Skua - 2 ( 1 Dark, 1 Pale )
Mediterranean Gull - 3 ( 2 Ad, 1 Juv )
Sandwich Tern - 14
Commic Tern - 6

Common Dolphin - 45 

1000's of Hirundines

Many Thanks to Chris Greyall

Pen Anglas

A large movement of Swallows in excess of 1,000 in an hour,much smaller numbers of House Martins and 3 SandMartins,off shore 3 Sandwich Terns and several Porpoise. A seal pup on beach near outer breakwater.
At Llanychaer a Goshawk and Sparrowhawk circling together the size difference was very noticeably .

Monday 18 September 2017

Goshawk

A Goshawk flew over at Llanychaer this afternoon.

Sunday 17 September 2017

Crossbills

5 Crossbills near Trecwn plus 2 Wheatears and a fly over Golden Plover.

Saturday 16 September 2017

Strumble this afternoon...

Four-ish pretty quiet, odd birds flying along close concentrated tide race and others feeding in groups, mainly gulls, some gannets two stormies dropped in but not seen again.
One close adult pom with spoons, briefly harassed a group before flying on had it in viewfinder, click, No memory card...aaargh!  

Strumble Head 16th Sept 2017.

Time: 06.15 - 13.00

Teal - 1
Common Scoter - 302 ( 270 Males )
Red Throated Diver - 3
Little Egret - 2
Arctic Skua - 4 ( 1 Pale, 3 Dark )
Bonxie - 3
Mediterranean Gull - 1 ( Adult ) 
Sandwich Tern - 2
Commic Tern - 6

Common Dolphins - 6 ( 1 Pod )

Many Thanks to Brian Southern & John Faithfull for the information.

Fishguard Harbour Green Breakwater, Thursday, Friday...

We spotted at least four Grey Phalaorope feeding on a scum line a hundred metres or so off the green Breakwater on Friday afternoon  (see below) as we were setting up for our Macmillan Coffee morning for the following day.


Images: Stevo Lucas.



On Saturday it was blowing a hooley and we spotted a Leaches Petrel dancing along followed by a couple of much more fluttery stormies. Several Sandwich Terns were feeding close in with a Little Tern. our Coffee morning guests were also treated to a couple more Grey Phalaropes.
Sadly the spray made photography impossible without risking my camera which was a bit of a pain!

Thursday 14 September 2017

Strumble Head 14th Sept 2017.

Time: 06.15 - 16.00
Wind: N / NNW 6+

Gadwall - 2
Common Scoter - 180 ( 166 Males )
Red Throated Diver - 1
Sooty Shearwater - 2
Leach's Petrel - 32
Golden Plover - 2
Dunlin - 23
Turnstone - 2
Pomarine Skua - 1 ( Juv )
Arctic Skua - 35 ( 9 Pale , 26 dark )
Long Tailed Skua - 1 ( Juv )
Bonxie - 24
Sabines Gull - 4 ( 1 Ad, 3 Juv )
Little Gull - 2 ( Juv )
Sandwich Tern - 67
Commic Tern - 55

Many Thanks to John Faithfull & Peter Murray ( Via Richard Davies ) for the information. Pic of Bonxie feeding on auk just off lookout by Richard Burns.

Wednesday 13 September 2017

Early Strumble 13 sept 2017.

Time: 06.00 - 10.30 ish

Common Scoter - 14 ( 11 Males )
Storm Petrel - 1
Arctic Skua - 7 ( 3 Pale , 4 dark )
Long Tailed Skua - 1 ( Juv )
Bonxie - 7
Sandwich Tern - 2
Commic Tern - 10

Common Dolphin - 40
Risso's Dolphin - 4

Many Thanks to Richard Davies ( Ammanford ) for the information. 

More Sabines

A short watch between 5-6 pm produced 2 juv Sabines Gulls, 2 Great  Skuas, a dark phase Arctic Skua,,in excess of 20 Sandwich Tern and 3 Commic Terns.

Bits and pieces from Fishguard Harbour and Strumble






Tuesday 12 September 2017

Strumble Head 12th Sept 2017.

Time: 06.00 - 13.00
Wind: W 4/5

Common Scoter - 85 ( 74 Males )
Balearic Shearwater - 1
Leach's Petrel - 1
Grey Heron - 1
Pomarine Skua - 1 ( Dark )
Arctic Skua - 11 ( 2 Pale, 9 dark )
Long Tailed Skua - 1 ( Juv )
Bonxie - 19
Sabines Gull - 1 ( Juv )
Mediterranean Gull - 2 ( Juvs )
Little Tern - 1
Common Tern - 1

Common Dolphin - 40
Sunfish - 1

Many Thanks to Chris Grayell & John Faithfull for the information.


Monday 11 September 2017

Strumble Head 11th Sept 2017.

Time: 06.15 - 17.30
Weather: Generally Overcast
Wind: NW 7

Common Scoter - 17
Sooty Shearwater - 5
Balearic Shearwater - 3
Storm Petrel - 3
Leach's Petrel - 5
Bar Tailed Godwit - 6
Grey Phalarope - 2
Arctic Skua - 55 ( 11 Pale, 42 Dark, 2 Juv )
Long Tailed Skua - 3 ( All Juvs )
Bonxie - 58
Sabines Gull - 15 ( 4 Adult, 11 Juvs )
Little Gull - 1
Sandwich Tern - 23
Little Tern - 2
Common Tern - 11
Arctic Tern - 1

Sunfish - 3

Another special day at Strumble, again with visitors from far & wide. Many Thanks to Richard Davies ( Ammanford ) & Peter Murray ( Maesteg ) for the collation of todays numbers.

Sunday 10 September 2017

Afternoon Shift 10th Sept 17.

Time: 14.30 - 18.00

Common Scoter - 10 ( 6 Males )
Whimbrel - 2
Arctic Skua - 1 ( Dark )
Bonxie - 8
Sandwich Tern - 4
Commic Tern - 8

Thanks to Brian Southern for the information.

Strumble Head (10 Sep 17)

Time: 0615 - 1200
Weather: Showers
Wind: SW (F7)
Notes: Quieter day than yesterday as expected but still a few Sabs around.

Great Skua - 9
Arctic Skua - 2 (D)
Sabine's Gull - 5 (1 AdSum, 4 Juv)
Mediterranean Gull - 1 (1stW)
Sandwich Tern - 16
Comic Tern - 6
Common Scoter - 111 (22F, 89M)
Bar Tailed Godwit - 8
Knot - 2
Dunlin - 7

Common Porpoise - Showing well with a few jumping clear
Common Dolphin - one pod of around 5 animals

Afternoon Shift Saturday 9th Sept 17

Time: 11.00 - 17.30

Common Scoter - 19
Red Throated Diver - 1
Leach's Petrel - 50
Ringed Plover - 3
Dunlin - 26
Arctic Skua - 4
Long Tailed Skua - 1
Bonxie - 11
Sabines Gull - 3
Sandwich Tern - 19
Commic Tern - 9

Many Thanks to Simon & Peter Murray ( Maesteg )

That will teach me a lesson about leaving early !

Saturday 9 September 2017

Strumble Head (09 Sep 17)

Time: 0615 - 1000
Weather: Sunny spells
Wind: NW (F7)
Notes: Very productive short session before pond digging duties dragged me away

Sooty Shearwater - 3
Balearic Shearwater - 2
Leach's Petrel - 8
Long Tailed Skua - 2 (Juv & Sub Ad)
Great Skua - 9
Arctic Skua - 12 (8D, 4P)
Sabine's Gull - 8 (2 AdSum, 6 Juv)
Mediterranean Gull - 1 (1stW)
Sandwich Tern - 13
Comic Tern - 2
Common Scoter - 19 (1F, 18M)
Teal - 1
Whimbrel - 9
Bar Tailed Godwit - 1
Knot - 1
Dunlin - 2

Common Porpoise - Showing occasionally

More to follow from Adrian.....

Additions 10.00 - 11.00

Pomarine Skua - 1 ( Pale Adult )
Arctic Skua - 1 ( Dark )
Great Skua - 1
Sabines Gull - 1 ( Adult with dark hood )
Sandwich Tern - 7

Common Dolphin - Approx 12 / 15 animals in a single pod with at least 2 smaller individuals.

Hopefully more to come from Peter & Simon Murray & Graham Powell who were still there. 

Friday 8 September 2017

Pen Anglas

A walk round Pen Anglas this afternoon produced very little in the way of land migrants but off shore a single light phased Arctic Skua and 19 Sandwich Terns.

Thursday 7 September 2017

Strumble Head 07/09/2017

Quite a few gannets passing through and a few small groups of Scoter. Spotted this one close in but not sure as to it's ID. Possibly some type of Sheerwater or Skua. Can you ID for me please Adrian.

Pale Phase Arctic Skua Ken & a very nice one at that !
Thanks Adrian




Tuesday 5 September 2017

Newport Bar Head

A quick trip to Newport Iron Bridge this afternoon when the weather cleared saw us looking at around 300 Canada geese. In amongst them all and close to the bridge was a Bar Headed Goose. Also included some other images that took my eye.

He didn't like having his nap disturbed





Sunday 3 September 2017

Strumble Head (03 Sep 17)

Time: 0600 - 1400
Weather: Showers, sunny spells.
Wind: SSE (F7-8)
Notes: Not as wet as they forecast.  Manxies in their element today.  Lots of Kittiwake flocks feeding into the wind moving head on into range all day.  A few terns with them but not as many as I had hoped - and no joy looking for Sabs with them.

Balearic Shearwater - 2
Arctic Skua - 3 (P, D, J)
Great Skua - 2
Sandwich Tern - 1
Comic Tern - 16
Common Scoter - 34 (5F, 29M)
Whimbrel  - 1

Common Porpoise - Showing well at times in choppy seas.
Common Dolphin - Small pod of about 5 animals seen early on.

Saturday 2 September 2017

Strumble Head (02 Sep 17)

Time: 0600 - 1400
Weather: Sunny
Wind: S (F3-4)
Notes: Struggled to find a Dolphin yesterday.  Today falling over them all over the place.  Being greedy today with two Sabs and a Sooty on top.

Sooty Shearwater - 1
Balearic Shearwater - 3
Arctic Skua - 3 (2P, 1D)
Great Skua - 1
Sabine's Gull - 2 (Juv)
Sandwich Tern - 2
Comic Tern - 7
Black Tern - 1
Common Scoter - 101 (26F, 75M)
Teal - 1
Curlew - 1

Common Porpoise - Lots and showing very well.
Common Dolphin - Lots of animals - maybe up to about 100 in total

Friday 1 September 2017

Strumble Head (01 Sep 17)

Time: 0600 - 1400
Weather: Sunny
Wind: NNE (F2) then NW (F3-4)
Notes: Only one thing is certain with sea-watching... and that is that every day is different!  Struggled today to find any Dolphins.  Green Sand was nice - one of only a handful I have seen off here.  The biggest sighting of the day was water... a huge splash about 4-5 miles out towards the Westward horizon.  Didn't see what made it but from experience it must have been a breaching Basking Shark or Whale.  I watched the area for a while but it did not do a repeat performance.  One that got away.

Balearic Shearwater - 1
Arctic Skua - 4 (1P, 3D)
Great Skua - 1
Sabine's Gull - 1 (Ad Sum)
Mediterranean Gull - 2 (1stW)
Sandwich Tern - 14
Comic Tern - 1
Common Scoter - 123 (29F, 94M)
Tufted Duck - 5
Green Sandpiper - 1
Grey Heron - 1

Common Porpoise - showing only occasionally
Common Dolphin - only one pod of 5 animals