Strumble Head.

A look around the headland both sides of the lookout as far as Richards valley to the West & Seal Bay to the East found a Merlin , a sgl Swallow & a flock of about 20 Sand Martins feeding over some Cows above Seal Bay.Stonechat numbers seem to be good & a few Linnets are back on territory. A quick look out to Sea saw a few Gannets, Fulmar & a couple of Porpoise in the Tide Race.

The afternoon visit to St.Nicholas & Pwll Deri produced a Holly Blue at both sites & Chiffs singing everywhere. The Rookery at St.Nicholas very vocal.

Rhos Wdig ( In the dark )

Met Walrus at the Moor at 7p.m. to test out our bat detectors & see what we could find there.Initially we were met with a few spots of rain which literally dampened our spirits but we'd give it a go anyway, Walrus deciding " It wasn't proper rain"!Straight away we had a large Bat patrolling along the road bank being heard best on 20Khz , on consulting the handy leaflet received with the machine Noctule seemed best bet.It was joined by another & they flew back & forth along the bank giving good views in the half light.Next up was a Common Pipistrelle , used to them had them the last few days over the garden.We then moved up to the far bridge having the occasional pass over when a bat appeared right in front of us as if coming to check us over & emitting a weird whistling sound to which Walrus reaction was " What the bloody hell was that ", we both registered it on 80Khz , i made a suggestion but would have to check up later. All the action from then on was by a bat(s) registering loudest around the 50Khz mark which were probably Long Eared & the rain got a bit heavier so we headed back for the cars.On consultation with someone who knows & listening to sounds on the web Greater Horseshoe seems likely for the whistler! Can't wait to get out again.

Fishguard Harbour.

Just had to check the inner breakwater on the way home from work yesterday as 2 Snow Buntings had been found earlier in the day. Located them fairly easily & a male Wheatear about three quarters of the way to the end.Quite tame birds given the amount of people & dogs. The almost resident Shelduck still by the Flagpoles & the Barwit on the rocks with the Oycs.

& a few more. ( Some we can see at home)

Hoopoe , Osprey (with a Tilapia), Common Kingfisher.

More Goa pics.

Small Pratincole , Coppersmith Barbet & Golden Winged Leafbird.

Pips in the cold.

More in hope than anything else i did the dusk vigil in the garden & quite honestly not expecting much. Two connections made it worth doing .It was not a pleasant experience though given the temperature!

Swallows 18th March.

I'd have to check my records , but they could be my earliest ever.On the Pencaer peninsula near Harmony.