Tresinwen & Strumble (12 Apr 14)

Lots of Swallows noted around Strumble today.

It has been a gardening day today but still managed to end on a cracking bird.....

After lunch I returned to the garden to find a number of fresh feathers around the greenhouse.  Thinking that a bird had struck one of the windows I followed the feather trail.  This led me round to behind the shed where there was a larger pile of feathers but still no sign of the donor.

I peered over the fence that runs behind the shed and under the hedge on the other side I flushed a brown backed raptor.  I couldn't identify it as it was obscured by the hedge but instantly assumed Sparrowhawk.  I found the donor of the feathers.....a headless Collared Dove.  (This bird has been around the garden for a few weeks).

Returning to the lawn mower I proceeded to mow all of the lawns but was thinking to myself that the Sprawk would return to a big prey item like a Collared Dove - it would not give it up that easily.

At 4pm I finished the lawns and retrieved the carcass from under the hedge and placed it out onto the lawn.  I set up my camera and covered myself with some camouflaged scrim netting and waited....

Didn't have to wait long!  After just 15 minutes I heard the tell-tale alarm calls of Great Tits and Chaffinches and knew that a predator was incoming! 

Well what a surprise when the killer landed on the Dove carcass.  This was not a Sparrowhawk!

Female MERLIN !!!  (Pics to follow later in the week - got 600 to sort out - gulp!)

Felindre West to Abermawr 12th April

Good number of Swallows & Sand Martins seen moving along coast & over the pond at Felindre West, at least 13 Fulmar nests on the cliff in the bay & Stonechat, Linnet & Skylark present. No Wheatears seen.

Hirundines and Divers

Off of Fishguard Fort this morning 2 Great Northern Divers and a single Red-throated Diver.
This afternoon at Llanychaer a small passage of Swallows totaling about twenty,also two House Martins and a single Sand Martin.
Goldfinch numbers in the garden  have reached up to 18 at one time,also several Siskins, three Redpolls and also early this morning two Linnets.
Kingfisher and Dipper are both nesting along the river here.

Flagpoles

Afternoon: a raft of 36 immature Black-headed Gulls were resting offshore. In due course they took off in two groups, some 20 minutes apart, each group rising in unison, flapping and circling to gain height then made off eastwards. There was also a trickle of Sand Martins and Swallows passing westwards.

Tresinwen & Strumble Head (06 Apr 14)

Male and Female Blackcap in the garden today with 2 or 3 Chiffchaff.  Still lots of Goldfinch about.

A few more Willow Warblers around the headland today - some very tame.  One White Wagtail and 5 or 6 Wheatear in the ploughed fields near the headland.  Also 6 Swallow through after the rain.

Tresinwen & Strumble Head (05 Apr 14)

Lots of Goldfinch around the garden today.

A number of Chiffchaffs and Willow Warblers dotted along the coast in Gorse Scrub.  My first Sand Martin of the year in off the sea at the lookout.  Only two Wheatear seen today - one male one female.  Small numbers of Pied Wagtails along the coast but no White Wags today.

Off the lookout were 4 Red Throated Divers and 1 Great Northern Diver feeding just offshore.

Otherwise pretty quiet in the sea drizzle all day.

Update...First Swallow of the year over the garden at 1830.

Strumble Head 2nd April

A few migrants about this morning, Chiffs in the gorse, Swallows & Sand Martins in off the sea a couple of Wheatear & small groups of Meadow Pipits through. Out to sea A few Porps & Red Throated ( near Summer Plumage ) & Black Throated Diver.