Monday 30 July 2012

Goshawk

A juv Goshawk flew from east to west by Garn Fawr this afternoon,landing for a few minutes on the rocks before heading off.
This morning at Pen Anglas 6 Common Scoter flew west also 3 Common Dolphin below about 40 feeding Gannets.
The only other birds of note were a single Chough and a Redpoll.

Abermawr 30th July


Golden Ringed Dragonfly & Female Beautiful Demoisselle ( I could be corrected on this one ).

Strumble Head 30th July

Time: 09.00 - 12.00
Weather: Mostly bright & sunny.
Wind: NW 3

Common Scoter - 16 ( 5f )

Common Dolphin - 37 
All heading West :
( 09.30 - 3 , one with a horrible jagged stump where it's dorsal find should have been.)
( 10.45 - 2 groups , one of 12 with a calf followed closely by another group of at least 20.)
( 10.54 - 2 heading along the tide race in the 11 o'clock position.)

Sunday 29 July 2012

Fishguard Harbour 29th July

Met Walrus & Christina & went on Outer Breakwater with them. A couple of distant Porpoise was the only Cetacean interest. A Turnstone , 2 probably resident Oycs & in with the Black Headed Gulls by the OBW gate the first Juv Med. Gull i've had this year , 24 days later than last year.

Oystercatchers - Flagpoles 29th July


124 , my highest count so far this year.

Strumble (29 Jul 12)

Time: 0600 - 1200
Weather: Sunny
Wind: NW (F5)

Balearic Shearwater - 1
Arctic Skua - 1 (1P)
Grey Phalarope - 1
Bar Tailed Godwit - 1
Little Gull - 1
Mediterranean Gull - 1 (Ad)
Sandwich Tern - 2
Common Tern - 1
Common Scoter - 18 (6F, 12M)
Puffin - 4

Common Porpoise - showing occasionally

Friday 27 July 2012

Kestrels

A group of three juv Kestrels were at Pen Anglas this morning (possibly the three juvs from Fishguard Fort) a Peregrine dived into the group splitting one of the birds off, it then chased the Kestrel the Peregrine continued pursuing the bird by gaining height and diving at the Kestrel both birds disappeared down the side of a cliff no further sign of either bird after this .So I am not sure if the Kestrel escaped but it was all very dramatic.

Monday 23 July 2012

A Bit Better - Med. Gulls


At Cwm Abergwaun in the Harbour at low tide , 2 x 2nd Summer & 1 x 1st Summer Med. Gulls. Also 4 Juv Black Headed Gulls.

Strumble Head 10.45 - 13.45 23rd July

Wind: SW 2/3

Common Scoter - 7 ( 4f )
Fulmar - 40
Turnstone - 3
Sandwich Tern - 2
Puffin - 6

Manxies present feeding in small numbers , Porpoises showing occasionally.

Sunday 22 July 2012

Tresinwen & Strumble (21 & 22 July 2012)

Most notable thing about last two days is how quiet it is.  Post breeding the birds are now moulting and hiding low and keeping quiet.  Had to entertain myself with the Rock Pipits on Porthsychan beach today...

Monday 16 July 2012

Evening Shift Strumble

17.45 - 19.15
Wind: WSW 3

Puffin - 7

Thousands of Manxies passing.

Common Gull Flagpoles



I doubt it will get anybody rushing for their car keys but a good July record, Med Gulls still conspicuous by their absence !

Strumble Head 16th July

07.00 - 08.30
Wind: SW 2

Common Scoter - 4 ( 2f )
Puffin - 11

Visibilty poor at times due to rain.

Sunday 15 July 2012

Strumble Head 15th July 17.30 - 18.30

A single Puffin in with the Manxies  & Kitties , a few Fulmars but only two other auks both Razorbills. 

Saturday 14 July 2012

Pen Anglas

This afternoon  a single Whimbrel flew over heading south ,the Golden Plover is still present in the same area it's been around now for a while seems quite fit and healthy  a strange bird here at this time of year.
It was nice to see a few butterflies around with the  sunshine this afternoon only Meadow Browns,Walls,Ringlets and Gatekeepers but they have been thin on the ground this year.

Wednesday 11 July 2012

Kestrel Fishguard Fort

One of the juvs reported by SB.

Crossbills

Two Crossbills flew over heading west at Pen Anglas this morning,the summer plumaged Golden Plover is still present.
Yesterday at Fishguard Fort a pair of Kestrals with 3 recently fledged young.

Monday 9 July 2012

Strumble Head

15.30 - 17.30
Wind: N 2

Common Scoter - 8 ( 3f )
Grey Heron - 1
Whimbrel - 1
Puffin - 3

Watching the rain come down !

Hopefully get up to Strumble later , have spent the morning watching the fledgling blackbirds in the garden & this male House Sparrow who is the only one coming to the new mealworm feeder.

Sunday 8 July 2012

Goodwick Moor 8th July

A quick walk around the boardwalk , all the warblers still singing & 4 Reed Bunting seen. A Sparrowhawk being hassled by a few Swallows over the bypass below the school.

Strumble & Tresinwen (08 Jul 2012) - Bits n Pieces

Jay at Pontiago this morning.  Lesser Redpolls very active but not posing for the camera - very mobile birds.  Lesser Whitethroat singing briefly by the Nant.  Whimbrel over the garden in the mist this morning seemed to be headed towards Goodwick.

Goshawk just caught something in my garden (12 noon) - landed briefly a few yards away from me before making off towards Tai Bach.  Causing absolute pandemonium amongst all of the local birds!

Thursday 5 July 2012

Common Scoter

50 Common Scoter past Pen Anglas,30 of which flew past just the sea side of the outer breakwater,I don't recall seeing a flock so close in before.Also 2 Redpolls.

Flagpoles 17.00 Med. Gulls


An Adult & a 1st Summer Med. Gull turned up eventually after myself & SB had spent some time complaining about there being nothing there !

Monday 2 July 2012

Strumble Head 2nd July

Time: 16.45 - 17.45
Weather: Cloudy Overcast
Wind; SW 2

Common Scoter - 2 ( M )
Puffin - 12

Manxies past in good numbers & Porpoises numerous but distant.

Sunday 1 July 2012

Pen Anglas

Fairly quite bird wise as would be expected at this time of year,45 Common Scoter (in two flocks)  flew past west, in the harbour 2 Black Guillemots.

Bird Report 2011

Pembs. Bird Report 2011 now available. ( Details on Pembs Bird Blog on how to get it ).

As mentioned on Pembs blog the number of records being sent in is decreasing for a variety of reasons , which may be understandable i.e. If you've put it on a blog , submitted it to Birdtrack & even passed it on to  Birding News site then reporting it for inclusion in a Bird Report some months later could well be overlooked. However as noted at the back of the report , on the
7th September , 4 Great shearwaters were seen passing Strumble Head & the news reported , yet no descriptions were received for these birds therefore nothing will be in the records for what should have been the max day count of the year. My suggestion is this , especially for birds from Strumble Head where the chances of a picture of any birds turning up is almost certainly nil. If you witness a description bird passing Strumble Head or anywhere else , even if you haven't " called it " but agree with the identification put together a description & pass it on to the Bird Recorders.

Here endeth the lesson.