Monday 30 December 2013

Tresinwen & Strumble (29 Dec 13)

25 Siskins flew over garden early afternoon heading for Adrian's garden maybe?  They didn't stop at my feeders.  3 Snipe flushed from wet fields behind Tresinwen.

A Jay flew over the road by the Jam Factory.

Sunday 29 December 2013

Pen Anglas

Very quite only bird of note was a Red-throated Diver flying west

Saturday 28 December 2013

Strumble Area 28th Dec.

A look at a few places around the area found it fairly quiet apart from a good count of 20 Wigeon at Trefayog pond. Strumble itself very quiet, it seems that these conditions of recent days have failed to produce any significant movement unlike some similar conditions in the past.  

Friday 27 December 2013

Strumble Head (27 Dec 13)

Back in November I said "Storm 10 @ Strumble - does it get any better?".
Well yes it does - how about a Violent Storm 11???

Wednesday 25 December 2013

Strumble Head 25th Dec.

Well, Bella needed a walk so why not !

Time: 13.00 - 14.00
Weather: Sunny
Wind; SW 1/2

Red Throated Diver - 2
Mediterranean Gull - 1 ( Ad )



 

Tuesday 24 December 2013

Merry Xmas - Strumble Roll Call 2013

Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year to all who follow the exploits of the Strumble Head Seawatching  brigade.

Another very successful year Seawatching at Strumble Head, Many Thanks to all who contributed in some way. Not only to the list of main contributors who post directly but also :

Chris Grayell
Richard Davies
Red Liford
Paul Grennard
Peter Murray
Simon Murray
Elfyn Pugh
Brian Gibbs
Paul Mahiques
Mervyn Jones
John Faithfull
Owen Mitchell
Rob Jones
Mark Hipkin
Darren Coombs
Colin Butters

Look forward to seeing you all in 2014





 

Sunday 22 December 2013

Flagpoles 13.00 22nd Dec.

Four Ringed Plovers now with the other regular waders & 2 Great Crested Grebes were new birds in. couldn't find any Med. Gulls though.

Thursday 19 December 2013

Flagpoles 14.30 19th Dec.

At a very cold Flagpoles 3 Adult Med. Gulls ( 2 pictured ) A  Heron & a reasonable sprinkling of the usual common waders.


 

Tuesday 17 December 2013

Strumble Head 17th Dec.

Time: 13.00 - 14.00
Weather: Fine
Wind: SW 2

Red Throated Diver - 1
Great Northern Diver - 1

Still a few Kittiwakes & Auks present, 1 Gannet seen.
A total of 3 Porpoise seen during the hour.

Monday 16 December 2013

Siskins 16th Dec.

After an obvious lack of them in the last few weeks up to 4 Siskins back today.

Saturday 14 December 2013

Strumble Head - More Storm Pics from 2 November

Some more storm pics from 2 November...




Abermawr 14th Dec.

A collection of gulls sitting out the windy conditions in the bay at Abermawr contained 2 Adult Mediterranean Gulls with the commoner species. 

Sunday 8 December 2013

Blackcap

A male Blackcap in the garden today was between still having the juv brown cap turning in areas to the black cap,I have not seen this before.
At Rosebush Reservoir very similar to last weekend with 3 Shoveler,2 Wigeon, 9 Tufted and 4 Goldeneye .

Saturday 7 December 2013

Great Northern Diver

A Great Northern Diver was off Fishguard Fort this morning.Lots of gulls feeding in the harbour area including 20+ Kittiwakes.

Friday 6 December 2013

Strumble Head 6th Dec.

Time: 11.15 - 13.45
Weather: Cloudy with some bright spells
Wind: NW 3/4 decreasing

Common Scoter - 3 ( All Males )
Red Throated Diver - 4

Reasonable numbers of Kittiwakes & Auks coming through with a few Gannets out there. Strangely NO Fulmars ?

All seven species of Crow seen in the short time I was out.
 

Wednesday 4 December 2013

Blackcap

A male blackcap in the garden at Llanychaer this morning.

Outer Breakwater 4th Dec.

A look on the outer break with Walrus didn't turn up any Snow Buntings but the first Purple Sandpiper of the winter was found. Four Ringed Plovers & a few Rock Pipits were the only other birds to brave the quite unwelcome conditions there.

Monday 2 December 2013

Firecrest Trgwynt 2nd Dec.

A visit to a cottage at Tregwynt gave an unexpected bonus of a Firecrest feeding avidly in the garden. Extremely difficult to photograph, this was the best of 52 attempts !

Redpolls 2nd Dec.

Two back on the feeders this morning.

Sunday 1 December 2013

Rosebush

This morning on Rosebush Reservoir 13 Tufted Duck,a single Pochard, 3 Shovler, 2 Wigeon,3 Goldeneye, 2 Goosander, Mallard,Coot and at least 6 Little Grebe. a flock of 40+ Fieldfare flew over and 3 Red Kite together over the reservoir.

Saturday 30 November 2013

Flagpoles 14.30

Two kittiwakes sitting on the groin nearest the inner breakwater was a bit of a surprise, not as much though as the small pale wader flushed from close in on the sea that jinked out & was lost to view somewhere between the two breakwaters. My instinct tells me it was a Grey Phalarope which hopefully has not gone too far & will show up again.

Wednesday 27 November 2013

Garden

Cage back in place for the winter to stop the gulls, Jackdaws ( & Bella ! ) from clearing the food in two seconds. it still allows the Starlings & Blackbird sized species in though.
  

Sunday 24 November 2013

Fuerteventura 16th - 23rd Nov.

My third visit so didn't chase about to get everything. My guess for the spec of a raptor is Booted Eagle with Stone Curlew & Southern grey shrike the other two. open to suggestions re. the ducks ?



Boat Trip.

Had to get in at least one trip out to sea, the Cory's was expected the Sooty not !

Winter Thrushes

At Pen Anglas this morning over 200 Redwing and 150 Fieldfares  all heading north, also 2 Yellowhammer and a flock of 60+ Linnet.

Sunday 17 November 2013

Rosebush

13 Tufted Duck, 2 Goldeneye, 3 Wigeon, 10 Teal, 6 Little Grebe, 12 Coot were present on Rosebush Reservoir this morning.

Wigeon at the Flagpoles

There was a lone drake wigeon in company with 2 curlew, 2 redshank and about 6 turnstone at the Flagpoles this evening.

Friday 15 November 2013

Flagpoles

A first winter and four adult Mediterranean Gulls on foreshore at half tide.

A blizzard of Snow Buntings...

A visit to the outer breakwater, Fishguard Harbour turned up a bit of a surprise when at least twelve Snow Buntings flew up off the roadway in front of my car. I tried to get photo's of them all but they were pretty spooky and would not let me get close! The ones on the ground were at least fifty yards away! 




 
Saturday morning: All gone!

Thursday 14 November 2013

Woodcock

A Woodcock crossing the road in Hottipass Street Fishguard this afternoon,a bit of an unexpected sight.

Wednesday 13 November 2013

Barn Owl

Tonight a Barn Owl sitting on a post by the turn off for Llanychaer on the A487.

Strumble Head 13th Nov.

A very short watch incorporating the dog walk.

Time: 11.15 - 12.00
Weather: Cloudy
Wind: SW 3/4

Common Scoter - 16 ( All Males )

In the very breezy & cold conditions still a few Stonechats & Meadow Pipits. At least 2 Song Thrushes right at the head & 2 Mistle Thrushes seen at Trefeshig on the way back.

Sunday 10 November 2013

Fishguard Harbour/ Breakwater this afternoon...

A quick look at the outer breakwater today revealed no cetaceans but a couple of interesting bird sightings.
Firstly towards the end of the breakwater three snow buntings flew up onto the wall. I struggled to get my camera turned it on and all three were posing on the wall. I then went to take the pic' and the words "SD card locked" appeared in the viewfinder. "Drat" I said.
By the time I got the card out, unlocked it and replaced it there was only one left...


On the way out I noticed a strange squadron of birds flying high above the cliffs. I stopped the car jumped out and turned on the camera and this time managed to fire off a shot at the specks in the sky

which turned out to be a kite and several corvids. I suppose we could try to "string" it as a black Kite!The strange squadron continued in formation heading east over the harbour like a bomber with a fighter escort!

Friday 8 November 2013

Great Northern Diver 8th Nov.

I suppose not unexpected considering the close proximity to the sea, a Great Northern Diver over Fishguard seen from the house this morning.

Sunday 3 November 2013

Strumble Head (03 Nov 13)

Time: 0645 - 1500
Weather: Sunny spells.
Wind: WNW (F9-8) (am) then SW (F7-6) (pm)

Sooty Shearwater - 2
Balearic Shearwater - 2
Blue Fulmar - 1
Great Skua - 75
Arctic Skua - 8 (4P, 3D, 1J)
Pomarine Skua - 3 (2P, 1J)
Long Tailed Skua - 6 (J)
Storm Petrel - 1
Leach's Petrel - 2
Grey Phalarope - 2
Comic Tern - 5 (Probably all Arctic)
Mediterranean Gull - 2 (1stW)
Little Gull - 1 (Ad)
Great Northern Diver - 18
Red Throated Diver - 1
Great Crested Grebe - 1
Common Scoter - 21 (19M, 2F)
Pale Bellied Brent Goose - 39
Grey Plover - 1

Common Porpoise - 3

Saturday 2 November 2013

Strumble Head (02 Nov 13)

Storm 10 and sea state Very Rough or High.....Does it get any better than this!

Wednesday 30 October 2013

Great White Egret 30th Oct.

While watching the general movement of passerines this morning ( Mistle Thrush, Skylarks, Chaffinches, Starlings ) a Great White Egret flew unhurriedly over Fishguard in a Southwesterly direction.  

Strumble Head 29th Oct.

Time: 07.00 -
Weather:Bright
Wind: NW 6/7

Brent Goose ( Pale ) - 47
Tufted Duck - 4
Common Scoter - 30
Red Throated Diver - 5
Great Northern Diver - 1
Manx Shearwater - 20
Grey Phalarope - 2
Pomarine Skua - 9
Arctic Skua - 6
Long Tailed Skua - 2 ( Juvs )
Bonxie - 20
Little Gull - 8
Sandwich Tern - 1
'Commic Tern' - 1

Another good day, many Thanks to Simon & Peter Murray ( Maesteg ) for the totals.
 

Tuesday 29 October 2013

Some more Skuas for yesterday at Strumble and geese that GHR predicted for yesterday... today!

It was great to see Graham at Strumble today, sorry our porpoise watch kind of disrupted the birders! we can also add two juv poms that were both chasing kitties in tandem as well as a pale phase Arctic Skua to yesterdays count. A gaggle of c 40 brents flew in from the sea circling back over  Fishguard Harbour before i lost sight of them, at about lunchtime today.

Monday 28 October 2013

Additions

Strumble 1430 - 1545, viewed from car park: steady trickle of Gannets, Kittiwakes and auks, plus a dark phase Arctic Skua and a light phase Pomarine with spoons.

Strumble Head 28th Oct.

Time: 06.45 - 15.15
Weather: Cloudy some showers
Wind: NW 7-8 / WNW Increasing

Wigeon - 4
Common Scoter - 9 ( 7 Males )
Red Throated Diver - 2
Great Northern Diver - 4 ( At least 2 still in summer plumage )
Manx Shearwater - 20+ ( Still coming through )
Leach's Petrel - 3
Curlew - 1
Turnstone - 1
Grey Phalarope - 1
Pomarine Skua - 10 ( 3 Juveniles & many of the Adults still with Full Spoons including one Dark Phase individual )
Arctic Skua - 11 ( 2 Dark, 8 Pale, 1 juv )
Long Tailed Skua - 3 ( juvs )
Bonxie - 82
Mediterranean Gull - 6 ( 3 Ad, 2 1st W, 1 2nd W )
Little Gull - 7 ( All 1st W )
Arctic Tern - 1 ( Juv )


Sunday 27 October 2013

Garden 27th Oct.

A Female Chaffinch with a ring, only the third bird in the garden seen bearing a ring since I moved in in 2002.

Wednesday 23 October 2013

Strumble Head 23rd Oct.

Time: 07.30 - 14.00
Weather: Cloudy
Wind: NW then WNW 6/7 ( poss 8 )

Common Scoter - 87 ( 78 males )
Red Throated Diver - 1
Fulmar - 3 ( First since they go to moult )
CORY'S SHEARWATER - 1 ( After 9, I missed it ! )
Manx Shearwater - 3
Balearic Shearwater - 1
Leach's Petrel - 2
Bonxie - 6
Mediterranean Gull - 1 ( 1st w )
Sandwich Tern - 3
Arctic Tern - 4

Risso's Dolphin - 3 Inside Tide Race.

Thanks to Chris Grayell for all the stuff & the Chocolate Hobnobs !


 

Monday 21 October 2013

Strumble Head 21st Oct.

Time: 10.15 - 12.45
Weather: Cloudy
Wind: SSW 5/6 Increasing

Common Scoter - 11 ( 10 males )
Manx Shearwater - 1
Balearic Shearwater - 1 ( East into Fishguard Bay )
Mediterranean Gull - 3 ( 2 Ad. , 1 1st W all going East into bay )

Porpoises showing off & on.
Passage of Auks steady, again appeared to be predominantly Razorbills.

Sunday 20 October 2013

Flagpoles 12.00

Oystercatchers now 45+, about a dozen Curlew & the autumns high so far of nineteen Turnstones.
Most of them here!

Saturday 19 October 2013

Hummingbird Hawk Moth

A Hummingbird Hawk Moth in the garden at Llanychaer today,I think it's the latest date I have seen one.

Flagpoles 16.00

In the collection of Blk Headed, Herring & a few Lesser Blk Back Gulls a single 1st W Common Gull & 4 Adult Mediterranean Gulls. 

Flagpoles

A young Cormorant perched on top of the groyne marker exhibited the gular pouch shape of C. c. sinensis. During the period of an hour it twice it forayed into Rhos Wdig before returning to the same perch.

Friday 18 October 2013

& I got a cake too.

A lovely cake made by Carole's friend Korina.
Nice Hair !

Birthday Presents

Various presents received on the reaching of my half century. Ranging from the nice T - Shirt from Mrs. Wdigbirder to a little light reading from Steve B. ( Got a 1975 replica F.A. Cup Final shirt as well, West Ham Utd 2 - Fulham 0 ) See who's grumpy now !

Around the Patch 18th Oct.

Despite the conditions determined to have a look at Strumble today. Very little out to sea in the south easterlies but small flocks of Chaffinches coming in. Total easily exceeded 200 while I was walking about.
Near St. Nicholas 29 Teal around the large puddle in the field that had the 3 Whoopers a couple of years ago.

Thursday 17 October 2013

Garden

House Sparrow with slightly deformed overgrown bill on feeders today.

Monday 14 October 2013

Strumble Head 14th Oct.

Time: 07.00 - 12.00
Weather: Overcast,cloudy
Wind: N-NNW

Common Scoter - 33 ( 27 males )
Red Throated Diver - 2
Arctic Skua - 1 ( Dark )
Bonxie - 2
Sabines Gull - 1 ( Ad. )
Mediterranean Gull - 11 ( 3 Ad. & 8 1st W )
Sandwich Tern - 2
'Commic Tern' - 4

Many Thanks to Chris Grayell for the totals. 

Saturday 12 October 2013

Strumble Head 11th Oct.

Time: 07.00 - 10.45
Weather: Cloudy
Wind: NNE

Common Scoter - 21 ( 15 Males )
Velvet Scoter - 1 ( Male )
Red Throated Diver - 1
Bonxie - 1

Many Thanks to Elfyn Pugh for the info.

Merlin

A Merlin and several Redwing at Pen Anglas early this morning

Friday 11 October 2013

Redwings

A group of 12 Redwing and 7 Teal at Jordanston this morning. Also at Llanychaer a flock of 30+ Redwing over and  16 Siskins in the garden briefly.

Redwing

A single bird in the garden this morning.

Thursday 10 October 2013

Cetti's Warbler

A singing Cetti's Warbler at the pond near Jordanston this morning.

Strumble Head 10th Oct.

Time: 07.30 - 13.00
Weather: Cloudy with bright spells
Wind: NE 6/7

Brent Goose - 3 ( Pale Bellied going East )
Eider - 2 ( Males - Strumble MEGA last recorded 7 birds 1st Jan 2011  )
Common Scoter - 83 ( 76 males )
Leach's Petrel - 1
Dunlin - 3
Pomarine Skua - 1 ( Juv )
Bonxie - 1
Mediterranean Gull - 14 ( 11x Adult, 3x 1st w )*

Many thanks to Richard Davies for the stuff before I arrived.
*Discussion undertaken to ensure duplication was avoided.
 

Wednesday 9 October 2013

Strumble Head 9th Oct ( 2 shifts)

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

Common Scoter - 197 ( 182 males )
Balearic Shearwater - 7
Leach's Petrel - 1
Pomarine Skua - 1 ( Juv )
Arctic Skua - 3 ( 2 Dark, 1 Pale )
Bonxie - 1
Mediterranean Gull - 2 ( both 1w )


Time: 15.30 - 17.30
Weather: Still cloudy
Wind: NNW 5/6

Red Throated Diver - 1 ( summer Plumage )
Balearic Shearwater - 1
Leach's Petrel - 1
Pomarine Skua - 1 ( Juv )
Arctic skua - 6 ( 3 Dark, 3 Juv )

Noted at both watches a constant stream of Auks, predominantly Razorbills which if we could speculate carried on most of the day would have seen a passage of circa. 25,000 birds.




  

Tuesday 8 October 2013

Strumble Head 8th Oct.

Time: 07.30 - 09.00
Weather: Fog to start then cleared
Wind: WSW 2/3 but was going round more W

Wigeon - 2 ( 1 of each )
Shoveler - 4 ( Females )
Common Scoter - 8 ( all M )

Risso's Dolphin - 4 passed distantly beyond tide race from east to West at approx. 08.00

Monday 7 October 2013

Strumble Head 7th Oct.

Time: 07.00 - 12.15
Weather: Cloudy
Wind: SW 2/3

Wigeon - 13 ( 4 males )
Pintail - 1 ( f )
Common Scoter - 25 ( 24 males )
Balearic Shearwater - 4
Bonxie - 2
Mediterranean Gull - 1 ( 1st w )

Risso's Dolphin - 5  ( Approx. 10.50, 4 dark & a sgl paler grey animal, all quite large with large fins, the grey individual appearing larger than the others. Came out of the bay unhurriedly heading in a roughly northwest direction till out of site well beyond tide race. On view between short dives for 45 minutes.) 

Many Thanks to Elfyn Pugh for the stuff before 08.30.

Roaming Ravens!

I  awoke to see a red dawn breaking over Dinas Mountain and heard Ravens cronck-ing away as several passed by, over our house towards the coast. An hour later I was at Strumble and saw two Ravens heading out to Sea, westwards. It looked like a bit of a movement and its something I have seen before. Meadow Pippits were arriving off the sea pretty constantly in two's and threes along with small flurries of Swallows. A single Male Kestrel was hunting over the lighthouse...


Saturday 5 October 2013

Goodwick Moor / Flagpoles 16.00

No birds to speak of on the moor but well into double figures of Common Darters. At the Flagpoles 4 Sandwich Terns ( 3 adult & 1 Juv ).