Flagpoles 30th December.

After a look on the Outer Breakwater proved fruitless except for the very distant feeding flocks as mentioned in the earlier post the Flagpoles in comparison was quite eventful.The two Kingfishers still present & the gull roost gathering fairly close in by the river outfall. Eventually as the light began to fail one of the largest roosts I have seen there, especially on the Flagpoles side contained in with the hundreds of Black Headed at least 3 Adult & 2 1st winter Med. Gulls. Earlier on a Little Egret came in but did not stay very long.

Feeding frenzies off Strumble...

In what seems to be pretty much an annual winter occurrence, there were literally thousands of feeding sea birds off Strumble all the way to Fishguard Harbour. Mainly a mixture of Kitti's BHG's and the larger gull species with some auks,  creating separate feeding groups spread  over two or three miles. I would really love to know what they are feeding on presumably something quite small...

Pwllderi

A sheep carcase attracted 23 Ravens,a Buzzard,a Fox which looked fantastic in the winter sun,there were several Carrion Crows and Magpies and a couple of Great Black-backed Gulls also making use of the easy meal.
The only other birds of note were 21 Teal on the irrigation pond.

Jack Snipe

A single Jack Snipe ,several Common Snipe and around 25 Golden Plover on Dinas Mountain this morning.

Flagpoles 14.00 28th Dec.

Two Kingfishers flying along the rocks on the Eastern side was the highlight. Also an interesting looking gull which i saw first the other day but more distant. First thought it was a 2cy Med but i didn't think the wing pattern was right so opted for Black Headed. Now with the close view i'm sure there has to be Med in there somewhere, 100% though I'm not sure. Couldn't get it to fly today unfortunately.

Golden Plover

A large flockof 150+ Golden Plover on Dinas Mountain this morning, also around 20 Fieldfare were present.

Merry Xmas - Strumble Roll Call 2014

Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year to all who visited both the lookout & the blog in 2014.


Many Thanks to all who passed on the information from their Seawatches , from those on the list of the main contributors to many others including :




Chris Grayell
Richard Davies
Red Liford
Paul Grennard
Peter Murray
Simon Murray
Clive Jones
David Astins
Wendy James
Chris Jones
Elfyn Pugh
Brian Gibbs
Paul Mahiques
Mervyn Jones
John Faithfull
Ceri Jones
Mark Hipkin


& many others whose names I don't know.


Here's to a successful 2015.

Strumble today...

Strumble today... 44 mph SW winds, no good for porpoise spotting  I could just make out a distant feeding flock of mainly kitties but also a couple of Manxies + a larger dark mystery bird, possibly a Sooty but not seen well enough to be sure....Aarrgh

Stormy Strumble

GBBG at home in the waves.

Strumble Head 19th December.

Time: 08.10 - 12.30
Wind: Strong Westerly


Common Scoter - 1 ( Male )
Red Throated Diver - 4
Great Northern Diver - 6
Manx Shearwater - 13
Storm Petrel - 1
Pomarine Skua - 1 ( Juv )
Bonxie - 1
Mediterranean Gull - 3 ( All Adults )
Sandwich Tern - 2
Little Auk - 1


Many Thanks to Chris Grayell, from the information I have the Sandwich Terns & the Storm Petrel are the latest ever recorded in Pembrokeshire.  

Dinas Mountain

This morning on Dinas Mountain 16 Golden Plover,small groups of Fildfare totaling to around 30 birds,also a couple of Red Kites.

Strumble Head (13 Dec 14)

Quiet around the head today.  Female Merlin seems to be back in residence around the top of Porthsychan - like last winter.

Still lots of Song Thrushes around and a few Mistle Thrushes also - been lots around for the last few weeks.

Strumble wild goose chase success

Quite a gang of us at Strumble this afternoon and despite the cold dull weather, plenty to see for those of us willing to brave the elements. 
Stephen and Tina Davies joined Rhian, Cristina and the walrus at the Strumble lookout. Apart from some amusement with a seal eating a fish then being pestered by gulls, we also recorded quite a few porpoises. Only birds of note were two pale bellied Brent Geese heading west along with odd auks and kitties, but no gannets!

Stormy Strumble...

13:00 14:00
Maybe we should have been with Adrian and Ricardo a bit earlier to get the porp's but we did clock up another Manxie for him, and a Skua Sp. ... ( bit distant to be sure with bins, probably a Juv Pom) A steady stream of gannets passing by with kitties auks and odd Fulmars.

Strumble Head 11th December.

Time: 08.00 - 13.30
Weather: Cloudy, Rain Showers
Wind: WNW 6/7 - NW 6/7


Common Scoter - 6 ( All Males )
Red Throated Diver - 10
Great Northern Diver - 4
Fulmar - 350
Manx Shearwater - 13
Pomarine Skua - 3 ( All Juvs )
Long Tailed Skua - 1 ( Juv )
Bonxie - 4


Porpoises showing occasionally in the rough sea conditions.


Only Richard Davies ( Ammanford ) & myself braved the very chilly conditions this morning but it was worthwhile.
The Long Tailed Skua is the latest ever recorded in Pembrokeshire, the previous latest record being a bird seen at Strumble on 3rd December 1999.

Woodcock

A single Woodcock flushed from the woodland at Llanychaer late afternoon today.

Second day, second Manxie

Another Manxie at Strumble this morning heading westwards...

Out of season Manxie...

Another stormy day at Strumble... and yet in amongst the maelstrom created by the northerly gale and big tide we still spotted half a dozen porp's feeding beneath the gannets and gulls. 
Sadly the best I could do pic' wise was the splash of one as the gannet dived in... Still, another day, another porpoise day at Strumble.
Surprise of the day was a Manxie (Manx Shearwater) seen passing westwards as I thawed out in the car.. The number of gannets about was unusual, in the hour I was there probably twenty odd passed by some stopping to fish others making their way west.Also more Fulmars than yesterday along with the Kittiwakes and and auks...

Flagpoles 14.00 7th December.

At Low Tide at a very chilly Flagpoles good numbers of the commoner gulls plus 3 Adult & 1 2nd W Mediterranean  Gulls.

Sunday Strumble Skua

Despite NW winds gusting to thirty odd mph we still managed to clock up a few porpoises.There was a marked movement of both Auks and Kittiwakes but the Bonxie was a nice bonus.

Divers

Singles of both Red throated and Great northern Diver in Fishguard this morning.

Strumble Head 21st October 2014

A quick flashback to this years best day when we had an amazing total of 193 Skuas equalling the 2nd highest day total which was achieved on 7th October 1988. In the assembled group at the lookout the man waving ( Richard Davies ) & the man on his right ( Peter Murray ) were present on both occasions !     Pic. Chris Grayell.

Porp's and a single Scoter...

Plenty of porpoises today estimated 30 + birds not very active but one drake Scoter seen heading West. Seems to be quite a lot of Mistle Thrushes showing in the area...

At Strumble today we estimated about 25-30 porpoises only birds of note two Common Scoter drakes heading west. Yesterday a GND near the lifeboat pen in Fishguard Harbour.

St. Nicholas 22nd Nov.

Hundreds strong flock of Lapwings & Golden Plovers in fields west of main Fishguard to St. David's road by St. Nicholas junction.

Yesterday at Strumble & Fishguard Harbour

We spent a couple of hours at Strumble, weather bright and breezy from the east. Only bird of note was a Black Throated Diver heading east, although large distant feeding flocks of mixed gulls along tide race . Both male and female Stone Chats present. 5-6 porps seen briefly as tide slackened.
A single Purple  Sandpiper on the outer breakwater

Pale bellied Brent Geese

There were three Pale bellied Brent Geese in Fishguard Harbour this afternoon near to the middle breakwater on the flagpole side.

Black Redstart - Mathry

A very enjoyable Sunday Lunch ( Leek & Potato soup then Roast Beef & all the trimmings, delicious ! ) at the Farmers Arms, Mathry was made even more so with a female type Black Redstart flitting about outside briefly at around 1.15.

Goshawk

An adult Goshawk over the tree tops at Llanychaer being given hell by a number of Carrion Crows.

Woodcock

A Woodcock in the woods at Llanychaer this afternoon.

The Hummingbird Hawk Moth is still surviving in the garden getting extremly late I feel for one of these.

Strumble Head 7th Nov.

Time: 07.30 - 14.30


Brent Goose - 7 ( Dark Bellied )
Wigeon - 6
Common Scoter - 97 ( 32 Males )
Red Throated Diver - 1
Great Northern Diver - 2
Manx Shearwater - 4
Sanderling - 5
Turnstone - 3
Grey Phalarope - 1
Bonxie - 3
Little Gull - 2
Mediterranean Gull - 6 ( 3 Ad & 3 1st w )
Sandwich Tern - 5


Many Thanks to Chris Grayell & Chris Jones ( TRG ) 

Tresinwen 5th Nov.

Knowing there's a few about went out to Strumble looking for Black Redstart's. Wasn't disappointed with 2 on the roof of the Pink cottage at Tresinwen. Hopefully they'll hang about & Richard can get a few better pics at the weekend.
Also what must be my latest ever Painted Lady at the head today.

Wood Pigeons

In excess of 150 Wood Pigeons in the woods at Llanychaer they appear to be feeding on the Beech Mast. Hummingbird Hawk Moth still about in the garden.
A flock of around 20 Fieldfares over Dinas Mountain this morning

Fishguard Harbour 16.30 ( Gull Roost )

A fairly small roost struggling to reach 100 individuals. With the Black Headed & Herring Gulls, 3 1st winter Mediterranean Gulls & a single Common Gull.  

Mediterranean Gulls

A first and a second winter Mediterranean Gull in Fishguard Harbour this morning.

Hummingbird Hawk Moths

Two Hummingbird Hawk Moths in the garden this morning feeding on nectar from a Myrtle bush.

Thrushes 1st Nov.

First party of winter Thrushes over the house, about 30 Redwings moving southwest carrying a couple of Mistle Thrushes with them.

Goodwick 30th October.

A round walk starting by the Rugby Club along the lane towards the Drim produced a good number of Blackbirds & a few Song Thrushes feeding on the berry laden bushes with 2 Swallows overhead a bit of a surprise. Up the hill then to the football pitch where 3 Jays were hopping about with some Magpies & then down the lane to join Goodwick Moor at the start of the Boardwalk. The Moor itself was very quiet except for a single Chiff calling. At the Flagpoles 17 Turnstones & 2 Ringed Plover with a handful of Herring & Black Headed Gulls.
Along the lane from the Rugby Pitch to the Drim quite a few Nestboxes & Bat Boxes have been put up recently by their very new look  ( although I haven't been along there for a while ), it will be interesting to see how successful the birdboxes are given the very public location & some to me seem to be very close to each other. 

Lapland Buntings

A party of seven Lapland Buntings flew south past the lower car park on Saturday morning (25th), no sign of the Snow Buntings.

Hummingbird Hawk Moth

A Hummingbird Hawk Moth in the garden at Llanychaer this afternoon,I don't think that I have seen one on a later date than this. On Wednesday three Red Kites together over house ,there have been three Cormorants on the near by pond over the past couple of weeks.
Hummingbird Hawk Moth still around on 31st

Flagpoles 16.00

Like old times, 12 Med. Gulls at Flagpoles, ages as follows: 7 Adults, 1 2nd W, 2 1st s & 2 1st w.


Also Common Gull, 2 Redshank a few Turnstones & a Curlew.


At Strumble earlier, 2 Bonxies & 1 Arctic Skua.
Thanks Glen from NCE.

Strumble Head 22nd October.

Time: 07.30 - 15.00
Wind: SW


Common Scoter - 33 ( 27 Males )
Red Throated Diver - 2
Great Northern Diver - 2
Fulmar - 2
Manx Shearwater - 6
Balearic Shearwater - 1
Little Egret - 1
Arctis Skua - 2 ( both Dark )
Long Tailed Skua - 1 ( Juv )
Bonxie - 8
Little Gull - 3 ( All 1st w )
Mediterranean Gull - 7 ( 3 Adult , 4 1st w )


Now 2 Snow Buntings by the car park & 2 Purple Sandpiper on Ynys Michael.


Chris Grayell  

Strumble Head 21st October. ( Totals )

Time: 07.30 - 17.15
Weather: Bright at times, generally cloudy
Wind: NW 7

Common Scoter - 27 ( 23 Males )
Teal - 5
Wigeon - 15
Pintail - 15
Fulmar - 4
Sooty Shearwater - 1
Storm Petrel - 2
Leach's Petrel - 4
Golden plover - 3
Grey plover - 1
Grey Phalarope - 5
Pomarine Skua - 36 ( 13 Pale,1 Dark, 22 Juvs )
Arctic Skua - 50 ( 34 Pale, 14 Dark, 2 Juv )
Long Tailed Skua - 7 ( All Juvs )
Bonxie - 100
Sabines Gull - 2 ( Juvs )
Little Gull - 9 ( 2 Ad,  7 1st w )
Mediterranean Gull - 3 ( Ad, 1st w , 2nd w )
Arctic Tern - 1
Commic Tern - 4


Quite a few Manx through today.






Risso's Dolphin - 2


Many Observers, Many thanks to all those involved  on such a GREAT DAY !

Strumble Head 20th October.

Time: 07.45 - 11.45
Weather: Cloudy with rain showers
Wind: W 5/6


Common Scoter - 12 ( 11 Males )
Red Throated Diver - 1
Great Northern Diver - 2
Fulmar - 1
Manx Shearwater - 11
Balearic Shearwater - 1
Arctic Skua - 3 ( 2 Dark, 1 Pale )
Bonxie - 14
Little Gull - 1 ( Ad )
Mediterranean Gull - 4 ( 1 Ad, 3 1st w )


Risso's Dolphin - 3
Porpoises showing well at times.


Very tame Snow Bunting feeding by road between Cattle Grid & Lookout.


A.Rogers, R.Davies, C.Grayell.

Strumble Head 19th October.

Time: 07.30 - 13.00
Wind:Strong SW then SSW


Common Scoter - 20 ( 14 Males )
Red Throated Diver - 1
Sooty Shearwater - 1
Manx Shearwater - 8
Balearic Shearwater - 3
Leach's Petrel - 1
Pomarine Skua - 1 ( Juv )
Arctic Skua - 1 ( Dark )
Bonxie - 2
Mediterranean Gull - 1 ( 1stw )


Some Swallows & Starlings in off sea.


Many Thanks to Chris Grayell for the info.

Strumble Head 18th October.

Time: 08.45 - 11.45
Weather: Overcast
Wind: SW 4/5


Common Scoter - 4 ( All Males )
Manx Shearwater - 2
Balearic Shearwater - 1
Pomarine Skua - 1 ( Adult Winter )
Mediterranean Gull - 1 ( Adult )
Commic Tern - 1


Risso's Dolphin - 1
Porpoise showing on & off. 

Redwings

Two flocks and several single Redwing flew over at Llanychaer this morning  over 50+ birds in total.

Strumble 11th October

Wind SSW 2-3
vis good
1030 - 1600
Red-throated Diver 1
Scoter 3 (1 f)
Whooper Swan 4 in off sea
Arctic Skua 1 DP
Swallow 8 in off sea

Strumble

10th October
Wind SSW/4
Vis good
Wigeon 7
Med Gull 1st w
Commic Tern 56 (at least  12 were Common)
Swallow 52 in off sea heading southwards
Leather-backed Turtle

Strumble Head 9th October

Wind  SW 5
Good vis
Balearic Shearwater 1
Manx Shearwater 1
Scoter 10 91 f)
Sandwich Tern 3
Med Gull 1st w

Flagpoles

Afternoon : Med Gulls: 2 X Adult, 1 x 2nd w, 1 X 1st w.

Flagpoles 13.00 6th October.

A group of 17 Wigeon viewed distantly out in the Harbour from the Flagpoles Car Park. Almost certainly my maximum count there to date. 

Strumble Head 6th October.

Time: 07.00 - 11.30
Weather: Sunny  but very cold
Wind:SW4 - W4


Wigeon - 10
Common Scoter - 11 ( 8 Males )
Balearic Shearwater - 2
Grey Plover - 1
Dunlin - 5
Curlew - 1
Pomarine Skua - 2 ( Pale Ad & Juv )
Arctic Skua - 1 ( Dark )
Mediterranean Gull - 1 ( 1st w )
Sandwich Tern - 3
Arctic Tern - 4


Porpoise showing. 

Strumble Head 4th October.

Time: 06.45 - 12.45
Weather: Cloudy
Wind: NNW 5/6


Wigeon - 56
Teal - 5
Mallard - 1
Tufted Duck - 1
Common Scoter - 51 ( 38 Males )
Red Throated Diver - 1
Balearic Shearwater - 14
Sanderling - 1
Arctic Skua - 6 ( 2 Pale,2 Dark,2 Juv. )
Long Tailed Skua - 1 ( Juv. )
Bonxie - 1
Mediterranean Gull - 2 ( Ad & 2w )
Sandwich Tern - 11
Commic Tern - 3


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


   

Flagpoles

Juv/1st w Mediterranean Gull with Black - headeds at high tide.

Hobby

An addition to Chris's merlin was a juvenile hobby later this afternoon. There was a single manx shearwater and also a raven, bringing back memories of Jack D and his impersonations!

Strumble Head 30th Sept.

Time: 07.00 - 12.00
Weather: Fine
Wind: SW

Pintail - 2
Common Scoter - 97 ( 76 Males )
Red Throated Diver - 1
Pomarine Skua - 1 ( Juv )
Arctic Skua - 1 ( Dark )
Mediterranean Gull - 2 ( 1 Ad , 1 juv )
Little Tern - 1
Sandwich Tern - 43
Commic Tern - 7

2 pods of Common dolphins with no more than 6 in each

Hundreds of Hirundines & Passerines ( mainly finches ) in off sea & a Merlin.

Many Thanks to Chris Grayell for the report. 

Tresinwen & Strumble (27 & 28 Sep 14)

Looks like I have made it through September without any sea-watching - thanks to the weather.  Not a record to be proud of.  We must have been too greedy in the last week of August.

A good look around the garden and headland over the weekend produced the following highlights:

• 150 Starlings yesterday feasting on Elderberry around Tresinwen.  Nothing unusual amongst them.  They seem to have dispersed today and have taken to high level fly catching.
• 2 Jays today - one behind the garden and one at bottom of Porthsychan valley.
• Up to 5 Goldcrest around the garden along with 2 or 3 Chiffchaff.
• 5 White Wagtail around the farm and a Grey Wagtail in the garden.
• 4 Mistle Thrush in the garden yesterday with just a single flyby today.
• Lots of Swallows on wires around Tresinwen this morning.
• Seal pups of various ages in almost every bay you look at.

Strumble Head 26th Sept.

Time: 07.30 - 09.30




Common Scoter - 12 ( 10 Males )
Balearic Shearwater - 1
Bonxie - 1
Sandwich Tern - 5
Arctic Tern - 3




Risso's Dolphin - 1




Many Thanks to Brian Gibbs ( Somerset Recorder ) for the info.

Goshawk

A juv Goshawk at Llanychaer having an ariel fight with a Buzzard.50+Hose Martins over the tree tops.

Strumble Head 25th Sept.

Time: 09.45 - 14.15
Weather: Cloud some Drizzle
Wind: SW3


Common Scoter - 19 ( 16 Males )
Balearic Shearwater - 2
Knot - 5
Mediterranean Gull - 1 ( Ad )


Risso's Dolphin - 1
Porpoises - Showing well in close tide race.


As in previous post Swallows coming in off sea in good numbers.

Swallows swarming in... and Autumn migrants!

As I walked the dog just before eight this morning i was delighted to hear the excited chattering of a swarm of swallows, c40 above the house. Not long after I was at Strumble and met up with Brian Gibbs (Somerset Bird Recorder) on his regular autumn visit. 
As even more Swallows streamed in off the sea, Brian told me although seabirds were few and far between, he had seen a pod of c16 Common Dolphins in the morning and several Risso's  and more commons over the past few days. This included a group of five on Monday night that had been visible for over half an hour. Its always nice to see some of the old gang especially such a reliable observer.

Jays

A group of eight Jays past over Llanychaer this morning heading in a westerly direction, followed twenty minutes later by another six.

Strumble Head 24th Sept.

Time: 07.45 - 11.15
Weather: Bright
Wind: NNW 4/5


Common Scoter - 45 ( 38 Males )
Red Throated Diver - 2 ( Both Summer Plumage )
Balearic Shearwater - 3
Dunlin - 4
Arctic Skua - 4 ( 2 Pale, 2 Dark )
Bonxie - 1
Sandwich Tern - 19


Risso's Dolphin - 2
Porpoises showing.

Strumble Head 23rd Sept.

Still struggling with any birds due to the unhelpful weather conditions, but did manage 31 Common Scoter & a flock of approx. 60 Meadow Pipits came in together off the sea. The excitement was 5 Risso's Dolphins that came through ( 2 & 3 ), although both groups went straight through West without stopping.  

Late brood

There has been  a late brood of Siskins in the garden the last few days 3juvs still being fed by there parents.
At Rosebush Reservoir 2 Pintail, 13 Wigeon ,5 Tufted Duck and double figures of Teal and Coot.

Strumble Head 20th Sept.

Time: 06.45 - 10.45
Weather: Overcast
Wind:NNW 4/5


Common Scoter - 109 ( 95 Males )
Arctic Skua - 6 ( 5 Dark,1 Pale )
Pomarine Skua - 1 ( Juv )


Common Dolphin - 5
Sunfish - 2


Many Thanks to Chris Grayell for the information.

Strumble Head 19th Sept.

Not a seawatch, decided to look at the bushes & fields instead. Quite a few Chiffs & Robins about with a few Whitethroats, 3 Wheatear & a single Willow Warbler. A female Sparrowhawk hunting the headland was very visible. The Chough flock is up to 23 now & quite mobile between the lighthouse & almost to Seal Bay. Out to sea a large number of Porpoises in evidence possibly up to 50 feeding in the tide race between 2 & 3 p.m. on the rising tide.

Flagpoles 10.00 19th Sept.

A nice Kingfisher hanging around with a female Wigeon also new in. I wouldn't be honest if i didn't say i got a small bit excited with the silhouette under the bridge at first but turned out to be only my 2nd Dipper there in 12 years.

Flagpoles 14.00 17th Sept.

An Adult Mediterranean Gull was the first i've seen at the Flagpoles for a while.

Strumble Head 15th Sept

Time: 10.45 - 12.45
Weather: Bright
Wind: ESE 3/4


Common Scoter - 2 ( Males )
Balearic Shearwater - 2


Yellow Wagtail - 2
Quite a few ' alba' wagtails moving.
A flock of Chough now that must number at least 12 birds.
Porpoises showing.

Things on the move...

Three Bar Tails flew in to feed on the exposed sand/mud of the waterfront at Fishguard Harbour this afternoon.

Swallows ...

Returning on the ferry from Ireland on Wednesday, a steady stream of swallows passed us. I calculated that if they kept flying they could easily reach the English Channel by evening. Maybe four or so days to cross France and Spain with breaks to feed and then across to Africa and onward...
The young swallows in our barn, the second of two broods of five fledged on the 28th of August. They and their parents left this week and are probably also not far off crossing the straits of Gibraltar to face the perils of the Sahara and beyond. Its always a joyous moment when they arrive in the spring and a sad one when suddenly the sky is empty of them in the Autumn.

Goshawk

There was a juv Goshawk at Pen Anglas this morning in the burnt tall gorse on the way down to the fog horn. Very quite apart from that.

Mistle Thrush

A group of 16 Mistle Thrushes at Llanychaer this evening

Carlett Lady Trip 4th Sept.

A day trip out to beyond the Smalls with Cliff, Hannah & some more of the Sea Trust team turned out to be quite rewarding. Birdwise there were lots of Manx, Gillies, Razorbills & Gannets. The quality being a couple of Bonxies, at least one Sooty Shearwater & quite a few Common Terns throughout the day. Plenty of Common Dolphins were seen plus at least a couple of Risso's & a Sunfish.

Flagpoles

Four Grey Herons roosting at high tide. Have not seen more than two together at this locality in many years of visits.

Dead Barn Owl on Goodwick Moor

A lady popped in to the Ocean Lab to tell us she had found a dead Barn Owl on the nearby Goodwick Moor. Verena and I went to investigate and found it near "Pechora Corner" It was beginning to decompose and I did not fancy picking it up so not able to speculate as to how it met its sad fate.

Strumble Head 1st sept.

Time: 09.45 - 12.00
Weather: Cloudy
Wind: N 2/3


Common Scoter - 16 ( 13 Males )
Bonxie - 1
Sandwich Tern - 19 ( Including a very white individual lacking dark in wing & head, albino? )


Porpoises showing.








 

Strumble Head (31 Aug 14)

Time:  0600 - 1500
Weather: Sunny
Wind: NNW (F3) am, SW (F3) pm

Cory's Shearwater - 1 (0705)
Great Shearwater - 2 (0655, 0810) *
Balearic Shearwater - 1
Long Tailed Skua - 1 (Juv)
Pomarine Skua - 2 (Juv)
Arctic Skua - 18 (11D, 4P, 3Juv)
Great Skua - 3
Mediterranean Gull - 1 (1stW)
Little Gull - 1 (1stW)
Comic Tern - 10
Black Tern - 2
Sandwich Tern - 75
Common Scoter - 15 (3F, 12M)
Whimbrel - 10
Curlew - 1
Yellow Wagtail - 3 (In off sea)
Wheatear - 1
Sparrowhawk - 1

Sunfish - 2
Risso's Dolphin - 3 different groups - 1, 8 and 2.  The larger group showing for over 2 hours with regular breaching (including a sequence of ten consecutive breaches by one individual.)  Lots of splashing and tail slapping also.

* The 0655 Great was found by an Arctic Skua!  We were following an Arctic Skua when it dropped onto something on the deck.  It then got up and circled around and then dive bombed whatever was on the deck........then a Great Shear got up and tried to fly off but was mobbed by the Skua and had to ditch.  The Skua then gave up and flew off and the Great got up again flew 10-15 yards then landed and wasn't seen subsequently.  How many more were out there floating past???

Strumble Head (30 Aug 14)

Time: 0600 - 1800
Weather: Sunny.
Wind: W (F7-5)

Cory's Shearwater - 2 (0630, 0640)
Great Shearwater - 10 (0643, 0705, 0720, 0750(2), 0825, 0827, 0845, 1705, 1733)
Sooty Shearwater - 6
Balearic Shearwater - 2
Arctic Skua - 35 (15D, 14P, 6Juv)
Great Skua - 13
Mediterranean Gull - 1 (1stW)
Comic Tern - 15
Little Tern - 1
Black Tern - 2
Sandwich Tern - 51
Common Scoter - 12 (2F, 10M)
Whimbrel - 54
Knot - 5
Ringed Plover - 1
Swift - 1

Sunfish - 1
Common Porpoise - showing well.
Common Dolphin - c.10 in one pod
Risso's Dolphin - 3 (1 and 2)

Strumble Head (29 Aug 14)

Time: 0600 - 1700
Weather: Cloudy.
Wind: SW (F8)

Cory's Shearwater - 1 (0635)
Great Shearwater - 4 (0625, 0735, 1610, 1645)
Sooty Shearwater - 5
Balearic Shearwater - 8
Pomarine Skua - 1 (Juv)
Arctic Skua - 13 (10D, 1P, 2Juv)
Great Skua - 10
Sabine's Gull - 1 (AdW)
Little Gull - 1 (Ad)
Comic Tern - 420
Little Tern - 6
Black Tern - 4
Roseate Tern - 1
Sandwich Tern - 5
Common Scoter - 25 (4F, 21M)
Wigeon - 1
Whimbrel - 14
Dunlin - 1
Grey Phalarope - 1
Puffin - 2

Sunfish - 1
Common Porpoise - showing well.
Risso's Dolphin - 1 (Huge fin)

Strumble Head (28 Aug 14)

Time: 0600 - 1600
Weather: Showers early then sunny.
Wind: SSW (F7)

Pomarine Skua - 2 (D, Juv)
Arctic Skua - 8 (5D, 1P, 2Juv)
Great Skua - 6
Comic Tern - 570 (Large % being Arctic)
Roseate Tern - 4
Little Tern - 7
Black Tern - 16
Sandwich Tern - 91
Mediterranean Gull - 2 (1stW, 2ndW)
Common Scoter - 99 (10F, 89M)
Teal - 9
Whimbrel - 27
Curlew - 1
Knot - 2
Dunlin - 1
Turnstone - 3
Puffin - 1

Common Porpoise - Showing well.
Risso's Dolphin - 4 sightings - 4, 2, 3 and 2.  Included one very large individual with massive fin (dark).

Strumble Head (27 Aug 14)

Time: 0600 - 1800
Weather: Dry, cloudy.
Wind: SE (F7)

*** Great White Egret - 1 (East @ 1155).  My second for Strumble.

Pomarine Skua - 1 (Juv)
Arctic Skua - 20 (15D, 3P, 2Juv)
Great Skua - 3
Sabine's Gull - 2 (Juv)
Mediterranean Gull - 4 (1stW)
Comic Tern - 348
Roseate Tern - 4
Black Tern - 1
Little Tern - 2
Sandwich Tern - 27
Common Scoter - 96 (17F, 79M)
Teal - 3
Mallard - 1
Shoveler - 4
Wigeon - 1
Whimbrel - 9
Redshank - 1
Ringed Plover - 1
Turnstone - 1
Knot - 6
Dunlin - 2
Ruff - 1
Swift - 13
Wheatear - 1

Common Porpoise - showing very well.
Common Dolphin - 1 "super" pod of 50-60 swam in from NE at speed and headed off past Lighthouse not stopping to feed.

Strumble Head (26 Aug 14)

Time: 0600 - 0800
Weather: Dry, sunny.
Wind: SE (F4)

Arctic Skua - 2 (D)
Comic Tern - 22
Mediterranean Gull - 1 (1stW)
Common Scoter - 4 (1F, 3M)

Common Porpoise - Showing occasionally
Common Dolphin - 1 pod of about 25 individuals showing very well close inshore.  Lots of youngsters in pod.  Impressive number of Gannets in attendance - over 50 birds.

Tresinwen (25 Aug 14)

Female Blackcap, Garden Warbler and a few Chiffs in the garden this evening.  A few Siskin still around.

Strumble Head (25 Aug 14)

Time: 0600 - 1600
Weather: Rain
Wind: SSE (F5-7)

Balearic Shearwater - 1
Great Skua - 4
Arctic Skua - 1 (D)
Sandwich Tern - 18
Comic Tern - 79
Little Tern - 1
Mediterranean Gull - 1 (1stW)
Common Scoter - 60 (11F, 49M)
Mallard - 5
Teal - 4
Tufted Duck - 3
Curlew - 1
Whimbrel - 19
Bar Tailed Godwit - 3
Ruff - 1
Dunlin - 5
Knot - 2
Turnstone - 1
Grey Heron - 1
Swift - 1

Common Porpoise - Showing very well.

Strumble Head (24 Aug 14)

Time: 0600 - 1800
Weather: Cloudy, drizzle late afternoon.
Wind: SSE (F5)

Great Shearwater - 1 (East @ 1225 at long range)
Pomarine Skua - 1 (Juv)
Arctic Skua - 1 (D)
Great Skua - 1
Mediterranean Gull - 1 (1stW)
Sandwich Tern - 30
Comic Tern - 9
Common Scoter - 8 (2F, 6M)
Whimbrel - 15
Redshank - 1
Dunlin - 31
Knot - 4
Grey Heron - 2

Common Porpoise - Showing very well.  (Leaping, tail slapping etc)
Common Dolphin - 2 pods of 10 and 15 including some very small young.
Risso's Dolphin - 8 (Showing for about 1 hour loafing around, tail slapping, logging, sky hopping etc).

Strumble Head (23 Aug 14)

Time: 0600 - 1500
Weather: Sunny. 
Wind: N (F5)

Arctic Skua - 2 (D)
Mediterranean Gull - 1 (1stW)
Sandwich Tern - 54
Common Scoter - 5 (2F, 3M)
Whimbrel - 10
Bar Tailed Godwit - 5
Knot - 1

Common Porpoise - showing well.
Common Dolphin - 1 pod of about 8 individuals.

Med. Gull PNE4

The Adult Med. Gull with colour ring White PNE4 on Red darvic ring was ringed as a pullus ( nestling to those of us that aren't ringers ) at Opoloskie, Poland on 10th June 2011 by Jakub Szymczak. It's the fifth siting since fledging the others at Men - Aver Beach Cornwall on 1st Oct 2012, the same site on 31st Dec 2013, Bootertown , County Dublin 6th July 2014 & at Penally a week before the Fishguard Harbour siting.

Strumble Head 19th August.

Time: 09.15 - 15.00
Weather: Bright
Wind: NW 3



Common Scoter - 1 ( Male )
Sanderling - 1
Arctic Skua - 1 ( Dark )
Bonxie - 2
Mediterranean Gull - 1 ( Juv )
Sandwich Tern - 4


Porpoises showing on & off.


Many Thanks to Paul Grennard for the stuff after 11.45

Strumble Head 18th August.

Time: 09.15 - 11.45
Weather: Bright
Wind: N 5/6


Common Scoter - 17 ( 14 Males )
Knot - 1
Dunlin - 45
Arctic Skua - 1 ( Dark )
Long Tailed Skua - 1 ( Juv )
Bonxie - 2
Sandwich Tern - 6
Commic Tern - 7


Porpoise seen.


Many Thanks to Ceri Jones for the reports before I arrived.

Strumble Head (17 Aug 14)

Time: 0600 - 1500
Weather: Dry, sunny.
Wind: NW (F7-5)

Great Shearwater - 1 (1348)
Sooty Shearwater - 3
Balearic Shearwater - 2
Long Tailed Skua - 1 (Ad) (0800) (Lacking tail streamers)
Arctic Skua - 3 (1D, 2P)
Great Skua - 3
Comic Tern - 2
Sandwich Tern - 8
Common Scoter - 25 (10F, 15M)
Whimbrel - 3
Bar Tailed Godwit - 2
Black Tailed Godwit - 9
Dunlin - 10
Sanderling - 10
Turnstone - 1
Ringed Plover - 1
Puffin - 1

Common Porpoise - showing well all day
Sunfish - 1

Strumble Head (16 Aug 14)

Time: 0600 - 1230
Weather: Dry, bright.
Wind: WSW (F5-6)

Great Skua - 1
Arctic Skua - 1 (D)
Common Scoter - 40 (19F, 21M)
Mediterranean Gull - 3 (2 1stW, 1 2ndW)
Sandwich Tern - 7
Common Sandpiper - 1

Common Porpoise - Showing on and off all morning.
Common Dolphin - 1 pod of about 12 animals including at least one very small individual.
Risso's Dolphin - 1 (Full breach, not seen before or after)

Wdigbirders Med Gull

One of the Med Gulls at Fishguard Harbour this morning...

Fishguard Harbour 10.30 12th August.

Single Juv Med. Gull at Flagpoles end with 2 more Juvs at Stena end plus the first Adult of the autumn, colour ringed white PNE4 on a red ring.

Med. Gull RHP9

The Juv Med. Gull at the Flagpoles on Sunday 10th August with colour ring RHP9 was ringed in France on 29th June. It is the first sighting away from the breeding colony.

Strumble Head 11th August.

Time: 06.00 - 17.00
Weather: Bright Sunny.
Wind: W 5/6


Common Scoter - 8 ( 6 Males )
Sooty Shearwater - 1
Balearic Shearwater - 1
Dunlin - 19
Sanderling - 11
Whimbrel - 247
Turnstone - 13
Grey Phalarope - 1
Arctic Skua - 1 ( Dark )
Long Tailed Skua - 1 ( Adult with full length tail )
Bonxie - 2
Mediterranean Gull - 6 ( All Juvs )
Sandwich Tern - 6
Little Tern - 1


Sunfish - 4
Porpoises showing quite well today.


Many Thanks to Chris Grayell for the stuff before 8.30


On the way back through 50 Whimbrel at the Flagpoles.

Strumble Head 10 August.

Time: 06.00 - 17.00
Weather: Rain at first then cloudy, some bright spells
Wind: N5 / NW5 / W5 at end.


Common Scoter - 10 ( 5 Males )
Sooty Shearwater - 1
Whimbrel - 20
Bonxie - 3
Mediterranean Gull - 2 ( Juvs )


Manx more or less constant for most of day.


Porpoise showing intermittently.


At the Flagpoles on the way back, 2 Juv Med. Gulls one with a green ring with RHP9 in white on left leg & metal ring above knee on right.

Flagpoles 16.00 9th August

At last, 2 Juvenile Med. Gulls along with the normal collection of Herring, Lesser Black Backed & Black Headed.

Clouded Yellow

A Clouded Yellow at Pen Anglas this morning was a nice surprise,birdwise 2 Sandwich Terns,18 Common Scoter heading west,a single Wheatear and Grey Wagtail.
Several Porpoises off the point.
3 Redshank at the flagpole end of the harbour.

Strumble Head 4th August.

Time: 06.00 - 10.00
Weather: Hot & Sunny
Wind: SW 1/2


Common Scoter - 122 ( 81 Males )
Whimbrel - 2
Mediterranean Gull - 1 ( Juv )


Porpoises showing intermittently.


A group of around 20 Starlings by the lookout.

Strumble Head 25th - 28th July.

25th July.


Tufted duck - 1
Common Scoter - 170 ( 95 males )
Lge Shearwater sp. - 1
Whimbrel - 1
Curlew - 5
Mediterranean Gull - 4 ( All Juvs )
Sandwich Tern - 2
Puffin - 18






26th July.


Common Scoter - 214 ( 50 Males )
Puffin - 26






27th July.


Common Scoter - 24 ( 19 Males )
Common Sandpiper - 1
Mediterranean Gull - 1 ( Juv )
Sandwich tern - 3
Commic Tern - 3
Puffin - 7
Minke Whale - 1 ( 7a.m. )




28th July.


Tufted Duck - 1
Common Scoter - 149 ( 80 Males )
Dunlin - 2
Whimbrel - 2
Commic Tern - 3
Puffin - 7




Many Thanks to Red Liford for the info.

Pied Flycatcher

Getting ready for work today & had a glance up at the Sycamore & Hawthorn at the back of the garden. A slight bird caught my eye flitting among the shrubs & when it came into full view revealed itself to be a female type Pied Flycatcher, a new garden tick. Didn't hang around though, too many boisterous Sparrows & very belligerent Siskins I expect.

Flagpoles 15.00 28th July

Oystercatchers up to 74+, if this is the usual autumn movement then appears to be starting a couple of weeks early.A couple of Dunlinish waders flying about as well. Up to 30 Black Headed Gulls...No Meds. yet.

More Silver Washed Frillaries

There were three Silver Washed Fritillaries at Llanychaer on Friday .
Slightly further a field a Green Sandpiper at Rosebush Reservoir yesterday,the pair of Great Crested Grebe seemed to have failed to hatch any young this year after two attempts.
At Pantmarnog a family party of Willow Tits six maybe seven individuls, also 2 Crossbills.

Silver Washed Fritillary

A single Silver Washed Fritillary at Llanychaer this afternoon,also 4 Commas.

Fishguard Outer Breakwater 23rd July.

Moving waders apparent as 4 Redshank seen & a single summer plumaged Turnstone, approx. 10 Common Scoter passed distantly. A few Porpoises seen in the bay during a one hour survey with Walrus & Hannah from Seatrust.

Flagpoles 13.00 Little Egrets

Highlight of todays visit, 2 Little Egrets also a single Whimbrel calling over but didn't see it.

Dave Glanville

It is with much shock & sadness that I heard of the passing of Dave Glanville this weekend. I will remember his enthusiasm on his visits to Strumble in particular & as noted in the piece on Pembrokeshire Birds he was great company to have in the lookout next to you. Sincere condolences to his family & friends, he will be greatly missed.


Adrian  

Flagpoles 15.00 17th July.

Usual suspects ( Herring Gulls, Oystercatchers & a few Black Headed Gull ), Curlews up to 4 now & 2 slightly smaller more distant waders gave them selves up as Greenshanks uttering their " Tew.Tew,Tew " call as they flew off.

Song Thrush 17th July.

Nice to see a juv Song Thrush in garden today. Adults not seen recently but possibly a fairly closely bred individual. After observations made later in the afternoon it's possible that this bird is being fed by the adult male Blackbird that has been feeding his own fledglings recently.

Strumble Head 15th July.

Time: 16.15 - 18.15
Weather: Bright & Sunny
Wind: NW 2


Mediterranean Gull - 1 ( Ad flying West )
Common Gull - 1 ( 1st summer )
Puffin - 2


Porpoise - A few showing intermittently.


By the time I left Manxies coming through in large numbers.

Strumble Head (13 Jul 14)

Time: 0500 - 0800
Weather: Sunny spells.
Wind: NW (F5)

Puffin - 32
Common Scoter - 12 (1F, 11M)
Curlew - 1

No cetaceans seen.

Melanistic Kestrel

There was a melanisic Kestrel at Pen Anglas this afternoon,I thought at first I was seeing something out of the ordinary a very dark individual.
Also good numbers of Dark Green Fritillaries around twenty in total,other species of butterfly included Small Skipper,Gatekeeper,Ringlet and numerous Meadow Browns.

Strumble Head 10th July.

Time: 10.00 - 11.30
Weather: Bright
Wind: NNE 1/2




Mediterranean Gull - 1 ( Adult with full black hood east.)


A few Manx Shearwaters & Guillemots, Razorbills, Gannets, Fulmars present.
Porpoises showing intermittently.


On the land good numbers of Meadow Pipits & Stonechats.

Sandwich Tern

There was a single Sandwich Tern in Fishguard harbour this morning.

Goodwick Moor 6th July.

Mild excitement in the shape of a pale Reed Warbler type acrocephalus that also had a less than convincing song & also in the scrubby area of Buddleia & Japanese knotweed rather than the reedbed , looked very interesting. Unfortunately couldn't relocate it after the tour of the moor. Returned slightly later with Steve & we eventually relocated the bird  plus a couple more ! Juvenile Reed Warblers that were having a bash at singing ? At least we can confirm breeding for this year, considering we only estimate a couple of pairs on site there quite pleasing.

Tystie Fishguard Harbour 3rd July.

After not seeing them for a while we had wondered whether increased activity with a large dredging vessel had been causing a problem. Today however, one was seen to fly out of the Ferry Terminal side & towards Lower Town, just after the ship came in. behaviour that has been witnessed many times previously so possibly disturbance has been minimal & they are still present.
at the Flagpoles very little, 2 Black headed Gulls over & 30 ish Oystercatchers.  

Storm Petrels 24th June.

In less than perfect conditions the first visit of the year to Strumble for Richard, Wendy & Chris from the Teifi Ringing Group. In the relatively short window of oppurtunity 3 Stormies were trapped & a single Manx Shearwater, the groups first Manx at the site. A good start.