lots of divers at Strumble this afternoon...

At least seven divers around Strumble this afternoon mostly RTD's from what I could work out with bin's.
Interesting to compare size with the Herring Gull also pictured in this ever so long distance snap!

Fishguard Bay

The Great Northern Diver is still present along with a Red-throated today.6 Common Scoter seem to have taken up winter residence.

Great Northern Diver

 A Great Northern Diver off Fishguard Fort  this morning

Starlings 23rd Jan.

I reckon there's about 80. Biggest count I've had in the tree so far.

Harbour Gull Roost 22nd Jan.

Hundreds of Black Headed, a few Common Gulls.
Med. Gulls
6 x Adult
1 x 2nd Winter
2 x 1st Winter

A single Great Crested Grebe, all seen from Ferry Terminal side.

Herring Gull Flagpoles 22nd Jan.

Initially caused me a bit of excitement when I saw it first, but on closer scrutiny of the pics I'm going to have to settle for a 3rd winter Herring. Unless anyone has any better ideas !

Woodcock

A single Woodcock at Llanychaer this morning

Strumble Road Still flooded,but...

The weather this month has been appalling, the wettest i can ever remember. The road to Strumble is still flooded but just do-able in my car, although not without fingers crossed and a certain amount of fear and trepidation. Hannah and the Walrus got there about 3.30 and at first sight from the bus stop nothing was showing in the poor light conditions apart for a few gulls auks etc. We moved down to the lighthouse car park unready to go without at least one porp sighting. And as usual our Strumble Porp's  didn't let us down with a couple of sightings from the gap between the islands. An added bonus was a female Merlin flitting in front of the car as magical as only a Welsh Merlin can be!

Fishguard Fort

Off the fort at Fishguard this afternoon 3 Red-throated Divers and 6 Common Scoter.
At the Nevern estuary a male Goosander,Little Egret and 2 Black-tailed Godwits.
12 Tufted Duck at Rosebush Reservoir this morning

Outer Breakwater 19th Jan.

Wdigbirder & Walrus had a quick look on OBW & were rewarded very nicely today with seven Purple Sandpipers including a group of five, at least four Ringed plover the supporting cast.

Flagpoles and a Merlin

Must just have missed Adrian at the Flagpoles this afternoon. Shortly after we arrived at around 1530hrs a couple of redshank and an adult common gull flew in. On the way back via St Davids, we were diverted shortly after leaving Goodwick for an accident and had a merlin on the hedge on the B4331 just past the Priskilly Golf Club turn-off at GR SM 910 307.

Flagpoles 15.00

Quite a large gathering of gulls including a single Adult Med. Gull.

In the garden the 3 Redpolls have returned to the feeders & Siskins are almost constant coming & going. Good to see up to 6+ Greenfinches around as well. 

Flagpoles 15.00

Still very little at Flagpoles apart from the only Med. Gull in Pembs that's not at Newgale !

Goldfinch

A ringed Goldfinch on feeders in garden this afternoon.

Goodwick Moor 14th Jan 2014

Quite a bit of bird activity on the moor this morning. A mixed flock of mostly Long Tailed Tits with some Blue & Great Tits, more Bullfinches than I have seen on there for a while ( probably not a coincidence that they are visiting the garden again after being absent ) & a calling ' collybita ' type Chiffchaff. The Flagpoles had just the usual gulls, waders etc.

Auks!

Both winter and breeding plumage Auks about yesterday in Fishguard Harbour. At least one GND still around today but no sign of Whoopers reported earlier. Yesterday at Strumble several porpoises but also at least two RTD's and a steady trickle by of Auks.The road to Strumble is a flooded nightmare and dodgy in anything but a four by four!
 

Fishguard Harbour 9th Jan 2014

Managed to get a quick walk up the Inner Breakwater, quite a few Kittiwakes in the Harbour which were moving inland over Goodwick rather than back out to sea. The Great Northern Diver still close in feeding by the breakwater.

 

Strumble Head 8th Jan 2013

Time: 10.30 - 13.00
Weather: Overcast
Wind: SW 2

Red Throated Diver - 15
Great Northern Diver - 2
Pomarine Skua - 1 ( 12.40

Juv, very dark bird )

Porpoise - Seemed to be a few showing most of the time.
Started to rain so I had to leave on account of any increase in depth of the puddle !
Pom Skua & puddle pictured.

Flagpoles 15.00

A single Great Crested Grebe out in the bay & an adult Kittiwake with the other gulls at the convent end.

GND Fishguard Harbour

A couple of shots of a Great Northern Diver seen off the Fishguard Outer Breakwater during a lull in the storms on Saturday!

Fishguard Bird Group

After meticulous planning & various modes of transport, hopping between continents etc. fishguard Bird Group Annual get together last night in a secret location in the North of the county.

 

Strumble Head 2nd Jan 2014

Time: 10.30 - 12.30
Weather: Bright some clouds, showers out to sea
Wind: SW 3/4 Decreasing

Common Scoter - 8 ( 7 Males )
Red Throated Diver - 3
Great Northern Diver - 1
Fulmar - 4 ( Scarce since going off to moult )
Cormorant - 16 ( Flock of 12 & 4 others heading East high into Fishguard Bay )

Porpoise - Present

Aside from above, also seen:
Gannet
Shag
Black Headed Gull
Herring Gull
Common Gull
Lesser Black Backed Gull
Greater Black Backed Gull
Kittiwake
Guillemot
Razorbill
Rock Pipit
Chough

Great Northern Diver

A Great Northern Diver in the bay at Cwm yr Eglwys this morning.
Also at Rosebush Reservoir a probable female /immature Scaup I only had binoculars with me and the bird was at the far end alone and feeding constantly.

Flagpoles

Two Great Crested Grebes offshore and a fishing Gannet beyond Saddle Point made for a pleasant start to the New Year.

Numenius Utd

A short walk up to the Pendre Garage took me across Fishguard F.C. pitch where there were eleven ( appropriately ) Curlew on the pitch. I guess the finances of the club don't stretch to chemical worm killing as bigger set ups do, good news for the Curlews. 

Happy New Year

A very Happy & Seabird filled New Year to all.