Black Redstart

A female Black Redstart was present at Pen Anglas this morning, around 50 House Martins also present.
At Llanychaer four pairs of Redstarts located this spring.

Tresinwen & Strumble Head (26 May 14)

Spotted Flycatcher still around the garden.  2 Shelduck in Porthsychan Bay.  2 Yellow Wagtails overhead and a Whimbrel calling as it flew west along the cliffs.

Tresinwen & Strumble Head (25 May 14)

Spotted Flycatcher now back in the garden.

Tresinwen & Strumble Head (24 May 14)

While stalking (unsuccessfully) the local Cuckoo I came across a singing and displaying male Redstart at Tai Bach.  Interesting.....

Later had a close fly by from this female Sparrowhawk...

Which wood would be doing what?

Driving up our lane I was not surprised to see a wood pidgeon  on the road feeding on something or other. I was surprised to see what at first appeared to be a miniature magpie seemingly feeding alongside it. As I approached they flew up in front of me and the Mini-me Magpie resolved itself into a female great spotted woodpecker. In close on 50 years of birdwatching I have never seen a woodpecker feeding on the road...
Maybe it was a new species, a road pecker?

Just Outside Fishguard ( Well quite a way really ! ) Marloes Mere 21st May.

Not many birds on our flying visit this afternoon but a new Dragonfly for me. Bumped into Peter & Rosemary Royle while we were there, she informs me it's a Hairy Dragonfly. Appeared to be consuming a ladybird.

Dippers

One of the pairs of Dippers at Llanychaer has fledged two young. Pied Flycatcher is still singing off and on.
Saw my first Beautiful Demoiselles of the year what smart little creatures they are.

Tresinwen & Strumble Head (18 May 14)

Cuckoo calling again now on the side of the mountain.  Another calling in scrub behind Stop & Call.

My first Spotted Flycatcher of the year in scrub just above Porthsychan beach.

Now 6 Collared Doves around the farm at Tresinwen.

Llanychaer

Both  Pied Flycatcher and Redstart singing everyday over the past week although difficult to see as the tree canopy is beginning to close up. Dippers are feeding young in the nest as are two pairs of Great Spotted Woodpeckers. A good garden tick yesterday with a Kingfisher sitting on the garden fence.50 + House Martins over woods at Llanychaer this evening
Else where Cuckoo at Ty Rhig and Pantmaenog as were Tree pipit and several Repoll.
Two Black Guillemots in the harbour at Fishguard.

Flagpoles 14.00 18th May.

Two waders that flew from beach to the Oystercatcher roosting area on the right hand side eventually revealed themselves to be Bar Tailed Godwits. Otherwise very quiet with only the regular Oycs & a few Herring Gulls.

Tresinwen & Strumble Head (17 May 14)

3 Lesser Whitethroat singing along with lots of Whitethroat, Blackcap and Sedge Warbler.  2 White Wagtail on Porthsychan beach.

Female Cuckoo flew in off sea at 1130 this morning at the old coastguard and headed inland.  (My first of the year).  Late afternoon a male Cuckoo calling behind the garden.

Flagpoles 16.00 14th May

Extremely confiding Ringed Plover, almost Phalarope like in it's swimming & it's tameness !

Strumble Head 11th May.

Time: 15.15 - 17.45
Weather: Cloudy
Wind: WSW 5/6


Storm Petrel - 1
Arctic Skua - 1 ( Dark Phase )


Risso's Dolphin - 14 ( See Whales in Wales for pics )
Porpoise - Some present


Hundreds of Manx Shearwaters now going through.

A purple patch!

Several weeks since our overwintering Purple Sandpipers moved on (we think) so these were probably birds on passage to their breeding grounds in Greenland...

Flagpoles 16.00 ( Little Tern )

The Little Tern still present this afternoon, after checking with Graham Rees & recent reports it appears it's the first Spring Record for Fishguard. Sparked a major twitch from Walrus a couple of his volunteers !

Flagpoles 16.30 - Little Tern..MEGA !

A very quiet look found a late Turnstone & a few gulls, one of which was a Black Headed. All change though when a Little Tern appeared & began feeding. Five Whimbrel then put in an appearance to add greater interest.

 

Fishguard Harbour/Bay and Strumble Head today

A visit to Pebbly Beach and the Ravens are still in their nest. Four Chough were wheeling and calling before one pair went off west and the other east.A short heavy shower produced three or four wheatears.  A Common Sandpiper flew out of the sewage treatment plant whilst a Buzzard food passed what looked like a snake to its mate, not a bad hours birding!

 A visit to Strumble this evening saw us greeted by a singing cock Linnet and a couple of Swifts which preceded a steady movement of mainly swallows with a smattering of House and Sand Martins. Out to sea Manxies streamed by, along with odd odd Kittiwakes, Fulmars, Auks and Gannets. Six Whimbrel added a bit of variety...

Pen Anglas

Fairly quite at Pen Anglas with a single Wheatear, singing Lesser Whitethroat and Sedge Warbler,two Black Guillemot in the harbour and two summer plumaged Dunlin by the flagpoles

Tresinwen & Strumble (05 May 14)

Tresinwen - Porthsychan - Old Coastguard - Tresinwen

Best bird of day a Dotterel flying over Tresinwen and the farm at 0930 this morning.  Calling constantly and seemed to head for the crop fields at the head.  A search of the headland fields could not relocate the bird.

Now only one Golden Plover left in the crop fields.  Whimbrel mobile with 3 around the headland plus Adrian's flock moving offshore.  I also had a Red Throated Diver flying East so possibly the same bird.

4 Collard Doves on wires at Tresinwen was unusual.  Later seen in Porthsychan valley.

 

Strumble Head 5th May

At the head quite a few Wheatears on the Lighthouse side & over towards the Old Coastguards. All 3 common Hirundines around. On the rocks below the lookout 3 Whimbrel & my first Swift of the year over.
Out to sea a group of 8 Whimbrel passed & a Red Throated Diver heading East.

Thailand Group 2014

Left to right: Front - Adrian, Steve, Yotin ( Guide ) & Dyfed,
                    Back - Jon, Wendy.         

Thailand Trip 2014

Pictures from our successful trip:
Party
Steve Berry
Jon Green
Wendy James
Dyfed James
Adrian Rogers


https://picasaweb.google.com/113094804473830141576/ThailandBirdsFebruaryMarch2014


All the pictures by Dyfed James.

Tresinwen & Strumble (04 May 14)

AM
Tresinwen - Porthsychan - Old Coastguard - Tresinwen

Red Kite - 1 Feeding over coastal crop fields before moving back towards Fishguard
Redstart - 1 Female in coastal scrub
Yellowhammer - 1 With House Sparrows around the farm
Whimbrel - 13 In coastal crop fields
Curlew - 1 With Whimbrel
Golden Plover - 4 Summer plumage in crop fields with Whimbrel
Yellow Wagtail - 1 Fly over
White Wagtail - 1 Fly over
Sedge Warbler - 4
Whitethroat - 25+
Lesser Whitethroat - 3
Chiffchaff - 15+
Willow Warbler - 5
Swift - 2

Lots of Wheatear, Goldfinch, Linnet and Stonechat

PM
Same circuit.  New records:

Whimbrel now up to 30
Lesser Redpoll - 4
Merlin - 1
Swift - 4

Tresinwen & Strumble (03 May 14)

My first Swift of the year over the garden this afternoon.  Lesser Whitethroat still singing behind the garden.  Lots of Whitethroats around.

No sound of any Cuckoos yet.....

Whimbrel

A single Whimbrel at the flagpoles this afternoon.
Male Redstart showing very well at Llanychaer.
Red-throated Diver Abermawr on 29th Apr quite a late date.