Drim to Rugby Club Goodwick.

A quiet walk with just the usual Robins & Blackbirds was brightened up by first a Siskin on top of a tree near the ponds & then a Firecrest with approx. 10 Goldcrests a bit further along. As I passed the pitch the Fishguard Under 20's conceded a try so that wasn't good.

Woodcock

8 Woodcock tonight flew up the Valley over my position from roost, wonder how many are actually there and fly other ways to feed.

Maesgwynne 19th Nov.

Lots of birds visiting the feeders with the Marsh Tit being almost the most frequent.

Polecat

A walk over Dinas Mountain at dusk produced excellent views of a Polecat. Also around 60 Fieldfare and in excess of 100 Golden Plover coming into roost.

Maesgwynne Late Evening Shift.

As I parked the car up from coming home from work a pair of Tawny Owls calling from behind the farm opposite.

Maesgwynne 15th Nov.

This evenings watch saw 5 Woodcock come out of roost & fly up the valley, also 2 Mallard over in the near dark. 

Oh dear... murder most fowl on the breakwater!

My offer of a chance to come out on the breakwater to try and see the Snow buntings was taken up by Dave and Fran. After a stormy night it seemed likely they might have moved on. Having all got into my car I drove slowly along the breakwater all of us searching hard for a sign of the buntings. Sadly my eye was soon drawn to a little scattering of pale feathers.

Sadly, closer examination of the crime scene left little doubt as to who the victim was...

Especially as a moment later we saw the female, sadly it appears that the victim was our splendid cock Snow Bunting

The jury is out as to who the killer was. I have (not so far as I can remember) seen a Sparrowhawk actually hunting the breakwater but one often shows above the harbour. I guess Kestrel would also be a likely suspect and they hunt there quite frequently. I doubt any other of the raptors that frequent the area such as Buzzard, Peregrine or even Red Kite would be so likely to have killed it but I suppose you could not definitely count them out.

It remains to be seen if the female will stay or even if she will become a second victim of the mystery killer, but this little episode illustrates the fact that being a flashy male has its ultimate downside!

Lapland Buntings

2 Lapland Buntings feeding on the track down towards the fog horn at Pen Anglas this morning. Many Thrushes in the bushes around 100 Redwing,60 Blackbirds,40 Song Thrush and several Fieldfare, also around 1,000 Starlings in the fields. Other birds included 4 Reed Buntings a Redpoll and a singing Dartford Warbler.
Chiffchaff in the garden this afternoon.

Maesgwynne Valley 11th Nov.

My first dusk watch in the valley this autumn, 2 Woodcock flew from their roost to feed. Quite a few Redwings moving as well.

Hen and Cock Snow Buntings on Breakwater..

If anyone wants to come and try to see them, meet me at the Ocean Lab @11 am Saturday morning.

Strumble Head 10th Nov 2016.

Time: 07.15 - 12.15
Weather: Bright
Wind: WNW 4/5


Common Scoter - 23 ( 19 Males )
Red Throated Diver - 3
Black Throated Diver - 1
Fulmar - 8
Manx Shearwater - 2
Arctic Skua - 1 ( Dark )
Bonxie - 1
Little Gull - 2 ( 1 Ad & 1 1st W )
Mediterranean Gull - 12 ( 3 Ad & 9 1st W )

Large feeding flocks of Gulls & constant flow of Auks.

Many Thanks to Chris Greyall for the information.

Blakcaps

A male and two female/juv Blackcaps feeding on berries in the garden.
Woodcock again in woods at Llanychaer.

Fishguard Breakwater 8/11/16 (yesterday)

Looks like we have the cock Snow Bunting back or maybe another, along with two Turnstones and three Ringed Plover!

Strumble Head 9th Nov 2016

Time: 07.30 - 11.30
Wind: NW 6/8 Veering W6

Teal - 1

Common Scoter - 21 ( 17 Males )

Red Throated Diver - 1

Great Northern Diver - 1

Fulmar - 3

Manx Shearwater - 12

Turnstone - 1

Grey Phalarope - 1

Mediterranean Gull - 6 ( 4 Ad , 2 1st W )

Many Thanks to Richard Davies for the totals.

Mediterranean Gull

A first winter in Fishguard Harbour this morning.

Woodcock

A Woodcock in the woods at Llanychaer this morning, the rain also grounded a flock of 25+MeadowPipit and 7 Pied Wagtails.

Mr Rees

So pleased you gave a nod to Graham, Richard! He has taught just about every birder in Pembrokeshire something and quite a few from away.I wish I had been a better pupil but whatever I know about birds I owe sixty + percent to him! Either way thanks for letting us in and although I dipped on the Pallas's The Yellow Browed was a nice little autumnal bonus. Cracking pic's as well!

Maesgwynne

Marsh Tit been here for a couple of days, just managed to get a shot today.

Strumble Head 4th Nov 2016

Time: 07.00 - 11.00
Weather: Generally Bright, extremely Cold.
Wind: NNW 4

Brent Goose - 2 ( Pale Bellied )

Wigeon - 13

Common Scoter - 48 ( 44 Males )

Red Throated Diver - 4

Fulmar - 1

Manx Shearwater - 2

Grey Phalarope - 1

Mediterranean Gull - 8 ( All Adult )

Porpoise showing well.

The highlight of the watch was the constant procession of  Auks, Kittiwakes & Black Headed Gulls coming out of the bay towards Fishguard. In the four hour watch the gulls alone numbered in excess of 10,000 & the Auks maybe pushing towards 3000.

A.Rogers, R. Davies & Andy Phillips ( Cardiff ) 

Another Yellow Browed Warbler

A Yellow Browed Warbler in the woods at Llanychaer this afternoon.Yesterday a flock of 70+ Redwing flew over at Llanychaer.
60 Golden Plover on Dinas Mountain this morning.

Whooper Swans

Five birds relatively low over Goodwick in a roughly westerly direction above Stop & Call Hill, disappeared in the direction of Trefasser / St. Nicholas. Disappeared so quickly in fact they may have dropped into a field somewhere.