STRUMBLE HEAD
SEAWATCHING REPORT 2016.
Observers.
A.Rogers,R.Stonier,C.Grayell,R.H.Davies,S.Berry,G.H.Rees,C.Benson,
K.Barnett, SeaTrust Team,R.Wilkinson,C.Hurford,R.Liford,P.K.Grennard,B.Southern,P.Murray,S.Murray,P.Mahiques,M.Jones,
R.Jones, J.Faithfull,M.Locke,M.Hipkin . Apologies to anyone I’ve missed or if I
unfortunately don’t know your name & not forgetting the Teifi Ringing Group
for their annual effort with Storm Petrel Ringing.
Rarity description species sightings are all included &
are of course subject to future acceptance by the relevant committees.
During the year 75 separate day or part of day watches
recorded a total of 55 species of bird into the seawatching records, 5 species
of Cetacean & Ocean Sunfish.
SYSTEMATIC LIST.
BRENT GOOSE Branta
bernicla
Pale Bellied hrota:
A single on 18th October & 2 on 4th
November were the only records.
SHELDUCK Tadorna
tadorna
A total of 12 birds recorded, 6 on January 2nd
with 2 birds each on 28th March, 14th April & 4th
of May.
WIGEON Anas
penelope
A total of 53 recorded max. 18 on 14th September.
COMMON TEAL Anas
crecca
A total of 52 recorded max. 12 on 16th September.
MALLARD Anas platyrhynchos
Not recorded passing the head in 2016.
PINTAIL Anus
acuta
Two birds on 18th October were the only record
for the year.
SHOVELER Anas
clypeata
A total of 8 recorded,
max. 5 on 18th October.
COMMON EIDER Somateria mollissima
Not recorded passing the head in 2016.
COMMON SCOTER Melanitta
nigra
Passage recorded off Strumble Head 2756 birds, max. monthly
totals during summer/ autumn were:
July Aug Sept Oct Nov
80 650 1721 154
92
Maximum day count was
208 birds ( 190 Males & 18 Fem/imm ) on 15th September. The age/sex
ratio for the year was 2756 Adult Males & 216 Female/immatures.
VELVET SCOTER Melanitta
fusca
Not recorded passing the head in 2016
RED BREASTED MERGANSER Mergus serrator
A single bird on 21st August was the only record
for the year.
RED – THROATED DIVER Gavia stellata
A total of 62 birds recorded, max. 14 on 24th
January. In early part of year 46 birds recorded between 2nd January
& 1st April with 16 being recorded between 13th
September & 23rd December.
BLACK-THROATED DIVER Gavia arctica
Following a good showing
last year only 3 recorded this year all singles on 18th October, 10th
November & 1st December.
GREAT NORTHERN DIVER Gavia immer
A total of 11 birds recorded this year max. 2 on 2nd
December. A fairly low return.
FULMAR Fulmarus glacialis
Maximum day count of 300+ birds passed on 4th
August.
CORY’S SHEARWATER Calonectris diomeda
The rarer of the two large Shearwaters, single birds passed
on 8th August ( AR,RHD )
& 21st August ( MH, RJ ).
GREAT SHEARWATER Puffinus
gravis
A good showing this year with the suitable conditions giving
a total of 13 birds. In August, 2 on 8th, 3 on 21st &
a single on 28th. In September, 4 on the 2nd, singles on the 4th , 16th
& 25th.
SOOTY SHEARWATER Puffinus griseus
Aug Sept
Strumble Head 25 56
A much better showing this year with a total of 81 birds
max. 26 on 4th September.
MANX SHEARWATER Puffinus
puffinus
First bird recorded on 3rd January & last on
23rd December.
BALEARIC SHEARWATER Puffinus mauretanicus
Aug Sept Oct
Strumble Head
12 66 1
The total of 79 birds lower than 2015 but higher than 2014,
max day count was 15 on 4th September.
STORM PETREL Hydrobates pelagicus
A total of 33 was the highest annual count for many years,
max. 18 on 21st August. The Teifi Ringing group trapped 5 birds on 5th
June.
LEACH’S PETREL Oceanodroma
leucorhoa
A single bird on 30th August was the only record
for the year.
GANNET Morus
bassana
Recorded throughout the year.
CORMORANT Phalococorax
carbo
A total of 42 birds
recorded on passage, max. 24 on 1st September.
SHAG Phalocrococorax
aristotelis
.
Recorded throughout the year.
HERON Ardea
cinerea
Just 3 birds recorded this year, a single on 25th
July & 2 on 2nd September.
GREAT CRESTED GREBE Podiceps cristatus
Not recorded passing
the head in 2016.
OYSTERCATCHER Haemotapus
ostralegus
Birds recorded at the head this year suspected to be local
breeders rather than any passage noted.
RINGED PLOVER Charadrius
hiaticula
A single on 31st August & 2 on 15th
September were the only records.
GREY PLOVER Pluvialis
squatarola
A total of 3 birds recorded
all in September, 2 on 13th & a single on 25th.
KNOT Calidris
canutus
A slight increase on last year with 148 recorded, max 86 on
29th August.
SANDERLING Calidris
alba
A total of 17 birds recorded, max. 8 on 5th
September.
CURLEW SANDPIPER Calidris
ferrugina
Two birds both on 29th August were the only
records.
DUNLIN Calidris
alpina
A total of 159 birds recorded, lower than last year, max. 27
on 29th August.
BLACK TAILED GODWIT Limosa limosa
The best count for many years with 70 birds recorded, max. 21
on 11th September.
BAR TAILED GODWIT Limosa
lapponica
An increase on previous year with 107 birds recorded, max.
70 on 11th September.
WHIMBREL Numenius
phaeopus
A total of just 57 recorded, max. 12 on 4th
September.
CURLEW Numenius
arquata
Just 5 birds recorded, the same total as 2015.
GREENSHANK
Tringa nebularia
Less than annual, 2 birds recorded on 6th
September, the first since 2012.
REDSHANK Tringa
totanus
Single birds on 27th & 30th August
were the only records.
TURNSTONE Arenaria
interpres
A total of just 7 birds recorded, a low return this year.
GREY PHALAROPE Phalaropus
fulicarius
A total of 10 birds recorded. In August a single on the 3rd,
In September singles on 2nd & 16th with 3 on 17th
& 2 on 29th then in November singles on 4th & 9th.
