Cuckoo

Cuckoo calling, Dinas Cross (towards N slopes of Mynydd Dinas).

Marloes peninsula

A short-eared owl across the Dale road, by Walwyn's Castle 4:30pm was a bit of a surprise. Plenty of warblers on the usual circuit 20+ Willow warbler, a dozen Chiffchaff, 3 Blackcaps and first 2 Whitethroat on the Deer Park. 8 Wheatear all in Martins Haven. Duckwise, pair Shelduck, pair Gadwall, pair Wigeon, 3 pair Teal, 6 pair and 8 m Shoveler with a few of these sitting tight to likely nest sites. The 5 Tufted duck still here. Most interesting bird was another European rubicola-type Stonechat in the same area of the Deer Park as a previous bird of a few years back. Big white rump, whitish belly with bright orange breast, it was roaming quite widely from beneath the lookout to the top of the steps.

Skokholm

Squacco Heron this evening

South coast this morning

We had a nice walk along the south coast from Skrinkle to Freshwater East this morning. Sand martins (several birds) were excavating holes in vertical sandstone cliffs at Manorbier where small numbers  have bred regularly in recent years. The population might be expanding. Numerous swallows were moving along the coast. 

At least 4 male whitethroats were singing in usual territories between Manorbier and and Fresh East. Good numbers of linnets were collecting nest material. There must have been at least 50 pairs or more between Manorbier and Fresh East. At least five pairs of stonechats included a couple collecting food for nestlings. 

The best birds though were 2 pairs of yellowhammer (males singing with females present) in the coastal scrub at Privar. Freshwater East is quite an important area for this species, but these were the first ones that I (Bob) have seen in the coastal scrub here for possibly 20-years. Hopefully various feeding stations are helping to boost their survival in the county. 

Two or three starlings at Whitehill (seen from the car on our way home) were probably part of a small, but regular, breeding population here. It is not a particularly common breeding species in Pembs., with a scattering of colonies in various places. 

Later at Landshipping, a little egret displaying fine breeding plumes was feeding in the lagoon. Four greenshanks were also feeding in the area plus 3 redshanks. It was also nice to hear greenfinches singing nearby. They have not been especially common in this area in recent years.

Waldo stone presseli hills

 Cuckoo male 

Grasshopper warbler 3

Willow warbler 10

Chiff chaff 6

Swallow 4

House Martin 2

Wheatear 2 males 

Stonechat 5 

Skomer boat trip

From Graham Sharples. The first Skomer sunset boat trip of the year saw thousands of puffins and guillemots, good numbers of razorbills and fulmars, gannets diving, and  a harbour porpoise. Further out were 2 small rafts of manx shearwaters with others flying around. Just the kittiwakes were absent.

Newgale, Short eared owl

 From Alan Collens. The Short-eared Owl was active near the lay-by again at 4.10pm Friday. A female kestrel was also in the area at the same time. Not sure what the attraction is of this little field

Skokholm

Over 500 warblers on the Island today. 

Pied Flycatcher St David’s Head

 Male pied flycatcher this afternoon in the valley at St David’s Head , based in willow scrub with willow warblers and blackcaps for company . 2 male wheatear on the headland. 

Grasshopper Warbler

A grasshopper warbler was reeling away, close to a rank, swampy field in the valley behind Pwllgwaelod early this morning. Willow warbler, chiffchaff, blackcap, chaffinch, song thrush, robin, wren, woodpigeon, tawny owl, also singing. Closer to Cwm-Yr-Eglwys there was one bird with an unusual hybrid willow warbler / chiffchaff song - I think it was probably a willow warbler, as a fairly typical ww phrase was sandwiched between a few chiffchaff notes at either end.

Cuckoo

Cuckoo - Fresh in last night I reckon, no song to speak off, just scoffing caterpillars around the rocks above Ty Canol  (Den Vaughan)

Dipper, Llawhaden

From Graham Sharples. A couple of dippers around Llawhaden Bridge. They had a good look at the fast-flowing water but it didn’t appear welcoming.

The Gann (8th April)

Yesterday afternoon it was persistently blustery so not too much to see. Two pairs of Shelduck, a Common Sandpiper, two Greenshanks and a Turnstone, plus a pair of Chough on the marsh in the middle of the lagoon.

The Turnstone was showing nicely.

Choughs on the marsh.

Little ringed plover, Marloes Mere

A Little ringed plover beside a flood in the field behind the toilet block this evening, always keeping low out of the stiff westerly. About a dozen Pied wagtail and 4 Wheatear in a beet field with the sheep in. Around 15 Willow warblers flicking in and out of the blackthorn. The 5 Tufted duck and the Goldeneye. 8pr Shoveler and 5 male. 3 pr Teal. Pr Gadwall. Pr Wigeon. Pair of chough in the muddy stubbles by the car park. 2 Sandwich tern, fishing by Mullock bridge on the full tide and a Cettis warbler.

Hooded Crow

 Hooded Crow seen on Ramsey this morning in the Northern Fields.

© Alys Perry

Alys & Nia 

Teifi migrants

The first Sedge Warbler was singing on the Teifi marshes this morning. A noticeable increase in Chiffs, Blackcaps and Willow Warblers. At least 100 Sand Martins were over the pools with a couple of Swallows. Wellies needed at high tide for the next couple of days as the main path is flooding with quite deep, fast moving water in places.

Down at the estuary, a Whimbrel and a Sandwich Tern were opposite St Dogmaels quay.

Crossbill

 A single Crossbill at Llanychaer this morning also 6 House Martins a couple of Willow Warblers and a definite increase in Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps.

Sightings 6/4/24

From Bryn Burgess:

Broadhaven (North)

2 Swallows around midday

The Point, Little Haven at High Tide

Red Throated Diver - 2

Great Northern Diver - 3 (at least)

Guillemot - 3

Common Scoter - 3

Oystercatcher- 4

Also present Gannet, Herring Gull, Lesser Blacked Backed Gull.