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Just returned from a scorching week on the Pembrokeshire coast. This was a week visiting family and entertaining the youngster but I still managed to squeeze some birding in (all within 15mins drive of our base in Dale), all early morning or evenings, although I did convince everyone a visit to Skomer would be a nice day out. Sites visited and some of the more noteable birds noted as follows:
Sandy Haven - A day at the beach between rockpooling sessions was enlivened by a pair of very confiding Ravens and a Buzzard getting some grief of the local Herring Gulls.
Martin's Haven/Deer Park/Wooltack Point - Early am visit - 3 Chough showing very well on clifftop, 6 Stonechat (all rather confiding), 2 Whitethroat, 4 Linnets and a variety of seabirds (including a Gannet) batting about offshore around Skomer. Late evening visit - Magical evening watching the sun set beyond Skomer made all the more special by the Manx Shearwaters gathering off the headland in two rafts totalling c.1500 birds. Also seen were a Gannet and Fulmar close in past the headland, 3 Stonechats, 2 Linnets and a Whitethroat.
Skomer - Aside from the typical seabirds expected (including Puffins in touching distance and large numbers of Lesser Black-backed Gulls across the centre of the island), other birds included 6 Gannets diving off the north of the island, 2 Chough and 2 Wheatears around the west coast, several Meadow Pipit territories, 3 Rock Pipits, a Sedge Warbler, a male Kestrel and a total of 27 Grey Seals.
Marloes Mere - Despite the reports of its elusive nature, the now resident Glossy Ibis, was the first bird I laid eyes on and showed well during the visit. A cracking bird, now in adult plumage. Other birds here were a Green Sandpiper, Lapwing, 2 pairs of Little Grebes with young, Whitethroat, a male Reed Bunting, small numbers of hirundines and Swifts and a Raven calling from the top of a telegraph pole in an adjacent field.
Gann Estuary - Early morning high tide produced 2 Dunlin, 2 Common Sandpiper, 5 Greenshank, 22 Curlew, 27 Oystercatcher, 4 Grey Herons, 2 Whitethroat and 4 Linnet.
All in all some nice sightings in the limited time available in a great area with cloudless skies all week.
Matthew
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