Hummingbird Hawk-moth

A walk along Laugharne estuary was rewarded by a stunning Hummingbird Hawk-moth feeding on a buddleia bush near the Dylan Thomas Boathouse. Birds on the estuary included c70 Oystercatcher, 5 Mallard, a Whimbrel calling and Herring, Great Black, Lesser Black and Black-headed Gulls.

Hummingbird Hawk-moth

Black-headed Gull

Sprinkle Pill

I spent an hour this evening birding at Sprinkle Pill. On our way we stopped in Haverfordwest to drop my brother off in the skate park. Just as we were leaving for the pill a Kingfisher flew down the river. At the pill 4 Bar-Tailed Godwit sleeping on the mud were a nice surprise. Gulls were in good supply with 15+ Black-headed, 10 Lesser Black, 4 Great Black and a smart adult Yellow-Legged Gull. It took me a while but I feel a Herring X Lesser Black hybrid has been ruled out, but comments are still welcome on this bird. 4 Spotted Flycatchers were in a Oak tree by the river and a flock of 100+ Linnets were feeding on weed seeds alongside the footpath. Other birds included, 3 Whimbrel, 5 Curlew, 2 Redshank, a Great Crested Grebe, a Little Egret and a juvenile Black-Tailed Godwit.

Bar-tailed Godwit

Black-tailed Godwit

Spotted Flycatcher

Yellow-legged Gull

Northumberland Trip 11-18 August

Day 1

We left early this morning to head to Cresswell in Northumberland. The drive was about 7 and half hours plus stops, so we didn't arrive until 6pm. As soon as we arrived my dad drove me down to Cresswell Pond, (1 mile from our static caravan) to see if the Stilt Sandpiper was there. Sitting in the hide it wasn't long before we were watching the stunning Stilt Sandpiper! However, we only got a brief view as it flew across the pond and was lost behind a Lapwing flock. Also present on the pond was a Knot and 3 Med. Gulls.

Day 2

My morning started with a trip to Cresswell Pond, the highlights were 20 Tree Sparrows, 5 Ruff, 4 Avocets, 4 Knot and a Stilt Sandpiper, it showed much better this morning from causeway next to 4 Snipe. After breakfast we visited Holy Island. Driving onto the island we passed 3 Eiders which were sitting on the sand by the road. We didn't stay on the island for long because the tide was coming in. Next we visited Ross Sands. A quick sea watch revealed lots of terns, mostly Arctic and Sandwich. Walking further on the beach there was a group of small waders feeding on the shore, 5 Dunlin, 4 Sanderling, 2 Ringed Plover and 8 Knot. Further along there was a large group of terns resting on the shore. I found 5 species of tern in the group. Rough count: 100+ Arctic, c70 Common, 50 Sandwich, 10 Little and 10 Roseate. There was also juveniles of the 5 species. 

Stilt Sandpiper (record shots)

 Ruff

Eider

 Arctic Tern

Little Tern

Roseate Tern

Common, Arctic, Roseate and Sandwich Terns 

Dunlin

Knot

Day 3

Cresswell Pond this morning again offered more great views of the Stilt Sandpiper, 3 Ruff, 6 Avocet, 2 Knot and lots of Tree Sparrow. Later we headed south to Blyth and Whitley Bay. Not a lot of birds around apart form lots of Starlings, a few Redshanks and 20 Black-headed Gull. Later in the evening we went to Amble Harbour to see the adult Caspian Gull, it showed well for about 10 minutes before flying out in the bay. Also 8 Arctic Tern and an Eider were also in the harbour. On the way back our static caravan a Barn Owl was hunting along the dunes near Cresswell Pond.

Avocet

 Stilt Sandpiper

  Caspian Gull

Barn Owl

Day 4 

A visit to Cresswell Pond this morning produced 4 Knot, 5 Ruff, a Little Egret, 4 Avocet, a Greenshank and 2 Tree Sparrow, but I couldn't find the Stilt Sandpiper. We set of after breakfast to Beadnell bay. Walking along the beach there were a few groups of  waders. About 8 Ringed Plover, 4 Dunlin and 4 Turnstone and 2 Redshank. Also, 2 Eiders were out in the bay. Next we walked to Dunstanburgh Castle. The cliffs below the castle were full of Kittiwakes and Fulmar, a large flock of Oystercatchers were on the rocks below the cliffs. Around the castle there were hundreds of Swallows flying around. Some juveniles landed on the fence and allowed you to get within a metre of them. On the way to the caravan site we made a quick stop to Amble to see the Caspian Gull, it offered good scope views but was a bit to far away for photos. In the evening I went down to Cresswell Pond. The highlights were 1 Ruff, 3 Knot, 1 Black-tailed Godwit and 2 Yellow Wagtails. Later in the evening the Barn Owl put in an appearance next to Cresswell Pond.

Avocet

Swallows

Day 5

A visit to Cresswell Pond once again this morning gave good views of  4 Avocets, 2 Ruff, and a Common Gull. After lunch We went to Hauxley nature reserve. There were lots of Canada Geese, 4 Greylags, and lots of Mallard and Tufted Duck. Next I went to East Chevington reserve, there wasn't a lot here apart from 1 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Cormorant and 50 Lapwing. Walking from East Chevington to Druridge pools a Stoat ran across the path. It had what appeared to be a small Field Vole in its mouth. Further along another Stoat ran across the path. At Druridge Pools the main target was the Wood Sandpiper. It wasn't  long sitting in the hide before I found the Wood Sandpiper feeding with a Ruff, a Greenshank and 15 Dunlin. A visit to Cresswell Pond in the evening  produced 7 Ruff, 2 Whimbrel, 4 Avocet, a Greenshank, 4 Sandwich Tern, a Yellow Wagtail and a Spotted Redshank.

Day 6

Cresswell Pond was quiet this morning so I tried Druridge Pools. After sitting in the hide for 2 minutes I found a fantastic male Marsh Harrier sitting on a bush by the pool, it soon took off and started hunting in true harrier style. It then flew straight past the hide and out over the fields. 6 Ruff were also on the pool. After a quick lunch we went to the Northumberland National Park and visited Hadrian's Wall. Unfortunately it was very windy so bird watching was quite difficult. However, I did find a male Redstart feeding on the ground next the Hadrian's Wall.

Marsh Harrier

Day 7

This was our last full day. A morning visit to Cresswell Pond produce more than yesterday. 4 Avocets, 2 Ruff a Little Egret and 2 Tree Sparrows were the highlights. Later we headed to St. Mary's Island. Walking on to the island there were a few Redshanks feeding on the rocks. On the other side of the path a large flock of Golden Plover, c300 caught my eye. Amongst the flock there were 3 Turnstones, 5 Oystercatchers and a Curlew. I visited  Cresswell Pond again this evening, the highlights were 5 Yellow Wagtails, a Turnstone, 4 Ruff, 3 Ringed Plover, 3 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Whimbrel, 2 Common Sandpipers and a Knot.

Juvenile Avocets

Mid Wales- Dyfi Osprey Project & Ynys-hir

We left early this morning to visit the Dyfi Ospreys and the RSPB Ynys-hir reserve. On the way there we took a detour to Llandysul. A walk along the river there produce my first Dipper of the year and a Grey Wagtail.
First we headed to Cors Dyfi to see the family of Ospreys. The new observatory there is excellent and the scopes there give great views of the birds. 3 Ospreys were present on the the perches (1 adult and the 2 chicks, now fledged). On the walk out to the observatory 3 Lesser Redpolls flew overhead and a Siskin was on the bird feeder.
After lunch we visited RSPB Ynys-hir Reserve. First we headed to Marian Mawr Pool. From the hide I noted 4 Canada Geese, 3 Oystercatcher, 2 Green Sandpipers and a Snipe. Coming out of the hide a stunning male Redstart caught my eye. From the next hide there was another 2 Green Sandpipers. Other birds of note was 3 Sedge Warblers, a Treecreeper, 2 Stonechat, 2 Red Kites, 2 Little Egret and 6 Teal. (But oddly no Pied Flycatchers).

 Whitethroat

 Osprey

Siskin

Redstart

Green Sandpiper

Goodwick- Mediterranean Gulls

We spent the afternoon supporting my Dad who was taking part in the Activity Wales triathlon in Goodwick. Driving on the A40 past Narberth a Goshawk flew over the car, a great start to today's birding. Whilst watching the triathlon I couldn't help scanning through a reasonable size gull flock gathered by a stream mouth on the beach. Apart from gulls there was 8 Oystercatchers, 3 Curlews, a Redshank and surprisingly 5 Mallards all feeding on a rocky area by the mouth of a stream. The gull flock was mostly Black-headed Gulls c40 including 5 Juveniles, 15 Herring Gulls and 1 juvenile Med. Gull. A further 2 juvenile Med. Gulls were feeding out in the bay and after about 10 minutes came to join the main gull flock.

Juvenile Mediterranean Gull