Quiet... but winter is coming

Around Pembrokeshire at the moment things are quiet. Despite this we spent the afternoon at Bosherston Ponds and St Govan's Head. At Bosheston there was good numbers of Teal, 5 Grey Heron 4 Kingfishers and the Whooper Swan was still feeding by the grassy bridge. At St Govan's Head there was very little. A Shag flew west, 2 Choughs were on the cliffs and a Meadow Pipit was on the path. On the way home a flock of 40 Redwing flew over the road.

Whooper Swan

Norfolk Trip

After school on Friday we headed up to Norfolk to spend the weekend there. The drive took about five and half hours so we didn't arrive until 11pm. An early start on Saturday morning saw us heading to Burnham Norton hoping to connect with the Steppe Grey Shrike which has been frequenting the area for the past week. A large group of birders was evidence that the bird was still present. Almost immediately after unpacking the scope I was on the stunning STEPPE GREY SHRIKE. It showed really well and offered us great views for the whole time we were there. Walking back to the car a flock of 10 Bearded Tits flew into a reedbed alongside the path. Again we had some fantastic views as they sat at the tops of the reeds. Also, in a field next to Burnahm Norton there was a large goose flock, this consisted of mostly Greylags but I was happy to pick out 30+ Pink-footed Geese amongst them.

STEPPE GREY SHRIKE

Bearded Tits

Pink-footed Geese

Next we travelled to the RSPB reserve in Titchwell. The first birds we saw was a large flock of Dark-bellied Brent Geese flying overhead. Waders were in good supply with about 8 Ruff present and large numbers of Lapwing and Golden Plover, (including a leucistic Golden Plover) . Following the path out onto the beach a flock of Redshanks flew past, a Spotted Redshank in amongst them was a nice surprise.On the beach there was another large group of birders scanning the sea. I joined them and soon I was on a Black-throated Diver, which was in the company of 2 Red-throated Divers, out in the bay. I managed to get some decent views but the birds were very far away and hard to see at times. I carried on walking along the beach and came across a large group of waders. Rough estimates were: 200+ Bar-tailed Godwit, 100+ Black-tailed Godwit, 100+ Knot, 8 Grey Plover and 60 Brent Geese. Whilst watching the group an alert on my phone told me of 2 Little Stints at Tichwell. I quickly rushed back onto the reserve, and tried to locate the Stints. Whilst scanning for them I found a Water Rail and a Spotted Redshank (probably the bird from earlier). Eventually I found a small group of birders, and with them the 2 Little Stints. Whilst watching them a female Marsh Harrier was hunting at the back of the marsh and a Bittern flew overhead, it circled the reserve for about 5 minutes!!. The Little Stints showed very well for a good half an hour, but then flew out into the middle of the reserve with a group of Dunlin. I met up with my Dad and we walked back to the car. As we walked further there was another large group of birders all scanning a small tree. I asked a birder what was there and he replied, "a Yellow-browed Warbler!" Upon him saying that it flew into view, I had decent views of the smart Yellow-browed Warbler during the time, but they were brief as it never stayed in the same place for more that a second!

 Ruff

 Brent Geese

Bittern

Little Stints

Yellow-browed Warbler

An another early start today saw us heading to Rutland Water, which is at the early stages of our journey home. Whilst driving we past  about 4 Grey Partridge in a field alongside the road. At Rutland Water a Green Woodpecker was calling in the woods around the water. Whilst in the visitors centre at Egleton reserve a found the Great White Egret feeding on the waters edge. At other parts of the reserve I had 4 Pintails and 6 Egyptian Geese. We headed up to the North Arm to see if we could locate the Ring-necked Duck. Unfortunately, I never got it but a Scaup, amoungst the massive flock of Tufted Duck, was a nice surprise.

Strumble seawatch

An early start this morning saw us heading to Haverfordwest to meet up with Dave Astins for a seawatch Strumble Head.

Time: 7.00am-10.30am
Weather: fine
Wind: NW

Common Scoter: 40 (8 female)
Wigeon: 12
Teal: 2
Herring Gull: 15
Lesser Black-backed Gull: 2
Great Black-backed Gull: 3
Black-headed Gull: 15
Kittiwake: 70
Comic Tern: 2
Sandwich Tern: 4
Fulmar: 1
Great Skua: 1
Arctic Skua: 4 (all dark phase)
Long-tailed Skua: 1 (Juv)
Manx Shearwater: 20
Balearic Shearwater: 9
Razorbill: 10
Guillemot: 30
Grey Heron: 1

A big thanks again to Dave Astins for taking me with him!