A Great Day Out

In the morning we went to Tenby hoping to find a Purple Sandpiper on the rocks next to the lifeboat station. After 30 minutes searching with no luck I decided to give up and head home. One last look on the ramp of the lifeboat station; and a fine Purple Sandpiper was foraging on the ramp.

Purple Sandpiper

Later on I met up with Dave Welton and we went to the Gann to see what was around. On the pools there were 6 Goldeneye, 3 Little Grebe and a Greenshank. A large gull flock was gathering by the river mouth. I was pleased to pick out a smart juvenile/1st winter Iceland Gull in amongst the larger gulls. Next we went to the water treatment works in Monk Haven to see the Chiffchaffs. There was about 10 birds present mostly the ordinary collybita but 1 bird look good for a Siberian (tristis) Chiffchaff. I took some notes, but fleeting views and no call means it can only remain a possibility. Back to the Gann where the gull flock had move onto the shoreline flowing the retreating tide. 6 Mediterranean Gulls were present (there were probably more but that was all I saw) 5 adult winters, 1 of which had a red ring on its leg, and 1 2nd winter. On our way home we stopped at the Mullock bridge and had great views of a Barn Owl hunting over the nearby field.

Barn  Owl