Stackpole Court and Freshwater West

Before leaving to go to Freshwater West I heard news of a Great White Egret at Stackpole Court. So on our way to Freshwater West we stopped at Stackpole to see if it was there. When I arrived, there was only a short walk before the Great White Egret came into view. It was roosting in a dead oak tree opposite to were I was. Conveniently, there was a Grey Heron on the other side of the tree, so you could clearly compare the size of the egret.

 At Freshwater West there were 2 Gannets riding the air currents above the waves. From the dunes a pair of Choughs and a flock of c20 Linnets flew overhead. Walking over the dunes I passed 5 Stonechats, a small group of Meadow Pipits and more Linnets. Heading back to the car park I found my first Wheatear of the year, perched on a bramble bush next to a Stonechat.

Great White Egret record shots

Garden nest boxes

I spent most of the morning observing the nesting behaviour of the garden birds. In 2 boxes 2 pairs of House Sparrows were returning with nest material. 2 other boxes had 2 pairs of Blue Tits visiting them, but they had no nest material. On Friday a Jackdaw inspected the large nest box, but I didn't see it today. Also, I was pleasantly surprised to find that one of the open-fronted boxes was being used, a pair of  Robins have taken up residence and the female is sitting on eggs!
But oddly there has been no sign of Great Tits nesting this year.

Great Spotted Cuckoo- still at Giltar Point

After a short trip onto Caldey Island at 11.00am on Saturday the Great Spotted Cuckoo was showing well on the golf course and around Penally range. It foraged very happily around the scrub. In the time I was there I watched it catch and eat 6 caterpillars, including a massive, hairy caterpillar that proved quite hard to swallow!

 Foraging

 Great Spotted Cuckoo

A Cetti's Warbler was singing in the reeds by Penally train station when I was leaving

Great Spotted Cuckoo- again!

Once again I took a trip down to Giltar Point to see the Great Spotted Cuckoo.

What a fantastic bird!!!

Great Spotted Cuckoo

After school I visited Giltar Point again to see the Great Spotted Cuckoo. It showed very well until 5.45pm, when it flew into the blackthorn bush to roost.

  Great Spotted Cuckoo (record shot)

 Roosting

GREAT SPOTTED CUCKOO at Giltar Point, Tenby

After hearing news of a Great Spotted Cuckoo in Tenby (10 miles from my house), I had to see it. Today after school my mum took me down to Giltar Point to see if I could find it. Unfortunately when we arrived the light was fading so there was a possibility that it had gone to roost and would not show. After waiting 10 minutes my hope was fading, but then the stunning adult GREAT SPOTTED CUCKOO flew past me and into a small blackthorn bush. There it stayed, offering fairly good views but still partly obscured by the branches. This and the fading light made it hard to photograph.

GREAT SPOTTED CUCKOO (taken on Thursday)

Marros Mountain

After school I had a quick walk up and around Marros Mountain. On the way up I past 3 Redwings feeding on ivy berries on a Hawthorn tree. On Marros Mountain the highlight was a Jack Snipe that I flushed walking near a small pond. A large flock of c40 Meadow Pipits were flying around the mountain, landing, then taking of again. Also 6 Skylarks were performing well in the sun, singing a good 100m in the air. The way down showed 5 Mistle Thrush and a pair of Long-tailed Tits.

Choughs

A family trip around Manorbier was rewarded by a party of 8 Choughs that flew in from Lydstep, calling loudly. They then landed in a nearby field and started to squabble amongst each other as they foraged. 10 Rock Doves were on the cliffs at the east end of Manorbier.

Choughs

Not quite, but almost a true Rock Dove.