Sanderlings

I haven't been out for a while because of my GCSE exam revision, so I was happy to hear that we were going surfing in Freshwater West this evening. Before going in the sea I spent an hour photographing a good sized flock of Sanderling, about 56+ in all. Most had fully moulted into full breeding plumage and the others were in the middle of their moult. I managed to get quite close to them at times as they fed together on small invertebrates along the shoreline.

Sanderling

Pantmaenog Forest and the Uplands of Pembrokeshire

After lunch we spent the rest of the day in the Preseli Hills and Pantmaenog Forest. On the way there a fly over Red Kite and 2 Red-legged Partridges weres a good start. The first few minutes in Pantmaenog Forest I didn't find much but a singing male Whitethroat and a pair of Stonechats. However further on I heard my first reeling Grasshopper Warbler, I managed to catch a quick glimpse but it was sulking very elusively in a small bush. Walking towards Rosebush slate quarry I heard a faint 'cuck-oo' sound, this was my first Cuckoo for years!! We tried to get closer and eventually it was singing directly above me from a pine tree, it then flew away closer to the quarry. We carried on the path and passed about 5 Willow Warblers when I heard a Cuckoo singing again, probably the first bird. I found it in a pine tree and it showed well for about 10 minutes. A few steps on and a Tree Pipit was singing in another tree again with a few Willow Warblers around. The path took us to Rosebush village where we had a quick stop. During the time I noted a pair of Kestrels on top of the valley and 4 Siskins and 3 Lesser Redpoll were flying around the village. By now it was getting dark so we headed back to the car. On the way back I heard another reeling Grasshopper Warbler, which offered slightly better views, 1 Willow Warbler and a Reed Bunting.

Red-Legged Partridge

Cuckoo

 Siskin

 Willow Warbler

Tree Pipit

Whimbrels

On Wednesday I went back to Landshipping to get some better photos of Whimbrel. The weather was nice and there were plenty of Whimbrel all showing well (6 altogether). Also, there were a pair of Shelduck on the mudflats and a male Reed Bunting in the trees by the estuary.

Whimbrel

Whimbrels and more

We spent the evening in the murky rain in Landshipping. However, despite this there was plenty of bird life on and around the estuary. The first bird was a male Wheatear foraging on the wall of the quay. We decided to brace the elements and walk further around the estuary. From the quay I could not find any birds on the mudflats. Walking a little further there were 3 summer plumaged Dunlin, which I got quite close to. At this point we were going to turn back because I was soaking and the visibility was getting worse, but my dad said we should go further. A few steps on my dad found a Whimbrel, then I found c20 Black-tailed Godwit (nice to see pretty much all of them breeding plumage) a pair of Shelduck, another small flock of Dunlin and at least 5 more Whimbrel. Back at the car the Wheatear was still foraging and 2 fly over Greylag Geese ended the day nicely.

I admit these photos are awful, but I blame the weather.

 Wheatear

 Dunlin

 Black-tailed Godwit

Whimbrel

Out and about

I spent a short time in Canaston Woods today catching up with some species that I haven't see this year. The woodland was full of bird song, upon opening the car door I picked out a Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaffs and a Song Thrush singing in the chorus. Walking on the path there was another Blackcap and a Chiffchaff, both singing. A small party of 4 Marsh Tits foraging in an oak tree was a good find. Coming into a small clearance a bright green and yellow warbler caught my eye, to my surprise it was a Wood Warbler! (not a scarce bird but a nice find).
On the way home we had a short walk around Templton Airfield, the highlights were 3 Willow Warblers, a male Bullfinch and a male Yellowhammer singing from a hawthorn bush.

 Wood Warbler

 Yellowhammer 

Garganey at Cosmeston

We went to Cardiff today for my Grandmothers 80th Birthday. On our way home we made a quick stop in Cosmeston to see if the pair of Garganey, seen yesterday, were still there. It took us a while to find them but eventually we did and both male and female showed well for the next 30 mins, but they were quite far away. I tried to get closer to them to get a record shot. It took another 30 mins to get close enough for a photo, unfortunately the light was fading so the photo isn't very good. Also, on the lake were 3 Great Crested Grebe, a Cormorant and a Mute Swan with 5 cygnets. Around the lake there were 2 Cetti's Warblers singing loudly, 3 Chiffchaffs. Also, a Sedge Warbler and a male Reed Bunting were in the reeds by east lake.
My first Swift of the year flying over the car on the way home was a good end to the day!

 Garganey (record shot)

Chiffchaff

 Great Crested Grebe