Hooded Crow, Oriole and Garganey

A Fantastic spring started morning at Marloes Mere. At first things were slow with a Spotted Flycatcher by the car park being the only bird of note. Further along towards the youth hostel large numbers of corvids were feeding a recently ploughed field. A *Hooded Crow* amongst them was a pleasant surprise and the start of things to come. Sedge Warblers were singing in any available scrub and another Spot fly was by the Britton Hide. Out at the west of the mere I couldn't believe my eyes when a bright green bird flew over my head and into the hedge...a cracking Golden Oriole!! Dave Astins had one briefly yesterday afternoon but I wasn't expecting to re-find it. It showed well but distantly for about 15 minutes before I lost it in cover back towards the mere. No sign of the Dotterel from yesterday but there were 3 Ringed Plover and 2 White Wagtails in the field. Back at the mere plenty of hirundines around, mostly Swallows and a few Sand Martins and House Martins, a few more Spot flys and the smart pair of Garganey close by the barbed wire gate. Driving back, 3 Swifts flew over Marloes Village. St Ann's Head was a bit blown out, with the only bird of note here being a Wheatear. St Bride's was more sheltered but quite with only a Spot fly in trees by the church.

Hooded Crow

Golden Oriole

Female

Garganey

Curlew Sandpiper

Early yesterday afternoon I headed down to the Gann for a couple hours birding and a chance to see the Curlew Sandpiper, which has been around for about a week. At first there was no sign of any small waders, just several Whimbrel and Oystercatchers. However, it was only a short walk before a group of small waders was visible, roosting on shingle at the mouth of the river. A quick scan through them revealed the smart *Curlew Sandpiper*. It's still largely in winter plumage with a few flecks of summer plumage appearing on the back and breast.

Curlew Sandpiper

AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER- Angle

I came home early from school this afternoon with the hope of doing some revision for my upcoming exams. However, a text from Dave Astins with news of an American Golden Plover at Angle harbour, forced me to put revision on hold. So, armed with bins and scope, I headed down to Angle.
I arrived in the harbour at 2.30pm and was shortly met by Dave Astins and Paul Grennard. Brain Southern was already at the harbour and had seen the bird earlier on, however for us, it wasn't visible. After two hours of unsuccessful searching Dave and Paul had to give up and head back. I allowed my self one more hour to look for the bird before I too had to get home. A look up towards the Old Point House pub, as expected, was unsuccessful, apart from a few Whimbrel. On the very last look at the shingle spit before going home, a bird in the seaweed caught my eye... it was the AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER! It showed very well for the next hour or so, feeding in the sunshine in the company of a Knot.
The last American Golden Plover in Pembrokeshire was on Skokholm Island in 1981...35 years ago!

American Golden Plover

Grasshopper Warbler

The highlight of a quick run around the patch on Thursday morning was this smart Grasshopper Warbler in a field full of rush near Ginst Point. Also, present was the first few Whitethroats, 3 Sedge Warblers and a few White Wagtails

Northumberland

Over the Easter Holidays, we spent a week in Northumberland. Here's a few of the highlights from the week.

Barn Owl

Tree Sparrow

Whooper Swans

Eider

Avocet

Little Ringed Plover

Ruff (record shot)

Long-billed Dowitcher

Spring...

 Sand Martin

Wheatear

At Marloes yesterday afternoon there was evidence that spring is here. Firstly at Martin's Haven, lots of Mipits parachuting and several pairs of Stonechats were on the Deer Park. A walk through the gorse revealed a smart male Wheatear (my first of the spring). Over by Rath Cottage a further 9 Wheatear were present including 1 or 2 females, a single Swallow moved west over the Deer Park.
Back towards Marloes Mere a further 2 Swallows were seen and the highlight, a Merlin whizzed past me towards Martin's Haven. On the mere, there were a several pairs of Teal, 3 Shoveler and lots of Mallard. By Britton Hide a flock of hirundines gathered over the water. Mainly Sand Martins (19) with 4 Swallows mixed in. 2 Chiffchaffs were in the nearby scrub.   

The weekend- Firecrests, Yellow-browed, Black-throat and Eider

A great weekend birding in Pembrokeshire started with the female/imm Black Redstart in Amroth on Saturday morning. That afternoon I went to Monk Haven to see the Yellow-browed Warbler. In the Churchyard there were 2 stunning Firecrests and 2 Chiffchaffs. Unfortunately, after an 1 hour and half of looking I only had a very brief and frustrating glimpse of the Yellow-browed.
I managed another visit today and this time it showed great in the sunshine, I also heard it call on several occasions. It frequented the tall alders between the car park and the Church. The 2 Chiffchaffs were seen again today but no sign of any Firecrests. Afterwards, I had a quick look at the Gann. The only birds of note here were 13 Pale-bellied Brent Geese.
Later at Broad Haven: there were plenty of scoters out in the bay, 1 Red-throated Diver and the highlight was a smart *Black-throated Diver*. I watched it for a while as it foraged of the north end of the beach. A look at Druidston was rewarded with a fine drake Eider.

Yellow-browed Warbler