Well, it must have been one of the wettest weeks on record nevertheless.
Saw redshank and (probably) curlew, I still haven't knowingly seen a whimbrel! aat low tide below the tidal mill pond at Caeriw on the 27 as well as spotting housemartins on the marshes neat tenby and again on 28 on the lily pond at bosherstone.
On the evening of the 27 I managed to get through the M.O.D.ranges at castlemartin and spent half an our at high tide with a big sea crashing into the famous pembrokeshire cliffs at Stack Rocks, on the way through I saw a pair of Ravens and a buzzard and a skylark. After 15 minutes the chough turned up frustratingly flying below my line of site over the cliffs most of the time and making it difficult to get a really good visual of the red beaks and legs. Eventually a flock of ten came towards me with the sun behind me and I got what I wanted but quickly decided it was better to watch the behaviour without binoculars. These magical birds were a lifer for me, but just being there in that weather with sun shining on the spray at dusk in high winds was one of those things that should be on everybodies list of things to do before they die.
My wife actually got excited by a bird! Grey wagtail at caeriw cheriton, I THINK I saw twite get up and disappear over a rise near East Freshwater. I did sea a weasel cross the road in front of the car at the same. Near St Davids I saw fulmar and some shoveller and on a second trip to Caeriw saw a pair of little egret and a glorious though fleeting view of a redwing, in a bush.
on the way down we saw about a dozen red kite but only one on the way back up. There was a raft of tufted duck on ellesmere.
Well there we have it.. sorry for those of you who like exact dates time s and locations. I have a wife and six month old and just like to remember events.
I hope you enjoy reading this and godd birding to you all!
Jon.
PS once Again I managed NOT to get to the monthly meet at tiviot dale methodist church of stockport birders, on a ccount of this trip.
Maybe in May lol
You had a good week for it. We're off down there tomorrow for a week, staying at Newport and planning to spend a day or two on the Teifi marshes and estuary. Any ideas on where else to go anyone ?
newport wetlands?
http://www.gwentbirds.org.uk/
check out the sightings and theres a page all about the newport wetlands.