Saturday 20 April 2013

Strumble Head (20 Apr 13)

Spent all day looking for migrants around the head today.

Grasshopper Warbler and Whitethroat were firsts of the year for me.  3 Whimbrel in the Lighthouse bay early morning.  Swallows, Sand Martins and House Martins moving through all day.  Couple of Blackcaps in the garden.

Lots of Chiffchaffs and Willow Warblers concentrated in my garden and down the Porthsychan valley but very few found beyond that.  Don't know if anybody else has noticed this but the Willow Chiffs seem to be foraging on the ground a lot this spring.  (A sign of a late bloom in hedgerows maybe?).  They are hopping around the lawn like wagtails.

Stonechats are firmly on territory and Linnets have made a massive come back in the last week - they are seemingly everywhere and very active setting up territories.

Mirroring Adrian's records from the week, but on a smaller scale, I have Goldfinches in the garden (circa 10) and one Redpoll late afternoon.  Goldfinches have been very visible all day dotted along the coast.