Wednesday 30 December 2015

Fishguard Fort

Off the fort today in the harbour area 5 Red-throated Diver,1Great Northern Diver and 3 Common Scoter.

Monday 28 December 2015

Fishguard Fort

Off the fort 3 Red-throated Divers, 2 Great Northern Divers and a Kittiwake, on the near by fields a pair of Chough

Sunday 27 December 2015

Fishguard Harbour

In the harbour a Greenshank and a pale bellied Brent Goose,off PenAnglas a Great Northern Diver.

Tresinwen (27 Dec 15)

Water Rail and 2 Lesser Redpoll in the garden.

Thursday 24 December 2015

Strumble Roll Call 2015.

Merry Xmas - Strumble Roll Call 2015
Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year to all who visited both the lookout & the blog in 2015.


Many Thanks to all who passed on the information from their Seawatches , from those on the list of the main contributors list on the right & to many others including :

Chris Grayell
Richard Davies
Red Liford
Paul Grennard
Peter Murray
Simon Murray
David Astins
Toby Phelps
Chris Jones
Brian Gibbs
Paul Mahiques
Mervyn Jones
John Faithfull
Ceri Jones
Rob Rackliffe
Mark Hipkin
Darren Coombs
All the Team from Seatrust



& many others whose names I don't know.


Thanks again & Good Seawatching for 2016.

Wednesday 23 December 2015

Red-throated Divers at Strumble

We saw two red-throated divers from a wind-rocked car at dusk this evening.

Tuesday 22 December 2015

Maesgwynne 22nd Dec.

On the way down the valley 100's of mostly Black Headed Gulls drifting down towards Harbour, slightly later on when small groups were coming back up I managed to pick up an Adult Med in with them. I flushed a single Snipe which kept silent & low but not convinced it was a Jack on account of it flying out of site.


On this evenings Woodcock watch, 7 birds went over some quite low between 4.30 & 5 p.m.

Nadolig Llawen Blwyddwyn Newydd Dda!

 Sea Trust New Years Day Porpoise Watch 14:30 /2:30 pm Strumble Head lookout ...Start the New Year with a porpoise! 

Monday 21 December 2015

Fishguard Harbour 21st Dec.

At the Flagpoles end 11 Turnstones, Stena side a Great Northern Diver & a Great Crested Grebe. Gull numbers quite high but birds distant.


Later on from the garden, 3 Woodcock over.

Sunday 20 December 2015

Fishguard Harbour

In the harbour this morning a 2nd winter Mediterranean Gull and a Greenshank.

Friday 18 December 2015

Fishguard Fort

Off the fort this afternoon 4 Great Northern Divers and a single Red-throated Diver.
Yesterday at Cwm yr Eglwys a single Great Northern Diver and at Dinas Cross a Firecrest.

Wednesday 16 December 2015

Black Redstart

A female type Black Redstart at Cwm yr Eglwys today

Tuesday 15 December 2015

Firecrest.

A Firecrest the last couple of days in the valley & the usual mixture of the commoner birds coming to the feeders. Great Spotted Woodpeckers actually using the peanut feeder now.

Tresinwen (13 Dec 15)

Coal Tit in the garden again today.


Thorough search all around Strumble today for any "Shorties" turned up nothing.  Lots of Song Thrushes though.

Friday 11 December 2015

Strumble Head 11th Dec.

Time: 07.45 - 12.45
Wind: Strong Westerlies all day.


Common Scoter - 28 ( 20 Males )
Eider - 1 ( Female )
Red Throated Diver - 35
Black Throated Diver - 15 ( Easily a Strumble Day Record )
Great Northern Diver - 23
Leach's Petrel - 1
Great Crested Grebe - 2
Bonxie - 4
Little Gull - 2 ( Both 1st w )
Mediterranean Gull - 1 ( Ad )


Risso's Dolphin - 1




Well done to Chris Grayell for braving the conditions today & was well rewarded.  

Flagpoles 15.00 & a New Garden Tick !

A Greenshank at the Flagpoles is always good to see, at least 2 adult Meds. in the gull roost. A couple of Woodcock flying over the house is a first for anywhere I've lived.

Dinas Mountain

On Dinas Mountain this afternoon 170 + Golden Plover and at least 120 Fieldfare my highest count for many years.
At Llanychaer this morning a Woodcock.

Winter Blackcap

A female Blackcap beneath the feeders this morning.

Thursday 10 December 2015

Wednesday 9 December 2015

Fishguard Harbour 9th Dec.

From the inner breakwater probably the same four Grebes from the previous post a cracking Drake Red Breasted Merganser on the Stena side & in with the gulls swirling around in the wind a single Adult Med. 

Great Northern Divers

After seeing a single Great Northern Diver at Cwm yr Eglwys this morning, I stopped off at Fishguard Fort this afternoon were there were 4 Great Northern Diver, 4 Great Crested Grebe and a probable Black throated Diver this was a little to far out for me to be certain with just binoculars on me.

Monday 7 December 2015

Fishguard Harbour 7th Dec.

Great Crested Grebes up to 5 now on the Flagpoles side & a single 1st w Med. Gull present before the roost really got going. In the gathering gloom a small single streaky dark finch feeding & frequenting the boulders proved difficult for myself & Walrus to pin down, it appeared to just disappear in a very small clump of gorse in the rocks possibly to roost. A Kingfisher buzzing about provided a welcome bit of colour.

Tuesday 1 December 2015

Fishguard Harbour

A single Great Crested Grebe in the harbour also counted 36 Cormorants including a single group of 19 near Lower Town.

Sunday 29 November 2015

Strumble Head (29 Nov 15)

Fantastic sea today off Strumble - some massive rollers.

Short Eared Owl braving the weather this evening in fields between Pontiago Garage and Jam Factory.

Wednesday 25 November 2015

Raptors around Pencaer

Winter tends to bring birds here in search of milder conditions and raptors follow them in..A slight ten mile detour around the Pencaer peninsular on the way to work rescuing a soaked damsel in distress, gave me brilliant close up views of a Buzzard that almost flew into my windscreen. A Red Kite  cartwheeling alongside us being hassled at low level by a jackdaw gave breathtaking views. Then, a  pristine blue tiercel Merlin with a peachy breast and the finest of barring  that flung up in front of me and then led the way for twenty yards before shooting off like an arrow. Not bad in terms of quality, quantity and splendid views! Just reward for a little chivalry!

Tuesday 24 November 2015

Not much happening

There is always something going on at Strumble if you take your time and give it a chance. I spent half an hour with nothing much happening that is if you don't count lots of guillemots and razorbills flying by as well as half a dozen red throated divers and what looked like a GND or a Black Throated... oh and sixteen Scoter...  But then the Porpoises turned up including a mother and calf. All things i would expect to see in this fabulous nature watching Mecca. And then a Buzzard flew in off the sea, not a rare bird for Pembrokeshire but not often you see them coming in off the sea!








Hmm Strumble always turns up the goods!

Monday 23 November 2015

Blue Whale etc

 A few shots from my recent trip to Sri Lanka including Blue and Bryde's Whale









Sunday 22 November 2015

Strumble Head 21st Nov.

Time: 07.00 - 15.00
Weather: Cloudy, some rain showers
Wind: N 8/9 all day


Common Scoter - 58 ( 35 Males )
Red Throated Diver - 28
Black Throated Diver - 1
Great Northern Diver - 3
Leach's Petrel - 9
Ringed Plover - 3
Dunlin - 25
Grey Phalarope - 2
Long Tailed Skua - 1 ( Juv )
Bonxie - 5
Little Gull - 1 ( 1st W )
Mediterranean Gull - 3 ( All Adult )


Richard Davies did the full stint, I joined him at approx. 11 o'clock & missed all the Leach's !!! 

Saturday 21 November 2015

Strumble Head 20th Nov.

Totals from the seawatch below:


07.30 - 12.30
Wind: WNW 5/6


Common Scoter - 41 ( 34 Males )
Red Throated Diver - 13
Black Throated Diver - 2
Great Northern Diver - 3
Manx Shearwater - 2
Curlew - 1
Arctic Skua - 1 ( juv )
Bonxie - 5
Mediterranean Gull - 1 ( Ad )


Risso's Dolphin - 3


Thanks Chris. 

Friday 20 November 2015

Coo what a surprise...

I arrived late at Strumble this morning to find Chris Grayell stamping his feet and clapping his hands trying to warm up after a dawn start. He had done pretty well and I will leave it to him to report his birds. I was a bit late so missed most of it apart from a couple of  divers kittiwakes,auks and gannets.

Chris at his post!

A diver fly bye!

Gannets passed in ones and two's...


A curlew passing by into the gale was a bit mad (why was it not feeding on an estuary somewhere?) but the real surprise was some strange looking things flying low over the waves that gradually lifted higher and turned out to be six wood pigeons! 

Tuesday 17 November 2015

Strumble Head 16th Nov.

Time: 07.00 - 12.00
Weateher: Cloudy Overcast
Wind:W 5/6 then SSW 6/8


Common Scoter - 20 ( 18 Males )
Red Throated Diver - 4
Great Northern Diver - 4
Manx Shearwater - 6
Ringed Plover - 4
Sanderling - 1
Turnstone - 1
Bonxie - 2
Mediterranean Gull - 6 ( 3 Adult,2 2nd W, 1 1st W )


Large number of Kitties & Auk numbers picking up.


Many Thanks to Richard Davies for the report.

Friday 13 November 2015

"A" Team


Between us "Wdig Birder" aka Adrian Rogers and foreground Richie Davies, also myself (thankfully hidden behind the camera) & Rich Stonier ( who will do an another watch tomorrow weather permitting ), have over 100 years of Strumbling experience. We had a damned Good teacher in Graham Rees who remains the master! wish he could have been with us today along with others such as Jack Donovan, Stewart  Devonald and Derick Moore who have sadly gone on to more heavenly  Strumblings

Some Strumble birds from today


I didn't manage to get shots of everything today,the long tails escaped my lens and the conditions were pretty difficult when it came to finding specks in among the breaking combers. But when I did manage to find one of these long distance gems in the viewfinder the light helped to create some exciting images at least from my viewpoint as a long serving Stumbler.If only we had this kind of kit twenty years ago!












Strumble Head 13th Nov. 15

Time: 07.00 - 13.00
Weather: Cloudy with Bright spells.
Wind: West 8/9


Common Scoter - 18 ( 15 males )
Great Northern Diver - 2
Fulmar - 250
Manx Shearwater - 7
Bar Tailed Godwit - 1
Pomarine Skua - 3 ( All Pale 1 with Spoons )
Arctic Skua - 1 ( Pale )
Long Tailed Skua - 2 ( juv 7 2cy )
Bonxie - 9




Risso's Dolphin - 1


Many Thanks to Richard Davies for the final totals & to Walrus & Babs from Seatrust for joining us in the chilly conditions.   

Wednesday 11 November 2015

Flagpoles 15.00 11th Nov.

Again awful conditions but this time brightened up slightly with 17 Med. Gulls ( 1 1st W, 2 2nd W & 14 Adults ) a Great Crested Grebe & a Kingfisher flashed by & landed on the rocks. A few Turnstone & a single Redshank & Curlew. 

Monday 9 November 2015

Flagpoles 15.00 9th Nov.

A single Adult med. Gull flew in, at the Stena end a roost building but conditions truly horrible & sitting back at home watching the feeders & reading the Xmas Catalogue from the Scottish Salmon Smokehouse definitely more appealing.

Saturday 7 November 2015

Strumble Head 7th Nov 15

Time: 07.00 - 12.00
Weather: Driving Rain to start cleared by 08.20
Wind: SSW 6/7 then W 4/5


Common Scoter - 5 ( 3 Males )
Red Throated Diver - 2
Fulmar - 5
Manx Shearwater - 1
Balearic Shearwater - 1
Pomarine Skua - 2 ( 1 Dark, 1 Pale )
Arctic Skua - 5 ( All Pale )
Bonxie - 2
Mediterranean Gull - 5 ( 1 Ad, 4 1st w )
Sabines Gull - 1 ( Juv )
'Commic Tern' - 1


Risso's Dolphin - 1 ( Leapt 4 times )


Thousands of the more commoner species in large feeding flocks.


Chris Grayell  

Woodpeckers

Viewed from the dining room window.

Wednesday 4 November 2015

Strumblish...

Wdig birder seemed to have some premonition about Black Redstart's in fact as we wandered around Pencaer he seemed to be almost obsessed, So I found him a couple! Sadly not great quality shots but not really happy about taking pics around peoples houses. But at least we found some, a cracking male and a less colourful juvenile...




Great spotted woodpeckers are not exactly what you might expect around the sparsely treed peninsular but here's one!...


This moulty  Bonxie was seen mid St Georges Channel from the Stena Europe today but was more or less heading in the direction of Strumble!

Sunday 1 November 2015

If only...



In some ways a quiet day at Strumble inasmuch little out of the ordinary. On the other hand the winter gull flock of over 1,000 birds covering over two miles of the tide race may well have contained something out of the ordinary had it been close enough to really probe.
A small distant flock of Scoter contained five males two juveniles/females, one auk and a smaller duck probably a teal. Blurry but at least a record that can be interrogated. If only I had a camera like the Canon SX50 in the days when I was Strumbling with Graham Rees!


Fishguard Fort

From Fishguard Fort this morning a pale bellied Brent Goose,a female Common Scoter a Brambling flew over also a flock of 50+Lapwing.
Dinas Mountain 25 GoldenPlover and inexcess of 70 Skylarks.
In the garden at Llanychaer a Blackcap.

Saturday 31 October 2015

Tresinwen (31 Oct 15)

Male Brambling in the garden today.  Also Chiffchaff, a few Goldcrests and Long Tailed Tits.

Obvious passage of Chaffinches, Goldfinches and Skylarks over the garden today.

Outer Breakwater Birds



This Rock Pipit posed in between harassing this late wheatear! 





Hen Harrier

A ringtail Hen Harrier past over Dinas Mountain this morning.

Friday 30 October 2015

Ring Ouzel

A first winter Ring Ouzel was present at Pen Anglas this morning, there were about 30 Blackbirds and smaller numbers of both Redwing and SongThrush.

Thursday 29 October 2015

Fishguard Harbour 29th Oct.

Earlier in the afternoon a look on Outer Breakwater was quiet except for a Wheatear & 6 Turnstones. Later on a look at the gull roost from the Stena end was like old times with 17 Adult, a single 2nd Winter & 2 1st Winter Med. Gulls. A few Common Gulls also starting to appear.

Wheatear

A Wheatear was at Dinas Mountain this morning getting quite late for these ,also a Woodcock at Llanychaer.

Tuesday 27 October 2015

Flagpoles

This afternoon at the Flagpoles there were two redshank, a greenshank, 9 turnstone, c15 oystercatchers, a curlew, a grey heron and, among the many black-headed gulls, a single 1st winter med gull. A magnificent sunset behind was countered by a stunning rainbow over the sea as the rain blew in.

Friday 23 October 2015

Woodcock

A Woodcock was at Llanychaer this morning.
12 Golden Plover on Dinas Mountain late afternoon.

Is it just here?

I heard Fieldfares overhead yesterday morning whilst walking the dog. It occurred to me that There were hardly any haws in the hedgerow this year around Pen Caer  (Hawthorn Berries). They usually stop off on their migration and feast on the red fruit but if they were expecting to do so they would have been sadly disappointed this autumn. I wonder if this holds true elsewhere?

Wednesday 21 October 2015

Strumble Head 21st October.

Time: 07.00 - 13.00
Wind: W 5/6

Common Scoter - 43 ( 30 Males )
Red Throated Diver - 1
Great Northern Diver - 2
Balearic Shearwater - 1
Leach's Petrel - 1
Arctic Skua - 3 ( 2 Dark,1Pale )

Common Dolphin - 15+

Many Thanks to Chris Grayell for the information.

Wdigbirder Abroad Porto Moniz Madeira 21 October.

Time: 10.00 - 18.00
Weather: Mostly Rain.
Wind: NW 5/6 

Cory's Shearwater - 830 ish
Sooty Shearwater - 1
Manx Shearwater - 4
Fea's/Zino's Petrel - 1 ( West @ 14.15 )
Little Egret - 1
Arctic Skua - 1 ( Pale Adult )
Owl sp - 1 ( East @14.40 most likely LEO OR SEO )

Seawatching dwindled a bit when garden next to apartment produced Black Redstart, Pied Fly, Wheatear & Willow Warbler in fairly quick succession indicating a fall after the rain.

Home Tomorrow.

Tuesday 20 October 2015

Wdigbirder Abroad Porto Moniz 20th October.

Only a short seawatching at either end of the day which resulted in 100+ Cory's & single Manx & Whimbrel. The rest of the day was spent in the hinterland of the Laurel forest & mountain regions with not much birding content really. A visit to local Rum Distillery was interesting though !

Seawatching resumes tomorrow on my last day 

Monday 19 October 2015

Wdigbirder Abroad Porto Moniz 19th October.

Time: 09.30 - 19.00 ( Apart from short trip to chemist for stuff to treat worst cold virus I've had in years ! )
Weather: Generally fine with a few heavier showers
Wind: NW 6+ all day

Cory's Shearwater - 1210 ( All West, over 600 between 13.00 & 14.00 )
Manx Shearwater - 4
Fea's/Zino's Petrel - 4 ( 13.15,13.48,14.15,17.02 )
Gannet - 2
Wader sp - 4 ( Most likely Sanderling )

Dolphin sp - 1

Greenshank

A single Greenshank on the Fishguard side of the harbour this morning. At Pen Anglas 15 Fieldfares flew over also larger numbers of Redwings and Blackbirds fairly quite otherwise.

Sunday 18 October 2015

Wdigbirder Abroad Porto Moniz Madeira 18th October.

Time: Staggered between 09.00 - 18.00
Weather: Bright Sun most of day a couple of showers.
Wind: SW veering NW 2/3

Cory's Shearwater - 560 ish
Manx Shearwater - 1
Fea's/Zino's Petrel - 1 (West @ 15.15 )
Little Egret - 1
Grey Heron - 1

Dolphin sp - A large pod of 45/50 animals travelling west at 13.30

Northwest Gale forecast tonight.

Dinas Mountain

On Dinas Mountain this morning 100+Golden Plover and 12 Fieldfare

Saturday 17 October 2015

Wdigbirder Abroad Porto Moniz Madeira 17th October.

Time: Staggered watches between 09.00 & 19.00
Weather: Mostly cloudy and rain.
Wind: All over the place.

Cory's Shearwater - 700 ish
Manx Shearwater - 1
Fea's / Zino's petrel - 1 ( West @ 3.45 )
Little Egret - 1
Spoonbill - 1 ( Technically not seawatching, 1West close in at 11 a.m.

Whale sp - A great late afternoon with a large species breaching distantly at 17.40 then 2 probable Brydes Whale breaching closer at 17.58. Seeing that size of Whale leap completely clear of the water is something else!!

Friday 16 October 2015

Strumbler Abroad Porto Moniz Madeira 16 th October.

Time: 08.30 - 16.00
Weather: Showers & Fine spells.
Wind: NE 2 

Cory's Shearwater - 735 ish
Sooty Shearwater - 2
Manx Shearwater - 2
Fea's / Zino's Petrel - 4 ( 12.58,13.34,14.43,15.33 )
Gannett - 1 ( Adult on sea )
Egret sp. - 2 ( Flying East but too distant to identify )
Pomarine Skua - 3 ( 1Pale with full spoons, 2 juvs )
Bonxie - 1

Brydes Whale - 2 ( 1 West 10.45 & 1 feeding & seen on 3 occasions after 13.25 )

Redwings

A flock of approx 40 Redwing over Llanychaer early this morning , late afternoon a flock of 40+ Siskin and 2 Swallows.

Thursday 15 October 2015

Stumbled abroad - Porto Moniz Madeira 15th October.

Arrived & settled, Seawatch a must !

16.00 - 19.00

Cory's Shearwater - Difficult to count 100's of birds passing & large feeding flocks. Probably in excess of 800.

Manx Shearwater - 2
Bulwers Petrel - 1 @ 17.15
Gannet - 2
Pomarine Skua - 2 ( Both Pale Adults with full spoons )

See what tomorrow brings.

Wednesday 14 October 2015

Dinas Mountain

On Dinas Mountain this morning 45 Golden Plover and a single Wheatear.

Tuesday 13 October 2015

Firecrest

There was a Firecrest in my garden at Llanychaer late afternoon today

Wednesday 7 October 2015

Strumble Head 7th October.

Time: 07.00 - 13.00
Wind: NNW 6 then NW 6


Wigeon - 6
Common Scoter - 56 ( 50 Males )
Red Throated Diver - 1 ( Summer )
Fulmar - 4
Manx Shearwater - 18
Balearic Shearwater - 6
Arctic Skua - 12 ( 7 Pale, 4 dark, 1 Juv )
Bonxie - 2
Mediterranean Gull - 3 ( 1 Ad, 2 1st W )
Little Gull - 1 - ( 1st W )


Porpoises showing.


Many thanks to Richard Davies & Chris Grayell for the information.

Tuesday 6 October 2015

Strumble Head 6th October.

Time: 15.00 - 18.00
Weather: Bright
Wind: SW 1 - 2


Balearic Shearwater - 1
Manx Shearwater - 1
Arctic Skua - 2 ( Both Dark Phase )


Common Dolphin - 20 ( Passed approx. 1.5 miles out from East to West very quickly )


Porpoise numerous, probably largest amount encountered this year.

Monday 5 October 2015

Mistle Thrushes.

A good collection of 8 Mistle Thrushes on the wires in the lane this morning, hopefully the vast number of Hawthorn berries will keep them around for a while if only so i can get a few better pictures !