Paul Grennard

I am told the Pembrokeshire National Park is going to erect signs educating people about disturbance to birds by dogs and people at Newport. Let's hope it makes a difference 🙏

A juv Little Stint was with the wader flock at the Parrog Newport Pembrokeshire recently being continually flushed by dog walkers/walkers. The disturbance to birds by walkers/dog walkers is the worst i have ever seen it at this site.

I nipped over to Llanrhidian Marsh on Thursday afternoon on the train and bus for the Pallid Harrier, which showed really well. A supporting cast of 2 Great Egrets and a Green Sandpiper.

It was good. I just wish i had packed my camera. Those Sabs' views were awesome!

Adult Sabine's Gull Strumble Head (pic Brian Southern)

A brilliant morning at Strumble Head with my birding buddy Brian Southern.
c30 Sabine's gulls
C30 Arctic skua
12 Bonxie
1 Pom
WWBT juvenile
12 Black tern
Leach's
3 Balearic
2 Sooty
3 Little gull
Sunfish

There were 3 pale Buzzards on my last visit to Goldcliff, and i thought they might fool the unwary.

Osprey Newport, Pembrokeshire

Juv Little Stint and a Dunlin Newport, Pembrokeshire

juv Little Stint and Ringed Plover Newport, Pembrokeshire

I took advantage of the new improved hourly T5 Haverfordwest to Cardigan bus service this morning using my bus pass. Best birds were juv Little Stint, juv Curlew Sandpiper and an Osprey. There were good numbers of commoner wader species too and the Osprey put on a fantastic show.

An excellent cycle around St.Davids Wood Sandpiper, juv Spotted Redshank, juv Ruff, and 2 Ringed Plover Dowrog pool. At Trefeiddan juv Marsh Harrier. Red Admirals were widespread, 1 Painted Lady and 3 Migrant Hawkers and several Common Darters.

A pair of Migrant Hawkers in copulation

Golden-ringed Dragonfly

male Migrant Hawker

male Migrant Hawker

A search of the willows on the Neath Canal around Neath was unsuccessful for Wiillow Emerald. 15 Migrant Hawkers, 2 Southern Hawkers, 2 Golden-ringed Dragonfly and 1 Blue-tailed Damselfly.

Southern Emerald, Lestes barbarus, Canvey Island, Essex

Louise and I did a 30-mile cycle from Newport around the Gwent Levels. Great Egret was the best bird seen with plenty of Migrant Hawkers, Common Darters on the wing and a Clouded Yellow was nice to see.

Great White Egret RSPB Newport Wetlands. I remember when these were rare and having to write a BBRC description for one i found at Newport, Pembrokeshire.

Drake eclipse Mandarin

male Southern Emerald Canvey Island, Essex

male Southern Migrant Hawker Canvey Island, Essex

Some recent photos

2 Small Coppers and a Common Blue

It is good to see you got up there, Annie 😊

Thanks John 😊

The best bird of the day was this Whinchat at Goldcliff NR. There was a time when i would have gone twitching this Black-winged Kite, but these days, that sort of thing holds little interest for me. I got far more of a buzz finding two Willow Emeralds.

Willow Emerald Chalcolestes viridis

Reen, Gwent Levels

I found the second Willow Emerald for Gwent at Monk's Ditch, Goldcliff.

Brown Hairstreak on hemp agrimony

A successful trip to the Welsh Wildlife Centre, Cilgerran for Brown Hairstreak with 4 seen.

Good luck.

Hi Annie the ponds are certainly accessible on foot from the railway station. See below map...

No, Maesteg in Bridgend County.

male Black Darter Maesteg Ponds

Maesteg Ponds

A trip today to Maesteg Ponds for Black Darter and Common Hawker by train and bike. 10 Black Darters,3 male Common Hawkers, 6 Keeled Skimmers, 1 male Southern Hawker, and plenty of Emerald Damselflies and Common Darters. 🚂🚴

This afternoon i visited the famous ditch on Canvey Island by train and folding bike. 10 Southern Migrant Hawkers, 2 Southern Emeralds, 8 Willow Emeralds and lots of Ruddy Darters. I failed to locate any Scarce Emeralds so i will try again tomorrow morning before heading back to Pembrokeshire.

This morning at the Neath Canal, 2 Southern Hawkers. Otherwise, it was pretty quiet.

Another trip here by train and folding bike was not as rewarding as my last visit. 1 Lesser Emperor from the South Hide several Ruddy Darters, fewer Black-tailed Skimmers, Common Darters were numerous and quite a few Emperors. A Grayling was a new butterfly for the year.

Fingers crossed indeed! 🤞

Strumble Head 05.45 - 12.00 3 adult Sabine's Gulls, 4 Cory's Shearwater, 1 Sooty Shearwater, 6 Storm Petrels, 1 Arctic Skua and c200 Whimbrel were highlights from an excellent morning at Strumble.

Any pics?