West Coast Birdwatching

Stunning, isn't it?!

Crab-plover

Desert Owl

Forest Wagtail

Grey Hypocolius

Off this evening for my 8th visit to Oman, a fantastic birding destination. Working for, and with, Chris from @wisebirding.bsky.social, good birds are guaranteed and hopefully this lovely quartet will be enjoyed 😊

Juvenile Whooper Swan with one of it's parents

Adult Whooper Swan

A family party of 6 Whooper Swans has been resident at Sandy Haven, Pembrokeshire, for a few weeks now. Wonderful birds. #BirdingWales

22nd May - last 3 places
29th May - last 2 places
5th June - 6 places
12th June - sold out
19th June - 6 places
26th June - sold out

See the website for more information:

www.westcoastbirdwatching.co.uk/.../skomer-i...

E-mail to book:

info@westcoastbirdwatching.co.uk

Skomer Island guided birdwatching trips 2026, an update!

Anticipating that boat/landing tickets will go on sale on 1st December, if you'd like to book a place on one of my day trips you need to get in touch soon. Availability on scheduled dates as follows:

Mike on Skomer, holding a radio in the kitchen, in 1979.

Mike Alexander.

We were saddened to hear the news that Mike Alexander has died aged 77, after lifetime dedicated to protecting wildlife and wild places in Wales. Mike will be missed by many at the Trust, but his incredible legacy will live on.

Read more: champ.ly/7M2Z8TbO

Well done, but also hard luck Chris. Presumably Pallid given the record just an hour or so later just up the coast?

Avian flu taking a severe toll on Iceland’s falcon population The Icelandic gyrfalcon population has been hit hard by the ongoing wave of avian influenza in recent years. Once numbering around 2,000 birds, the population has now collapsed to roughly 500 individu...

The impacts of avian influenza are profound and far reaching. Hopefully 🇮🇸 Gyrfalcons will recover in time but this is near catastrophic #RaptorResearch 🌎 🪶

Avian flu taking a severe toll on Iceland’s falcon population
icelandmonitor.mbl.is/news/news/20...

Great to see you both today Dawn, until we meet again....

2nd day of a 3-day Norfolk long weekender, another enjoyable one. Finished with Dusky Warbler (pic) and Yellow-browed Warbler at North Point Pools, Wells-next-the-sea #RareBirdsUK @norfolkbirds.bsky.social

Pallas's Warbler

Pallas's Warbler

Pallas's Warbler

Pallas's Warbler

Cracking views of this Pallas's Warbler at Beachy Head this afternoon. Also great to catch up with @dungenessowen.bsky.social and @stephenmessage.bsky.social on a brief visit to Dungeness this morning. #RareBirdsUK

Dungeness Bench

Crimson Speckled - Dungeness

Toasted Sarnie

My highlights on Dungeness today included

Catching up and having a chat with @westcoastbirds.bsky.social
after decades

Enjoying Martin’s Crimson Speckled behind The Sanctuary

First sarnie of the autumn on the bonfire…

It was brilliant to catch up with you Owen! Let's make a habit of it.

Firecrest on a bare twig with a metal ring on its left leg

It was great to track this ringed Firecrest at St Brides, Pembrokeshire, back to @skokholmisland.bsky.social. A first-winter female, she was ringed there on 1st October. #BirdingWales

I will also be leading a 3-day Autumn Migration residential on Skomer for @wtsww.bsky.social in September. Contact me to express an interest in this tour (bookings not yet open).

Details of all the trips are on the web-site:
www.westcoastbirdwatching.co.uk/.../skomer-i...

22nd May, 29th May, 5th June, 12th June, 19th June & 26th June (all Fridays).

The first 3 dates can be combined with a guided day on the Pembrokeshire mainland on the Saturday (see separate post).

Atlantic Puffin on a lichen covered rock with the sea in the background

Common Guillemot on a pale rock with sea in the background

A pair of Razorbills on a rock with splatterings of guano

2026 guided trips to @skomerisland.bsky.social are now available for booking!

The 2025 season may only recently be over, but it's already time to plan ahead for 2026. Expecting the tickets to go on sale on 1st December, I have set my dates for guided day trips as follows:

Glossy Ibis

Glossy Ibis

Glossy Ibis

Stonking views of the Mullock (Pembrokeshire) Glossy Ibis today #BirdingWales

Family party of 6 Whooper Swans in a green field

Wonderful to see this family party of 6 Whooper Swans at Sandy Haven today, all the way from Iceland #BirdingWales

Glossy Ibis stood on a muddy patch in a grassy field

Glossy Ibis still today in fields at Mullock, near Marloes #BirdingWales

It's a fabulous place Will!

Amazing...and the lovely Dachi too!

Lisa seawatching from the lookout at Strumble Head

A excellent 2.5 hours at Strumble Head this morning. Lots of large shearwaters too far out to ID (for me, anyway) but of the closer shearwaters 91 Greats, 1 Corys, 5 Sooties and a handful of Manxies. Also an adult Little Gull and 2 Whooper Swans. #BirdingWales

Yes up from Friday 7th for 3 nights, be great to catch up if you are around.

Love this Mr G 😍

Many thanks Rob 👌

Turtle Dove in an autumn sycamore

Seeing a Turtle Dove in the UK is always a treat, although checking for leg rings from half-arsed reintroductions tempers the thrill slightly... This bird at St Brides, Pembrokeshire, today thankfully seemed to be ringless #BirdingWales

Firecrest

A good few hours in the field today around Dale, highlight was this smashing Firecrest in the village #BirdingWales

Me with Lisa, Pete & Dawn outside Cornwall Services near Bodmin

A fantastic week's holiday in the far west of Cornwall. As well as the birds, always nice to catch up with friends, which included Paul St Pierre, @juddhunt.bsky.social, @philb609.bsky.social & Alex Bevan. Today it was the turn of Pete and @debalmer.bsky.social, great to share a coffee with them 😀

Sounds like the perfect day. Happy birthday!