Pembrokeshire and more

The two Martin's and myself had our first trip of the year to Strumble last Sunday. We arrived about 6 o'clock to find the shelter all to ourselves. This should have told us that it was going to be quiet if there were no locals present. There was lots of passage of the more common birds like Manx Shearwaters, Gannets, Fulmars, Kittiwakes, Scoters, Auks and Gulls but no Skuas or larger Shearwaters. Mr Bell did pick two Balearics out though. Harbour Porpoises put on a good show all morning with quite a few different animals performing well.

Plan B was to drive over to the Gann to see if we could find the Semipalmated Sandpiper which had been found earlier in the week. The tide was right in leaving just a narrow band of shingle which seemed void of birds. However on closer inspection we found a small flock of Dunlin feeding but unfortunately did not contain the Semi P. Further up the shingle we managed to walk past another small flock of birds before Mr Bevan looked back and saw the culprits. On closer inspection there was our bird sleeping in between a Ringed Plover and a Dunlin. A British tick for me.  Both Martin's also each picked out a Yellow Legged Gull on one of the pools.

We then went up to Dale airfield where we made our way to the pond to look for Dragonflies. Lots of Emerald Damselflies and Common Darter were present.

Next on the agenda was to look for Brown Hairstreak at a new reserve for us West Williamston Nature Reserve. Surprisingly without directions we went straight there. No luck with the Hairstreak although plenty of other butterflies including Silver Washed Fritillaries. I also managed to pick up a Magpie, that is of the moth kind. A very nice little reserve which we said we would not mind visiting again.

Other things seen throughout the day were Grass Snake, Common Lizard and some Mullet. Butterflies included Gatekeeper, Wall Brown, Meadow Brown, Red Admiral, Peacock, Large White, Small White, Green Veined White, Small Cooper, Speckled Wood and Ringlet.

The first four photos are from the previous weeks walk from Penderyn

Juvenile Cuckoo

Robin

Dunlin, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Ringed Plover

Common Darter

Southern Hawker