Pembrokeshire birds in the last week

[leifus]

I have just arrived back from a week away in pembrokeshire. The weather has been fantastic and I have seen some 60+ different species of bird. So here they are:

kestrel
buzzard
peregrine - saw more of these than great tits, blue tits and greenfinches put together!!!

red kite
merlin
hen harrier
swallow
house martin
sand martin
skylark
pheasant
jackdaw
rook
carrion crow
raven
chough
magpie

lesser black backed gull
greater black backed gull
herring gull
common gull
black headed gull

stonechat
robin

canada goose
mute swan

blackbird
song thrush

pied wagtail

chaffinch
goldfinch
greenfinch

rock pipit
meadow pipit

willow warbler
chiffchaff
blackcap

oystercatcher
common sandpiper

wood pigeon
collared dove

great tit
blue tit

house sparrow
dunnock

shag
cormorant

gannet
fulmar
sandwich tern
guillemot
razorbill

mallard
teal
shoveler
shelduck

wren
goldcrest
linnet
wheatear

coot
moorhen

heron
little egret

Very good. Thanks. Comments on what people have seen there before would be good.

[demicav]

Wow, that's a lot of Birds, a fantastic list. I've never been to that part of Wales but the idea is really growing on me. Sounds like a wonderful place for wildlife and I've heard it's good for reptiles which I normally photograph in Pwllheli, North Wales. Must go soon.

[NicolaB]

Wow...excellent list for one week?

Whereabouts in Pembs did you go? It's been a while since I've seen a hen harrier in Wales...

[leifus]

Originally Posted by NicolaB

Wow...excellent list for one week?

Whereabouts in Pembs did you go? It's been a while since I've seen a hen harrier in Wales...

Nicola,
We went to St. Brides in Haverfordwest (SW Pemb.). We saw the hen harrier over Marloes mere and found out that it was regularly seen though you may need some patience. We were lucky to see it twice. Worth a look if you are ever down there...

[leifus]

Originally Posted by NicolaB

Wow...excellent list for one week?

Whereabouts in Pembs did you go? It's been a while since I've seen a hen harrier in Wales...

Nicola,
We went to St. Brides in Haverfordwest (SW Pemb.). We saw the hen harrier over Marloes mere and found out that it was regularly seen though you may need some patience. We were lucky to see it twice. Worth a look if you are ever down there...
It was a female and we didn't see any males. Watch out for the distinctive white bar on its rump (or should I say hind quarters or graceful behind!!!)

[NicolaB]

ooh lovely!

I might make a detour there for a bit when I go to Skomer next month. I saw them in Orkney last year (was lucky enough to see a male and a female), and we had a regular female at the Welsh Wetlands Centre when I worked there about 10 years ago. It would be so nice to see another one in Wales