Spring arrivals and headland visits

Always one or more Iceland Gulls to be found in mid / late March, often the time of year when adults pass through heading north -  - One in the estuary on the 20th March was no surprise.

Garganey, a pair the first since 2016 and were found on the 21st March and photographed by Stuart Hall. They were on the river near Curlew Hide.

Still present the following morning but had moved to Kingfisher Pond.

Garganey - Stuart Hall

 

These Garganey are part of a major influx to the UK due the current weather system 

Also a breeding plumage Great Crested Grebe was in the estuary off  St. Dogmael's Quay on the 21st March.

Blackcaps and Willow Warblers are now singing on the Reserve, and it sounds like 3 territorial male Cetti's Warblers too.

The headlands of Cemaes and Mwnt were fairly quiet for migrants this week. Just a trickle of Wheatear coming through with 3 around Cemaes Head this morning.  

Wheatear - Dyfed James

There was a noticeable passage of Meadow Pipits around Cemaes with 120 recorded during a 2 hour visit. This fits with flyovers at Portland Bird Observatory on the Dorset coast where over 3,000 were counted today

Meadow Pipit - Dyfed James

Resident breeding birds included 4 Chough, lots of Skylark singing and a pair of Stonechat.

Chough - Dyfed James

Over 100 Grey Seals were hauled out on the usual beach below the head.

With a forecast of much cooler weather over the coming days, no doubt a slowing down of progress into Spring....

(Rich D and Wendy J)