St David's and the weather !!

Just about everyone has experienced bad weather in the last few weeks – locally to St David’s ours has been mainly high winds and rain. Today the sun is shining so an opportunity to visit pools, water flashes and flooded areas and meadows, sadly not a lot. However this Mute swan taking advantage of a flooded camp site at Newgale did bring back memories (distant!!) of blue skies – sunshine and better things to come

Turtle doves - This and that

Thanks to Jenny, a near neighbour, we have been alerted to the presence of a Turtle dove near where I live. At last I caught up with it today in another neighbour’s garden. It seems to be spending time with a pair of Collared doves – could be fun and games in the spring!! Perhaps it has not read the book on migration. However, despite the winter conditions this year it seems to be doing OK. I think I am correct in saying the last winter sighting in Pembrokeshire was in Richard Stonier’s garden near Strumble head late December 2010 Despite the awful conditions across the UK we have been pretty free of frost and snow just on this little SW tip of Wales – so why have we not been visited by more Thrushes, Waders, Wildfowl etc? I had hoped to post wonderful pictures from Norfolk by now but the Snowman and Jack Frost decided I was not to get there. Unusually though conditions encouraged blackbirds to the feeders at the kite centre Nant yr Arian nr Aberystwyth.

That time of year - again !!

Birds of Prey

A really good trip to Mid Wales for birds of prey organised by Mark Sissons and Natures Images. Many thanks to them Despite the continual rain we had the opportunity of seeing and photographing some wonderful birds at close quarters

Pembrokeshire bird conference 24th November2012

Although at short notice we had a venue change it was thanks to Valero refinery that we had another great conference hosted by them. Their generous support once again allowed all ticket sales to be donated to our ‘mother ship’ the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales. Thanks to speakers, helpers, those who joined us and to Valero and their Staff who made the event possible

A trip to Northumberland

Northumberland in November might not be the most popular time for some people – but it sure did give us some fantastic sightings of wildlife and scenery. Thanks to our guide Alan of Hawk’s head photography and Andrew, skipper of Serenity Two (sailing from Seahouses – Farne Island Boat Tours) we had a fantastic day both around the Farne islands and on the outer Island of Longstone. Seals, Purple sandpipers, Turnstone, more waders, LTDuck, Eider, GNDiver etc etc and, on the way home the most magnificent sun set behind Bamburgh castle together with a pod of 50+ Bottle nosed dolphin. I would also mention the approach to wildlife was careful and very considerate whilst still giving us superb views. As well as brilliant sea trips we had a great time in local woodlands with Peckers, Nuthatches etc and Red squirrel, and on Lindisfarne with Brent geese and waders Also we now know Eiders eat egg sandwiches, Tomato pasta, Thi flavoured noodles, chips, and, what they do with a pork pie has to be seen !! Many thanks to Alan and Adrian for their efforts. Was it worth 401 miles each way? Will we go back? – you betcha it was and we will

A lovely surprise this morning

After seeing thousands of starlings, huge flocks of woodpigeons as happens at this time of year around St Davids it was lovely to find these Bewicks swans on Penberry pool - especially as I nearly went ‘for a fix’ of Wildfowl at Marloes