By Thomas Weston
A good start to the month. Census counts were really nice, it was sunny but breezy from the SW, a good mix of migration was going on in the bushes, though not much was going on overhead. Even less was going on out to sea, and at one point I even got wet backs of my legs as it rained for a few minutes. Walking through Millcombe it was apparent there was a fall of Blackcaps with over 40 seen, and a good number caught in the nets too by the visiting ringing groups. A nice influx of Chiffchaffs to join our ever-present migrant Firecrest and Goldcrest were really nice to spot. In the bushes, Dunnock calls highlighted there may have been a small arrival of these, though the number of Robins have certainly dropped since last week's influx. There was the first Song Thrush of the autumn overhead, but out to sea not much was moving apart from some local Shags. From the Ugly, a flock of migrant Chaffinches alighted in the Pines, and a flock of roosting Oystercatchers were seen below Millcombe. There was at least one Water Rail calling in the bushes, and getting to the ringing table by the Gas Store led to the counts including a recently ringed Pied Flycatcher. A late Willow Warbler was noteworthy, and a few Goldfinches overhead was a nice charm to see. There was not much on the plauteau today, some passing Meadow Pipits were nice, as were the Skylarks overhead. There was a couple of Stonechats on the walls too which were tacking away to each other. After the rain, a Golden Plover was herd, a Peregrine and Kestrel flew by, and a couple of Woodpigeons erupted out of Quarter Wall Copse. A Sparrowhawk and Spotted Flycatcher reported by others did not make it onto the counts today, though the usual Mallards and flocks of Starlings ended the census counts today.
Whilst watching some winch training by the Pembrokeshire coastguards, check out the new Jenny's Cove Coordinated count post in the article section....