Kestrel

Tom and I spotted a Kestrel flying between cliffs near St Justinians. We must have startled it twice, as it flew up in front of us twice near the cliff edge giving us good sightings of the distinctive rusty brown body and dark wing tips. Lovely!

Cardigan Bay Bottlenoses

Okay, so it's over the border in Ceredigion but on Monday I had a great day out with Sea Trust on the Sulaire out of Newquay. Great views of over 50 Bottlenose Dolphins - see the Whales in Wales blog for details.

Castlemartin

Shots are of a raven on nest and a herring gull from Nigel McCall taken last Sunday.

First bluebells

I've just seen my first bluebells of the year in the wood near St. Brides Haven. Any others showing?

Bosherston sightings

Otters are still being seen most days - though not as reliably as they were a few months back. The animal in the pic above was seen on Monday, catching this sizeable Pike near the reeds on the approach to Broadhaven beach.

Bird sightings have included the female Ring-necked Duck, which was in the central lake this morning, a Water Rail near the Grassy Bridge, up to 10 Goosanders in the vicinity of Eight-arch Bridge. Otherwise, the most notable occurrence has been the mass arrival of Chiffchaffs heralding the onset of spring....

Opening photograph

This is an invitation for a new photograph for the opening page. Please send in a landscape format pic with max width 800 pixels.

Thanks

Andy

Hello from new contributor

My name is David Perry, I live in Pembroke, I am a Pembrokeshire Boy through and through. I am an avid snapper and observer of wildlife, I do the latter better than he former!! I will be putting some posts up in next few days.
Thanks to Andy for allowing me in

Spring!

Once the early morning fog had lifted a lovely warm, sunny day brought out the insects in St Florence. Bees and Peacock and Comma butterflies were gathering pollen and feeding on Willow flowers. Add in a Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming, Chiffchaffs, Great, Blue and Long-tailed Tits singing and a Wren nest building and it definately felt like spring!

Butterfly's and Slowworm

Our first Comma's ( x 2 ) and first Peacock, all sunning and feeding in the garden. Another slowworm for the list which makes at least half a dozen already this year.

New flowers

Driving back from from Haverford today I noticed that the scurvy grass is now out together with blackthorn. On  walk to Gateholm yesterday we saw a kestrel and a peregrine falcon.

Ducks on Marloes Mere

Marloes Mere was busy yesterday afternoon quite a few ducks of different species present. The highlight was a pair of shoveller with the male having superb iridescent green plumage around his neck and a striking yellow eye.

Schools

I gave a talk to a schools inset day on Tuesday inviting school teachers to become involved. Julie Houghton has already sent me a post and some images taken by her eco-schools club last Thursday.

Julie says "I’m also interested in inviting volunteers into school to work with our children in the summer term in Colby woodland gardens. We would like to take some photographs and make simple films of wildlife on the beach and in the woodlands. I am informed that they will need to have had a C.R.B. Please let me know if there is anyone in the area who would like to work with our school. I look forward to hearing from you."

7 armed starfish at St Brides

I found Luidia ciliaris in an upper shore pool at St Brides today. It's usually sub-littoral and can grow to 60cm across, but this one was about 3cm across and obviously hadn't read where it was supposed to be found.

Sea grass, Zostera marina stranded

Found this and several other sea grass (Zostera marina) plants washed up on the little beach called Porthmynawyd near Pointz Castle, north Pembrokeshire on saturday. This a subtidal species which only occurs in a few places in Pembrokeshire; in Milford Haven and in north haven, Skomer island. The plants were very fresh and were brought ashore by the stiff southerly breeze and I'm guessing from north haven on Skomer. Unless there is some uncharted sea grass bed nearby, though unlikely as sea grass like shallow, sheltered conditions. I might be going for a snorkel near this beach in the summer just to check! Nice find anyway...

Marloes

Signs of Spring today along the coast by Marloes and the Deer Park today. With the sun shining it was quite warm out of the wind and the first Thrift in bloom I have seen this year together with Celandine and Violets pointed to the wonderful show yet to come. Insects were also about with 2 Small Tortoiseshells, and the Bumble Bee and Beetle pictured (no doubt there is someone out there who can identify the species for me). Click photos for larger images.
Wheatears and Sand Martins also seen - see Pembrokeshire Birds for details.

Bits and bobs

With 3 sightings of bumblebees (two white tailed and a red tail) yesterday, the appearance of wild garlic and various birdies and beasties all gearing up for mating season, it really does feel like Pembrokeshires wildlife has had an explosion of activity. Cracking views of the water rail at Westfield Pill. The site also had Marsh tits (or possibly Willow tits...), a nuthatch, firecrests, a very cheeky coal tit (who hopped right up to me and started pecking under my shoe!) and dozens of various small birds.

Went for an early morning walk at a very cold Stackpole court a few days ago. Got to the wall overlooking the reed beds and heard some splashing about. After a minute or so an otter made an appearance and was very audible and visible whilst fishing. Spent 15 minutes watching as he caught his breakfast. This was the first time I've ever seen an otter in this section of the ponds, having never seen them further down than the boathouse.

Some time last week I went for a wander down Fresh West looking for adders. No joy unfortunately, but I did come across a common lizard under an old ice cream tub and what I'm assuming are the bones of a seal flipper (Yes? No?) way back in the grass.

Flower report from N Pembs

You asked for more flower reports on your excellent Pembs. Wildlife Blog. We are on N.Pembs coast and usually 2 weeks later each spring than S. Pembs., so the phenology round here will hardly be newsgrabbing.

However, we do have Primroses, Wood Sorrel, Moschatel, Red Dead Nettle and a couple of bushes of Blackthorn (which flower early every year).

Peter and Ruth Byles, near Ceibwr Bay

Skylark

I heard a skylark singing above the fields of Musselwick farm this morning. Great to hear them again.

Hedgehogs

Here at Pembrokeshire Hogspital, we have had three hedgehogs in already so the wild ones are waking up, as are some of ours. It is too early for them yet as their food has not truly surfaced so any hedgehog seen out now and especially during the day, needs to be picked up and cared for. Most will have lung worm anyway and that has to be treated or they will die.
Putting some food out for them can help. They need meaty not fishy food or dried cat food is alright and can be left out for several days. It is also possible to buy dry hedgehog food at Pets at Home. You need to be inventive about the feeding station so that passing cats and foxes cannot get at it. A little "house" made two bricks high and 2 bricks square with a piece of wood weighted down on top should be fine. Push the food to the back so a cat paw cannot reach it and hope for a hedgehog. If you do need to bring the hedgehog in, act fast and don't worry about the hedgehog flea as they are very rare now.
Beryl Steadman

A Sparrowhawk popped in for 'lunch' the other day, decided on a quick takeaway (Starling, À la carte). Posed for a quick photo then left, anyone know where we can send the bill?

Cris and Maggie Roberts.

Waiting for the first cuckoo!

A wooly bear type caterpillar was my find of the day at Strumble, along with migrating pippits and odd porpoises!

First mainland Pembrokeshire wheatear

I was beaten by Chris on Skomer but I think this is the first mainland wheatear.

I found it at Strumble yesterday, a cracking fresh plumaged male!

Scarlet Elf Cup "Sarcoscypha austriaca "

Collected from Monk Haven, microscopic pore section to identify the type.

Top 2 images; Florescence with Acidine Orange showing the spores, size 40 microns approx

Phase contrast image showing spore structure.

Bottom; Scarlet Elf cup

A Dale Fort student found Gibbula magus (turban topshell, great topshell) in a middle shore pool on Dale Fort Jetty Beach on Tuesday. Only the second one I've ever seen here.

7 spot ladybird

2 in the garden at St. Ishmaels today.

Dogfish

A quick visit to Sandy Haven yesterday at low tide revealed two dogfish egg cases and a dead dogfish with an unusal wound on the right-side behind the head in the vicinity of the moorings.

New flowers

We have had a week of sunny weather now and the flowers have really responded to the daytime warmth and longer daylength. The daffs and snowdrops are everywhere with primroses, dandelion and lesser celandine coming through was well. Have you seen any others?

1st Slow worm of the year

Hi there, Thought you might like a picture of our 1st slow worm of the year, taken today Wednesday 9th March at Llanstadwell. The other photo shows our copper and brass trays (Car Boot buys), that serve as homes for up to  20+ slow worms of different ages, as well as grass snake, ant and bee nests, and shelter for small rodents.
Cris and Maggie Roberts

Female catkin

Female catkins are very small and largely concealed in the buds with only the bright red 1–3 mm long styles visible.

Double Ginger

On my way to Strumble this morning, I noticed a ginger cat in the road, looking a bit preoccupied. As I braked, I noticed a fox in the hedgerow, obviously the object of the cats attention. As I stopped to try and get a pic' they both turned tail and disappeared into the undergrowth. I cant help wondering what was going on and what the outcome would have been if I had not appeared on the scene!

re Westfield Pill

In answer to the comments on my earlier post from shooting star I would like to clarify a couple of issues.
1. (paparazzi) I took thisstatement from a previous post and was not aiming at any one person. It had been brought to my attention by an elderly gent who was concerned about the possible disturbance caused to the otters and maybe halting them crossing the bridge to go on to the reserve. It was a general apeal and not directed at any one person. I believe that we spoke later on in the day and I could see nothing wrong with what you was doing at the time . You seemed to be doing everything in a discreet and profesional manner. If I have upset you in any way I apologise.
2. Regarding dog fouling I understand that this is an ongoing problem and that it is difficult to find an answer to this. I will be meeting Nathan Walton of the trust later this week and I hope that we can find an answer to this and other issues we have on the reserve.
Please if you have any issues about the running of the reserve do not hesitate to contact me. I am only willing and eager to hear of any problems.
Regards
Barry

Red kite

Red Kite at 3.15pm 6/3/11 flying over Light a Pipe Farm on the Old Hakin Road just beyond the double bend between Haverfordwest and the Council Tip.

I have also had two hedgehogs brought in recently having come out of hibernation.  Both have lungworm and are being treated.

Beryl Steadman
Pembrokeshire Hogspital

Honey Bee

Photograph of a Honey Bee,
The Bee photographed with Zeiss Tessovar.

re westfield pill

hi alan,
I note your concerns and can asure you that i will be working toward creating a reserve that can be enjoyed by all whilst trying to ensure as you did that westfield pill is kept primarily as a nature reserve. There are concerns and I would hope that we can meet up in the near future so that we both can share our views
Regards
Barry

WESTFIELD PILL

I note with interest the post "PAPPARAZI AT THE PILL" . Maybe it is better to err on the sign of caution with regards to the otters. Whilst not wanting to deny anybody a sighting I think that common sense must prevail. Otters are protected by law and willfull disturbance is illegal so a mass photo shoot is probably not the best thing to do. Lets try and be responsible here chaps.
Seen on and near the reserve today both SMALL TORTOISE SHELL and PEACOCK butterfly.
Regards to all,( hope that I havnt caused offence to anybody).
Barry

Small Tortoishell

A couple of Small Tortoishells have already been reported but it was nice to this one this afternoon at  Blackpool Mill feeding on Snowdrops.

Paparazzi at the Pill

I went down to Westfield Pill this morning just after 9 to find the bridge full of photographers! It was great to meet Elwyn Davies, Morris North and Roy Packer. The otters made a brief and distant appearance and the water rail showed well early on.

Weasel at Bosherston

I spotted this weasel at Bosherston at the grassy bridge. It kept running backwards and forwards across the path and then posed on the wall before shooting off again.

Jan Hannaford

Spring has sprung!

It is now feeling like Spring is well and truly here with the last couple of sunny days and longer daylight hours. The corvids are busy building nests - it was quite interesting standing under a rookery at Manor House on Monday with frequent sticks being dropped by birds in the canopy above. Even a chip landed by my feet after a loud fight between two rooks!

The fields are becoming full of new born lambs and the woodland floors are greening up with the leaves of wild garlic. Look out for the male catkins on trees such as hazel and for the tiny red female flowers that are just emerging from their buds.

Adder

My brothers were lucky enough to see this adder at Freshwater West today, on the path to the beach from the small car park. I haven't seen an adder here for many years, despite visiting the beach regularly so this is a welcome sight (or would have been if I had actually been the one to see it!). Kept my eyes peeled for the eagle (or "eagle" as it it seems to be known) whilst driving past the golf course at Haverfordwest but all that was to be seen were 8 or so buzzards. Otter spotted at Bosherston near the boat house the day before yesterday.

THAT EAGLE AGAIN

I have just been browsing through the BIRDS OF PEMBROKESHIRE AND ITS ISLANDS by the rev.Murray a Mathew dated1894. In it he refers to White tailed sea eagle sightings and recoveries in the 1800,s . He describes it as an occasional winter visitor with sightings in the Haverfordwest area more particularly frequenting the covers of Picton castle and Slebech.
Maybe what we are seeing recently may lead to the good old days again.
Regards to all
Barry