Tuesday 25 June 2013

And so it begins! Pembrokeshire 2013

25/05/13
I make no reasoning for why i love Pembrokeshire.

Being such a stunning county, with endless miles of sheer cliff edge and great habitats, its no surprise as to why i look forward to my yearly visit here!

Our journey was rewarded by a total of 24 RED KITE, but perhaps more surprisingly 62 Buzzard! as well as a single Kestrel and a pair of Yellowhammer.



Upon our arrival at where we were staying, i bode farewell to the family to immediately start scouring the cliffs!
And would you blame me on a stunning day like this!

And i tell you, it felt great to be out! A Rock Pipit towered above me before plunging to the earth, with Linnets and Meadow Pipit's on the Gorse, and Gannets, Fulmars and Shags flying offshore!

The Mipits in particular were showing incredibly well, actually, down to around 6ft!





 

Once  had reached the highest point above the sea along the cliff, i unfolded my chair, and sat, scope facing towards the sea in the hope of a seabird flying past. Numerous Gannet were the only birds of note for almost and hour, until i clocked 2 SANDWICH TERN flying west offshore.

Around this point i was distracted by a male STONECHAT which started singing and displaying in the Gorse, before flying up for a song flight with a backdrop of Stackpole and Freshwater East. Stunning!

Wanting to move on, i headed further east along the footpath, and quickly found another male STONECHAT, but this bird was acomponied by a female, and were showing nicely adjacent to the track, and with the sun behind me, the scope came our rather quickly!




There are few birds that look more smart than a male Stonechat in summer plumage! Further still, and i was lucky enough to find yet another pair of Stonechat, but this time they were joined by two juvenile birds!






One of the short cropped Cow fields held 5 Wheatear, 3 of which were stunning male birds.

An ADDER was also found basking in the sun around and area of dunes, and a Wall Brown Butterfly was found along the clifftop footpath

MB

3 comments:

Findlay Wilde said...

That Stonechat is a really nice looking bird. From Findlay

Mike T said...

I have been looking forward to this blog and you did not disappoint.Good descriptions and photos.Agree that the Stonechat is a lovely bird.Photo looking towards Stackpole Head and Barafundle made me wish I was there.Bring on the next episode.

midlands birder said...

Male Stonechat is an absolute stunner, just a shame we dont get them more regularly near where i live!
You must know your views of Pembrokeshire quite well Mike to know that it was looking towards Stackpole and Barafundle!
MB