Cetacean Quiz

The 20th July saw Kathy and I aboard the 'Cap Finistere' ferry heading for Santander and with most of the day in Biscay looking for birds and cetaceans. Not a sausage birdwise. However 8 species of cetaceans more than made up for the lack. Photography was challenging so only record shots of Common, Striped and Risso's Dolphins as well as 2 each of Long-finned Pilot Whale, Northern Bottlenose Whale, Fin Whale and Cuvier's Beaked Whale. (We also saw but were unable to get any shots of Bottlenose Dolphins.) The photos are below, I'll add captions at a later date. The underwater Dolphin is on its side, a typical piece of behaviour for this species, along with mad back flips and lots of splashing. This helps id. The breaching Whale is also demonstrating typical behaviour for this species. Good luck.

Male Cuvier's Beaked Whale

Cuvier's Beaked Whale breaching

Fin Whale

Striped Dolphin

Risso's Dolphin

Fin Whale

Long-finned Pilot Whale 

Common Dolphin

Northern Bottlenose Whale

Long-finned Pilot Whale



Northern Bottlenose Whale

Spring Slavonian Grebe at Newport

Not St Davids Head for a change (deadly quiet this morning) but a quick twitch up the road to Trefdraeth for the Slavonian Grebe reported in the channel near the Yacht Club. I was actually amazed to find it so easily and it being so confiding. I sent a message to Steve Berry to get along to see it as he was working nearby and he heard it calling too. A check for previous Spring records ends this post and some of the photos I took are below:

 

 

Slavonian Grebes are normally scarce winter visitors to Pembrokeshire; mainly in coastal waters, there are few inland reports. There have only been two non-winter records previously: in 1986 two lingered at The Gann until May 10th and attained Summer Plumage, in 1974 a bird was on The Pembroke River on July 30th. This individual at Newport is a very unusual as well as very beautiful bird.

Yellow Wagtail races in Pembrokeshire

Llanferran Pool at St Davids is a shallow scrape I check out daily, always hoping an interesting wader will turn up - it hasn't yet but four or five Garganeys were a good find for someone while I was away in Spain in early April. On May 7th though, a really handsome male Blue-headed Wagtail was feeding around the Pool and I managed a few record shots, before it flew off to the south.

This individual was the fourth record for this Spring, and amazingly these are the first spring records since 2000 - there have only been 4 autumn records in addition, since 2000. There were no records of the other races this century until the superb male Black-headed Wagtail found by a visitor to the County at Marloes Mere on 12th May 2013.

Since initially completing this post, amazingly (in cold westerlies) a second Black-headed Wagtail has been found in Pembs, by a visiting birder at Marloes Mere. It was a stunning, bright male, the 19th for Britain and Pembs' second. Kathy and I heard it call as it flew a short distance, giving a rolling 'zrrreep' call, quite unlike flavissima. The Spring of 2013 is becoming a magic one for Yellow Wags. A few of record shots here:

Black-headed Wagtail
 Marloes Mere 12th May 2013

The Bigger Picture in Pembs

Our British version of the Yellow Wagtail complex, 'M.f. flavissima' is a pretty uncommon passage bird in Pembs, 10 together, in autumn, is about as good as it gets and some years are pretty barren. It seems that until the mid 1990's, Blue-headed Wagtail 'M.f. flava' was much more regular than it has become. The other regular visitor to Britain, Grey -headed Wagtail 'M.f. thunbergi' has been recorded 9 times, with the last at Flimstone on 30th May 1986.

Of the races, considered genuine rarities, a Spanish Yellow Wagtail 'M.f.iberiae' was reported on Skokholm 19th April 1989 but this race is, as yet, not on the British list so I guess it doesn't count. The genuine records are:

Ashy-headed Wagtail 'M.f. cinereocapilla' Skokholm 17th-20th May 1992 
Black-headed Wagtail 'M.f. feldegg' Skomer 7th May 1986
Black-headed Wagtail 'M.f. feldeg' Marloes Mere 12th-13th May 2013.

Records of Blue-headed Wagtail in Pembs since 2000

Skomer and The Deer Park 29th April 2000
Skokholm 4th September and 2 Skokholm 24th September 2000
Skokholm 9th-12th September 2003
St Anne's Hd 19th April 2013 (SS)
Marloes Mere 21st April (DA) and Marloes Mere 30th April 2013 (DG,BS)
Llanferran Pool St Davids 7th May 2013 (MYP)

Corncrake Whitesands, St Davids Hd

A gloomy, misty morning and the 25th April didn't promise much but it was an opportunity to see if the Western Subalpine Warbler and the Woodchat Shrike were still there - they were. However before getting out onto the headland I followed a Wheatear in an area of scattered brambles, grass and rushes, managed for shooting. As I scanned with bins I noticed another bird at the edge of rank grass along a fenceline about 100 metres away. I was stunned when 'Corncrake' sprung immediately to mind. I made myself be sensible and think through other options. It's brown with darker even lines lengthwise along body (just brown at that distance - grey not visible) so not a Moorhen and not bobbing tail like Moorhen or Water Rail. Tail is stubby, and just looks brown too. Bill is definitely short, sort of triangular. Definitely not a Water Rail then, though similar slender long-necked shape at times. Spotted Crake? Only if an autumn juvenile, the only spring bird I've seen was bright, and the way it's moving is quite different. A juvenile seen two years ago on Tresco, at a distance, was brown in just the same way but methodically moving and feeding quite differently. In the end it just came back to Corncrake again. 

The best bit was that the bird moved along, feeding in the edge of the longer grass for what seemed quite a while. It was completely unaware of me and feeding naturally. The way it behaved was very distinctive and I suspect rarely seen, since it's not mentioned anywhere in the usual books I have access to. The bird would peck at something a couple of times, presumably flies or something on grass stems, then scuttle along a few feet, neck out and giving a strong impression of a rodent as it did so. Then stop, peck at something and off for a little neck-out sprint again. I watched this several times until it was into the longer vegetation and not seen again. It didn't call and this fact and the subdued plumage make me suspect it was a female.

I recall watching an adult and a young bird running/scuttling in a similar way along a pathway in grass, away from me about three years ago, in the Hebrides. That, however was an alarmed or alert bird so not quite the same. Other times I've stood within feet of a calling Corncrake and not been able to see it so I feel quite privileged.

Later view of site, minus Corncrake

Corncrake is a WRP bird, Pembs records since 2000 follow:

Ramsey 21st September 2001 (SA,RS)

Granston 13th Sept 2002(SDSB)

Skomer 27th Sept 2002 (JGB)

Skomer 21st September 2003 (?)

Skomer 29th September 2008 (DB)

Whitesands, St Davids Hd 25th April 2013 (MYP)

Western Subalpine Warbler St Davids Head

Set out to get a good look around in the still and dull but warmish weather; also hoping the Woodchat Shrike would still be around the beach area at Porth Melgan for a third day. Luckily it was still present though was more mobile, moving further up the valley at times. I watched it with Dick Seekins, Wendy James and Karen Mr. As Dick and I moved off along the path to the Head a small bird flitted through the gorse and bracken scrub on the bank in front of us. The shape flight pattern was very reminiscent of Dartford Warbler but it appeared paler blue-grey above and quite orangy below and I called it as A Subalpine Warber. 'That's a brave call.' said Dick but I'd been comparing the two in Spain on a couple of occasions and I was pretty sure, but still thought it best to hedge bets somewhat. There were many anxious moments as the four of us tried desperately to nail it with a clear view of a white sub-moustachial stripe, which would make us all feel happier. Eventually a few seconds 'scope view and there it was! After that it was good fun following it getting good views and some pics eventually. Then we could settle down to enjoy the experience of a rare bird, which as the word 'rare' suggests just doesn't happen that often.

The bird was intensely coloured red-orange on the throat and breast, paler on flanks and belly with a fine white sub-moustachial stripe and blue grey above on upperparts excepting brownish flight feathers and white outer tail feathers. The eye was red and the legs yellowy. It was clearly a male and indeed was heard to sing briefly a little later; the brownish cast to the primaries suggests a 2nd Calendar year bird. The thin sub-moustachial stripe indicated 'Western' as did the orangy underparts, less intense than might be expected for Eastern and more diffuse overall. It was very similar to a male I watched in Granada, Spain early in the month. With both the Warbler and the Shrike present in a small bit of West Wales, who needs Spain? This is the first Pembs record since Steve Votier's Ramsey Record in 2009. It appears also to be the first ever mainland record.

Photo Mark Hipkin

Subalpine Warblers in Pembs since 2000:

Skokholm 2nd-8th April 2001 (GT) and 3rd Nov 2001(GT)
Skomer 16th May 2002 (SD)
Skokholm 4th-5th May 2003 (GT)
Ramsey 23rd-27th May 2006 (GM,LM)
Ramsey 15th May 2008 (JW)
Skomer 19th May 2008 (DB)
Ramsey 23rd June 2009 (SCV)
St Davids Hd (ssp Cantillans) 23rd-27th April 2013 (WJ, KMr,RSe,MYP et al)
Skokholm (female ssp cantillans) 16th May 2013 (EW et al )
Skomer female 29th May 2013 (ES)

Woodchat Shrike St Davids Head

This bird was found late yesterday at Porthmelgan by Bernie Stevens. I refound it this morning (22nd April) and managed a few photos despite the murk and drizzle; obviously the quality isn't great but the best I could manage in the conditions with a compact camera. Can't imagine what it makes of West Wales after sunny Southern Europe.

Given that the dampness only serves to darken the plumage, it seems to me the overall tones are too pale for an adult male, especially the gingery impression, rather than chestnut of the head. The wings appear a bit too greyish also. The poor viewing conditions didn't allow for a check of different generations of feathers so, for me, it goes down as a second year bird or maybe an adult female, though I have a feeling the former is more likely.

The same bird on 26th

And again 

Woodchat Shrike records for Pembs since 2000

Skomer 29th April 2000 (JGB) and 6th May (JGB)

Skokholm 1st May 2000 (JT et al) 

St Brides 10th May (ASu)

Skomer 30th-31st May 2003 (MO)

Skomer 11th-13th Oct 2004 (JGB)

Treginnis 13th May 2008 (DR)

St Bride's 20th May 2008 (LO)

Martin's Haven 8th June 2008 (ST)

Strumble Head 1st July 2009 (RI)

Abereiddy 23rd April 2011 (HR)

St Davids (Whitesands) 25th-26th April 2011 (MYP et al)

Mullock Bridge 15th-19th May 2011 (DB)

St Davids Hd 21st-29th April 2013 (BS)

Galera Photodiary April

                       




Galera is a traditional Spanish village in north-east Granada Province, bordering Almeria about 1000 metres up on the 'Altiplano', an ancient dry lakebed surrounded now by sierras. The village nestles into sedimentary rocks soft enough to create the traditional eco-friendly Cave Houses of the area. Home for Kathy and I is Cueva Abejaruco - Bee-eater Cave (none back in early April though). Some of the characteristic birds in the rocky and desert-like region around the village are Black Wheatears, Rock Sparrows, Rock Buntings and BlackRedstarts, though they haven't all been photogenic this April as it happens. The Rio Galera flows year-round through the valley below the village and is quite heavily cultivated, as is the nearby Orce Valley. Golden Orioles, Cetti's Warblers and Nightingales are common in both. There are extensive prairies in the region, cultivated with cerials and other crops where several colonies of Lesser Kestrels can be found foraging. Great Spotted Cuckoos are common, parasitising the abundant Magpies in the valleys and almond orchards.







Calandra Lark

Yellow Wagtail



Female Lesser Kestrel



Male Lesser Kestrel

The sierras are forested in Pine and Holm Oak until reaching the higher crags. The gorge at Castril allows access to the crags as well as producing typical upland river birds such as Grey Wagtail and Dipper. Blue Rock Thrushes are common and on the day we were there lots of Blackcaps were passing through, as were Black Kites. The sierras are also great for butterflies.

Female Crossbill

Short-toed Treeccreeper

Booted Eagle

Dipper

Male Blue Rock Thrush

And again

A typical pose

In a tree to be different

Female Black Redstart

Crag Martin

Birds of open and scrubby areas are easy to find around the outskirts of the village and out onto the plain again.

Iberian Shrike

Male Subalpine Warbler

Griffon Vulture

Short-toed Eagle

Corn Bunting

Rock Bunting


Feeding time

Griffon Vulture