M&Ms

...not of the chocolate variety but of the feathered kind: Manx Shearwaters and Migrants.

A new collaboration between The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales and West Coast Birdwatching began today. Dave Astins, local guide and birding guru, is showing a group the delights of Skomers amazing wildlife. Even before they had arrived they had found a Dotterel, a Yellow Wagtail and a Whinchat at Martin's Haven. On arrival they were shown their first Manx Shearwater fledging which had been gathered up by the wardens (pic. below). They had great views of one of two Wrynecks on the island and witnessed migration in action with Swallows, pipits and wagtails flying through. A full list of the days birds is given below. They also counted seals and saw seal pups and Porpoises, identified butterflies and spotted lizards. The highlight they tell me though was the flying pig that they saw just after watching a Wryneck. In the picture below it is the tiny dot in the sky just left of the telescope. Their surprise turned to amusement when they realised it was a balloon in the shape of a pig! then back to frustration when they considered how bad it was for the environment.

The group doing some fairly relaxed birdwatching after a trek to Bull Hole

Their first really good bird on the island - a Wryneck

Juv. Garganey on North pond

Greenshank

Juv. Ringed Plover

A Manxie fledgling that shouldn't have been out during daylight as it would have fallen prey to a gull or Raven

Keep an eye on the blog and website for your opportunity to join in with one of our birdwatching weekends in 2015.

Birds from 14/09/2014

Grey Heron 7
Teal 24
Mallard 1
Garganey 1
Shoveler 7
Sparrowhawk 1
Buzzard 8
Kestrel 3
Hobby 1
Peregrine 1
Water Rail 3
Ringed plover 1
Dunlin 1
Snipe 3
Whimbrel 8
Curlew 27
Greenshank 1
Turnstone 2
Black-headed Gull 1
Collared Dove 1
Barn Owl 1
Wryneck 2
Sand Martin 8
Swallow 515
House Martin 59
Tree Pipit 4
Yellow Wagtail 1
Grey Wagtail 2
White Wagtail 3
Robin 30
Whinchat 8
Stonechat 7
Wheatear 26
Sedge Warbler 4
Blackcap 2
Whitethroat 8
Chiffchaff 20
Willow Warbler 35
Goldcrest 2
Spotted Flycatcher 18
Chough 4
Raven, many incl. a single flock of 45
Goldfinch 1
Linnet 3
Reed Bunting 3