The new year has certainly arrived in style. The list of Pembrokeshire rarities which ran and ran to the end of 2013 has continued unabated into 2014.
Storms over the Christmas and New Year brought huge numbers of Gulls to the flooded Marsh at Newgale making for a once in a lifetime spectacle, and amongst the usual suspects were large numbers of Mediterranean Gulls and Kittiwakes but strangely, only a single Little Gull. At least three Glaucous Gulls and two Iceland Gulls of the nominate race were discovered, along with a Ring-billed Gull. And it got better with juvenile and adult Kumlien's Gulls putting in an appearance, the adult being positively showy.
We wondered if 2014 would prove a disappointment after the riches of last year and I suppose it might go quiet yet - but what a start!
Spring Update
As a result of the unprecedented winter storms 2014 has
produced some fantastic ‘Gulling’ including no less than 10 Kumlien’s Gulls, a
form of Iceland Gull only recorded on one previous occasion. There have been
other great birds such as the Green-winged Teals at Newgale (where else?), a
very unexpected Richard’s Pipit at Rhoscrowther and at least two Spoonbills including a showy bird at The Gann along with a Great White Egret at Bosherston Lily Ponds. Undoubtedly the star bird has
been the much twitched Great Spotted Cuckoo at Penally Golf Course and Giltar
Point. And as Spring really starts to get underway, It's the magic of April and May so what’s next for
Pembrokeshire?