 |
| First |
It was odds-on that 2014 would be something of a disappointment after the bumper year for rarities in Pembs that was 2013. Not so. 2014 was another cracker with 11 BBRC rarities found in the County (subject to acceptance) and a whole raft of Welsh goodies. The January storms brought in lots of lovely Gulls including a string of Kumlien's Gulls, there having been only one previous County record. Many people's favourite bird of 2014 was the very obliging Great Spotted Cuckoo, found by Christine Jones at Giltar Point. This proved to be the herald of some excellent Spring birds, 8 BBRC candidates including Blyth's Reed Warbler and a clutch of Eastern Subalpine Warblers; surely soon to be a new species. Strumble came into its own in August with an excellent series of large Shearwaters, definitely a Great Shearwater year (sic). The Welsh Rarities kept piling up and Skokholm, in particular, did well for Red-breasted Flycatchers in a year when there were amazing numbers on the East Coast. In terms of national rarities, however, things were a bit sparce with just a Lesser Yellowlegs on Skomer and later Marloes Mere until a superb Desert Wheatear appeared on Skomer, an excellent year for this species nationally and for Skomer too - definitely one to be remembered. The only new bird for Pembrokeshire (number 374) rounded 2014 off nicely. The Blyth's Pipit on St Davids Head in November was only the second for Wales. Unfortunately it was seen by only three people. 2014 was a really good year but now is the most exciting time, the time when we all wonder what 2015 will bring - can't wait!
 |
| and Last |