SPA = leisure facility?

Popped down to St. Brides for high-tide, just as I approached the lighthouse I realised my mistake, a family of fisher-folk, having driven their lovely big red van along the sea-wall, were settling in for a few hours of disturbing the designated species on an SPA. Looking back towards the pub, another gathering had started a fire (oh so necessary in 20+ degrees) and two parties were setting up tents. Unsurprisingly, except a few local breeders, bugger all waders present. Did see another metric tonne of Painted Lady flutterbies though.

Twa piggles dinna mek’ a thrup

Just thought I'd share the momentous, though long-suspected, news that I am a football genius...

And, just to make the victory even sweeter, the dizzy heights of 1st in the Blundersliga, 11th in the Liverpool fans' league, 55th in the England fans' league and 80th in the overall league were all achieved without recourse to sullying one's team with a single Man Utd plc player.

Busy day

A morning of Cetti's chasing followed by a little birding for birding's sake, then lunch, then back out for urban gull fun and nestbox tickling; got home at around 22:30. A fair bit of effort for very little, just a late Wheatear at Uskmouth, a Hobby over Saltmarsh Lane, a Great Spotted Woodpecker roosting in a tit box and Painted Lady butterflies all over the shop.

[NB. First person to identify the caterpillar gets a Gwentbirding gold star, I've had a quick look through Porter but it wasn't immediately obvious]

Leucism

Leucism - it ain't big and it ain't clever but it is the "absence of dark pigment resulting in a reduction in the intensity of all pigments, which weakens the feather structure, but with normal iris pigmentation".

Stormin'

One from yesterday. The torrid, moistened murk off the point, complete with biege-caps and, somewhere amidst the tempest, a wee Stormie. Please note the dark patch of water behind the bird giving the impression of a projecting under-carriage - if only.

Interesting times

Do you know your ducklings? Click on the picture to see a slightly larger version, if stumped, do not despair, the answer is found herein...

A quick look in the fields around Goldcliff and Whitson produced no Whimbrel of either persuasion; and those seen later, off the point and pools, were stubbornly pale-arsed. The point did produce a reasonable smattering of seabirds though: 2 Arctic Skuas, 7+ Gannets, 10 Kittiwake and a Storm Petrel. The pair of Rock Pipits and a few Turnstone were also knocking around. Peering out from the pools post point produced a Fulmar and, bobbing about on the wind-whipped waters, a brood of Pochard and, even more inspiring of 'oohs' and 'aahs', a brood of Shoveler. However, possibly the most interesting bird, was a fly-through Swallow with wholly orangey-buff underparts (presumably showing the variation within rustica as opposed to the influence of transitiva genes).

Cracking weather Gromit

The weather for the bird race is looking good, although it appears the BBC no longer believe the wind (direction or strength) is an integral part of a general forecast map so, for all I know, there might be storm force winds to lash the promised rain in through the windows of the, as yet unrented, car. May I suggest a 'big sit' in the front window at the Farmer's Arms?

Dropping like a stone

The standard of behaviour around here is awful and getting worse, if it's not abusive dog-walkers, it's f**king foul-mouthed birders, and now the birds are getting in on the act. This Garganey repeatedly blew raspberries at the non-plussed locals and was also seen flicking 'V' signs with its outermost primaries at passing hirundines,... I blame the parents, society in general and Norris McWhirter.

Platform 9¾

A Garganey appeared at Goldcliff today and, whilst we stood on the sea-wall, the Spoonbill wandered out from behind the reeds; along with a reasonable mix of waders (including Golden Plover) and a couple of Wheatears, this evening has almost convinced me something exciting might just appear at the pools before the month's end. Who knows? A third Bar-headed Goose might turn up.

A flight of calidrids in the gloaming, the view from the magical platform (would somebody move that bloody sheep).

Naffin' doing

A five hour vigil at Goldcliff Pools was only maintained due to the surprising comfort achievable whilst reclining on the sea-wall. The birds were very thin on the ground/water. Three Gannet down-channel were the only seabirds; a fly by Cuckoo, a Wheatear and a few Swifts and hirundines were the only real migrants; and a few Whimbrel, Black-tailed Godwit and Knot were the best of the waders. All the above were beaten into a poor second place by the unringed (and, therefore, blatantly tickable) Bar-headed Goose.

P.S. Also had my first ickle baby Redshanks of the year,... aaah.