West Coast Birdwatching

13/08/2024

Delighted to be asked to co-lead this birding tour to Senegal for Wise Birding Holidays in January. Some amazing birds and a new part of the world for me. Can't wait! I mean, who doesn't love a Nightjar, particularly a Golden one? 🤔😍

Tour Dates: Monday 6th – Tuesday 14th January 2025 (Blaise Diagne to Blaise Diagne) Tour Price: £2,499pp plus flight Estimated Flight Price: London to Blaise Diagne approx. £600 return Deposit: £750 per per person Conservation Donation from Wise Birding: £150 – £200 Minimum Number: 6 people...

07/08/2024

We have had to cancel this Friday's pelagic into the Celtic Deep due to the weather, but are hoping to get out on Saturday. As a result we have a couple of places available, please email [email protected] to book.

26/07/2024

Our 1st West Coast Pelagic of 2024 into the Celtic Deep off the Pembrokeshire coast today. The top target was Wilson's Storm Petrel, and we scored...4! A new Welsh day record. Boom! Photo below of the 1st moulting adult we saw, which stayed with us for an hour.

We have a single cancellation for our next trip on Saturday 3rd August, please get in touch if you'd like to come along. Without a doubt the best chance of seeing Wilson's Storm-petrel in Welsh waters!

29/06/2024

A truly magical evening with Brian watching Nightjars in Pembrokeshire. A female and 3 males, including churring, calling and wing clapping. Sound up!

25/06/2024

Guided trips are coming thick & fast, today was the Pembrokeshire mainland where the highlights included Black Guillemot (pic), Whinchat, Grasshopper Warbler, Lesser Redpoll, Crossbill, Spotted Flycatcher, Goshawk & Tree Pipit. Lovely company from Carwyn, Ian, Karen & Tom. And a lovely stop (as always) at the excellent Caffi'r Sgwar in Maenclochog to the wonderful sound of screaming Swifts.

19/06/2024

Eurasian Curlew no longer breeds on the Pembrokeshire mainland, the last remaining pairs (just 2-4) are confined to Skomer Island. It's a sad state of affairs, so it was thrilling and quite emotional to see a young Curlew hurtling down the path on Skomer on Monday's guided walk for The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales - WTSWW. The very attentive parents were nearby and the young bird soon decided to head into the cover of the rapidly growing bracken.

15/06/2024

Anyone fancy the best chance there is of seeing Wilson's Storm Petrel in Welsh waters? I've added one extra pelagic trip off the Pembrokeshire Coast, bank holiday Monday 26th August. Cost is £105 per person. To book please e-mail [email protected] only.

09/06/2024

I really enjoyed delivering a talk on the Birds of the Pembrokeshire Islands last week at Twr Y Felin Hotel. Pleased that the event was sold out (makes all the hard work preparing the talk worthwhile) and a really brilliant audience who asked lots of insightful questions. What a stunning setting to deliver a talk in ☺️

19/05/2024

Still a couple of places remaining for tomorrow's special guided bird walk for The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales - WTSWW on Skomer Island. Message me if interested.

*Last minute cancellation - now SOLD OUT*

We have 3 spaces available on Monday 20th May and 4 spaces available on Monday 3rd June for our guided walks.

Join Dave Astins, an expert local guide from West Coast Birdwatching on Mondays when we’re closed to all other day visitors to discover the fantastic wildlife that Skomer has to offer.

£60 per trip (plus boat fee).

To book 20th May, please contact Dave at West Coast Birdwatching.

For all.orhee dates, please call the booking office on 01656 724100 or email [email protected] to reserve your place today!

17/05/2024

All of the guided trips I am leading to Skomer Island this year have been sold out for months, so this is a rare chance to come along! If you are interested in Monday's trip please message me directly, as the The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales - WTSWW office is now closed for the weekend.

*Last minute cancellation - now SOLD OUT*

We have 3 spaces available on Monday 20th May and 4 spaces available on Monday 3rd June for our guided walks.

Join Dave Astins, an expert local guide from West Coast Birdwatching on Mondays when we’re closed to all other day visitors to discover the fantastic wildlife that Skomer has to offer.

£60 per trip (plus boat fee).

To book 20th May, please contact Dave at West Coast Birdwatching.

For all.orhee dates, please call the booking office on 01656 724100 or email [email protected] to reserve your place today!

21/04/2024

It's all about....the people (well, mostly).

10 years ago West Coast Birdwatching was born and it has been every bit as much fun as you can imagine. I have met some wonderful people, been to some amazing places, and seen some amazing birds (and other wildlife).

Thanks to everyone who has been part of the journey 😍

10 people photos from the Pembrokeshire part of the story 😊👇

17/04/2024

An otterly beautiful encounter yesterday evening

16/04/2024

Wonderful encounter with a hungry otter near our home this evening 😍

07/04/2024

I will be leading 2 overseas tours for Wise Birding Holidays in 2025: Canada (in May) and Oman (in November). Bookings have just opened and details are on the following links:

Canada: https://www.wisebirding.co.uk/canada-long-point-and-point-pelee-migration-2025/

Oman: https://www.wisebirding.co.uk/oman-birding-the-arabian-peninsula/

I led the Canada trip in 2023, and by 2025 will have led 8 tours in Oman. If you have any questions please get in touch.

28/03/2024

Had a fantastic trip to Iceland with my daughter. If you haven't been I can highly recommend it. Incredible scenery, expensive food and drinks :-) Although not a birding trip, we still saw some fantastic birds along the way....each photo has a caption 👇

21/03/2024

Both the original spring mainland trips are full, but I have 1-2 places available on an additional trip on 24th May. Please e-mail [email protected] to book or for more information.

13/03/2024

Heading off to Iceland for a father/daughter tour of the south & west. Not a birding tour but it would be rude not to pack the bins, wouldn't it? 😍 My bucket list numbers just 2: Orca & Aurora Borealis...(and quite fancy a drake Harlequin Duck or 2).

09/02/2024

Really excited and honoured to be ask to lead the upcoming Wise Birding Holidays birdwatching tour of Georgia & Armenia this coming April-May. Some stunning scenery and equally stunning birds await! More details on the tour here:

https://www.wisebirding.co.uk/georgia-armenia-birding-the-caucasus-2024/

Photo credits: Chris Townend, Wise Birding Holidays

04/02/2024

** UPDATE: BOTH TRIPS FULL, BUT CAN ACCOMMODATE 1 MORE PERSON ON 25TH JUNE **

25th May 2 places remaining
25th June trip FULL

02/02/2024

2024 SPRING BIRDWATCHING TRIPS - PEMBROKESHIRE MAINLAND

We are now taking bookings for our spring trips on the Pembrokeshire mainland. Just 2 dates available - Saturday 25th May & Tuesday 25th June. Small group of just 3 people on each trip.

More details here 👇👇👇

https://www.westcoastbirdwatching.co.uk/guided-trips/pembrokeshire-mainland/

26/01/2024

An enjoyable RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch today in St Ishmaels, Pembrokeshire. 70 individuals of 14 species:

House Sparrow 14
Chaffinch 10
Goldfinch 10
Starling 9
Blue Tit 9
Great Tit 3
Blackbird 3
Dunnock 3
Collared Dove 2
Magpie 2
Great Spotted Woodpecker 2
Robin 1
Greenfinch 1
Blackcap 1

19/01/2024

I was not expecting to see a Humpback Whale in Pembrokeshire today! Excellent views from Fishguard Fort as it did a couple of laps of Fishguard Harbour. BBC Springwatch

19/01/2024

Everyone loves a Waxwing, right?

19/01/2024

Superb views of the 4 Waxwings at The Welsh Wildlife Centre, Cilgerran, Cardigan late morning today, between Creek and Mallard hides on the main track The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales - WTSWW

06/01/2024

Happy New Year everyone! I hope you have a happy, healthy, kind and peaceful 2024. Headed to Bosherston today to see the immature drake Lesser Scaup that has been there for a few weeks now, the 3rd record for Pembrokeshire (all have been in autumn/winter 23/24). Superb views from the boathouse near the Eight Arch Bridge, with 3 Greater Scaup which gave very useful comparisons.

01/12/2023

Haven't seen Waxwings for a number of years, so a flock of 18 today in Norfolk was very welcome indeed 😊

29/11/2023

This 👇

* Update - 20th May, 3rd June, 10th June and 17th June are now sold out. *

With our day trips going on sale on Friday, our Guided Walks for 2024 will be bookable from Monday 4th December.

Join expert birdwatcher and guide Dave Astins from West Coast Birdwatching for a day of wildlife watching on Skomer. And even better, these take place on Mondays, so you’ll have the island to yourself!

Join us on 20th May, 3rd June, 10th June, 17th June, 24th June, 1st July, 8th July and 15th July. At amazing value of £60 per person (plus boat fee), this is an event not to be missed!

Please see our event page for more details: https://www.welshwildlife.org/events/2024-05-20-skomer-guided-walks-2024-book-4th-dec

29/11/2023

SKOMER 2024

Seems a long way off, but if you want to visit Skomer Island in 2024 you need to be sorting that now :-)

I will be leading 8 guided tours on the island for The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales - WTSWW on Mondays as follows: May 20th, June 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th, July 1st, 8th, 15th. These go on sale on MONDAY 4th DECEMBER and you need to contact the Wildlife Trust booking office on 01656 724100 between 9-12 and 1-430 Monday-Friday.

Tickets for day trips go on sale on Friday 1st December at 00:01 GMT (see below). If you want a private guided tour of Skomer with me next year I strongly advise you to get in touch now to firm up a date, so that you can book the tickets when they go on sale - these things are like hot cakes! 👇

May is a fantastic time to meet Skomer’s most well-known resident, the puffin. With 42,000 puffins recorded on Skomer in 2023, it’s one of the most important and best places to see these seabirds.

Day trip bookings open on 1st December.

👉Find out more: www.welshwildlife.org/skomer-island-day-trips

Skomer Island Pembrokeshire Islands - Boat Trips Dale Sailing Company Ltd Wales Visit Pembrokeshire