West Coast Birdwatching

27/10/2024

A great first 2 days in Oman in Muscat and the Al Hajar Mountains. Highlights have included Sooty Falcon, Red-billed Tropicbird, Omani Owl, Hume's Wheatear, Plain Leaf Warbler and Lappet-faced Vulture. Today we head south to Barr Al Hikman and Masirah Island.

23/10/2024

Setting off tomorrow for 2 back-to-back tours of Oman, the 1st leading for Wise Birding Holidays with Chris Townend, the 2nd one of my own tours. Cannot wait! Hope to see these 4 👇 and many more!

20/10/2024

I will be running just TWO spring-summer guided trips on the Pembrokeshire mainland in 2025. Details on the website:

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

20/10/2024

Would you like to join me on a guided trip to Skomer Island in 2025? I will be leading a very limited number of day trips next year, and with the tickets going on public sale on 1st December, you will need to get in quick to secure a place!

Further details are on my website here:

https://www.westcoastbirdwatching.co.uk/guided-trips/skomer-island/

16/10/2024

Today was our last full day on North Ronaldsay, we fly early tomorrow morning to spend 4 days on Mainland near Stromness. We've loved exploring this beautiful island, and enjoyed some great birds along the way. Finished with a 1st-winter male American Robin this afternoon: the perfect sign off!

15/10/2024

We've had 4 full days now on North Ronaldsay, 2 more until we head back to mainland Orkney for 4 nights. See comments for more information 👇

10/10/2024

Day 1 on North Ronaldsay...Booted Warbler. Can't wait to explore the island further.

18/09/2024

That's another year of guided trips complete for The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales - WTSWW om Skomer Island, 10 years since we started in 2014!

A brilliant 3 days focusing on autumn migration and identification. 60 species seen including Common Rosefinch, 7 Spoonbills, Whinchat, Hobby, Merlin, Spotted Flycatcher and Garden Warbler.

The bird list and a few photos are here:

https://ebird.org/tripreport/272006

27/08/2024

We are now in to Manx Shearwater fledging season, when some of the 360,000 or so juveniles that will fledge from Skomer Island, Skokholm Island, Ramsey Island and Midland, get confused and head to the mainland rather than out to sea.

If you find one, and need help rescuing or releasing it, please refer to the poster below 👇

One was found near Marloes late evening on Friday, and successfully released at St Ann's Head on Saturday 😍

23/08/2024

Fancy 3 days and nights with me on Skomer Island in September? Due to a cancellation a couple of places have just become available - this has long been sold out so a rare chance to experience autumn migration with me on this magical island! Details below, please contact the Island Bookings team for further information or to book 👇

22/08/2024

It's such a small thing to ask for, if we can't do this is there any hope that we can work in harmony with wildlife? Please sign x

PLEASE SIGN the Swift Brick Petition! 🐦

Swifts are the fastest birds in level flight and can sleep, eat, drink and mate on the wing. Their cries define Welsh summers. Sadly, they are rapidly declining – down 72% in the last 30 yrs.

Swifts nest in holes in buildings. Renovation makes them homeless, and new-builds currently offer no cavities. Without more nesting options, swifts will disappear.

Incorporating swift bricks into all new developments would help swifts (and other struggling birds like house martins and sparrows) to recover.

Swift bricks are nest-boxes that can be built into a wall. They are BSI standardised, affordable, sustainable, easy to install, don’t need maintaining / replacing, and help other declining hole-nesting birds.

Sign here and share this post👇🏼
https://petitions.senedd.wales/petitions/246264

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.