SS15 wildlife watching: Trip away from SS15 - Essex, Norfolk and Wales (part 2)

On 6th June 2023, I had a very early start to beat the M25 and M4 peak traffic congestion and drove 280 miles and 5 hours to my first site in the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park.

I visited the following sites:

Minwear Forest

Pembrokeshire Coast Path .... Manorbier Beach

Pembrokeshire Coast Path …. Whitesands Beach and St David's Head

Minwear Forest is a large mixed wood of coniferous and broad-leaved trees located near the head of the tidal section of the Eastern Cleddau River. Nearby, and just below Canaston Bridge, Blackpool Mill stands on a picturesque reach of the Eastern Cleddau. Before the mill was built in 1813 there was an iron forge on the riverside site that had been there for more than 2 centuries. Blackpool Mill was built with 4 huge millstones to grind grain and the waterwheel completed almost a century of milling before being replaced in 1901. After World War Two, Blackpool Mill fell into disuse but was restored in 1968 to become a museum.

I would imagine that Minwear Forest is an excellent site during spring for woodland birds. However, it was evident that the period of peak bird activity and bird song had passed and, disappointingly but not unexpectedly, it was relatively quiet. In addition, the bridge near Blackpool Mill failed to produce Grey Wagtail or Dipper.

The highlights during my visit were as follows (heard only records in italics): Willow Warbler (1 singing male), Blackcap (1 singing male), Chiffchaff (2 singing males), Grey Heron (1 seen on the river)

Here are some photos from my visit ....

Photo: Eastern Cleddau River from Minwear Forest

Photo: Eastern Cleddau River and Blackpool Mill

Photo: Eastern Cleddau River from Blackpool Mill

After a disappointing visit to Minwear Forest, I drove south to Manorbier Beach for my first experience of the Pembrokeshire Coast Path.

Manorbier Beach is a sandy and dune-backed beach and there is a cliff-top walk west to Swanlake Bay.

The highlights during my visit were as follows (heard only records in italics): Common Whitethroat (3), Stonechat (at least 3 plus several juveniles), Linnet (c.20), Rock Pipit (1 singing male), Skylark (1 singing male), Herring Gull, Common Blue (c.10), Meadow Brown (1), Speckled Wood (2)

Here is a photo from my visit ....

Photo: Pembrokeshire Coast Path west of Manorbier

My final visit of the day was to Whitesands Beach and St David's Head.

The wide sandy expanse of Whitesands Beach curves north towards the rocky headland of St David's Head which can be reached via the Pembrokeshire Coast Path. From here, there is an excellent view of RSPB Ramsey Island.

The highlights during my visit were as follows: Oystercatcher (2), Wheatear (4), Common Whitethroat (1), Stonechat (3, Linnet (c.10), Meadow Pipit (3), Jackdaw, Herring Gull

Unfortunately, neither of my cliff-top walks produced any sightings of Chough.

Here are some photos from my visit ....

Photo: view of Whitesands Beach from Pembrokeshire Coast Path

Photo: view from Pembrokeshire Coast Path between Whitesands Beach and St. David's Head

Photo: view of RSPB Ramsey Island from Pembrokeshire Coast Path at St. David's Head

I stayed for 2 nights at Rhosson campsite located between St. David’s and St. Justinian, the departure point for boat trips to RSPB Ramsey Island. It is a basic rural campsite with wonderful views of the surrounding countryside and the coast.

Photo: Rhosson campsite

The undoubted highlights during my stay were 2 fly-over Choughs during breakfast and a regularly singing Grasshopper Warbler.

Photo: Chough over Rhosson campsite

The abundant Swallows and House Martins feeding across the grass campsite field provided good practice for birds in flight photography!

Photo: House Martin at Rhosson campsite

Photo: Swallow at Rhosson campsite

During my 2 night stay, I recorded the following (heard only records in italics): Chough (2), Raven (1), Common Buzzard (2), Grasshopper Warbler (distantly singing male heard regularly during the morning, evening and night but unfortunately not seen), Sedge Warbler (1 singing male), Common Whitethroat (at least 2 singing males), Chiffchaff (1 singing male), Swallow (at least 10), House Martin (at least 10), Stonechat (2), Linnet (at least 10), Pied Wagtail (1), Meadow Pipit (1) Skylark (1 singing male), Moorhen (1), Herring Gull, Jackdaw, Rook, Wren, Blackbird, Song Thrush, House Sparrow, Goldfinch, Pheasant