Image: Puffin - Steve Cockbill
In April we had our weekend away to Pembrokeshire. We were treated to glorious sunshine throughout the trip. We travelled down via WWT Llanelli where the best star birds were an adult breeding plumage Mediterranean and adult little gull. We stayed overnight in Haverfordwest and the next day went on a pre-booked boat trip to Skomer Island. Here we saw many thousands of puffins, guillemots and razorbills with kittiwakes, fulmars and gannets. We also had outstanding views of a short-eared owl.
Image: Razorbills - Steve Cockbill
Some of us also went on an evening boat trip out into St Bride’s Bay where we saw a raft of many hundreds Manx shearwaters waiting for darkness before they returned to their burrows, before being treated to a glorious sunset. On the Sunday we returned to England via RSPB Newport Wetlands where we great views of many species of warblers, heard a cuckoo and spotted a peregrine perching on an old industrial building. The weekend was finished with views of a spotted flycatcher while we had our lunch before setting off for home.
Many thanks to all those attending for making this a successful, friendly and enjoyable trip. Thanks to Steve Cockbill for the photographs. This was a trip originally arranged by Geoff Bryant who recently met his untimely death. I am sure he would have enjoyed it and our thoughts go out to his family and friends.
RIP Geoff