Observations between Loughor Bridge & Llanrhidian over the last week have included the following:

The Oystercatchers which were sitting on eggs for over two weeks on one of the WWII concrete blocks finally disappeared (presumably predated). A pair of Redshank at Penclawdd were more successful and this morning 3 well-grown chicks were pushed up into view by the high tide (VIDEO HERE). Also this morning I saw my first Shelduck chicks on the estuary, a small brood of five and with 50+ adult birds around I expect more will appear soon. Gadwall have reared young at Llanrhidian and Mallard broods continue to appear with 10 fresh chicks this morning. I saw my first Heron juveniles of the year on 2^nd, but there’s still no sign of the first Little Egret fledglings (hopefully there will be a good batch this year given all the adult activity at the regular colonies). Today I saw my first fledged Kingfishers of the year, providing proof of breeding at Llanrhidian and good to hear Yellowhammers singing at Frog Moor and Reynoldston.

Non-breeders and signs of what I suspect is early return passage include max. counts of 85 Mallard, 6 Teal, 260 Oystercatchers, 2 Grey Plover, 40 Whimbrel, 22 Curlew, 17 Redshank, 2 Turnstone and my first Green Sandpiper and Cuckoo of the year on the patch on the 11th. Herring Gull numbers are reasonably high with 887 counted yesterday evening and I saw my first Common Gull for a couple of weeks this am.