Movement to ssw over Canton/Leckwith this morning; 3,000 birds in half an hour but largest numbers probably missed between daybreak and 9am.

A Short-eared Owl, first seen at Lavernock yesterday afternoon, hunted briefly over the field shown in the map below, roughly along the area of the line shown, between about 4:30 and 5 p.m. this evening. It dropped into ground cover as the rain was arriving,. Pretty poor light so surprised that I got a few half decent shots out of the 70 or so I took – albeit after some post processing. The bottom left pic is arguably the best as the bird seems to be eyeballing me [and Wayne Strong who was with me].

The male Mandarin Duck is still at Pwll y waun, looking resplendent in the autumn sun, constantly showing off and very often giving the resident mallards a ticking off.

Yesterday there were c.130 Canada Geese on E lake and nothing much else to shout about apart from 2 Grey Herons in the W lake ‘heron resting tree’ near the main bridge, and a party of Long-tailed Tits aka Bum Barrels from way back when. As usual they were pretty active and difficult to get decent shots of. I’ve posted 1 heavily cropped shot which shows pink eyelids.
Today, some of the Canadas had gone but there were still a lot present. In the lone Willow on the right by the E lake boardwalk a Chiffchaff was feeding, and 2 others were heard callihg elsewhere. Also by the Willow a constantly calling Cetti’s Warbler which typically wouldn’t show. A Water Rail called briefly there too. Just beyond the main bridge by the Mile Road there were 3 Goldcrests feeding together with a Wren, too high up for pix. There were 2 Stonechats on the W paddock hedge. The lakes were calm so there were some nice reflected images, esp of the Mute Swans, and a pair of Pied Wags were in the swan feeding area by E lake.

Curlew numbers are starting to pick up in the fields north of A4106 , Porthcawl with 17 this morning in the donkey field off zigzag lane and 23 ( probs same birds + 6 ) this afternoon in fields of Manor farm.

” The GBC monthly walk at Kenfig NNR on a Saturday 21st October 2023 attracted 4 participants and was lead by Dave Carrington. The intrepid 5 set off from the visitor centre and spent some time at Sker point, where a chilly wind straight off the sea awaited them.

The group then made their way to the South Hide, where they spent further time before returning to the visitor centre some 3 hours after setting out.

Thankfully, the weather, despite the wind chill, stayed dry and 38 species were recorded. Highlights were a Wheatear at Sker, along with a flock of around 50 Golden Plover and at least 2 Kestrels seen hovering for long periods over the dunes.

Overall, a productive and enjoyable morning.

The full list of birds recorded is as follows :-

Black-headed Gull, Blackbird, Carrion Crow, Cetti’s Warbler, Chaffinch, Common Gull, Coot, Cormorant,  Curlew, Dunlin, Dunnock, Gadwall, Golden Plover, Goldfinch, Great Tit, Grey Heron, Herring Gull, Jackdaw, Jay, Kestrel, Magpie, Mallard, Meadow Pipit, Mediterranean Gull, Mistle Thrush, Mute Swan, Pied Wagtail, Robin, Rock Pipit, Siskin, Skylark, Sparrowhawk, Starling, Stonechat, Turnstone, Wheatear, Woodpigeon,  Wren. “

Many thanks to Dave Carrington for leading, John Western as deputy and for submitting this article and list.

This is specially for Dave and the three others who joined the Kenfig Monthly Walk, when i stay sitting in hide my goal was the Water Rail, Osprey or Hen Harrier Sorry i failed

But would a Bittern do !

Two Cattle Egret in amongst the cattle on Flemingston Moor this afternoon. Six Little Egret, four Grey Heron and two Greylag Geese also present.

This morning there are high numbers of Redwings flying through, mostly in flocks of 50-100 and largely flying west – east agains the prevailing winds , so possibility Icelandic birds.

In the last few days: a pair of Pochard were on W lake 2 days ago but have departed. Up to 3 Herons have been present. Jays have been noticeable collecting acorns. Yesterday I got a couple of shots of one in the tree plantation. It was about 75m away but I got one shot of it taking off where the blue wing panels stand out. Also yesterday I logged 3 Green Woodpeckers, 1 heard, 1 in flight and the one below which rested in a tree in E paddock. Today not much of note – around 50 Swallows were feeding quite high above W paddock. Finally yesterday Flat Holm ringed 1st year Lesser Black-backed Gull F:D94 was present – a regular visitor.

There was a very large flock of Herring Gulls on 10th October in the portobello area between 650 and 800. on the 9th at Roath Park a first year Yellow-legged Gull.

Grey Heron confronting another Heron

Kingfisher

More of Luck then skill

Cosmeston so far this week [on late morning walks – I’m not a crack of dawn birder these days! ]. Tues – c.100 Redwing flew over Cogan Wood and small parties flitted around in the dragonfly pond area, always mobile so no pix. [There was heavy passage at Lavernock early morning]. Today, 2 Siskin heard and seen flying over near the dipping pond, also 2 Gt Spotted ‘Peckers there, quite vocal. 2 Herons W lake and 1 E. lake. a Pair of Pochard were on W lake – new arrivals I think. Cetti’s Wblr quite vocal near the dipping pond and a Chiffchaff in the trees behind. Also a number of Swallows very high over.

Lucky Shot – from my Sunday Trip of coast of Cornwell