On a walk from Boverton to Llanmaes and then through fields to Frampton this afternoon saw the following:-

Pair of Bullfinch beside the B4265 – the male was hovering above a Hawthorn / Ivy / Bramble branch dropping down now and then to apparently pick things off the tops of the leaves – at one time he was doing a good imitation of a Hummingbird as it picked things off the side of said branch.

Flock of 21 Skylarks disturbed in a stubble field, also 1 Reed Bunting and 2 Yellowhammers and a few House Sparrows in a nearby hedge.

Single Redwing feeding in a grass field- I have never come across one completely alone before.

On return journey 1 Little Egret flying west and later a single one stood in the Colhugh (?) stream just S of Llanmaes.

Barn Owl seen hunting two nights running (Sunday and Monday) about 2100 hrs. in the vicinity of the roundabout junction of B4265 and the new road to Aston Martin.

Pair of Bullfinches, 2 pairs Yellowhammer, single Little Egret flying over, single Fieldfare, single female Reed Bunting, single female Stonechat.

Came across a flock of 12 confiding Siskins, mostly females, feeding just above our heads, in the Alders by the river 1430.

Same location as post of 18th and over a period of no more than 5 minutes :- 1 female G.S. Woodpecker, 1 fem. Bullfinch, 1 m Chaffinch, 3 fem. Chaffinch, 1 Robin, 1 Dunnock, 2 Great Tits, 2 Coal Tits, about 10 Blue Tits, 2 Goldcrests, 4 fem. Blackbirds, I Pigeon, 2 Magpies and a few Herring Gulls over.

Another first from my garden: Treecreeper finding plenty of insects in one of the ivy-covered Hawthorns along the railway 10am.

Sunday afternoon – lone male Yellowhammer and lone male Stonechat ( a first for me in that area) and a Grey Wagtail on the Colhugh near Eglwys Brewis railway bridge.

This morning a Raven cronking overhead accompanied, as it were, by a Chiffchaff singing heartily from the hedgerow ( I have often heard one of the latter in September but never October – and so often this year) This afternoon a lone male Bullfinch in the hedge, although it was calling.

1pm.Whilst watching and listening to Willow Warblers, Chiff Chaffs, Coal/Blue and Great Tits working their way along the Ivy and Hawthorn hedge along the railway, I became aware of a different, higher-pitched call -and there it was – a Spotted Flycatcher- which proceeded to preen itself and occasionally do a bit of fly catching before, I presume, flying South. Also 5 Swallows flying south. House Martins last seen 29th September. The Nuthatch, which has been vociferous for about a month, has either gone silent or, just gone.

Had a short, curtailed break in Oxwich Monday/Tuesday this week. Monday evening a Tawny Owl was calling from woods to the North of the beach. Over breakfast in the morning gloom on Tuesday I had the pleasure of watching two species of Woodpecker from our holiday chalet at the same time. I was watching a GreenW/P in a cherry tree not very far away when I noticed a “Great Tit” on a feeder beyond.However when it turned I saw it had a long beak and the face markings of a Spotted W/P. Before I could do any better it flew off low over the lawn. I realise the chances are it was a Great W/P but could it have been a Lesser?

Female Wheatear just east of Tresillian bay and 2 pairs Stonechat between there and Llantwit beach early afternoon.

Spent a pleasant hour (while my car was in the nearby Toyota Garage)in the company of a Dipper. It was on the opposite side of the Ogmore amongst the large boulders just upstream of the footbridge between Wild Mill and the A4063.It seemed to be enjoying an unlimited supply of food that it was pecking off the surface of the water and hardly moved more than a few yards during that time. It was still enjoying itself there when I left. Sometime during the hour a couple of Grey Wagtails flew downstream between us.

Still 2 Swifts flying around with the House Martins and Swallows 1730 Tuesday 1st

2 Swifts circling together over the house yesterday afternoon 31 Aug, also 5 Buzzards close together in a thermal this morning.

1500 Hrs. Single Swift among 30-40 House Martins also single Peregrine soaring high with House Martins above. 20-30 Swallows and Chiffchaff and Whitethroat also seen.

Good to see and hear a rather vocal Nuthatch seems to have taken up residence in the trees along the railway line – our first here since we moved in July 2019.

3 Swifts with House Martins over the estate midday.

1 Yellowhammer singing, 1 Nuthatch calling, briefly confiding male Bullfinch (very nice), 3or4 -30/40 strong flocks of House Sparrow , a flock of c. 100 Linnets (by the sound of them) disturbed feeding on a harvested Oil Seed Rape field, 2 or 3 – 20/30 strong flocks of Starling, 3 Buzzards plus1 young one calling incessantly.

Good turnout of the Tit family seemingly enjoying the rain and Hawthorn this morning. (At least) ……..2 Long Tailed, 5 Blue, 4 Coal, 2 Great all visible at the same time and all apparently young birds.

Tuesday morning 4th August Green Woodpecker flying North over M4 1 mile south of McArthur Glen.

This morning, over garden, 3 Buzzards and 2 Ravens uneasily sharing a thermal. Then, 2 short bursts of a Green Woodpecker calling and a GS Woodpecker on a nearby dead tree.

This afternoon on a cycle ride saw another Green Woodpecker flying near Llanfihangel and then, a mile north of Llanmaes, a Polecat ran across the road in front of me