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

At least 2 Coal Tit,3 Great Tit and 2 Blue Tit (all recently fledged) feeding along the Hawthorn hedge by the railway track and 2 calling Bullfinches flying over. Also a Willow Warbler gave a short (half-hearted) burst of song.

4 Yellowhammers (heard), several Goldfinches, Linnets, Magpies, Woodpigeons, Collared Doves, 2 Chaffinches, pair of Bullfinches, single Stock Dove, 4 Blackbirds, 3 Wrens, several House Sparrows and Dunnocks, 6 Song Thrushes – 4 individals and 2 together (2 of the individuals obviously feeding young).

Male Bullfinch flying over, calling; fledgling Robin in shrubs and then a Hummingbird Hawkmoth paid us a brief visit.

As we were cycling through Frampton (near Llantwit Major) this afternoon we disturbed a Song Thrush “dealing” with a snail on the road. I commented that the last time we had seen this happen was during the “Beast from the East” and my wife said “and that was in Frampton too” (the Lincolnshire one)

3 female Blackcaps (just fledged), Willow Warbler singing behind Ysgol y Ddraig, 2 Grey Wagtails under bridge at Llantwit. (Yesterday at high tide a seal swimming up the channel about a quarter of a mile offshore.)

c.30 Swifts heard (first) and then seen high overhead half mile east of St. Donats,1530. Red Kite half mile south east of Wick 1545. On relaxing with a cup of tea on the patio back at Boverton watched a Peregrine circling high above at about 1700. A minute or two later he circled again carrying some small prey before heading North and a minute or two later we watched him again, circling high over us for about five minutes – this time sans prey and with about a dozen Swifts above him.

We did 3 consecutive early morning bike rides (Tuesday to Thurs.) via Llantwit,St.Donats,Marcross Broughton to the junction with the B4265 plus a couple of diversions to Nash Point (Fulmar,Stonechat,Meadow Pipit). A total of 39 species seen and/or heard. Notably only 1 raptor (Buzzard), 5 singing Yellowhammers, only 2 Swifts (Llantwit Church), no Long Tailed Tits and the only House Martins were over our estate in Boverton.

5 Swifts heard and seen high above Llantwit Church tower. Nice to see our first Glamorganshire hare about 3 miles west of Llantwit.

Red Kite over the estate Saturday 1120 and also this morning (Monday)1000. Also on cycle ride to and from Aston Martin Sat. afternoon :- 1 Yellowhammer heard, 1 Willow Warbler heard, 1 Whitethroat seen and heard. Sorry about late posting computer down but fixed now.