On the East Lake this morning 6 Teal, 4 Gadwall, 1 Shoveler and a drake Wigeon.

On Thursday morning’s high tide on Sully Island 1 Redshank, 67 Oystercatcher, 13 Curlew, 44 Ringed Plover, 12 Turnstone, 1 Grey Heron and a Little Egret. Another 28 Turnstone on Sully Beach.

Drake Gadwall at the reedbed edge behind the posts in the West Lake bay at Cosmeston this morning. 2 Stonechat in the Snipe field and another 2 alongside Sully Brook. A Peregrine over Cogan wood, and a Marsh Tit in the wood, pathside roughly half way through.

A Wheatear on the edge of BP playing fields in Sully this morning, where a large mixed flock of House Martins and (mostly) Swallows was feeding on disturbed insects as the pitches were being mown.

2 Snipe at the unlikely location of Cadoxton rivermouth this evening at high tide.

Thanks to all who came along on today’s GBC field trip to Collister Pill. In total we saw 43 species. Raptors were the highlight, with Peregrine, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk and Buzzard all putting in an appearance. Plenty of ducks just offshore, including Pintail, Wigeon and Shelduck. Waders proved elusive though Curlew and Black-tailed Godwit were seen. Over 20 Little Egret were on the saltmarsh, and a Wheatear was just behind the sea wall.

Full species list:
Peregrine, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, Buzzard, Curlew, Black-tailed Godwit, Pintail, Wigeon, Shelduck, Mallard, Black-headed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Chiffchaff, Stonechat, Wheatear, Linnet, Goldfinch, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Song Thrush, Blackbird, Robin, Starling, House Sparrow, Dunnock, Wren, Swallow, House Martin, Sand Martin, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Meadow Pipit, Grey Heron, Little Egret, Skylark, Pied Wagtail, Cormorant.

This afternoon’s low tide exposed plenty of mud at Cadoxton River mouth/Bendrick Rock. Birds included 2 Grey Plover (first I’ve seen here since March), 1 adult Mediterranean Gull, 1 Little Egret, 6 Turnstone, 5 Oystercatcher, 10 Ringed Plover and 3 Rock Pipit.

On this morning’s high tide at Sully Island there were 111 Oystercatcher and 11 Curlew.

Many thanks to Strinda Davies for leading today’s GBC monthly walk at Kenfig. There were 12 participants and we saw or heard 38 species, with the highlights being Kestrel and Sparrowhawk.

Full species list:
Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Mallard, Coot, Cormorant, Swallow, Blue Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Bullfinch, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Linnet, Chaffinch, Robin, Wren, Blackbird, Starling, Dunnock, Meadow Pipit, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Cetti’s Warbler, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, House Sparrow, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Carrion Crow, Jay, Magpie, Jackdaw, Pied Wagtail, Collared Dove, Woodpigeon.

A Water Rail in the West lake reedbed at Cosmeston this morning was my first of the autumn there.
On this morning’s high tide:
Sully Island – 99 Oystercatcher;
Sully Beach – 34 Turnstone, 21 Ringed Plover, 1 Wheatear and a Knot (my first on this stretch of coast);
Bendrick Rock – 1 Kingfisher and 1 Common Sandpiper.

Male Redstart and 2 Tree Pipit in the fenced area at the top end of Cosmeston East Paddock late morning. Earlier a Little Egret and Grey Heron in the tidal pools at Bendrick Rock, where 7 Mute Swans on the sea were unusual for this location.

Yesterday on a circular walk at Gileston from the beach car park to Gileston Farm and back east along the coast: 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 2 Little Egret, 2 Yellowhammer, 8 Stonechat, 3 Wheatear, 1 Stock Dove, 1 Sparrowhawk and a Peregrine. Good area of thistle and teasel near the beach car park – lots of Goldfinch and Linnet.

Thanks to Strinda Davies for leading today’s GBC monthly walk at Kenfig. Seven participants in blustery and showery conditions saw or heard 34 species in total. Highlights were 4 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Common Sandpiper and 1 Lapwing along the east shore of Kenfig Pool, along with 2 flyover Redshank.

Full list:
Black-tailed Godwit, Common Sandpiper, Lapwing, Redshank, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Robin, Wren, Bullfinch, Greenfinch, Chaffinch, Linnet, Mallard, Mute Swan, Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Black-headed Gull, Starling, Blackbird, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Carrion Crow, Magpie, Jackdaw, Raven, Chiffchaff, Swallow, Sand Martin, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit.

Good variety of waders on Sully Island on this evening’s high tide: 1 Redshank (unusual for here), 39 Ringed Plover, 15 Turnstone, 8 Curlew, 1 Whimbrel, 3 Dunlin, 4 Common Sandpiper and 62 Oystercatcher.

Early this morning ahead of high tide there were 2 Common Sandpiper at Bendrick Rock along with a few Turnstone and a Little Egret.

A female Redstart was on the fenceline at the top end of Cosmeston’s East Paddock late morning.

This morning near high tide 2 Common Sandpiper, 1 Turnstone and 9 Oystercatcher at Bendrick Rock and Curlew, Whimbrel and 64 Oystercatcher at Sully Island. At Cosmeston, Sand Martins and Swallows over the west lake, Green and Great Spotted Woodpecker in the west paddock and a Raven over Cogan Wood.

On Saturday evening at Gileston – 2 Little Egret on the beach, 1 Wheatear on the concrete blocks behind the beach, and Stonechat and Whitethroat families along the field boundary west of the beach car park. In the stubble fields behind the beach, 1 Mediterranean Gull with the BHG flock, as well as around 200 Canada Geese.

Visit to Ogmore (Portobello) between 7.30 and 8.45 last night in run up to high tide produced 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 8 Common Sandpiper (groups of 2, 3 and 3) and 1 Green Sandpiper. Birds mobile as very little of the island visible as high tide reached.

Yesterday morning at Cosmeston the Great Crested Grebe which has been on the floating nest in the West Lake bay had at least 2 young on its back.

Late this morning at high tide there were 36 Oystercatcher, 3 Whimbrel and 2 Dunlin on Sully Island. The Dunlin were the first I’ve seen there since 22 March.

At Bendrick Rock this morning, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Whimbrel and a Little Egret.

On Sully Island yesterday evening, 1 Ringed Plover, 4 Turnstone, 3 Whimbrel and a Grey Heron. At Bendrick Rock this morning 3 Redshank, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Whimbrel, 6 Oystercatcher and 2 Cormorant.

A Peregrine high over the car park at Cosmeston this evening disappeared from view as it went into an impressive stoop towards the golf course.

A drake Tufted Duck was again on the West lake (there were 8 back on the Knap Lake, Barry a few days ago).

Early afternoon at high tide on Sully beach there were 6 Whimbrel, 1 2nd Summer Mediterranean Gull and 2 Great Black-backed Gulls (Hayes Rd car park).

5 Whimbrel shortly before high tide at Bendrick Rock this morning.

This evening a family party of 5 Jays in the East Paddock at Cosmeston along with a Green Woodpecker. Swifts, House Martins, Swallow and Sand Martin over the West Lake. On Swanbridge beach a Great Black-backed Gull and a Grey Heron.

An adult Mediterranean Gull on Sully beach with 47 Black-headed Gulls at high tide this morning (viewed from Burnham Avenue beach car park). Black-headed Gull numbers are increasing locally, with 18 also at Swanbridge this morning.

Also today a Common Sandpiper at Bendrick Rock, with 1 there at high tide last Sunday evening too. On Sully Island at high tide earlier, 28 Oystercatcher and 2 Shelduck.

Black-headed Gulls have started reappearing locally over the last few days, with 1 on the west lake posts at Cosmeston and 2 at Barry Old Harbour this morning, and 4 on Sully beach yesterday.

A Little Egret was on the beach at Bendrick Rock shortly after low tide this morning, and there were 3 Mute Swans on the sea in Swanbridge Bay, unusual for this location.

Swifts, Swallows, Sand Martins and a solitary House Martin at Cosmeston this morning. Also there a Mute Swan with 7 cygnets, Mallard with 1 duckling, 3 family groups of Blue Tits and near the car park a Great Spotted Woodpecker. On Sully Island just after high tide this morning 28 Oystercatcher, 8 Shelduck and 5 Curlew.

Yesterday at Bendrick Rock at morning high tide a Redshank, the first I’ve seen on this stretch of coast in 2 years, and offshore around 90 Manx Shearwater went past in 1 minute flying down channel. At Cadoxton Ponds a pair of Stonechat has at least 1 fledgling, and a pair of Canada Geese has 2 goslings.

On Monday late morning 6 Common Scoter down channel off Lavernock.

Highlights of a seawatch from 0945 to 1200 this morning were 90 Manx Shearwater, 4 Gannet and 4 Fulmar.