The only birding that I can do is also in the garden. Over the 40+ years I have lived in this house in Coity, Bridgend we have had some good birds – Black Redstart, Whitethroat on several occasions, Mistle Thrush, Sparrowhawk plucking a Sparrow on the patio, Barn & Little Owl over the farmland that used to be at the back (now gone to houses), the two Woodpeckers – Green & Great Spotted and Red Kite overhead on 3 occasions. Today we had a new bird – a Stock Dove feeding with the Woodpigeons & Collared Doves. Not a bird that I thought would frequent a garden. I was digging the veg plot at the time, so no chance to get a photo.

An excellent pm birdwatching. Without moving from Portobello House, saw Water Pipit, Ad winter Med Gull, adult Yellow-legged Gull and 2 Common Gull in the Gull flock.

Then onto Ewenny Priory to see Hawfinch.

Am Sat between 9.45 – 11.45

Location: Take the track alongside the feeder north from the Music College to the buildings at Blackweir. Some 150 yards from Blackweir, there is a large Rhododendron bush on the bank of the feeder on the right of the track. The firecrest was in the bushes over the feeder opposite this large bush. Patience is needed. Saw it twice in the 2 hours I was there!

I have not seen L. f. fuscus for a very very long time (30+ years). According to Olsen & Larsson ‘ Gulls of Europe, Asia and N. America’ , adult winter L. f. fuscus has the upperwing black with NO contrasting wing-tip (the photo shows a distinct contrast).

2nd Winter L. f. fuscus should have strong head markings around the eyes and on the back of the head, bill should have black subterminal markings and coverts brownish tinged.

It is a pity there was no photograph of the bird flying away.

Red Kite circling for about an hour over my back garden in Coity.

Male & female Goosanders

Red Kite M4 between Bridgend and St Fagans turn off.

Juv Long-tailed Duck

 

Goosander numbers up to 10 – 8 fem & 2 males, Common Sandpiper & Kingfisher still around

Monday 28 Oct am. 7 fem Goosanders, 1 Green & 1 Common Sandpiper, Kingfisher

2 GWE flying down river at Portobello Sat pm. Only wader was a C. Sandpiper. Also Kingfisher.

pm. Fem Marsh Harrier hunting over the pool. Great White Egret still present.

Report of an otter this am. Pm 5 Goosanders, 28 Goldeneye + regulars.

Adult Winter Med Gull on the Island.

Also, a big clean up by The River Clean Group (I think that is their name). Over 200 car tyres removed with sacs of other rubbish.

One on the roof at the Heath Hospital and a female on the City Hall.

2 Greenshank, Green & Common Sandpipers, Kingfisher, adult Yellow-legged Gull, 1 first winter Common Gull (ringed), Sparrowhawk + the usual.