Not a sighting but just a heads up that the 2017 East Glam Bird Report files will shortly be taken to our printer. It’s been a big job as always and a big vote of thanks goes to all who have helped in its preparation and of course all the observers who take the trouble to log their observations by whatever means, and our many talented photographers.

On Sat 13th 12 participants braved the strong wind for a visit to this reserve which gets better and better. We saw some quality birds in the 59 species logged: Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Shelduck, Wigeon, Teal, Mallard, Pintail, Shoveler, Pheasant, Little Grebe, 1 Glossy Ibis, 1 Spoonbill, 12 Cattle Egret!!, Grey Heron, Little Egret, Cormorant, Marsh Harrier, Buzzard, Kestrel, Merlin, Hobby, Moorhen, Coot, Ringed Plover, Golden Plover, Grey Plover, Lapwing, Knot, 2 Little Stint, Dunlin, Ruff, Snipe, Black-tailed Godwit, Bar-tailed Godwit, Curlew, 2 Spotted Redshank, Greenshank, Redshank, Black-headed Gull, Mediterranean Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Stock Dove, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Raven, Blue Tit, Skylark, Cetti’s Warbler, Wren, Starling, Blackbird , Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, and Linnet.

The Hobby was still around this morning. I saw it briefly as it disappeared over Cogan Wood, having come from the W lake direction. It was seen yesterday afternoon hawking dragonflies over W lake, and has been seen over the children’s playground area. A flock of c. 50-60 Hirundines was over W lake and higher this morning, comprised of House Martins and Swallows. I had a brief Sparrowhawk yesterday and a couple of Chiffchaffs at the far end of E paddock, plus what I am sure were 3 Redwing. If they called I didn’t hear it, although that’s par for the course these days! but they flew over me in silhouette so no markings seen but the flight was typical Redwing and they dived into cover in a bank with lots of Hawthorn berries. I searched that for a while but couldn’t locate them. A pair of Stonechat are hanging out around the snipe paddock.

A lot of hirundines in a mixed flock of c.100 at Cosmeston this morning – mainly Swallow and House Martin but a few Sand Martin as well. It may account for the Hobby that flew over the cafe heading towards Lavernock where it may still be – this was at around 1 p.m. Probably the bird that Graham Smith saw couple of days ago. Also a Sparrowhawk flew over. Male Stonechat by the snipe paddock.

A reminder that the first Glamorgan Bird Club indoor meeting of this autumn/winter period is on Tues 2nd Oct, at KNNR starting at 7:45 p.m. The meeting comprises a talk on Peregrines and Goshawks by Stephen Watson. We should learn some interesting facts about these two impressive raptors.

Jeff curtis has seen 3 bearded tits this morning in reeds left of the main boardwalk.

Brief walk at Cosmeston this morning. c.40 or so hirundines over the lakes – mainly Sand Martin but also with a few House Martin including juvs. Sub ad Little Grebe W lake. A few Swallows going over but v quiet generally.

The Whinchat from yesterday afternoon. It has been feeding in the wild parsnip patch at the far end of W paddock for a few days now.

Quite a productive day:

a.m. E paddock just beyond playground – Blackcap (a pair), Willow Wblr 6+, Chiffchaff, Blue Tit 10+, Long-t Tit 10, Dunnock 2, Coal Tit 1, Green ‘Pecker 1, Spotted Flycatcher 1. W. paddock far end – Whinchat 1;
p.m. W paddock far end – Whinchat (same place as a.m.) Tree Pipit 2; E paddock far end fenced area, Spotted Flycatcher 4 poss 5, Blackcap 1 fem, severaal Willow Wblr, c.6, Blue Tits.

A fem/imm Common Redstart was in the W paddock hedgerow and opposing trees behind the dragonfly pond this morning. Thanks to Annie Irving for the txt. She also had a Wheatear in W paddock earlier but it was prob flushed by dogs. Only other interest was c.10 Sand Martins over W lake.

Highlights of the GBC trip to Garwnant & Llwyn-on today in the low cloud & mizzle, braved by 14 folk. 3 Willow Tits were seen, plus several Crossbill, a few juv Bullfinches, a couple of nice feeding flocks comprised mainly of Willow Warblers but also Coal & Blue Tits, Goldcrest, Chiffchaff, Treecreeper & Nuthatch, 2 Tree Pipits, a fem Reed Bunting, 2-3 Spotted Flycatchers. A Dipper was on the Llwyn-on feeder stream. In the afternoon at the N end of Llwyn-on we were treated to a fantastic aerial feeding display by at least 200 House Martins. The reservoir itself held several Cormorants, 2 GC Grebes and 2 LBB Gulls. On the shoreline there were 16 Pied Wagtails of various ages, and with them, 3 Yellow Wagtails. I made the total list 35 species but I might have missed a few.

This is on the #glambirds Twitter feed, but just to make sure, there’s a Sabine’s Gull currently at Rhaslas Pond, found this morning by Mike Hogan. In case you’ve never been there it’s east of Dowlais top near Merthyr. Here’s a link to a map:

http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=309280&Y=207360&A=Y&Z=120

Couple of photos of a Spotted Flycatcher at Cosmeston yesterday morning, in bushes on the edge of the small field 50m to the left of the Med Village entrance. Also an obliging male Pied Wag on the decking at the back of the cafe and a juv LBB Gull ringed on Flat Holm this year.

A Kingfisher flew along the far shore of E lake this morning. There were c.20 Sand Martins and a House Martin over W lake and plenty of Swallows around.

There were 2 Grey Herons on W lake this morning – 1 imm and 1 ad. At the far LH end of W paddock there were a good number of Willow Warblers feeding in the tree boundary, plus a fem or imm Common Whitethroat and a fem Blackcap. There was another fem Blackcap in the trees along Sully Brook by the lower dovecote field, and more Willow Warblers in the trees by the small wooden bridge there. An un-ID’d pipit flew up from the long grass in that field too.

Delayed WeBS count. Rhymney Est at Green Pt – 300 Redshank, 2 Oycs and 1 Common Sandpiper. Around 20 House Martins feeding over Green Pt. Heliport Bay 4 Oycs and c.500 B-h Gulls on the beach.

20+ Sand Martin 3+ House Martin and lots of Swallows over W lake this a.m. and sub ad Heron E lake nr the main bridge. Clouded Yellow in W paddock. Tree Pipits were apparently present somewhere (per Graham Smith).

Late news from yesterday. Jeff Curtis had a Bittern and a fem Marsh Harrier during the Kenfig Pool WeBS count. The Bittern at least surely a wanderer from the Somerset Levels at this time of year. Poss also the Harrier.

Was pleased this morning to see that the Little Grebe chicks I saw about a week ago are still OK. Haven’t seen them for a while and thought they might have been predated. There were 2 imm Grey Herons present, 1 on W lake and 1 at the dragonfly pond [see photo]. At the near end of the long sloping narrow meadow that follows Sully Brook [just after the small wooden bridge below the dovecote field] there were about 10 Willow Warblers in a feeding flock with some Blue Tits.

There was a stunning juv Little Gull by the inner ‘jetty’ of the barrage locks this afternoon, together with an imm Arctic Tern and several Med Gulls, including a very nice juv. The Little Gull finally flew around a bit and out of 112 pix I managed to salvage a few! A remarkable sight was just before I left, when the Little Gull landed on the water and was immediately ‘attacked’ by a Black-headed Gull which appeared to attempt to force it under the water. Fortunately the LG managed to escape – there’s a series of 3 pix of the incident in the collection below.