Dedicated vis-miggers were out early this morning but I haven’t seen any reports as yet. At Lavernock reserve there were many Fieldfare and Redwing going over and in the trees, and I met Graham Smith who had counted something like 1000 Chaffinch going over, together with Brambling. I heard a few Brambling calling and there were a number of Goldcrest about. In Rowlands Well fields there was a flock of 1500-2000 Linnet and the far hedgerow there had many Chaffinch dropping down to feed, and I did manage to see a few Brambling. Lol Middleton had a single Swallow at Lavernock Point, plus Peregrine, Kestrel, Sprawk and both winter thrushes, and a possible Wood Lark. As Lol & I left a Merlin shot through along the cliff line. There were put to 6 Goldcrest around the Church area. Graham Smith also had a pair of Goosander fly over the reserve, and a flock of Golden Plover.

At Cosmeston there were 4 Pochard on W lake and 2 Little Grebe were out in the open. Plenty of Redwing a Fieldfare there too, and I flushed a Jack Snipe as I walked past the ‘snipe paddock’.

pretty quiet this morning. Highlights were 2 Swallows heading west, and 2 very active Green ‘Peckers, and a Lesser B-b Gull 1st yr with blue darvic left leg with characters in white F.281 which I think is a Flat Holm bird.

no sight or sound of YBW at recently reported location but 4 Chiffchaff and a male Blackcap there [mid-late afternoon].

delayed WeBS: highlights – 1000 Redshank, 100 Dunlin, 220 Shelduck. 40 Pintail, 7 Shoveler, 7 Teal, male Stonechat, 3 ad GBB Gulls. At the Heliport, 10 Turnstone, 2 Curlew, 7 Oyc,  24 Shelduck.

3 avocet reported there this morning per Neil Donaghy. Prob still on the reserve in slacks or saltmarsh.

YB Wblr still reported as present today, 200m beyond the sailing centre building by the picnic tables – per BirdGuides.

Reserve: 20 Goldfinch, 2 Jay, Linnet 200 [in Rowlands Well stubble field], Red Kite  circling distantly [prob over Cosmeston], Redwing 1 f/o, 1 Kestrel, 2 Stonechat by the sea watch shelter [first I’ve seen on the reserve for ages], and Speckled Woods and war was prob a fem Migrant Hawker;

Lavernock Pt: 2 Sprawk [1f 1m], 6 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 4 Sky Lark, 2 Chiffchaff by the church, 50 Linnet, 4 Chaffinch, 2 Mipit f/o, 3 Long-t Tit, Swallows and a House Martin.

Yellow browed warbler reported again this morning just S of the reserve centre building.

this morning: c.180 Canada Geese – they’re taking the place over! 18 Gt Crested Grebe and 6 Little Grebe.

Hobby hunting over w lake, 15 redwing flew over, male blackcap in south meadow.

Small feeding flock along the central path had c.10 Long-t Tit with a couple of Chiffchaff and a Goldcrest, and 2 more Chiffies in scrub beyond the dragonfly pond. Also a couple of Song Thrush there and 20 Goldfinch. O/W pretty quiet.

In a cold stiff easterly. 22 Wigeon offshore by the mouth of R. Thaw. 8 Oyc and 16 Turnstone on the beach and 2 Rock Pipits. Pair of Stonechat, 4 Siskin, 40 Linnet, 30 Goldfinch, 1 Buzzard and a pair of Little Grebe on the lagoon.

Hobby showing well at knnr south pool

Vis mig also at Lavernock although I was a little late arriving so didn’t do a count. However many Meadow Pipits were flying over together with Chaffinch and Swallow. David Gilmore was already there so no doubt he will put up some totals. In two stubble fields adjacent to the Lavernock reserve entrance and behind the house along the road, there was a total of around 1000 Linnet. No birds in the stubble at Rowlands Well fields tho’. Also at Lav. Pt, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, 20 Goldfinch and a few Skylark and also a few Chiffchaff by the church.

Highlights this morning: 2 Red Kites over the edge of Cogan Wood by the dragonfly pond, then drifted off S. Also 1 Buzzard there, and a fly-over G S Woodpecker. There appeared to have been a small ‘fall’ of Meadow Pipits with around 40 in total, most of which were in the large field behind the play park, with about 20 Goldfinch. Green ‘Pecker vocal there too. 2 Little Grebe on W lake and a few Swallows going over.

The cafe is closed now until Monday, for refurbishment before new management takes over.

Just a heads up that the first GBC indoor meet of 2015 is Tues week Tues 6th Oct. I’ll be giving a presentation on a trip a few of us did to Sri Lanka in March 2014. It’s a cracker! Lots of endemics!

Continuous passage of Swallows and House Martins and a few Sand Martins amongst them. Also plenty of Mipits, and a few Skylark. Flock of c.40 Linnet. Lol Middleton had been there b4 me and had several Blackcap, a juv Whitethroat and a few Chiffchaff, a flyover Siskin, and a few Alba wagtails. A Grey Wag was on the road by the church and a Peregrine was sitting in the trees overhanging the beach towards Penarth. Oh, and a Sprawk flew through over the first field. I was not there long enough to count the vis mig.

Arctic wind blowing across the bay! V V quiet. Virtually no hirundines – just a few Sand and House Martin. Kingfisher in the old dock by Dr Who and 1 m Linnet and a Pied Wag on the outer rocks.

Highlight of a quick walk at Cosmeston this morning was a Kingfisher seen flying across W lake. Also a Little Grebe there for the past few days – not seen  one all summer. A number of very vocal Green ‘Peckers heard. There was also a juv LBB Gull with a bright orange Darvic ring on R leg with the black characters G+T [gin & tonic, mmmm :-)] and a metal ring left leg. It was ringed by Reter Rock who is based in Bristol – am awaiting confirmation of exactly where it was ringed.

Quiet but quality this morning. Spotted Flycatcher 80 m beyond the dragonfly pond on the left. Male Goshawk over Cogan Wood then lost to view. Then to to top it all an imm Hobby seen from the main bridge circling around over the play area then drifted off west. Hobby and Gos I think new site ticks for me. 🙂