Kenfig Public Walk, Saturday 20th November 2021

We welcomed 11 folk to our walk, good to meet to old friends , and a new GBC member, Martin. In spite of the overcast sky giving poor viewing conditions, the rain held off, and we saw/heard 45 species! The highlights being a Scaup, a distant Kingfisher and a large number ( 20+- Dave will give us a more exact number …) of Common Gull all on the pool. 2 Cetti’s Warbler were calling, as were Chiffchaff, Redwing flew overhead, while we were pleased to find a Fieldfare. Some of us saw a small flock of distant Golden Plover towards the coast, while Barry found us a last minute raptor, a hovering Kestrel.

Full list.

Canada Goose, Greylag Goose, Mute Swan, Gadwall, )Mallard, Tufted Duck, Scaup, Feral Pigeon, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Moorhen, Coot, Golden Plover, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Herring Gull, Cormorant, Grey Heron, Kingfisher, Kestrel, Jay, Magpie, Jackdaw Carrion Crow, Coal Tit, Great Tit, Cetti’s Warbler, Long-tailed Tit, Chiffchaff, Wren, Starling, Mistle Thrush, Redwing, Blackbird, Fieldfare, Robin, House Sparrow, Dunnock, Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Chaffinch, Bullfinch, Greenfinch, Linnet, Goldfinch. total – 45

With thanks to all who came, and to Dave Carrington for leading

GBC Kenfig monthly public birdwalk.

Eight folk set off in hope on a wet morning, and were well-rewarded when the clouds lifted.

Highlights of our 37 species were -four Curlew fling very closely towards us, a very distant Kingfisher, a calling water Rail, five Mistle thrush in a far away tree , a juvenile Bullfinch, a single Swift, mixed flocks of hirundine over the pool- at least 30 House martin, 40 Mallard. Towards the end, up near the centre, a small bush held two Goldfinch, a whitethroat, a Dunnock, and three young Swallows waiting to be fed.

Full list

Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Mallard , Swift, Woodpigeon , Collared Dove , Curlew, Black-headed Gull , Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull , Cormorant , Grey Heron , Kingfisher , Great Spotted Woodpecker , Kestrel , Magpie , Jackdaw , Carrion Crow, Blue Tit , Sand Martin , Swallow , House Martin , Chiffchaff , Whitethroat, Starling , Mistle Thrush , Blackbird , Dunnock, Pied Wagtail, Chaffinch , Bullfinch- juvenile-, Goldfinch .

Plus – Robin, Wren, Water Rail and Black Cap heard.

Great to see some old friend, thanks for coming, and thanks to Dave Carrington for leading.

Good to catch up with Anthony in the park today, Together we found a Grey Heron in the river with a Grey Wagtail, lots of Carrion crows and a Magpie.

Monthly birdwalk, 19/6 /21

We had a very enjoyable morning yesterday, good to see old friends and meet a new member.

On what seemed to be a quiet day, we found 46 species, the highlights being a Red Kite, 40+ Swift with associating Martins, and a Nuthatch.

The wildflowers were stunning- at least 3 species of orchid, huge Viper’s Bugloss, etc. Among other notable things were-

Azure, Blue Tailed and Common Blue Damselfly, Four Spot Chaser and Hairy Dragonfly, a Yellow Underwing Moth, and a Common Frog.

Canada Goose 100+ Greylag Goose, Mute Swan, Mallard, Pheasant (H), Swift 40+, Feral Pigeon , Woodpigeon , Collared Dove, Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Grey Heron (2), Sparrowhawk, Red Kite, Buzzard , Kestrel Magpie , Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Blue Tit, Skylark, Sand Martin, Swallow, House Martin , Cetti’s Warbler, Long-tailed Tit , Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Reed Warbler, Blackcap, Whitethroat , Wren (H), Nuthatch, Starling, Blackbird, Song Thrush,(H) Stonechat, House Sparrow, Dunnock , Meadow Pipit, Chaffinch (H), Bullfinch, Greenfinch, Linnet, Goldfinch, Reed Bunting.

With thanks to Dave Carrington for leading, and everyone else for your expertise and company,

Jean

This morning we had our first Saturday Kenfig birdwalk since lockdown , very enjoyable and productive too! Great to see some old friends.

We are still running these with Covid restrictions- only booked participants, not sharing equipment, not using the hide, maintaining social distancing.

We saw/ heard (h) a total of 52 species! The highlights were ,a singing Tree Pipit, -a rarity for Kenfig, Dunlin, Sanderling, Turnstone and a purple Sandpiper at Sker, lots of Hirundines flying low over the pool, with Swift over too.

Full list

Blackbird, Blackcap,(h) Bullfinch, Buzzard, Canada Goose, Carrion Crow, Cetti’s Warbler( h), Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Collared Dove, Coot, Cormorant, Dunlin (6), Dunnock, Gadwall (1), Goldfinch, Great Crested Grebe with young, Herring Gull, House Martin, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Lesser Whitethroat (h), Linnet, Magpie, Mallard – with at least 9 ducklings, Meadow Pipit, Moorhen, Mute Swan , Pheasant, Pied Wagtail, Purple Sandpiper (1), Reed Warbler, Ringed Plover (2), Robin, Rock Pipit, Sand Martin, Sanderling (6), Skylark, Song Thrush, Starling, Stonechat [with young], Swallow, Swift, Tree Pipit , Turnstone (22), Wheatear, Whimbrel, Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, Woodpigeon.

With many thanks to Dave Carrington for leading.

5/4/21

Two Marsh Harriers and a Great White Egret on the West shore of the pool. A very loud Cettis Warbler behind the hide, and a Willow Warbler in every bush!

In spite of the blustery wet weather, everyone enjoyed the club birdwalk this morning, good to see friends old and new. Between us we found 41 species, and I think we all saw most of them- a bit tricky in the wind and drizzle. Highlights were 8 Turnstone at Sker, 4 Common Scoter wave hopping, visible with binoculars, 10+ Curlew over on the golf course- seen by folk with scopes, since they were quite far away, Tufted Duck and Great -Crested Grebe on the pool, 7 Lapwing over, and glimpses of an Otter at the far side of the pool. Some folk explored the back of the barn at Sker House, but couldn’t find the Little Owl today.

Black-headed Gull, Blackbird , Blue Tit, Carrion Crow ,
Cetti’s Warbler -heard, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff – heard, Common Gull,
Common Scoter , Coot, Curlew, Feral Pigeon , Fieldfare , Goldcrest ,
Goldfinch, Great Black-backed Gull , Great Crested Grebe ,Great Tit ,
Grey Heron , Herring Gull , Kestrel , Lapwing , Long-tailed Tit , Magpie,
Mallard, Meadow Pipit, Mute Swan , Oystercatcher , Pied Wagtail,
Raven, Robin, Rook , Shag , Skylark, Starling, Stonechat , Tufted Duck ,
Turnstone , Water Rail- heard, Woodpigeon , Wren .

Thanks to Dave Carrington for leading, and everyone for their cheerful company.

We enjoyed being able to do our WeBS at last yesterday. Part of the site around the far side of the lake is closed at the moment due to Covid restrictions, so number of sightings are a bit short. Lovely views in the Autumn woodlands, and two brave Great Tits followed us till we gave them some crumbs.

Blackbird, Blue Tit , Buzzard, Canada Goose, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch , Coot Gadwall , Great Tit , House Sparrow Little Grebe, Magpie, Mallard, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Robin, Shoveler, Teal, Woodpigeon .

Our first ‘Lockdown’, socially distanced, Kenfig Saturday walk was very successful. Eight folk came along, we went down to the pool, (not in the hide, too many folk) then across the dunes to the coast, where the view across the beach was stunning in the sunshine. 25 Gannet were seen over to the west of the Mumbles, by a couple of folk with telescopes. Everyone managed to see a Porpoise, there were at least three.

Highlights include – a fairly close Marsh Harrier, two Sparrowhawks, good views of a Kestrel, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, and a Snipe.

Full List- h – heard

Black-headed Gull , Blackbird, Blackcap, Blue Tit, Buzzard , Carrion Crow, Chiffchaff, Collared Dove, Common Gull, Coot, Cormorant Curlew, Dunnock, Feral Pigeon, Goldcrest, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Great Tit ,h , Greenfinch, Grey Heron , Gannet, Herring Gull , Jackdaw, Kestrel Lesser Black-backed Gull, Linnet, Long-tailed Tit, Magpie, Mallard, Marsh Harrier, Meadow Pipit , Mute Swan , Oystercatcher, Robin Skylark, Snipe, Sparrowhawk, Starling, Stonechat , Swallow, Willow Warbler, h, Woodpigeon , Wren, h,Water Rail, h, Pied Wagtail, h, Tree Creeper, h,

A total of 45!

Many thanks to all who came, and especially to Dave Carrington for leading

WeBS count on a blustery day, but sheltered down in the woods.

Couldn’t make a full count since the permissive path across the lake bridge is still temporarily closed, due to it being too narrow to negotiate safely in these strange times.

Mute Swan (1) it appears that the nest has failed.   Coot(2), Mallard (35)  lots of well- grown juveniles, Moorhen (2),  no Little Grebe again, it appears that they nest elsewhere.

A special treat was a spotted flycatcher, a first for us at this site.

Robin,  Blackbird,  Blackcap singing,  Blue Tit,  Great Tit, Chiff Chaff,  Dunnock, House Sparrow, Swallow, Song Thrush- at least 4

We were able to conduct our WeBS today, first time since ‘Lockdown’ began!

It was glorious in the woods and down by the lake – so green, lots of birdsong, ducklings and wild flowers. Unfortunately our WeBS was not so accurate because the permissive path across the lake bridge has been temporarily, but reluctantly, closed by the landowner since it is too narrow to maintain safe distancing.                                                The swans nested as usual, but this failed. It was very close to the bridge and path. We’re hoping they may try again.

Coot , Mallard , Moorhen , Mute Swan  , Blackbird , Blackcap , Blue Tit , Carrion Crow ,
Chaffinch , Chiffchaff , Collared Dove , Dunnock , Great Spotted Woodpecker ,           House Sparrow , Magpie , Robin, Song Thrush , Swallow , Woodpigeon , Wren

A damp WeBS count this lunchtime,   Teal and Shoveler appear to have gone, along with most of the Little Grebe.  First spotting of a Sparrow Hawk here.

Blackbird,  Blue Tit , Canada Goose (2), Carrion Crow,  Chaffinch , Coot (9),
Dunnock , Great Spotted Woodpecker,  Great Tit , House Sparrow ,
Little Grebe (1), Magpie,  Mallard (11), Moorhen (1), Mute Swan (3), Robin ,
Song Thrush,  Sparrowhawk , Starling , Woodpigeon, Wren .

It was our monthly public walk this morning. 13 folk braved the wind and rain and were rewarded by finding 39 (!) species.  Highlights – good views, in the bushes by the hide, of a Siberian Chiffchaff,  2 very close Goldcrest, a Treecreeper,  a moving flock of long-tailed tits,  then on the pool, a Goldeneye and 4 Shovelers.

Black-headed Gull,  Blackbird,  Blue Tit, Canada Goose,  Carrion Crow, Cetti’s Warbler, Chaffinch,  Chiffchaff (Siberian – tristis),Collared Dove, Coot , Dunnock, Gadwall, Goldcrest,  Goldeneye,  Goldfinch,  Great Black-backed Gull, Great Crested Grebe , Great Spotted Woodpecker, Great Tit , Greenfinch (7), Herring Gull , House Sparrow,  Jackdaw,  Long-tailed Tit , Magpie, Mallard, Moorhen,  Mute Swan,  Robin, Shoveler,  Song Thrush,  Sparrowhawk,  Starling, Teal,  Treecreeper, Tufted Duck, Wigeon , Woodpigeon,  Wren.

Good to see some new folk, welcome!                                                                                                Many thanks to Strinda for leading.

An early WeBS today, in view of the bad weather forecast!

Tufties here today, a first for for us at Talygarn.  Down to three swans, just one cygnet left

Blackbird , Blue Tit , Canada Goose ,Carrion Crow ,Coot, Chaffinch
Dunnock, Great Tit,  4 Little Grebe,  Magpie,   Mallard,  Moorhen ,  Mute Swan
Nuthatch , Robin,  Shoveler,  Starling, Teal , Tufted Duck,  Wren .

Plus, flowering, – Snowdrop, Violets(almost white) Dog’s Mercury, Lesser Celandine .

Good numbers on the Ogmore in the sunshine this afternoon, including a Black Swan.

Black Swan,  Black-headed Gull,  Blackbird,  Buzzard, Canada Goose , Carrion Crow
Chaffinch,  Collared Dove,  Cormorant,  Dunnock,  Goosander (4),  Herring Gull , Linnet
Little Grebe (2),  Magpie , Mallard,  Mute Swan,  Pied Wagtail , Redshank (6) , Shelduck
Teal (12) , Woodpigeon

Fabulous weather and visibility for our first Public Walk of 2020 this morning. Twenty -six folk came along, and enjoyed a walk to the sea with a rising tide. (30+ surfers to entertain us)

Highlights were:- Marsh Harrier, being pursued by two Short-eared Owls, three very bright Greenfinch, Purple Sandpiper, lots of Curlew and a shag on the rocks at Sker, whilst folk with ‘scopes found us Red -Throated Divers, Great Crested Grebe and Common Scoter out to sea. We had a total of 49!  A really good start for our 2020 total.     If folk who went to the pool as well could give us any extras, that would be great.

WeBS today, very quiet in the woods, not even a Magpie or Woodpigeon, but the Teal were looking fabulous.

Blackbird , Blue Tit,  Canada Goose,  Chaffinch,  Coot,  Dunnock , Great Tit,  Little Grebe ,
Mallard , Moorhen , Mute Swan , Robin,  Teal .

At least 35 pied wagtails over by the water yesterday

Brilliant weather for our WeBS today, lovely in the woods, lots of birds about, and Teal have arrived back in numbers. First time we’ve seen a shovelor here.

Blackbird, Blackcap, Blue Tit ,Carrion Crow, Chaffinch ,Coal Tit ,Coot ,Dunnock , Goldcrest Great Spotted Woodpecker , Great Tit , Jackdaw, Jay  3, Kingfisher , Little Grebe 6 ,
Long-tailed Tit , Magpie , Mallard 14 , Moorhen 6 , Mute Swan  9 ,Nuthatch ,Pied Wagtail ,
Red Kite , Robin , Song Thrush , Starling , Teal  22 , Treecreeper , Woodpigeon ,Wren.

Total Bird Species : 30

Good to welcome some new folk on our Kenfig monthly walk this morning [it was actually Saturday {16th} – sorry to be picky! John W].

We went down to Sker to find the Long-Tailed Duck on the flood, then moved east along the coast to the edge of the Royal Porthcawl golf course where we located the juvenile Red-backed Shrike. (and lots of other friends!)

Other highlights were, -2 Sparrow Hawk, 30+ Lapwing,  Common and Mediterranean Gull,  50+ Woodpigeon flying over,  4 Raven, a Sanderling, and a Redwing.

This is my list, some members continued afterwards to the pool, so they have some additions.

Black-headed Gull , Blackbird, Blue Tit , Canada Goose , Carrion Crow , Collared Dove,    Common Gull , Curlew , Feral Pigeon , Goldcrest , Great Black-backed Gull , Great Tit,
Grey Heron , Herring Gull , Jackdaw , Lapwing , Lesser Black-backed Gull ,                  Long-tailed Duck , Long-tailed Tit , Magpie , Mallard , Meadow Pipit , Mediterranean Gull
Oystercatcher , Pied Wagtail , Raven , Red-backed Shrike , Redshank , Redwing , Robin,
Rock Pipit , Rook , Sanderling, Song Thrush , Sparrowhawk , Starling , Stonechat, Turnstone , Woodpigeon , Wren , Skylark.      41 species

Our  next Kenfig walk will be on the 21st December, for ‘Pies in the Hide’ !  … and some birdwatching …    all welcome.

PS others seen were Golden Plover [flock flew over at Sker], Cormorant, Dunnock, Linnet, Goldfinch. {John W}.