A very nice morning, calm and sunny:-

2 Sandwich Tern, 2 Gannet, 107 Oystercatcher, 3 Ringed Plover and 2 Turnstone in Broughton Bay. Up to 8 White Wagtail were in and around Broughton yesterday and the caravan park and flew off this afternoon.

Overhead we recorded 5 Tree Pipit, 5 Grey Wagtail, 6+ Siskin, 1 Skylark.

Two Chough repeated yesterday’s routine by flying over to the top of Llanmadoc hill and flying back down early afternoon via Broughton Burrows / Little Broughton.

A nice short weekend. I was delighted to see my first Little Egret for the site as one dropped in to feed in the rock pools on the falling tide this morning. Also at a locality nearby I was also choughed to see a pair of fledged Kestrels as well as my first Sparrowhawk at the locality this year. Whitethroat and Sedge Warbler are still singing and Stonechats are on their second brood. Plenty of butterflies on the wing at last with Small Skipper, Large Skipper, Small Heath, Peacock, Ringlet, Small Tortoiseshell all seen.

In overcast conditions in a stiff SW wind, the following were all flying down-channel:-

812 Manx Shearwater, 4 Gannet, 4 Fulmar, 2 Great Skua, 1 Grey Plover and a Sandwich Tern. The Manxies had slowed to a trickle by 1250 as the wind eased a little and bad weather and rain loomed.

Visible migration over Broughton farm and Broughton Burrows / heading maniny WNW 0830-1015 in strong southerly breeze:- 3 Swift, 29 Sand Martin, 56 House Martin, 396 Swallow and 1 Siskin. Offshore there were 2 adult ans 1 immature Gannets and the lone Oystercatcher left on the beach looked very lonley!

Yesterday was a much nicer day with single Reed Warbler singing at Llangennith Burrows and Delvid. The most interesting record was a Common Sandpiper calling as it flew over us up on Broughton Burrows.

May the 4th be with you. Anyway, back to birding and the most productive area today was out of the wind in Delvid burrows between the two caravan parks. The small reedbed there seems to have attracted at least 4 singing Reed Warblers. I managed to see one, but I think like last year it is more likely these are passing through, but we’ll see. Also there, 2+ Sedge Warbler, a Cetti’s Warbler (a first for us in this locality) several Blackcap, Whitethoat and Chiffchaff. There were also a few Peacock butterflies as well as a female Orange Tip.

The Egyptian quacker rather obligingly had wandered up under the bridge and on to Ploran mawr this morning giving me a welcome PWC tick! Other birds this morning were a Dunlin and Curlew at Portobello island and a couple of Sedge Warblers between Watermill and Merthyr Mawr. Emma couldn’t resist yet another Dipper shot!

This bird one of 2 pairs between Merthyr Mawr and Newbridge fields.

The Egyptian Goose was happily snoozing on Portobello island this afternoon betwen 3.30 and 3,45 at least. A Common Sandpiper was also present nearby.

Joined by Neville Davies today we worked Broughton Burrows to Burry Holms then Llangennith Burrows to broughton Burrows and finished off in the afternoon between Broughton far mand Delvid burrows. It was cool and quiet, just a few Swallows her and there, highlights:-

Out at Bluepool corner in calm conditions:- A fine summer plumaged Great Northern Diver, c 100 Common Scoter and 2 adult Gannet. A single Oystercatcher was on the beach below. Some interesting insects on the Burrows including Violet Ground Beetle and Dock Bug.

Viewing from above Burry Holms there was another summer plumaged Great northern Diver out in Rhossili Bay as well as 2 more adult Gannets, a Shag, numerous Guillemot and a Whimbrel flew east. A single Oystercatcher was on the beach.

Llangennith Burrows held 2+ singing Sedge Warbler, several singing Whitethroat and female Wheatear, interesting also n to note the pretty micro moth pyrausta aurata.

Broughton farm and north toward Whiteford Sands caravan park, yielded a Lesser Whitethroat rattling away and showing occasionally in the blackthorn clumps.

A visit to Broughton today noted displaying Whitethroat and Wheatear. Several small White and Peacock butterflies around. The region is absolutely smothered in Sloe / Blackthorn blossom at the moment, quite a nice sight.

Later at Llanrhiddian c1320 a Great White Egret flew west over to and into the reedbeds there. Spoke to Neil Edwards just after and he’d seen what was probably the same bird over his place.

Later at broadlands, Bridgend I was pleased to note my first Orange Tip of the spring.

Mike

After a blank drawn early at Watermill (only 3 Teal) and a few Swallows trickling through Bridgend town, I moved over to Merthyr Mawr. A female Goosander and 14 Mallard were at the confluence of the Ewenny and Ogmore, joined by two Common Sandpiper. Nearby a Willow Warbler was singing and Green Woodpecker and Stock Dove were feeding in the fields. Four Sand Martin, 2 Swallow and a House Martin flew up estuary lingered briefly and moved north inland. I also noticed a few Brimstone butterflies in Bridgend today. Warming up, so hopefully more migrants soon.

At about 1400h 9 Sandwich Terns were on the beach tideline at low tide plus 5 Gannet offshore.

Emma Cram

Belated news from the weekend outside of the Burry Inlet.

The highlight was watching hunting Kestrel, Buzzard, Peregrine and Red Kite in the region. There was some evidence of migration in both directions with 2 Teal, 2 Chiffchaff and a Willow Warbler at Llangennith Burrows. At Broughton Bay single Swallow, Sand Martin and Chiffchaff were seen. The Oystercatcher flock that ranges from Burry holms to Broughton is still around max 170 at present and there were 147 Common Gull roosting on Broughton beach with 12 Dark-bellied Brent Geese. Many species are getting in the mood and there were many pairs of Meadow Pipit, Linnet and Stonechat noted today in the calmer conditions.

Not heard anything about Swallows anywhere yet, but Emma had one over the garden earlier this morning heading west.

A visit to Porthcawl this evening between 1700-1800h was enlivened by at least 2 Purple Sandpipers on the rocks by the seawall in front of the Lifeboat shop, together with 40 Turnstone. A total of 36 Black-headed Gull mostly in or acquiring first summer / adult summer plumage were in two different groups along the seafront

Early on with Dave Ripley at the Watermill, 2 Grey Heron, 20 Teal in the flood, 1 Pheasant plus a Great Spotted Woodpecker flew in to trees along the Ewenny river. Later a little Egret flew up from Merthyr Mawr towards there. Merthyr Mawr was busier, another 14 Teal were in the meadow pools together with 4 Curlew, 6+ Pied Wagtail and 35 Meadow Pipit. 2 pairs of Buzzards were soaring and Woodpeckers continue to drum in the woods. A walk to the confluence of the Ewenny / Ogmore produced 6 LIttle Grebe, 14 Canada Goose, 3 Shelduck, 6 Teal, 3 Goosander (1m 2f), fem Gadwall, 16 Mallard, 1 Redshank, 2 Grey Wagtail and a Linnet over calling. PWC list for my inland patch now up to 63 species.

Four different Mediterranean Gulls were noted late morning / low tide. A first winter and adult winter plumaged bird were scrounging for chip at SS807773 along the main path just south of Lock’s Common. A superb adult summer-plumaged bird together with another adult winter were roosting with about 40 Black-headed and 2 Common Gulls in the Salt Lake car park near the fun fair at SS821768.

We visited our caravan today and a walk around the Burrows and to Twlc Point and around the caravan park and farm yielded 3 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Shag, 2 Cormorant, approx 50 (D/b) Brent Geese, several Common, Black-headed, Lesser Black-backed and Great Black-backed Gulls were in among the 200 or so Herring Gulls in the Bay and on the beach. At Twlc Point there was a hunting male Kestrel, 1 Meadow Pipit, 1 Blue Tit and a Long-tailed Tit at the point. Inland at the caravan park and the farmland there were 17 Oystercatcher and 5 Curlew. Pretty quiet, we noted 25 species in total.

A walk this morning from Merthyr Mawr to the confluence of the two rivers yielded 6 Little Grebe, 1 Little Egret, 2 Canada Geese, 15 Teal, 14 Mallard, 2 Gadwall and 3 Goosander. 14 Oystercatcher and 2 Curlew were in the adjacent fields. Yesterday there were 37 Teal (15 male / 22 female) at The Watermill.

A very wet morning, but still managed to increase my tally to 49 species for the Patchwork Challenge, a good start to the year. Highlights were 2 different groups of Teal, 12 at Watermill with a Grey Heron and 5 out on the meadow. A female Goosander flew east along the Ewenny River and there were 7 Curlew with 20 Canada Geese and 2 Little Egret out on Ogmore Castle Meadow. Nearby a pair of Raven were displaying and single Lesser and Great black-backed Gulls had ventured up-river but headed back towards the treatment works. There were small flocks of 20-30 Redwing and single Jays at Merthyr Mawr, Tymaen and Craig-y-parcau.