A morning jog took in the shores of the Ogmore river. The river level was high, almost bank full. Nevertheless, I was delighted to see a Kingfisher perched up in some dead Himalayan Balsam stems. Plenty of activity in the adjacent area and woods though, a pair of Mallard, 1 Buzzard, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Pied Wagtail,  3 singing Song Thrush, 10+ Blackbird 4 Redwing, 3 Nuthatch, 2 singing Goldcrest, 2 Long-tailed tit and several Goldfinch.

Emma and I celebrated the 16th anniversary of when we first met by venturing out for a few hours this morning. The highlight was a total of 10 Mediterranean Gulls at a variety of locations:- 1 first-winter at the western-most Wilderness Pool, Porthcawl, 1 first-winter at salt lake car park, Porthcawl, 6 adult and 1 first winter on rocks just south of Hutchwns Point, Porthcawl and finally an adult winter at Portobello island, Ogmore estuary.

At the eastern Pool nearer Newton: there were 2 pairs of Shoveler. At the western Wilderness pool a female Common Pochard, a pair of Shoveler and a Great Spotted Woodpecker. There was just 1 Little Egret and 5 Moorhen on the flood at The Watermill (Ogmore est). A bit busier at Portobello island – a male and 3 female Goosander, several Goldeneye and 6+ Teal.

The highlight of the morning was the breakfast at Cariad’s, oh and the Greenshank that was in the pill just off the car park! Happy New Year to all Birders – may 2015 be good for you. Best wishes, Mike, Emma and family. 🙂

A female Common Scoter was on the pool this morning from about 1000h, but flew off at about 1115.  Approx. 750 Golden Plover were in a large flock flying away to the south in the Sker Point / Kenfig Sands area. Also on the pool were 1 Tufted Duck, 1 Little Grebe and an Otter in the south pool area and a 1st winter Mediterranean Gull with the Common Gulls and Black-headed Gulls at the south pool posts. Another unusual record was a flock of 17 Stock Dove flying NE over the pool which DGC also managed to see. About 500 Woodpigeon flew south as did 12 Fieldfare. There were several Mistle Thrush, Song Thrush, Redwing and Blackbird around the bushes of the reserve. As we left we noted much activity around the bird feeder just west of the reserve centre and counted 135 House Sparrow – not seen that many there before!

Mike & Emma Cram

We’ve also just seen a report of an Osprey over the pool at lunchtime (DGC)

As we approached the site this morning we were greeted by a Red Kite over the farm fields, we also saw another later over Cil Ifor Top. Only about 200 Oystercatcher today with lots of Herring Gulls. Sadly no YBWs in the clump west of Twlc Point (in my dreams), so I moved west to Burry Holms. There were 10 Common Scoter and a Guillemot plus the odd Shag and Cormorant. My pulse was set racing when a pale Buzzard flew in off the sea in a rain shower later this afternoon, but it turned out to be just a pale Common Buzzard – drat!

Earlier it was very busy off Dalton’s Point, Penclawdd on the falling tide, among the best of several hundred waders were about 200 Black-tailed Godwit showing well as they took flight, a few Knot, Redshank and Curlew in with them plus 3 Little Egret, 4 Wigeon and several hundred Oystercatcher.

There were 3 adult Mediterranean Gulls at Porthcawl seafront early this afternoon at 1300h. They lingered around the shelter normally used by seawatchers before going to rest on the rocks just south of Lock’s Common. Also offshore a Skua species was harassing gulls as they made their way up channel.

Once again treated to a view of 8 Chough from my breakfast table and later their antics as they moved around Twlc Point and Little Broughton with the Jackdaws including Kestrel evasion tactics! Despite overnight rain and a ENE wind, little to shout about in the thick scrub around the farm and then up at the Burrows. Mainly Grey and Pied Wagtail, 1 Song Thrush, 6+ Blackbirds and 5 Long-tailed tits, 2 Chiffchaffs and a few Goldcrests new in. Llangennith Burrows held 1 Reed Warbler and 1 Cetti’s Warbler and 2 Chiffchaff. A Wheatear of the Greenland race has also been around but not this morning.

Yesterday Sandwich Tern flocks roosting on the beaches numbered 14 at Burry Holms, 13 at Broughton and 16 at Whiteford. 3 Gannets and 23 Common Scoter were off Burry Holms early on. Again very few migrants perhaps Mistle Thrush and what was a probable Redwing (not calling). A Spotted Flycatcher has been lingering around the farm buildings at Broughton. A walk up to Whiteford and back was enlivened by a cracking autumn male Wheatear, 300 House Martins massing at Prissen’s Tor and moving off to feed at Whiteford. The High tide on the rocks at the western side of Whiteford Point produced 1 Grey Heron, 2 Little Egret, max 1200 Oystercatcher, 45 Ringed Plover, 150 Dunlin, 6 Sanderling 1 Curlew Sandpiper, 87 Turnstone, 20 Curlew. Many waders spread out back towards Broughton when flushed by the tide and then “fishermen”.

As I dragged my aging corpse up Oakland Road, Bridgend on my morning run, I was surprised to hear, then see a Kingfisher flying up into the houses on the north side. I assume it has been investigating garden ponds. Never seen one so far away from the Ogmore.

There’s a nice photogenic flock of 8 Chough frequenting the Broughton area at the moment. Emma captured this shot in the vicinity of our caravan.

Following on from yesterday morning’s Red Kite lingering between Broughton and Hillend, it was a busy morning with further early signs of migration. A juv Grey Heron flew in and roosted at Little Broughton, 60+ Oystercatcher on beach with 1 juv Grey Wagtail. Up on the burrows were 2 hunting juv Kestrel, 20+ Meadow Pipit, 1 Sedge Warbler, 5+ Whitethroat, 4+ Blackcap, 2 Willow Warbler, 1 juv Reed Bunting , 2 Goldfinch. There was a gathering of hirundines over the playground: 75+ House Martin, 50 Swallow and 2 Swift over. The morning was further enlivened just before 1000h when 3 Chough flew down from Rhossili calling and after circling and attempting to gain height, opted for Twlc Point / Broughton beach area.

Visible migration today as 2 Tree Pipits passed over our street this morning calling.

Apologies for late posting, but we saw a juv Common Cuckoo on the north side of the Marsh road between Llanrhiddian and Wernffrwd yesterday late morning.

As Emma was checking the moth trap this morning she got an added bonus – a Yellow Wagtail as it flew south calling.

Superb weather this weekend at Broughton on West Gower. Many thanks to the large black cloud that stayed to our east most of today! Weathermen got that one spot on!

. The birds were having a good time, Breeding evidence:- Rock Pipit adult feeding large juvenile (beach); 3 pairs at least of Whitethroats feeding fledged broods of 2+ (burrows), 2 pairs of Stonechat feeding fledged broods of 2+; 1 adult Blue Tit feeding 2 fledglings (caravan park); 2+ pairs of Linnet feeding fledged broods of 2+ and 3+ respectively. I also picked up what appeared to be a Barn Owl feather. I also bumped into a Carmarthenshire based birder who told me he had seen an adult Glaucous Gull in the vicinity near Burry Holm yesterday evening – no luck with that one today. We also noted the remains of 2 Scarlet Tiger moths today on the cliff path and a few Cinnabar moths were about as well as Small Heath, Common Blue, Red Admiral, Speckled Wood and Large Skipper.

Just an adult Gannet off Blue Pool / Little Broughton of note yesterday morning. Resorted to butterfly watching instead and noted several Common Blue, several Small Heath and a Green-veined White. Several Whitethroats were out in force hoovering up local caterpillars!

I took a walk out to the rivermouth, generally quiet, but glorious weather with a nice cool gentle S breeze. Plenty of moth and butterfly activity today (Little Blue, Common Blue, Orange Tip, Small Heath, Wall, Peacock, GV White, Cinnabar moth). Just 1 ringed Plover flew from Pool over the Burrows towards the beach and I was accompanied all the way out to the sands (and back later!) by 2 noisy territorial Lapwing! Out at the rivermouth there were 50+ mainly imm. Common Gull roosting with the LBB, GBB and Herring gulls, 2 Tufted Duck and 5 Sanderling and about 10 or so Swallow trickled through northwards. Inland at the saltmarsh and sandy slack there were a pair of Little Grebe, 3 Grey Heron, numerous Mallard and Canada Geese with ducklings and goslings, hunting Kestrel, 2 Coot, dozens of Skylark and Meadow Pipit, a male Wheatear, 4+ Sedge Warbler, 6+ Reed Warbler, a dozen or so Linnet and 4+ Reed Bunting. On the falling tide at Kenfig Sands a small wader flock included 8 Ringed Plover, 2 Dunlin and 6 Sanderling. Back at the Pool, the Mute Swan pair have 5 cygnets.

It was nice to bump into Oriole Birding and the hardy Watford RSPB group on a seawatch at Porthcawl from the shelter. Initially quiet, the group retired for dinner, but fortunately for me it livened up after 1810. In a strengthening onshore NW breeze, the following moved down-channel:- 2 Gannet, 2 European Storm Petrel, 2+ Manx Shearwater, 2+ Fulmar, 2 Common Guillemot and a flock of 11 summer plumaged Dunlin. An Oystercatcher was also present at the point.

Holly and I made a quick visit this evening after some heavy showers. Only an adult Grey Heron feeding, but we did see our first Swift of the year flying over.