2 Poms and 1 Arctic Skua were loitering on the water at high tide this evening, the Arctic making a few chases. The Poms also lifted a couple of times, but other than looking macho, did not seem interested in giving pursuit. Also 4 Gannets looking a bit lost between the showers, otherwise 1 Grey Plover, 4 Bar-wits and 24 Whimbrel the only things of note.

A few counts from the upper section of the Burry (south shore) today, the terns feeding just south of Loughor Bridge this evening being the highlight: Mute Swan 10, Greylag Goose 15, Canada Goose 8, Dark-bellied Brent Goose 4, Shelduck 304, Gadwall 20, Teal 23, Shoveler 5, Red-breasted Merganser 1, Great Crested Grebe 40, Oystercatcher 32, Grey Plover 12, Knot 1, Whimbrel 11, Curlew 10, Common Sandpiper 1, Redshank 9, Black-headed Gull 405, Mediterranean Gull 1, Lesser Black-backed Gull 74, Herring Gull 286, Arctic Tern 2, Common Tern 12, Sandwich Tern 18, Wheatear 10 & White Wagtail 2.

4 new PWC birds in as many minutes on the south side of the bridge mid-morning. 3 Little Ringed Plovers were main highlight,  backed up with 4 Gannets and singles of Common Sandpiper and Whimbrel. A small number of Sand Martins on the move, all heading south-east!

Belated post from yesterday: Winter birds still predominate, though 3 dapper summer plumage Slavonian Grebe at Wernffrwd prove Spring is indeed here. Also there were still 180 D-b Brent in these estuary (plus others still out at Whiteford), 34 Eider at Landimore, 7 R-b Mergs at Wernffrwd and the week saw an influx of G.C. Grebes in the estuary with 51 in one area. Chiffchaffs seem to be everywhere now, but I’ve only heard 1 Blackcap and other than the odd Wheatear, a flock 6 Swallows and 12 Sand Martins on the 2nd, things remain uneventful on the migrant front.

There was still an emphasis on winter birds in the Burry [Wernffrwd to Gowerton section] this morning, with just the faintest hint of spring migration; counts included Mute Swan 11, Canada Goose 34 [the most I’ve in the Burry since 2010], Dark-bellied Brent 669 [many now moving into the upper part of the Burry as they do every year before departing], Shelduck 230, Gadwall 27, Wigeon 190, Teal 77, Red-breasted Merganser 22, Heron 12, Little Egret 28, Great White Egret 2, Oystercather 350+, Knot 200+, Bar-tailed Godwit 27 (RHAT), Redshank 155, Spotted Redshank 1, Ruff 1 & Wheatear 1.

For some of this mornings goose action click HERE

Great Northern Diver still present. Also 24 Great Crested Grebe, 40 Cormorant, 150+ Common Scoterand an imm. male Eider.

An early reminder … Jeremy Douglas-Jones wrote:

This Friday January 23, it is the turn of Peter Douglas-Jones to present the annual Margaret Price Memorial Quiz.  We meet in the Environment Centre, Pier Street, SA1 1RY at 19.00 for a 19.30 start. This friendly test of your birding knowledge, with something for all of us, is good fun and there will be prizes!

Also the winner gets to set the quiz next year, which where Peter comes in.

Please do join us and have a pleasant evening in good company.

In probably the worst possible light for looking at gulls, I saw this Caspian-like Gull on the lake around mid-day today. Unfortunately it refused to flap, fly or do anything else to show it wings, so this is not a claim of a Casp, but just flagging it up as as possible and for those interested in the mystical world of white-headed gulls. If you’re down that way, look for the one with the dark eye and long bill. Should anyone get any pics of the wing tip I’d be interested in seeing them. NB There’s another dark-eye bird with a really dinky bill – aren’t gulls just great!

Video of today’s Spotted Redshank off Dalton’s Point HERE

Other noteworthy sightings included 2 Greenshank, 8 Jack Snipe (a PWC bird I failed to see last year), 42 Common Snipe, 2 Red Kite and south of Loughor Bridge a flock of 569 D-b Brents, ~200 Wigeon & 8 Goldeneye.

There was a noteworthy count of 210 Great Crested Grebes in the Blackpill section of bay yesterday, though relatively few gulls and waders, with 3 Bar-tailed Godwit being the pick of the crop. Chris or Alastiar may have seen more, but I could find no more than 8 Med Gulls before I left, two of which were colour-ringed; [White 31A7] & [Green RX20].

Another fruitless search for the Red-necked Grebe, but good to be out in the glorious weather all the same and to meet a few other birders doing the same. The only additions to my counts made a couple of days ago were a Merlin and 2 Goldeneye at Wernffrwd, with another off Dalton’s Point along with 2 Greenshank, 302 Black-tailed Godwit and a remarkable 54 Gadwall (the most I can recall seeing on the estuary, though higher counts are regular on the ponds at WWT). It’s looking more like my PWC list will end on 145, with Hobby back on the 15th September being my last addition. Or maybe there is still time for a Barn Owl, Fieldfare, Jack Snipe, Bittern, Black Redstart, Brambling or Firecrest?

A search for the Red-necked Grebe at Wernffrwd on this morning’s HT proved fruitless, but the birding was pretty good nonetheless, birds noted (along with Owain) including 2 Slavonian and a few GC Grebes, 398 D-b Brent, 311 Shelduck, 732 Pintail, 1 Goldeneye, 7 R-b Merganser, 2 GW Egret, Red Kite, Peregrine, 1500+ Dunlin, 700 Knot & 4 Rock Pipit. At Penclawdd counts included 86 Shelduck, 230 Pintail, 280 Dunlin, 1302 Knot, 154 Black-wit, 1 Bar-wit. At dusk 11 Yellowhammer in Cwmdulais was the highest count there for some time, plus 3 Red Kites and a Tawny Owl put in brief appearances.

Sightings from the 24th included a Pomarine Skua in Rhossili Bay along with 2 R-t Diver, 227 C Scoter, 1 Fulmar, 1 Gannet, 13 Kittiwake, a few Guillemots and a Harbour Porpoise. Oxwich Bay the same day had 178+ C Scoter & 31 Kittiwake.

I am saddened to announce that Derek passed away earlier today after a lengthy spell in Glangwili Hospital in Carmarthen. Since his move to Wales it wasn’t long before we became acquainted with Derek and his wife Beryl. There is much can and will be said about man who achieved an impossible amount in his life, but a moment of light entertainment I will treasure, was the day Derek became incomprehensibility bewildered. Derek had not long caught up with a Laughing Gull found earlier by Julian Friese in the Tywi Valley and had just finished taking a detailed set of notes as Sandra and myself turned up, Derek still having the bird set up nicely in his scope. Fantastic, that was until I pointed out it was a Franklin’s Gull! Imagine the scene as more birders arrived and were treated to an unexpected Franklin’s and not a Laughing Gull. I could tell Derek was upset, but he was adamant there was a Laughing Gull, which he said must have flown off and been replaced by a Franklin’s. But he knew that no one was ever going to believe that. I can remember vividly his immense relief when I called him an hour later to say we’d just relocated the Laughing Gull a little way downstream! A remarkable day and a remarkable man.

Still some terns about with 32+ Sandwich and a couple of Commics noted on this afternoon’s high tide. Also a Curlew Sandpiper & 400+ Black-tailed Godwit along with the usual suspects.

Mark Hipkin called to say he’s just found a Kentish Plover at Crymlyn Burrows (SS7092) on the beach at the west end. Access is best by the campus entrance off Fabian Way – well done Mark on yet another great find!

There were a few terns feeding between Salthouse Point and Dalton’s Point late afternoon. There were at least 29 Sandwich, 2 Arctics, 3 Commons and 2 or 3 Commics. Surprised to see this number so late! Lots of waders and waterfowl on the mudflats there too including 200+ Wigeon.

A Common Sandpiper was on the rocks at the end of the witches nose, a couple of Chough were feeding on the cliff turf there and lots of Rock Pipits along the coast were the only other birds of note today, the plants providing more interest. A few days back a flock of 18 Jays dropped into Mewslade Valley, but they did not stop and kept on heading s.w., it being the first obvious migrating group I’ve seen this autumn.

A Hobby passed purposefully down the estuary this evening and 20 Canada Geese headed the other way. These geese are still relatively scarce in the Loughor Estuary, for the time being at least. Perhaps they are part of the Ogmore flock looking for a safer haven!

I checked out the pre-roost gathering of Pied Wagtails noted by Chris Brewer a few evenings back and in one sweep I counted 191 on the ground. Birds coming and going all the time heading off to roost toward Pentre Farm Marsh and an estimate of 250+ is probably more representative of the total. 2 Yellow Wagtails were also present feeding up until 19:15hrs when the bulk of the birds headed off to roost.

Earlier the Marsh Harrier was seen at Penclawdd, Penclacwydd & Llanrhidian (it gets about!), it came close enough at one point to read the wing tags, so hopefully details to follow…

Spotted Redshank, Greenshank, 2 Red Kites, Kingfisher all by the car park yesterday and off Dalton’s Point a Curlew Sandpiper was with the wader flock that included 364 Black-tailed Godwits and 127 Knot.