At 7:30 this evening a 2cy Franklin’s Gull flew across from Penclacwydd and landed in the middle of the estuary on the incoming tide. I then met up with Rob Taylor at Dalton’s Point where we quickly relocated the bird, but it took off almost immediately and went round the corner towards Wernffrwd. From the church Rob eventually relocated the bird on the edge of the marsh and Neil Edwards, Mark Hipkin & Rob Jones managed to see the bird in before the light faded. It was last seen flying back up the estuary with a small group of Black-heads around 8:30 – bit of mad hour – well done Mark and Rob for getting there so quickly!

Assuming it’s there tomorrow it’s likely to be with the Black-heads, so could be anywhere in the upper section of the estuary between Loughor Bridge and Wernffrwd, or at WWT where most of the Black-heads commute to and from. The light will be excellent for the first few hours, but the haze will make things very difficult from about 10 onwards. I have the usual rubbish record shots which I’ll put on the GRC later, assuming I don’t fall asleep in the bath with my bottle of wine…fingers crossed for tomorrow.

Otter video from this morning HERE

Osprey causing mayhem this evening as it wandered around the estuary, only other new birds in of note were 11 Whimbrel.

3 new birds for patch work challenge this afternoon, House Martin, Stonechat and 2 Sandwich Terns on the posts at Wernffrwd

7 Little Gulls in the murk south of the bridge this afternoon, 5 more than my previous highest there!

Slavonian Grebe and Little Gull only birds of note  – Videos on Gower Wildife Blog HERE

2 Great White Egrets (bare part colours rapidly on the turn) feeding just west of the mounds, 3 Slavonian Grebes (still predominantly winter plumage) just off the marsh edge to the west and 6 R-b Mergs in fine fettle were the highlights on the high tide first thing. Generally though far fewer birds around, with the Crofty D-b Brent flock having gone down from 370 to 79 in the last few days, although I could see another 26 off Weobley. Still no Wheatear for me, though Chiffchaffs were singing most places I stopped at today and yesterday I did see a couple of Sand Martin’s at Swansea Vale.

Despite the spring-like conditions we’ve been experiencing, there have still been 370+ Dark-bellied Brents regular off Salthouse Point in the last few days – video of a busy group readying themselves for departure HERE

Stopped off on the way back home this evening and counted 370 D-b Brent, 1 P-b Brent & 236 Golden Plover. The GPs have been roosting close to the marsh road for the last few days (SS517945), so worth a look if you’re passing. Also the Brents seem to know the shooting season is over and are now much more approachable. I noted one colour-ringed bird which I’ll report details off when I hear back. No Wheatears on the mound this evening but a White Wagtail was my second spring migrant of the year.

The bird was ringed in 2005 on Bird Islands, Lidia Bay, Taimyr and has only been resighted twice since, both times in the Burry Inlet by myself*, in March 2007 and yesterday.

(* that is assuming the return has not excluded other observers – it’s now automated so not so easy to check?)

Yet another splendid adult Ring-billed Gull south of the bridge 15 mins ago, found earlier by Paul Larkin. It was disturbed by fishermen but returned, so could stick around a while.

Alasrtair Flanningan emailed me yesterday to say that he’d seen his first Sand Martin on the River Tawe (9^th March), matching his earliest date at this site.

2 adult Ring-billed Gulls this evening at Blackpill – with the tide right out it was 1km+ walk out to them, but well worth it as there was very little disturbance. Video HERE

am HT: Black Brant (Penclawdd – details on GRC blog) with 682 D-b & 1 P-b Brent. Yest: 3 Slavs (Wernffrwd), 1 Water Pipit (Dalton’s) & 2 GWEgrets (Llanrhidian)

Additions to Chris Brewer’s 2cy Glaucous at B.H. and 2cy Iceland at B.B. this morning included an second 2cy Iceland on Rhossili Beach at B.H. along with the (long-staying?) Nelson’s Gull and 2 adult Little Gulls. With ever so slightly darker outer primaries, one of the Iceland’s (shown above) had a hint of Kumlien’s about it, but essentially it looked pretty much typical glaucoides (video link HERE). Also of note were hundreds of Black-headed Gulls including a very leucistic bird that looked bright white at first glance. 60+ Kittiwakes milling around too, some drifting along the dune edge – very odd behaviour for this species!

In Broughton Bay a more typical and well marked 2cy Kumlien’s was on the beach, occasionally taking flight and showing its features well. A great bird to round off an afternoon stroll to blow out the cobwebs!

Wow – what a morning despite the weather. Ross’s Gull an absolute star bird in the company of 6+ Little Gulls (1 2cy, 1 3cy & 4+ adults),  also Razorbill and Guillemot in the river channel.

Presumably the same Great Northern Diver seen by Owain last week was still present very close inshore mid-day today (video HERE). Also a Razorbill close inshore and frustrating views of an adult Glaucous or Iceland Gull flying west along the coast in Bracelet Bay where there were 20+ Med Gulls.

A Kumlien’s Gull flew into the pill in front of the Lido at 1650hrs where it bathed for 10 mins or so. Good numbers of other gulls too, though most very distant. I’d only seen a dozen Meds before the Kum’s flew in which was surprising, though birds were flying in all the time. I’ll put some pics of the gull on the GRC later…

Great Northern Diver close inshore on the north side of Mumbles Pier (Owain Gabb) and a Jack Snipe bobbing straight out from the hide at Oxwich (BS, SJS).

7 Red-throated Diver, 3 Little Gulls and a Bonxie all west. Also around 300 Kittiwakes, with as many lingering and resting on the sea as were moving west. 100 or so Herring Gulls, 60 Common and 50 Black-headed Gulls feeding very profitably amongst the spume over the rocks on the incoming tide. 2 Chough flew over west.

Reminder

Dear Members,
FRIDAY 24th JANUARY 2014
It is time for the annual quiz again. This year the Margaret Price Memorial quiz will be set by Alastair Flannagan because he won last year’s.
The quiz will be a test for the experts and fun for those like me who have a more basic knowledge, but always an enjoyable evening, so do try to join us, support the society and have a bit of fun.
Doors open soon after 19.00 on Friday with kick-off at 19.30. Admission is just £1.00 each to cover costs. I look forward to seeing you all.
Kind regards
Jeremy

Jeremy Douglas-Jones
14 Alder Way, West Cross
Swansea SA3 5PD
01792 551331
07770 986791

Male photographed by Paul Copner hunting over the fields above Landimore – recent records suggest there are 1, possibly 2 males and 2 females roosting at Llanrhidian in recent weeks.