At least one Yellow-browed Warbler still at Kenfig Pool – this bird was near the north pool beach, so possibly a new arrival as none were seen in the northern dunes nor Odin this morning. Otherwise disappointingly quiet.

One Yellow-browed Warbler still present at Kenfig Pool this morning at Odin ride and was calling frequently. The female Marsh Harrier was seen briefly over the north pool and a Peregrine and 13 Snipe went over. Six Pintail, 17 Wigeon, 4 Teal and a Shoveler were on the pool, a Redwing was in the west pool bushes and a Little Egret was flushed from the east pool shore and flew off high east over the caravan park.

A very enjoyable morning with 2 showy Yellow-browed Warblers, Firecrest, 16 Chiffchaffs & a late Lesser Whitethroat in the west pool bushes, female Marsh Harrier over north pool before going south, juvenile Garganey with small Teal flock and a Jack Snipe, 2 Common Snipe and 4 Dunlin flushed off the east pool shore.

The Yellow-browed Warbler was again at the top of Odin ride in the west pool this morning and was much more vocal than on my previous sighting. A Firecrest was off the Prince of Wales track and wildfowl continue to arrive on the north easterlies with 32 Wigeon, 21 Teal, 2 Pintail and a Pochard present this morning.

A Yellow-browed Warbler showed a couple of times in the west pool bushes at Kenfig Pool [in the large sycamore next to where the dead poplars used to be]. It was mobile and being chased around by a Chiffchaff. Two Merlins passed south west over the southern dunes together and Sker held 100+ Golden Plovers, an adult Med Gull and a Grey Plover of note. Very little visible migration today with the pick of the bunch being five Siskins going north east over the pool. At least 10 Red Admirals were on the wing around the pool.

A Sooty Shearwater passing fairly close inshore going down channel was a nice surprise at Sker this morning. Also noted were 427 Manx Shearwaters, 32 Gannets, 3 Kittiwakes and 2 Fulmars between 06.45 & 08.30. The high tide wader roost held 91 Oystercatchers, 57 Sanderlings, 19 Ringed Plovers, 17 Turnstones, 8 Curlews and 3 Dunlins.

A breeding plumaged Black-tailed Godwit and a fly over Dunlin were at Kenfig Pool this morning, along with two female Pochards and eleven Swifts

A Greenshank was an early migrant at Kenfig Pool this morning

A very showy Grasshopper Warbler was in the west of Kenfig Pool, where there was also a female Redstart. A Goshawk flew over going north and at least 4 Common Whitethroats were song flighting.

Busy day at the pool today with one, possibly two male Redstart[s], Little Ringed Plover, 2 Bar-tailed & a Black-tailed Godwit, Common Whitethroat, Common Sandpiper, 3 male Blackcaps and large numbers of phylloscs and hirundines.

An adult Cattle Egret flew in from the south east and landed in East Pool Marsh at Kenfig Pool at 09.30. The bird was settled until flushed by 4 Moorhens that dashed out of the reeds on to the stony area where it was resting. It flew off high north west but circled and landed somewhere out of sight behind the north pool hide. The juvenile Hobby as still present on the posts in the East Pool Fields and a Dunlin and 4 Lapwings went over. 22 Blackcaps, 9 Chiffchaffs, 8 Song Thrushes, a Willow Warbler and 3 Goldcrests were of note in the bushes and 13 Teal, 4 Wigeon, 2 Shoveler, 2 Gadwall and the long staying female Pintail were on the pool. Very little visible migration noted other than 16 Pied Wagtails, 112 Swallows and 22 Meadow Pipits.

Best day of the autumn so far… At Sker the wader roost held 1 Ruff, 2 Grey Plovers, 2 Bar-tailed Godwits, 3 Sanderlings, 23 Curlews and 293 Oystercatchers, while 9 Kittiwakes were offshore and a Peregrine was constantly patrolling the beach.

Kenfig Pool had two Black Terns until 10.15 at least, 11 Knot flew over going west, while a female Pintail, 2 Wigeon, 4 Teal, 6 Gadwall, 1 Dunlin, 1 ad winter Mediterranean Gull, 1 Wheatear, 2 Garden Warblers and a Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Kingfishers, 50 Swallows & 3 Great Spotted Woodpeckers were also present.

The high tide this morning produced five Red Knot, three of which were in full breeding plumage, 40 Turnstones, 93 Oystercatchers, two Dunlins and six Curlews in the roost, while offshore 13 Gannets, 23 Kittiwakes, 6 Manx Shearwaters and 2 Sandwich Terns were busy feeding over a shoal not too far offshore from Kenfig Sands.

The Great White Egret is still present – this morning roosting in the West Pool after being flushed off the South Pool Beach by a pack of six dogs charging at it. Also present were six Little Egrets – the most I have ever seen together on the reserve though these soon flew west, while a Redshank, a Dunlin and five Common Sandpipers were on the East Pool Shore

A Purple Heron was flushed from trees [presumably it had been roosting there] near the north pool hide by an immature Goshawk doing a switchback display!! I didn’t see the bird until it flew and it went away from me, which enabled excellent views of both under and upper wing patterns. It was then seen distantly for about a minute flying back along the western edge of the pool before it dropped behind the dunes and was not relocated but it appeared to be heading towards the Kenfig Rivermouth. Also present today were a Black-headed Gull and a Curlew on the East Pool Shore and a few large Skippers and Dark Green Fritillaries.

Two Common Cranes with no rings or wing tags over Kenfig Pool this morning. First seen at Sker [DGC] and then over the pool [ND] before landing somewhere in the Western Dunes. Also Very nice views of Grasshopper Warbler, 4 Common Whitethroats and an unseen Reed Warbler singing in the north east corner.

Two Red-throated Divers and 8 Purple Sandpipers were the high tide highlights at Sker this morning with 750 Golden Plovers, 100 Oystercatchers, 32 Curlew and 35+ Turnstones present, as well as a Mistle Thrush in off the sea that landed on Sker Point… Kenfig Pool was half frozen and numbers of wildfowl continue to increase with counts of 76 Tufted Ducks, 19 Gadwall, 10 Goldeneye and the long staying female Pintail.

Small influx of wildfowl with counts of 59 Tufted Ducks, 34 Coots, 5 Goldeneyes, 38 Mallards and 10 Mute Swans as well as 5 Lapwings, 2 Snipe and a Redshank on the East Pool Shore. Otherwise just a Treecreeper and Goldcrest of note in the Birchwood, 3 Redwings in the East Pool Fields and my first Sky Lark of the year for the reserve going over south.

The Firecrest was again in the same area as described by NPR and showing very well.

Flight views of a Bittern, Jack & Common Snipe in the East Pool Marsh and a dog Otter in the middle of the pool.