Sighting posted on GOS from Mark Hebden:

“Great White Egret seen briefly on our lake. Fuzzy but definitive record shot as it flew off towards Hensol Lake . Out of county sighting but tried to post on Glamorgan site but beaten off by complexity!”

A Ring Ouzel was at the seaward end of the valley this afternoon. Also around were Merlin, Wheatear, Grey Wagtail, Chough [2], Swallow [40], several each of Blackcap and Chiffchaff, plus a couple of Clouded Yellow butterflies.

Nine Choughs present this afternoon, including the resident colour-ringed pair.

Well, it might be something of a birdless desert out there locally just now, but here’s a reminder that Glamorgan can occasionally come up trumps: Little Whimbrel at Sker, September 1982 (filmed on Super 8 by Alan Shaw).

Two Curlew Sandpipers were attempting to roost with Ringed Plovers and Dunlin in Trecco Bay on the rising tide this evening, but flew off around Newton Point due to disturbance. They were better marked than the two still present on Ogmore this morning, and may well be the other two of the four that have recently been frequenting the estuary.

Otherwise a 1st-winter Mediterranean Gull at the point and a juvenile Bar-tailed Godwit on Black Rocks.

An immature male Merlin chasing Meadow Pipits and Linnets this morning.

Two still around first thing this morning at Ogmore Estuary, later joined by a third bird.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Curlew Sandpiper still around this evening on the Bridgend side of the estuary (had to break the waders out to photograph it). Also several White Wagtails  and Yellow Wagtails noted, plus two Wigeon on the Watermill.

Dean’s Curlew Sandpiper from this evening. What a peach!

Very odd sight this evening of a Guillemot at Ogmore, over the high tide. Initially seen diving near the sewage works bridge upstream of Portobello and then cruising down the river among the Canada Geese and Black-headed Gulls. Not something you see everyday! At one point it surfaced near where I stood, allowing me to take a brief snatch of video footage.

A juvenile Black-necked Grebe was on the westernmost of the south pools today, feeding very actively. Also a Whinchat nearby.

A covey of six Grey Partridges seen in a weedy field edge near Cwm Nash early morning.

Several thousand Swallows late evening over the river and dunes, quite a sight.

Ogmore: A Greenshank and two Kingfishers of note. Also present a ‘pest controller’ who has been shooting Canada Geese there. Speaking to him it wasn’t long before he started on about shooting Cormorants on inland waters how and that there too many Buzzards now. As you can imagine I somewhat lost it at that point. Anyway, he told me he had killed 18 geese on his first day of shooting, which seems a pretty pathetic return when there are about 500 there – reckon I could do better with a loaf of bread and a pointy stick! I assume he is not being paid for that level of return, so perhaps the reason is that he enjoys shooting them, rather than to realistically control the numbers?

Llanilid: beware parking by the fenced off road by the film studios – a birder got ticketed there today. Seems a bit mad as loads of people park there and it doesn’t go anywhere, perhaps the justification is that his wheel was on a white line? Anyhow, just a heads up.

Juvenile Knot still present at Llanilid this morning, showing to about 18 inches! Not a lot else at the main pool, although two White Wagtails were new.

 

Nipped down to Llanilid this evening to catch up with this juvenile Knot – present for its second day and a nice find by Alun Hughes. Managed a quick shot in the fading light just after sunset. A Ruff was also present earlier, as well as a Swift.

Main pool area: Little Egret (flew off west after a heavy shower eased), Green Sandpiper, Swift and 30+ Mistle Thrushes feeding on rowan berries in the film studio backlot.

Quite busy this morning, sightings included Reed Warbler (first I’ve seen here), Common Redstart, Tree Pipit, Garden Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, Spotted Flycatcher [2], plenty of Yellowhammers and two juvenile Peregrines at play over Norton Wood.

The Little Tern was still present at Kenfig Pool this morning, plunge diving just metres from where we stood, before resting on a fence post. Great to witness the dedication of one of Glamorgan’s finest photographers in the cause of his art 🙂

Looking at the ordinal of the first photo I think I can make out ’29’ from the code on the metal ring on the bird’s right leg, maybe it will help in tracing where it came from?

Whimbrel, Dunlin (8), Common Sandpiper (5) and Little Egret on the estuary this morning. Redstart, Spotted Flycatcher and Lesser Whitethroat of note in Pant Norton. Nice scattering of Autumn Lady’s-tresses downstream of the house.