Common Sandpiper seen at Cosmeston 23Jun25.

Suspected fem marsh harrier seen over farmland just west of Gileston today about 1230. Large brown bird,long straight tail, wings too thin to be buzzard. Low ish flight over ground, maybe 10-20ft up foraging. Definitely not red kite, and no white rump visible (not hen harrier).

Quick walk along west side and up through valley today 5Apr. 1x stonechat (m) and 1st swallow of spring for me. Also seen or heard calling 1x greenfinch, 2x blackcap, 4x chiffchaff. And Holly blue (m) butterfly.

Barn Owl seen 23Dec 0700 close to Gileston on the B4265. My wife says she saw one in the area a few days prior. Close to cars on the road, glad I avoided it.

3x greenfinches seen in gardens on 10min walk back from town centre. Seems a bit of a rarity these days. Just as I was wondering where all the chaffinches had gone I found 5 at another garden feeder.

Male black redstart sitting on railings at the Ham Lane comprehensive school. Seen at about 1:30 while driving by.

Seen in Llantwit Major over housing estate where they are normally resident. Earliest I’ve ever seen one return.

Today at 0900 a chiffchaff flitting about in my front garden right outside the window. Plumage a bit nondescript – almost same colour below as above, eyestripe indistinct.

Barn Owl seen flying over Llantwit Major town centre. About 2230 on Sun 1st Dec.

3x swallows seen 3rd April about 1400. First of the year for me, seems early this year, and on a pretty cold day too.

Found a dipper on the river at 1100 on 7Nov17 just upstream of Ham Manor. First I’ve seen in this area in 26 years!

Probable ring ouzel (fem or imm) seen flying back from the harbour/breakwater back towards car park areas. Friday 29th Sept about 3:45 pm.

Two mediterranean gulls circled the car park at the beach briefly at 13:30 before heading east along the coast.

I viewed the scoter rafts from Rhossili on 7Feb17 – think there were 20-30 scoters in the two rafts I saw but at the limit of my camera’s zoom. (Corrected see comments) Initially thought these were mostly velvet scoters, with a female smew with this group, and also a scaup seen there too. Now likely to be mostly common scoters – maybe one velvet scoter with a white flash. Plus seven sightings of chough (at least three individuals) and the great northern diver(s) at Port Eynon.

2x water rail seen on 23rd Jan. Two separate birds several hundred yards apart, a quiet day so wandering away from the river a few yards. Just sorted my WordPress account..minor achievement.