100+ kittiwakes on or around the nesting ledges….

And surprisingly 1 great crested grebe in almost summer plumage foraging close in by Verdi’s

30 curlew, 20 Oycs, 1 redshank….

Good to see over 30 kittiwake back on what’s left of the nesting platforms on the old lifeboat station this morning

Dodgy record shot of the female mandarin duck found by Owain Gabb yesterday

 

Long staying med gull E825 still in Bracelet Bay car park this morning..

Initially ringed in Antwerp 6/2006 as 3K80

And first seen in Mumbles by the late Barry Weston in October 2008

It was re-ringed as E825 in May 2012 and has continued to over winter in Mumbles ever since..

Based on the history it will be returning to Belgium within the next 2 weeks..

50+ common gull, 50+BH gulls, 2 gbb’s, 3 lbb’s, 20 herring gulls, 250 oycs, 5 dunlin, 1 curlew, 1 med gull, 1 gcg flying over towards Crymlyn… lots of corvids (crows + jackdaws), 1 pied wagtail

Fab views of hunting ringtail  harrier this morning.. Also present 2 great white egrets, red kite, kestrel…. And all the regular stuff

 

Gower Bird Hospital “released & ringed” herring gull looking healthy this morning..

Good to see their gull release scheme is working… Waiting for the history of this bird..

upwards of 50 med gulls there this morning.. Most I’ve counted this winter

250+ oycs, good numbers of common,herring,bh gulls, 1 med gull

.. 2 lesser bb’s, 2 gc grebes, 2 bar tailed godwits, 1 knot, 1 redshank, flock of 20+ lotties.. And more b*****y dog walkers than you could count who all ask if there is anything rare you are watching while their mut is running amuck through the flock.. So frustrating

Good numbers of oystercatchers as normal, probably 1 to 200.  Common  gulls, GBB gulls, BH gulls, 4 med gulls including a German ringed bird..

One red breasted merg, 6 gc grebes

3 flyover curlew

No small waders at all

 

Up to 10 med gulls in the carpark with probably another 20 down on the rocks..

Long staying Belgium bird E825 been visiting Swansea since 2006

And a very nice “almost summer plumage ” bird in the flock

main pool from hide had NO duck at all.. 2 little grebe & 2 moorhen.. South pool from the road had 5 gadwall & 2 mallard..and 1 Cetti calling.. I have never seen it this quiet

 

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two GND’s close in.. been around all week.. And a third flyover bird out of Swansea bay heading west

Also a German ringed med gull… Was around earlier this year but disappeared.. Reappeared this week

2 great northern divers close in this morning.. Great photograph opportunities…

2 great northern diver in close to the shore this morning

Good numbers of med gulls this morning.. 25+ (no ringed birds)

Several auk moving west — probably guillemots

2 shag fishing in the bay..

No sign of the little gull or GND…

unbelievably quiet on a very misty stormy morning.. Couple of auks flying west.. Bh & herring gulls only.. Not one med gull seen.. No kittiwakes

.. No divers lurking in the mist.. Time for a

Costa I think.. And a big towel to dry the inside of my car!

Lots of vis mig this morning… 200 plus wood pigeons.. 20 skylarks.. Big flock of golden plover over fields above 3 Cliffs.. Late wheatear, 2 little egrets in the flooded valley, grey heron.. Good numbers of mipits flying around