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).

Six people assembled at Kenfig NNR , including the leader for the day John Western, for the monthly GBC bird walk on Saturday 20th July.

Undoubtedly,  the dismal weather forecast had put potential participants off, together with the start of the peak holiday season , following schools breaking up the previous day.

Thankfully, the rain kept away until late morning by which time those taking part were heading for the car park and home.

This good fortune meant that the group headed for the bird hide, but not before completing a circular walk around the woodland adjacent to the hide. The path used for this walk had, until recently, been flooded and impassable. The flood water had since receded and all was well.

July has the reputation of being a quiet month from a birding point of view, and so it proved. Small birds, including the usual suspects such as Robin, Dunnock and Great Tit were conspicuous by their absence, both visually and vocally.

Nevertheless, the group soldiered on and eventually managed to report the grand total of 18 species.

A single Raven flew over, a Great Black Backed Gull was resting on the old boathouse, a calling Water Rail was heard and it was gratifying to see the Great Crested Grebe family in full view and good shape on the far side of the pool. 

It is hoped that the August walk will be more productive, but none the less it was an enjoyable experience. 

Full list of species recorded is as follows:- Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Swift, Swallow, Coot , Black – headed Gull, Herring Gull, Great black – backed Gull, Lesser black- backed Gull, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Chiffchaff, Blackbird, Greylag Goose, Great Crested Grebe and Water Rail.”

Many thanks to John Western for this report and for leading the walk.

We had a successful trip to Goldcliff Newport Wetlands today, with 10 participants. There was some work going on but we still logged 50 species. Highlights were Little, Great and Cattle Egrets [singles of the last two with the Cattle Egret being in full breeding plumage]. Waders comprised a nice flock of c.80 Dunlin plus Ringed Plover & Lapwing, and 2 Green Sandpipers. Amongst the duck [all in eclipse plumage now] were a couple of Wigeon, Shoveler, Gadwall, Teal and a Pintail. A female Marsh Harrier flew a couple of times and was then found on the ground plucking a prey item, but we couldn’t figure out what it was, apart from the fact that the pluckings were feathers! John Wilson.
Click here for the full list.
Couple of heavily cropped shots below of the Cattle Egret when it flew off.

The highlight for us was seeing Small-Red-eyed Damselflies some pairs ovipositing along with Azure Blue Damselfly and Emperor Dragonfly. The where a large number of newly emerged Damselflies not identified. Great Crested Grebe 16 Common Sandpiper 1

Thirteen of us enjoyed our ‘Walk for Women’ here this morning. Great company, friends old and new, the weather was glorious, and we found 32 species between us, seen and heard. The highlights were – Green and Great Spotted Woodpeckers in the same tree, a distant Common Sandpiper, low flying Swift over the lake 30+ Coot and at least 8 Little Grebe.

Full list-

Mute Swan, Grey Wagtail, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Swift, Swallow, House Martin, Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant, Mallard, Canada Geese, Black Headed Gull, Woodpigeon, Chiffchaff, Magpie, Tufted Duck, Blackcap, Common Buzzard, House Sparrow, Wren, Robin, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Herring Gull,Blackbird, Nuthatch, Pied Wagtail, Coot, Common Sandpiper,Blue Tit, Little Grebe, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker.

Thanks for coming everyone!

World First

Two headed Egret found at Catcott Hide

I was doing what i do sitting and watching – a family of Moorhen on pond of water at slimbridge, then

I must admit, it tanged my heart string

Can you name this dragonfly ?

I hope this proves i do take pic’s of dragonfly, once and all – cheers Martin

At Wykeham Forest pair of Woodcock’s just before dark

Redstart 3 Spotted Flycatcher 1 also Common Newt Beautiful Demoiselle lots of Common Spotted Orchids and some Marsh Orchids.

In 2016, a group of GBC members spent a week on the Uist islands, on a trip organised by Alan Rosney.

Janet and I liked it so much that we have wanted to return ever since…. and today we landed back on South Uist.

Within 300m of getting off the ferry in Lochboisdale, South Uist today, we stopped at a roadside pool. Heron, Oystercatcher, Greylag… Nice enough.

Then a SEO rose from the ground of a nearby garden and flew right at us, too close for bins!

15 minutes later, we stopped again. While I was watching a Redshank on a post, Janet looked round to see a White-tailed Sea Eagle flying low about 100m away. Good start? I think so.

Yes – i cheated, firstly the 6 Pic’s was caught as the nightjar shot down and across i masked then together to show the flight – night was cold and full of midges and worth every moment as i saw 3 and heard many more

At Goldcliff on a grey cloudily day the Ruff added colour

Not bird related,but in a walk around the lake i found Bee Orchids in two locations.

Sunday 19th May 2024

This was our 4th Walks For Women, popular as ever, with 9 of us enjoying the warm sunshine. Great to meet old and new friends. We were pleased to see or hear 35 species between us, the highlights being Lesser Whitethroat , a Great Crested Grebe family with 2 well-grown young, Willow Warblers everywhere, 3 Reed Warblers singing with one seen amongst the reeds and goslings of Canada and Greylag Geese.

Full list-

Canada Goose , Greylag Goose, Mute Swan , Mallard, Woodpigeon , Coot , Great Crested Grebe , Herring Gull , Cormorant , Grey Heron , Buzzard , Kestrel , Magpie, Jackdaw , Carrion Crow, Blue Tit , Great Tit , Sand Martin, Swallow , Cetti’s Warbler , Long-tailed Tit, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff , Reed Warbler, Blackcap , Lesser Whitethroat , Whitethroat, Wren , Starling , Song Thrush , Blackbird, Robin, House Sparrow , Dunnock, Goldfinch

Thanks to everyone for coming along, and to Strinda Davies for leading

Saturday 18th May 2024

11 folk took part on our Monthly Public walk on Saturday, on an overcast but warm and still day.

We were lucky enough to hear, then see flying – a Cuckoo! There were also singing 2( we think) Lesser Whitethroat, 2 well- grown Great Crested Grebe young , 4 flying Lapwing, Greylag and Canada Geese with goslings and a couple of Swift – my first this year.

Full List – 44

Canada Goose , Greylag Goose, Mute Swan , Mallard, , Swift , Cuckoo, Woodpigeon , Collared Dove , Coot , Great Crested Grebe , Lapwing ,Herring Gull , Lesser Black-backed Gull , Cormorant , Grey Heron , Sparrowhawk , Buzzard , Kestrel , Magpie, Jackdaw , Carrion Crow, Blue Tit , Great Tit , Skylark , Sand Martin, Swallow , Cetti’s Warbler , Long-tailed Tit, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff , Reed Warbler, Blackcap , Lesser Whitethroat , Whitethroat, Wren , Starling , Song Thrush , Blackbird, Robin, House Sparrow , Dunnock, Bullfinch , Linnet , Goldfinch

White tailed Eagle decided to fly nearly across the Boat

Thanks to the GBC walk on Sunday

At last the fist pair of Swallows have finally returned to our large workshop/garage, I thought they’d never come. I’ve been putting up several additional nesting ledges high up inside disused outbuildings throughout our site so hopefully the breeding pairs will be up from last year (4).