Didn’t find the Ring Ouzel, but saw two very bright Yellowhammers in Pant Norton!

Plus-

Black-headed Gull 30+, Blue Tit 2, Canada Goose 200+, Cormorant 2, Great Tit HouseSparrow 4 , Little Egret 1, Mallard 30+, Pied Wagtail 1, Shelduck 1, Wren 1
Blackbird 6Buzzard 2Carrion Crow 2Curlew 1
Herring Gull 200+, Linnet 2, Magpie 4, Mute Swan 4+, Robin 1, Woodpigeon 50+
Yellowhammer 2

3 more birds for yesterday’s GBC walk, Dunnock, starling, tufted duck

Ten hardy souls took part on the GBC monthly Saturday morning bird walk, very blustery with occasional squally showers.  We were very pleased to log 36 species. Highlights included two Ringed Plover, and a Med Gull (thanks to Tom) a Great Spotted Woodpecker in flight, and a small flock of Golden Plover between the pool and the Centre.

Full list-

Black-headed Gull 10+         Meadow Pipit 3                          Magpie 3
Mute Swan 3                          Blue Tit 2                                      Gadwall 4
Collared Dove 2                     Canada Goose 6                          Golden Plover 10+
Ringed Plover 2                      Cetti’s Warbler -Heard             Great Spotted Woodpecker 1
Sparrowhawk 1                     Wigeon 6                                     Swallow 1
Water Rail 1                            Wren                                            Greenfinch 2
Woodpigeon 1                         Goldcrest 1                                 Mediterranean Gull 1
Cormorant 6                            Goldfinch 7                                  Pied Wagtail 1
Blackbird 1                              Great Tit 2                                    Mallard 6
Buzzard 1                                 Coot 30+                                        Long-tailed Tit

Carrion Crow 6                        Herring Gull 10+                      Robin
Chaffinch 3                              Jackdaw 40+                               House Sparrow 10+

Apologies for gaps, I copy and pasted the list from Bird Track, then ended up with a long list.  Then when published, the columns came out of line!

 

 

Seawatch 1030-1210

Highlight was Red Throated Diver d/c. Also surprisingly high numbers of Swallow (30) heading in the same direction.

Otherwise, c.150 BH gulls u/c, 4 Curlew d/c, 1 GBB gull d/c. Other species; Oyk, Carrion Crow, Herring gull, LBB gull, Goldfinch, Mipit, Pied Wagtail, Linnet 

Just a heads up that the 2016 bird report files are with the printer. I have seen a proof and it looks good. I’m away now for 2 weeks so not sure when we’ll get it posted but bear with us. John W

V v wet this morning but there was a Med Gull on the W lake posts. Haven’t seen one in the park fo quite a while. Difficult to see detail but could have been AdW or poss late 2ndS [thought I could make out 2 v small black spots in the primaries]. Graham Smith had a Med/B-h Gull hybrid on Penarth beach recently but I don’t think this was it. Bill looked fully Med Gull weight and size was full Med Gull.

Yellow-browed Warbler  in Pyle, Sunday, still there yesterday. Picked up by call, showing well  in trees along mineral rail line near Llanmihangel Fram/Dunraven stud. Park at St James church on A48, near Old Wine House, take narrow farm track downhill between woods/houses. Over stile at river bridge, turn right and go uphill ’til levels out. Past red gate on left, to first gap in hedge on right and start to listen and look at trees other side of  rail track. Carry on until end of lane, level crossing.

A short seawatch between 0900-1015 saw Emma and myself strike lucky with 10 Leach’s Petrel down-channel, getting closer as the wind pushed them in towards Hutchwns Point. Also noted 1 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Guillemot, 1Common Gull and 4 Skylark. We believe NPR also managed to see 1 between Ogmore and Southerndown.

Seawatch first thing (0715-0830) was relatively quiet. Apart from large numbers of BH gulls, birds of note were; 1 juv. Gannet, 3 Curlew and single Kestrel, all down channel. 7 Oyks up channel.

Also 3 Rock Pipits on the beach and numerous flocks of Goldfinch, Linnet & Meadow Pipit, with quite a few Wagtail in the mix.

6 Swallows were over Singleton Park, Swansea, in Hurricane Ophelia yesterday. Some Redwings heard flying over the previous evening were my first of the year.

Great to experience part of the UK wide hawfinch influx locally today. Whilst looking skywards at the bizarre yellow skies this morning, one then another and then a flock of three flew over the office at Forest Farm. 5 birds in total all heading north.

Single Red Kite over garden this afternoon. Also buzzard, single raven, carrion crow, jackdaw, magpie and jay. Mistle thrush. Usual garden birds at feeders – great, blue, coal and long-tailed tits joined by nuthatch and chaffinch. Robin, wren, dunnock, blackbird. Striking grey wagtail. Pied wagtail.

Red Kite flying South East over Pyle this afternoon, mobbed by 2 Jackdaws.

For the latest ringing news from Oxwich click HERE

Little Egret flying over/away from Kenifg Pool early yesterday evening, towards Sker rocks. Very relaxed Water Rail feeding in shallows of  2nd cut outside South Hide for lengthy periods, over half an hour, not even bothered by a Moorhen. Grey Heron flew over and  several Mallard were in the company of pair of Gadwall, 2 Great Crested Grebe and approx 100 Coot on calm water, in good light. Cetti’s Warbler heard on west and east side of pool.

News just in via Twitter – a Rock Thrush has been found at Pwll-du Quarry just E of The Blorenge. Instructions are to park on the road at SO244119 just NW of the Lamb & Fox pub, then walk north then NE along public footpath for 1/2 mile.

Approx 6 Hirundines low over Pyle this morning, with a similar number over South Corneli within the hour. I was driving both times and am not certain if they were Swallows or Martins.

 

Merlin was seen by the wartime emplacements at approx 16.30 by Matt Binding. Poss a juv

9 Lapwing on Flemingston Moor late afternoon yesterday.

Arctic skua (dark phase) down channel this afternoon.