1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Grey Wag, and 2 Rock Pipits on shoreline of S Cardiff Bay by Plas Taliesin [Penarth Marina] late morning.

A Red Kite flew south across the Gower Road and over Olchfa School at 12.30 p.m.; half-a-dozen Swallows were over the Clyne Valley.

Four Arctic skuas flew together in close over Sker Point this morning. Otherwise very quiet for September. 50 golden plover, a wheatear and a lapwing on the rocks.

This afternoon:
Ely rivermouth off John Batchelor Way: 2 Turnstone, Common Sandpiper, Grey Wagtail, Mute Swan with 3 Cygnets.

Boardwalk at Old Ice Rink/Prospect Place: Great Crested Grebe pair with 3 well-grown juveniles, drake Pochard (also seen later at CBWR).

Cardiff Bay Wetland Reserve: Water Rail squealing close to boardwalk, 2 Stonechat in the grassy area above the boardwalk, 40+ Tufted Duck, the drake Pochard, a Teal and 3+ Cetti’s Warbler.

River Taff from the car park at Channel View Centre: Goosander, Great Crested Grebe pair with 2 juveniles.

The GBC trip to Goldcliff and Newport Wetlands today gave us 77 species including 14 species of wader. Highlights of the latter were 6 Little Stints, 2 Ruff, 2 Spotted Redshank, and at least 8 Greenshank. A male Marsh Harrier performed well and we had Pere, Kes and a large fem Sparrowhawk plus the impressive white Buzzard. Migrants included 3 Wheatear, a few Yellow Wags seen by some, and at Uskmouth we had a brief Sedge Warbler. All in all a good trip with 18 participants.

One flying north over Canton early this evening.

Grey Wagtail on Afon Cynffig yesterday morning. Tawny Owl x 3 calling early hours of today. 2 Skylark flying South.

22 sanderling, 36 ringed plover, est flock of 12 to 1500 oyster catcher, 10 long t tits viewed from the campus side,

still people leaving dogs off leads putting the birds up despite signs at various places

 

There was a fledgling Goldfinch begging for food from its parent in the garden today. Possibly a third brood.

Belated reports of a male Hen Harrier on 16th, and a ringtail on 18th. The latter seen and filmed by Frank Ryan.

This site appears to have become a bit of a hotspot for the species in the recording area.

 

Single Skylark flying over Pyle today and single Meadow Pipit yesterday, vanguard of  migratory flocks yet to come? Grey Wagtail active on Afon Cynffig near the weir and plenty of Goldcrest calling in Collwyn woods. One singing male.

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

Sunny morning out on the hill. Good numbers of Goldfinch(108 feeding on thistle and ?ragwort heads-mix flock of adults and juvenile),Meadow Pipit (42), Goldcrest(2), Chiffchaff(6), Mistle Thrush(9), Blackbird(5),Raven(1),Red Kite(1),Sparrowhawk(1), Pied Wagtail(7).In Nant y Glais Woods-Blue Tit(5),Great Tit(4),Coal Tit(5), Great Spotted Woodpecker(1) and Green Woodpecker(1). Butterflies included Peacock, Red Admiral, Small Tortoiseshell and Speckled Wood.

Swanbridge at sunrise today just after high tide revealed 61 Ringed Plover on Sully Island along with 13 Turnstone, 11 Oystercatcher and 4 Curlew. A Green Woodpecker was in the trees behind Swanbridge Farm.

On Sully Beach between Burnham Avenue and the sailing club slipway, 42 Turnstone and another 10 Ringed Plover.

At Bendrick Rock singles of Common Sandpiper, Grey Wagtail, singing Chiffchaff and Curlew.

At Barry Old Harbour a Kingfisher, 2 Curlew, 2 Little Egret, 4 Mediterranean Gulls in with 150+ Black-headed Gulls, and a 1st Winter Stonechat.

Lastly at the Knap Lake, 29 Tufted Duck and the returning Lesser Scaup lookalike hybrid.

Still morning in the valley. Species included Great Spotted Woodpecker(2),Jay(3), Treecreeper(1),Nuthatch(4), Coal Tit(7),Blue Tit(15),Great Tit(6), Goldcrest(4), Blackcap(5 all feeding on blackberries), Chiffchaff(7), Red Kite(2), Buzzard(2), Sparrowhawk(1),Raven(2), Stonechat(4), Meadow Pipit(2), Blackbird(9), Song Thrush(4), Mistle Thrush(5), House Martin(circa 200 hawking in large flock over the slopes of Mynydd Garn Fach),Bullfinch(7)  Goldfinch(2),Wren(6) and a Robin in almost every bush ! .Totally blanked on Chaffinch and Long Tailed Tit which is unusual.

Just a heads up:

Want to know more about Brazil’s Pantanal? Richard Smith will be giving an illustrated talk to the Gower Ornithological Society this Friday 22nd at the Environment Centre – Pier Street (on right hand side of Morgan’s Hotel) Swansea at 7 p.m.

Highlights of the GBC monthly walk this morning were a Blakc Tern feeding over the pool for some time, a brief visit by an Arctic Tern, a Firecrest in bushes as the south end of the pool [seen earlier by Neil Donaghy – an also yesterday]. Unfortunately I was the only one who saw the latter reasonably clearly – it flitted in a Sycamore then flew across the path into dense Willow and wouldn’t show again. A Wigeon was also on the E Pool shoreline. Other than that there were plenty of Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs. Over 40 species seen.

Hundreds of hirundines over heading south (mainly Swallows), with a single Swift in amongst them. Large (c.100) flock of Goldfinch and smaller group of Linnet present. Also single Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler.

Butterflies were probably the highlight though – I saw more in the wild flower meadow than the rest of the year combined! Present were; Clouded Yellow and Painted Lady along with Comma, Small Tortoiseshell, Red Admiral, Large White and Speckled Wood.

Dipper active near bridge over Afon Cynffig and was sure I heard a Mistle Thrush singing there earlier on. Blackcap in with flock of LT Tits. 8 Swallows over trees, appeared to include young being fed  in flight.

Grey Phalarope juvenile very close to the bank down stream from Portabello Island also Common Sandpiper 2 Goosander 3 Kingfisher 2 Canada Goose 458 and one Dunlin also a Greenshank at the Watermill.