News reported to me by email – 3 Red Kites were seen over Heol-y-Cyw on 27th Oct. Also there were 6 Grey Partridge in Llanmaes on 26th Oct.

good vis mig.. Greenfinches,chaffinches,mipits,wood Pidgeon’s… 2 late swallows.. Sprawk.. Few crests. House sparrows..

160 Redwing most heading N (one flock c120) 8.30am, 9 fieldfare but most impressive a big influx of Lesser redpoll, largest flock over of 65 but a total of 135 min. most continued over roughly SW but a flock of 30 stopped to feed. Almost all Redpoll over in a brief 5 min around 10am. Nice to see as i usually only see a handful here most Autumn/winters.Smaller numbers of Chaffinch and Greenfinch around too.

Three jack snipe, yellow-browed warbler, reed warbler, a few redwing etc ringed. See:

http://ow.ly/Hd9n305FouU

On the South Pond 1 (f) pintail, 5 wigeon among more regularly occurring species. 3 little egret leaving roost on North Pond first thing.

Not a sighting, but a reminder that next Tuesday (1st Nov) we’ve got an indoor meeting. Cate Barrow will be giving a presentation on Finland. Those of you that saw Cate’s last talk will know that her photos are brilliant. Everyone is welcome, so come along to Kenfig Nature Reserve Centre at 7:45 p.m.

Exceptionally mild and hardly a breeze.-: Jay(9),Nuthatch(2),Grey Heron(2), Common Snipe(4 all flushed from Mynydd Garn Fach),Meadow Pipit(2), Stonechat(1) Bullfinch(15 counts this autumn are the highest that I can remember for this valley),Chaffinch(7),Lesser Redpoll(7),Green Woodpecker(2),Great Spotted Woodpecker(1),Crossbill(1), Redwing(52), Mistle Thrush(4),Song Thrush(6),Blackbird(12),Raven(2)

Two Black Redstart on the outer harbour rocks and another one in Penarth Marina.

llanrhidian

a female hen harrier at 12 15  also 8 Ravens  20 goldfinch male bullfinch several little egrets and herons

At weobley was a red kite 60 lapwings a big flock of starlings 600+ est usual pipits and wagtails

at dalton point low tide 60 redshank,15 dunlin,80+wigeon,50 teal,4 pintail,2 shoveller,and 40 shelduck

 

(61 species noted) A superb male Black Redstart with a blazing white wing panel (race gibraltariensis) has been present at the caravan site for last two days along with a duller female/immature bird. Still present this morning at least. Emma may add some photos later. The best place to observe the birds is from the height of the coastpath SS417929 looking back east over the rooftops of the caravans. Chris Gerdon one of the other birders on site has said last night they were ranging as far as the farm buildings at SS420929. This morning a Merlin flew west at the Farm and over Broughton Burrows. Yesterday there was a Nuthatch calling at Delvid Farm and the day before (25th) saw 60 Gannet, 8 Common Scoter and 25 Razorbill out in Broughton Bay; several Redwings, a Grey Wagtail and a Coal Tit were present at Delvid Farm and a juvenile Hobby paused on a post briefly before flying west through Delvid Burrows. Moor Lake has hosted 3 Teal, 4 Moorhen and 2 Water Rail and 2 Chough have been ranging last few days between Bluepool in the west to Prissen’s Tor in the east, calling regularly.

Mike

Biggest number of gulls I’ve ever seen here on the water tonite. Must be close to 1000 birds.. Mixed block of herring,lbb,gbb,med,bh… Too many to scan in the disappearing light.. There must be a rarity here somewhere 😎

Yesterday while I was looking for Hornets at Porthkerry Park, I came across a Yellow-browed warbler at ST09286768. It was calling, but practically impossible to photograph.

 

 

Black Redstart fem/imm on the outer harbour rocks by the white railings.

fem\imm  black redstart on the National Trust roof, good numbers of birds in the vile, 60+ skylark, 50+ linnet, 10+ reed bunting, several hundred starling and jackdaw, 15+ meadow pipit, plenty of dunnock,robin,wren.

50+ chaffinch moving west in small groups from Overton, 12 blackbird,10  song thrush, 20+ redwing. 7 yellowhammer at Overton

A greater Spotted Woodpecker was drumming today from a tree on the island at 17h00.Haven’t heard drumming in October before!!

I had a call from Sue Webster this evening. She is keen to go to the WOS Conference on 5th November in Myddfai but requires a lift. If you’re going and could help her out please call her on 01922629547.

Apologies for non-sighting post, but a reminder about the GOS talk on Friday and those for the winter of 2016/17

A Fox running along Swansea Beach towards the Civic Centre at quarter past twelve last night was a strange sight. Redwings were heard flying overhead here and in Sketty.

Baby grass snake on the path from the Prince Of Wales pub to the pond.

6 woodlark flew across the valley and seemed to drop down by the trees/field by the farm. They were calling a few times , which is what drew my attention to them. I didn’t manage to re-find them. Ed Hunter picked up a YB warbler , I heard a second calling close by. A couple of Brambling, 3 swallow,1 yellowhammer, 12 blackbird, 8 song thrush, 4 blackcap.

between pilton green to foxhole slide, good numbers of skylark moving up the coast from Rhosilli direction, plenty of stubble fields around here which they were dropping into. 250 plus, 8 yellowhammer seen together.

Quieter than of late, with a late reed warbler, small numbers of chiffchaffs and goldcrests etc. Now up to almost 30 redwing captured this year.

See: http://gowerbirdringinggroup.blogspot.co.uk/2016/10/oxwich-marsh-22-october-autumn-thrushes.html