Early morning walk produced a nice variety as follows. House Martin (120),Green Woodpecker(2),Great Spotted Woodpecker(1), Red Kite(5),Buzzard(2),Chiffchaff(9),Blackcap(1),Raven(4),Grey Wagtail(1), Bullfinch(3),Blue Tit(16), Coal Tit(5),Great Tit(15), Long Tail Tit(6),Goldcrest(6),Song Thrush(2),Blackbird(6), Robin(17),Dunnock(12), Mistle Thrush(2), Goldfinch(7),Jay(1), Stonechat(1)

11.50am. A wryneck was in bushes on the south-facing seaward side of Trwyn y Witch (SS886726). Presumably the same bird seen recently at nearby Dunraven.

Julian Swan just telephoned me to report a Wryneck in Grangemoor Park along the middle path facing the retail park. Also 2 Whinchat and 2 Stonechat.

2 Lapland buntings . 1 out , just past the mound with the meadow pipits, the other, on the  way back alongside the track. approx. 80+ linnet , 40 + meadow pipit, 14 skylark, 6 wheatear. waders still too far out.

earlier this week, Otter with flounder for breakie south of Loughor bridge Wed am plus Juv Osprey heading south .

On the negative, dead Manx shearwater on the Penclawdd road, must have blown in and hit a vehicle…couldn’t let such a great pelagic bird end up 2D on the road, so , sent it to Davy Jones’s locker off Pont y Cob bridge.p.s ……after looking at most of the photos, a lot not good. 2 of the most confiding bird, first bird heard calling not long before seeing this one

A lone juvenile Ruff was loosely associating with the 202 strong Black-tailed Godwit flock, which was pushed by this evening’s high tide from Salthouse Point, to Pwll-y-ffroga then to the marsh edge in front of the chapel at Wernffrwd. A Grey Seal, a few Bar-wits, a Common Sandpiper and loads of Curlew and Oycs, but nothing unusual and then the sun went down.

Counts at Whiteford on the 15th included 6220 Oycs, 1008 Dunlin, 307 Ringed Plover, 3 Knot, 24 Turnstone, 5 Sanderling, 4 Curlew Sandpiper, 1 Little Stint, 6 Black-wits, 6 Pale-bellied Brent, 26 Pintail& 48 Wigeon. There were 54+ Teal on the flooded Cwm Ivy Marsh.

Many thanks to Strinda Davies for leading today’s GBC monthly walk at Kenfig. There were 12 participants and we saw or heard 38 species, with the highlights being Kestrel and Sparrowhawk.

Full species list:
Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Mallard, Coot, Cormorant, Swallow, Blue Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Bullfinch, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Linnet, Chaffinch, Robin, Wren, Blackbird, Starling, Dunnock, Meadow Pipit, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Cetti’s Warbler, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, House Sparrow, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Carrion Crow, Jay, Magpie, Jackdaw, Pied Wagtail, Collared Dove, Woodpigeon.

Osprey spotted by castle bingo neath heading towards the gnoll park

Very unusual to see a Turnstone in the car park of Wyevale garden centre in Llansamlet early this morning, appeared to be healthy just wandering around, and it allowed us to approach closely.  With Alannah Ruthen.

Finally caught up with the wryneck; it was showing really well; also saw a pained lady butterfly there. Also spotted a greenshank at ogmore.

A Wheatear was still on the beach near the Civic Centre, and a Small Copper butterfly was feeding on the grass verge nearby.

caught  up with the Lapland bunting thanks Mark hipkin also there were 25 goldfinch 15 linnet 10 meadow plplts 8 wheatear 2 kestrels 4 Ravens 1 chough a gannet offshore 20 starlings a few pied wagtail there were dozens of silver y moths in 1 field

Wryneck again on hill leading to car park. Excellent views, does not seem to be too bothered by the traffic. Also Peregrine 1 and Stonechat 2 Grey Wagtail 2 and lots of Meadow Pipits. In the walled garden Chiffchaff and lots of small whites circa 40 Large White 12 Red Admiral 15 Common Blue 2 Small Tortoiseshell 10 and Silver Y moths 8

A Pied Flycatcher was in elder scrub along the front, below the big block of flats, with a Whinchat in gorse nearby.

Could not find the Wryneck this evening. Had a wheatear a spotted fly and several fly pasts of a peregrine and a pair of stonechats… with a gorgeous sunset and moon rise…

Some early leaping Salmon at the Weir this evening, Goosander and Grey Wagtail along the river.

The Wryneck was stil present today, favouring the same area as yesterday. Also a Yellow Wagtail and five Grey Wagtails over, plus two Wheatears on the fence along the approach road.

 

10 Turnstone along John Batchelor Way, 5 Grey Wags and female wheatear by Plas Taliesin. Successfully spotted little gull which was being harassed by a BHG and flew out into the channel. Party of c12 linnets and too many flashes of lightening put an end to things (fair weather birder).

Little Gull back in the bay 8:40 close to the barrage orange buoys.

A Wryneck was found this afternoon at Dunraven by Dave Ripley. It favoured the area either side of the car park approach road, from the toilet block up and up the hill for 150m, approximately SS 8854 7317. It fed along the stony area bordering the road and perched up on fence posts and scrub, even on the cliff at one point. It showed well at times and I was able to digiscope record shots.

The Welsh Ringing Course was held at the marsh over the weekend.

An account is here: http://gowerbirdringinggroup.blogspot.co.uk/2016/09/the-welsh-ringing-course-9-12-september.html

Species noted included 6 grasshopper warbler, 37 sedge warbler, kingfisher and garden warbler