A Red-throated diver has been in the Bay today and 15 Brent Geese flew toward Burry Inlet early morning, 4 of them dropped in to the shoreline to feed and a Great White Egret circled over the farm and flew off north. A Red Kite lingered in the Burrows yesterday as did a Sparrowhawk today. The pools at Lagradanta held 3 Teal yesterday and recently up to 2 Water Rail and 2 Moorhen have been present. Water Rails have also been heard at Llangennith Moors. Out towards Cwm Ivy, the Oystercatcher flock numbered approx 3,400 with 125 Ringed Plover and 16 Dunlin on the beach nearby. Scores of Pied Wagtail, Skylark, Meadow Pipits have been moving south this weekend, this morning 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Mistle Thrush and 2 Fieldfare also passed through. No YBWs to report I’m afraid (or anything else rare despite the easterlies and a lot of effort!) but there has been an influx of Goldcrests. Also of interest Perhaps 50+ Red Admiral have flown through and Small Copper and Small White butterflies and a Southern Hawker dragonfly were still on the wing. Finally a Chough flew in to Twlc Point late afternoon today.

at least 6 YB warbler ( 3 in valley, 3 at Middleton lane ) .

Firecrest at Middleton, prob. Ring Ouzel seen flying off as I got into Mewslade valley.

1 YB warbler over the way from my house in Gorseinon, 1 late comm whitethroat nearby , also in Gorseinon.

Yellow-browed warbler (presumably that seen by Trevor Fletcher on the 4th) relocated by the pool (with mixed tit flock, mostly LTT, and a chiffchaff) on Saturday evening (8th). The light was poor for photos, so returned early Sunday morning (9th) – the flock and YBW were still around (moving around the east side of the common). Additionally, on Saturday there was a male merlin, on Sunday male and female goshawks, a red kite and a constant passage of redwing.

Canton:one juvenile on telephone wire early a.m. and c100 (50/50 adult and juvs) hawking insects low over Canton/River Ely basin 5.40pm-6pm before drifting off sse.

Most of the warblers seemed to have cleared out with only Chiffchaff(2) noted. However, there was a good gathering of thrushes in the hawthorns just below the ruin of Bwllfa Isaf.They were Ring Ouzel(2),Redwing(2)(first of the autumn for me),Blackbird(15),Song Thrush(4) and Mistle Thrush(1).Other counts were Goldcrest(9),Great Tit(2),Blue Tit(6).Coal Tit(4),Long Tailed Tit(6),Nuthatch(2),Stonechat(6),Meadow Pipit(14),Wren(6),Dunnock(1), Bullfinch(3), Chaffinch(1), Red Kite(4),Buzzard(6),Jay(4) and Robin in almost every bush !

Harris Hawk at Llangenith end of Down flying towards Sluxton.  No falconer seen …

 

News of Short-eared Owl and Hobby this afternoon (Dave Ripley).

Flocks of Redwings flying over Sketty at dawn today – first I’ve seen this year.

Lisvane Res 9/10: 1 little egret and a good count of 18 pochard.

Llanishen Res 8/10: 15 redwings, and 8 wigeon among the regulars.

At Roath Park Lake on 5/10: 17 teal, 17 shovellers and 1 wigeon.

A YBW spent a few minutes in a small Sycamore just below the  Norton Wood gate at 3pm, before flying into the top of the big Sycamores at the edge of the wood and not seen again. Calling occasionally..

Nine yellow-browed warblers, 2 firecrests, garden warbler, 15 chiffchaff etc captured at Oxwich this morning.

Summary, photographs and numbers here: http://gowerbirdringinggroup.blogspot.co.uk/2016/10/oxwich-marsh-8-october-2016-nine-yellow.html

 

One Yellow-browed Warbler still present at Kenfig Pool this morning at Odin ride and was calling frequently. The female Marsh Harrier was seen briefly over the north pool and a Peregrine and 13 Snipe went over. Six Pintail, 17 Wigeon, 4 Teal and a Shoveler were on the pool, a Redwing was in the west pool bushes and a Little Egret was flushed from the east pool shore and flew off high east over the caravan park.

2 chough were a first at this location for me

Sparrowhawk, 2 bullfinch, 2 chiffchaffs, small mixed tit flock (unfortunately no crests or ybw’s), Nice numbers of chaffinch,

And good numbers of Med gulls in the car park as normal

A Yellow-browed Warbler (on its own, calling) was near the viewpoint this morning, with the juvenile Hobby still present around the cliffs at Temple Bay.

groups of 15 and 5 over Penarth this morning.

Cetti’s Warbler singing again. Single Chiffchaff, 25 Carrion Crow.

Previous sighting on 4th October-Canton, Redpoll- should read 8 Siskin flying north.

A very enjoyable morning with 2 showy Yellow-browed Warblers, Firecrest, 16 Chiffchaffs & a late Lesser Whitethroat in the west pool bushes, female Marsh Harrier over north pool before going south, juvenile Garganey with small Teal flock and a Jack Snipe, 2 Common Snipe and 4 Dunlin flushed off the east pool shore.

City centre – redwings seem flying over and a peregrine by the BT tower…. in Brynmill grey wagtail on roof tops.

A juvenile Hobby was at Temple Bay, feeding along the cliffs and over the sea on some of the numerous Red Admirals in the area, ignoring the passing birds. It was still present late morning.

Visible migration was impressive, with well over 2,000 birds through up to 09:00, although passage appeared to still be underway an hour after this. Species noted in numerical order were: Linnet (400+), Goldfinch, Swallow, Siskin, Meadow Pipit, Chaffinch, Pied (‘alba’) Wagtail, Crossbill (32), Skylark, Starling, Song Thrush, House Martin, Redpoll and Grey Wagtail.