A Hobby was up over Merthyr Mawr (viewed from the Watermill), being mobbed by hirundines. Otherwise rather samey, with long-staying Garganey and Greenshank still around.

2 wheatear this evening were a little bit out of the ordinary while walking the dog.

One Whinchat still in the buddleja east of the security fence by the harbour authority compound. Also a Spotted Flycatcher in Silurian Park off Schooner Way.

A Stock Dove was in Singleton Park, and a Kingfisher on the River Clyne.

A few Painted Lady butterflies have been along the seafront recently, and I’ve found a small colony of Silver-Washed Fritillaries in Clyne Woods: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Y8nhCzk7fs

A Water Rail in the West lake reedbed at Cosmeston this morning was my first of the autumn there.
On this morning’s high tide:
Sully Island – 99 Oystercatcher;
Sully Beach – 34 Turnstone, 21 Ringed Plover, 1 Wheatear and a Knot (my first on this stretch of coast);
Bendrick Rock – 1 Kingfisher and 1 Common Sandpiper.

Yesterday 1 stock dove near the Wardens Centre. I don’t recall seeing one here before.

Port Eynon  first thing: 2 arctic skua  (dark) , 23 comm scoter, 35+ gannet, 10 sandwich tern, 4 fulmar, 3 kittiwake. all going west.

Weobley, mixed bag with great views of osprey going fishing, 2 curlew sand , 1 little stint ( not sure if both these relate to those seen at Whiteford recently?? )

approx. 550= dunlin , 280 + ringed plover, 6 wheatear, plenty of meadow pipit, linnet and pied wags out there.

An unfortunate manx shearwater blown in last night was sat on the sea until the GBB gulls spotted it, it tried diving under the water to avoid them, but eventually they got the better of it. Gut instinct is to lob something at the gulls, but as gruesome as it is, its nature etc..

a few pics too. some osprey shots and spot the little stint in one shot

Arctic and Great Skua, plus a couple of Scoter d/c at Porthcawl

Plenty of warbler activity in Pant Norton inc. Whitethroat, Blackcap, Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler. Also Spot Fly and a couple of Yellowhammers there.

A quick look this morning before the worst of the rain. 1 greenshank and at least 6 common sandpiper.

Two, very flighty, Whinchat in the buddleja north of the Harbour Authority compound and east of the security fence.

A hobby shot through yesterday-looked like it was pursuing swallows, came from Caerphilly direction and then headed off towards Rumney river at Bedwas. The second Hobby i have seen in the area this year, one on 29.7.16 coming up the R. Rumney towards Caerphilly.

High tide with rob jones tonight 22o sanderling 180 ringed plover 25 dunlin 2 knot up to 10 med gulls around the dredger with another 3 close inshore heading west toward Swansea bay a female wheatear on the beach 5 mistle thrush by bay studios lots of swallows about

Redstart male (yesterday a female) and Lsr Whitethroat off the boardwalk, Starling numbers starting to pick up,600+ still going up at 06:40.

Plenty of migration activity over the woodland yesterday evening, 150+ House Martins and 85+ Swallows  flying south and out across the Bristol Channel towards Weston viewed from the Motte.

Redstart and Bullfinch this morning along the boardwalk.

2 Spotted Flycatcher present today and 1 yesterday. Pied Flycatcher briefly at Forest Farm yesterday by the car park near the Wardens center.

One Cetti’s Warbler ; single Chiffchaff singing. Otherwise very quiet.

An enjoyable morning’s birding around Overton yesterday with Darren Coombs. Started off walking west along coast path to check out the sheltered valleys before checking out the sewage treatment works and scrub around Port Eynon point. Without any scarcities to celebrate the day there was lots of activity, especially west of the Overton village, which was rewarding for our efforts.

Highlights included – juv Whinchat, juv Grasshopper Warbler, juv Sedge Warbler, Redstart, Lesser Whitethroat (2), Garden Warbler (3), Chiffchaff (5), Blackcap (15+) and Whitethroat (20+). Decent numbers of Stonechats, Linnets, Goldfinches and House Sparrows along the coastal path lined bushes and half dozen Yellowhammers in the first sheltered valley west of Overton.

A dozen or so Collared Doves around the village raised hopes of perhaps a Turtle Dove being mixed in, but sadly not this time. A couple of Sparrowhawks including a very large female also had their eye on the doves while a Red Kite was hunting over the stubble fields.

This area continues to look very promising so hopefully a rare or two will be found here before the autumn is done.