Male Redstart and 2 Tree Pipit in the fenced area at the top end of Cosmeston East Paddock late morning. Earlier a Little Egret and Grey Heron in the tidal pools at Bendrick Rock, where 7 Mute Swans on the sea were unusual for this location.

Yesterday on a circular walk at Gileston from the beach car park to Gileston Farm and back east along the coast: 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 2 Little Egret, 2 Yellowhammer, 8 Stonechat, 3 Wheatear, 1 Stock Dove, 1 Sparrowhawk and a Peregrine. Good area of thistle and teasel near the beach car park – lots of Goldfinch and Linnet.

A Wryneck is in Pant y Cwteri, SS 8772 7609. Seen several times this morning, but rather elusive.

Earlier a Garganey was at the Watermill flood, where also several Teal and three Green Sandpipers.

Garden Warbler again in the dipping pond brambles in front of the carpark in St.David’s Hotel.

A male redstart, small numbers of tree pipit, relatively abundant willow warbler, 2 garden warbler and a grasshopper warbler over the past few days.

Pic of redstart (Keith Vaughton) below. More info see:

http://gowerbirdringinggroup.blogspot.co.uk/2016/08/oxwich-marsh-23-27-augustswallows.html

osprey, marsh harrier and 4 whinchat today, also hummingbird hawk-moth at Horton

At 1245 from  area near centre overlooking pool, juv Marsh Harrier in from SE. Low over pool to NW then  circled very high and off to NE. Only a few warblers. Observers PJM, CRM, HRM

Whilst at the junction of Pant Mari Flanders and Pant Norton I noticed an adult Osprey approaching from the direction of the river (09:35). It flew directly overhead, before slowly circling SSE towards Southerndown, being in view for around 10 minutes.

Up to 18 Buzzards were seen up at one time scanning from Norton Wood over the area from Merthyr Mawr village to the Warren, including a group of 12 towards Wig-Fach. A Peregrine was again hunting along the estuary. Pant Norton held four Spotted Flycatchers, three Lesser Whitethroats and a Tree Pipit.

A Little Stint was in a mixed flock – of Sanderling, Ringed Plover and Dunlin – on the beach between Ogmore and Newton. Sightings along the estuary included Whinchat, Dipper (juvenile on Portobello), three Kingfishers, Greenshank and four Black-tailed Godwits.

Spotted Flycatcher 6 possibly more, Willow Warbler 1 Chiffchaff 6 Coal Tit 2  Great Spotted WP 1 Nuthatch 2

Buzzard 3 Siskin 1 Also: Southern Hawker 3 Migrant Hawker 3

Busy in the Pants this morning, with birds including Pied Flycatcher, 3 Spotted Flycatchers, 2 Tree Pipits, Lesser Whitethroat, Reed Bunting and 15 Yellowhammers. A Swift over may well be my last of the year.

Tree pipits moving again this morning (5 ringed)

2 garden warbler

A roost of well in excess of 500 swallows (plus sand martins) was present in the reedbed last night (could be 3x this but very difficult to estimate).

Highlight this morning comprised 2 fem/imm Common Redstarts in the long W paddock hedgerow, by the second ‘plateau’ behind the dragonfly pond. Also 2 Green ‘Peckers, 2 ad Little Grebes in W lake ‘bay’, and a ‘kettle’ of 3 Buzzards. Plus nice to bump in to my Bird Report collaborator David Gilmore.

A bit of a wader fest – by Ogmore standards – today. I called in this evening and noted Curlew Sandpiper, nine Black-tailed Godwits, Greenshank, Green Sandpiper and eight Common Sandpipers. AH also saw a Little Stint. Nine Teal were on the Watermill.

 

The black terns are still present this evening, though best seen from the Black Oak platform side as they seem to be keeping to that area. Only had quite distant views in the bins from the other side without my scope, but great birds.

Thanks Dean!

Redstart male present again between nos 19 and 20 WE 10:10. Bullfinch fem again off the reserve boardwalk.

News just rec’d – 2 Black Terns from y’day still present.

1 Common Whitethroat, 2 Blackcap, 6+ Chiffchaff, 10 Goldfinch, mostly juvs, 10 Long-t tit, 4 Greenfinch, 5 Linnet, 2 juv Green ‘Pecker, mixed flock of c.30 hirundines, GC Grebe young x 3 as big as the ads now, 1 ad Little Grebe [2 yesterday], 6 Tufted Duck.

I had 20 minutes sheltering under the trees at Portobello House late morning.
10 black-tailed godwits, 3 common sandpiper and a juvenile greenshank.

A  juv Curlew Sandpiper was on the lower reaches of the river this morning.. Also 5 Black tailed Godwits , 2 Ringed Plover and 6 Common Sands.