Yesterday morning at Cosmeston the Great Crested Grebe which has been on the floating nest in the West Lake bay had at least 2 young on its back.
Late this morning at high tide there were 36 Oystercatcher, 3 Whimbrel and 2 Dunlin on Sully Island. The Dunlin were the first I’ve seen there since 22 March.
At Bendrick Rock this morning, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Whimbrel and a Little Egret.
Highlights of today’s WeBS count were Great Crested Grebe (rare here), Little Ringed Plover (juvenile), Mediterranean Gull (juvenile) and two Little Egrets.
On Sully Island yesterday evening, 1 Ringed Plover, 4 Turnstone, 3 Whimbrel and a Grey Heron. At Bendrick Rock this morning 3 Redshank, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Whimbrel, 6 Oystercatcher and 2 Cormorant.
Good numbers of reed warblers, increases in sedge warbler and willow warbler noted this morning. Also a young lesser whitethroat.
See: http://gowerbirdringinggroup.blogspot.co.uk/2016/07/oxwich-marsh-23-july.html for latest information
2 ad Med Gulls with partial hoods on the barrage north end at noon.
Autumn has certainly arrived, with a Lesser Whitethroat and Garden Warbler among the many phylloscs and Blackcaps yesterday. Today also good numbers of warblers, highlights being Stonechat and Reed Warbler. A Common Sandpiper has been present on this stretch of river for the last 3 days, although it wasn’t seen today. (GJJ)
A Woodpigeon has built a nest in the metal beams of the railway station’s platform shelter. Protected from the wind and rain a perfect des-res, and the acoustics enhance the cooing. Lends a whole new meaning to bird-brain.
GBC trip this morning, highlights were at least 3 Spotted Flycatchers, 2 Dippers by the road bridge near Peterston-super-Ely, a fly-over Hobby, many Song Thrush, GS Pecker, Whitethroat with food, 4 Blackcaps, 1 Stock Dove, 20 or so Sand Martin still around the river, plus Swallow and House Martin, Chiffchaff and other common spp. Sadly we found 2 dead recently fledged Pheasant chicks with no sign of serious injury – 1 seemed very recently dead [still warm and it hadn’t been lying in the sun]. A Green Sandpiper was seen briefly along one of the river ‘meanders’. Also what was later ID’d as a Four=spotted Chaser dragonfly of the form praenubila which has dark terminal bands on the wings giving a Demoiselle-like appearance.
A female Redstart was in our small front garden and drive this morning in Bridgend and lingered in the Avenue feeding.
A perfect swift evening – I’ve had about 20 partying in the local (Canton) streets, whizzing about and calling. I think some of the young ones have fledged. And as it’s been so still, the calls have really carried. Think they are really enjoying this warm weather. Tomorrow night might be good as well.
2 common sandpipers 120 black h gulls 6 juvs 2 oyster catchers 1 curlew 2 little egrets heron goldfinch lots of juv herring and lesser b b gulls and 1 shelduck
stop press! Broad pool Canada geese party 6 ( 4 juvs) , for all you Corvid fans, at
Dalton’s point, 319 Carrion crow,275 Black tailed godwit and 18 Knot.
family party of 4 LR plover ( 2 juvs) at Upper Loughor.
late burst of Grasshopper warbler at Grovesend,and the first juv willow warbler passing through the garden.
Reed warblers now a lot more mobile in marsh as adults and fledged juveniles move around post breeding / fledging.
Fledgling treecreeper. Large flocks of goldfinches and still the odd siskin hanging around.
For details see: http://gowerbirdringinggroup.blogspot.co.uk/2016/07/oxwich-marsh-15-17-july-2016-surge-in.html
2 ringed plover with 2 recently fledged young. Both adults doing their best to fly off any gulls straying too close….hope they keep it up!
35 redshank, 2 common sand and 225 blackwit at Penclawdd.
family party of 5 Canada geese at Broad pool
Seven keen birders on the monthly walk today. 37 birds in all of which 3 heard only. Highlights were Great C Grebe with 3 young, Black Tailed Godwit flushed from East Shore close comparison views of Sand and House Martins. 4 Swift.
Apologies for the non sighting nature of this post but thought some may be interested in the Vale of Glamorgan’s consultation for North Penarth parks: http://www.valeofglamorgan.gov.uk/en/our_council/consultation/North-Penarth-Open-Space-Improvement-Scheme.aspx
There seems to be scope within the councils plans to incorporate wildlife friendly habitats (well at least wildflower areas). With children in Wales being some of the least connected with wildlife in the whole of the UK, I believe this to be a good opportunity to enhance the parks whilst giving nature a home at the same time. The consultation is running from Monday 13 June until Monday 8 August.
I did my annual survey of nesting HM in the Bay area this week. Preliminary results indicate a big drop in numbers, with one former colony having no nests at all.. However, I saw one pair just starting to build a nest in Windsor Quay and a second half-built nest looked like it was this years, although I didn’t see the adults. Are birds still arriving? Or maybe they lost a first nest. And are numbers down generally?
My survey covers Adventurers Quay, Penarth Marina, Grangemoor Court and Windsor Quay. If anyone knows of other nesting HM in the Bay area, please contact me or reply to this post.
13 Black-headed Gulls on W lake posts – a sign of autumn. Also 1 and and 1 juv Grey Heron there. There were 2 ads and 2 juvs 2 days ago and I’m pretty sure they bred in the W lake reed bed. The GC Grebe is still sitting and I couldn’t make out any sign of chicks. The Mute Sawn pair seem to be down to 2 cygnets which are quite large now, so it’s difficult to see how they lost another as there were 3 only a few days ago. 20-30 Swift over W lake plus a few Sand Martin and a House Martin. Greenfinch singing by W paddock and a Chiffchaff near Cogan Wood, and also a small flock of Goldfinch nr the dragonfly pond.
This evening an ad Med Gull was among 30 or so Black Headed Gulls just off the boardwalk. Yesterday the Collared Pratincole was still showing well at Ham Wall,Somerset Levels,with 2 Glossy Ibis.
Submitted for cute value a grainy pic.
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