Two Whitethroats continue to hold territory and another singing just outside the boundary.

First returning Blackheaded Gull on floodwater.

The first fledgling grasshopper warblers and reed warblers for 2016 this morning. A kingfisher was the first seen for a while.

For those of you on Facebook, Natural Resources Wales now has an Oxwich NNR Facebook page, and has put up some really nice footage of otters captured on trail cams.

See: https://www.facebook.com/OxwichNNR/?pnref=story

Highlight in the rain this morning was 11 Mistle Thrushes feeding in W paddock. Also a few Swift and Sand Martin feeding over W lake.

Black-headed Gulls have started reappearing locally over the last few days, with 1 on the west lake posts at Cosmeston and 2 at Barry Old Harbour this morning, and 4 on Sully beach yesterday.

A Little Egret was on the beach at Bendrick Rock shortly after low tide this morning, and there were 3 Mute Swans on the sea in Swanbridge Bay, unusual for this location.

Not a great deal about but 30 Moorhen present- a new record for me here. 22 of which were first year bird, and in the hides it was great seeing the older juveniles helping and feeding the younger clutches. Also 4 Reed Warbler present. (GJJ)

A Greenshank was an early migrant at Kenfig Pool this morning

The Mute Swan pair seem to have lost 2 of their 7 cygnets. Good to see the GCG pair now have another clutch after the first was taken by a terrapin. Also present this morning c.20 Sand Martins and 10 Swift over W lake, and Common Whitethroat still singing by W paddock hedge. An ad and a juv Heron were by W lake shore. O/W pretty quiet.

Not a sightings post, for which I apologise

However, Gower RG are looking for new trainee ringers. See: http://gowerbirdringinggroup.blogspot.co.uk/2016/06/are-you-interested-in-bird-ringing.html#comments

signs of breeding out at the point included pair of  Ringed plover with 2 well grown juvs this was at Berges Island. A further 4 ad Ringed plover were near the hide. 2 seemed to be on guard with a further 2 feeding further out.

126 curlew and a near breeding plumages Bar-tailed Godwin seemed fair return for the time of year. 10 Lapwing included 2 birds giving alarm calls and low flight..late clutch, or young among the sedge?

shelduck prob breeding in the burrows, as several birds coming and going.

At Penclawdd pill, 24 Redshank coming/going/ didn’t bother.

 

A reeling grasshopper warbler and an adult sedge warbler with a juvenile were the highlights this morning, together with a patrolling fox.

Two grasshopper warbler territories on the marsh this year (obs from evening of 25th)

Captured 95 birds during the morning of 25 June including the 1st fledgling Cetti’s warbler of the year. For more info see:

http://gowerbirdringinggroup.blogspot.co.uk/2016/06/oxwich-marsh-25-june-more-fledglings.html

Adult Whitethroats feeding fledged juveniles near the pond.

unbelievably quiet this morning.. 1 very white chested juvenile cormorant, 1 adult plumaged med gull (first I’ve seen for 2 months), 6 herring gulls of various ages..

Lsr Whitethroat singing sporadically high above the trees by the infinis installations.

Adrian Murch with Howard Driver at Bryngarw Parc this morning watching dipper feeding in the pool by the Japanese instead of the river other bird of interest was a spotted Flycatcher feed over the river

with Will W-D
2 Crossbills, Wood Warbler in full song, GS Woodpecker juv, Siskin, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, Song Thrush and usual woodland species.

Swifts, Swallows, Sand Martins and a solitary House Martin at Cosmeston this morning. Also there a Mute Swan with 7 cygnets, Mallard with 1 duckling, 3 family groups of Blue Tits and near the car park a Great Spotted Woodpecker. On Sully Island just after high tide this morning 28 Oystercatcher, 8 Shelduck and 5 Curlew.

Yesterday at Bendrick Rock at morning high tide a Redshank, the first I’ve seen on this stretch of coast in 2 years, and offshore around 90 Manx Shearwater went past in 1 minute flying down channel. At Cadoxton Ponds a pair of Stonechat has at least 1 fledgling, and a pair of Canada Geese has 2 goslings.

On Monday late morning 6 Common Scoter down channel off Lavernock.

with Will W-D.
Regular small groups of Manx Shearwater passing, mainly west.
Small numbers of Guillemot and a large raft of Auk sp. far out.
Few Gannets and Fulmar. 2 Ringed Plover, Little Egret, Grey Heron. No Terns seen.
Lesser and Common Whitethroat, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Yellowhammer, many Stonechats and Linnets with young. 2 Chough, Buzzard, Rock Pipits.

Fledgling warblers at the weekend, including the first young sedge warbler and whitethroats of the year. Also young reed buntings. More info see:

http://gowerbirdringinggroup.blogspot.co.uk/2016/06/oxwich-marsh-18-june-2016-fledgling.html

….but only just! I’ve posted some record shots of the Broad Billed Sandpiper taken at Goldcliff this morning. Good comparison shots with Dunlin. Taken from the hide on the seafront. The bird was showing quite well for 30 mins or so but was then disappearing for a while.

http://andyburnsphotography.zenfolio.com/waders/h73bf0845#h73bf0845