150+ ringed plovers 30+ dunlin 4 knot 15 curlew 80+ sanderling 1 greenshank 400+ oyster catcher 45 herring gull 1 wheatear and a skylark

A female Marsh Harrier seen over Lavernock point this morning – first spotted by Lol Middleton. It appeared from the north being mobbed by a flock of corvids (incl crows) and moved slowly south out towards Sully Island and beyond when we lost it. It was quite high up and I managed a load of very poor record shots at

http://andyburnsphotography.zenfolio.com/p673293859/h5591c84d#h5591c84d

Not a lot else around other than many swallows and sand martins on the move.

2 Spotted Flycatchers this morning + an autumnal roving flock of Great, Blue, Coal & Long-tailed Tits, Goldcrests, Treecreeper, Nuthatch and Chiffchaffs.

At Radyr Floodplain, a flock of c.30 Siskin flying over was unusual, but there was nothing else of note. (DJJ/GJJ).

A female Eider was at Blackpill at high tide on Friday and Saturday evenings. There were also a couple of Med. Gulls and a Wheatear on Friday.

Here’s a video clip of the Eider: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4jnNu3o_IU

Last couple of days.  Best birds 2 grasshopper warbler yesterday (adult and 1st winter ringed), 6+ tree pipit today (inc 1 ringed) and c. 2 yesterday.  More info on the ringing blog here: http://gowerbirdringinggroup.blogspot.co.uk/2015/08/oxwich-marsh-29-30-august-2015-pair-of.html

Couple of pictures of the juvenile Black tern found by Alastair Flannagan

A slow start to the autumn, but warmed up a little bit this morning with 4 Tree Pipits, a Spotted Flycatcher and a Redstart.

2 Tree Pipits and 1 Common Swift this morning.

30 Canada Geese on floodwater this morning on old Paper Mill site. First I’ve seen them “on the ground” in this locality.

A Whimbrel flying around near the Norwegian Church at 8:40 this morning.

Midday: Juvenile Cuckoo on Cardiff side of Green Lane being mobbed by Common Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, Robin & several Blue and Great Tits. Flew off across the border into Gwent.

Small passage of swallows >S

1-ad Med.Gull amongst the Black Headed Gulls close to the boardwalk.13h35

Quiet but quality this morning. Spotted Flycatcher 80 m beyond the dragonfly pond on the left. Male Goshawk over Cogan Wood then lost to view. Then to to top it all an imm Hobby seen from the main bridge circling around over the play area then drifted off west. Hobby and Gos I think new site ticks for me. 🙂

this morning during the heavy rain..

2 sandwich terns

And the first bird for me of the GCG flock… Autumn is here!!!!

Lots of bh GULLS… No commons to be seen

1 lesser bb & half a dozen or so herring gulls

Lots of oystercatchers scattered along the beach

A Little Egret was on Swansea Beach, moving between Singleton Park and St. Helen’s at 1.15 p.m.

20+ black-headed gulls including a Polish ringed bird T55U (reported to the scheme)

Only 3 med gulls which is a real surprise

1 oystercatcher

3 shag

Plus a lovely grey seal

Pair of Gadwall on the wetland reserve. Four Med Gull on Hamadryad Park (3 ad, 1 second yr).

Delayed WeBS: 250 Redshank, 1 Dunlin, 1 Common Sand, 2 Curlew, 200 B-h Gulls, 80 LBBG, 10 HG, 5 Cormorant and a Wheatear. At the Heliport just 200 B-h Gulls. Lots of Butterflies there including a Wall, which I haven’t seen for quite a while. Also lots of Common Blue, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown, Small & Large White. The acres of Buddleia along the foreshore helps!

Juvenile whinchat this morning.

Also a grasshopper warbler, 2-3 tree pipit, kingfisher (1w), siskin, and a calling green sandpiper over

Ringing session returned 80 birds.  More info here: http://ow.ly/R41n3

This Wood Sandpiper, found by Alun Hughes, graced the main (studio) pool this evening.