Late this morning there were 27 Mediterranean gulls in field next to the road in Nottage and a further 6 in field next to ‘The Rest’ in Porthcawl.

Today, I received details of the service for George Morgan’s funeral.

Tuesday 30th September

11:15 at St. James Church, Pyle

12:00 at North Cornelly Cemetery

Family flowers only, any donations to Marie Curie Cancer Care

With the first signs of Autumn weather arriving today I’ve started to publish the details of the GOS winter programme of Talks and Walks; including mine which takes place tomorrow evening! Many of you should already have received the programme through the post or by email, but the details are now starting to appear on the Home Page of Glamorgan Birds with further details to be found via a link from that page.

My talk tomorrow will give a favour of the wildlife, including birds insects and plants, that can be found along the Wales Coastal Path. Location as usual is the Environment Centre, Pier Street, Swansea. Arrive from 19:00 for 19:30 start. A voluntary contribution of £1 per person helps to cover the cost of the room hire.

A quick stroll around the reserve this lunchtime yielded not very much on the ground (a few chiffchaffs was pretty much it), but plenty of hirundines over.  Mainly House Martins, but a few Swallows amongst them too.  Also a buzzard calling overhead.

Select counts from a circuit of the bay this morning:
Coot 420
Moorhen 36
Little Grebe 31
GC Grebe 41
Canada Goose 210
Mute Swan 110
Widgeon 17
Teal 5
Cormorant 74
Chiffchaff 27
Blackcap 7
Garden Warbler 1
Robin 41
Pied Wagtail 29

It was with great sadness that I found out that George Morgan passed away yesterday morning. George was 73 and extremely popular with the local birding community. I only got to know George well in 2009 when I started going birding again. It was of course at Eglwys that I would bump into him; in fact going birding at Eglwys was a bit like going to see George at home. Over the years George contributed vast amounts of records which allow us to have a good understanding of bird trends from his area – including Eglwys, Port Talbot Docks and Margam Park. His contribution to WeBS is invaluable. George made a number of discoveries of rarer birds and I know that he had a big fondness for Phalaropes. Indeed he would find Grey Phalaropes annually and he also discovered at least one Red-necked Phalarope. Apart from being a good birder George was also great company and I will miss his sometimes wicked sense of humour.

For all the birders who knew George, I know I can send heartfelt condolences to his family and friends at this difficult time.

Two Curlew Sandpipers were attempting to roost with Ringed Plovers and Dunlin in Trecco Bay on the rising tide this evening, but flew off around Newton Point due to disturbance. They were better marked than the two still present on Ogmore this morning, and may well be the other two of the four that have recently been frequenting the estuary.

Otherwise a 1st-winter Mediterranean Gull at the point and a juvenile Bar-tailed Godwit on Black Rocks.

Lsr Scaup present again among c.80 Tufted Duck; also 1 Reed Warbler; 1 Sedge Warbler; 1 Stonechat; still lots of Chiffchaff and Blackcap; pair of Kingfisher. Redstart not seen today.

The two curlew sandpipers were still on the river 300 yards south of the house. More pics at

http://andyburnsphotography.zenfolio.com/waders/h113b19aa#h10b9e19e

Lots of Canada’s on the river. 6 Dunlin flying up and down. One wheatear, lots of meadow pipits north of the house. Rock pipits and a grey wagtail under the bridge. A little egret and grey heron on the far bank. A curlew on the island. Lots of stonechats and house sparrows plus a raven overhead.

In CBWR close off the boardwalk and showing well: 1 Sedge warbler, 4 Blackcap at least, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Cetti’s briefly, lots of Chiffchaff, 1 Water Rail squealing and calling. On the gravel path: a party of 4 Stonechats. On the grass bank in front of St.David’s Hotel: the fem/imm Redstart is still present (thanks to Gareth S for showing me).On the barrage rocks: 3 Wheatear, another 2 Stonechats and a Robin. On the reserve again (3pm): 16 Wigeon, 1 Shoveler, 1 Teal, 1 Pochard, 16 Little Grebe, 89 Tufted Duck, 134 Canada Geese. Lsr Scaup not seen today.

The Pectoral Sandpiper showed well but always distant while I was there from the new viewing platform at Goldcliffe scrapes Newport. Also 5 Ruff, 1 Spotted Redshank and 1 Greenshank from the 3rd Hide

Lavernock reserve – Pheasant 2 fem in first field margin, Willow Warbler 1, Jay 2, Bulffinch 1 juv;

St Mary’s Well Bay – 1 Heron on the beach

Coast path W of ST Mary;’s Well Bay – Jay 6, Linnet 50, Mipit 100+ [feeding in the two ploughed fields], Pied Wag 3, Blackcap 1 m, Chiffchaff 1, Goldcrest 2

Swanbridge [Capt Wife pub] – Ringed Plover 3 that I cd see, and 1 Turnstone.

Skylark 6 over; Meadow Pipit trickle (40) over; Green and Great Sp Pecker; Chiffchaff 6; Canada Goose 22 down river; Sparrowhawk female; Whinchat 2. No hirundines at all.

This am, 1  Lsr Whitethroat, 2 Sedge Warbler, 3 Common Whitethroat, lots of Blackcap and Chiffchaff, 1 Kingfisher, Water Rail calling, Lsr Scaup, 11 Wigeon, 2 Shoveler asleep as usual, 1 Teal, 1 Pochard, 1 RC Pochard fem hybrid.

In case anyone missed this in the comments on my post yesterday. I met a guy who, seeing I was a birder told me about building plans for the site of the old Hamadryad hospital. I’m assuming it’s the same person, who has found our site and commented. It’s yet another area of greenery being removed for the sake of it. I have seen good numbers of Greenfinch using these trees as a roost in the winter. Anyway here’s what he posted: feel free to respond or submit objections.

Good morning bird watchers. Great to see you round our place! Not sure if you’re aware, but Cardiff Council are looking to overturn preservation orders on the trees behind Hamadryad hospital, clear the site of all greenery and build 75 properties there. There is significant opposition by local residents, and we’re in the process of submitting objections. If you could let us know of any sightings of rare species in the area, we could incorporate those into our objections as well. We’ve got a Facebook pagehttps://www.facebook.com/SouthDocksButetown?ref=hl and a Twitter account https://twitter.com/SouthDocks. We’d appreciate any help you could offer. Many thanks, and happy spotting. Iwan (On behalf of South Docks Residents)

With Will W-D.
2 Whinchat, 4+ Stonechat,  9+ Wheatear, 1 Blackcap, 11+ Chough.
Few Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 1 Sparrowhawk.
Large random movement of Meadow Pipits & a few Skylarks & Swallows.

16+ wheatear on ty talwyn and lots of pipit movement, kenfig – 6 wheatear on morfa tip, lots of warblers in scrub, many blackcap feeding on the blackberries, again lots of pipit movement and 2 clouded yellow butterfly on the wing

Once again treated to a view of 8 Chough from my breakfast table and later their antics as they moved around Twlc Point and Little Broughton with the Jackdaws including Kestrel evasion tactics! Despite overnight rain and a ENE wind, little to shout about in the thick scrub around the farm and then up at the Burrows. Mainly Grey and Pied Wagtail, 1 Song Thrush, 6+ Blackbirds and 5 Long-tailed tits, 2 Chiffchaffs and a few Goldcrests new in. Llangennith Burrows held 1 Reed Warbler and 1 Cetti’s Warbler and 2 Chiffchaff. A Wheatear of the Greenland race has also been around but not this morning.

Yesterday Sandwich Tern flocks roosting on the beaches numbered 14 at Burry Holms, 13 at Broughton and 16 at Whiteford. 3 Gannets and 23 Common Scoter were off Burry Holms early on. Again very few migrants perhaps Mistle Thrush and what was a probable Redwing (not calling). A Spotted Flycatcher has been lingering around the farm buildings at Broughton. A walk up to Whiteford and back was enlivened by a cracking autumn male Wheatear, 300 House Martins massing at Prissen’s Tor and moving off to feed at Whiteford. The High tide on the rocks at the western side of Whiteford Point produced 1 Grey Heron, 2 Little Egret, max 1200 Oystercatcher, 45 Ringed Plover, 150 Dunlin, 6 Sanderling 1 Curlew Sandpiper, 87 Turnstone, 20 Curlew. Many waders spread out back towards Broughton when flushed by the tide and then “fishermen”.

Good long plod around Rhossili,Mewslade first thing produced 8 raven and numerous carrion crow probably enjoying the number of dead rabbits (myxomatosis?).5 whinchat was good for the vile, only 3 wheatear, and only 3 more wheatear up on the down.12 stonechat showed signs of a small influx from elsewhere.fair numbers of meadow pipit and linnet.
Mewslade valley had around 8 blackcap, a few chiffchaff,4 stonechat, 1 white throat,3 song thrush,5 blackbird.more blue tit,great tit around in the valley.
Pen clawed pill had 1 juv curlew sandpiper , 2 green shank and 1 common sandpiper.4 commic tern were off salt house point.