A bit dark to see very well, but 2 wigeon, 2 shoveller, 1 teal, 1 common snipe, 13 tufties, 2 Canadas, c10 little grebes, 2 GC grebes and a noctule-sized bat out hunting.

Too many people for there to be much bird-wise but a fem/imm Pochard on E lake was the first I’ve seen this autumn.

A Common Sandpiper was on the rocks at the end of the witches nose, a couple of Chough were feeding on the cliff turf there and lots of Rock Pipits along the coast were the only other birds of note today, the plants providing more interest. A few days back a flock of 18 Jays dropped into Mewslade Valley, but they did not stop and kept on heading s.w., it being the first obvious migrating group I’ve seen this autumn.

pretty quiet this morning: flock of 40-50 Goldfinch above the dragonfly pond, 1 Jay & 1 Green ‘Pecker there too, and a scarce species for Cossie, a single Stock Dove stopped in to drink at the dragonfly pond and then fed on the plateau behind.

An Arctic skua flew down channel at 10.10am, two Sandwich terns were feeding around the point and a bar-tailed godwit was on Sker Beach. Two yellow wagtails were feeding in the Royal Porthcawl Glf Club.

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.