Nipped down to Llanilid this evening to catch up with this juvenile Knot – present for its second day and a nice find by Alun Hughes. Managed a quick shot in the fading light just after sunset. A Ruff was also present earlier, as well as a Swift.

Spotted flycatcher at Ram Grove and a clouded yellow at Longhole

Very few migrants in the valleys.  Blackcaps and whitethroats the most obvious.

Apart from the very noticeable police presence [2 ribs with armed officers, 3 launches, 7 hi viz officers on mountain bikes], there were 4 GBB Gulls [all adults], about 20 House Martins at the Cardiff end, and 14 Pied Wags, and that’s about all in the horrible drizzle.

5 spotted flycatchers, 10 chiffs, 66 sand martin and a blackcap were the highlights this morning – plus the ‘resident’ swallows of course

A couple of interesting gulls down at Costmeston this morning. Spotted first by Lol.

The first one looks like a ‘going into’ 2nd Winter YLG. It was far more agressive than the LBBs.

The second bird is in photos 2-6. Any ideas?

http://andyburnsphotography.zenfolio.com/p433753852/h14875b1f#h14875b1f

Andy

Following on from yesterday morning’s Red Kite lingering between Broughton and Hillend, it was a busy morning with further early signs of migration. A juv Grey Heron flew in and roosted at Little Broughton, 60+ Oystercatcher on beach with 1 juv Grey Wagtail. Up on the burrows were 2 hunting juv Kestrel, 20+ Meadow Pipit, 1 Sedge Warbler, 5+ Whitethroat, 4+ Blackcap, 2 Willow Warbler, 1 juv Reed Bunting , 2 Goldfinch. There was a gathering of hirundines over the playground: 75+ House Martin, 50 Swallow and 2 Swift over. The morning was further enlivened just before 1000h when 3 Chough flew down from Rhossili calling and after circling and attempting to gain height, opted for Twlc Point / Broughton beach area.

2 tree pipit (1 captured), 27 blackcap, 1 garden warbler, 9 chiffchaff, 11 sedge warbler, 10 reed warbler were among the birds captured at Oxwich this morning.  For more see: http://gowerbirdringinggroup.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/oxwich-marsh-31-august-2014-boom-in.html

just a random walk around the part where trees were chopped down there were a mixture of

Blue Tits, Coal Tits, Great Tits, Long Tailed Tits, Spotted Flycatchers, Willow Warblers, Woodpigeons, G.S Woodpecker,  Jackdaws, Maglpies, Wrens, Robins and the occasional blackbird 🙂

Spotted Flycatcher in Trallwn Woods seen from our back garden about an hour ago.

RGW: Teal [3], Little Egret [3], Greenshank [1], Lapwing [15], Curlew [31], Whimbrel [3], GBB Gull [6], Swallow [200+] & Wheatear [2]. Leps: Clouded Yellow [1]

Very brief visit to Lisvane Res. couldn’t see any BNGs there. Common Sandpiper – north end.

Quite busy this morning (before the dog walkers arrived en masse) Highlights were single Whinchat and single juv Pied Fly. Also present Whitethroat, Yellowhammer, Reed Bunting, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Stonechat, Raven, Buzzard plus lots of Goldfinches feeding on the thistles. Also 6 species of butterflies seen.

5 Spotted Flycatchers this morning, in trees on left past the dragonfly pond [i.e. the outer fringe of Cogan Wood]. Thx to Wayne Strong for heads up re 1 in dead tree by dragonfly pond. Also 1 Clouded Yellow in the meadow beyond W paddock.

Of note this morning: Redstart (1 fem/imm), Raven (2), Sparrowhawk (1), Swift (1), House Martin (6), Sand Martin (1), Willow Warbler (1), Chiffchaff (20+), Blackcap (6+) and Common Whitethroat (2) .

A trip out to Weobley at high tide this morning to see what wader numbers were around gave approx. 350 ringed plover, 320 Dublin , 6 knot, a few sanderling.Martin Bell had a mobile flock of approx 11 curlew sand, which had moved on. I managed a couple of distant views toward Llanrhidian.Martin also had 1 , poss 2 little stint , of which 1 was feeding quite close. A rather cracking adult pale Arctic Skua passed west along the high tide line giving brilliant views.A peregrine and distant Osprey at Llanrhidian gave a good mix.

Two Black-necked Grebes present this afternoon and early evening. The regular winter plumage bird has been joined by a juvenile [see GRC] found by PB. This is the third BNG present at Lisvane Res. in the past five days. View from the carpark or platform via Blackoak Road.

Kingfisher, 2 Teal (poss m in eclipse), RC Pochard still present off the boardwalk, Cetti’s showed well.

Productive 15 minutes in Bendrick Rock area late morning today. 1 Whimbrel, 1 Curlew, 5 Oystercatcher, 2 Turnstone, 1 Common Sandpiper and a Greenshank.