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.

Just received a text from Mike Cram who’s watching an Osprey eating a fish on one of the posts on the marsh at present.

Rather quieter than hoped for. A couple of Commics, a few Manxies and Fulmars all d/c and a juvenile Kittiwake doing a very good impression of a Sabine’s were the only things of note.

4 Spotted flycatcher and a wheatear were the highlights among 27 species.

One common tern and another six unidentified terns (probably all commons) seen passing the point in the rain at high tide this morning heading down channel. At least 10 yellow wagtails were counted by Graham Roblin among the Welsh Black cattle but birds could be heard calling all over the place so there could have been many more. No sign of yesterday’s knot but there were plenty of oystercatchers, turnstones, curlews and ringed plovers. There were also 2 teal, three dunlin and a sanderling.  

2 fem type Wheatear on the barrage rocks and grass slope. In Hamadryad ‘ pond’, a GC Grebe with 3 very small chicks and 7 Little Grebes.

The only thing of interest in rain & wind was a single Swift.

Groups of 4,7, and 9 common tern battling into the wind going up toward Gowerton pill.All looked to land further up from 19.10 to 19.30

Not many birds at the reserve today but a juvenile Green Woodpecker fed outside the north hide for 40 minutes.

Greenshank 2, common sandpiper 3, yellow wagtail 1, and little egret 1 were the birds of note this morning.

2 very mobile whinchats on the stone wall 300m west of lifeguards’ cabin at Pink Bay. In the same area, slightly closer to Sker, 4 yellow wagtails were feeding among the Welsh black cattle.
12 wheatears, 7 stonechats, 2 rock pipits and a mixed flock of 50 mainly linnets with a few goldfinches and meadow pipits thrown in.
Not many waders to report; just 3 curlews and 48 oystercatchers on Sker beach.

2 Black-necked Grebes at lisvane res this morning. One in more summery plumage. Both showing well in the south-west corner. i.e to the right of the car park.

Via James Vafidis

Eider at Blackpill this morning

Six Greenshanks flew over together gong north west and an Otter was briefly outside the South Pool Hide.

This afternoon a male Eider was in Port Eynon Bay along with 4 Med Gulls, but there were no signs of any terns on or around the busy beach area. Observations in the upper part of the Burry over the previous couple of days have revealed a gradual increase in common species such as 75 Gadwall, 62 Teal, 63 Mallard, 45 Great Crested Grebe, 2700 Oystercatcher, 38 Ringed Plover, 36 Dunlin, 10 Snipe and 289 Curlew, with less common species noted being no more exciting than 1 Yellow-legged Gull and the odd Tree Pipit. Let’s hope the change in wind direction spices things up a little…

23/8/14

we went for a walk down to sker farm and one of the fields towards the yellow house there was a whimbrel there on its own