Not as exciting as a Marsh Harrier but … a v pale [part leucistic-ish?] 1st yr Herring Gull that’s been around at Cosmeston for a while. – present this morning.

Juvenile Marsh Harrier hunting first thing, which spooked at least 4 Green Sands. A little later Neil Edwards saw two juveniles in the same area SS4993.

The suspiciously tame red-crested pochard / hybrid was still present this evening at the boardwalk. No sign of the recent GWE.

The G C Grebe pair seem to be down to 1 full grown young. A flock of 20+ Linnet were in the west paddock and quite a number of Common Blue butterflies around. Also Black-tailed Skimmers in the wet areas.

Not many birds around. Highlight was f/o Stock Dove, which is very uncommon round these parts. Also Linnet, Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, Jay, Buzzard and Magpie. 13 sp. of butterfly noted with loads of Gatekeepers, Skippers and Common Blues on the wing. Nice to see singles of Grayling, Holly Blue and Brimstone.

july 23rd. 2-commom sandpipers,1-greenshank and 2-clouded yellows.

The worn female Marsh Harrier was present again until 10.30 when it drifted high west over the tip and out of sight. Also present were a Water Rail, five Common Snipe and a Clouded Yellow.

Short seawatch. Single common sandpiper and dunlin over the sea. 15 common scoter west. 40 Med gulls on the upper shore at Bracelet.

28 redshank 1 whimbrel 1 common sandpiper 30+ black h gulls

Juvenile Mediterranean Gull wearing a green ring (no scope – not read) and two Little Egrets, this morning. 

The first 2 Yellow Wagtails of autumn – with the cattle this morning and 4 Whimbrel on the rocks. Typical July fayre at Ogmore recently – Green Sandpiper (19th), 8 Common Sands, 3 Little Egrets and 2 Redshank.

With Will W-D

Peregrine, Stonechats, Rock Pipits, Whitethroat, Green Woodpecker.

Few Gannets, Sandwich Tern, Curlew, distant Auk sp, Med Gull, 2 Ringed Plovers and a single Eider juvenile just off rocky beach.

 

East side of course,along Sandy Lane to bird hospital and return this morning.. Lots of meadow pipits with evidence of breeding.. Kestrel,buzzard,loads of jackdaws,house sparrows and a few rooftop herring gulls… Lots of butterflies and a few dragonflies…

A message from David Rich, GBC member. For those who knew Dave Glanville:
“Sad to report that Dave Glanville has passed away. He lived in Cardiff for a number of years before moving to Pembs.
I had the privilege of knowing Dave and birded with him when he was in Cardiff and after he moved to Pembs. The last couple of trips were to see the Pacific Loon in Pembs and the Long-billed Dowitcher
at Kidwelly. He was a lovely chap, full of humour and an excellent and enthusiastic birder. Will be sadly missed.

34 species on the Saturday morning monthly walk-humid and overcast- including 4 Whimbrel flying towards the sea, lots of juvenile Whitethroat, linnet in the car park, 3 Grey Heron around the pool and a Great Spotted Woodpecker near the feeders. Also- a slow worm, frog, lizard, a rabbit family, lots of dragonfies/ damselflies including a very close female emperor, red admiral, gatekeeper, burnet moth. Thanks Strinder!

Pencoed- After seeing only 3 swift here this year – a party of 9 over Coychurch Road- phew!

With Will W-D

Crofty marsh – amongst mixed gull flock, 2 Mediterranean Gulls, 40+ Common Gulls
                     – Common Sandpiper in pill
                     – several Gannets flying down channel
                     – lots of Swifts, Swallows & House Martins, also 2 Sand Martins feeding over marsh

Fairwood Common – Yellowhammers – 3 male, 1 female
                               – Stonechat – 3 male, 2 female
                               – Whitethroat

Ilston River – Grey Wagtail, Nuthatch, Buzzard

A pair of noisy Oystercatchers with a singe small chick still surviving next to the Bosphorus Resaurant, Mermaid Quay, in this precarious location.
Red-Crested Pochard still present in CBWR very close to the boardwalk – comes to bread, seems very tame.

6 chough back on the course this morning.. And a flock of approx 30 linnet

A single Ad.summer Med Gull among c.300 Black-headed Gulls at about 4pm on the playing fields.
The R-C Pochard (?) still present in CBWR off the boardwalk.