First Redwings arrived in garden this morning. Very large flock ground feeding in field to south and flitting between perimeter hawthorn, beech and hazel. Precise count impossible but estimate 80 to 100.

Is this one of the odd Willow Warbler with dark legs or a Chiffchaff with a strong supercilium? Photo’d in flock of Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Goldcrest, Mixed Tits.

At Porth Teigr on Sun there was a fem type Redstart in conifers outside the BBC studios – not conclusive as to whether it was a Common or a Black Redstart, the latter of which had been reported a few days before. Too brief and quick for a photo. There were 3 Meadow Pipits on the rough ground there and a few Goldfinches.

At Cosmeston today there were 2 Stonechats in the Snipe paddock, and a single Swallow flew over. Two days ago there were 4 Little Grebes in W lake bay and several Swallows flew through.

11 Curlew feeding in the field opposite Pwll y waun pond just off the Porthcawl road. Hopefully numbers will rise as the autumn progresses. Also a couple of late Swallows.

!3 folk brave folk came on our GBC Public Walk on Saturday morning on a very blustery and sometimes damp day, and were rewarded by a good sighting of a Red-backed Shrike on the dunes, , and the arrival of a Great White Egret on the pool. Good to welcome some new people and see old friends.
Lots of fungi, and Burnet Rose in flower.

Full list:
Mute Swan, Gadwall, Mallard, Teal, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Herring Gull, Cormorant, Grey Heron, Great White Egret, Little Egret, Kingfisher, Kestrel, Magpie, Red-backed Shrike, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Raven, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Skylark, Cetti’s Warbler, Long-tailed Tit, Chiffchaff, Whitethroat, Wren, Starling, Blackbird, Robin, Stonechat, House Sparrow, Meadow Pipit, Linnet, Goldfinch.

Many thanks to Dave Carrington for leading.

A Grey Wagtail was in Sully Brook by the Medieval Village. E lake had 8 Tufted Ducks and a Heron was resting in a tree by W lake bay. A fem Sparrowhawk flew over W paddock and a Chiffchaff was with some Long-tailed Tits in the car park.

Pretty quiet at Lavernock this morning during a gentle post-Covid walk [managed to avoid it for 2 1/2 yrs!], but this imm Redstart was nice to watch foraging from the hedge by the coast path.

Lucky to see the Pectorcal Sandpiper at Meadow Hide at Langford Lakes Steeple worth the two and half hour dive

6.55 pm, another 2 Little Egrets have just passed over heading the same way. All were flying at about 15- 25 Mtr ( twice house height).

6.35 – 1x Great white Egret ( directly over my garden ) closely followed by 3 Little Egrets ( 50mt to South) , then a 4th 5 mins later. All heading NW and all from the comfort of my garden chair.

A couple of Egrets flew over the garden at 6.45 this evening , the second time in a week ( does that count as a garden tick ? 😀). I couldn’t identify exact species as I was mowing the lawn! They were flying in a N.W. direction so presumably heading off to roost at Kenfig Pool.

Sucessefully weekend – Slighting of 6 different Birds of Prey – Both Grebes – both Egrets – Wades – lots more

I’ve finally recovered from the annual Club weekend at Portland Bird Observatory on Portland Bill in Dorset. 12 members enjoyed a productive weekend with some excitng birds. Top of the bill for most was probably the immature Red-backed Shrike at Lodmoor, this location also giving us Little Stint, Curlew Sandpiper, Ruff, Spoonbill and some saw Bearded Tit. The Bill itself produced inter alia, passing Balearic Shearwaters, a Firecrest in the hand and a Turtle Dove!. Also we stopped off at Maiden Castle by Dorchester on the way down and eventually got on to a Corn Bunting. Altogether 104 species were logged. Here’s the full list: https://drive.google.com/…/18K7n4Ne8UE3pAvUT4DV…/view…

A big thanks to all who came, and of course to Martin, Pete “The Prof” Morgan and all others at the Obs.

Several raptor species seen this morning within 0.5 km2 of farmland North of Porthcawl, fem. Sparrowhawk, fem. Kestrel , 3 Buzzards, a Goshawk and the lovely sight of 5 Red Kites in the air together.