Cadaxton saltmarsh a female goosander 10 mallards 55 black
Headed gulls and a dipper
Brunel Dock
21 redshank 11 dunlin
Monkston boat club roost 18 little egrets 14 on Mud and 4 in the
Trees 5 herons look out north gower
Est 700 jackdaws in pre roost flock and a singing song thrush in
Front of the council offices

Just a reminder that Mark Hipkin will be giving a talk on video digiscoping at the KNNR Centre tomorrow evening. Start time 7.45 p.m.

Male Bearded Tit seen in the reedbed in front of St David’s Hotel while watching the roosting starlings with James Vafidis, Martin Thomas and Wayne Morris. Two Cetti’s Warblers and three water rail calling.

the spotted redshank was still around with 2 greenshank and loafing gulls at penclawdd.

Nicholston end of Oxwich bay had approx. 720 common gull plus only several black headed and herring.Approx. 200 larger gull sp. were distant at three cliffs.Like Owain , i was fortunate to hear the GN Diver call briefly (which was relatively close in around 09:00).Only 2 GC grebe plus the scoter flock was too distant.

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A great northern diver just west of the point (wouldn’t be visible from the bay), actively foraging close inshore. The bird called repeatedly for a short time at about 13:00 – which in the calm conditions could be heard for quite some distance – really nice. Also 35 curlew in permanent pasture above the point, a Dartford warbler, 3 porpoise, 3 shag, and a count of 427 common scoter (very distant and would have been best viewed from the cliffs near Pennard or the tor at Nicholaston). Didn’t have a good enough view of the inshore waters of the bay to look for RT Diver or grebes.

An eventful half-hour,16h00-16h30.10-Little Egrets in to the roost,then when nearly dark a Bittern flew around the car park area before flying away north-east.Then ten minutes later whilst leaving a Bittern again was over the car park area and off towards Marshfield.One bird or two?

Went in search of the Bearded Tits at Cardiff Bay Wetlands Reserve. No luck with them (although reported as being heard) but thanks to Gareth Stamp I met this rare visitor to Cardiff – a Willow Tit. Called frequently and showed quite well in alders in the reedbed, from the gravel path near the boardwalk

2 hours before high tide.. Approx 50 gcg’s on Swansea side…. Large numbers of oycs.. Big dunlin flock.. 4 scoter.. Assorted gulls too far out without scope..

It is my pleasure to report that during the recent Gower Ornithological Society AGM I was announced as the new Records Secretary/Report Editor and County Recorder for West Glamorgan.

I would like to take this opportunity to express a huge thanks to Harold E. Grenfell and Robert H. A. Taylor for their outstanding work over the years. Harold, one of the founding members of GOS, made significant contributions towards every annual report since the first issue was published in 1968. His eye for detail and commitment to the progression of the society is a major credit to him. Harold’s legacy has provided strong leadership combined with diligence and enthusiasm, which now finds the club in very good health. Robert has committed the last 17 years to keeping accurate records for the society during increasingly challenging times. The combination of his ability, experience and knowledge of the recording area is second to none. During his tenure Rob has also made numerous outstanding finds including the most recent and very popular Isabelline Wheatear.

It will be difficult for me to match what both Harold and Rob have given to the society over the years and I face the daunting task of maintaining their very high standards. However, it’s an exciting opportunity for me to offer a fresh approach and I relish the challenge of developing these roles in the years ahead. Fortunately for me, the task at hand is made less difficult due to the availability of a rich array of help close to hand. The Gower Ornithological Society is full of very able section writers and the committee is full of talented colleagues. I am also pleased to have the support of many members of the neighbouring birding societies that I have had the fortune to know and get on with.

Birding is a fantastic hobby and I couldn’t be happier than when I’m out birding with the company that it brings. I’ve met lots of great people and made good friends through birding in the last few years. My wish is for more of the same in the future with some great birding along the way.

A late bargain Peacock was on the wing near the Kenfig River. Flying from the reed bed before settling on the bank of Morfa Tip. Generally fairly quiet bird wise at a few locations around the county, today. Although, following Terry Tovey’s nice Little Egret count opposite Brunel Dock earlier this week, it was nice to see at least 10, this evening, at this under watched roost site

The above video shows 316 Great Crested Grebes on the sea off Crymlyn Burrows. In addition to this there were 95 off Aberavon Beach, 19 off Blackpill & 1 off Mumbles Pier. 431 in total at this stage in the winter is impressive. The recent calm weather, which looks set to continue again next week, should allow further greater numbers to be counted.

Also in the bay 1 Black-throated Diver and 5+ Red-throated Divers off Aberavon Beach, with some distant small flocks of Scoters (27), those seen well enough to ID being Common Scoter. There were also some Eider off Mumbles Pier with 1m +3f. Interestingly, reading Owain’s post below makes me think there may be as many as 7, or more, in the area. I saw 3 distantly from Blackpill that looked like 3 sub-adult males and had assumed that the group of 4 I saw from Mumbles a little later at closer range that included 3 females and an adult male might have been the same. At least 5 including Owain’s sub-ad (or possibly 7) is a good count for the area and November is a good month to see them at this location.

5 Purple Sandpipers , 12+ Curlews, 50+ Oystercatchers, 500+flock of Golden Plovers, mini flock of 6 Pied Wagtails, 20+ Turnstones, 2 Redshank, possible bar tailed godwit ?

(very poor photo attached)

No sign of Bearded Tit this morning in CBWR despite extensive search (with Dave G). Lesser Scaup still present with c.100 Tufted Duck. Rockit, Robin, quite a few Linnet and the usual Common Gulls on the barrage. 2 solitary Redshank between Penarth Marina and Ely rivermouth present for the last 10 days or so.Several Redwing in The Marl.

Sub adult male eider actively foraging off Knab Rock / Verdi’s
Med gull counts at Bracelet lower at present – 11 this am.
2 redshank, shag.

bit of a late posting but i went for my walk to behinind BP and intertissue on my way i say about 10 – 12 Stonechat altogether, kestrel, bob the buzzard, 3 little egrets one on the flood and 2 on the river, along with redshank, curlew on intertissue field, starlings, mixed gulls, corvids and by the little spot off bushes by bp there were a good few wrens around,song thrushes, blackbirds, about 6 Long Tailed Tits, a few bluetits and Great tits too and the highlight of the day a very noisy water rail i was quite shocked at this but what a lovely bird and its my first time actually seeing one properly, still couldnt get a picture of it though dashed into high grassy reeds and wouldnt come out

other than that a good days watch and i have got some faint images of the stonechat.

There were 23 Common Gulls on the orange buoys this morning. No sign of Black Redstart either on barrage or below Penarth Head.

2 Grey Wags on outer rocks of Penarth Marina complex, seen from the barrage car park.