A firecrest this morning at SS5029 8730
Also peregrine, sparrowhawk, redpoll (west), several water rail and small scale movement of skylark noted.

The Starlings are beginning to gather at CBWR with perhaps maximum of c.1500-2000 birds, most of whom are going down at about 4.15pm. Yesterday there were c.130 Tufted Duck and c.25 Teal in the reserve. An ad.Med Gull was on The Marl playing fields. Today at the barrage there was no sign of the Black Redstart. A Curlew was in the outer harbour and 10 Common Gulls on the orange buoys.

800est herring gulls 200est lesser b b gulls 150 black h gulls
50 carrion crows 10 magpies 800 starling on tip also bullfinch
Chaffinch blue tit and dunnock
A barn owl was over tesco car park neath abbey at 5.30 per bob
Anderson.

A Bittern showed well form south pool hide today and the Siberian Chiffchaff was seen briefly from there. Otter again present and finally some ducks – 6 Wigeon, 2 Tufted Duck, 4 Shoveler, 5 Teal and 70+ Mallard. Later at Hafod Farm a Brambling weas with at least 150 Chaffinches.

Orphean warbler in private garden. Viewing arrangements and photos on http://www.pembsbirds.blogspot.co.uk/

Common Scoter (17), Great Crested Grebe (95), Ringed Plover (179), Sanderling (248), Turnstone (3) & Common Gull (34). Also 3 very distant Auk sp heading west.

Turtle Dove and Marsh tit still showing well. Adult winter Mediteranean Gull amongst Black-headed gulls on quieter end of East lake, 6 Wigeon (2m4f) on West lake. I didn’t see Bearded tit today but didn’t spend much time looking.

Ist-s male Black Redstart on the sea-ward rocks of the outer harbour towards the end of the viewing platform 10.45am. Emerged suddenly so may have come from inside the harbour wall like last year’s bird. It flew off to the base of the nearby cliffs moving towards Penarth Head where it was seen 30mins later perched up on a groyne.
Male Stonechat in Grangemoor Park near southern entrance by car park.

Hawfinches have been showing well this week with sightings on Sat (9th), Sun, Monday and Tuesday in the northern parts of Forestganol between 8:30 and 11.00am. At least 7 definitely seen and may be up to 10. They are feeding high up in the Hornbeam.

Flock of 70+ common scoter in the outer bay (could have been twice that many as impossible to accurately count due to swell and distance).
31 teal in the marsh, with smaller numbers of gadwall and mallard.

An interesting but sad observation was of a Woodcock which fatally crashed into a window at work today off Ocean Way. Sad end to a beautiful creature.

Details of the colour-ringed Black-tailed Godwit I reported a week or two back can be found HERE

Tirfounder Fields 7-9am. Willow Tit foraging on Cattails. Plenty Wigeon, Teal, Kingfisher etc http://www.spookspring.com/Tirfounder/TirFounderFields.html for full list. Pic by James Burton 

Sorry for posting this here. A standing order payment went in to the GBC bank account on 10th November under the names of Harding and Gold. I have not your contact details. Could you get in touch please?
Alan Rosney, Membership Secretary GBC 01443 841555

A calling Richards Pipit bounding over the point was an unexpected highlight this morning. Unfortunately it flew on out over the bay towards Swansea. Not much else noted – 500+ Starling heading east and 200+ Woodpigeon east along with a few Siskins and a Brambling.

Two Great White Egrets this evening roosting at Llanrhidian with 37 Little Egrets. Also two Hen Harriers present. Among the usual masses of birds at Whiteford were two female Merlin, Red Kite sat on the beach eating a dead fish, Peregrine, 70 + Eider, 3 Red-breasted Mergansers and two female Common Scoter, but no Slavonian Grebes.

The Turtle Dove was feeding along by the hedgerow that borders the left hand side of west paddock. Bearded Tit apparently seen [I only heard it as I walked past the array of lenses]. Also in W paddock 1 Green ‘Pecker and 2 Mistle Thrush. On W lake 6 Shoveler, 30 Tufted Duck and 5 Pochard. Nice to bump into Lol Middleton, Gareth Pryce, Rob & Linda Nottage and Joyce & Terry Hoy from the photo club.

Confiding Turtle Dove found close to the hedgerow which bisects the west meadow 11.00am. Marsh Tit in Cogan Wood and Bearded Tit off the boardwalk. Water Rail calling from Dragonfly Pond.3 Green Peckers over.