My highest ever count of Med gulls at Bracelet – 87 on the low water rocks this evening, with a few common and herring gulls. I assume that all the birds from Blackpill to Caswell have collected in the bay to hide from the north-easterlies. Nothing on the lighthouse island this evening, and very little on Mumbles Hill this morning.

Approx 100 redwing flew over pen y fai late morning calling and heading west

pretty quiet in the valley,with only 4 goldcrest,a couple of fly-over redwing,and best bird,1 first winter ring ouzel.only other birds dotted around were a few robin,dunnock,blue tit and stonechat.quite a few red admiral around plus a few painted lady.

Water rail showing well on the Visitor Centre pond yesterday lunchtime at Parc Slip. And a good start to the day today- first thing I saw as I arrived at work was a red kite flying over the centre. 

Heard and saw my first Redwing going over when I opened the front door first thing and yesterday there was a Swallow at Loughor Foreshore.

1 Yellow-browed Warbler showed well in the isolated wooded scrub at Baglan Dunes, this afternoon. The wood is located right next to the Wales Coast Path. The bird was still present and calling till 14:00 at least. Also good numbers of Skylarks (50+), Wheatear (4), Chiffchaff (2), Goldcrests & Blackcap (1)

DCo, RJ, MHi

More photos of the YBW on GRC Forum

http://grcforum.blogspot.co.uk

per Paul Bowden – the L-b Dowitcher was still at Rhaslas this afternoon.

GBC mid-week trip with 10 participants so thanks to them. The wooded section of Cwm Nash was pretty quiet with just a Treecreeper of note. In the open lower area, 8+ Chiffchaff, 1 Blackcap, 1 Reed Bunting, Goldfinch & Chaffinch, 1 Spawk, 1 Buzzard, 1 Gt Spotted Woodpecker.

On the W cliff path and fields: 2 Merlin together was the highlight, 1 flew inland with prey and the other flew east. Also 100+ Goldfinch, 30+ Linnet, 4 Wheatear, 3 Stonechat, and a new mown field with c.30 Mipit and 10+ Sky Lark and 3 of the 4 Wheatear.

Also of note on the Leps front were a  couple of Comma, several Red Admiral and at leas 4 Small Copper by the coast path, and a couple of Silver ‘Y’ moths.

A single Swallow over Cogan wood this am. Comma, Small copper, Small totoiseshell.

A merlin was hunting pipits around the lighthouse this evening.
Two common scoter off the pier, and 140 kittiwakes using the ledges.
Mumbles Hill pretty dead for the past few days, but a few chiffchaff (including 2 singing this am) and a blackcap this evening.

Drake Goldeneye in eclipse between Prospect Place and the ice rink this lunchtime.

 

A very obliging Jack Snipe was sat up on a tree trunk left behind on the salt marsh by a high tide. My first record of one here. Many Canada Geese, 100+ but not counted and 22 Lapwings.

 

At the river mouth 381 Sanderlings on the Aberavon side and a Wigeon in the channel. A Peregrine came in to cause a bit of panic and made a couple of relaxed circuits of Crymlyn Burrows beach, seemingly looking for a weaker bird to pursue? Later, a long chase given to a Dunlin was unsuccessful. On the sea 7 Great Crested Grebes off Aberavon Beach and a few Mediterranean Gulls slowly heading west.

Long-billed Dowitcher still present in NW corner on the shoreline near the tyres @ 1500hrs at Rhaslas Pond, Fochriw when we left.

Dowitcher sp (prob. Long-billed) at Rhaslas Pond found by MH. 

Flock of 60+ Goldfinch seen today – per Allan Dowson

Lesser Scaup at the far end of the reserve from the boardwalk this pm with Kingfisher and 2 Water Rail calling. 2 GBB Gulls on the Pierhead pontoons. 2 Wheatear on the grass banks of the barrage with Rock Pipit, and Raven over.

Cycle path along river towards Tondu
Highlights being a flock of 6 Goosander and another flock of 2 all red headed otherwise very quiet gold crest in with a mobile flock of Long tail Tits and a Grey Heron

1515 – Hobby rapidly heading south along River Taff

38 species seen this morning in a walk from Rest Bay to Sker Pt and back. Highlights were c200 Golden Plover at Sker and good numbers of passerines in the fields around Sker farm. Mainly Meadow Pipits but also Skylark, Goldfinch, Linnet, Stonechat and Wheatear. 3 GBB gulls, 2 Med gulls and 8 Common gulls among the Herring & BH Gulls. Also a few Swallows