Drake Lesser Scaup still present at CBWR mostly at the far end of the reserve from the boardwalk. 3 Stonechat at the boardwalk end near the road. In Hamadryad Park ‘pond’, a Cetti’s showed well, also Common Whitethroat, Blackcap and the ubiquitous Chiffchaff occasionally heard singing. On the Taff 4 Wigeon off the park.

A Great White and 20+ Little Egrets were viewable from Loughor Bridge this afternoon.

VIDEO of the Little Egrets.

VIDEO of Great White Egret

per Mike Powell. Rose-col Starling at Newport Wetlands, Uskmouth. Fromm info centre go up to the lagoons and turn immed left at top of slope and bird is along there towards the distant copse.

There’s a problem with the main web site. It was OK when I updated something this morning but now there’s a message saying that the hosting has expired. I need to contact 123-reg who deal with our domain names to sort this out. Please bear with us whilst this is sorted. It’s not clear what has happened as 123 no longer ‘host’ our site, they only deal with our domain names.

I have now raised a support ticket with 123 asking them to sort this out. Thanks for your patience.

FIXED IT MYSELF 🙂 – DNS settings for our domain had defaulted to the original site [which no longer exists] for some reason. Fingers crossed……

A Cetti’s showed briefly but really well in trees just under the fly-over in Hamadryad Park and a Kingfisher was on the ‘pond’. 4 Stonechat still present in CBWR with 4 Teal and c.250 Canada Geese. A GBB Gull was on the Pierhead pontoons. An ad. Med Gull was on The Marl playing fields.

Just another reminder about the GBC indoor meet tonight 19:45 KNNR. Details further down. JDW

very brief visit mid afternoon. 5-6 Chiffies in trees by Church House and m+f Blackcap. 2 more Chiffies along the coast path. Ominous signs of disruption to access. “Tarmac” painted on the turnoff into Fort Road, then fresh white numbers painted on the road every 20 metres right down to the church. Re-surfacing or services?? Cd be annoying right at the critical time.

Possible Long eared Owl.3rd year in succession same area.If definate will try to locate roost this weekend,will be out later to confirm sighting.

Delayed sighting from yesterday (as I can’t work out how to post from my mobile).

Visited Dunraven yesterday evening, no sign of Firecrest. Two chough were a slight consolation, especially as they were attempting to mob a peregrine perched on the cliff. The peregrine seemed oblivious to their attentions! Also lots of hirundines, meadow pipits and chiffchaffs – some calling – filling their bellies before the journey south.

The drake Lesser Scaup was present by the ice rink this lunchtime, associating with a group of 15 Tufted Duck.

from BirdGuides. apparent late news from Landimore on Gower on Sat 28th, of a Red-throated Pipit at Weobley Marsh and also Lap Bunt. Can’t find any ref to this here or the FB page.

Update – apologies – this was listed as late news on the GRC blog today.

A GBC REMINDER – it’s the first indoor meeting of the 2103-14 autumn/winter season tomorrow Tues 1st Oct. An illustrated talk on a trip to Manitoba and Churchill in Canada by Richard Smith = Polar bears and exotic northern species. Usual time and venue – 7:45 p.m. KNNR. JDW

Yesterday evening, a family party of 4 Stonechat in the small reed bed by St.Davids Hotel.Also Blackcap, several Chiffchaff, 3 Cetti’s singing.

There was a perfect female American Wigeon in with a flock of 500+ Wigeon by Culvor Road today, but unfortunately the flock was spooked and landed elsewhere and I failed to confirm the underwing, so one to look out for if you’re passing that way (park on Culvor Road SS572977 and walk under the railway bridge, but not in the entrance gateway to the barns, which are frequently used). Video clip of flock taken before I noticed this bird – maybe you can spot it?

Otherwise 23 Little Egrets and a 1cy Yellow-legged Gull at Loughor Bridge.

The highlight was a Firecrest, in and around the walled gardens. Chiffchaffs were particularly numerous; I must have seen over 30 in the vicinity. Also noted were Common Whitethroat, Blackcap, Goldcrest, Wheatear, Stonechat, Bullfinch, Green Woodpecker, Peregrine and Chough. House Martins seemed to outnumber Swallows, with Meadow Pipits also still passing overhead in numbers.