Hi all, it has come to light that for some users, adverts occasionally pop up when using it. I have discovered that this is due to the fact that this is a free facility from WordPress. This possibility was not clear when I first set this up and it does not seem to happen for all browsers/computer set-ups. We will be buying an upgrade shortly which shd eliminate these ads. Further checking has revealed that this only happens to non- registered people who are simply reading the blog, or registered users who are reading  without being signed in. The upgrade will still be installed tho’.

John Wilson

The first Dark-bellied Brents of the autumn have arrived, 82 in total; comprising 23 at off Salthouse Point, 45 off Wernffrwd and 14 off Machynys (Carms).

Keep your eyes peeled. Just checked BirdGuides news – there are shed loads of Yellow-browed’s all down the east coast. Lets hope some wander across this way.

9:30 Wet drizzley morning. Brief views of Merlin (juv or female) from car as we arrived. Buzzard, lots of corvids, few pipits and finches, but stuff was generally keeping their heads down out of the rain.

For the record, here’s a nice shot of the Wryneck at Lavernock this morning, taken by Andy Burns, a local photographer – nice one Andy and good man Lol for re-finding it. The full set of pix can be seen at Andy’s Zenfolio web site at: http://andyburnsphotography.zenfolio.com/p849903857/h79a4be56#h79a4be56.

 

ravens 2, long staying med gull YHE8, 50 kittiwake flying west

late afternoon after delivering nest box making planks bought by GBC.

1 2ndS Med Gull – interesting plumage with a tiny amnt of black in 1 or 2 primaries, yellowish legs and bill, and slightly smoky head w/o distinct eye patch. Also 3 Wigeon, 3 Teal and 3 Shoveler on the shoreline by the boathouse, and 2 Heron. 35 Mallard counted. Also the 2 hybrid Canadas mentioned below by Adrian – quite attractive birds as it happens.

2 Spotted Fly in the rear of Hamadryad Hospital in trees facing the fields. 2 fem.Goldeneye still off the Watermark building.

The Tern which was present at Lisvane Res (19th – 21st at least) and reported as ‘Common’ is in fact a juvenile Arctic Tern [PB, MCP, DRWG]

The pale white primaries & secondaries are consistent with juvenile Arctic, as is the smallish black bill and the faint carpal bar. In juvenile Common, these features are much darker and more pronounced. Also the bill (when seen well) does shows a reddish base, not present on Arctic. [Apologies for poor cropped shot, but it does show the details mentioned.]

with Jeff Curtis east shore Kenfig pool 2 hybrid geese in with the  Canada flock probably Canada x Greylag. Sker Point 2 Sandwich Terns and 2 Med Gulls also adult Med Gull ON Kenfig pool.

The Wryneck of last week [Sep 18th] was seen again this morning by Lol Middleton in the same hedgerow that runs away from the coast path between the second and third stubble fields. Apologies but I couldn’t get this posted earlier. It was seen at around 10 a.m. It appears some photos have been taken.

I have edited this post. The location I originally gave was where it was seen last week. Apparently this a.m. it was by the hedgerow alongside the first paddock/stubble field past the big house by the coast path.

A migration watch between 07:15 and 08:15 recorded (east unless noted): 153 meadow pipits ; 2 reed bunting; 58 swallows; 57 goldfinch (not all movement directional, max flock 26); 49 greenfinch (mainly west); 4 pied wagtail; 26 linnet; 8 chaffinch (unclear whether just local movement for all but 3), 10 starling; 5 house martin and 2 skylark.

Also 18 common scoter seen flying into Swansea Bay close in to the Tutt.

Yesterday 2 Goldeneye back again by the ice rink with 1 Teal and 2 further Teal around the corner in the Ely river mouth. The usual ad. Med Gull with dark bill and a white mark on it on Hamadryad Park playing fields and a Cetti’s singing in the ‘pond’.

At LAvernock Pt and N along the coast path, approx 10:00 to 12:30

Continuous overhead vis mig of Meadow Pipit, fairly heavy at first then tailing off but still continuing, tog. with Swallows. Also c.200 Meadow Pipit in total feeding in the two stubble fields and near the silage dump at the N end. A mixed flock of c.500 Jackdaw, Rook and Crow was in the big stubble field. Plus:

Chiffchaff 18 [4 by church and 14 at N end], Grey Wagtail 3 feeding around the silage dump, also in that area 3 Blackcap [2m 1f], 1 Common Whitethroat, 10 Long-t Tit, 1 Pere over, 1 Raven over, 20 Sky Lark flew in to feed in the large stubble field, plus Gt and Blue Tits, Blackbird, Dunnock, Robin, Collared Dove. More land birds in 2 hrs than in a whole day at Portland Bill on Sunday! 🙂

A heavy passage of Meadow Pipits was noted this morning with hundreds going over and hundreds more around the lighthouse buildings and in the fields. Also present were Yellow Wagtails (3), alba Wags (30+), Reed Buntings (5) and Stonechats (8).  2 Spotted Flycatchers, 6 Blackcaps and 5 Chiffchaffs were in the valley.

3 Med Gulls in and around Hamadryad Park today. No Willow Tit but report of one in scrub along river bank by pontoons.

whitford sands yesterday late afternoon:fog showing well;also, 1 curlew sand,2 grey plover,27 ringed plover,8 dunlin,3 sanderling.5 wheatear in dune area.

today;good couple of hundred mainly swallow and some house martin feeding alomg the Burry saltmarsh this morning.

overton mere\water treatment place:1 garden warbler,8 blackcap,3 chiffchaff,5 grey wagtail,bullfinch,dunnock,robin,wren incouples.a few goldrest heard.

 

Birds at Oxwich this morning included a grasshopper warbler, 15+ chiffchaff, 5+ reed warbler, 4+ blackcap and three whitethroat. Teal calling from the marsh early morning. Substantial movements of swallows and house martin, and more limited passage of meadow pipits during the morning. A few siskin over.

Whiteford – 27 Sandwich tern loafing on beach at low water, 20 eider, 1 red-breasted merganser, 23 great crested grebe, 1 shag, 6 snipe flew over and up the Burry Inlet and a kingfisher was seen on Cwm Ivy Marsh.

 

Neath Saltmarsh – Peregrine (1m), Dunlin (6), Snipe (9), Common Sandpiper (1), Swallow (c250) & Linnet (c60)

Llandarcy Saltmarsh – Grey Heron (6), Lapwing (19), Curlew (4), Green Sandpiper (1), Common Sandpiper (1), Kingfisher (1) & House Martin (4)

Brunel Dock – Dunlin (c40) & Redshank (c60)

Margam Moors – Canada Geese (29 -> east), Whinchat (1), Blackcap (2), Garden Warbler (1), Chiffchaff (10+) & Cetti’s Warbler (6)

Kenfig Saltmarsh – Teal (70+), Lapwing (16) & Dunlin (1)

MHi, DCo