A Semi-palmated Sandpiper was om Monk’s lagoon most of the morning. It was initially seen on Sunday but the views at the time were not good enough for a positive ID.

In the Clyne Valley this morning, 3 or 4 Spotted Flycatchers hunting for insects; flock of 100+ Goldfinches feeding in the knapweed-strewn meadow, until disturbed by an attacking Sparrowhawk; 1 Brimstone butterfly.

Still a dozen-plus Painted Ladies on buddleias at Blackpill, plus a few Small Tortoiseshells.

The long-staying Wryneck was still present today below the 30 mph sign just upstream from the main carpark entrance. Horror stories of rather aggressive photographer[s] chasing the bird around this morning almost put me off finally going down to see it, but I did go and got there at about 3:45 p.m. Nice to see Tim Hall there, and Rob & Nerys Stratton, and Matt Meehan and a few others, and Paul Denning later on. It was initially in thick vegetation just below the road, but then relocated at the bottom of the ‘cliff’ there, feeding around the rocks at the bottom. All present kept a respectable distance, so photos were not easy esp. in the howling gale blowing up the estuary! I struggled with my 100-400 with the 1.4x attached, hand held! This is one of the better ones [quite a crop] when it did a bit of a neck stretch due to a noise above. What a fabulous bird.

A Common Swift over the lake today.

Spotted Flycatcher a.m. in trees behind W lake reed bed so v distant. Didn’t see Whinchats but only a v brief visit. 2 Buzzards mewing over car park.

A Hawfinch was reported at Forest Farm this morning – no further detail I’m afraid.

One of the two Whinchats at Cosmeston, first reported by Annie Irving this morning. This was taken at about 3:45 this afternoon after some very careful stalking. They were very active along the W paddock hedgerow, sometimes dropping into the tall ground vegetation and never spending very long on the hedge tops. I used the cover of a bend in the hedge and managed to get 4 pix of which this is the best – even then it’s a crop. Also a present a v active Chiffchaff. Couldn’t find the Wheatear reported this morning.

Migrant Hawker male just before the heavens opened.

The Wryneck was reported again in the same location in the Ogmore estuary this morning.

Reported this morning: Peterstone Sluice Farm, this a.m. – Wryneck, 3+ Spot Flys, 3 Tree Pipits, Garden Warbler, Pied Fly, Yellow Wags, Whitethroats etc, plus 1 Whinchat & Wheatear on Rumney Great Wharf.

Wheatear along Swansea seafront this morning. At least a dozen Painted Ladies on nearby buddleias. Many more Painted Ladies and a Brimstone in the Clyne Valley. Sad to see nearly all Ash trees in the valley seem to be affected with Ash Die-Back.

A red kite over the Liberty stadium late second half this afternoon made a good day even better

A Wryneck has been reported this morning at Ogmore – apparently about 150 yds upstream from the main car park in scrub near a 30 mph sign.

Spotted Flycatcher reported by St Davids Hotel this a.m.

2 Yellowhammer , Stonechat , Reed Buntings and a single Whitethroat at Gileston . Large flocks of Linnet , Goldfinch , House Sparrow , Jackdaw and Rooks over the fields . Buzzard , Kestrel and Raven also present . 67 Oystercatcher , 2 Turnstone and 4 Little Egret at Breaksea Point at high tide .

At East Aberthaw 2 Buzzard , 2 Kestrel and a male Sparrowhawk around the tip area . 2 Raven over flying westward . A pair of Stonechat were near the rivermouth plus a pair sat on top of a bush with 4 Whitethroat in the lagoon area . Other warblers seen were Chiffchaff and Blackcap . Sand Martin , Swallow and a group of 11 Swift were also present . 12 Ringed Plover , 5 Turnstone , Oystercatcher and a single Little Egret were on the beach . Good to see the Mute Swan pair still have 5 cygnets .

It will be interesting to see what they do with the power station once it is completely shut down which I think is in March .

4 adult Little Grebe present in a brief walk this morning. One pair with a half grown young [they did have two] and another adult pair. About 50 Sand Martin feeding over W lake and a few House Martin over E lake near the golf course.

At far end of W paddock in Elderberry tree – 2 imm Blackcap, 2 Whitethroat, 2 Dunnock. 20 Sand Martin around the lakes.

Eleven folk came on our Kenfig monthly walk- thanks!

A blustery morning down at Sker, but the tide was just going out, and rewarded us with a list of 50 species. A few people went down to the pool afterwards,  it was quiet, but they found us a few more for the list.

The highlights today were a Whimbrel, Curlew, Dunlin, Ringed Plover, Turnstone, Sanderling, Willow Warbler, Wheatear.

Full list-

Canada Goose, Greylag Goose, Mute Swan , Mallard , Grey Heron, Little Egret Cormorant, Coot, Oystercatcher , Ringed Plover , Whimbrel ,Curlew, Turnstone Sanderling , Dunlin  ,Black-headed Gull ,  Great Black-backed,  Gull Herring Gull Lesser Black-backed Gull,  Feral Pigeon , Woodpigeon, Collared Dove,  Swift, Kestrel Magpie,  Jackdaw, Carrion Crow,  Blue Tit , Great Tit , Skylark, Sand Martin, Swallow House Martin, Willow Warbler, Whitethroat, Wren , Starling, Blackbird,  Robin Stonechat , Wheatear , House Sparrow , Dunnock , Pied Wagtail , Meadow Pipit  Rock Pipit,  Bullfinch,  Greenfinch,  Linnet , Goldfinch.

 

1 Lesser Whitethroat in scrub on RHS beyond the dragonfly pond. 4 fem/imm Common Whitethroat in the W paddock hedgerow. 50+ Sand Martin and 1 House Martin. 1 Buzzard flew into the edge of Cogan Wood. GCG pair still with 2 half brown humbugs.

Hamadryad Park – 2 adult Med Gulls at 8.50am . CBWR – Kingfisher , 3 Swift , Blackcap , Common Whitethroat , Chiffchaff , Willow , Reed and Cettis Warblers . Sailing Centre/Barrage – 14 Swift , 1 Kingfisher and 1 Common Sandpiper .