Other news from various media: Red-rumped Swallow still at the bottom of the hill at Cwm Ivy, by the small tor; Red-necked Grebe at Llangorse Lake; Merlin nr Southendown/Dunraven; 4 Cattle Egret still at Zig-Zag lane, Porthcawl.

Missed you Alan Cripps. Ditto re Beardies between 11:15 and 13:00 although I did go for coffee in that time. In addition to your birds there was a Common Chiffchaff by the boardwalk.

26 species seen at C.B.W.R this morning. Missed out on the bearded tits but at least 6 Cettis warblers heard with brief views of a couple. Also Reed Bunting, Greenfinch, Linnets, Goldfinch, 2 Stonechats and Water Rail etc.

Glamorgan Bird Club had a pretty successful trip to the above yesterday. 17 people attended. Highlights of the 73 species seen were:

Dryslwyn – Goosander, 100’s of Fieldfare, Wigeon, Teal, Great White Egret, Little Egret, Red Kite, 100’s of Gulls incl GBBG and Common Gull, but no Tree Sparrows sadly. At Cilsan there were 4 Whooper Swan, 3 Red Kite in a tree, and a very pale Buzzard.

Highlights at Kidwelly were 2 Long-tailed Duck, 11 Greenshank, 1 Spotted Redshank, 1000+ Golden Plover, 500+ Lapwing, Redshank, Curlew & Dunlin, numerous R-b Merganser, Peregrine, Red Kite, ringtail Hen Harrier over the saltmarsh, and Chiffchaff and 2 Goldcrest by the sewage works.

WeBS core count, 17 February 2019

Domestic Greylag Goose (15); Canada Goose (6); Muscovy Duck (1); Mallard (37); Domestic Mallard (10); Goosander (2); Little Grebe (2); Moorhen (3); Coot (7); Black-headed Gull (2); Reed Bunting (1)

1 Red Kite

2 Red Kites. Also Kestrel – the latest of several sightings locally in the last 3 or 4 weeks, following probably 3 or 4 years of no sightings by us, summer or winter in this 10km square ST08.

1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Dippers nest building, 4 Goosander

Trip led by Ed Hunter … Highlight was red rumped swallow (what a bird!..) still being reported there at roost first thing this morning.

LATEST NEWS WAS BIRD STILL SHOWING WELL LATE ON SUNDAY 17TH…

A summary of today’s excitement. In addition to the Firecrest at Kenfig NNR [in trees behind the small pool below the RH corner of the car park], an unseaonal Red-rumped Swallow was discovered on the Gower OS trip to Whiteford Pt, first seen at around 1 p.m and still present near the ‘blockhouse’ [by where the path from Cwm Ivy turns right into the conifer plantation] at around 17:30. Then finally a Red-necked Grebe was videoed at Llangorse Lake GBC are off to Dryslwyn and then Kidwelly and poss Burry Port. Maybe we can find something too!

A memorable GBC public birdwalk this morning,  23 folk saw a total of 50 species.               The highlights were, Firecrest, Great White Egret and Slavonian Grebe, whilst we were treated to a close flyby of 2 Sparrowhawk, and watched displaying Great Crested Grebe on the pool. There was a ‘maybe’ Scaup,  waiting for confirmation Dave!

15/2/19  Early WeBS count on a sunny day.

Two ringed gulls this morning.. E825 has been returning for years… The other one 330A I have reported to the ringing scheme and await details.. I cant find a record that Ive seen this before…

Shelducks, Shoveler and Pintail showing well in the gloom at the little bay by the Helipad this morning. I couldn’t find anything different in amongst the black-headed gulls and  the only waders were Curlew and Turnstone.

2 Dippers fighting and chasing each other furiously on lower part of River Clyne today. Rival males, or male pursuing a female?

Spent a few hours this morning searching in vain for the elusive Lesser Peckers . Although there was no sight or sound of them there were plenty of other birds about , green and gsw , treecreeper , nuthatch , goldcrest , lots of thrushes ( no fieldfare ) and finches including 2 siskin . Kingfisher and goosander were on the river and probably the most unusual thing were 3 greylags flying downstream .

30+ Redwing and a Mistle Thrush in W paddock this a.m. and a Med Gull on W lake.

10 med gulls of various ages, 1 gcg, 8 ravens on the lighthouse island

A 3 1/2 hour walk this morning produced a total of 59 species . The highlights at Gileston were yellowhammer and stonechat , both single males only , kestrel and great views of a peregrine hunting over the fields. 16 brent geese , 6 shelduck and 97 wigeon were near the rivermouth with redshank , rock and meadow pipits on the saltmarsh . A pair of ravens were flying around the ash tip and the highlights around the lagoon were a kingfisher , water rail calling , a chiffchaff , a pair of stonechats and a single male siskin feeding with a flock of goldfinches …… oh yes and lots of dog walkers .

Just a quick check this morning .. several birds already on the nesting ledges.. seems very early.