White Stork still present at Clyne

Some photographs from the morning of the 30th of the White Stork received from Dave, Barbara & Will Wadsworth-Davies:

White Stork from Aberdulais roundabout

Rob Jones was amazed to find this White Stork on a central reservation lamp post on the A465 just beyond the Aberdulais roundabout. He got the news out quickly and many local birders were able to enjoy this bird before last light. It appears that this bird had been seen in the Neath town centre earlier on by NE, where it was watched on a lamp post near the civic centre carpark being mobbed by gulls and crows.

The bird looked as if it would roost here and may show well tomorrow at first light. In any case I was very happy to see this bird so well and I know many others were too; cheers Rob!

View up-valley from Aberdulais roundabout with Stork on lamp post

White stork, Aberdulais roundabout.

Record shot in fading light at 8:45PM.

Report of Hoopoe near Llanmadoc Church

I have just received this evening, from a new GBC member who is joining our field trip on Sat, that his father-in-law who was leading a walk on Gower on Tues 19th, saw a Hoopoe near Llanmadoc Church, "through the small forestry towards the dunes. It flew across the dunes and landed on some bushes". He tried to inform someone in the know but it is not clear who he eventually spoke to but he was apparently told the recorder was on holiday. Whether this was a ref to Rob or Jake I don't know. Anyway, someone down there might like to check the area out although it's a while ago now. Sorry no more detail than that.

Purple heron still at Kenfig pool.

Seen flying from north pool reeds to west pool reeds at 10AM by Dave Lewis.

Purple Heron at Kenfig

 A few record shots of the Purple Heron at Kenfig today. This bird was found by Simon Murray this afternoon around 14:00.

 The bird did not show again until about 18:00, when it was watched flying from the West pool reeds and landed in the reeds next to the North pool Hide.  About 10 mins later it got up again and flew back to the West pool reedbed.

Purple Heron at Kenfig

The bird was found by Simon Murray flying to and from the north pool bay reeds and last seen by him at 1415hrs. Was seen again in flight at the same place at 1750hrs by Peter Murray, Mark Hipkin, Alan Hughes, David Carrington, Peter Morgan and myself. Relocated to west pool reeds, some photos will appear later i,m sure.

Little ringed plover at Kenfig. 17th April.

Found and photographed by Mike McCarthy.

Wryneck at Oxwich

A Wryneck was seen at Oxwich yesterday. Details of its location are a bit vague, but it will be looked for tomorrow morning.

Woodchat Shrike at Llangennith Moors (cont.)

Paul Tyrrell wrote: '...myself and Amanda were lucky enough to get down there today just as the weather cleared. The bird was in the same area as reported yesterday and was showing well from 11:30am- 1pm until female merlin turned up and sent the shrike, meadow pipit, skylark and stonechat for cover. Having had good views and one or two distant photo shots we decided to head back to Broughton, as we passed a bramble bush close to the path the shrike suddenly popped up no more than ten feet away from me...'

(c) Paul Tyrrell

Woodchat Shrike

Still present this morning (09:10) at Llangennith Moors seen by Kim and Terry Tovey

Woodchat watchers

(c) R.H.A. Taylor

This morning's modest assemblage at Llangennith included (left to right) Mark Hipkin, Chris Brewer (& Jerry), Brian Thomas, Rob Taylor, Kevin Hughes, Chloe & Richard May.

Woodchat at Llangennith

Thought I'd sneak in a quick record shot of the male Woodchat Shrike at Llangennith Moors today, before the quality photos arrive! Also I'd like to thank the mystery finder for making the news available on birdguides, well done indeed. It was a very entertaining morning watching this bird feed at close quarters.

The photo above shows the footpath that runs North from Hillend Caravan Park towards Broughton Farm. The Woodchat Shrike was showing well from tops of Brambles and Hawthorn bushes but, also feeding a lot on the floor. It would periodically go missing for periods up to an hour, more often 45 minutes. It remains faithful to the area described following the sighting on Friday; SS 412 914 which is c100m North of the gate next to the pill. You can see just about all the bushes that the Shrike used today from the footpath marker shown in the photo above. A very nice bird and well worth the visit.

Click here for Woodchat Shrike footage

Woodchat Shrike at Llangennith Moors

This morning Mark Hipkin and Rob Taylor relocated the Woodchat Shrike reported anonymously on Birdguides yesterday. It's possible that it may have actually been present on Friday too? Plenty photographs and video to come...

Garganey

m. Garganey among Teal at Peterstone Gout - not VC41 but it's close enough to maybe pop over.

Lesser Scaup