Woodlarks at Paviland

Two Woodlarks found and photographed by Chris Brewer today.

(c) C. Brewer

Brief seawatch from Rhossili

08:10 to 08:30
1 Balearic Shearwater flew south out of the bay.
Otherwise quiet with 2 Common Scoter and small numbers of Auks and Kittiwakes.

Great White Egrets at Wernffrwd

2 Great White Egrets sill today at Wernffrwd marsh. Watched from Salthouse point feeding in the channel at midday

Wendy J & Richard D

Great White Egrets at Wernffrwd

Still 2 G.W.Egrets on the marsh - feeding on the evening tide.

The Garwnant Shrike,present all day today.digiscoped.

Great Grey Shrike

A record shot from Mike Hogan of the GGS at Garwnant SN998139 24/10/11. Found by a visiting birder who contacted FC, who then reported it to Mike.

pink footed goose

Pomarine Skuas off Worm's Head

2 Pomarine Skuas (light phase adult with half spoons and a juvenile) were part of a big movement of birds heading out of Carmarthen Bay this morning. Also 2 Bonxies, 1 Arctic Skua and a skua sp, 2600 Kittiwakes, ~3500 auks (~95% Razorbills), 1 Red-throasted Diver, 1 Arctic Tern, 2 Fulmar, ~300 Common Gulls, etc.

Gower News

2 Great White Egrets at Wernffrwd this pm.

NPT News

2 Slavonian Grebes at Neath saltmarsh viewed from Miland Road side. [pers comm MHp]

Late News

There were 3 Common Cranes reported flying over the Bristol Channel between Steep Holm & Flat Holm on Sat. 15th [pers comm MCP].

Porthcawl (16-1800hrs)

At Porthcawl today in a southwesterly force 7 wind were - 1 Leach's Petrel @1645hrs, 1 Juv Sabines Gull @1710hrs, 1 distant dark skua species, 1adwp Med Gull, 14(1juv) Kittiwake, 1 Common Scoter, 1 Razorbill, 1 further auk species.

Pink-footed Goose at Ogmore Estuary

There was no sign of the Pink-footed Goose at Ogmore Estuary when I first arrived this afternoon. However, it soon flew in with a small group of Canadas and alighted on the river, where I was able to take a few images for the record. After a few minutes preening and bathing it flew off, again in the company of Canadas.

Snow Bunting @ Newton,Porthcawl

Cracking little bird,still there when I left at 4.00pm.

Yellow browed warbler.

At Lavernock point in the car park before the church - per Matt Meehan.

Show Bunting

Snow Bunting (c) Dave Pritchard

The Snow Bunting at Newton has proved to be a very popular bird withl a lot of people going to see it yesterday and coming away very happy. Dave Pritchard sent in this very nice photo of the bird in a typical pose. This shot was taken yesterday (15/10/11).

Snow Bunting at Newton

Snow Bunting 

Dean Bolt found this cracking Snow Bunting yesterday morning and I was delighted that it was still present this afternoon. The bird was showing well along the rough/sandy track that runs between the dunes and the cobble ridge. Very confiding and showing down to about 3m at times. It did get flushed by dog walkers and runners on a few occasions while I was there this afternoon but each time it flew only a short distance to the cobble ridge where it waited for the threat to pass briefly, before running back to the rough track to carry on feeding. The area it favoured while I was there this afternoon was at SS846770

snow bunting

Porthcawl seawatch

1 Leach's Petrel and an adult male winter plumage Long-tailed Duck seen by Colin Gittins today.

Seawatching from Aberavon Beach

16:20 to 18:20 / Wind WSW 6 / Occasional showers

1dp Arctic Skua (c17:30)
1 1stw Arctic Tern
1 adw Sandwich Tern
1 adw Mediterranean Gull
1 Turnstone

Also in the bay 2 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Razorbill and c6 Auk sp.

Porthcawl seawatch (10-1400hrs)

1 Leach's Petrel @ 1148hrs came in too close to the rocks and was set upon and killed by 5 Herring Gull. Other birds of note - 1 Great Northern Diver, 1 Arctic Tern, 1 Common Tern, 12 Common Scoter, 2 Gannet and unusual sightings of imm Mute Swan going west (very rare here) and a Raven with a golf ball in its beak.

BB online

The first 99 volumes of British Birds are now online in a browsable and searchable archive at

http://www.britishbirds.co.uk.

Redhead in VC41

Bad news I'm afraid - well to all those who saw and ticked Redhead in Glamorgan, the BBRC have rejected all our records, spanning 2002-2007. There are now only two official records for this species in GB: Notts & Leics. Sorry guys but it is tippex time!
The BB Report states the Glamorgan bird showed anomalous features that meant that the potential for hybridisation influence could not be ruled out. BB intends to publish a fuller justification in due course, which will help explain the decision.
The Eastern Glamorgan list now stands at 308 [inc. Marsh Wbr. 2010]

Glossy Ibis Revisted

Took the opportunity to take a few digiscoped images of this great local patch bird this (Monday) morning, having been away for the weekend. As others have mentioned it is quite wary and not easily approachable, the best method seems to be to use the cover of the hedge.

Buff breasted Sandpiper:Weobley Saltmarsh

Bit of a late posting,record shot of a very nice bird that was a belated "lifer" for me taken in rather soggy conditions a.m Sat 24.Sept 2011

Glossy Ibis:Watermill,Ogmore

Glossy Ibis in company with flock of Canada Geese,although quite flighty it was feeding well and looks quite settled.

Bonxie on Swansea west Pier

Glossy Ibis @ Watermill 01/10/2011

Taken from car park lots of heat haze!

1700hrs

glossy ibis again

glossy ibis