Great Grey Shrike at Fairwood Common (11/1/15)

A packed bit of birding around Gower yesterday morning and into the afternoon with Darren Coombs was rewarding. The main target bird was Little Auk but sadly it didn't make it into the notebook, perhaps it will later this winter. Some highlights from the day are shown below.
Blackpill - 209 Great Crested Grebes and a Bar-tailed Godwit
Oxwich Bay - One eclipse drake Eider, c250 Common Scoters, a Red-throated Diver, a Great Northern Diver, a Great Crested Grebe, a raft c40 Kittiwakes and 20+ Guillemots were in the bay. An adult Gannet flew into the bay and much 'toing & froing' of Auk sp (but not little Auk sp) further out.
Overton Field - (mid-morning check) - no Wood Larks but c60 Chaffinches
Port Eynon Point - Nine Common Scoters, a sub-adult Gannet, a Little Egret, a Red-throated Diver, c40 Auk sp. (inc. Twelve Guillemots) and 40+ Kittiwakes mainly heading west. It was disappointing to accept that a Rock Dove watched in stormy conditions working hard against the wind to return to the cave below the head should be considered not completely pure. I suppose some reassurance can be taken from the fact that some maintain their post during the winter.
Overton Sewage Works - Fourteen Long-tailed Tits, two Goldcrests, two Chiffchaffs and a female Blackcap.
Overton Field - (early afternoon check) - Three Wood Larks
Fairway Common - One Great Grey Shrike
Lots of observers connected with the GGS yesterday, following news from CDB that it was still present, including EAH, BS, SJS, RHAT, PS, PRM, SLM, DCo & MHi.