1st - 7th September 2006

September 1st began with another Arctic Skua, sixteen Manx Shearwaters, a Sandwich Tern and two Harbour Porpoise off Porthcawl, along with three Wheatears. The 2nd produced a Black-necked Grebe at Kenfig Pool and a Sandwich and a Black Tern at Eglwys Nunydd Reservoir. The Black and Sandwich Terns were still at Eglwys Nunydd Reservoir on 3rd when a Swift, three Shelduck and a Black-necked Grebe were also present. The 4th produced a Spotted Flycatcher at Kenfig and the Black-necked Grebe and Black Tern were again at Eglwys Nunydd Reservoir. Two Sandwich Terns were in Cardiff Bay and two Yellow Wagtails and 200 Swallows were at Lavernock Point. An Osprey, male Hen Harrier, Barn Owl and Green Sandpiper were at Llanrhidian Marsh in the evening. On the 5th two Ring Ouzels were at Cwmparc in the Rhondda Valley. The 6th produced a couple of Sedge Warblers, four Chiffchaffs and a Little Egret at Kenfig Pool, two Mediterranean Gulls in Porthcawl and a small fall of migrants at Blaen-y-cwm where three Yellow Wagtails, a Whinchat, Common Redstart and three Choughs were present. Two Tree Sparrows and fifteen Yellowhammers were at the feeding station at Tyn-y-Caeau Farm and the Black-necked Grebe and a Little Egret were at Eglwys Nunydd Reservoir. The 7th brought late news of a juvenile Semi-palmated Sandpiper at Goldcliff Pools yesterday evening, but there was no sign of the bird today. Also present there were a Little Stint, two Spotted Redshank and two Ruff. Signs of passerine migration at Kenfig despite another north westerly wind included two Grey Wagtails, a Tree Pipit, sixteen Blackcaps, a Wheatear, a Whinchat and two Sedge Warblers. Also present were a record count of 257 Canada Geese, a Peregrine, 71 Sanderling, a Clouded Yellow and a showy Red Fox. At Single Common Redstarts and Yellow Wagtail were at Lavernock Point and Dunraven Walled Gardens and a Whinchat was also present at the latter, while at the former, a Lesser Whitethroat and 1500 Barn Swallows were also noted. A Hummingbird Hawk Moth on a Buddleia in the office garden was a very pleasant distraction to the weeding that I was carrying out at the time!