1ST - 7TH NOVEMBER

November 1st was bright and chilly, in marked contrast to the rest of the autumn so far. An astonishing count of 25,000 Wood Pigeons were moving down channel from Nash Point in large flocks, making for an amazing spectacle over the channel. A Whooper Swan was at The Watermill, a ringtail Hen Harrier at Mynydd Eglwsyillian and two Dark-bellied Brent Geese at Sker. Three Ring Ouzels were still present at Dare Valley Country Park, while a Merlin and at least 150 Sky Larks were at Tyn-y-Caeau Farm. The Snow Bunting was again at Dunraven. Another cold day on 2nd produced a Hen Harrier at Llanrhidian, a Red Kite at Ogmore Estuary and a Barn Owl at Llanharry. A Whooper Swan and the first three Common Goldeneye of the winter were at Kenfig Pool and a Long-tailed Duck showed very well at Cardiff Bay. Twenty Fieldfares were in Porthcawl, a Green Sandpiper and two Purple Sandpipers were at Ogmore Estuary, fifty Lesser Redpolls were at Mynydd Eglwysillian and a Dartford Warbler was again at Pant Norton, while three Ring Ouzels remained at Dare Country Park. On the 3rd, two Common Scoters, six Common Goldeneye, 309 European Oystercatchers, a Fieldfare, five Blackcaps and a Kingfisher were at Kenfig Pool and six Tree Sparrows were at Tyn-y-Caeau Farm. Another cold day on the 4th produced three Ruddy Ducks at Kenfig Pool, a pair of Hen Harriers, a Green Sandpiper, a Greenshank, thirty Dark-bellied Brent Geese and at least 150 European Golden Plover at Llanrhidian Marsh. Five Red Kites were at Trebanos Tip, a Wood Lark was at Mewslade and two Jack Snipe and three Willow Tits were at Tir Founder Fields, Cynon Valley. On the 5th, the Long-tailed Duck was again at Cardiff Bay, where there were also two Greater Scaup, while Tyn-y-Caeau Farm produced two Merlins, four Tree Sparrows and good numbers of Yellowhammers and Sky Larks. Three Red-billed Chough were at Ogmore-by-Sea, two Mediterranean Gulls and a Little Egret were on the estuary and a Ring Ouzel was at nearby Pant Norton. A ringtail Hen Harrier was at Llanilid, along with 35 Common Snipe. A Black Redstart was at Aberthaw Power Station and 49 Eurasian Wigeon were on the sea there, along with a Dark-bellied Brent Goose and two Common Scoter. Three Red-billed Chough were in Porthcawl on 6th, a further nine were at Ogmore-by-Sea, where a Black Redstart was also present. An adult Mediterranean Gull was at Kenfig Pool, 420 Common Scoter were at Oxwich Bay and two Water Pipits and two Common Sandpipers were at Penclawdd. On the 7th, a Ring Ouzel was at Candleston and a Wood Lark and two Dartford Warblers were at Nant-y-Fyllon, Maesteg, while seven adult Mediterranean Gulls were at Kenfig Pool.