24TH - 30TH SEPTEMBER 2007

A very windy day on 24th, but unfortunately offshore in direction, produced four Arctic Terns at Ogmore Estuary and four Curlew Sandpipers at Blackpill among a flock of 37 Dunlin and 118 Ringed Plovers. A Dark-bellied Brent Goose and 32 Mediterranean Gulls were also present there. On the 25th, at least two Curlew Sandpipers were still present at Blackpill and a Garden Warbler, Whinchat, Lesser Whitethroat, Yellow Wagtail, twenty Common Chiffchaff and 400 Barn Swallows were at Lavernock Point. The first two Redwings of the autumn flew south over Abertridwr near Caerphilly. On the 26th, visible migration finally got under way with 200 Meadow Pipits, two Yellow Wagtails, fifty Sky Larks, 35 Chaffinch, 27 Eurasian Siskin, three Lesser Redpoll, five Mistle Thrush and two Peregrines at Nash Point. Another 200 Meadow Pipits were at Dunraven along with a Northern Goshawk, a Peregrine and a Yellow Wagtail. A Spotted Flycatcher, 200 Goldfinch and a Northern Wheatear were at Tyn-y-Caeau Farm. Two Whinchat, a Northern Wheatear, fifty Barn Swallow and a Dartford Warbler were at Ogmore Down and a Tree Sparrow was at The Monktons, amongst a flock of sixty House Sparrows. Twenty Common Crossbill and four Coal Tit were in Maesteg and twenty Common Chiffchaff and another Coal Tit were at Blaen-y-cwm. The 27th produced a Curlew Sandpiper at Kenfig Pool, which was later refound at Ogmore Estuary. A Honey Buzzard was at the Kenfig Rivermouth, where there were also six Common Snipe and the pool held eleven Eurasian Wigeon, five Northern Shoveler, four Gadwall and a female Northern Pintail. Back at Ogmore, two Mediterranean Gulls and a Bar-tailed Godwit were present. A Jack Snipe, Common Greenshank, 33 Northern Pintail, 87 Eurasian Wigeon, 200 Barn Swallow and 200 Common Shelduck were at Rhymney Great Wharf. On the 28th, the highlight was a Little Stint at Kenfig Sands, where there were also four Grey Plover, fifty Red Knot, four Bar-tailed Godwit, 300 European Oystercatcher, nine Dunlin, sixteen Ringed Plover, three Common Scoter, 100 European Golden Plover and three Northern Wheatear. Kenfig Pool produced six Eurasian Siskin, three Northern Lapwing, eight Northern Shoveler, 22 Common Teal, 250 House Martin, 200 Barn Swallow, a Sedge Warbler and a Common Snipe. At least 1000 Barn Swallows were at Summerhouse Point, along with a Sedge Warbler, Spotted Flycatcher, 30 Common Chiffchaff and a Garden Warbler. An Osprey flew over the River Neath and three Arctic Terns were at Lisvane Reservoir, Cardiff. A Ring Ouzel at Mewslade on 29th was the highlight of the day, but visible migration was also in evidence with 15000 Barn Swallows at Aberthaw Marsh, along with a further 1200 at Port Talbot Docks. Also at Aberthaw were 500 Meadow Pipits, 250 Eurasian Siskin and 150 Sky Larks. A Merlin was at Rhossilli and ten Bar-tailed Godwits and 500 European Oystercatchers were at Kenfig Sands. A Common Redstart was at Blaen-y-Cwm. On the 30th, common species were involved in visible migration at Kenfig Pool, with 38 Eurasian Siskin, 350 Barn Swallows, five Lesser Redpoll, five Grey Wagtail, 245 Meadow Pipit, 29 Pied Wagtail, seven Sky Lark, one Sand Martin and seventeen Chaffinch. Also present were an adult Mediterranean Gull, nine Northern Shoveler, 14 Common Chiffchaff and a Common Kingfisher. Twelve Ring Ouzel, 100 Redwing and a female Hen Harrier were at Dare Valley Country Park, while a Eurasian Hobby and a Common Redstart were at Nash Point. Three Arctic Terns were again at Lisvane Reservoir and a Fieldfare was at Cardiff Bay.