22ND - 31ST OCTOBER 2007

On the 22nd, a Common Rosefinch was trapped and ringed in Mewslade, where there was also a Firecrest and a Short-eared Owl. A Great Bittern was at Kenfig Pool, along with an adult Mediterranean Gull and Red Kites were in various lowland locations including five at Abernant Tip. Tyn-y-Caeau Farm had 250 Fieldfare and the first significant Wood Pigeon movement of the autumn with 750 noted. Four Tree Sparrows were also present there and the Spotted Sandpiper was again at Lisvane Reservoir. A Ring Ouzel, forty Fieldfare and two Common Snipe were at Werfa Mast. Three Green Sandpiper and a Little Egret were at The Watermill Flood. On the 23rd, the Spotted Sandpiper was still at Lisvane Reservoir and the Common Rosefinch was again at Mewslade, where there was also a Firecrest and two Yellow-browed Warblers. A Yellow-browed Warbler was again at Cwm Nash, along with 300 Chaffinch, 800 Wood Pigeon and a Brambling and Yellow-browed Warblers were also present at Kenfig Pool and in Swansea. A cold day on 24th brought four Bewick’s Swans to Kenfig Pool, where there was also a late Eurasian Hobby, Great Bittern, three Water Rail, six Common Chiffchaff and two Common Goldeneye. The Common Rosefinch and a Yellow-browed Warbler were again at Mewslade, a ringtail Hen Harrier was at Mynydd Eglwysilian and visible migration at Aberthaw Marsh produced 35 Lesser Redpoll and two Brambling. A Yellow-browed Warbler was at Maesteg Cemetery and the Spotted Sandpiper was at Lisvane Reservoir. A Yellow-browed Warbler was again at Blaen-y-Cwm on 25th and a Dartford Warbler was at Maesteg. An adult Mediterranean Gull was at Kenfig Pool, along with a female Goosander. The Spotted Sandpiper remains at Lisvane Reservoir and 700 Chaffinch were at Lavernock Point. The Common Rosefinch was again at Mewslade, as was a Brambling, and a Black Redstart, 24 Eurasian Wigeon and an adult Mediterranean Gull were at Aberthaw Marsh. On the 26th, the Common Rosefinch was again at Mewslade and the Spotted Sandpiper was at Lisvane Reservoir. A male Common Redstart was at St Donats, Vale of Glamorgan and six Tree Sparrows were at Tyn-y-Caeau Farm. A Great Bittern and twenty Common Snipe were at Kenfig Pool. A breezy and very overcast day on 27th saw the Spotted Sandpiper again at Lisvane Reservoir and a drake Northern Pintail and an adult Mediterranean Gull at Kenfig Pool. The Common Rosefinch was again at Mewslade. Heavy rain on the 28th meant few birding opportunities, though three adult Mediterranean Gulls were at Kenfig Pool. A short sea watch at Porthcawl produced a Leach’s Petrel, three Red-billed Chough and a single Razorbill. The Spotted Sandpiper remained at Lisvane Reservoir and the Common Rosefinch was again at Mewslade. Glamorgan’s first White-rumped Sandpiper since 1970 was found by Neil at Kenfig Pool on the 29th and sparked a major local twitch which thankfully resulted in plenty of birders seeing this confiding bird at close range – terrific!! Also present were a Dartford Warbler and 65 Fieldfare of note. The Spotted Sandpiper at Lisvane Reservoir made it a transatlantic double for anyone visiting the county today. Elsewhere, the Common Rosefinch was again at Mewslade and a Brambling and two Red-billed Chough were in Porthcawl. Another cracking day at Kenfig on 30th saw the White-rumped Sandpiper still present, along with a Great Bittern and impressive overhead migration included 1910 Fieldfare, 700 Wood Pigeon, two Brambling and 197 Eurasian Jackdaws, while a Firecrest was in the west pool bushes. Elsewhere, the Spotted Sandpiper was still at Lisvane Reservoir and the Common Rosefinch was also again at Mewslade. The 31st saw the White-rumped Sandpiper again at Kenfig Pool and the Spotted Sandpiper again at Lisvane Reservoir – nice that both birds have stayed long enough to be well watched. A Peregrine and Merlin, along with four Grey Plover were at Sker

15TH - 21ST OCTOBER 2007

A much quieter day on the 15th produced just a female Greater Scaup and two Northern Pintail at Kenfig Pool and 26 Mediterranean Gulls were at Bracelet Bay. Two Common Goldeneye and a Water Rail were at Kenfig Pool on 16th and two Green Sandpipers were at Llanilid. On the 17th, a Brambling was at Dunraven, eleven Northern Wheatear were at Rhymney Great Wharf and six Red-billed Chough were at Locks Common, Porthcawl. The 18th produced two Dartford Warblers at Caswell Bay, Gower, thirty Eurasian Siskin at Summerhouse Point and a ringtail Hen Harrier and four Red Kites at Lliw Reservoir, Swansea. Four Grey Plover were in Barry, Vale of Glamorgan and a Common Tern was in Cardiff Bay. A Brambling, Merlin and Fieldfare, as well as a Clouded Yellow butterfly were at Kenfig Pool. On the 19th, a Eurasian Woodcock was at Mountain Ash and a Dartford Warbler was at Kenfig Pool. A male Merlin and eighty European Golden Plover were at Mynydd Eglwysilian. A juvenile Spotted Sandpiper was a cracking find at Lisvane Reservoir on 20th – the first in Glamorgan for 33 years! Elsewhere, the Dartford Warbler remained at Kenfig Pool, along with nineteen Fieldfare, eleven Redwing, three Common Chiffchaff, five Lesser Redpoll, seven Eurasian Wigeon and five Gadwall. Two Ring Ouzel were in Maesteg Cemetery. The 21st produced a Yellow-browed Warbler and three Firecrest at Mewslade, along with four Red-billed Chough and a Brambling. The Dartford Warbler was again at Kenfig Pool, where 112 Redwing, 36 Fieldfare, nine Lesser Redpoll, an adult Mediterranean Gull and a Common Goldeneye were also present. The Spotted Sandpiper was again at Lisvane Reservoir and a Merlin, 44 Red Knot, three Bar-tailed Godwit and Razorbill were at Sker Point. The Great Grey Shrike and a Common Crossbill were at Perthcelyn.

WEST CORNWALL 2007

Glorious weather, fantastic food and some great birds too!! If its October, it must be our West Cornwall tour - this year run in conjunction with Bird Watching magazine from 13th - 19th October 2007. A very showy Radde's Warbler was the real highlight of the week, but we also enjoyed excellent views of Yellow-browed and Dartford Warblers, a Dutch ringed Eurasian Spoonbill, Eurasian Woodcock, two Firecrest, two Little Stints and both Pied and Spotted Flycatchers. We also saw two Mediterranean Gulls, Ring Ouzel, four Red-billed Chough, Pomarine, Arctic and a couple of Great Skuas, five Balearic Shearwaters, Peregrine, Merlin, five breeding plumaged Black-tailed Godwits, Red-throated Diver and large numbers of Eurasian Siskin amongst a total of 105 species.

Spaces are already filling up for 11th - 17th October 2008, so if you would like to join us for what is always an enjoyable tour based at the Mount Haven Hotel, please book as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

As a footnote, we'd like to congratulate our partners at The Mount Haven Hotel for inclusion in the Sunday Times Top Twenty Hotels for service list recently; we can certainly vouch for them deserving this prestigous accolade as we have been staying there for the past ten years.

8TH -14TH OCTOBER 2007

The 8th produced the returning Great Grey Shrike at Perthcelyn, a Little Egret and Jack Snipe at Kenfig Pool and a fly over White Stork at Aberthaw Marsh. The 9th saw a very late European Nightjar at Nant-y-Fyllon, a Little Egret at Blackpill and three Ring Ouzel and a Merlin were at Dare Country Park. The 10th produced a Yellow-browed Warbler at Kenfig Pool as well as six Lesser Redpoll, nine Eurasian Siskin, seven Mistle Thrush, twenty Barn Swallows and fifty Eurasian Jackdaws. A Hen Harrier and 72 European Golden Plover were at Mynydd Eglwysilian. A Red Kite, three Ring Ouzel, ten Yellowhammer, 21 Common Crossbill and a Northern Goshawk were at various places around Maesteg. A Firecrest was at Lavernock Point. A Yellow-browed Warbler was again at Kenfig Pool on the 11th, along with a Black-tailed Godwit, 25 Redwing and ten Song Thrush. Rhymney Great Wharf held 400 Dunlin, 21 Common Snipe, two Jack Snipe, a Black-tailed Godwit, 200 Meadow Pipit, 32 Sky Lark and two Northern Pintail and a Merlin was at Blaen-y-Cwm. The 12th produced a Common Greenshank and Green Sandpiper at Llanilid, 200 European Golden Plover at Sker and three Mediterranean Gulls in Porthcawl . A Yellow-browed Warbler was trapped and ringed at Kenfig Pool, along with two Reed Warblers, and two Merlin, eight Grey Partridge and four Tree Sparrows were at Tyn-y-Caeau Farm, a Willow Warbler was in a Cardiff garden and a Hen Harrier, thirty Common Crossbills and a Ring Ouzel were in Maesteg. On the 13th, another two Yellow-browed Warblers were at Blaen-y-Cwm. A busy day on 14th saw a Richard’s Pipit and Black Redstart at Sker and 25 Red Knot and four Sanderling at Kenfig Sands. A Corncrake was an excellent find at Rhossilli, a Yellow-browed Warbler remained at Blaen-y-Cwm along with a Ring Ouzel and a Short-eared Owl. An amazing count of 85 Mediterranean Gulls were at Blackpill, along with two Little Stint, nine Grey Plover and ten Bar-tailed Godwits.

FAIR ISLE 2007

Our tour from 1st -8th October 2007 to Fair Isle was another huge success with some excellent birds and great company, as well as the best weather we've experienced on this magical island. Things began well with a Killdeer at Pool of Virkie on the mainland that we saw both at the start and end of the tour and a Ring-necked Duck was at Tingwall Loch. Once on the island, things just got better as we added Buff-bellied Pipit, Lanceolated Warbler, Greater Short-toed Lark, Buff-breasted Sandpiper and White-rumped Sandpiper the biggest attractions. A fine supporting cast included a Marsh Warbler, three Barred Warblers, two Bluethroats, a Richard's Pipit, fifteen Yellow-browed Warblers, six Lapland Buntings and at least three Common Rosefinches. Good numbers of Brambling, 50 Snow Buntings, seven Ring Ouzel, seventeen Whooper Swans, 200 Pink-footed, twenty Barnacle and two Greenland White-fronted Geese, Common Redstart, two Whinchat, Short-eared Owl, Eurasian Woodcock, European Storm Petrel, three Little Stints and a Greater Scaup were among the other notable species amongst a trip total of 108 species and we also saw a Minke Whale. Our tour next year runs from 13th - 20th September 2008 and places are now only available for a boat crossing as all flight places have been taken. If you would like to join us, please book immediately as the trip is guaranteed to run and is certain to fill up.

OCTOBER 1ST - 7TH 2007

OCTOBER 1st saw a Little Gull join what were now four Arctic Terns at Lisvane Reservoir, three Sandwich Terns and four Bar-tailed Godwits were at Blackpill and a Eurasian Hobby was at Blaen-y-Cwm. The 2nd produced just two Arctic Terns at Cardiff Bay, and on the 3rd, a Ring Ouzel was at Maesteg and a Hen Harrier and Merlin were at Mynydd-y-Glog. A busy day on the 4th produced three Arctic Terns, a Lesser Whitethroat, Tree Pipit, Garden Warbler and 330 Goldfinch at Lavernock Point, a Whinchat and a Common Sandpiper at Ogmore Estuary and two Sedge Warblers at Kenfig Pool. An adult Mediterranean Gull was at Cardiff Bay, a Ring Ouzel at Nant-y-Fyllon and a Eurasian Hobby at St Donats. A Jack Snipe and 22 Mistle Thrush were at Perthcelyn. On the 5th a Ring Ouzel and six Redwing were at Dare Country Park, a Northern Goshawk was in Maesteg and a Hen Harrier at Llanilid. The 6th was quiet with two Dunlin and three Bar-tailed Godwits were at Kenfig Sands and a late Willow Warbler was at Lisvane Reservoir. Four Green Sandpipers were at The Watermill Flood on the 7th and a Northern Goshawk and Black-tailed Godwit were at Ogmore Estuary. Seven Common Eider, a Red-breasted Merganser and two Bar-tailed Godwit were at Whitford NNR.