27TH - 31ST OCTOBER 2008

On the 27th, four Jack Snipe and 82 Common Snipe were at Oxwich Marsh, a Brambling was in Barry and ten Barn Swallow were at Blackpill. Two hundred European Golden Plover, 58 Sky Lark, six Fieldfare and two Eurasian Siskin were at Kenfig Pool and 300 Red Knot and 72 Black-tailed Godwit were at Rhymney Estuary. On the 28th, two Hen Harriers and three Eurasian Woodcock were at Llanilid and another three Hen Harrier and two Green Sandpiper were at Llanrhidian Marsh. Two female Goosander were at Eglwys Nunydd Reservoir, two Brambling in Neath, two Common Scoter and two Mediterranean Gull at Sker Point and 38 European Golden Plover were in Maesteg. The 29th saw a Red-throated Diver, two Red-breasted Merganser, a Little Owl and a cracking Short-eared Owl at Sker, a Pale-bellied Brent Goose at Mumbles, a Barn Owl near Bridgend and a Dipper at Candleston Bridge. Eight Redwing, 366 Wood Pigeon and 26 Chaffinch were in Maesteg and a Common Sandpiper, sixteen Common Teal and two Little Egret were at Rhymney Estuary. On the 30th, a Merlin and Peregrine were at Nash Point, twenty five Redwing, twenty Yellowhammer and ten Reed Bunting were at Tyn-y-Caeau Farm and a Tree Sparrow was at Broughton. Three Red-billed Chough were at Ogmore-by-Sea and the Whooper Swan, two Goosander, a Common Kingfisher and an adult Mediterranean Gull were at Ogmore Estuary. The 31st produced a Ring-billed Gull at Lamby Way Lake – the returning bird from earlier in the year, now a second winter. A male Dartford Warbler was at Rhossilli, a Water Pipit and Purple Sandpiper at Ogmore Estuary and a Short-eared Owl and Dark-bellied Brent Goose at Rhymney Estuary. Three Brambling and twenty five Fieldfare were at Werfa and a Hen Harrier and Jack Snipe were at Llanilid.

20TH - 26TH OCTOBER 2008

On the 20th, a Yellow-browed Warbler was again at Kenfig Pool, two Hen Harrier were at Llanrhidian Marsh and two Common Sandpiper were at Ogmore Estuary. Sea watching off Porthcawl produced a late Manx Shearwater, a Mediterranean Gull, two Northern Pintail and three Common Scoter. The 21st saw a Merlin, Green Sandpiper and a Black-tailed Godwit at Rhymney Estuary, while a Marsh Tit and four Common Crossbill were in Caerphilly. Fifty two Mediterranean Gulls were at Blackpill and thirteen Red-billed Chough were at Ogmore-by-Sea. On the 22nd, a Eurasian Woodcock and Barn Owl were at Llanilid and another Barn Owl was at Rhymney Estuary. A Yellow-browed Warbler was seen briefly near the reserve centre at Kenfig Pool, a Firecrest was at Aberthaw Marsh and an adult Little Gull and fifteen Barn Swallow were at Cosmeston Lakes. The 23rd saw a Short-eared Owl and 300 European Golden Plover at Kenfig Sands and a Yellow-browed Warbler in Mewslade. The adult Little Gull was again at Cosmeston Lakes. On the 24th, visible migration at Kenfig Pool produced 875 Common Starling, 278 Wood Pigeon, nine Reed Bunting, ten Redwing and thirty seven Sky Lark, while a Yellow-browed Warbler was briefly in the west pool. The Whooper Swan was again at Ogmore Estuary and three Red-billed Chough were at Southerndown. On the 25th, three Fieldfare and a Brambling were the highlights at Kenfig Pool, where there were also twelve Redwing and seventy Eurasian Jackdaw. A Barn Owl was at Rhymney Estuary, a female Merlin was at Mynydd Eglwysilian and a Jack Snipe was in Maesteg. On the 26th, the adult Little Gull was again at Cosmeston Lakes, the Whooper Swan was at Ogmore Estuary and four Hen Harrier were at Llanrhidian Marsh. A Merlin and Green Woodpecker were at Kenfig Pool.

EAST YORKSHIRE 2009

Please note a slight ammendment to the dates for our East Yorkshire tour in 2009 to 2nd - 7th October.

14TH - 19TH OCTOBER 2008

The 14th saw a second winter Caspian Gull at Rhymney Estuary and a Yellow-browed Warbler at Kenfig Pool. On the 15th, a Red-necked Phalarope was a very good find at The Watermill Flood, the Whooper Swan was again at Ogmore Estuary along with a Green Sandpiper and the Yellow-browed Warbler was again at Kenfig Pool. On the 16th, the Yellow-browed Warbler was again at Kenfig Pool and the Red-necked Phalarope had moved to the river at Ogmore Castle. The 17th saw two Hen Harrier, a Merlin and six Redwing at Maesteg and the Whooper Swan at Ogmore Estuary, but there was no sign of the Red-necked Phalarope. Ten Red-billed Chough were at Ogmore-by-Sea. On the 18th two Yellow-browed Warbler were at Kenfig Pool along with 32 Song Thrush and the Whooper Swan was again at the Ogmore Estuary. A further four Whooper Swans were at Llwyn Onn Reservoir, a Hen Harrier was near Swansea and four Barn Swallow and a Ring-necked Parakeet were at Lavernock Point. A Fieldfare was at Hendre Lake, Cardiff. Fifteen Redwing and a Firecrest were at Kenfig Pool on the 19th and a Barn Owl was at Llanilid. A male Merlin was at Rhaslas Pond, the Whooper Swan was again at Ogmore Estuary and two adult Mediterranean Gulls were in Porthcawl. Another 150 Redwing and fifty Eurasian Siskin were at Aberthaw Marsh.

WEST CORNWALL 11TH - 17TH OCTOBER 2008

OUR WEST CORNWALL tour 11TH – 17TH OCTOBER 2008 enjoyed some glorious weather again – it really was summer like on occasions. DAY ONE started rather inauspiciously at Marazion Marsh and Mounts Bay, but a flock of sixteen Pale-bellied Brent Goose were present on the sea and a few Little Egret were on the marsh. A Bar-tailed Godwit was in the bay and a Great Spotted Woodpecker was seen flying over the reserve. DAY TWO saw more unbelievable weather and the group catch up with a superb and very showy Red-eyed Vireo at Trevilley Farm and on a day of quality if not quantity, a female Merlin gave excellent views at Lands End and two Red-billed Chough and a Peregrine were at Nanquidno. Otherwise, it was a bit of a struggle to find migrants, but Common Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, Song Thrush and Lesser Redpoll were among the few we did find. On DAY THREE the sun disappeared in the morning, but we enjoyed excellent views of a female/immature Dartford Warbler and a Yellow-browed Warbler at Kenidjack Valley, as well common migrants and a small flock of Eurasian Siskin. The sun returned in the afternoon and we spent a very productive couple of hours at Lelant Saltings and Ryan’s Field on the rising tide. Eurasian Curlew, Common Redshank, Common Greenshank, Bar and Black-tailed Godwits and Little Egret provided the shorebird interest, though we were surprised not to find any small waders at all, while two Pink-footed Geese, a few Common Shelduck and large numbers of Eurasian Wigeon, Common Teal and an unexpected female/immature type Garganey were the pick of the wildfowl. A Common Kingfisher rounded off another excellent days birding. DAY FOUR produced a stunning American Golden Plover that we got superb views of alongside a flock of a hundred European Golden Plover. A Great Skua and Manx Shearwater were the highlight of a short sea watch at Porthgwarra, but a couple of Black Redstart and a Northern Wheatear were the only notable species on another poor day for passerine migrants. A couple of Sandwich Tern, Common Guillemot, Razorbill and Black-legged Kittiwake were also present. DAY FIVE was cooler and breezier, but again produced some good birds in the form of a juvenile Rose-coloured Starling, another Yellow-browed Warbler and a Spotted Flycatcher as the passerine highlights. A Common Sandpiper, a few Dunlin and a Curlew Sandpiper were new for the tour at Copperhouse Creek. DAY SIX was again very quiet for migrants, but we did add Reed Bunting, Barn Swallow, Eurasian Jay and two absolutely stunning Firecrest that gave prolonged views to less than a metre to the tour list and we also got further views of the Pale-bellied Brent Goose flock. The final morning on DAY SEVEN was spent around the Penzance area on another glorious morning. A first winter Mediterranean Gull was at Drift Reservoir, where a male European Sparrowhawk gave excellent views and where we also added Tufted Duck and Common Coot to the tour list and we finished off with a flock of seven Common Scoter and a Great Northern Diver in Mounts Bay. We return slightly later next year form 17TH – 23RD OCTOBER 2009 and places are already filling up, so pleaee BOOK EARLY to avoid disappointment.

6TH - 12TH OCTOBER 2008

The 6th produced two Northern Pintail and a Northern Goshawk at Kenfig Pool, as well as a late Willow Warbler and the Whooper Swan was still present at The Watermill Flood. Five hundred Meadow Pipit, forty Sky Lark and three Peregrine were at Nash Point and an Arctic Skua was at Cardiff Heliport. On the 7th, the Whooper Swan was again at The Watermill Flood, along with a Green Sandpiper and a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker was in Maesteg. Four Mediterranean Gulls were at Porthcawl and an adult Little Gull was at the Neath Estuary. An Arctic Skua was again at Cardiff Heliport and a Grey Phalarope was at Ogmore Estuary in the afternoon. A Firecrest was at Pant Norton on the 8th and 84 Sky Lark, five Coal Tit, two Grey Plover and a Lesser Redpoll were at Kenfig Pool. The Whooper Swan remained at Ogmore Estuary, where an Arctic Tern was also present, a Peregrine and Great Spotted Woodpecker were at Nash Point and a Merlin was at the Neath Estuary. Five Little Egret, two Cetti’s Warbler and two Black-tailed Godwit were at Rhymney Estuary. A drake Common Scoter was in Cardiff Bay on the 9th, an influx of 150 Blackbird, a Northern Wheatear and Tree Pipit were at Lamby Lake. A Dartford Warbler was at Nash Point and the Whooper Swan was again at Ogmore Estuary, along with a Firecrest. On the 10th, a female Northern Pintail was on Kenfig Pool and a Merlin was at Mynydd Eglwysilian. A Black-necked Grebe was at Kenfig Pool on the 11th and a Brambling was in a Neath garden. Two Green Sandpiper were at Ogmore Estuary, where the Whooper Swan remained. On the 12th, two Hen Harrier were together in Maesteg, along with a Red Kite and the Whooper Swan was again at The Watermill. A Wood Lark flew north over Mewslade and a Ring Ouzel, 35 Coal Tit and a Dartford Warbler were also there.

1ST - 5TH OCTOBER 2008

OCTOBER began windy but sunny. On the 1st, an Osprey was at Eglwys Nunydd Reservoir and a Pale-bellied Brent Goose, four Bar-tailed Godwit and an adult Mediterranean Gull were at Porthcawl. The Yellow-browed Warbler was again at Lavernock Point. On the 2nd, a Dartford Warbler, 44 Sky Lark, two Red Knot and 51 European Golden Plover were at Sker and a Sedge Warbler was at Kenfig Pool. A ringtail Hen Harrier and forty European Golden Plover were at Mynydd Eglwysilian, a Yellow Wagtail, forty Northern Pintail and sixteen Eurasian Wigeon were at Rhymney Estuary. On the 3rd, a Hawfinch flew in off the sea at Lavernock Point and a Whinchat and Yellow Wagtail were also present. A Yellow-browed Warbler was in Cardiff, a Dartford Warbler was at Pant Norton and two Brent Geese were at Aberthaw Marsh. Five Mediterranean Gulls were present at Porthcawl on the 4th and the Osprey was again at Wernffrwd, along with a Merlin, 36 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, seven Northern Gannet, 77 Eurasian Wigeon, 221 Northern Pintail, 200 European Golden Plover and 48 Northern Shoveler. A Hen Harrier was again at Mynydd Eglwysilian, thirty House Martin and twelve Barn Swallow were still over the River Taff at Pontypridd and a Green Sandpiper was at The Watermill Flood. A Common Redstart was at Kenfig Pool on the 5th, where there were also a female Common Goldeneye and a Peregrine. Four Mediterranean Gull were in Porthcawl and a Green Sandpiper, two Grey Plover and Merlin were at Ogmore Estuary and a Whooper Swan and Northern Pintail were at The Watermill Flood. A Ring Ouzel was at Mewslade.

22ND - 30TH SEPTEMBER 2008

The 22nd saw an Osprey, a Whinchat, Sedge Warbler, four Eurasian Siskin and five Eurasian Wigeon at Kenfig Pool and a Pale-bellied Brent Goose and a Whinchat were at Aberthaw Marsh. A Northern Goshawk was at Lavernock Point and a Common Crossbill was at Blaen-y-cwm. A Hen Harrier and three Green Sandpiper were at Llanilid. On the 23rd, a female Marsh Harrier, a female Northern Pintail, Whinchat, a Razorbill, 33 Ringed Plover and three Common Snipe were at Kenfig NNR. The 24th produced a Honey Buzzard at Rhymney Estuary, four Ring Ouzel in Maesteg, four Gadwall, Reed Warbler and a Coal Tit at Kenfig Pool. A Red Kite was at Cosmeston Lakes. On the 25th, four Lesser Redpoll and six Eurasian Siskin were at Kenfig Pool and five Grey Partridge were at Tyn-y-Caeau Farm. A Eurasian Hobby and Merlin were at Llantwit Major and a Little Gull was in Cardiff Bay. Three Ring Ouzels were at Blaengarw near Bridgend and a Yellow-browed Warbler was briefly at Pant Norton, Ogmore Estuary. A large female Northern Goshawk, Eurasian Hobby and Bar-tailed Godwit were at Kenfig NNR on 26th, along with nineteen Song Thrush and twelve Eurasian Siskin. A Ring Ouzel and Spotted Flycatcher were at Mewslade and six Yellow Wagtail, a Tree Pipit, 400 Meadow Pipit, 100 House Martin, a Whinchat and seventeen Common Chiffchaff were at Lavernock Point. A European Bee-eater at Lavernock Point on 27th was the first for twenty five years, but sadly it didn’t linger. A Eurasian Hobby was at Kenfig Pool and a Ring Ouzel was at Lamby Lake. A Spotted Flycatcher and 38 Eurasian Siskin were at Blaen-y-Cwm. The 28th produced a Yellow-browed Warbler at Lamby Lake and a ringtail Hen Harrier near Caerphilly. Two Ring Ouzel and a Redwing were at Dare Country Park, while Kenfig NNR had eleven Coal Tit, thirteen Common Snipe, twenty five Common Teal, five Cetti’s Warbler and a Tree Pipit. Two Common Crossbill and 35 Eurasian Siskin were at Lavernock Point and a Yellow-browed Warbler was at Middleton, Gower. On the 29th, a Merlin and Pied and Spotted Flycatcher were at Middleton, and four Whinchat and three Lesser Redpoll were at Rhossilli. A pair of Ruddy Duck were at Cosmeston Lakes and an Osprey was again at Wernffrwd. The Green Sandpiper and a Little Egret were again at Ogmore Estuary. Four Little Owl, a breeding plumaged Red-throated Diver, a Northern Pintail, six Grey Plover, a Common Whitethroat, 46 Sky Lark, three Lesser Redpoll and five Mistle Thrush were at Kenfig NNR. A windy day on the 30th produced seven Common Scoter, a late Manx Shearwater and a Razorbill off Porthcawl Seafront, while a Yellow-browed Warbler and a Merlin were at Lavernock Point.