27TH - 31ST JULY 2009

On the 27th, 2000+ Manx Shearwaters passed Worms Head, along with thirty Northern Gannet. Torrential rain until the 30th saw no news until seven Common Sandpiper and a Little Egret were at Ogmore Estuary. On the 31st, ten Whimbrel were at Whiteford NNR and a Red-billed Chough was at Rhossilli. Two European Nightjar were in Maesteg, a Tree Sparrow was at The Monktons and two hundred Linnet and two Yellowhammer were at Tyn-y-Caeau Farm.

20TH - 26TH JULY 2009

The 20th saw the Common Quail still in Maesteg and a Lesser Whitehtroat, two Willow Warbler and four Common Chiffchaff were at Lavernock Point and four Common Redshank were at Ogmore Estuary, while a Grasshopper Warbler was at Kenfig Pool. On the 21st, nine Common Whitethroat, three Common Pochard, two Common Sandpiper and a Common Redshank were at Kenfig Pool. Two Tree Pipit were at LLanilid and five Sanderling were at Ogmore Estuary. On the 23rd, 850 Manx Shearwater and an adult Mediterranean Gull were at Rhymney Estuary and high tide at Loughor Estuary produced five Sandwich Terns, two Yellow-legged Gull, 27 Little Egret, 5000 Black-headed Gull, five Mediterranean Gull, 870 European Oystercatcher, 627 Eurasian Curlew, 24 Black-tailed Godwit, a Common Scoter and seventeen Great Crested Grebe. On the 24th, three Sandwich Terns, 250 Dunlin, 83 Eurasian Curlew, six Ringed Plover, nine Whimbrel and a Peregrine were at Penclawdd. On the 25th, a Dunlin, eighteen Willow Warbler, 21 Common Whitethroat, a juvenile Mediterranean Gull, fifteen Reed Warbler, four Sedge Warbler and twelve Common Swift provided further evidence that the autumn migration is already well under way at Kenfig Pool and two European Nightjar were at Llanwonno Forest. On the 26th, a European Golden Plover was an early autumn migrant in Maesteg and twelve Common Crossbill were near Aberdare. Two Whimbrel and a Little Egret were at Rhymney Estuary and 53 Sanderling were at Sker.

LATE AVAILABILITY

Owing to a late cancellation, a place has become available for our Isles of Scilly and Cornwall tour 13th - 18th August 2009. It involves a room share on Scilly and a single room in Cornwall. If you are interested, please contact Neil on 07971 983227.

13TH - 19TH JULY 2009

The 13th was a washout while the 14th brought a Common Quail to Maesteg, five Mediterranean Gulls to Mumbles Head and another at Cardiff Heliport. Another Mediterranean Gull was at The Watermill Flood and three hundred Common Swift were at Ogmore Estuary. On the 15th, two Common Quail were in Maetseg and a Eurasian Hobby was at Llanilltid. Further Common Quail were in Cardiff and Llanilid and a Garden Wrabler was an early migrant at Lavernock Point. Two Common Quail were at Llanilid on the 16th while the 17th was another day of torrential rain. The 18th saw a Common Quail again in Maesteg and three Red-billed Chough were at Dunraven. On the 19th a Common Quail was again at Llanilid.

6TH - 12TH JULY 2009

The 6th saw eleven Common Eider, an unseasonal Dark-bellied Brent Goose, as well as 800 Black-headed, 100 Common and two Mediterranean Gull and 100 Common Swift at Wernffrwd, North Gower. Nine Northern Gannet and three hundred Manx Shearwater passed Ogmore-by-Sea and a Little Egret was on Ogmore Estuary. Four Little Egret flew north over Porthcawl on the 10th and a Eurasian Hobby was in Bridgend on the 11th. On the 12th, twelve Common Sandpiper, twenty six Common Shelduck and a Mediterranean Gull were at Ogmore Estuary. Fifty Manx Shearwater and two Mediterranean Gulls were at Aberthaw Marsh.

1ST - 5TH JULY 2009

As ever, high summer proved to be a rather quiet time as the 1ST JULY saw a singing Lesser Whitethroat at Kenfig Pool and two hundred Manx Shearwater off Aberthaw Marsh. Rain on the 2nd saw two Common Sandpiper were at Ogmore Estuary, while the 3rd produced just a few returning Black-headed Gulls at Cosmeston Lakes and Ogmore Estuary and a pair of Common Teal at Parc Slip. On the 4th an adult Mediterranean Gull was at Barry Island and a singing Lesser Whitethroat was in Roath Park, Cardiff. Signs of autumn on the 5th as two Black-tailed Godwit, a Common Sandpiper, five Black-headed Gull, fifteen Sand Martin and two Tufted Duck were at Kenfig Pool and a Common Redshank was at Cosmeston Lakes.

22ND - 30TH JUNE 2009

On the 22nd, two Green Sandpiper were at Hendre Lake and Honey Buzzards were seen on four occasions in the uplands of the county. On the 23rd, the Woodchat Shrike re-appeared briefly at Rhossilli Down and two Sandwich Terns were off Nash Point. Two Little Egret, a Red Knot, two Mediterranean Gulls, a Green Sandpiper and a Dunlin were at Rhymney Estuary. On the 24th a Honey Buzzard and Northern Goshawk were in the Neath Valley, a Eurasian Hobby was near Bridgend and a Common Redstart was at Llanilid. On the 25th, seven Red-billed Chough were at Rhossilli and fifty Manx Shearwater were off Flat Holm Island. The 27th produced a Honey Buzzard again in the usual site, a Yellowhammer and two Common Sandpiper at Ogmore Estuary and a Lesser Whitethroat at Aberthaw Marsh. On the 29th, three Wood Warbler were at Margam Forest, while two Honey Buzzard, a Red Kite and Northern Goshawk were in the usual site. Five Red-billed Chough were near Ogmore-by-Sea. On the 30th, a Peregrine and Common Sandpiper were at Rhymney Estuary and three Red-billed Chough were at Ogmore-by-Sea.