21ST - 30TH NOVEMBER 2009

The 21st saw the Surf Scoter again at Mumbles, the Great Northern Diver and a Common Sandpiper in Barry Docks and a Brambling in Neath. A Black Redstart was at Rhossilli and a Barn Owl at nearby Pilton. Poor weather again on 22nd saw the Surf Scoter remaining at Mumbles Head, sixteen Purple Sandpiper and three hundred Redwing at Ogmore Estuary and five Mediterranean Gulls and three hundred and five Common Pochard at Kenfig Pool. Up to four Leach's Storm Petrel were off Porthcawl on 23rd, along with a Great Northern Diver, a Red-throated Diver, one hundred and twenty five Black-legged Kittiwake, eleven Common Scoter and seventeen European Golden Plover. The Surf Scoter was again off Mumbles Head. More storms on the 24th saw some excellent sea watching with a Pomarine Skua, Arctic Skua, Black-throated Diver, Leach's Storm Petrel off Lavernock Point, three Great Northern Diver, a Leach's Storm Petrel, six Great Skua and six hundred Black-legged Kittiwake at Porthcawl. The Surf Scoter was again at Mumbles Head and a Great Skua, two Red-throated and five Great Northern Divers were off Oxwich Bay. On the 25th, two Leach's Storm Petrels were off Porthcawl, along with a Grey Phalarope and five hundred Black-legged Kittiwake. Another Leach's Storm Petrel and a Great Skua were off Barry and further Great Skuas were off Lavernock Point and Mumbles Heas, where the Surf Scoter remained. The high winds continued on 26th and two Leach's Storm Petrel were again off Porthcawl, along with two Great Skua, while the Surf Scoter, two thousand one hundred and sixty Black-legged Kittiwake, a Great Northern Diver, Red-throated Diver and an Arctic Skua were at Mumbles Head. Calmer conditions on the 27th still saw plenty of seabird action as birds moved back towards the Irish Sea. A Black-throated Diver showed very well at Porthcawl and four Great and a Pomarine Skua, a Great Northern Diver and four hundred Black-legged Kittiwakes were at Lavernock Point. The 28th saw a Great Northern Diver at Swansea Docks and a Merlin at Lamby Lake. The only news on the 29th was of a Short-eared Owl, Water Pipit and two Merlin at Rhymney Estuary. The 30th produced a nice surprise in the form of a female type Velvet Scoter at Ogmore Estuary, as well as the first two Common Goldneye of the autumn.