Sightings

Main sighting: Kingfishers

two kingfishers together by the woodmill, watched them for 5minutes

Main sighting: Curlew Sandpiper

3 Curlew Sandpiper inc 1 adult this evening, 3 juv Greenshank,up to 700 Knot in 2 flocks of near 300 and near 400, 1 Common Sandpiper,a few LRPs,1 close female Marsh Harrier

Main sighting: Disturbance

There will be some disturbance tomorrow when we mow the vegetation on the islands. Apologies for any inconvenience caused.

Main sighting: 1000's of House Martins

Alison thanks for reporting this. The Grwyne Fawr valley, Breconshire where these were seen does have the habit of turning up migrant House Martins. They occur normally here as you saw in the lee of the conifer forestry, presumably where insects gather. Generally up to 300 birds so your flock was exceptional – and perhaps a couple of weeks earlier in the autumn than peak numbers normally. Andrew – Breconshire Bird Recorder.

Main sighting: 1000s of housemartins gathering on telephone wires

About 1000 housemartins gathering in this valley on 27/8/2019 at 10am. In the Black Mountains of S Wales 1mile west of Capel-y-ffin. Grid reference SO245294. Is this a gathering before they fly south? Anybody know if this is a common phenomenon to gather in such large numbers? There were plenty of insects around as well at a reservoir for water which they were dipping into. I can send a poor quality mobile phone video if this helps.

Main sighting: Swifts

2 Swifts over the house this afternoon

Main sighting: clouded Yellow

A few migrant about at low tide. Blackcap 3 Whitethroat 1 . Butterflies: Clouded Yellow 1 Painted Lady 15 Small Tortoiseshell 2 Green-veined White 2 Large White 4 Common Blue 2

Main sighting: Siskin

1 male Siskin visiting feeders in the afternoon. Many sparrows doing very well this year, 2 or 3 broods from one nest in the roof. Usual other garden birds – BT, GT, coal tits, one greenfinch, many goldfinches including Young this year, starlings same.

Main sighting: curlew sandpiper

Curlew sandpiper, ruff, hen harrier.

Main sighting: Wheatear and Pipits

There are a lot of Wheatears and Meadow Pipits gathering in small flocks around the Foxhunter carpark. Buzzard seen flying above the Keepers. Watched Wheatears all along the foot path.

Main sighting: Common tern

Black Rock this afternoon 20+ redshank, 3 dunlin, 2 ringed plover, 1 wheatear, 30+ yellow wagtail, flock of 24 terns roosting on island, later most flew off down channel. Most to far away for me to id to species, but at least one definitely common and one probable arctic. Also 1 clouded yellow butterfly.

Main sighting: Barn owl

Barn owl over the garden for the third time this week. Late in the evening.
The local sparrows seem to have had a good year with at least three pairs with double broods in the garden. The local post breeding sparrow flocks are in the hundreds in the local meadows.
In contrast not had a single Greenfinch in the garden since about april and swifts are notable by their absence.