Llangynwyd

                                  Great spotted woodpecker

                                 Lesser spotted woodpecker.
                                 Also a constant stream of Swallows heading south to
                                 warmer climes.

Today

                                     Siskin, male above, female below. 18 of these were
                                     feeding on Alders at South parade fields. Also a flock
                                     of 85 Linnets behind the new Maesteg comp school.

Ogmore

 A Female MIGRANT HAWKER

 RED ADMIRAL

A Female MIGRANT HAWKER

sunrise and dowitcher

Dorset and Somerset.

                               Colin and I had a good day out today, the sun shone and
                               we quickly located our target bird, a Short billed dowitcher,
                               at Lodmoor reserve. A Little stint was also seen, as was
                               this  male Shoveler.

                                 Sandwich terns at Lodmoor. Also seen were Common
                                 sandpiper, Black tailed godwit, Yellow wagtail, Snipe,
                                 Lapwing, Tree pipit and Sedge warbler.

                                  Portland bill lighthouse

                                 Portland bird observatory. Quiet on the migration
                                 front here today with a few Chiffchaffs , Wheatears
                                 and a Redstart being seen.

                                 Beautiful gothic, a local speciality of Portland

                                 Feathered brindle.

                                After missing a Spotted crake by one day at Greylake
                                reserve, Somerset, we had a cuppa on Burrows mump
                                before heading home. Two Muntjac deer were near here.

Gilfach margam and porthcawl garden

On my way to work this morning i spotted this sparrowhawk hunting meadow pipits in fields on gilfach margam so i parked up next to fence hoping the bird would land on post next to my van, the bird flew towards me and past my van and landed on the fence on the opposite side typical, against the sun and through glass window i manage to get half decent shot of him.

 

 

 

Insects in Garden in Porthcawl

 

  Bumble Bee

 

 

Syrphid Fly

 



In Garden today light brown apple moth

weobley marshes with keith and scott squires

 Highlights were Great White Egret and osprey

 

GREAT WHITE EGRET

 

WHEATEAR

SEA ASTER

ROCK PIPIT

 

DUNLIN AND RINGED PLOVER

 

Winter Thrush Survey

As we wave goodbye to the summer, we welcome back the migration blog. If you are already looking forward to seeing your first Redwing or Fieldfare, find out how your records this winter could help.

Will your winter walk reveal some answers?
This autumn and winter there's another reason for you to get outdoors and witness the spectacle of the changing seasons. All six thrush species have shown worrying signs of decline over the last 40 years, either in the UK or across Europe, and we are keen to find out why. Your reports of Redwings, Fieldfares and other thrushes can tell us more about the habitats used and the importance of food resources, such as berries, in surviving through until spring. All you need to do to take part in the Winter Thrushes Survey is record which thrush species you see, what they are feeding on and where. The information you gather will help to inform conservation management in the future.

Kenfig rivermouth area

                                      Wood mouse

                                    Great crested newt, female

                                     Michaelmas daisy

                                     Scarlet pimpernel

                                    Sedge warbler.

Brown fish owl

                                     Thought to be extinct in Europe, these Owls were
                                     rediscovered in 2011. Other birds from Turkey...

                                    ... Masked shrike

                                    Red backed shrike

                                   Red backed shrike

                                   Short toed lark

                                   Yellow vented bulbul.
                                   Also seen were Lesser grey shrike, Syrian woodpecker,
                                   Red rumped swallow, Ortolan bunting, Steppe buzzard,
                                   Long legged buzzard, Blue rock thrush, Crag martin,
                                   Serin, Krupers nuthatch and Bittern.

House Fly

Photo taken on window

Photo taken on light bulb

Kenfig saltmarsh

Birds of note were Raven 5, Goldfinch 40+, Wheatear 3,  continous flow of tit's and warbler's through the trees along the river including Marsh tit 1, Garden Warbler 1 (fem), willow warbler, great blue and long tailed, Kestrel 1, Buzzard 2, on the river mouth were oystercatchers, Bar tailed Godwit 1, all the usual gulls.

 

 

Wheatear

 

Bar Tailed Godwit

 

Common Buzzard

 

Long tailed Tit

 

Sea Buckthorn (hippophae rhamnoides)

 

Common Rest harrow (ononis repens)

 

 

Common Toadflax (linaria vulgaris)

 

Cricket

 

 

Araneus diadematus

 

 

Small Heath