October Highlights

After the excitement of September and the Bobolink, October was eagerly awaited. However, it was very much after the Lord Mayor's Parade and whilst there were a few things around, October was a somewhat disappointing month, not helped by a lack of easterlies.

A Yellow-browed Warbler at Norton Wood failed to linger and a juvenile Sabine's Gull at the Ogmore River mouth was equally frustrating disappearing not long after it was first found. Elsewhere a Richard's Pipit at Rumney Great Wharf also proved somewhat elusive during its five day stay with most people having to settle for flight views, that's if they could find it at all.
Two Spoonbills flying past Peterstone Gout finally got pinned down at Neath Saltmarsh, having stopped en route at Kenfig Saltmarsh.

So next up is November a month with some pedigree in terms of local rarities. Fingers crossed for a spectacular end to the autumn !!

1st - 2 Little Stints & Curlew Sandpiper Loughor Foreshore.
2nd - Great & Arctic Skuas Port Eynon. Little Stint & Curlew Sandpiper Loughor Foreshore. 2 Spoonbills past Peterstone Gout later seen at Kenfig Salt Marsh. Yellow-legged Gull Lisvane Reservoir. Osprey over Uskmouth, Goldcliff & Sudbrook.
3rd - 5 Brent Geese Eglwys Nunydd Reservoir. Little Gull Ogmore Estuary. Short-eared Owl Goldcliff.
4th - Hen Harrier Rumney Great Wharf (reported until 10th). 4 Bearded Tits Cosmeston (birds reported until 16th).
6th - Firecrest Blaengarw. 2 Spoonbills Neath Saltmarsh.
8th - 2 Brent Geese Margam Sands. Probable Richard's Pipit & 2 Curlew Sandpipers Petersone Gout.
9th - Red-necked Grebe Rhosilli (till 10th).
10th -Hobby, 2 Wood Sandpiper & 6 Brent Geese Rumney Great Wharf. Lapland Bunting Cwm Ivy. Osprey Baglan (until 16th - 2 reported 14th). Lapland Bunting Boat Lane.
11th - Ruff Kenfig Pool.
12th - 3 Short-eared Owls Kenfig Pool. Little Gull Eglwys Nunydd. Richard's Pipit Rumney Great Wharf (till 16th). Arctic Skua Rhosilli. 2 Snow Buntings Llantwit Major. White-fronted Goose Saltmarsh Lane.
13th - Hen Harrier Mynydd Eglwysilan. Firecrest Cwn Nash.
16th - Short-eared Owl Rumney Great Wharf. Bittern Cosmeston. Woodlark Lavernock Point.
Snow Bunting Dunraven (till 19th).
17th - 2 Bearded Tits & Goshawk Kenfig Saltmarsh. Goshawk Margam Moors. Bearded Tit Peterstone Gout.
18th - Yellow-browed Warbler Norton Wood. Hen Harrier The Garth.
19th - Curlew Sandpiper Peterstone Gout.
20th - Firecrest Upper Killay.
22nd - 5 Spotted Redshank & Manx Shearwater Goldcliff.
23rd - Red-throated Diver & Snow Bunting Aberavon. Short-eared Owl Peterstone Wentlooge.
24th - 5 Whooper Swans Eglwys Nunydd Reservoir. 2 Hen Harriers Llanillid.
27th - Hen Harrier Llanillid. Yellow-legged Gull Cardiff Bay.
28th - Storm Petrel Aberavon Beach. Sabine's Gul Ogmore Estuary. Firecrest Nantyfyllon. 2 Water Pipits Peterstone Wentlooge. Grey Phalarope Goldcliff.
29th - Snow Bunting Ogmore-by-Sea.
30th - Woodlark Scurlage. 2 Great Skuas Port Eynon.
31st - Bittern Kenfig Pool. Little Gull Whiteford Point. 2 Hawfinches Forest Ganol.