WALES

Pallid Swifts were recorded at Newport Wetlands, Gwent (10th), and earlier over Skokholm, Pembrokeshire (4th). A Bonaparte’s Gull was at the Gann Estuary, Pembrokeshire and a juvenile Baird’s Sandpiper was at Newport Wetlands to 3rd.

ANGLESEY HOLYHEAD AREA: In Beddmanarch Bay, a Great White Egret (1st), three Slavonian Grebes, Great Northern Diver, two Eider, three Black Guillemots and 167 pale-bellied Brent Geese. On the Inland Sea, there were up to 20 Scaup, Great Northern Diver, two Slavonian Grebes, 41 Pintail, Purple Sandpiper and Water Pipit. At South Stack, there were 10 Crossbills, Woodcock, Water Rail, Jack Snipe, 19 Snipe, Little Owl and Short-eared Owl. At Soldiers Point, there were two Purple Sandpipers, Water Rail and three Whooper Swans. A Black Redstart was in Holyhead Harbour. OTHER SITES:

At Cemlyn, there were two Great White Egret (1st), Whimbrel, Greenshank, a late Swallow (16th), four Tree Sparrows, 10 Bramblings, seven Crossbills, a Lapland Bunting (16th) and a Snow Bunting (24th). The Lesser Scaup remained on Llyn Llygerian all month with Merlin and Green Sandpiper also seen here. In Dulas Bay, there were seven Twite, four Greenshanks, 36 Snipe and 160 Wigeon. A Rose-coloured Starling was at Penysarn (6th-9th), with a Hen Harrier there (17th). At Malltraeth Marsh, there was a Great White Egret (25th), 10 Whooper Swans, two Greenland White-fronted Geese, a Barnacle Goose, 37 Pink-footed Geese, Hen Harrier, Marsh Harrier, 27 Black-tailed Godwits, 120 Snipe, two Water Pipits and 15 Cetti’s Warblers. At Church Island, there was a Common Sandpiper, Kingfisher, Greenshank and Grey Wagtail. Thirty-two Whooper Swans were on the Cefni Reservoir. Ken Croft

BRECONSHIRE HIGHLIGHTS: Some 60,000 Starlings roosted at Llangorse, with a leucistic individual noted (2nd). A Bewick’s Swan and a county record six Great White Egrets were there (20th). There were 42 Mandarins on Dolymynach Reservoir (6th). Buckland Wood attracted 1,000 Bramblings and 500 Chaffinches (8th). Scaup were at Dolymynach Reservoir and Llangorse Lake (11th), with three at the latter (22nd) and four (27th). A Short-eared Owl hunted MOD Epynt (17th). LLANGORSE LAKE:

The gull roost (5th) held 2,150 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 850 Black-headed Gulls, 65 Herring Gulls and a Common Gull. Maxima included 80 Mute Swans, 67 Cormorants, 147 Mallards, 87 Wigeon, 12 Shovelers, 384 Coots, 32 Gadwall, 405 Tufted Ducks, six Pochards, 70 Goldeneyes and 18 Goosanders. A Goshawk was seen several times. A Woodcock was flushed. A Chiffchaff was at Llangasty (21st). OTHER SITES:

Nocturnal Redwing migration was evident over Glangrwyney and Sennybridge (5th-16th), and 500 flew over Groesffordd (18th). A Jack Snipe was at Beulah and seven Little Egrets at Pipton (6th). Three Jack Snipe were at Mynydd Illtyd (7th) with a Green Sandpiper, 30 Snipe and 18 Golden Plovers nearby. Talybont Reservoir held 58 Canada Geese, 19 Little Grebes, 73 Mallards, 51 Wigeon, 86 Teal, 30 Tufted Ducks, five Pochards and four Snipe. A Barn Owl was at Bronllys (14th). Two Great White Egrets were below Glasbury (14th), and one at Dderw Pool, Llyswen (21st). One or two Crossbills were at Bronllys, Usk Reservoir and Cwmwysg Chapel. Two Peregrines wee on St. Mary’s Church, Brecon Town. Andrew King, Gareth Rees and www. brecknockbirds.co.uk CEREDIGION HIGHLIGHTS: The King Eider remained at Ynyslas, where there were five Lapland Buntings (15th), a Long-tailed Duck (24th), Great Skua (29th), seven Velvet Scoters (16th–22nd) and seven Twite (29th). Four Lapland Buntings were at Llanon (2nd-3rd). Nine Twite were at Llanrhystud (9th). A Marsh Harrier was at the Dyfi Estuary (10th-11th). A Great White Egret was near Lampeter (10th-11th). A Black Redstart (11th), Great Northern Diver (17th) and five Purple Sandpipers were at Aberystwyth. A Cattle Egret was at the Teifi estuary (7th-29th). OTHER SITES:

Ynyslas logged two Greenshanks (3rd), 326 Common Scoters (6th), 105 Meadow Pipits, 568 Redwings and 1,424 Fieldfares (16th), and five Sanderling plus 784 Golden Plovers (29th). Two Hen Harriers and a Merlin were Dyfi estuary regulars. A Merlin was at Llanon (4th). Three Whooper Swans and three Goldeneyes were at Llyn Syfydrin (14th). There were 21 Goosanders and four Goldeneyes at Llyn Eiddwen (26th). Two Eiders were at New Quay (26th). John A Davis (johndavis@midwalesbirdwatching. co.uk) CLWYD HIGHLIGHTS: Fenn’s Moss had a Hen Harrier (10th) and a Firecrest. The Slavonian Grebe remained at Brickfields Pond, Rhyl. There was a Long-tailed Duck on the River Clwyd, Rhyl (25th-26th). Kinmel Bay had a Black Redstart (23rd-26th). Great Northern Divers were at Rhos Point (27th) and Colwyn Bay (30th). Llyn Brenig had the usual Great Grey Shrike (23rd) and three Water Pipits (25th). COASTAL SITES:

Point of Ayr had six Whooper Swans, a Merlin, two Peregrine, 58 Grey Plovers, two Greenshanks, 200 Pintails, 200 Wigeon and a Goosander (8th). Oakenholt Marsh had 7,000 Wigeon, 5,000 Pintails, 4,000 Teal, 2,000 Black-tailed Godwits, 2,500 Dunlin, ten Spotted Redshanks, 11 Greenshanks, a Common Sandpiper, six Great Crested Grebes, two Peregrines, a Hen Harrier and two Kingfishers (9th). Connah’s Quay/oakenholt Marsh logged a Brambling, Mediterranean Gull, Goldeneye, 1,000 Black-tailed Godwits, 4,000 Dunlin, six Spotted Redshanks, 11 Greenshanks, two Jack Snipe, 6,000 Wigeon, 2,000 Pintails and 3,000 Teal (27th). Connah’s Quay had 10 Twite, a Jack Snipe, three Greenshanks, two Peregrines and three Marsh Harriers (29th). INLAND SITES:

Alyn Waters CP, Bradley had a Kingfisher, two Dippers and two Grey Wagtails. Burton had a fly-over Little Egret (2nd). Gresford Flash had two Mute Swans, 63 Goosanders and a Mandarin. A Dipper and Kingfisher were on Rossett Weir. Coal Tits, Great Spotted Woodpeckers and Nuthatches moved into gardens. Norman Hallas, Rev. Hugh Linn and Richard Smith EAST GLAMORGAN HIGHLIGHTS: An Isabelline Shrike species at Cosmeston (17th) was the first county record. An Alpine Swift flew over the River Ely at St Fagans (22nd). A Cattle Egret was at Gileston (6th), with probably the same bird at Dunraven and St Brides Major (7th). Five Whooper Swans were at Kenfig. Two were at Llanilid, where a Bewick’s Swan dropped in. A Slavonian Grebe lingered at Kenfig Pool. Great White Egrets were at Kenfig (two), Cosmeston and Hendre Lake. Three Woodlarks were at Lavernock (6th). Forest Farm hosted a Yellow-browed Warbler (10th). OTHER SITES:

Three Brent Geese were at Gileston. A Common Scoter on Ogmore Estuary was unexpected. Three Eiders and a Great Northern Diver were at Sker. Shags were at Ogmore-by-sea and Nash Point. Two Bitterns were at Cardiff Bay Wetlands Reserve and one at Cosmeston. A Marsh Harrier was at Kenfig. Hen Harriers were at Mynydd Caerau, Llanilid, Cosmeston and Hensol. A Short-eared Owl was at Sker. Purple Sandpipers were at Ogmore-by-sea (three) and Sker (two). Two Arctic Skuas were off Nash Point. Water Pipits were at Aberthaw, Llwyn Onn Reservoir and Ogmore Estuary. Black Redstarts were at Cardiff Bay Barrage, Fairwater (Cardiff) and Nash Point. Ring Ouzels were at Cosmeston, Garth Mountain and Pentyrch. A Firecrest was at Kenfig. Paul Roberts