Grey Phalarope
This is the time when wildfowl begin to return in numbers and migration is often at its most visible, as large flocks of winter migrants arrive and the remaining summer migrants depart. The itinerary, which will be similar for both tours, will cover all of the principle areas though we may also visit some not mentioned. At nearby Eglwys Nunydd Reservoir Common Goldeneye, Great Crested and Little Grebes and common migrants and wildfowl occur. Rare and uncommon species have been noted here including recent Franklin’s and Iceland Gulls, Black-throated Diver and Grey Phalarope. Kenfig Pool produces overhead migration with good numbers of Eurasian Siskin, Fieldfares and Redwings. Amongst these, smaller numbers of Lesser Redpoll and Brambling are regular. At this time, the scrub is full of common migrants arriving from the continent and we should encounter good numbers of Song Thrush, Common Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, Blackcap and Coal Tit. Firecrest is a regular migrant in small numbers and Yellow-browed Warbler is recorded most years. On the pool itself, numbers of Common Pochard, Eurasian Wigeon, Common Teal, Northern Shoveler and Gadwall will be increasing and a few Great Crested Grebes and Common Goldeneye will be arriving for the winter. Scarcer wildfowl may include Long-tailed and Ruddy Ducks and Whooper Swans drop in from time to time. Black and Rednecked and Slavonian Grebes are occasional visitors, as is Great Northern Diver. Great Bitterns should have arrived by now and can often be found near the south pool hide. Water Rails are at their most visible and the gull flocks often hold Mediterranean Gulls, while Jack Snipe are regularly recorded. The chance of rare species arriving should not be overlooked as Penduline Tit, Royal Tern, Redhead, Ring-necked Duck, White Stork and Siberian Chiffchaff have been recorded. Beautiful Mewslade Valley on South Gower gives us the chance to look for migrants, and Red-billed Chough are also here. Black Redstart, Ring Ouzel, Wood Lark, Firecrest and Yellow-browed Warbler have occurred each autumn that we have been watching the site and rarer species have included Red-throated Pipit, Little Bunting and Pallas’s Warbler. We move to Rhossilli for more overhead migration and also to check the sea for returning Red-throated and Great Northern Divers, Common Scoter and auks. On North Gower, huge numbers of shorebirds and wildfowl will be seen with Green Sandpiper, Spotted Redshank, Common Greenshank, Hen Harrier, Barn and Short-eared Owls, Common Crossbill and Slavonian Grebe all possible.
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Introduction
