Red-breasted Mergansers can be tricky to see away from North Gower, but there is one happily fishing and associating with a Goosander on the Ogmore estuary. Easy access to its location from the big layby downstream of Portobello House. #glamorganbirds

S.Wales Butterfly Conservation Members Day&AGM was a cracking event today. Thanks all speakers plus all who brought cake! Dr Tim Blackburn trapped @ KNNR last night and brought The Sorcerer with him. Potential Welsh first! Nice to see Merveille de jour too. #mothsmatter @savebutterflies.bsky.social

Aside from the Merlin at Sker, 3 DB Brents are still there. Vis mig: 69 Skylark, 21 Pied Wagtail, 30 Chaffinch, 24 Meadow Pipit, 5 Siskin, 1 Redpoll. On the sea Shelduck, Pintail d/c and 10 C.Scoter.

A nice morning out at Sker Point got better when I chanced across a brilliant photographic opportunity with this lovely Merlin. #glamorganbirds

50 of 24sp moths in the Kenfig NNR traps this am. The highlight was a Large Wainscot. Pink-barred Sallow, Autumnal Rustic, Flounced and Beaded Chestnut, Pine & Cypress Carpet, Rhomboid Tortrix and Blasto. lacticolella best of the rest. #mothsmatter @savebutterflies.bsky.social

Continuing the recent quieter spell at Kenfig NNR, a Pintail and Little Grebe on the Pool plus smaller numbers of wildfowl 24 Greylags, 2 Tufties, 3 Gadwall and 2 Wigeon. Passerine movement light just 8 Pied Wagtail and 8 Bullfinch east. Just 5 Chiffchaff noted. #glamorganbirds

Just 8 moths of 5 sp here last night in Bridgend. Worth the effort as Green-brindled Crescent and 2 Eudonia angustea were new for the year (Y245). Otherwise just 3 CM Carpet, 1 Lunar Underwing and another Square-spot Rustic. #mothsmatter @savebutterflies.bsky.social

Our quiet autumn continues with just 3 moths last night here in Bridgend. 2 Lunar Underwing and 1 Turnip. #mothsmatter @savebutterflies.bsky.social

Kenfig NNR traps last night: c30 moths incl Depressaria daucella, Epinotia caprana, Eudonia angustea, Cheq F-tree Tortrix, CM Carpet, Green Carpet, November moth agg, Vestal, Beaded Chestnut, Flounced Chestnut, Autumnal Rustic, Black Rustic, Sallow. #mothsmatter @savebutterflies.bsky.social

Daytime hog activity here in the garden. We've asked an expert but it may be an expectant female.

Memories. Can't believe it is 25 years since Emma and I had this Honey Buzzard fly low south over us on the Prince of Wales track at Kenfig NNR (01/10/2000)

Thanks Colin @eastglambto.bsky.social a lovely Firecrest in the net this morning at Kenfig! Hobby and Hen Harrier over as well. #glamorganbirds

Pleased to see the Glossy Ibis that has been mobile around Kenfig NNR last 2 days. A new bird for the reserve for me. Caught up with it at dawn feeding in the east fields near caravan site.

Whinchat and Osprey the highlights of a walk to Sker Point this morning.

Just 9 moths in the trap last night here in Bridgend, this nice Black Rustic, 7 Square-spot Rustic and a Willow Beauty. #mothsmatter @savebutterflies.bsky.social

Grey Plover is very scarce at Kenfig Pool even though they winter locally at the coast in small numbers, so I was very pleased to see this one this morning as found earlier by @neild1962.bsky.social

A Hoopoe found at Sker Farm this am by @neild1962.bsky.social and @deanbolt.bsky.social. Not seen until Dan Black refound this evening at the Point. Showed well, but dog walkers flushed into path of 2 Peregrines. It put up a brave fight trying to escape over the sea but was inevitably taken. RIP 😭

James and I could not resist a trip to Aberavon to see the Sabine's Gulls. At least five while we were there plus 2 Grey Phalaropes. #glamorganbirds

A few photos of one of this morning's Ospreys cruising down Kenfig Sands and right over me. A real treat! Pity light was rubbish. Marsh Harrier through south also. #glamorganbirds

Thought we'd join the party with our 4th ever Clifden nonpareil (Blue Underwing) last night here in Bridgend! 78 of 23 sp, supporting cast Lunar Underwing, Scarce Bordered Straw and a smaller worn macro were struggling with. #mothsmatter @savebutterflies.bsky.social

Mango showing well on Kenfig Sands this morning as well as a one-legged Dunlin and its Ringed Plover pal.

Phalarope Fest continues with 2 Grey Phalarope at Kenfig Pool first thing, though I've since heard there are now 3 at the Pool and 1 at Sker!

Not often you get a Hummingbird Hawk-moth perched up, but this one was recovered in the soaking weather at Kenfig NNR this morning. #mothsmatter @savebutterflies.bsky.social

James and I took a long walk from Rest Bay, Pink Bay and inland to Sker Court and back Saturday morning. Dartford Warbler seen also first winter Mediterranean Gull and a Great Green Bush-cricket.

Thanks to @deanbolt.bsky.social for finding this lovely juvenile Grey Phalarope at Sker Pool this morning. What a treat! #glamorganbirds @glamorganbirdclub.bsky.social

There's a Grey Phalarope on Ogmore estuary, just downstream of Portobello House on Bridgend side. Found earlier by John Lugg. Was still present 5pm when I left. @glamorganbirdclub.bsky.social #glamorganbirds

Its Autumn, wildfowl are returning to Kenfig Pool. Drake Gadwall & Wigeon were on the shore late am. A seawatch off Kenfig Sands 1200-1400: 1 Common Tern, 1 Arctic Tern and 1 Black Tern d/c, several distant 'commic' terns and 4 Mediterranean Gulls. @glamorganbirdclub.bsky.social #glamorganbirds

Last Sun 30th, I found this Grapholita sp moth inside our utility room on window near where we keep fruit. My suspicions that is an Oriental Fruit moth, Grapholita molesta have since been confirmed. A first for Bridgend and VC41 Glamorgan 😎 #mothsmatter @savebutterflies.bsky.social @sewbrec.org.uk

The post-breeding Starling flock continues to grow at Kenfig NNR. This afternoon many juveniles were enjoying the sloes. @glamorganbirdclub.bsky.social #glamorganbirds

This Black-tailed Godwit continues to enjoy its stay along the shore at Kenfig Pool. @glamorganbirdclub.bsky.social #glamorganbirds

There is a Little Stint still present at Kenfig Pool at edge of east shore where it meets northern reedbed. Present 4.30 at least. @glamorganbirdclub.bsky.social #glamorganbirds

92 of 47sp last night Bridgend. 3 new here: Phyllonorycter acerifoliella, Olive-tree Pearl, Small China-mark +Stigmella aurella, Beet moth, Centre-barred Sallow, P.purpuralis, BBYU, Scilly LYU, Spectacle, Dark Spectacle & Snout. New YT record, now 234 sp. @savebutterflies.bsky.social #mothsmatter

A short visit to Kenfig Pool this morning when 2 Greenshank flew in and landed by me a short while before flying off east calling. 4 Snipe, 1 Black-tailed Godwit and 2 Redshank also present. #glamorganbirds @glamorganbirdclub.bsky.social

I think this tiny harvestman on Fleabane at Kenfig NNR is a male Mitopus morio.

A quieter morning at Kenfig NNR. Garden Warbler for me the pick of the birds ringed by the team there. 8 Sandwich Tern and 4 Gannet off Kenfig Sands. @eastglambto.bsky.social #glamorganbirds

An eventful morning at Kenfig NNR continuing to enjoy a few busy days of migration with @neild1962.bsky.social 2 Spotted Flycatcher, Redstart, flyover Greenshank and Garganey being the highlights at the Pool. Then I headed across to Sker Farm to see this very confiding Chough. #glamorganbirds

Our 31st trap of year 19th Aug, here in Bridgend, 104 moths of 37 sp. Scarce Bordered Straw was the stand out record, only our 2nd ever (2006). Hazel Slender (Parornix devoniella), Cypress Pug and Square-spot Rustic also nfy taking garden year total to 225. #mothsmatter @savebutterflies.bsky.social

Think I'll simply call this Black-tailed Nodwits 🙃 #glamorganbirds

A walk back from Sker through Kenfig Dunes this morning. My first perched Small Tortoiseshell of the year in Water Mint. Then close by my first perched Clouded Yellow of year in Fleabane. My 30th KNNR sp of year and 39th and probably final Welsh species of the year. @savebutterflies.bsky.social

Breezy overnight here in Bridgend but still 75 of 32 sp. Highlights nfy Red Underwing, Dark Fruit-tree Tortrix and Small Square-spot taking garden YT to 221. Others included Dark Spectacle, Sharp-angled Peacock, Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing. #mothsmatter @savebutterflies.bsky.social

Kenfig Pool continues to enjoy a good autumn passage of Little Ringed Plovers with another adult and juvenile this morning #glamorganbirds @glamorganbirdclub.bsky.social #birdingwales 1 Grey and 1 Yellow Wagtail over and 1 Wheatear also.

The highlight of an early am visit to Kenfig Pool was an impressive (possible site record count) flock of 29 Goosander NW over. GWE, L.Egret, Snipe and 7 Yellow Wagtail the best of the rest. @glamorganbirdclub.bsky.social #Glamorganbirds

Highlight of this morning's visit to Kenfig was a movement of Tree Pipits, at least 40 when I left, many ringed. Sedge Warbler pictured here also. Delighted to have my first Green Sandpiper at the Pool for many years as it dropped in briefly early am.

One of the Kenfig Pool Great Crested Grebe pairs has a second brood of humbug chicks. Though one was struggling to get a stickleback down this morning! @glamorganbirdclub.bsky.social

A juvenile Little Ringed Plover was at Kenfig Pool late morning. Great White Egret and Little Egret also. @glamorganbirdclub.bsky.social #glamorganbirds

Hot night 107 of 43 here in Bridgend. 23sp micros, including Caloptilia stigmatella, Argyresthia goedartella, Mompha locuplatella and Crocidosoma plebejana. Macros: Vestal, Ash Pug and Spectacle again but much of the same. YT217. After yday garden lifers, list stands at 520.

Overnight 11th Aug here Bridgend (MV) 82 moths of 38 sp. Highlight was Vestal nfy and Bordered Straw plus Ash /Angle-barred Pug new for us. A few micros nfy Coleophora trifolii, Bryotropha domestica, Phycitodes saxicola agg aldo new for us and Mompha subbistrigella. Potomophylax sp caddisfly also.

Bridgend night of 9th Aug we had 62 moths of 28 sp to MV. The highlight was Phyllonorycter blancardella (agg). Other than that 2 Dusky Thorn and a Red Twin-spot Carpet the best of the rest. #mothsmatter @savebutterflies.bsky.social

Our South Wales branch Butterfly Conservation field trip to West Williamston in Pembrokeshire today was successful. At least 3 Brown Hairstreak females (some eggs too), Clouded Yellow and Holly Blue included. @savebutterflies.bsky.social

Kenfig Pool was very quiet this morning, so I popped in to see the ringing group. This Coal Tit was the highlight for me. Reed Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, Goldcrest and Common Whitethroat were among the other species. @eastglambto.bsky.social @glamorganbirdclub.bsky.social