Gower Bird Hospital rehab case...

One of the many Lesser Black-backed Gulls (typically abandoned chicks) hand-reared and rehabilitated by the Gower Bird Hospital http://www.gowerbirdhospital.org.uk/ and released into Swansea Bay. This bird was seen and photographed on the Spanish side of the border between Spain and Portugal today by Dutch birder Daan Vrauwdeunt. (Photo below taken by Daan)

Merlin at Neath Saltmarsh

On the way down to Eglwys Nunydd res this morning I stopped to scan the Saltmarsh at Neath . A male Merlin was present sitting on a post next to the river before heading off in pursuit of passerines. Maybe he has discovered a liking to Water Pipits?

At Eglwys 453 Pochard, 2 Scaup, 27 Goldeneye, 2 Goosander and a Water Rail calling.

Hen Harriers at Llanrhidian

Paul Tyrrell called to let me know that there were 2, possibly 3, male, and 1 female Hen Harriers and a Barn Owl at Llanrhidian marsh this evening.

Llannant saltmarsh pylon roost

There were 25 Cormorants on the pylon (SN565000) this evening. Numbers vary considerably at the roost with the highest count I've made being 70 back on the 17th September 2009. There is another pylon roost in the Burry on the Carmarthenshire side of Loughor Bridge, the highest count I've made here being 48 on 2nd September 2001.

Last night's snowfall

A couple of inches of powdery snow fell last night over much of Swansea and parts of Neath, though once again the milder western end of the Gower peninsula and the Burry Inlet were hardly affected as shown below:

View from Cefn Bryn looking towards the snow-free Rhossili Down (193m) and Llanmadoc Hill (186m).

View from Dalton's Point marsh looking up the Loughor valley with Graig Fawr (276m) in the background

View across Oxwich beach towards Cefn Bryn (186m)

Southern Polypody in Gorseinon

Ripe sporangia of Southern Polypody (Polypodium cambricum), a scarce species in the area. However, a healthy population exists on the south-facing wall at Cwrt-y-carne SN573004.

Local Events for 2010

To checkout updates to 'Dates for your Diary' click on the link below right, or here http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=ddsr26tw_1t97vjzhs