Sunday 7 April 2013

It's a long walk...

A shorter trip today saw myself, Mike and Phil head down to Whiteford on the Gower. After an unsuccessful detour to try to local Neath's Ring-billed Gull we pulled into the Cwm ivy car park around 7 am. The walk down through Cwm Ivy woods was enlivened by a Woodcock. Out on the edge of the Saltmarsh, Phil glimsed a raptor rise from the fields into some trees. A scan soon found the offending bop - a nice ring-tailed Hen Harrier.
Snipe corner produced both Common and Jack - though just one of each.

Making our way across the slacks we had a coffee while scanning the coast. Plenty of Sanderling, Dunlin, Knot, Grey Plov' and Oyk's, with numerous GreC'sjust offshore. Mike found 10 Barwit's while I located a single Slav and GN Diver. The Eider flock remained near the old lighthouse and the stragglers of the wintering Brent Geese  flock were also feeding around the point. A small flock of Dunlin and Ringed Plover fed in front of the hide, none of the latter revealing themselves to be a Killdeer (apparently that had decided to go to Lancashire!).
The return journy produced very little until just past Snipe Corner and a pair of Crossbill were found (in a willow?)







A quick visit to the hump at Llanrhydian Marsh found a well dispersed flock of Golden Plover (approx 300), some in winter plumage, some in full breeding plumage and others somewhere in between.

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