Bramblings

Destination was eventually Mynydd Mawr, Uwchmynydd this morning (after some vehicle problems!). Arrived a little later than planned but immediately the sky was absolutely full of birds, to the extent that it was difficult to know where to look next - never mind noting things down.

The weather was again great; cool, dry and bright with a little cloud inland and a light WSW. Visibility was excellent all the way down to the tip of Pembrokeshire and the coast of Ireland.

Minimum counts (again, the majority of birds heading SW) between 0800-0930 were:

Red-throated Diver - 1 high over the mountain heading south
Golden Plover 1
Woodpigeon 5
Great Spotted Woodpecker 1 circled
Skylark 169 (inc one flock of 149 birds)
Meadow Pipit 56
Tree Pipit  1 (or 2 - more on that later) 
Alba wagtail 3
Redwing 30
Carrion Crow 15
Jackdaw 24
Raven 5
Starling 1304
Chaffinch 840 (big underestimate as huge numbers were calling high overhead but impossible to see)
Brambling 6 - my first of the autumn
Greenfinch 6
Goldfinch 25
Siskin 8
Linnet 21
Redpoll sp 4
Reed Bunting 21

A smart 1w Merlin was seen hunting  the flocks of migrants. After ending the count I wandered down to Pwll Bron-llwyn and back. Several flocks of irrupting tits were working their way along the hedgerows including 3 Coal', 31 (!) Blue' and 4 Great'. Interesting to hear of similar movements on Skomer Island today also.  A Bullfinch was calling at Safn Pant Farm - presumably a migrant. Eleven Chough were also in the area.

After lunch, Porth Meudwy held the same Ring Ouzel and Garden Warbler as yesterday plus a few other bits and pieces including 5 Blackcap, Chiffchaff, 14 Goldcrest, a beautiful Woodcock that crashed into the bracken, 6 or 7 Buzzards, another 1w Merlin and a single Yellowhammer.

I also bumped into Eddie & Sally Urbanski (The Urbanski Birders!) who had found another Garden Warbler nearby in Porth Simdde and a couple of Med Gulls offshore. I was happy enough to finally connect with a Common Gull in the cove - the first I've seen for ages.