The period between mid September and the end of October 2024 has been a good one at Oxwich, with a wide range of species captured. Totals are presented in the table below.

The last of the migrant reed bed warblers were seen on 13 September (sedge warbler), 14 September (grasshopper warbler) and 12 October (reed warbler) respectively. Other lingering sub-Saharan migrants during the period were a garden warbler on 14 September, and both whinchat and willow warbler captured on 28 September. Of the resident species, Cetti’s warbler appears to have had a good year at Oxwich, with a trickle of captures of late autumn birds taking the annual total to 65 unique birds (of which 51 have been ringed in 2024).

Late autumn immigration began with a firecrest on 28 September. Six more were captured at Oxwich by the end of October. In recent years we have started to capture more firecrest as a ringing group; the highest total to date has been 20 across all ringing group sites in 2022 (15 were captured in 2023). The overall total to date in 2024 is 17. Typically we capture a few in November, so the record is under threat. Why the increase? A working theory is that the gradual extension of the breeding range west into the Welsh valleys, and the presence of breeding firecrests at low density in many of our upland woodlands (including commercial plantation) is resulting in dispersing birds being captured earlier (from September), and that these are supplemented by birds from further east (both English and continental populations) as the autumn season goes on.

The first redwing of the autumn were captured on 19 October, and we are now up to 37 for the year to date at Oxwich. As often seems to be the case, the vanguard has been dominated by adult birds. Small numbers of song thrush and blackbird have been caught with them, and it is tempting to think these may also be birds from northern Europe. Blackcaps have not been evident, with only three birds captured in October.

It has been an influx year for yellow-browed warbler, following a few years in which the species has been relatively scarce in the late autumn (we caught our last birds in 2020). The first were captured at Oxwich on 12 October (2), with another 2 on 13 October and 6 on 26 October. Additional captures by Richard Dann on West Cliff, Southgate and by Owain Gabb in Langland have taken the annual (wider group) total to 13. This is the best since 2016, when 16 yellow-browed warbler were captured, including 9 on 08 October (the joint highest total for any site in Wales – a record shared with Bardsey Island at the time (and possibly still)). News has been received that one of the six birds captured on 26 October 2024 had made its way to the Nanjizal Valley, near Land’s End, by 30 October.

The highlight of the period has been a genuine rarity. On 26 October a black-faced bunting was caught and ringed. This will be the first for Wales (and the 11th for the UK) if accepted by the British Birds Rarities Committee. The head of the bird was reminiscent of a dunnock, while the body was similar to a reed bunting. The lower mandible of the bill was largely pink (reed bunting bills are fairly uniform grey), it had a prominent sub-moustachial stripe, and showed some grey feathering on the crown, ear coverts and neck sides. The worn and pointed tail, in combination with the plumage indicated a first winter male. The bird had a wing length of 70 mm and a weight of 16.8 mm. It was carrying no visible fat, but did not appear in poor condition. The species breeds in central and eastern Asia, from the western Altai mountains through south and southeastern Siberia to Sakhalin and Japan, and also in northern Tibet and central and eastern China. This autumn has seen an influx of black-faced buntings into western Europe, with several reaching the UK. Other birds were recorded at Donna Nook, Lincolnshire and on North Ronaldsay, Orkney during October.

One other highlight has been Alice Connell achieving her C Permit for mist netting. Congratulations to Alice; the culmination of a lot of effort and commitment.

Thanks to all for company and assistance over the period: Heather Coats, Wayne Morris, Dionne Jenkins, Jo Conway, Richard Dann, Alex McCubbin, Jasmine Davies, Jane Beck, Alice Connell, Miguel Lurgi, Megan Nicklin, Kayleigh Bargus, Steve Lysyj, Tate Lloyd, Lianne Rouys, Lucia Pendrazzi, Becky Gibbs, Rhyanne O’Hara and Ellyn Baker.

Owain Gabb

31/10/2024