Yellow Wagtails at Port Talbot

Yellow Wagtail 14.4.13 (c) R. Jones

Yellow Wagtail is not a commonly recorded species in West Glamorgan. This year, so far, has been a good one for them around here and further west in Pembrokeshire (see Pembrokeshire birds - LINK) where they've been treated to a few Blue-headed Wagtails (ssp. flava) mixed in with our own race (flavissima). It's certainly worth taking a closer look at any wagtail gatherings in our area, on the back of this.

Yellow Wagtail 21.4.13

Rob Jones found 3 Yellow Wagtails with 5 White Wagtails last weekend, and today there was at least one Yellow Wagtail and 7 White Wagtails in the same general area near the Afan river mouth.

Arctic Tern 21.4.13 (c) R. Jones

Another species lingering (or on continuous turnover) in the area is Arctic Tern, 2 today.
Both of Rob's photos (above) are iPhone digiscoped and are good quality shots which show the birds clearly. Record shots of birds are always interesting to look at in my opinion especially during an unprecedented influx, where photos record an unusual event or behaviour. Rob's photos demonstrating that more than useful shots can be taken by a smartphone. Also, by regularly using his phone to record the scarcer birds Rob will be in a good practise to get a record shot of a rarer species when the opportunity presents itself. It's a good skill to master I think.