Wales’s best bird of the month consisted of an ORTOLAN BUNTING which racked up a four-day stay at Lavernock Point, Glamorgan, before departing after 20th. A SHORT-TOED LARK at Dale, Pembrokeshire, on 9th, and a tame Hoopoe at Torllwyn, Anglesey, on 15th were additional highlights. Wryneck records comprised one trapped and ringed at Kilpaison, Pembrokeshire, and another at Llangybi, Gwent. A brief RED-BACKED SHRIKE was reported at Stackpole Head, Pembrokeshire, and Bardsey Island, Gwynedd, hosted a BARRED WARBLER, although a probable CITRINE WAGTAIL at Marloes Mere would evade confirmation. Yellow-browed Warblers were at six sites. The first PALLID HARRIER for Skokholm, Pembrokeshire – a juvenile – flew through on 12th, while a CORNCRAKE on 19th is the island’s first 21st-century record of this former breeding species. Other island highlights constituted an ICTERINE WARBLER, Wryneck and Dotterel. Llanelli WWT, Carmarthen, was another site enjoying a purple patch, hosting records of GREY-HEADED WAGTAIL, SPOTTED CRAKE, GLOSSY IBIS and a PECTORAL SANDPIPER. An adult BLACK KITE overflew Goldcliff Pools, Gwent, on 2nd, with a juvenile Honey Buzzard logged in-off the sea at Strumble Head, Pembrokeshire, on 10th. Cemlyn Bay, Anglesey, enjoyed the best shorebird action, with an adult BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER (on 4th) complementing the lingering AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER. On 4th, a WHITE-WINGED BLACK TERN made for an additional treat. Elsewhere, a young BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER was a smart find at Caernarfon Airport, Gwynedd, while PECTORAL SANDPIPERS were at both Dale and Westfield Pill, Pembrokeshire. A bumper run of RED-NECKED PHALAROPES across Britain delivered two to Wales – juvenile at Glaslyn Marshes, Gwynedd, and Llyn Coron, Anglesey – with GREY PHALAROPES at Gann Estuary, Pembrokeshire, and Bardsey Island, Gwynedd. Autumn Dotterel included a rare Gower record at Whiteford, Glamorgan, on 21-22nd and at least four at Great Orme, Conwy, with an adult at Plynlimon, Ceredigion. Curlew Sandpipers were in excellent numbers, with up to six at RSPB Conwy and several at many other sites across the country. Another strong month of seawatching began in earnest with a westbound CORY’S SHEARWATER off Point Lynas, Anglesey, on 1st, while two Leach’s Storm Petrels were off Colwyn Bay, Conwy, on 26th. On 8th, Mwnt, Ceredigion, boasted a SABINE’S GULL, Long-tailed Skua, 13 Balearic Shearwaters and 14 Black Terns, while action off Strumble Head, Pembrokeshire, included Leach’s Storm Petrels and Long-tailed Skuas. Other ‘SABS’ were off Bull Bay, Anglesey, and Bardsey Island, Gwynedd, with Bardsey also scoring single Long-tailed and Pomarine Skuas.