My Passion for Wildlife: local coastal morning walk

A glorious day here in South Wales today so we made the most of it before the bad weather returns.
We walked along a local coastal path, between Porthcawl and Sker, which is in between a beach and rocks and a golf course, and consists of boardwalk and concrete.
In total we were out for about 2.5 hours and there were many other people walking too. But we did see a variety of birds and wildlife.
There were Skylarks singing and displaying, as were Meadow Pipits and Common Stonechats. A hunting Kestrel and several small groups of Herring Gulls and Common Gulls.
We spotted a large flock of European Golden Plover on the beach, but then took off due to being spooked by a dog walker. A little later there was a mass of birds high in the sky circling over the coastline and fields. These too were European Golden Plover, estimated to be about 550 individuals, and flying in a formation.
Our daughter, ever ready with a bug pot and has more of a eye for detail, found a beetle type bug flying up and down in some grass. Sure enough she caught it, we took photos and released it. She said straightaway "I think it's a Green Tiger Beetle". A subsequent check of our new insect book revealed she was correct. We haven't seen one before. It was a fabulous bright green colour with a couple of pale spots.
Then she found a Common Lizard basking in the sun on the boardwalk! It was very obliging as we knelt down to look at it closely. I took photos on my mobile phone, which I held next to it before it ran away into some grass.
I did have my camera and 400mm lens on today and took several photos of which the best are below.
On our walk I was determined to find a returning Northern Wheatear. It just felt right today that might be one around. It wasn't until our return walk that a quick flash of bird disappeared behind some rocks. As we tip-toed towards the area it flew away from us, down towards the pebble beach and much further away. Indeed it was the Wheatear. It didn't allow for a photo but they are a stunning bird. The giveaway when they fly away is their white rump on a grey coloured back, black wings, peachy breast and thick black eyestripe, for a male.
A fabulous time was had by all. And I hope you are becoming inspired to get outside and casually look around you in different environments to observe, learn and enjoy nature.