A breezy day on Western Gower. A walk south towards Bluepool corner produced a hunting pair of Kestrel, pair of Raven and several Fulmar plus 2 pairs of Stonechat. Later on the falling tide this afternoon at Broughton Bay a group of 15 Brent Geese contained 12 Dark-bellied and 3 Pale-bellied (hrota race) individuals. Interestigly the Pale-bellied kept to themselves and flushed by walkers later than the Dark-bellieds. They were still present at around 4pm and had flown up the beach towards the stone access jetty at the farm. Also on the beach mid-morning were 25 Sanderling and 4 Ringed Plover. Away to the north between Cwm Ivy and Whiteford Point a massive group of at least 1,000 Oystercatchers was roosting with several hundred Gulls.

Earlier in the morning a brief visit to Penclawdd produced a Little Egret, 1 Greenshank, 2 Teal and a few dozen Redshank.

 

1 swallow over boardwalk that crosses through the marsh and small wood at top end of saltmarsh

Cosmeston,30+SandMartins,1-Blackcap singing,Black Throated Diver showing well on west lake 08h30-09h50

Cardiff Bay,2m-Wheatears,2-Rock Pipits,1-Willow Warbler near rockfall area,30-40 Sand Martins and 1-Little Gull 10h10-11h25

Walked the sheep tracks to look for early migrants – particularly ring ouzel.

No ring ouzel, but my first wheatear of the year at Kitchen Corner (a male), red kite (2cy) circling over and perching in scrub in the valley at Mewslade, and a few yellowhammer between the top of Ram Grove and farmland above Foxhole Slade (where several present). Fulmar on cliffs around Lewes Castle (Fall Bay east) and between there and Mewslade. Common lizard near Pilton Green.

The adult Bonaparte’s Gull was showing well with the Black-headed Gull flock at 08.45 this morning. It was sat on the water throughout my visit and was seen from the Penarth Marina side of the bay looking back towards the St David’s Hotel and showed only the smallest signs of attaining a hood. This was the only place this morning where it was possible to view the birds due to the strong light from the ice rink side. The Little Gull, 200 Sand Martins and 12 Turnstone were also present.

Kumliens gull still there at 17 15 also 2 swallows over 

Early morning trip to both.
Highlight was 6 purple sandpiper with a turnstone and 12 ringed plover at high tide on Sedger’s Bank. Two chough over.
Still in excess of 25 teal at Oxwich scattered around the ponds, but a great crested grebe was the only bird of any interest on the sea.

Male Wheatear and 3 Rock Pipit on the outer rocks just east of the lock this morning. Also 9 Turnstone on the inner shore at the east end of the barrage, and 3 Sand Martin near the Dr Who building. Grey Wagtail near the sails.

Two Hawfinches at top of Plane tree beside main path from Visitor Centre to House at 3.45 this afternoon.

PLEASE NOTE: Entry to the site (now National Trust) is only possible during opening hours (approx 10am – 5pm) and costs £7.20 – unless NT member.

Called in to see the kumliens gull at 1 15 no sign so I went to the amenities tip it was sitting with other 

gulls on waste ground opposite the big sheds it was there for five minutes then flew back to the lake where I saw it again  to get there turn left out of the car park drive a short distance turn right into coronet road drive to the end then follow the tarmac path through the trees turn left the sheds are on your right there are lots of gulls and crows  after the rubbish 14 magpies there today 

good numbers of Sand Martins going through – 100+

BT Diver still showing well.

14 purple sandpiper, 24 oystercatcher, 40 turnstone, curlew, 2 lapwing, 2 wheatear and a sparrowhawk.

1 Wheatear showed briefly on the barrage rocks north of the sails this morning.6 or 7 Sand Martins were flying over both locks beside and in front of the Dr Who Experience.20 GCG were in CBWR and another 10 were at Prospect Place. A Speckled Wood was in Roath Lock.

The Black-throated Diver was still present on West Lake.  Also a Cetti’s Warbler singing near the boardwalk, a Mistle Thrush near the Dragonfly Pond, and four Jays which were very active and vocal over Cogan Wood.

Six sand martins were over the lake this morning and a jay near the reserve centre bird table.

First winter Little Gull out in the middle of the Bay mid-afternoon also 1 Sand Martin prospecting the holes in the dock by the Dr Who Experience.

A Tree Sparrow among the flock of House Sparrows was an unexpected surprise at Swansea Vale LNR today.  It was at the south west corner of the reserve among the brambles & hedgerow (either side of Nant-y-fendrod) where the tarmac path meets the wooden bridge – SS684981.

6 Sand Martins at the River Tawe, Swansea Vale may indicate that numbers are starting to build at this location. 

Black-throated Diver still present and showing very well on East Lake, as well as Kingfisher. Marsh Tit in Cogan Wood and gorgeous male Lesser Redpoll near Dragonfly Pond. No sign of Bonaparte’s Gull at Heliport.

2 Great White Egrets (bare part colours rapidly on the turn) feeding just west of the mounds, 3 Slavonian Grebes (still predominantly winter plumage) just off the marsh edge to the west and 6 R-b Mergs in fine fettle were the highlights on the high tide first thing. Generally though far fewer birds around, with the Crofty D-b Brent flock having gone down from 370 to 79 in the last few days, although I could see another 26 off Weobley. Still no Wheatear for me, though Chiffchaffs were singing most places I stopped at today and yesterday I did see a couple of Sand Martin’s at Swansea Vale.

The Black-throated Diver was on West Lake this lunchtime, preening and sleeping all the time I was there.

A few chiffchaffs singing, but otherwise pretty quiet.