This a.m.  2 cuckoos and singing garden warbler on s slopes of Garth mtn. In the valley to the S of Garth were several redstarts, spotted flycatcher (E end) and singing pied flycatcher in W end beyond coed y bedw

yesterday near high tide, a handful of whimbrel, dunlin and ringed plover

today curlew, whimbrel, 2 bar tailed godwits and a greater black backed gull

Walk from home before breakfast  rewarded with blackcap, whitethroat, willow w, chiffchaff, cettis w, reed warbler, and garden warbler.  The last is especially pleasing as it is the first one I have seen at Forest farm and brings my no car/shutdown list to 82

For the  past 35 years I have done a bird race (ie how many different species in a day) with a group of friends. Circumstances led to new rules: two 1 hour trips within 24 hr but two different days, no cars permitted, plus as long as you could manage in your garden during that time. While I am in N Cardiff my compatriots were in N Lancs (near Leighton Moss), Peebles, and W of Edinburgh.  Astonishingly we reached 110 species – I do not lie.  Leighton Moss had a big part to play but I managed 51 species, including hawfinch, kingfisher, wood warbler, and jay (I mention the last because they can be impossible in May). Lesser whitethroat was a blocker (they are singing away on Glamorgan flats but too far to go)

Noting John Wilsons Covid shutdown list, I have reached 78 – all on foot or on bike (typically with no bins) – if only I could get to the coast.

But the challenge has definitely made life more bearable.  Lets just hope there is no repeat in 2021.

Two common sandpipers flitting around the islands in Roath Park Lake this morning.

willow warbler and 2 female blackcaps in our pear tree at same time – things are definitely moving – plus 4 buzzards soaring and rook flyover (a real rarity for our garden).  First orchid shoots on front lawn.

Two female blackcaps in our N Cardiff back garden – something I would have missed if I weren’t stuck here. I suspect there will be some interesting garden sightings over the next few weeks. first brimstone

Cettis warbler singing at Forest Farm reserve this morning – 1st one I have heard here after 25 years of waiting  – at last. Also plenty of singing chiffchaffs

No less than two firecrests foraging together (plus one goldcrest in the vicinity).  Using the space between the dock feeder stream and N Road ie East of the dock feeder where there are no paths.  Found between 30 and 100m north of the road bridge access  into the park, as they foraged heading north.  (This is on  the E border of Bute Park)

wood warbler singing in same spot as last week in Castell Coch woods, close to the road.  Male and female goosander on Taff in Bute Park – unusual for this time of year

OOC  Lancashire and S Cumbria   ‘bird race’ on 18th May  134 species in one day    including 17 wader species, 4 tern sp, arctic skua, hooded crow, manx shearwater, osprey, little gull, red grouse    commonest bird not seen/heard was jay

Siberian chiffchaff and good company at parc slip,  4 cattle egrets porthcawl, Slavonian grebe and g w egret at kenfig all found almost instantly, makes a change. Most remarkable bird of the day was a shag hunting in the melin griffiths feeder at Forest Farm, I had to rub my eyes.

 

13+ hawfinches at Forest Ganol yesterday morning. Quite remarkable

Sunday 31st pm   Bittern seen from the hide with no door – plus 1 snipe, 1 water rail, Other hide, siskin and kingfisher.  Also 2 buzzards