flying over Whitchurch yesterday

Wood warbler singing this morning in Castell Coch woods, but didn’t hear any in the Wenallt

Had a go at seeing/hearing as many sp by bike in the cardiff authority area – reached 82 (plus wood warbler out of area) Nothing truly remarkable but good to see first cuckoo and garden warblers of the year (by Garth Mtn), plus several lesser whitethroats, wheatears (RGW), lots of redstarts below garth, common sandpipers in C Bay – alas really missing any winter ducks or waders. Only embarrassing miss was no treecreeper. But it was a great way to spend a sunny day! ( I am told the record is 97!)

Drake garganey still in pond Hamadryad park, Cardiff bay this evening. Loiters in rushes at the back of the pond near the swans nest. This morning on RGW lesser whitethroat, 4+wheaters, countless whimbrel – they seemed to be everywhere. Another lesser whitethroat at CCReen and a third at Rumney Est

3 little egret over (with PH), 2 sedge warblers have joined the contingent of reed and cettis w in CWBR, swifts overhead. Whitethroats singing in various sites around bay. (4 goosander on T Taff en route)

8+ wheatear on RGW plus whimbrel and whitethroat. 2 more wheatear at Cardiff bay but too late for the y wagtails that had been seen earlier

2 wheatear feeding on w end of mountain – also good to see kestrel, stonechat, linnets, tree pipits – plus restart singing from down in valley

3 common sandpipers at green point. RGW highlight was a little ringed plover flying off a saltings pool, plus at least one whimbrel, 3 wheatear

great white egret, group of 7 white wagtails, gadwall with ducklings, 2 snipe, 150+ sanderling on beach, just one whitethroat, one singing reed warbler, and lots of willow warblers were among the highlights. Also Italian lords and ladies (a first for me)

Truly impressive numbers of swallows, house martins (in abundance), and sand martins this pm.

Brief views of avocet on east side of estuary (9.30) before it disappeared with the rising tide. 1 wheatear RGW

Late afternoon stroll produced stock doves in 4 quite different locations, totalling 11 birds. Remarkable for a species that is 1) pretty scarce, 2) only appeared here for the first time a couple of years back. An added bonus was the late sun catching the back of their heads – revealing a bright pink/fluorescent nape – simply stunning.

drake scaup still present + drake shoveler this morning. Impressive flock of ~100 sand martins overhead – the air crackling with their buzzy calls – cettis singing seemingly everywhere

With a kestrel, I have just reached 100 sp within the Cardiff city boundary for 2021. I must add that all birds were seen (cettis heard) by foot or by exercise on bike, i.e., all compliant. Just goes to show what is on your doorstep, and there are plenty of migrants still to come.

Black redstart on rocks near end of CC reen. Water pipit to east of Blockhouse, also peregrine, wigeon, pintail, chiffchaff and a splendid peacock (bird not butterfly) on adjacent lane.

Cycle round bay from home: female scaup and ring necked duck side by side just in front of the ice rink board-walk

Good numbers of duck in the wetland reserve area including female ring necked duck, scaup, and pochard. Goldeneye out near the sails. Also rock pipits and a common gull (by Channel View). (I assume the l t duck is still around but didn’t spot). Good to see Matt and Peter – thanks guys (great start to my cycling/walking year list)

On Lisvane reservoir – visible from the overlook, but can disappear from view for some time – also common gull White fronted goose reported yesterday from llanishen/lisvane res

Roath park 16+ shoveler, 7 teal, 1 drake wigeon seen couple of days ago

Garden warbler in our Whitchurch garden this morning – feeding on berries- a very pleasant first

pied flycatcher along the field fence line/hedgerow S of Garth Mtn and above Coed y Bedw