100+ Shelduck, Wheatear, Stonechat, Lapwing, Grey Plover, small flock of Knot  and a pair of Kestrel at the weekend

6 female Goosander and a Water Rail during WeBS count this morning

Long-tailed Duck back at The Bay lunchtime, close in, between the Scott Memorial and Dr Who experience. Also male Black Redstart briefly at Plas Taliesin before the rain arrived.

Some early leaping Salmon at the Weir this evening, Goosander and Grey Wagtail along the river.

Plenty of migration activity over the woodland yesterday evening, 150+ House Martins and 85+ Swallows  flying south and out across the Bristol Channel towards Weston viewed from the Motte.

Red Kite over the garden in Caerphilly this evening; first record for me in over 19 years of living here.

Cuckoo heard calling in the drizzle this afternoon. Also good numbers of Skylark, Meadow Pipit and Tree Pipit

Pair of Willow Warblers back on site this evening; first I’ve seen this Spring. Also my first Swallow of the year at Rudry Common this morning.

My first Blackcap of 2016 this evening and up to 10 Palmated Newts in the pools along the side of the track

Great Grey Shrike this morning viewed from the Lower Summerhouse Path bench on the way up the path to the Motte.

Yellowhammer, Snipe and a flock of 300+ Lapwings the highlights of 36 species seen this afternoon

Goosander and Dipper on the River Taff between Tongwynlais and Radyr Weir

Water Rail on the big pond; first for this site

Walk along the beach this morning and came across these characters.

Plenty of Sand Martins hawking for insects over the castle moats this afternoon and nesting in the cavities in the walls of the middle ward.

Red Kite flying low over the fields between Rudry Village and The Maenllwyd late yesterday evening.

First Cuckoo of the year heard singing this afternoon.

First Willow Warbler of the year and didn’t even need to get out of bed for this one as it was singing from the Silver Birch tree outside the bedroom window this morning.

First Wheatear of the spring today in the fields adjacent to Ruperra Castle with at least 8 singing Chiffchaff  and a lone male Blackcap in the woodland

Spent a day birding ‘across the water’. Excellent views of Bittern, Great White Egret, Garganey and Marsh Harrier were the highlights of the 51 species viewed together with my first swallow of the year over the car park as we arrived.