Churring and wing clapping Nightjar this evening around 10.10pm, woodland clearing 300m S of Hollybush Inn, also young Tawny Owls calling.

Firecrest on Rudry common this morning was a nice surprise. At the Castle- Sand martin (5)  and a lone Barnacle goose.

The RF Bluetail showed for a few seconds around lunchtime, nice and close view to a few feet next to the path but very mobile. Last sighted at the top end of the forestry section it has been generally seen in, right next to the round brick Shaft 1.(up to 1pm)

Not everyone’s (anyone’s?) favourite bird but the  Canada goose i found at Caerphilly moat on 4th Dec was originally ringed at Langorse Lake on 1st July 2007 ( 39km away),3444 days on the run!

3 Goosander and a Common gull, also a BH gull with metal ring but too far away to read; not so with the BTO ringed Canada goose milling around the grassy banks of the moat (5246721) Have reported.It looked a bit loose but not bothering the bird!

 

160 Redwing most heading N (one flock c120) 8.30am, 9 fieldfare but most impressive a big influx of Lesser redpoll, largest flock over of 65 but a total of 135 min. most continued over roughly SW but a flock of 30 stopped to feed. Almost all Redpoll over in a brief 5 min around 10am. Nice to see as i usually only see a handful here most Autumn/winters.Smaller numbers of Chaffinch and Greenfinch around too.

Perhaps should have noted it was by the pond , village side ST1815 8725 and heading roughly East up slope along line of beech. Willows below  the carpark area could be worth a search if it hangs around into tomorrow.

Just had a Yellow Browed Warbler up on Rudry Common(6pm), moving through with a big flock of LTT. Called once and good view in flight and perched . Makes a change from the usual fare up here!

2 tired looking Redwing flew over the car park on the Common yesterday afternoon the first for me this Autumn, definite influx of Goldcrest too. Little else of note other than  the  dumped sofas,neat  piles of fly tipped builders rubble and off road motorbikes trespassing on the Common!!

A hobby shot through yesterday-looked like it was pursuing swallows, came from Caerphilly direction and then headed off towards Rumney river at Bedwas. The second Hobby i have seen in the area this year, one on 29.7.16 coming up the R. Rumney towards Caerphilly.

Good variety of migrants tonight with 3 Redstart nr the top car park,1M and 2F. 1 Pied fly and  3 Spotted fly on the pond side of the common. Also Garden warbler, Blackcap, Whitethroat and Tree pipit along with Chiffy and Willow warbler.

3 Pied fly together with 3 Spotted fly on Rudry Common this evening , also 3 tree pipit which may be passage birds as not seen any post breeders on the Common for at least 2 weeks. A single pied fly yesterday.Adult females and 1st yr birds.

Goshawk just flew over  heading NW ‘accompanied’ briefly by 2 Common buzzard-Goshawk a garden tick!

2 Spotted flycatchers around the pond area on Rudry Common over past couple of days also a few  blackcap, whitethroat and lots of Chiffchaff feeding up in the willows.

Some signs of migrant movement over past couple of days -yesterday 4 Redstart, 20+Blackcap, a dozen each of Willow warbler and Chiffy and a few Whitethroat- all concentrated around the car park bushes-This evening a Sprawk took a blackbird and this Whinchat was a nice surprise as don’t get them on the Common very often these days(former breeder).

Purple heron was still showing well but distantly from South hide at around 4.30pm,

Nightjars have relocated a little in Ruperra from previous haunt around the motte to clearfell which can be found south of the motte off the main mettled path ,perhaps best reached by following the footpath up to the woods which rises from behind the Hollybush Inn in Draethen.

Redstart and Lesser whitethroat ,cuckoo X2 best of this evening.

Cropped and a bit rubbish but at least the Garden warbler was showing itself(yesterday 8.00pm)

Yesterday evening,despite the Common being burnt to a cinder a cuckoo,a few displaying tree pipits,2 Garden warblers and a PWC tick for me in the form of a female Wheatear best of a short stroll.

Little gull still actively feeding amongst 100+ BH Gulls 200m downstream of Channel view 11am