A Marsh Tit made two brief visits to the carved dragon in Cogan Wood this morning. A Jay is also feeding there regularly, along with a Nuthatch and Coal Tit. A few days ago there was a rat and a squirrel on the carved dragon! Elsewhere at Cosmeston this morning a Treecreeper just north of the bridge, a Grey Wagtail where the West Lake outlet stream joins Sully Brook, Green and Great Spotted Woodpeckers, several Chiffchaff and a steady flow of Swallows heading south in ones and twos.

A female Pochard was with a group of Coot and a Tufted Duck just off the Cardiff Bay Ice Rink boardwalk early this afternoon. Approaching high tide at Bendrick Rock this evening there were 19 Oystercatcher, 6 Ringed Plover and a Turnstone, all hunkered down against the strong wind.

Yesterday mid-afternoon the Lesser Scaup was again just off the St Davids Hotel boardwalk at the east end of Cardiff Bay wetland reserve. There was a Shoveler and a few Teal and Wigeon in the reserve.

Productive 15 minutes in Bendrick Rock area late morning today. 1 Whimbrel, 1 Curlew, 5 Oystercatcher, 2 Turnstone, 1 Common Sandpiper and a Greenshank.

Wednesday afternoon – Rumney Great Wharf approaching high tide: 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Kestrel, 4 Dunlin, 33 Ringed Plover, 2 Curlew, 1 Whimbrel and 3 Little Egret

Rhymney Estuary – over the high tide – 300+ Redshank, 4 juvenile Knot, 1 Little Egret, 1 Wheatear and at least 3 Great Black-backed Gulls.

Rhymney Estuary today just after high tide: 300+ Redshank, 1 Little Egret, 1 Knot (still in summer plumage), 1 Curlew, 1 Turnstone, 15 Dunlin and 1 Great Black-backed Gull.

At Rumney Great Wharf on Wednesday afternoon, 6 Black-tailed Godwit flew in from further east but didn’t stay long, and this afternoon there were 7 Ringed Plover on the mud with a Turnstone.

Kingfisher flew under the bridge at Cosmeston this evening, and a Little Egret flew off north from the West Lake reedbed. The 2 well-grown Great Crested Grebe juveniles are still on the West Lake.

Yesterday evening at Cardiff Bay Wetland Reserve at the St Davids Hotel end a Great Crested Grebe was carrying 1 of its 2 young on its back. A Tufted Duck was with its 4 young on one of the rafts.

Little Owl, 3 Stonechat pairs, 18 Oystercatcher and a Carrion Crow nest with young at eye-level just metres from the path were the highlights of a circular walk this morning from Rest Bay past Pink Bay, Sker Point,  Sker House and back to Rest Bay via Nottage. Well over 100 Starling in the fields near Sker House inluding many juveniles.

Two nightjars churring at Llanwonno last night just after 21.30. Both were heard from near the 2nd forestry entrance on the right up the hill from the Brynffynnon towards Rhondda. Tree Pipit, Kestrel, Cuckoo and Tawny Owl were nearby, along with lots of singing Song Thrush, Robin, Blackbird and Willow Warbler.

At least 7 adult Great-crested Grebes at Lamby Lake this evening including a pair with 1 well-grown juvenile. Mute Swan pair has at least 8 cygnets.

Early morning visits to avoid the crowds.

At Lamby Lake (Parc Tredelerch) singing Common (5) and Lesser (1) Whitethroat in the shrubs around the reedbed at the eastern end. Common Sandpiper on the River Rhymney.

Male Redstart at the St Davids Hotel end of Cardiff Bay wetland (in the scrub/trees down from the car park). Cetti’s Warbler showed briefly in the same area. Female Wheatear and 2 Linnet on the grassed area at the boardwalk end of the reserve.

At Cosmeston Cetti’s calling from the boardwalk reedbed, and Jay skulking in the trees behind the bird table.

 

2 Tree Pipits doing parachute displays viewed from the road just west of Cwm Cadlan nature reserve this morning. 1 male Stonechat and 1 male Whinchat both on fence posts at the roadside just east of the reserve. 2 Wheatear on Cefn Cadlan.

Grey Wagtail on the dam at Llwyn On by the outflow, and Dipper on the river at the foot of the dam.

Ring Ouzel seen and another (possibly the same bird) singing at Craig Cerrig Gleisiad (Powys) early afternoon today.The bird seen was at the top of the scree slope above the moraine (i.e. just keep walking up until you have the scree slope in front of you). The singing came from +/- 30m left of the scree slope.

There seems to be quite a variety of Ring Ouzel songs on Xeno Canto. The nearest I could find to today’s singer is http://www.xeno-canto.org/132624

Also there several Raven, lots of Wrens and Meadow Pipits, and a Stonechat.

 

This morning at Cosmeston 3 Willow Warbler, lots of Blackcap and Chiffchaff, 1 Cetti’s Warbler (cafe reedbed), 2 Goldcrest singing, 1 Marsh Tit , 1 Nuthatch, 1 Jay, 1 Green Woodpecker near the dragonfly pond, 2 Raven flying over and a Pheasant in fields on the west side of Cogan Wood.

This afternoon 2 Grey Wagtail and a pair of Goosander at Parc Taf Bargoed. Two Red Kite over Merthyr & Gelligaer Common, 1 Lapwing near ASDA roundabout, Merthyr and 3 at Cwmbargoed.

At Llwyn On Siskin, Raven, Green Woodpecker and 5 Grey Heron; 2 Grey Wagtail on the reservoir outflow. Mute Swan and Great Crested Grebe on Butetown Pond.

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.

Mediterranean Gull at Barry Docks waterfront this morning, another (possibly the same bird) earlier at Knap Lake along with the Long-tailed Duck. Liitle Egret and Curlew at the Old Harbour. Skylark singing in the Docks.

The Bonaparte’s Gull was in Heliport Bay this afternoon. High tide was around 13.30 and it was watched between 14.45 and 15.25. It was in amongst a flock of 90 or so Black-headed gulls, initially on the rocky northern shore and later on nearby sand/mud as the tide receded.

Also present 17 Oystercatcher, 28 Shelduck, 19 Turnstone, 27 Pintail, 3 Redshank and a Curlew.

Parking for a few cars on the side of Rover Way at ST209755. Go through the metal ‘gate’ and you’re soon looking over the bay.

Red Kite over Parc Slip this morning. Bittern from the Wader Scrape hide, male Bullfinch near the hide and another 3 Bullfinch on the visitor centre feeders along with Jay, Coal Tit, Nuthatch and Reed Bunting.

Purple Sandpiper, Turnstone and Rock Pipit on the rocks at Ogmore Beach approaching high tide. 36 Goldeneye, 3 Gadwall and 8 Redshank near Portobello on the Ogmore River, along with a Little Egret near the Treatment Works bridge.

4 more Little Egret in the Aberthaw area – 1 on the saltmarsh just east of Aberthaw lagoon, and 3 just south of the B4265 where it crosses the River Thaw.

 

 

Late this afternoon 2 Green Sandpiper, 5 Bullfinch, 2 singing Goldcrest, 5 Goosander (all redhead) and a Raven. Wellies recommended – very muddy near Peterston.

Long-tailed Duck back on the Knap Lake this morning, along with an adult Mediterranean Gull.

Cosmeston late morning/early afternoon:  really good views of Fieldfare, Goldcrest and Green Woodpecker once the rain relented and the sun shone. Lesser Scaup on the west lake with the Tufted, along with Pochard and Gadwall. Raven over Cogan Wood, and at least 12 Teal on one of the small pools on the western edge of the wood.

On Sully Beach in the late afternoon sunshine, the highlight was 2 Grey Plover huddled into the rocks about 50m east of the sailing club slipway. Turnstone, Curlew and Oystercatcher nearby.