Visited a few locations at Llanwonno last night hoping for Nightjar. Weather was dry, calm and overcast, and there were plenty of insects.

Started out at the second forestry gate on the Rhondda road uphill from the Brynffynon and later moved up just past the cattle grid. Cuckoo, Skylark, Meadow Pipits, Willow Warblers, Buzzard, lots of thrushes, distant Swallows and Swifts, but no sign of Nightjar.

Relocated to the Pontypridd road, parked at the forestry gate on the west side of the road (ST 03133 94367), and walked past the gate down the track into the open clearfell. Another Cuckoo and a distant Tawny Owl heard. Nightjar churring intermittently here from 2140, but never close. Usually 1, occasionally 2 birds. By 2200 there was 1 Nightjar churring from the small plantation at the southern end of the clearfell (broadly where several were seen last year), and another churring from somewhere north of the clearfell.

I decided to try the Rhondda road again and returned to park at the second forestry gate (ST 02318 95883) around 2210. I immediately heard churring from the small plantation just across the road. Within a minute or so a Nightjar was wing-clapping and flew close to me. A silhouette view only as it was pretty dark by now. Another flight view a few minutes later and then the Nightjar moved slowly up the hill churring from the plantation, going quiet around 2225. I left a few minutes later.

Kestrel, Swift, Common Sandpiper, Stonechat and at least 8 Cetti’s Warbler at Cadoxton Ponds during WEBS count this morning. Also this morning a late Wheatear at Bendrick Rock, and Whimbrel there and on Sully Beach.

This evening after high tide, and on a virtually flat calm sea, a Shelduck pair closely escorted 3 small ducklings from Sully Island across Swanbridge Bay towards Ball Rock and hopefully on into St. Mary’s Well Bay.

Approaching dusk a Cuckoo was flying around shrubs on Sully Island.

Singing Lesser Whitethroat at Cosmeston at the north end of the West Lake conservation area. Later a second (or possibly the same bird) on the west side of the Snipe field. Common Sandpiper in the West Lake Bay (last seen flying towards the bridge) and a Little Egret again on the West Lake shore (later flew off over Cogan Wood).

Common Whitethroat singing at Lavernock in the roadside field between the caravan park entrance and the church. House Martins and Swallows over the same field.

Little Egret on Sully beach yesterday afternoon, and a Great Crested Grebe on a flat calm sea just offshore. 24 Turnstone on the beach at Swanbridge.

Two Greylag on the East lake at Cosmeston yesterday afternoon. A Snipe in the West Paddock in the wet area north of the Dragonfly Pond and a Lesser Redpoll in a tree along the ditch in the East Paddock.

Steady flow of Sand Martin through Cosmeston this morning, with several Swallow and at least 1 House Martin with them. Lots of Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler singing and a couple of Blackcap.

Lesser Scaup, Gadwall pair, Shoveler pair, Sand Martin, Green Woodpecker, drumming Great Spotted Woodpecker were at Cosmeston early this morning. Plenty of singing Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff there too. Yesterday afternoon at Cosmeston 2 Wheatear in the West Paddock and Sparrowhawk over.

St Mary’s Well Bay/Swanbridge this morning – 10 Shelduck, 15 Oystercatcher, 2 Blackcap, 5 Chiffchaff, Green Woodpecker, 2 Raven, Jay, Linnet, Nuthatch and Pheasant.

On Sully Island this morning shortly after high tide in very windy conditions were 6 Shelduck and c. 25 Oystercatcher. At Bendrick Rock there was 1 Curlew, 5 Oystercatcher and 4 Turnstone.

Later at Cosmeston my first Blackcap of the year, a female working its way quickly along the hedgerow near the car park entrance.

Female Goldeneye on East Lake at Cosmeston this morning.

At Lavernock this morning a Wheatear was in the field on the east side of Fort Road about 200m south of the old railway bridge

As the rain eased at Cosmeston late afternoon c25 Sand Martin, at least 2 Swallow and a Kingfisher were over the East Lake. A Sparrowhawk was over the central path and a Buzzard over the East lake reedbed. The Lesser Scaup was on the East Lake.

A Swallow over the fields at Gileston this morning, and 3 Stock Dove in the fields. Behind the beach Yellowhammer on gorse just after the A-frame stile, along with Stonechat. Last bird was a Wheatear in the fenced horse paddock near the beach car park.

At Cosmeston this morning good views from the West Paddock of a Great Spotted Woodpecker in a treetop in Cogan Wood. Magpies were harrassing a Jay near the Snipe Field, and a Common Snipe flew around the Snipe Field calling before settling into cover. The Lesser Scaup was on the East lake with the lookalike hybrid and an ever-dwindling group of Tufties.

There were 61 Oystercatcher on Sully Island at high tide early this morning.

At Pontycymer yesterday 2 Dipper and a Grey Wagtail on the Garw river below Pontycymer Pond. Lots of Reed Buntings around the pond and a few Siskin nearby.

At Cadoxton Ponds this morning a singing Chiffchaff, 6 Cetti’s Warbler, pair of Stonechat, a Siskin and a Water Rail.

At Swanbridge the Black Redstart was again on the roof of the last house on St Mary’s Well Bay Road, and 1 Curlew, 1 Dunlin, 3 Ringed Plover and 2 Shelduck were present at low tide. A drumming Great Spotted Woodpecker and a calling Green Woodpecker were in the trees behind the Swanbridge Farm houses.

A Mediterranean Gull was on Sully beach approaching low tide and a Kestrel flew over the beach near Bendrick Rock.

Firecrest at Cosmeston late Saturday afternoon. It was on the west side of the path between the lakes north of the bridge at the point where you can either carry on north or go west around the top end of the West Lake.

On the same visit, in the East Paddock 2 Lesser Redpoll seen briefly feeding on the ground west of the shallow ‘valley’ until disturbed by walkers. Common Snipe and Green Woodpecker in the fenced area at the top of the West Paddock.

Thanks to Strinda Davies for leading another enjoyable Glamorgan Bird Club monthly walk at a cold and grey Kenfig. There were 12 participants and we saw or heard 48 species in all. Highlights included Golden Plover, Lapwing, Curlew, Redshank, Sparrowhawk, Greylag Geese, Pintail, Goldeneye, Great Black-backed Gull and Bullfinch.

Full species list:
Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Greylag Goose, Mallard, Pintail, Goldeneye, Tufted – Duck, Wigeon, Teal, Gadwall, Pochard, Coot, Great Crested Grebe, Curlew, Lapwing, Golden Plover, Redshank, Great Black-backed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Common Gull, Black-headed Gull, Raven, Carrion Crow, Magpie, Jay, Blackbird, Mistle Thrush, Starling, Robin, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Bullfinch, Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, Great Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Collared Dove, Woodpigeon, Reed Bunting, House Sparrow, Dunnock, Cetti’s Warbler, Meadow Pipit, Pied Wagtail and Wren

At Cosmeston late morning/early afternoon 2 Lesser Redpoll feeding in trees along the shallow “valley” that runs north-south along the East Paddock. They also fly across the paddock to the trees between the East and West paddocks.

4 Common Snipe flew up from the south side of the fenced area at the top of the West Paddock, and 3 Buzzard, 2 Raven, 1 Sparrowhawk and 1 Grey Heron were all seen flying over Cogan Wood. A Kingfisher was busy around the West Lake, though I didn’t see any Pochard.

Earlier 2 Shelduck were loafing on the sea in a flat calm off Sully Beach, and there were at least 5 vocal Cetti’s Warblers at Cadoxton Ponds.

Early this afternoon 2 Moorhen, 5 Tufted Duck, 5 Mallard and a Pheasant at Butetown Pond. Later 8 Lapwing, 2 Buzzard and singing Skylark over Merthyr & Gelligaer Common. At Cosmeston 5 Gadwall, 15+ Pochard and the Lesser Scaup on the lakes, a Cetti’s Warbler in the West lake reedbed and a Green Woodpecker calling from trees on the west side of the West lake.At Swanbridge Bay a Great Black-backed Gull and a Common Gull at low tide.

Earlier this morning an adult Mediterranean Gull on Sully playing fields. On the beach 7 Grey Plover and 20 Turnstone, with a single Curlew at Bendrick Rock. Yesterday evening’s high tide roost on Sully Island included 56 Oystercatcher, 4 Curlew, 8 Ringed Plover, 10 Turnstone and 9 Dunlin.

Mediterranean Gull on grassed area south of Sully school early this morning, and Rooks busy nest-building near the church. Grey Plover, Dunlin and Ringed Plover on the beach shortly after high tide. On Sully Moors, Stock Dove, Stonechat, Chiffchaff, Sparrowhawk and 31 Pied Wagtail.

Five Grey Wagtail on the outflow at Llwyn On reservoir yesterday morning, and 17 Cormorant on the reservoir or in trees alongside. A couple of Grey Heron at the northern end.

A good look around the northern clearfell at Garwnant but no luck with the Great Grey Shrike seen there recently. Present were Crossbills, Kestrel, Siskin, Bullfinch pair, Green Woodpecker, Jay and, in the field north of the Visitor Centre exit road, a 60+ Chaffinch flock (possibly quite a few more, but hard to see the whole flock at the same time as they were mobile).

Lesser Scaup on the East lake at Cosmeston early this morning.