Just had a text from Graham Smith saying he’s found a RBS at Cwm Ivy on Gower. No further details.

A Firecrest, in with a small mixed tit flock @ 11.45 & two Hawfinches seen flying out of the conifers behind the white cottage midday. Many goldfinches feeding in the ash trees – on the large seed clumps, around the area.

Fairly quiet around the lake with a few Chiffchaffs & Blackcaps present, 40+ Blackbirds on the hawthorn berries, 6 Siskin in the alders, reed bunting & Water Rail. Cors reen, few LTT & Chiffchaffs otherwise rather bird-less!

Migrant Hawkers & Common Darters still on lake margins.

Good viz-mig this am with plenty of birds overhead & in the bushes/fields. The highlight was a Willow Tit in with a small tit flock which also included a GS pecker. Also seen was a late Garden Wbr. with Chiffchaffs around the water treatment works at the bottom field of the caravan park (view from entrance stile). Lots of hirundines (Swallow c1000 & HM c300), Chiffchaff (26), Blackcap (9), Sky Lark (31), Stonechat (2), Buzzard (8) & Raven (3). Leps: Red Ads (2), Comma (2) & a Vapourer. Nice to meet Lol & Ceri there.

Nowhere near the same amount of birds today as yesterday. It was cooler and the wind was a NE with thicker mist & sea fog. More thrushes today with a few Mistle Thrush & Blackbirds in the bushes. A Stock Dove, Kestrel and probably 200 mipits & swallows. On the reserve a common whitethroat & chiffchaff plus a large mixed flock of tits. Otherwise pretty quiet. The highlight was Matt Meehan, a rare passage migrant at the Point these days!

Roath: Whilst emptying the moth trap this am, 11 Crossbills f/o >NE

Passage migration was in full evidence this am (09.00-11.30) with thousands of birds flying east in the mist/fog. Swallow (2000), Meadow Pipit (1000), Chaffinch (1000), Sky Lark (61), Goldfinch (150), Linnet (90 – JDW had over 1000 just inland), Pied Wagtail (13), Grey Wagtail (4), Siskin (10), Redpoll (2), Crossbill (4), Coal Tit (6), House Martin (2), GS pecker (1), Nuthatch (1, flying out to sea with mipits – very strange!). In the bushes: Chiffchaff (16), Blue Tit (40+), Robin (20+), Collared Dove (3), LT Tit (20) & Greenfinch (10). A really good autumn day’s birding. Although our good weather is now behind us, which reminds me of Kipling’s poem – Over then, come over, for the bee has quit the clover, And your English summer’s done. You get more for your money with the GBC!

Whilst waiting outside the airport this am for my son + mates returning bleary-eyed from Amsterdam, thus avoiding the car parking fees (No.7 in the Birder’s 10 Commandments), I was amazed to see a Grey Partridge, the first I’ve seen in Glamorgan since Jan. 2006. There was also a good number of Swallows feeding around the fringes of the airport too.

Midday: Juvenile Cuckoo on Cardiff side of Green Lane being mobbed by Common Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, Robin & several Blue and Great Tits. Flew off across the border into Gwent.

Small passage of swallows >S

A message from Mike Hogan of a Spotted Sandpiper at Upper Neuadd Reservoir VC42 found by him earlier today.

A Little Bunting was found at Forest Farm Reserve Centre, Cardiff ST 135805 this am and was present in a damp area feeding on grass seeds next to the bird-feeders. It was present from about 11.30 until 12.58 when it flew off over the feeders. It was viewable down to less than 10 ft. from the hide. This is only the third record for VC41 Glamorgan and the first for East Glamorgan.

Bonaparte’s Gull in Cardiff 2014
I am compiling notes on the Bonaparte’s Gull[s] in Cardiff during the period Jan/Mar 2014 for BBRC. I am especially looking for photos in Cardiff Bay. I have some shots from GNS on the foreshore and I have one from LM when he saw it at Cosmeston. I know that several observers saw two adults together in Cardiff Bay on 30th March – did anyone get a photo? Can anyone send me notes with drawings attached of the two, pointing out any differences between them (head pattern esp.). Please email me with any info. Many thanks. DRWG

Not much wader/wildfowl passage: Greenshank [1] & Pintail [3] being the highlights. Much better in the border hedgerow with a nice variety of small passerines: Whitethroat, Garden Warbler, Chiffchaffs, Blackcaps and LTT. Good passage of swallows [500+] with a few house martins.
Went down to the Ogmore, saw 2 juv Curlew Sandpipers & Common Sandpiper. Unfortunately birding ceased at 13.25 because two idiots in blue dingys came floating down the river and all the birds flew off. Pity my scope didn’t turn into a SMLE .303!

Wildfowl & Waders this am: Teal [24], Pintail [11], Shelduck [14], Curlew [29], Lapwing [100], Little Egret [4 RGW, with 5 more on PGW], Greenshank [2, both later on PGW], Bar-tailed Godwit [1 @ 09.45 >E], Black-tailed Godwit [1 @ 11.10 >E], Oink [1] & Jack Snipe [1]. Passerines: Swallow [c500, all >E], Goldfinch [c100], Chaffinch [40], Pied Wagtail [14 all >E], Reed Bunting [2] & Reed Wbr. [1]. GBB Gull [13, mixed ages].
RGW = Rumney Great Wharf (Glamorgan) & PGW = Peterstone Great Wharf (Gwent).

Q – If Scotland secedes from the Union, will we lose all our Scottish species from our GB list?

Coastal Path from Heliport to Shafts Bay (mouth of the Rhymney, including the old frag tip [motor park]). Chiffchaff [7], Kestrel [1], Yellow Wagtail [1, f/o] & Cuckoo [juv].
Leps: Clouded Yellow [5], Red Admiral [10], Common Blue [5], Meadow Brown, Speckled Wood, Small Heath & Small White. Odonata: Migrant Hawker [6] & Common Darter [12], plus a few spikes of Autumn Lady’s Tresses.

RGW: Teal [3], Little Egret [3], Greenshank [1], Lapwing [15], Curlew [31], Whimbrel [3], GBB Gull [6], Swallow [200+] & Wheatear [2]. Leps: Clouded Yellow [1]

Very brief visit to Lisvane Res. couldn’t see any BNGs there. Common Sandpiper – north end.

Two Black-necked Grebes present this afternoon and early evening. The regular winter plumage bird has been joined by a juvenile [see GRC] found by PB. This is the third BNG present at Lisvane Res. in the past five days. View from the carpark or platform via Blackoak Road.

A Black-necked Grebe on Lisvane Res., found by PB this morning. Still present at 13.20hrs. Also there a male Lesser Spotted Woodpecker in with a passing tit flock and at least 6 Swifts over Llanishen. Record shots on GRC.

Small passage of waders, Lapwing [31], Redshank [2], Whimbrel [3], Turnstone [1] & Greenshank [1]. Good numbers of swallows feeding over the spartina & wharf, along with Linnets & Goldfinches. Common Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat & Reed Warbler in the reeds/hedgerows. Four GBB Gulls of note. Kestrel, Buzzard & a Hobby hawking over the wharf.
Leps: Clouded Yellow, Small Tortoiseshell, Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper, Common Blue, Small White & Large White.

Newport Wetlands: Savi’s Wbr. still present this am showing & reeling intermittently. Also present Marsh Harrier & Cuckoo [MCP early am, JH & DRWG mid morning]. Well done to Matt Meehan for a VC35 first and a really rare bird nationally.