Despite the rather wet start to the day, 10 participants attended the field trip to Parc Cwm Dare. We were rained on for about 45 minutes but we were soon observing breeding activity with juvs of Chiffchaff, Blackcap and Bullfinch being fed by adult birds. Other highlights were 2 immature Peregrines chasing each other around the face of the Tarren Y Bwllfa cliff, several Green Woodpeckers including some juvs, and lots of Siskins. Fine ‘scope views were had from the top viewpoint of one imm Peregrine sitting up on the cliff [well done Alan for carrying your ‘scope all the way]. Thanks to all who came despite the weather. John Wilson.Full list on the trip lists page.

A small group [just 7 of us] had a successful trip to Ham Wall RSPB in the Somerset Levels yesterday [25th]. The heat wasn’t too bad as there was some shade, plus the afternoon cloud and stiff breeze helped. 51 species were logged with highlights being 4 or poss 5 fly-by Bitterns, a Hobby, a Cuckoo, many Marsh Harriers and Great White Egrets [outnumbering Littles]. There were very many dragon & damselflies, the best of which were Red-eyed Damselflies alighting on the floating vegetation [as is their habit] and a Lesser Emperor dragonfly flying back & forth in front of the Avalon hide. Thanks to all who came along. John Wilson. Full trip list on trip lists page

On a sunny day 12 members enjoyed a walk around the beautiful Dinas RSPB reserve, north of Llandovery. We logged 38 species including all the ‘targets’ of Pied & Spotted Flycatchers, Common Redstart, and Wood Warbler, with Garden Warbler, Marsh Tit and other common woodland species thrown in for good measure. Adult Wheatears were feeding juvs by the access road to Llyn Brianne reservoir. By the afternoon it was getting pretty warm and folk were wilting, and the leader succumbed to an ice cream cone and then an ice lolly after watching the Wheatears! A few record shots by yours truly are in a sightings blog post. Thanks to all for coming. John Wilson.Full list on the trip lists page.

28 Club members gathered at Llanwonno on the evening of 1st June, in the hope of seeing and hearing Nightjars. It proved a difficult night however. A stiff north-easterly breeze seemed to have kept the birds down. We did hear some churring and many of the group had brief views. We did get good views of Tree Pipit, Kestrel, Buzzard and Swift however. Summary by Alan Rosney who led the trip.

21 GBC members enjoyed a visit to the Castell Nos upland area near Maerdy this morning. Ceri Jones led us round this new location for a field trip and Mike Shewring of the Lost Peatlands project gave us an overview of this important project which GBC have donated money to from our ‘green offset’ collections made on field trips. Being upland the number of species is not huge, but we logged 36. Highlights were 2 Cuckoos seen from the parking laybay, and 1 or poss 2 later on. Several Whinchats were seen and 2 Stonechats. Tree Pipits and Willow Warblers were singing and 2 Crossbills came down to a puddle to drink. We eventually overlooked the Tarren Y Bwllfa cwm cliff at the top end of Parc Cwm Dare and managed to ‘scope up a Peregrine sitting on a ledge. List on the trip lists page.

10 Club members enjoyed a trip to Cwm Claisfer near Llangynidr, and an afternoon visit to Llangorse Lake. The walk back up the long drag from the lower part of Cwm Claisfer was marred by persistent rain but we soon dried off. The Cwm is not as good as it used to be but we had nice views of a male Common Redstart and brief views of a female. Tree Pipits were active in the open areas but sadly no Pied Flys or Wood Warblers were seen. A couple of lucky folk saw 2 Cuckoos on the open moor and whilst having our snacks up by the moor, an unexpected visitor was a Little Ringed Plover that dropped in to feed on the grass in front of us, plus a male Wheatear. At Llangorse the resident Barnacle Geese were very vocal. A Common Sandpiper was seen and a Reed Warbler collecting nest material gave good photo opportunities [see sightings post 15th May]. A cuppa and a cake at the cafe were most welcome! 48 species were seen – full list on the trip lists page.

The weather was good for our trip to Goldcliff today. It was quiet birdwise but there were some highlights. The long-staying Spotted Redshank showed well, now in breeding plumage. Just one Little Ringed Plover was seen. The Avocets were great to watch and the evocative sound of displaying Lapwings was a treat. Some of the group also saw a Great White Egret.
On the foreshore were Wheatear, Whimbrel, Curlew and Oystercatcher. Passerines weren’t great in number but Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Whitethroat, Chiffchaff and Blackcap were all added to the trip list. Thanks to John Wilson for leading today and for all the club members that came along. Alan Rosney

Pleasant stroll around Kenfig National Nature Reserve this morning on our monthly public walk. There were plenty of Willow Warblers, Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps there, plus a single Whitethroat. Sand Martins were plentiful over the pool with a scattering of Swallows and House Martins amongst them. A pair of Sparrowhawks put on a great display. The trip total was 49 species.

Successful [mostly] but chilly trip to the Forest of Dean today with another big group [22 participants]. It was too cold & still, apparently, for raptor soaring so just a few Buzzards seen from the viewpoint despite patient waiting and scanning. Highlights were Crossbills at the viewpoint, Hawfinch up in tall trees by the sportsfield in Parkend, Marsh Tit, Goosander [9 redheads] and Mandarins at Cannop ponds. 45 species in all. Full list on trip lists page.

An amazing 25 GBC members enjoyed a trip to Ogmore, Sun 26 Feb, on a sunny but cold day. Despite ‘dipping’ on Purple Sandpipers along the foreshore rocks [which were fully occupied by anglers] we totted up 43 species, during an outing which included a walk up the estuary as far as just short of the water treatment works bridge. Highlights included a group of 9 Brent Geese offshore of the rivermouth, 3 Goldeneye, 4 Goosander, Wigeon, Teal, Gadwall, a Common Sandpiper and others to make up a total of 42 species – full list on the trip lists page.

It was a lovely day today for our trip to Somerset to visit Chew Reservoir. Six members scanned the vast expanse of water from Herriot’s Bridge and Heron’s Green Bay. Nearly all common wildfowl were seen and sharp-eyed Alan Rosney picked out the much wanted ‘redhead’ Smew at Heron’s Green Bay – this tiny ‘sawbill’ was pretty distant, with a group of Coot and a Black-headed Gull, but scope views were OK. We dipped on the reported Scaup. It was good to see many Goldeneye, the males often displaying. Several Great White Egrets were seen including one dwarfing a Little Egret. Blagdon Reservoir was also visited for a reported Ring-necked Duck but we didn’t find that although there was plenty to see. Finally we dropped in at Barrow Gurney ‘tanks’ by the A38 and eventually found the reported male Long-tailed Duck [well spotted David Rich!]. A good day out with by my reckoning, 56 species. Full list on the trip lists page. John Wilson