Another day, another field trip. 12 members met up at Bryngarw Country Park today and we had a dull damp wander around the different sections of the park. The birds were noticeable by their absence, or at least lack of activity. Highlights were Spotted Flycatcher, with rather brief and difficult views right up in the canopy of a very tall Ash tree. A Nuthatch family group was quite active near the car park, a male Stonechat braved the heavy drizzle in an open area and a Grey Wagtail was on the river. John Wilson.
PS it was not a raptor day, so the only large birds overhead were Herring and Lesser Black-backed Gulls, and a couple of Ravens ‘cronked’ their way over too.
We managed to log 23 species – https://drive.google.com/…/14DOLE4mo5jV7dEcOxnH…/view…

Cardiff end of the barrage late morning, in old Buddleia bushes on far side of the old feeder dock, there was a feeding flock containing 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 juv Common Whitethroat, 1 fem/imm Blackcap, Long-tailed and Blue Tits and a Willow Warbler. No Sand Martins.

On a walk round this morning, best birds were adult male and juvenile Green Woodpeckers in adjacent trees, a nice close juv Little Grebe and a juv Great Crested Grebe by the main bridge, where there was also an adult Grey Heron sitting in a tree.

Nine GBC members explored the old Llanilid open cast area this morning, with member Rob Jones leading us around his local patch – thanks Rob!. It was pretty hot and humid for most of the time and we only managed to log 22 species.Sadly neither Little Ringed Plover nor Lapwing, both of which breed at the site, were seen. The highlight was undoubtedly the Brown Hare sitting distantly in the field where we were looking for the Lapwings. There were plenty of butterflies, with Peacock, Red Admiral, Gatekeeper, Speckled Wood, Meadow Brown and Common Blue noted. Other winged wildlife comprised plenty of hoverflies on the patches of umbellifers. I’m afraid the heat got to me, and I’m very grateful to Ed Heery who carried my ‘scope for me on the return leg, and for the energy bar that Jan supplied. No birdy pix I’m afraid but hopefully these are of interest. I am seeking advice on the ID of the ‘sp’ hoverflies, from the Hoverflies FB group. The Marmalade Hoverfly is Episyrphus balteatus. John Wison

From 27 June: a Sparrowhawk carrying prey, flew over W paddock.

4th July – a fem/imm Redstart flew out of the snipe paddock as I was walking through the ‘cut’ and settled in the scrub to the right. In W lake bay a Little Grebe chick showed briefly and a breeding plumage Black-headed Gull was on the posts.
5th July – an adult Grey Heron was by the N shore of E lake

Today, 6th July: Anne spotted a Kingfisher briefly by the main bridge – the usual flash of blue across the water. On checking the small sheltered bay on E lake by the bridge, there were 2 Kingfishers sitting on a dead tree branch in the water. Both have all black bills so they’re either juveniles or males. The latter seems unlikely unless they’re both fully grown male juvs.

A surprise Cuckoo flew out of cover and posed in a dead tree in the snipe enclosure this morning. A rubbish photo as it was about 75m away if not more, so taken at max zoom and even then, cropped massively. It did not vocalise. The last one I saw at Cosmeston was in June 2020 in roughly the same area. More recently there was 1 at Sully in May 2021 and 1 at Lavernock reserve in June 2023.

Yesterday morning, 2 Stock Dove flew over W paddock. This morning, 2 Ravens were over Cogan Wood, and a Lesser Whitethroat was singing on and off in scrub near the snipe paddock [100m beyond the dragonfly on on the right]. Reed Warblers still singing by dipping pond and in reeds nr the cafe. Lots of Ringlet butterflies on the wing.

An adult and a juvenile Green Woodpecker at Cosmeston this morning. The bird on the right is a juvenile [no black moustache and a streaky face]. The other is a female [solid black moustache – a male would have a red streak down the middle of the ‘tache]. This was near the dipping pond, where I’ve seen an ad a couple of times recently, so I reckon they nested in the copse nearby.

For anyone who visits Llanishen & Lisvane Reservoirs, the list below should be of interest. It has been complied by 3 regular birders there – Nick McNeil-Watson, Phil Bristow and Simon Lawrence. It’s a complete list of all species seen at the reservoirs in 2024, and illustrates its importance as an oasis for birdlife in the city. Well done guys!
The embedded pdf below is scrollable – the list is 2 pages.

Monday at Cosmeston. A Green Woodpecker was foraging as they do, on the ground near the dragonfly pond. It flew up into a tree and I managed to creep out of view to behind a bush and got some nice shots. They’re easily spooked.!

Following Martin’s post about his sighting of a circling White Stork whilst most of us were in the Avalon hide, here’s a quick overall resumé.
14 members enjoyed a successful trip to the Somerset Levels and Ham Wall RSPB reserve yesterday. We saw [or in some cases heard] 60 species including the key birds of Bittern, Hobby, Marsh Harrier, Great White and Little Egrets and in the case of two lucky observers, a circling White Stork! The numbers of dragonflies and damselflies present was impressive. Birds are usually quite distant hence only a couple of poor photos, but below are some nice odonata shots. Here’s the full bird list:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1yW0IRUBj-Lq-mKsdS_TjUxbzrchn_eVl/view?usp=drive_link

A belated brief report of our club field trip to the Castell Nos upland area north of Maerdy. This was led by club member Ceri Jones, who is familiar with the area, and co-led by Alan Rosney. {Edit} There were a pleasing 23 participants. Highlights were 4 Cuckoos, Whinchat, Redpoll, Crossbill, Tree Pipit and Peregrine, out of 39 species seen. The list below was compiled by participant John Western – thanks John. I was away and unable to go …. sadly {John W}

Species list: Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Woodpigeon,  Cuckoo, Buzzard, Kestrel, Peregrine Falcon, Carrion Crow, Raven, Coal Tit, Great Tit, Skylark, Sand Martin, Swallow, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff,  Blackcap, Whitethroat, Goldcrest,  Wren, Mistle Thrush, Song Thrush, Blackbird, Robin, Whinchat, Stonechat, Wheatear, Dunnock, Grey Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Tree Pipit, Chaffinch,  Bullfinch, Linnet, Redpoll, Crosshill, Goldfinch,  Siskin.
Non avian wildlife seen was as follows:
Butterflies:- Peacock, Small Pearl – Bordered Fritillary, Small Heath, Green – veined White, Common Blue, Red Admiral, Painted Lady.
Moths:- Meadow Grass -moth, Oak Eggar ( larva), Plain Pollen -moth, Brimstone moth ,  Silver  Ground Carpet, Common Heath.

More misc wildlife – including a couple of birds! The Long-tailed Tit looks a bit tatty, no doubt after raising a sizeable brood. The Coot juvs were in the W lake bay, one sitting nicely surrounded by Water Bistort. The hoverfly is “The Footballer” [Helophilus pendulus], and the Four-spotted Chaser dragonfly was at the dipping pond.

Quiet bird-wise but Brimstone was nice plus my first spike of Common Spotted Orchid in E paddock. The Buzzard was over the dipping pond area and the Broad-bodied Chaser male was by the ditch at the back of the cafe.