On what is now our ‘Sunday walk’ – up the road and through the alley then out to the front and through Windsor Gardens, then drop down onto the esplanade by the pier and back along the seafront. A short list – 2 Collared Doves, Woodpigeons, Dunnock, House Spadger, Lesser Black-backed and Herring Gulls, then a nice photographic Blackbird amongst daisies and a v smart male Greenfinch posing nicely and occasionally wheezing. Also a pic of the empty closed pier too, tide falling.

Had a ‘lifer’ today – a pair of Little Grebes mating at Cosmeston this morning. I’ve never seen this before. The photo is a big crop as they were quite distant. Also unusual in that they’ve apparently made a nest [on which they are performing], in full view in the edge of the reeds. Usually it’s impossible to see where they’ve nested. A GC Grebe pair have 2 ‘humbug’ young – that pic is an even bigger crop. Also Moorhen and Coot chicks on view. Also 2 Kingfishers, one carrying a fish from W lake to E [poss breeding again?], the other bird was perched in the middle of w lake reeds.

A handful of common birds on a pleasant stroll through Windsor Gardens overlooking the channel.

I had an email from a member of the public to say that there’s been a Pere around the apartments at Victoria Wharf which is by the R. Ely before it enters Cardiff Bay, near the White Water centre. It’s obviously using the roofs of the apartments as a lookout. Pic with the email:

Plenty of Swallows around Lower Cosmeston Farm. Blackcaps in the nature reserve and Brimstone, Peacock, Comma, Speckled Wood but o/w pretty quiet bird-wise but it was early afternoon.
Lavernock – Penarth coast path, more Blackcaps, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, Dunnock, Blackbird, Robin, House Sparrow.

C.40 Swallows and 2 House Martin at Cosmeston this a.m. 10 at a time of the Swallows were perching in a tree overhanging W lake in between bouts of feeding flight. Also Green Pecker, Chiffchaff and plenty of Blackcap.

A Black-necked Grebe has just been reported [at 10:54 in fact] in Cardiff Bay poss best viewed from Prospect Place towards the yacht club/wetland reserve.

Highlight early afternoon was 2 adult drake Scaup with Tufties on east lake. Chiffchaff singing and 2 Blackcap heard in song, 2 Buzzards thermalling. Nice show of Primroses in E paddock.

Very crowded this morning and many people not observing the 2m ‘rule’ and walking around in groups and queueing cheek by jowl for ice creams [a bit surprised the cafe was open]. A Mistle Thrush was quite active in Cogan Wood and Blackcap singing there again too. The 3 Shoveler of Thurs had increased to 4 yesterday [3m 1f] but no sign of any today, or Sand Martins. A fem Bullfinch seen briefly by E paddock. Quite a lot of what I assume to be Dog Violet out now.

c.10 Sand Martin over the lakes this morning in the rain plus 2m and 1f Shoveler on W. Lake. Mistle and Song thrush singing. Yesterday a Cetti’s Wblr sang by the dipping pond and a Blackcap sang briefly in Cogan Wood.

An ad Kittiwake reported in the bay off Plas Taliesin by penarth marina this morning.

A Buzzard was sitting in a tree by the dipping pond this morning – a favourite perching area. There were 4 Pochard on W lake and a Coot was sitting on a nest in the reeds on the far side of W lake. Also several Chiffchaff seen and a couple of Goldcrests.

A Long-tailed Duck has been on the pool for two days now, and a Short-eared Owl has been seen in the dunes, plus a female Merlin, photographed by Neil Donaghy [see South Wales Birding Facebook page if you have access.

An adult Yellow-legged Gull was on E lake Cosmeston this morning. The adult Little Gull re-appeared in Cardiff Bay late morning but I couldn’t find it between 3:30 & 4 p.m. A Waxwing was seen briefly and photographed in a tree in Schooner Way opposite County Hall , by Peter Howlett.