The Wryneck was reported again in the same location in the Ogmore estuary this morning.

Reported this morning: Peterstone Sluice Farm, this a.m. – Wryneck, 3+ Spot Flys, 3 Tree Pipits, Garden Warbler, Pied Fly, Yellow Wags, Whitethroats etc, plus 1 Whinchat & Wheatear on Rumney Great Wharf.

A Wryneck has been reported this morning at Ogmore – apparently about 150 yds upstream from the main car park in scrub near a 30 mph sign.

Spotted Flycatcher reported by St Davids Hotel this a.m.

At far end of W paddock in Elderberry tree – 2 imm Blackcap, 2 Whitethroat, 2 Dunnock. 20 Sand Martin around the lakes.

1 Lesser Whitethroat in scrub on RHS beyond the dragonfly pond. 4 fem/imm Common Whitethroat in the W paddock hedgerow. 50+ Sand Martin and 1 House Martin. 1 Buzzard flew into the edge of Cogan Wood. GCG pair still with 2 half brown humbugs.

100+ Sand Martin over W lake in heavy rain this morning and a lone Swift.

Reported to me via email – a Nightjar was heard last night at dusk on Old Casle Down. It was calling from the left hand side of the common near the ridge off Pen y Lan road.

Near the Penarth end of the coast path just E. of the big field, 1 Garden Warbler and a few Chiffchaff. A little farther west, 2 Greenfinch and 12 House Sparrow. o/w pretty quiet.

Reported this a.m. Pied Fly in trees by st davids hotel also Garden wblr, lsr whitetheoat and 20 blackcap.

A few Gannets reported this morning offshore at Lavernock and Cardiff including one in Cardiff Bay.

Rather late doing a sea watch [other commitments] so from 13:10 to about 14:15, just 3 Fulmar, and 2 Gannet [1 ad and 1 2nd yr] down channel from the searchlight ‘shelter’, which felt as if it would be blown off its foundations at times! Much earlier, Phil Bristow had 2 Arctic Skuas, a single Storm Petrel, many Manxie, and a flock of Common Scoter, all d/c.

A single Common Sandpiper along the embankment by Penarth Marina/R. Ely mouth this morning, plus 100’s of Hirundines over the water, mostly Sand Martin but House Martins mixed in [active nest noted on house near the Penarth Marina outer lock gates] but no doubt plenty of others. Also whilst on the Barrage I noted about 6 Swifts feeding over the water.

In W paddock, flock of c.15 Long-tailed Tits with 3+ Willow Warbler and some Blue Tits. Also folk of 20+ Goldfinch with at least 2 Greenfinch in attendance. 1 Green Woodpecker in W paddock. On W lake near the bridge a pair of Little Grebe with 2 very small chicks – either a second brood or another pair, as there was a full grown imm a few weeks ago. Ad fem Blackbird feeding a fully grown youngster between the cafe and the office building. Think they have nested in nearby bramble.

An imm male Common Redstart was a nice surprise in a hawthorn bush south of the dragonfly pond near the lower gap in the W paddock hedgerow. It flew off into the nearby edge of Cogan Wood. Also 1 Willow Warbler, ad Green Woodpecker in W paddock on the dragonfly pond side of the hedge, and a pair of Gt Crested Grebes on E lake with 2 half grown young. These are either a second brood for the pair that had a single surviving chick raised to maturity earlier, or a late brood from another pair. Had no idea there was another nest.

Amazing find by Gareth Stamp this aft of a Manx Shearwater in Cardiff Bay, reported c.16.30. I eventually found it sitting on the water offshore by the Environment building, viewing from the Ice Rink boardwalk. It was still there at 6 and looked settled so maybe will stay overnight.

Also present were a few Swift, and plenty of House and Sand Martins over the water.

Some passerine activity again, this time along the central west paddock hedgerow this morning with a party of Long-tailed Tits accompanied again by Willow Warbler, Blue Tits, a Greenfinch! , a few Linnets and Goldfinch. The Wren popped up near me by the central viewpoint along the main path. Didn’t realise until I looked at the photo on the computer that in my first shot of it, it had a Harvestman in its beak. Just liked the juv Moorhen pretending to be a skulky rare Crake! And the last one, a Devil’s Coach Horse Beetle {Ocypus olens} a species of rove beetle. Haven’t seen one for ages. Also had 3 Painted Ladies in a brief visit b4 rushing off to the dentist!

A little action today. A party of around 10 Long-tailed Tits, mostly juvs, together with a few Phyllosc warblers including what was at least one Willow Warbler as per photo, plus two Painted Lady butterflies. Many other less too – Meadow Browns, Red Admiral x 4, lots of 6-Spot Burnet moths. Emperor, Common Darter and Black-tailed Skimmer dragons at the dipping pond.

An imm Blackcap was in bushes beyond the dragonfly pond this morning and there were a few Goldfinch. Dipping pond had ovipositing Emperor, plus Common Darter and Black-tailed Skimmer. Butterflies incl Red Admiral, Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown, Speckled Wood, Common Blue and Small Skipper.

Again pretty quiet for birds. A flock of around 30 Linnet were feeding on the ‘hill’ behind the dragonfly pond, the first I’ve seen at the park for quite some time – they were too skittish for a photo. Also in the same area a group of immature Long-tailed Tits. W lake had a single adult Little Grebe and a few Black-headed Gulls and there were 5 Tufted Duck on E lake. A few pix below including some non-avian wildlife.