The long-staying Wryneck was still present today below the 30 mph sign just upstream from the main carpark entrance. Horror stories of rather aggressive photographer[s] chasing the bird around this morning almost put me off finally going down to see it, but I did go and got there at about 3:45 p.m. Nice to see Tim Hall there, and Rob & Nerys Stratton, and Matt Meehan and a few others, and Paul Denning later on. It was initially in thick vegetation just below the road, but then relocated at the bottom of the ‘cliff’ there, feeding around the rocks at the bottom. All present kept a respectable distance, so photos were not easy esp. in the howling gale blowing up the estuary! I struggled with my 100-400 with the 1.4x attached, hand held! This is one of the better ones [quite a crop] when it did a bit of a neck stretch due to a noise above. What a fabulous bird.

Spotted Flycatcher a.m. in trees behind W lake reed bed so v distant. Didn’t see Whinchats but only a v brief visit. 2 Buzzards mewing over car park.

A Hawfinch was reported at Forest Farm this morning – no further detail I’m afraid.

One of the two Whinchats at Cosmeston, first reported by Annie Irving this morning. This was taken at about 3:45 this afternoon after some very careful stalking. They were very active along the W paddock hedgerow, sometimes dropping into the tall ground vegetation and never spending very long on the hedge tops. I used the cover of a bend in the hedge and managed to get 4 pix of which this is the best – even then it’s a crop. Also a present a v active Chiffchaff. Couldn’t find the Wheatear reported this morning.

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.