A fem/imm Common Redstart was in the W paddock hedgerow and opposing trees behind the dragonfly pond this morning. Thanks to Annie Irving for the txt. She also had a Wheatear in W paddock earlier but it was prob flushed by dogs. Only other interest was c.10 Sand Martins over W lake.

Highlights of the GBC trip to Garwnant & Llwyn-on today in the low cloud & mizzle, braved by 14 folk. 3 Willow Tits were seen, plus several Crossbill, a few juv Bullfinches, a couple of nice feeding flocks comprised mainly of Willow Warblers but also Coal & Blue Tits, Goldcrest, Chiffchaff, Treecreeper & Nuthatch, 2 Tree Pipits, a fem Reed Bunting, 2-3 Spotted Flycatchers. A Dipper was on the Llwyn-on feeder stream. In the afternoon at the N end of Llwyn-on we were treated to a fantastic aerial feeding display by at least 200 House Martins. The reservoir itself held several Cormorants, 2 GC Grebes and 2 LBB Gulls. On the shoreline there were 16 Pied Wagtails of various ages, and with them, 3 Yellow Wagtails. I made the total list 35 species but I might have missed a few.

This is on the #glambirds Twitter feed, but just to make sure, there’s a Sabine’s Gull currently at Rhaslas Pond, found this morning by Mike Hogan. In case you’ve never been there it’s east of Dowlais top near Merthyr. Here’s a link to a map:

http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=309280&Y=207360&A=Y&Z=120

Couple of photos of a Spotted Flycatcher at Cosmeston yesterday morning, in bushes on the edge of the small field 50m to the left of the Med Village entrance. Also an obliging male Pied Wag on the decking at the back of the cafe and a juv LBB Gull ringed on Flat Holm this year.

A Kingfisher flew along the far shore of E lake this morning. There were c.20 Sand Martins and a House Martin over W lake and plenty of Swallows around.

There were 2 Grey Herons on W lake this morning – 1 imm and 1 ad. At the far LH end of W paddock there were a good number of Willow Warblers feeding in the tree boundary, plus a fem or imm Common Whitethroat and a fem Blackcap. There was another fem Blackcap in the trees along Sully Brook by the lower dovecote field, and more Willow Warblers in the trees by the small wooden bridge there. An un-ID’d pipit flew up from the long grass in that field too.

Delayed WeBS count. Rhymney Est at Green Pt – 300 Redshank, 2 Oycs and 1 Common Sandpiper. Around 20 House Martins feeding over Green Pt. Heliport Bay 4 Oycs and c.500 B-h Gulls on the beach.

20+ Sand Martin 3+ House Martin and lots of Swallows over W lake this a.m. and sub ad Heron E lake nr the main bridge. Clouded Yellow in W paddock. Tree Pipits were apparently present somewhere (per Graham Smith).

Late news from yesterday. Jeff Curtis had a Bittern and a fem Marsh Harrier during the Kenfig Pool WeBS count. The Bittern at least surely a wanderer from the Somerset Levels at this time of year. Poss also the Harrier.

Was pleased this morning to see that the Little Grebe chicks I saw about a week ago are still OK. Haven’t seen them for a while and thought they might have been predated. There were 2 imm Grey Herons present, 1 on W lake and 1 at the dragonfly pond [see photo]. At the near end of the long sloping narrow meadow that follows Sully Brook [just after the small wooden bridge below the dovecote field] there were about 10 Willow Warblers in a feeding flock with some Blue Tits.

There was a stunning juv Little Gull by the inner ‘jetty’ of the barrage locks this afternoon, together with an imm Arctic Tern and several Med Gulls, including a very nice juv. The Little Gull finally flew around a bit and out of 112 pix I managed to salvage a few! A remarkable sight was just before I left, when the Little Gull landed on the water and was immediately ‘attacked’ by a Black-headed Gull which appeared to attempt to force it under the water. Fortunately the LG managed to escape – there’s a series of 3 pix of the incident in the collection below.

Thanks to a text from my friend Annie Irving, I finally connected with a Spotted Flycatcher for the year. It was in trees on the ‘hill’ behind the dragonfly pond. Got as close as I dare by hiding behind bushes but shots still pretty cropped. The two with its bill open were where it was bringing up a pellet of indigestible material which you can just see in the bottom RH photo..

There was a 3rd cal yr Yellow-legged Gull on E lake this morning – see photo. Graham Smith had a Spot Fly and Garden Warbler near the N entrance to Cogan Wood but I couldn’t find them, although a pr of Bullfinch were feeding on blackberries there. Also the Med Village/dipping pond boardwalk is now fenced off due to work commencing to create an education area and new pond. See photo of plan which has been pinned upon the fencing. In the plan the carpark end is at the top.

16 participants went on a very hot, GBC field trip to the above this morning and early afternoon. We logged a total of 55 species which wasn’t bad considering. Highlights were 3 Tufties on the lake at Parc Tredelerch, Little Grebe with young in Cors Crychydd Reen, plus several Willow Warbler there and Reed Warbler, lots of Goldfinch, Greenfinch. On RGW we walked east – there were few waders – just a small flock of Redshank with a few Dunlin in flew past, some saw 2 Ringed Plover, and there were Lapwing and Curlew towards Sluice Farm. A Little Egret was sitting on the groyne posts and surprisingly, Trevor Fletcher found a Common Gull in amongst the lines of Black-headed Gulls on the many posts. A Buzzard was patrolling Lamby Tip, and a Kestrel caught and ate prey from a post by RGW. Gareth ‘the tax ret’d’ Jenkins had a fly-by Whimbrel. Leps highlights were 2 Wall Butterflies and 2 Clouded Yellows.

2 Kingfishers from the main bridge y’day and 1 this morning. Max 22 B-h Gulls recently including at least 2 this years imm. Reed Wblr at the dipping pond this a.m. GC Grebe with 1 fully grown imm still with stripey head. Water Vole v brief appearance at the dipping pond this morning. Also an amazing carving recently installed near the dipping pond, carved out of a single tree.

On Weds 11th Jul 15 GBC members had a morning walk through Lanlay Meadows NT and on to Peterston Moors (R. Ely floodplain) near Peterston-super-Ely.  It was very hot and humid in overcast conditions.  We saw 32 species in all, highlights of which were 2 Green Sandpipers, adult Grey Wagtails with young, Sand Martins entering nest holes in the sandy river banks, and exc views of Red Kite, Buzzard and a Sparrowhawk. The full list ca be seen by clicking here.

Today there were 9 Black-headed Gulls on W lake posts including 2 of this years juvs. The Canada Goose pair have lost 1 of their 3 goslings but the remaining 2 are quite large now. Silver ‘Y’ moths seen this a.m. plus Comma. 2 Days ago there were 20 or so each of House and Sand Martin feeding over the upper dovecote field, plus a few Swift. Here’s a few recent photos:

A nice find [and my first there since 2007] was this Cuckoo on the posts of the ‘snipe’paddock’ fence this morning. Also fem Mallard with 8 v small ducklings on W lake, and 7 Black-headed Gulls on the W lake posts, the first for me since the winter. Also v annoyed to see that some morons have chucked the life belts back into the lake, 2 days after they had been retrieved and put back on the holders by the park staff.

Pretty quiet at Cossie this morning due to the heat I guess. Did see one of the Kingfisher pair from the main bridge plus the pr of GC Grebes with 2 now pretty advanced young. Other wildlife included several Emperor dragonflies ovipositing at the dipping pond, and a Comma sunning on the path through Cogan Wood. Several Swift were over the meadow by Sully Brook with a few Swallows.

11 hardy souls faced the all day drizzle and had a long walk around the NW Bargoed area including Cefn Gelligaer, thanks to Club member Lee Taswell showing us round his local patch. Despite the weather we saw 42 species, although Cuckoo was only heard. Highlights included at least 3 Common Redstart including a juv bird, 2 male Whinchats, 3 Red Kite, Tree Pipits, a Curlew display flighting, lots of Skylarks, Green Woodpecker and 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, and quite a few young birds including Stonechat, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Robin. A fly by flock of 4 Stock Dove were also noted. Many thanks to Lee. Full list will be added to the GBC trip lists page shortly.