The Ring-necked Duck was still present this morning at 8 a.m. [per text news – David Gilmore and Graham Smith].

During a morning walk – 2 Blackcaps singing and a fem in Cogan Wood, 4-5 Chiffchaff singing, 40 Sand Martin over W lake, quite high up, Ad and Imm Grey Heron by W lake posts, and my first Willow Warbler in trees by the main boardwalk.

20 or so Sand Martins around the old dock by Dr Who experience building, including several visiting nest holes.

Hi all. It is perhaps timely to just remind all observers to refrain from posting news about rare species for our area which are displaying possible breeding behaviour in suitable habitat, or are indeed breeding. There is a notice about this on the RHS further down this page. Many thanks, John Wilson – Sec to the rarities committee.

PS I’ve made this a ‘sticky’ post for a little while.

Just 1 Tufty this morning. Blackcap singing by top end of Cogan Wood. Several Song Thrush in song. Also Common Spotted Orchid leaves now bursting out of the ground although they could be Early Purple.

Apologies for non bird news post but I am trying to get in touch with Martin re access to this blog. Email has failed. Martin I have left a message in a comment on the Heol-y-Cyw post on your blog.

Deleted my original post re Cosmeston Ring-necked Duck having been down again this afternoon and got some better photos. As said previously it was found by Graham Smith this morning on E lake associating with a few Tufties. Late morning there was also an Ad Yellow-legged Gull, however this afternoon an imm Iceland Gull was present, mostly mid lake but did come close enough for the record shote below. Mid -late afternoon the R-n Duck came quite close to shoreline where the Swans usually hang out. You can see the chestnut neck band which gives it its name, in a couple of the shots.

AdW Little Gull still present mid-bay feeding with B-h Gulls, 1 AdW Med Gull seen, both from the barrage. Single Sand Martin seen entering nest hole in the dock by Dr Who. The Long-tailed Duck was by the barrage inner shore associating with 4 Coot.

I was kindly sent these photos by Tony Fisher, who I see out & about. Some nice record shots of a Goshawk he saw from the northern hide at Parc Slip yesterday. Click on each one for a bigger one. Thanks Tony – nice find – you don’t often see them perched.

Nice to bump in to the GBC ex Chairman, Adrian Murch out & about today with ace Swift box installer, Howard Driver [pic gallery soon to appear on the web site]. Not much of bird interest – c.20-30 Sand Martin fairly high over E lake with a few House Martins, pair of Mistle Thrush and another singing, a pair of Gadwall were the only duck on W lake, and several Chiffchaff along the central path.  nearly forgot –  a spectacular aerial display by a pair of Sparrowhawks over the edge of Cogan Wood. At first I thought it was display with the female slow wing flapping and fanning out the undertail, but after much tumbling and locking of talons she chased him off. This followed a lone male about 15 mins earlier which flew across W paddock and disappeared over the golf course.

At midday the Little Gull was feeding over towards the barrage area in the SE quadrant of the bay, then at around 4:30 p.m. it was mid bay. V v windy on the barrage! No sign of the Iceland Gull at the Mermaid Quay pontoons [or indeed in the Bay] late afternoon.

On the GBC weekday trip to Cwm col-Huw today during a 2 hour walk before rain arrived, the highlights were 4 Yellowhammer, 4 Wheatear in a field east of the valley, Peregrine, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, 4 Buzzard, at least 8 Fulmar on the cliffs, several Chiffchaff, 2 pairs of Stonechat and other common species. A bit over 30 species in all.

4 House Martin and c.6 Sand Martin at Cosmeston this morning, over the central path near the main bridge. Chiffie singing but no Willow Wblr. Pr of GCG displaying, and ad + juv Heron still present W lake.

Three dozing ducks whilst I was looking for the Black-necked Grebe [which had moved over to the the other side – see Pete Howletts post below].

Via Twitter – a Black-necked Grebe was off the barrage this morning – latest report was 10:30. You need to look at so many channels now to see news.

The AdW Little Gull was still present this morning, showing well from the shelter of the narrow path in front of the Penarth Marina houses opposite the barrage. Birding on the barrage, or indeed standing up on the barrage, was impossible/v v difficult. Also in with the feeding gulls was an AdW Med Gull. The very very strong wind seems to be  keeping the gulls away from the Prospect Place area.

The Cattle Egret was showing well this morning as all the cattle were out in the field. It’s in the field opposite the first houses as you turn in to St Athan village off the B road by the bus stop & obelisk. Can be viewed form part way down the side road by a metal gate, or from the main road by the bus stop.

No sign of Cattle Egret at 3:30 – just 5 Herring Gulls and 3 cows in the field, the rest in the shed.

Delayed WeBS count: at Green Pt, 500 Redshank, c.20 Dunlin, 1 Oyc, 20 Shelduck, 30 Pintail, 1 Snipe. At the Heliport bay, 24 Shelduck & 1 Curlew. No Turnstones or Oycs as 2 large dogs were walking and bathing along the shoreline.

A Cattle Egret was at St Athan today apparently in a field on the right as you turn off the B road. Here’ a record shot kindly sent to me by Tony Fisher.