Disappointing 45 mins at the searchlight shelter [admittedly late morning], produced just a single Manxie down channel and a Whimbrel, plus the usual gulls. Obviously I need to get up earlier! I did see a Painted Lady in the first field.

Just a heads up that WTSWW are having an open day at Lavernock WT Reserve on Sun 6th Aug from 12:00 midday to 4 p.m. Guided walks will leave on the hour throughout the afternoon.

Nothing exciting but 2 juv Whitethroats seen [1 nr dragonfly pond and 1 near Med Village], Mute Swan pair with 4 cygnets [they started with 5]. 2 Ad sum plum Black-headed Gulls were new returning arrivals.

In addition to the roosting Night Heron, the 3 Grey Herons [1 ad 2 imms] were still present. Also I saw 2, poss 3 Kingfishers, the two flew together from W lake over the top of the central path, to E lake. I swear one was carrying food, which ties in with suspicions by Graham Smith that they could have a nest in the E lake bank alongside the central path. This is right by where the proposed Wakeboarding run would be!

The Night Heron suddenly re-appeared in flight at around 7:30 p.m. and eventually landed in the large tree opposite the main bridge. It then took off, flew high down E lake and landed in a tree on the far shore of E lake [from the cafe]. Difficult to see there [into the sun] but viewed thro’ a scope from the square platform halfway along the main boardwalk. Hopefully it will stay until tomorrow. Got some stonking pix which I will post in due course. Well done Annie for recognising it as something different.

Annie Irving, GBC member found an Ad Night Heron at Cossie this morning. Am juts going down to check if it is still there. In trees at W end of W lake. Photos on SWB Facebook page.

There was a successful trip last night to Llanownno for Nightjars [and midges!!!]. 20 folk attended [thank you] to fight off the little biting pests but we had a total of 5 Nightjars, with at least 3 churring males, one of which showed in short low down flights. We struck lucky when I spotted a dark shape flying away from us along the track we were standing on. A couple of mins later it came back and flew right along the track and right past us, nearly hitting someone in the process!. This was a female so all dark with no white wing & tail flashes. Also recorded were Tree Pipit, Redpoll and Siskin, and I think it was 18 House Martin nests on the Brynfynnon Arms hotel eaves.

Apologies for non-sighting – just trying ot make sure I reach everyone. Just seen the forecast for tomorrow eve and it’s awful [continuous rain all eve and strong winds]. Hence I have decided to cancel and re-schedule for the following Weds, 14th Jun as it looks better then. Hope that’s OK.

Apologies for non-sighting. I have just got the funeral arrangements courtesy of Jan Scheeres.

Friday 23rd June at 11.00 AM -Thornhill Crematorium (Wenallt Chapel). Afterwards there will be refreshments at The Fleurs Club Portmanmoor Road Splott Cardiff. The family would be pleased to see any of Jim’s old birding friends.

Richard Smith, the photo editor of the East Glam Bird Report has put out a request for good quality high res photos of birds for consideration for inclusion in the 2016 Bird Report which I and others are currently working on. His request and attendant details can be seen in a post on the Glamorgan Rarities Committee blog here:

http://grcforum.blogspot.co.uk

Many birders in Glamorgan will no doubt be saddened to hear that Jim Ellis, a long standing birder in Glamorgan, passed away recently after a few  months illness. I am grateful to Jan Scheeres for sending the news, and he will also pass on details of funeral arrangements for anyone who wishes to pay their respects for a thoroughly nice man, who I had the pleasure to meet a few times in my early days after moving to S. Wales.

Lavernock reserve – 3 Comm Whitethroat singing by the 1st field, 10+ Blackcap, Chiffchaff nice spike of Early Purple Orchid, 2 Oycs, 3 Whimbrel and 4 fly-by Shelduck at St Mary’s Well Bay. Several Holly Blue, Orange Tip, Speckled Wood.

Cosmeston – Green Woodpecker calling, pair of Mistle Thrush, Brimstone [3], Comma [2], Orange Tip, Holly Blue, Speckled Wood.

A nice selection of waders this morning with 6 Whimbrel, 2 Sanderling which were moulting into summer plumage, 20+ Turnstone, 10+ Dunlin, mostly in summer plumage, 5 Ringed Plover, c.20 Oystercatcher [and Annie Irving had a Barwit], and 2 Wheatear flew along the beach.

5 Whimbrel on Sully Beach this morning at high tide, plus 10+ Dunlin in full summer plumage and 10 + Turnstone. 22 Oycs on Sully Island and a Rock Pipit on the foreshore just W of the Captains Wife.

I have received a report of a male and 2 fem Crossbills seen on a bush in a hedge near the stepping stones over the R. Ogmore on 24th from GBC member Mary Davis.

A bit late but I’ve been busy. There were 8 Whimbrel on the rocky beach at Sully this morning, level with the cricket pitch field. Alerted to their presence by Ceri Jones’ tweet. Srtill there at 11 when I left.

A Common Sandpiper flew from the far shore of E lake and appeared to head in to W lake but I couldn’t relocate it there. There were several Reed Warbler singing in the E lake reed bed by the boardwalk. Also 4-5 male Reed Buntings flitting and chasing around there. Also had a damselfly of some sort – took a pic but am now away for w/e without camera.

2 Reed Warblers were visible in the flattened centre of W lake reeds, my first of the year. Had brief views of a male Wheatear on the twmp beyond the dragonfly pond before it flew off high to the west. Apparently there was a fem too [per Graham Smith]. Thx to Jeff Curtis for the heads up re the Wheatear.

Highlights this morning: 1 male Pere flew over > N; 1 Lesser Whitethroat about 50m beyond the dragonfly pond but quite flighty – didn’t sing; 6 Swallow; shed loads of Blackcaps singing. In Cogan Wood, 1 Brimstone, several Orangetip, 2 Comma and a Holly Blue.

No sign of the Greenshank this morning [I shd have gone y’day!], but 2 Common Sandpipers were on the rocky shore, but very flighty.