51+ species on the GBC trip eastwards today, despite lengthy very cold showers of rain and sleet which eventually trapped us in the Red Barn hide for about 2 hours! Highlights at the latter were the Glossy Ibis and a Marsh Harrier. At the Goldcliff lagoons we had 60+ Avocet, c.150 Dunlin, 30+ Ringed Plover, 4 Little Ringed Plover, Lapwing, Redshank, 2 Greenshank, a few Blackwits, 8 Whimbrel on the sea wall, 1 Common Sandpiper, some saw a distant Yellow Wag and there were a few White Wags. Wildfowl included plenty of Shoveler, Teal, a pair of Wigeon, Gadwall and Shelduck.

Don’t forget it’s the GBC AGM tomorrow, Tues 26th. PLease come along and support your club.

Apart from a Lesser Whitethroat singing and showing well, about 50m up from the sea watching shelter, on the right, and a few Blackcap, and a Green ‘Pecker, it was incredibly quiet. I walked thro’ the reserve and down to Swanbridge and back and at times it was uncannily silent with no birdsong at all. Where are they all? Is it still too cold?

The Broad-billed Sand is reported as still present this morning.

News just rec’d @ 18:53 – Broad-billed Sandpiper at Goldcliff lagoons now, from first hide.

In addition to Ceri’s sightings, Lol and Andy had a Common Redstart in the same area as the Lesser Whitethroat. The latter was still singing when I was there, and the Common Sand was still by W lake. I had a G S Pecker drumming and calling in Cogan Wood and there were 3 Buzzards circling and a couple of Sparrowhawks were seen by Lol & co. 3 Blackcaps were singing near the Med. Village and 2 others seen, and a Cetti’s was singing by the ‘new’ dipping pond.

A Kentish Plover was found today at Sker, at 16:55  by Neil Donaghy.

On the GBC trip to Kenfig incl along the Haul Road to the rivermouth, a total of 52 species seen. Migrants thin on the ground due to the northerly wind. There were 3 House Martins with the Swallows and Sand Martins over the pool, a couple of Whitethroats were seen, plus plenty of Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff. Three different Sparrowhawks were noted [pic of one of them below], a couple of Wheatears along the haul road. There were around 40 Sanderling on the beach but nothing at the saltmarsh or rivermouth apart from 6 Common Gulls on the beach there. Click each image for a full size one.

Sky Lark

Meadow Pipit

male Sparrowhawk

Sanderling

Late news per Twitter – an Arctic and a Common tern were in the Bay late this afternoon, as was a single Swift amongst the hirundines.

A pair of Peregrines were hunting along the cliffs this morning, giving a good display including a couple of spectacular stoops which ended in failure. Also 1 Common Whitethroat, several Chiffchaff and 3 Blackcaps. Here’s a photo of one Pere, much cropped and manipulated to recover from what was a silhouette.

The imm Little Gull was still present from circa 15:00 to 16:30 roughly mid-bay but towards the road bridge end. Also a 2nd yr Med Gull was sitting on the water and flew briefly, more or less dead centre of the bay. Both birds viewed from the Penarth side, by Plas St. Andresse. Also 7 Turnstones there on the river bank.

A very quickly grabbed and cropped shot of a Lesser Whitethroat at Cosmeston this morning – in Hawthorn on RHS just after going thro’ the gate from the car park, by the round pond. My earliest date for Lesser Whitethroat at Cossie. Usually it’s Common Whitethroat first.

Delayed WeBS from Sunday. A bit misty and very little at Green Pt – just 30 Shelduck, 2 Cormorant, a Little Egret and 1 Redshank! None [Redshanl] in the usual spot. Later found c.250 upstream by Lamby Way plus 6 Teal.

At Lamby Lake a pair of Blackcap and another male singing, 3 Willow Warbler singing, a few Chiffies, 2 Sand Martin over, 3 Cetti’s singing incl 1 seen well but not in view long enough for a pic. ….. just remembered, there was an Orange Tip on the wing.

Apparently no sign of Boney’s Gull early on [per Gareth Stamp]. Am about to go and check myself – it may reappear.

Report just received. A full-hooded Bonaparte’s Gull was seen in Cardiff Bay this afternoon – I have been out all afternoon and the caller did not have my mobile number. Gull was seen by Peter Lansdown [who some of you will know] looking from the boardwalk at Cardiff Bay Wetlands, but it was towards the other side of the bay looking towards Penarth marina or the sailing club – so poss check from the Ice Rink area or even the Penarth Marina road adj the mouth of R. Ely.

4 male Blackcaps this morning incl 2 singing, also Willow Warbler, Cetti’s & Chiffchaff singing, plus 3 different Mistle Thrushes in song. 4 Buzzards circling incl a lot of mewing from one pair. No sign of y’day’s Bittern, which was prob the latest date for a Bittern at Cosmeston. There were 8 GC Grebes y’day.

Three records below of what I think is a 2nd yr type Yellow-legged Gull on E lake this morning.

Bittern was showing well for about 20-30 mins in a small clump of reeds left of the Sand Martin ‘bank’ – this despite a couple with 2 children walking right through the middle of the no access conservation area, going right above where the Bittern was. On E lake Lesser Scaup and hybrid Poch x Tufty and what I think was a 2nd cal yr Yellow-legged Gull but will have to check age (it had the dusky grey mantle but flight feathers & coverts still brownish). Also Swallow, 20-30 Sand Martin, Willow Wblr, Chiffchaff & Cetti’s Wblr singing. Below, three record shots of the Bittern.

Forgot, there was a fem Wheatear in the large field beyond the snipe paddock but disappeared when flushed by a walker.

This was posted on Facebook S. Wales Birding – keep your eyes peeled and don’t get too excited if you see it!

PLEASE HELP: (Day 6) LOST FALCON: (GLAMORGAN AREA SOUTH WALES ) Gyr / Per last seen in the area of Pyle and the A48 road towards Porthcawl. The bird snapped the creance and still has the swivel and 20ft of creance attached to her.
Please call 01656 864631 or 07771796510 if you see her…please share !!!!!!

V quiet in the Bay – just 8 Sand Martins at the Dr Who dock with at least 4 holes being entered.

Highlight tho’ was a large bull Seal in the outer part of the outflow from the barrage sluices. I first spotted what I thought was a seal on our outward walk, out in the channel beneath a large flock of gulls – the latter having brought my attention to it. It obviously then came inshore to the barrage when I saw it on the way back. 3rd time I’ve seen a Seal here – last time was also a large bull which i videoed. Didn’t have either camera with me this time.