The Mute Swan pair seem to have lost 2 of their 7 cygnets. Good to see the GCG pair now have another clutch after the first was taken by a terrapin. Also present this morning c.20 Sand Martins and 10 Swift over W lake, and Common Whitethroat still singing by W paddock hedge. An ad and a juv Heron were by W lake shore. O/W pretty quiet.

Apologies for non-sighting. Just a heads up that due to zero uptake I have cancelled tomorrow’s GBC trip to Somerset Levels. Will try to re-schedule if I have time.

A Kingfisher did a couple of circuits over W lake this morning, viewed from the bridge. A pair of GC Grebes were starting a nest in the middle of W lake ‘bay’, where one failed last year due to fluctuating water levels. 2 Buzzard over Cogan Wood, plenty of Reed Warblers singing, plus Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Cetti’s and a Whitethroat. A lone imm Black-headed Gull over E lake was a little unseasonal, and 2 Swift flew S over W paddock. Also had Reed Bunt carrying food near the cafe boardwalk and ditto Blackbird pair by the dipping pool.

The GBC Big Birding Day today at KNNR was successful if a little windy! Thanks to all who attended/helped/participated. 2 guided walks were taken – the first to the pool where the stars were 9 Whimbrel in E pool fields and a White Wagtail, although the latter was only seen by Paul Denning who came with us. The second walk with 19 people went out to Sker Farm and Sker Pt. Sadly with the tide out, the putative American Golden Plover had gone from near Sker Pool and was probably out on the rocks somewhere but could not be found. The howling gale out there didn’t help! 14 more Whimbrel out there tho’ and a few Turnstone and some distant Sanderling on Sker beach. All in all a nice day. Brief report and some pix on the web site via the newsflash on the home page.

Don’t forget to come tomorrow. KNNR 10 a.m. onwards. Guided walks, ringing demo, Mrs. Wilson’s exceedingly good cakes, plant sale, kids activities, a ‘Big Sit’ to see what birds can be seen from a single spot near the reserve centre, and much more.

The American Golden Plover is still at Sker this morning, by Sker Pool [near Sker Farm] – per text news and Twitter. Presumably the bird that was at Angle Bay, Pembs recently. Shortest walk is from KNNR via the track over the golf course to Sker Farm. Have commitments today sadly 😦

News just transpired this eve. A juv American Golden Plover was on grass between Sker Pt and Sker Pool at 09:30. Only just ID’d retrospectively from video grab [Neil Donaghy].

Only highlight from a quick whizz round with the hound this morning was a Common Sandpiper which flew under the main bridge from E lake to W lake as I crossed.

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.