Pair of Stonechat this morning, on the snipe paddock fence. 1 Green ‘Pecker in W paddock and 20+ House Martin over there, and many juv Swalllows. Ad Little Grebe on W lake.

Just had a call from GBC member Peter Faber – he had a Yellow-browed Warbler in his garden in Cyncoed this afternoon. Nice one Peter!

Fem Stonechat by the Medieval Village boardwalk this morning.

All I could muster of interest at Cosmeston this morning were 2 Meadow Pipits, a male Stonechat, a Green ‘Pecker and 30+ Goldfinch in W paddock, the first two of which I’ve not seen there for a while. A few Swallows were passing through and on Friday there were c.30 House Martin over W lake.

Highlight this morning comprised 2 fem/imm Common Redstarts in the long W paddock hedgerow, by the second ‘plateau’ behind the dragonfly pond. Also 2 Green ‘Peckers, 2 ad Little Grebes in W lake ‘bay’, and a ‘kettle’ of 3 Buzzards. Plus nice to bump in to my Bird Report collaborator David Gilmore.

News just rec’d – 2 Black Terns from y’day still present.

1 Common Whitethroat, 2 Blackcap, 6+ Chiffchaff, 10 Goldfinch, mostly juvs, 10 Long-t tit, 4 Greenfinch, 5 Linnet, 2 juv Green ‘Pecker, mixed flock of c.30 hirundines, GC Grebe young x 3 as big as the ads now, 1 ad Little Grebe [2 yesterday], 6 Tufted Duck.

2 Black Terns were reported at Lisvane Reservoir this morning, up to 13:30 – on Facebook. Apologies for late posting but I only noticed it just now.

Pretty quiet during a quick circuit. The GC Grebe young are now 2/3 the size of the ads and diving independently. 6 Tufted Ducks. A Peregrine flew over W lake.

Great Crested Grebe family with one of the chicks trying to swallow a Rudd in a couple of them.

I have concerns for the GC Grebe pair. Could only see 2 ads on E lake and 1 on W lake and no sign of young. Last time I saw them they were almost half the size of the ads so it would be a huge shame if they have been predated, esp as it was third time lucky to get beyond the egg stage. Last time they were swimming but still resorting to parent’s back on occasion. There were a few House- and Sand Martins over W lake this morning.

There were 6 Swift over W lake in the rain this morning, and a couple of Sand Martins, and what sounded like a juv Green ‘Pecker calling somewhere behind W lake.

Looks like the rain brought down a few Phylloscs this morning. Party of about 6 Willow Warblers feeding with Long-t Tits near the far entrance to Cogan Wood [beyond the dragonfly wood], a couple of Chiffies by the dragonfly pond and another by the main boardwalk. Ad GC Grebe carrying chicks was on E lake near the bridge.

Still around 20 Sand Martins around the old dock by Dr. Who. 8+ Pied Wags on the barrage, and endless people gawping at their ‘phones looking for Pokemons!

The Cosmeston GC Grebes definitely have 3 chicks. Have now ventured away from the nest and were in the middle of W lake this morning riding on the adult’s back. Let’s hope they survive.

Not news really – this is a test post to try & answer a technical question I have been asked re posting photos. Anyway these are the pr of GC Grebes at Cosmeston – 2 chicks clearly visible but poss 2 more underneath mum – if they are these have hatched after the other two. Would have though all eggs hatched more or less simultaneously.

The GC Grebe pair still have 2 young but there cd possibly be 2 more later hatched ones [I was told that there might be 2 more eggs there]. The young are staying either on mum’s back or the nest altho’ apparently did venture into the adjacent water this morning. Mute Swan pair still have 2 well-grown cygnets [out of 7 originally]. 5 Tufted Ducks on E lake this morning.

GBC trip this morning, highlights were at least 3 Spotted Flycatchers, 2 Dippers by the road bridge near Peterston-super-Ely, a fly-over Hobby, many Song Thrush, GS Pecker, Whitethroat with food, 4 Blackcaps, 1 Stock Dove, 20 or so Sand Martin still around the river, plus Swallow and House Martin, Chiffchaff and other common spp. Sadly we found 2 dead recently fledged Pheasant chicks with no sign of serious injury – 1 seemed very recently dead [still warm and it hadn’t been lying in the sun]. A Green Sandpiper was seen briefly along one of the river ‘meanders’. Also what was later ID’d as a Four=spotted Chaser dragonfly of the form praenubila which has dark terminal bands on the wings giving a Demoiselle-like appearance.

13 Black-headed Gulls on W lake posts – a sign of autumn. Also 1 and and 1 juv Grey Heron there. There were 2 ads and 2 juvs 2 days ago and I’m pretty sure they bred in the W lake reed bed. The GC Grebe is still sitting and I couldn’t make out any sign of chicks. The Mute Sawn pair seem to be down to 2 cygnets which are quite large now, so it’s difficult to see how they lost another as there were 3 only a few days ago. 20-30 Swift over W lake plus a few Sand Martin and a House Martin. Greenfinch singing by W paddock and a Chiffchaff near Cogan Wood, and also a small flock of Goldfinch nr the dragonfly pond.

9-10 a.m. 50 or so Swift over W lake plus 10 Sand Martin and a few House Martin.