There is an important announcement re Egyptian Goose records in the recording area on the Rarities Committee blog here: http://grcforum.blogspot.co.uk Rather than copying the whole post here please follow the link above. In brief tho’ as from 1st May [i.e. tomorrow], Egyptian Geese of feral origin will be reinstated to the Glamorgan A list. Thus if any Egyptian Goose seen is clearly not of captive origin due to collection rings or the like, it will be accepted, with a description or good photos. This is not a retrospective decision. Check, and get pix of, the one currently at Portobello, assuming it doesn’t leave tonight – it is likely that this is the one that was at Cosmeston until very recently.

Lesser Whitethroat singing by the first field and several Blackcap showing well. O/W pretty quiet. 3 Shelduck in St Mary’s Well Bay. Pic below – Early Purple Orchid in the wood there – cropped phone pic.

This Golden Pheasant was seen in a private garden in Abercynon this morning. This is a crop from the original I was sent. Thanks to Club member Ceri Binding for forwarding the photo, and to his colleague Keith Norris for sending it. Must be an escape – the Norfolk ‘Wolferton Triangle’ birds aren’t that mobile!!

Egyptian Goose still present this morning by the cafe boardwalk. Many Blackcaps singing, pair of Mistle Thrush collecting food by E lake, Sparrowhawk briefly over. Leps starred Speckled Woods and 4 Orange Tips. O/w pretty quiet.

A pair of Wheatear were on the plateau behind the dragonfly pond, 2 Shelduck on E lake, 1 drake Shoveler W lake, a Sedge Warbler by the cafe, and 2 Cetti’s singing, 1 by the cafe and the other at the far end of the board walk.

Collect grandkids from school day today, so a quick walk at Rhoose Pt gave me my second Lesser Whitethroat of the day, again seen very well – in bushes in the large field near Rhoose rly station.

Lesser Whitethroat showed v well down to about 3m this morning, singing its head off. There may have been 2. Also Little Egret on far bank of W lake and Lol Middleton had a pair of Shoveler b4 I got there. Also 1, poss 2 Sprawks and a Buzzard. Car park was heaving – half full of trucks & trailers due to the filming of Dr Who with a load of Vikings in the Med. Village.

V v high tide at Rhymney Est this morning – Green Pt more or less submerged. Hence only 7 Redshank, 2 Oycs  and no other waders, and 8 Shelduck, 1 Little Egret and 1 Heron. Common Whitethroat singing near the boat yard.

At Lamby Lake [Parc Tredelerch] 2 Cetti’s singing, one in superb full view, 2 Common Whitethroat and reed Warblers heard but not seen.

late news from y’day. A Lesser Whitethroat was reported singing next to the hide in the morning and a Little Egret was present [per Lol M].

On the reserve, 6+ Blackcap singing, Willow W and Chiffchaff, a few Swallows moving thro’. Also 2 what I’m sure were Holly Blue, 4 Peacock, 1 Brimstone and a Small Tort. Quite a lot of Cowslip in flower now.

Re the cranes I received an email via the web site that 2 cranes were seen heading east over Cowbridge at 12:45 yesterday.

Caught up with this gem found by Martin Bevan, this afternoon. It’s in an open area so close approach not advisable, unless it comes to you! It was present mid afternoon at the very top of the reserve past the ruined building using the trees around the top field to rest and also feeding on the ground in the longish grass. Some heavily cropped record shots:

The Great Spotted Cuckoo found this evening by Martin Bevan was still present until dusk apparently.  Grid ref SN 961 095. Only parking for 5 cars near the reserve track so best to park in Penderyn then walk 1 mile NE towards Cwm Cadlan. Instructions as given on the South Wales Birding Facebook page are as follows:
At the LNR, take the path down into the valley, cross the bridge, take the path to the left and follow for about 500m to open area. Grid Ref SN 961 095.

I have just rec’d a report of a Gt Spotted Cuckoo about halfway along the road between the Cwm Cadlan ‘dotterel’ area, and Penderyn, as of 10-15 minutes ago. Awaiting further news.

UPDATE – the bird was still present at 19:27 apparently [via pager service]. Park in Penderyn and walk 1 mile NE back along the road towards Cwm Cadlan. V limited parking near the site.

Hamadryad/CBWR. 2 Cettis W ,1 by R Raff and 1 by Bay bridge in Hamadryad. At least 4 Cettis singing in CBWR, 1 seen v well. 6+ Reed Warblers now singing, and 8+ Reed Hunting.

2 Wheatear in the 2nd field on the left going towards Penarth – presumably the same birds as Lol had y’day. Also my first Comma of the year there. No sign of the male Redstart at Cossie, nor much else come to that.

Highlights of the GBC field trip today – thx to the 15 folk who braved the cold wind. 1 Common Sand at the pool plus plenty of Sand Martins and a few Swallow, Gadwall, 4 GCG, good nos. of singing Willow Warbler, male Blackcap. 5 Buzards were active over the rivermouth area. At Sker, 13 Golden Plover and 1 Grey Plover, 10 or so Ringed Plover, Turnstone and Oyc, and a male Wheatear between Sker Farm and the coast. 49 species in all.

In Hamadryad Park, c.30 Sand MArtin and 1 Swallow overhead, pr of GC Grebes nest building in the lagoon, Willow Warbler singing briefly near the road bridge.

Cardiff Bay wetlands – Cetti’s Warbler singing nr the yacht club, Reed Warbler singing to left of the gravel path, 24 GC Grebes, 1 Grey Heron. V cold & windy.

Garganey still present on Fountain Pond today [per Margaret Samuel – thanks].

Wheatear in W paddock this morning, and Egyptian Goose still present 11 a.m.