Trip out with a chum and an acquaintance from South Africa. Cossie – Mistle Thrush pair with young, Green and Gt Spotted Peckers, 2 Cetti’s W heard, Reed Bunt and Reed Warbler etc etc; Heritage Coast – 2 Chough, 2 Skylark, a Partridge sp in the grassy field W of Nash Pt – flew away from me and couldn’t clinch head pattern, 2 Fulmar close in and prob about 6 still on ledges in the distance at Cwm Nash, lots of Linnet, m Bullfinch, Whitethroat and Goldfinch in the Nash Pt valley. Nice day to albeit very wet!

2 ad and 1 imm Heron, 1 Green Pecker, Reed Warblers flying around over W lake reeds, Reed Bunt x 2, E lake Reeds and 1 fem Blackcap + males singing. From Monday, Treecreeper briefly in wood beyond the main boardwalk and Cett’s singing. Black-tailed Skimmer & Emperor dragonflies.

Nothing very exciting but one pair of Gt Crested Grebes have finally decided to nest, same place as last year – a floating nest in the Water BIstort. Other than that, a Green ‘Pecker in W paddock and a Cetti’s singing at the end of the main boardwalk.

David Gilmore has posted some info about work that is due to start at Sluice Farm, resulting in closure of the sea wall between there and the county boundary – please see the Glamorgan Birds forum http://glamorganbirds.blogspot.co.uk There;s also some info there in another post re Llanishen Res.

a.m. – Ad Little Egret again in trees by W lake and the two imm Herons still present. Also Little Grebe by W lake reeds. No sign thus far of any GCG young, despite the display by at least 2 pairs, seen in the spring. Green ‘Pecker feeding on the ground in W paddock.

Again only reported elsewhere, the Purple Heron was apparently still present on the W side of the Pool today, and the L-t Duck had gone.

Not sure why this hasn’t appeared here yet, although this is the first opportunity I’ve had. The Purple Heron found by Neil Donaghy y’day was sitting in a tree on the W side of the pool this morning, just above reed height and stayed there for around 2 hours at least. Also this morning, Graham Powell found an imm Long-tailed Duck! – very odd time of year for one of those and a nice find by Graham. This was all during the GBC monthly walk during which we saw something like 38 species – thanks t the 17 people who attended.

I’m not out & about as early as Ceri! A full-plumed adult Little Egret was sitting [Prof Bush please note] 🙂 in a tree by W lake, and there were 2 imm Grey Herons by W lake also. Adult Robins were feeding young by the car park.

Many Swift and Sand Martin over the bay in the mizzle this morning. Smaller numbers of House Martin. Imm Grey Wagtail on the outer barrage and 2 Shelduck feeding on the outer mud. Sand Martins visiting nest sites in the dock by the new bridge near Norwegian Church. In the dock opposite the entrance to Dr. Who, there were 5 drake and 2 fem Tufted Ducks, plus what I think was the Scaup hybrid that was in CBWR earlier in the year. Didn’t get a v good view but I don’t think it as the Lesser Scaup.

Quiet bird-wise with the only ‘unusual’ sighting being an ad summer Black-headed Gull on the W lake posts – unusual at this time of year. Also 2 Mistle Thruish in W paddock and a Green Pecker calling. 100’s of Common Spotted Orchid and also many Pyramidals, and I reckon at least 50 Bee Orchids dotted around the place in the E paddocks. A Large Skipper was by Cogan Wood beyond the dragonfly pond.

Successful-ish to Llanwonno on Weds eve. 21 participants was a good turn out so thanks all. Too cold & windy for a good Nightjar performance but a couple were seen briefly . Stars of the show were a Cuckoo that flew around, passing over our heads several times, looking for a place to roost, then at dusk, a Barn Owl hunting, which at one point, was ‘bombed’ by a male Nightjar. John W

The Anatidae are doing well – Canada Goose with 5 goslings and Mute Swan with 7 small cygnets. No sign of any GCG chicks yet. Cetti’s Warbler singing by the boardwalk and m & f Reed Warbler activity suggesting breeding. I had a couple of Dingy Skipper yesterday in the west paddock.

2 imm Herons W lake, Buzzard over Cogan Wood and Sprawk carrying prey there, Dingy Skipper.

15:30 – 16:00 – a brief look produced 2 Gannet d/c [1 ad and 1 2ndyr].

A Red Kite as over the A470 at Rhydfelin 3:15 p.m. yesterday – per Graham Tierney.

Well I had warmer walks on the barrage in December!!! 3-400 Swift over the Bay and barrage flying low and often coming within arms length – fantastic. 10 Linnet on the Barrage, and many House Martin and a few Sand martin over the water. At least 15 active HM nests in the Plas Taliesin end of the Penarth marina complex.

Nothing too exciting as too many people. 3 imm Herons in W alke conservation area, 3 Buzzards talon locking over dragonfly pond, 2 Swift over W lake and a pair of Canada Geese with 6 goslings outside the cafe. The first Common Spotted Orchid spikes are just showing [phone pic].

Apologies to the poster but I have remove the post re Schedule 1 breeding birds at Parc Slip. Plse see the notice at the top re this. Obviosuly the poster was not disturbing the birds but we would rather the location not be published either. Thanks.

small arrival of Sand Martins this morning in the howling gale – about 30 over E lake. No sign of the Egyptian Goose. A Swift was over Penarth town centre this afternoon.

Just a short-ish session this morning [albeit late morning], only produced 1 Fulmar d/c.