late news for y’day 6th May. An Arctic Skua was seen off Porthcawl at 6:30 p.m.by Chris Weedon.

Sadly couldn’t find Tim’s Whinchat of y’day. A Wheatear was on top of the mountain, and other than that, Skylark, Tree Pipit a family of Stonechats, Willow Warbler, a few Whitethroat, and 2 Garden Warblers, open heard in brief song, and another singing and seen briefly as I walked back along the lower, middle path. Also a few Swallow and a single Swift over.

Common & Lesser Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Blackcap, Orange Tip, Holly Blue, Speckled Wood, Green-veined White and a few Swallows. Also the remains of 12 packs of Peroni, Heiniken & Carling including all the cans. These people can be bothered to carry it there but not back, when it’s a fraction of the weight. 

Garganey pair apparently still at Cossie.

The Garganey pair were still present this morning between 11:00 and 13:00, asleep by the edge of the main W lake reed bed facing out into the main body of the lake. 

They were seen during a successful walk which I accompanied on behalf of GBC with a group of children who were on a bird recognition course with Valeplus http://www.valeplus.org.uk who are based in Barry & Llantwit and run various courses for young people with learning and related disabilities. We saw 26 species. Thanks to Steve Thomas for inviting me along – it was a pleasure.

The Black Tern is a summer plumaged bird, probably best viewed from the Ice Rink boardwalk. Very nice find by Gareth Pryce. Also about 20 Swift fairly high, and many hirundines over the water, mainly Swallow and Sand Martin.

Whilst looking at a Heron at Cosmeston a movement to its right turned into a pair of Garganey, which was a nice surprise. They were behind the posts, viewed from the bridge, and were skulking right up against the base of the vegetation.

I’ve just rec’d a report [08:45] of a possible Black Tern in Cardiff Bay [obs was not sure]. Obs was in CBWR but bird was out in the Bay. WIll check myself but have only just got up!

A record shot of the Hoody at Sker found by Dean Bolt. Pic by Graham Roblin for which thanks Graham.

mid-day-ish. Yomped all the way from KNNR car park to Sker then along to Rest Bay area and saw lots of Jackdaws, Crows and Rooks in the big field, but not the Scottish, or perhaps Irish, corvid. Doh! There were 12 Whimbrel in the field nearest the coast, and quite a lot of Wheatear, Sky Larks singing, Stonechats carrying food, & Linnets. Plan was to do Gileston first …. oh well. 2 Birds gone on the same day. 😦

The Woodchat Shrike from y’day is still reported as being present this morning – see Tweets in the RH column.

Absolutely appalled to read Gareth Pryce’s news [further down the page] that a swans nest [the swan was sitting a few days ago when I was there] in the inlet pool on Hamadryad Park, has been burned out. What morons can do this sort of thing?

Don’t forget the AGM is tonight at 07:30 in KNNR centre. After the formal proceedings there will be a short quiz and refreshments. Please come and support us.

a.m. in the rain shower. Sand and House Martin and Swallow over E lake. Cetti’s, Reed Warbler and Sedgie singing by the main boardwalk.

a bit later than Lol & Andy! QUick walk round with the dog and fem Wheatear on the ‘hills’ behind dragonfly pond was all I could muster. Garden Wblr was a nice one – where was that?

Apologies I know this is not local bird scene news but it needs to be seen by as many people as possible. Despite EU legislation the massacre of 1000’s of migrating birds over Malta very spring is still occurring, with an incredible density of the so-called hunters [80 per sq km!]. Naturalist Chris Packham has decided to try and publicise it more and is in Malta now with a team, creating a daily video diary of what is going on and what the police are, or in many cases, are not, doing about it. Please visit his web site and watch the videos. They are upsetting, but people need to know what is going on. The web site details how you can help. Thanks you for your patience. I have been to Malta and seen it first hand – it is not hunting – it’s shooting birds for fun. BTW if there are no birds they shoot butterflies – really.

http://www.chrispackham.co.uk

Hamadryad – pair of GCG and pair of Mute Swan with nests in the ‘pool’; CBWR pair of Mute Swan with nest, 30+ GCG 30+ Tufted Duck and loads of Reed Warbler, and a Cettis singing. Bay seemingly totally devoid of hirundines and swift.

taken from the Glamorgan Bird Club Facebook page – a report of 4 Common Cranes seen over St Fagans today. Observation was posted as a comment under the Portland Obs post.

If you scroll down a bit you will see that I’ve added a new live Twitter feed in the side bar, which is from a Twitter account set up by Mark Hipkin which will often have more immediate news Tweeted by ‘phone. This feed is also visible on the GRC blog, where Mark first introduced this excellent idea. The feed window has its own scroll bar.

2 Common Sandpiper on far shore of W lake this morning. Common Whitethroat back of W lake. Mute Swan with nest in E lake reeds. 

in the reserve: fem Redstart in trees by the large gate at the far end of the first field from the road. Several Common Whitethroat singing and 1 Lesser Whitethroat. On St. Mary’s Well Bay rocks, 1 Whimbrel.

Lavernock Pt coast path, 1 Wheatear in ploughed field just beyond the big house. Whitethroats in bushes in the field by the access road to the point, and Blackcap. Light passage of Swallows.

a.m. 5 Tufties on W lake. 1 House Martin briefly. Reed Warbler and Cettis singing in E lake reeds. o/w too many people and rubbish left everywhere, including plastic bottles thrown into the new pools