5 Spotted Flycatchers this morning, in trees on left past the dragonfly pond [i.e. the outer fringe of Cogan Wood]. Thx to Wayne Strong for heads up re 1 in dead tree by dragonfly pond. Also 1 Clouded Yellow in the meadow beyond W paddock.

The only thing of interest in rain & wind was a single Swift.

Barrage south – 100 Black-headed Gulls on the jetty. 1 1st yr Med Gull flying up & down the inner shoreline. GBB Gull adult on outer harbour wall. 2 Common Sandpipers on the outer side of the outer harbour [by Penarth Head beach].

R.Ely mouth by John Bachelor Way – 13 Turnstone on the rocky slope, and 2 Grey Wags, plus 2 GCG on the river. Still some House Martin activity in the housing estate there,

Mix of hirundines over the Bay itself.

In the Bay, a couple of Swift, and a few Sand & House Martin, and Swallows. Also a mini daytime ‘murmuration’ of Starlings over the dock area, c.200.

Fancy a trip to the Isle of Wight to see the nesting Bee-eaters this Saturday? Contact Matt Evans to car share (2 places up for grabs). Tel Matt on 07772553003

Not much to report except these ringed LBBGs: 2UF white on black; 0LF black on white; 5NF white on red. In total c.150 LBBGs about 50/50 ads/juvs [latter mostly imm], and 8 Herring Gull.

A Clouded Yellow was in the extreme NE corner of the east paddock this morning, and a Stoat was by the central path level with the N end of the west paddocks. Newly hatched pr of Coot chicks by the cafe boardwalk. Also, this below. Rubbish phone pic as the white is burnt out, but this is the white form of the normally pink Centaury.

Forgot – there was a Willow Warbler in the W paddock hedgerow.

Not as exciting as a Marsh Harrier but … a v pale [part leucistic-ish?] 1st yr Herring Gull that’s been around at Cosmeston for a while. – present this morning.

The G C Grebe pair seem to be down to 1 full grown young. A flock of 20+ Linnet were in the west paddock and quite a number of Common Blue butterflies around. Also Black-tailed Skimmers in the wet areas.

A message from David Rich, GBC member. For those who knew Dave Glanville:
“Sad to report that Dave Glanville has passed away. He lived in Cardiff for a number of years before moving to Pembs.
I had the privilege of knowing Dave and birded with him when he was in Cardiff and after he moved to Pembs. The last couple of trips were to see the Pacific Loon in Pembs and the Long-billed Dowitcher
at Kidwelly. He was a lovely chap, full of humour and an excellent and enthusiastic birder. Will be sadly missed.

Further to my “Info” post recently, the New Post form has changed again. Instead of the drag & drop instruction I referred to, the form now has an “Add Media” link on the left just under the title field. Clicking this will take you to another form where you can upload a photo [or two].

Ad and imm Herons on W lake, 3 Tufted Duck E lake, 5 GC Grebes, 10 B-h Gulls, 1 Swift over W lake.
Leps: Speckled Wood, Gatekeeper, Small White, Red Admiral, what I assumed to be a Common Blue, Ringlet.
Odonata: Emperor, Common Darters, couple of Black-tailed Skimmers.

An Avocet was seen by the R. Rhymney by Lamby Way this afternoon.

A Wood Sand has been seen at Goldcliff today – first reported on BirdGuides as present this morning, and seen again this eve by Alan Cripps, from 1st hide.

Not much bird wise apart from a few Blackcaps singing and a couple of Green ‘Peckers. Biggest surprise was a large, presumably adult, Eel, swimming about in the muddy water by the cafe boardwalk where people feed the ducks. Never seen one at Cossie before.

Only birds of any significance were willow wblr, Chiffchaff and Blackcap. Small and Large Skippers were about. Also 50 B-h Gulls on the beach as St Mary’s Well Bay.

Hamadryad – Ad GC Grebe with fully grown juv, Coot sitting, Grey Heron being mobbed by LBBGs, Reed Warbler singing.
CBWR – Whitethroat singing by Yacht Club, several Reed W seen, 22 GC Grebes and a fem Tufted Duck with at least 6 ducklings in the lagoon. No sign of Red-cr Pochard reported on the Twitter feed.
CBWR is getting more and more overgrown. The small lake on the LH side is now a fraction of its former size and by next year or the year after will be completely invaded by Reed, if left. Also the ditch on the RH side that used to be good for Dragonflies & Damselflies is now completely overgrown with reed and other vegetation. Not sure if this is due to cuts or whether suitable habitat management is planned.

Users may notice a change in the New Post options form that comes up when you select New Post.Now it goes straight to the form without the ‘Text’ etc options. Also the post form now does not have the old “Insert an Image” option. Instead you will see “Drag & Drop files here to Create a Gallery”. I just did a test of this and you can drag pic files from your computer to the box and then click Publish and they shd appear, along with any text you have entered in the message box.
John Wilson

10 Black-headed Gulls on the W lake posts is a sure sign of approaching autumn. Other than that pretty quiet. Still many Ringlets and also a few Large Skipper, Emperor dragonflies at the Dragonfly Pond, plus Black-t Skimmer and Common Darter.

forgot to mention [although not v exciting!] a sum plum Black-headed Gull was on the posts on W lake, 1st one back since the spring departure.