V quiet bird-wise but nice show of Ox-eye Daisies in the meadow, and lots of Ringlets on the wing.

A Great White Egret flew in seen from the 1st hide. It landed somewhere out to the left but dropped into a ditch and could not be relocated. Also a moulting Ruff on the far shore from the second hide and 2 Blackwits there. Lots of Redshank, and other waders and chicks of various species. There were quite a few Shoveler and a drake Wigeon was seen from the sea wall hide.

At Uskmouth there was a fem Pochard with a single duckling, a pair of Tufted Ducks with around 6 ducklings and a pr of GCG with 2 young. Cuckoo heard but not seen. Several Cett’s heard and one seen briefly in flight.

I have just learned that the Night-heron was still present tuesday eve, still in the conservation area of W Lake.

Apparently the Night-heron was still present yesterday morning, seen by one of the rangers doing his rounds, sitting well down in the base of the willow of t’other day.

No show sadly by the Night-heron this morning, so missed it the three times I managed to get down there. Lots of activity from 3-4 Herons this morning including this one involved in a chase with another.

No sign of Night-heron so far this morning – one or more observers present from 5 a.m. and a couple still present at 8 a.m. when I left.

Please do not venture into the ‘conservation area’ at the back of W lake [which requires agreement from the rangers in any case], to avoid disturbance of [a] the heron and [b] other species breeding in that area. The best viewpoint is the grassy ‘beach’ at the S end of W lake where you can view with a ‘scope into the trees into which it went this morning.

PS this afternoon best viewing point was from the viewing area on the left halfway along the central path about 50m before the main bridge.

Lesser Whitethroat singing this morning. A lot of dragonflies at the pond including a pair of Emperors in cop and a number of Black-tailed Skimmers & Blue-tailed & Large Red Damselflies. Several Brimstones seen and a few what I took to be Common Blues.

A pair of Shelduck flew u/c at St Mary’s Well Bay. 

Struggled across the barrage this morning with new dog in tow. Just a Common Sand on the inner shore. C.300 Swift over the Bay plus all three hirundines, and plenty of House Martins around Penarth Marina. Nothing seemed to be passing out in the channel although holding bins with one hand and dog lead with the other in a howling gale didn’t make looking easy!

1 hr at Lavernock mid-morning – naff all. I shd get up earlier! Did see a Pere fly along the shoreline.

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.