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

2 House Martins by the houses in Penarth Portway, 5 Turnstone on R.Ely shoreline plus a first year Med Gull there. 2 Wheatear on barrage rocks.

11:45 an imm Red Kite flew from the west, low across the cliff top mini golf and headed out over the channel.

per Marlay John & Ken – two male Ring Ouzels right down near the path about 50m beyond the stile thro’ the stone wall this morning. Also Marsh Tit nest building in the youth hostel wood across the road.

Fem Wheatear at N end of west paddock this morning, then flew to fence of the snipe paddock. Also Bee Fly in Cogan Wood, and Peacock & Comma butterflies. Circa 10 Blackcap singing.

Seven, yes 7 Garganey seen at Ogmore nr Portobelllo this morning per Paul Roberts.

Barrage S – 6 White Wagtail; Barrage N new path just b4 narrow fenced-in section – Common Whitethroat singing; ‘Dr Who’ dock – 20 or so Sand Martin inspecting the dock wall holes; Norwegian Church for coffee – 4 Swallow flew over, Crow sitting on nest in the adj tree.

PS: a few Sand Martin also inspecting walls of main docks entrance outside the barrage, and 2 Shelduck on the mud there.

V quiet bird-wise. 4 GCG, no hirundines and only Blackcap singing. Leps comprised Orange-tip, Comma, Brimstone, Peackcock and Small White. Also 1 Bee-fly noted.

A pair of Ring Ouzel on the Craig, 2 male Redstart, and Pere, Sprawk, Buzzard and distant Red Kite. Marsh Tit in the YHA wood.

3 white wagtails and a rock pipit on the outer rocks this morning.

Ad Yellow-legged Gull on E lake this morning and 2 Cetti’s singing near the cafe. Plenty of Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs singing.

9:30 – 11:30 No hirundines. GCG pair nest building on W lake, Mistle Thrush carrying food nr dragonfly pond. Willow Warbler and several Chiffchaff and Blackcap singing, o/w pretty quiet.

1 poss 2 Swallows in amongst c.100 Sand Martins over the bay early eve. Rock Pipit on the barrage.

No sign of B-n Grebe this morning but 22 Gt Crested Grebes present, and a single Sand Martin. Poss worth checking R. Taff for BNG but I didn’t have time.

1st yr little gull present at 11, but no obvious sign of boneys seen earlier by Lol. Also Sand Martin’s inspecting nest holes in old dock by Dr. Who. Amusing to see 6 birds all trying to inspect the same hole!

Just had an e-mail to say that the L-t Duck was at Knap Lake Barry this morning.

The Black-throated Diver was on E lake late this morning but was on W lake when I left after about 45 mins.

2 reminders: Alan Rosney & I are off to Sri Lanka tomorrow morning. In the absence of any volunteers re my prev notice on Facebook dated 12th Feb about the Forest of Dean field trip on 13th Mar, then this shd be regarded as cancelled unless interested folk wish to get together and go. Also the indoor meeting for this Tuesday [4th Mar] is also cancelled as Paul Denning has to work that evening. 

Here’s a cropped head shot of the LTD [esp for Andy :-)] showing the bill serrations.