Pleasantly surprised to hear one of the over-wintering blackcaps singing this morning in the garden. I was expecting them to move off but perhaps they’ll stick around.

A handful of sand martins, couple of shovelor and a pair of peregrines over Cossie this morning. Little and great crested grebes quite vocal. Buzzards and a chiffy also giving good views.

Having conducted regular WEBS counts for just over 3 years at this site, it’s interesting to see local changes over this short time period. In general, Tufted duck numbers seem to be increasing slightly and prob at their peak for this winter at 66 (highest count for me). Mallard numbers decreasing and at their lowest at just 10 individuals. My first record of Goosander this morning with 10 present perhaps reflecting how much more common these birds have become locally. Plastic bottles also seem to be peaking whilst shopping trolleys remain constant.

Happy to see my first ever hawfinch at Cosmeston this morning with 3 on the fringes of Cogan wood along from the dragonfly pond. Also kingfisher on the dragonfly pond and peregrine hunting nearby.

Couple of shovelor, kingfisher, little grebe, pochard. Lots of redwings and mistle thrush around the whole park (even more in the estate across the rd), bulfinch, GSW and at least 4 green peckers. Single swallow over St Aug church this pm and 5 or 6 mistle thrush.

Black redstart town centre (roof tops Windsor Rd). Flock of 50 Redwing with couple of Fieldfare on Stanwell school rugby pitch

Quick walk along John Batchelor Way and Plas Taliesin: 5 Turnstone, 3 Redshank (one colour ringed as part of the Tidal Lagoon project), 3 Grey Wags and a Rock Pipit.

Of note: 1 Cetti’s heard, 6 Meadow Pipits, Female Stonechat. Very brief silhouette of snipe shaped bird (probably a snipe then), M bulfinch. Impressive arrival of c120 Canada geese flying in to the bay.

2 Turnstone John Batchelor Way

Penarth: Unusual to see pair of chaffinch in garden and a grey wagtail briefly attempt the feeders.

Cetti’s Warbler heard near visitor centre. Green woodpecker, small flocks of linnets, goldfinch in West Paddock along with 1 male stonechat. A further 4 stonechat & couple of reed bunting in the meadow near Sully Brook gave good views as they were disturbed by the meadow cutting. Sand and House martins present over Western lake

3 Stonechats

10 Turnstone along John Batchelor Way, 5 Grey Wags and female wheatear by Plas Taliesin. Successfully spotted little gull which was being harassed by a BHG and flew out into the channel. Party of c12 linnets and too many flashes of lightening put an end to things (fair weather birder).

Apologies for the non sighting nature of this post but thought some may be interested in the Vale of Glamorgan’s consultation for North Penarth parks: http://www.valeofglamorgan.gov.uk/en/our_council/consultation/North-Penarth-Open-Space-Improvement-Scheme.aspx
There seems to be scope within the councils plans to incorporate wildlife friendly habitats (well at least wildflower areas). With children in Wales being some of the least connected with wildlife in the whole of the UK, I believe this to be a good opportunity to enhance the parks whilst giving nature a home at the same time. The consultation is running from Monday 13 June until Monday 8 August.

V quick visit this morning with highlight male stonechat. Also couple of cettis, greenfinch, linnet and numerous reed bunting.

Quick visit this morning produced 10 siskin feeding on alder tree just off boardwalk near to feeding tables. Also, 19 pochard (17m 2f – ratio for BTO survey purposes), 2 gadwall, 1 little grebe, 2 gc grebe (displaying), 1 fieldfare, 1 redwing, 4 bullfinch, 2 green peckers. In Cogan wood, large numbers of tits around the dragon tree and another feeding location included 2 nuthatch (one very tame) and 2 marsh tits (unless it was the same bird seen at the two diff locations).

Male Black Redstart currently on roof tops of Uppercliff Close / Penarth Head

Pretty confident of just having seen a Goshawk over Penarth Head area just a moment ago. Gulls crying usually an indication of something unsettling them.  Yesterday c100 linnets in farmer’s field on Fort Road Lavernock and c50 Goldfinch nearer the point. Quite a few grey wagtails over as already mentioned.

Unusual feeding frenzy in the garden a moment ago with 12 blue tits and 2 great tits overwhelming the usual starling and sparrows who vacated the feeders as a result.  Simultaneously, 2 Willow Warblers feeding in the nearby bushes.

At Cosmeston yesterday, 9 Mistle Thrush on the grass by car park.

V late post from 26/8, Spotted Flycatcher near canal by Wharf pub (East Bute Dock).

Our local Black Redstart has recently discovered next door’s feeder.

Of note, 6 Turnstone, 3 Redshank, 1 Little Grebe and Grey Wagtail within a 200 yd stretch along John Batchelor Way this morning.  This afternoon, 1 F Black Redstart hunting flies on St Augustines Church and around Belle Vue Park.

I saw a Robin like bird from a distance from my kitchen window but I reached for the binoculars where I was able to see orange tail feathers which made me think it was a female Redstart. The angle of the sun did not make identification easy though and the sunlight may have given the impression that the plumage was lighter than it actually was.  Seeing as Black Redstarts are often spotted locally (around Penarth Barrage), it could have been a female Black Redstart.  Sorry for not being 100% on this but I’ll keep my eyes peeled over the coming days.  Any thoughts welcome.