Approx. 50 Mediterranean Gulls were on Swansea Beach around 2 p.m. opposite the university. Mute Swans with 4 young on Singleton Park boating lake. Moorhens with 4 young on Brynmill Park lake. Young Tawny Owls heard and seen in Singleton Park at 10 p.m.
Author: jeremy446
Brynmill Park, Swansea
3 Sand Martins flying over the lake this afternoon, 4.45 – 5.05 p.m. Also on the lake: 18 Tufted Ducks, 2 Mute Swans (maybe nesting on the manmade island), 1 Little Grebe, 1 Grey Wagtail, Mallards, Coots, Moorhens.
Swansea
2 Red Kites flew eastwards over Hafod-Morfa Copperworks at 11.55 a.m.
Brynmill Park, Swansea
A mated pair of Little Grebes on the lake today; hopefully, breeding this year.
Also, 20+ Tufted Ducks, 2 Cormorants, pair of Mute Swans, Moorhens, Coots, etc.
Swansea
2 Wheatears were on the beach opposite the St. Helen’s ground at 6.20 p.m.
Swansea
15 Brent Geese flew in and landed just offshore at West Cross at high tide on Friday morning.
Swansea
In the Clyne Valley this morning, 3 or 4 Spotted Flycatchers hunting for insects; flock of 100+ Goldfinches feeding in the knapweed-strewn meadow, until disturbed by an attacking Sparrowhawk; 1 Brimstone butterfly.
Still a dozen-plus Painted Ladies on buddleias at Blackpill, plus a few Small Tortoiseshells.
Swansea
Wheatear along Swansea seafront this morning. At least a dozen Painted Ladies on nearby buddleias. Many more Painted Ladies and a Brimstone in the Clyne Valley. Sad to see nearly all Ash trees in the valley seem to be affected with Ash Die-Back.
Swansea
1 Swallow over Clyne Valley this evening. Marsh Tit showing well in Clyne Woods.
Swansea
Coots were on a nest in Brynmill Park, Swansea:
Swansea
A Blackcap was singing this evening in the Clyne Valley.
Swansea
2 Chiffchaffs were calling along the River Tawe this morning; another was at Pluck Lake, where Mute Swans were nestbuilding.
In the Clyne Valley, another 2 Chiffchaffs were calling, Green and Great Spotted Woodpeckers were seen or heard, and Blue Tits were entering the nest-hole used last year by Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers. The Spring sunshine brought out 5 Brimstones, 4 Peacocks, and 1 Red Admiral and 1 Comma.
Swansea
2 Dippers fighting and chasing each other furiously on lower part of River Clyne today. Rival males, or male pursuing a female?
Swansea
A Buzzard was a surprise in Singleton Park this morning, hunting for insects on the grass between the university and Oystermouth Road (first I’ve seen in the park). A Stock Dove was in the Ornamental Gardens.
In Brynmill Park, was a Little Grebe (the first I’ve seen for months there), 1 male Wigeon, 2 Grey Herons, half-a-dozen Cormorants, 20+ Tufted Ducks, Mallards, Coots, Moorhens, etc.
Clyne Valley, Swansea
Was watching my first Spotted Flycatcher of the year, darting out from a hedgerow to catch insects in the evening sunshine, when a Sparrowhawk suddenly appeared from nowhere, grabbed the unfortunate flycatcher, and disappeared back into the woodland. All that remained were a few small, pale feathers fluttering forlornly to the floor. A bugger for me, as I had switched my video camera off ten seconds earlier; and not much fun for the flycatcher, which was never seen again.
Swansea
Brynmill Park Lake: Tufted Ducks have a brood of 8 newly-fledged young (there were 2 successful pairs there last year).
Singleton Park: Tawny Owls have bred successfully there again, as they seem to do almost every year now.
Brynmill Park, Swansea
Coot with 3 recently-hatched young on the lake.
Clyne Valley, Swansea
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker seen entering nest hole several times this evening. A Marsh Tit was close by.
A brief clip from today, May 23rd:
Swansea West
Clyne Woods: 5-6 Chiffchaffs singing; a Marsh Tit was by the exit on Rhyd-y-defaid Drive, Sketty.
Swansea
Dozens of Fieldfares and Redwings in Singleton Park, and feeding along grass verges along the seafront as far as the city centre. A couple of Lapwings flew over St. Helen’s, and a lone female Stonechat cut a forlorn sight as it hopped along the promenade at Brynmill.
