Several chiffchaff singing from the small stands of woodland throughout the dunes, 2 Blackcap singing plus my first Willow Warbler this spring. Female Goshawk soaring overhead was unexpected. Meadow Pipits and Skylarks everywhere. Rivermouth reedbeds – 3 Shoveler, 3 grey heron, at least 4 or 5 Cetti’s warbler singing, a calling Water Rail,  13 Gadwall and 12 Lapwing, the latter 2 spooked into flight by a beautiful male Marsh Harrier quartering the reedbeds.

The 2 “Siberian” Chiffchaff are still present, quietly flitting through the trees edging the lake. Their very obliging, giving excellent views from the road. There’s a Common Chiffchaff singing nearby which offers a very good chance to compare plumage differences.

8.30 this morning, 100+ Common Gull & 1 Mediterranean Gull in full summer plumage.

Lovely close view of our resident Black Redstart this afternoon, looking resplendent in the spring sunshine

Earlier this afternoon a pair of Chiffchaff were moving through the vegetation fringing Pwll y waun lake, but on closer inspection both looked generally pale grey brown above with largely white underparts, no real olive hues at all. I managed to get good views for several minutes and managed to get a pic whilst one stopped to preen in the winter sun. Didn’t hear them call but the plumage definitely suggests Siberian Chiffchaff although the pic, with the sunshine, generally makes the plumage appear warmer than with the naked eye at the time.

Great to see the male Black Redstart again in the back garden, I haven’t seen him for a while, he does seem to enjoy bright, sunny days, keeping a low profile when it’s damp and cold. Sorry about the picture quality.

While scanning the lake this morning there was a sudden cacophony as well over a hundred, mostly Black Headed Gulls with several Herring Gulls screamed and whirled above. The reason was what looked very much like a Goshawk, broad winged and long tailed, but it’s sheer size was what was noticeable, much bigger than the 2 brave Carrion Crows that escorted it as it flew back inland. I’ve seen them several times in the hills and forests in central Glamorgan but wasn’t expected one so near the coast in open countryside. Without doubt the hundreds of Woodpigeon in the area are a big attraction.

I managed to get a short video of the male Black Redstart actually on my roof !

There are now 10 Goosander on the lake, probably made up of those I saw on the Wilderness lake. Donkey fields, zigzag lane- 100+ Black Headed Gull, 4 x Common Gull, 8 x Herring Gull, 14 x Curlew.

Just getting home when a MALE BLACK REDSTART popped onto my neighbours fence, there for a few seconds, just enough to get my bins on it ( not that I needed them, only yards away) then in dropped down the other side. Hopefully, if it hangs around I’ll get a pic. I love living in Porthcawl

A Chiffchaff was a nice surprise in the garden this afternoon, possibly the same bird seen by the lake at Pwll y waun before Xmas. That’s in addition to the 2 birds at the Wilderness a few hundred yards up the road. Also great to have about a dozen Green finches coming to the feeder along with the Goldfinches and usual tit species.

A late afternoon stroll around the park starting at the marshy area at the north of the lake. Besides the usual resident Mallard ( plus hybrids), Coots and Moorhens there were a few notables. A Peregrine circling overhead, 3 Teal (2 males and a female), a male Pochard, 2 Chiffchaff, 7 Goosander ( 2 adult males,3 redheads & 2 young males almost in adult plumage with just the last hint of russet on their otherwise green/black heads) and 5 Mute Swan ( parents + 3 fully grown cygnets).

8 Goosander have now joined the usual waterfowl. 4 x redheads, 2 x 1st year males (adult plumage starting to show through) and 2 adult males. The 2 old boys looked particularly good in yesterday’s sunshine.

16.10 This afternoon, Female Hen Harrier over fields adjacent to A4106

Fields adjacent to zigzag Lane – 20 Curlew, 70+ B.H.Gull, 5 Common Gull, a very indifferent Buzzard atop a hawthorn with several rabbits scurrying below and also a Peregrine that flew in low, just clipping it’s unidentified target and producing a puff of feathers before flying off.

A Red Kite flew low and slow over Pwll y waun, Newton at 13.10 this afternoon, heading East and accompanied by a couple of Carrion Crows.

Whilst working at west Aberthaw this morning we sadly came across a badly injured Barn Owl, very weak and a damaged wing. The area supervisor from Welsh Water was able to get it into a box and drove over to the Barry Hawking centre to see if they could help the poor thing. Unfortunately the prognosis wasn’t very good due to the extent of the injury and the length of time the owl had been on the ground. It had probably flown into overhead cables or the barbed wire fence surrounding the compound. I’ll phone tomorrow for any news.

I wonder if any of those checking out the Hoopoe this afternoon noticed the Peregrine a few hundred yards off in the field towards the golf course. It was just sitting there on the turf with a posse of Rooks in attendance. I hope it doesn’t make a meal of the local celebrity!

40+ Ringed Plover, 15+ Dunlin and a few Turnstone feeding amongst the rocks on the falling tide this morning. A single female Wheatear was at the back of beach while another plus a family of Stonechats were in the grassy dunes adjacent to Trecco Bay caravan park.

The adult Mediterranean Gull is still present picking scraps with the commoner gulls on Sandy Bay. Its probably the same bird I spotted a few weeks ago although then it had a purely black head.

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An adult Mediterranean Gull on Sandy Bay beach was a nice surprise as I was walking towards town yesterday evening. A first uk sighting for me, and having recently moved to Porthcawl it will be nice to see some new and hopefully notable coastal species over the coming months.