2 sand martin, 2 chiffies and lots of meadow pipits along the Taff in a quick loop up and around the Weir this lunch time.

First found by Heather Galliford and Emily Williams on 11th Jan, but still present today in the area before the red footbridge, Sofia Gardens side of the Taff. The bird is generally hanging around in an area with several goldcrest in the vegetation on the river side of the path, but occasionally pops up into the trees above.  Either it’s the same bird found by Alan Cripps recently up near the weir, or there is more than one in the area.

Nice record for my WBBS this morning of lesser whitethroat singing in the trees on the pitch side of the bridge.

The Glauc seems to be there every morning of late. I arrived in time to see it fly off not long before 1pm, which was roughly the same time it made an exit on Friday.

The RFBT popped out briefly to the side of the path looking back the way you come, near the pipes that go under the path at around 8.40. It then did a little half loop and came out again behind the group of us on the path in the other direction around 10/15 minutes later.

The Glauc is there again this morning – not bad at all before starting work on a Friday!

A great group day trip yesterday – At least 4 purple sandies on the rocks at Ogmore first thing. At Whiteford, amongst the expected species, we had snipe, jack snipe, slavonian grebe, but only one distant GND. Whilst looking at the GND an auk sp. was briefly in view. At Llanrhidian Marsh – Great whites, hen harriers, an unexpected marsh harrier, and merlin. 88 species for the day. RW, DJJ, GJJ et al.

A little grebe this lunchtime of note on the Taff near the first bridge as you go from the entrance at the start of Cowbridge Road East. First time I’ve seen one on this stretch.

Nice surprise to see a female black redstart in the office basement carpark this morning. There’s no public access to the carpark, but should be able to see the bird foraging in the back lane from Green St where it is currently.

This morning – LTD and scaup all together on the penarth side of the barrage near sails, have a nice record shot of them all in one frame. Black redstarts in Plas Taliesin.

YBW calling and seen very briefly in trees above path between the two cafes

2 wheatear this evening were a little bit out of the ordinary while walking the dog.

The black terns are still present this evening, though best seen from the Black Oak platform side as they seem to be keeping to that area. Only had quite distant views in the bins from the other side without my scope, but great birds.

Nice to hear two singing willow warblers in Bute this afternoon, both in trees by the Café near the bridge, being my first of the year. Several sand martins quite high over the Taff too.

Best of a quick walk this morning a water rail from the hide with a door, and siskins, 6 bullfinch, and at least 3 snipe from the other hide, including one in flight.

A GC Grebe on the Taff near the bridge by the cafe in Bute Park was out of the ordinary at least for that stretch this lunchtime and worth a mention.  Good numbers of swifts, house and sand martin too. 

Just had news of 2 turtle dove near the cattery on Caerphilly Mountain this morning, per A Pollard.  

Lots of tipits displaying, several willow warblers and whitethroat, pair of stonechat, male bullfinch, and briefly a cuckoo before it was sent packing by a pipit.

2 chough overhead around midday heading east.