Early Grasshopper Warbler @ Tirfounder Fields 14.4.18
Very early Grasshopper Warbler (Locustella naevia) on the side of the path near river Cynon at Tirfounder Fields, Aberdare, today, 14th Apr 2018. Normally arrive around June. Caught him on video, link below
Active vocal Peregrine using Brecon town cathedral tower as a pigeon kill station, should get some good photos as tower not too high, if he/she stays around for a while. Regularly swooping over the heads of ambivalent shoppers.
Summer migrant hunt RCT between Aberdare and Gwaelod y Garth – 0 (zero) results visual or audio. Teal Tirfounder. Goosander Taffs Well. 2 Peregrine above Garth quarry.
First Chiffchaff of spring ’18 heard (by me) 9am, 20th Mar, Ynys woods. 9 days later than last year.
Red-Breasted Goose, Aberdare Town Park 24th Feb ’18 12AM. Has been hanging around the valleys for a few months, according to Bird Track, extreme rarity. Suggest came from Slimbridge rather than Siberia.
Summary of Summer Migrants Arrivals for Tirfounder Fields, Aberdare 2017
12th Mar, Chiffchaff (11th, M.Bevan). 30th Mar, Blackcap. 1st Apr, Willow Warbler, Sand Martin. 14th Apr, Swallow. 18th Apr, House Martin, Sedge Warbler (17th M.Bevan). 21st Apr, Reed Warbler, Whitethroat. 5th May, Swift. Little Egret present intermittently from Jan, last seen 6th May. No Willow Tit reports for 2 yrs.
Other: Sat 6th May, Mynydd Gethin (Aberdare) : Crossbill x 3. Cuckoo x1. Kestrel x 1. Red Kite x1. Linnets x6.
Drunk Ewok
Chiffchaff migrant arrivals @ Tirfounder Fields today (x5 visual and call). Bang on time. (Martin Bevan reports they arrived here Sat, so I’ll take his as authority of arrival)
Little Egret present again at 10am on main pond
Suspected Siberian Chiffchaff present again, camping near the Aberaman bridge. 
Little Egret @ Ynys Fields
The white blob I spotted in the distance yesterday is confirmed today as a Little Egret, sitting forlornly on the Ynys Fields in the rain. Last spotted here c.2013 but no record, so this is the first recorded here in a large swathe of the Valleys area, at least according to Bird Track. Pic on Tirfounder FB Page
Manic Chiffchaff (tentatively identified as species tristis (Siberian Chiffchaff) due to large size, paleness) travelling up the Cynon. Brief glimpse in the distance of a gleaming white floating oval on edge of lake could only mean a Little Egret or a rugby ball, time I got back with camera was spooked. Also Otter, Kingfisher, Mute Swan, Dipper, Sparrowhawk.
Grasshopper Warbler, Tirfounder Fields. Might have been here for
a while, maybe I didn’t get up early enough.
Spotted 4x cuckoos in a field together today (a cuckold) in the Country park. Unusual to see one, even more so to have them perch on a tree metres away from me. One was definitely a female from markings. Were chasing each other, on silent wing, diving to field for food, were not being mobbed. Also Redstart, Tree Pipit, Whinchat, Green WP, Snipe, Red Kite, Buzz, Kestrel, Stonechat, Wood Warbler etc etc
Tirfounder Fields, Cwmbach. Reed Warbler (29th Apr) 1st Sighting.
Tirfounder 1st Sighting: Whitethroat (18th Apr)
1 Sedge Warbler arrival (16th Apr).
1st Blackcap arrival this morning @ Tirfounder Fields (3rd Apr, self)
1st Willow Warbler @ Tirfounder Fields (2rd Apr, Martin Bevan. Confirmed 4th Apr, self)
6<> Sand martins present above Abercynon railway station. Cannot confirm this is arrival date.
Cwmbach Aberdare. Hi can you guys please help with an ID, I found what appeared to be a Vulture-Crow on my lawn this morning?! No RSPB book in the world can say what it is! Was about 6 foot long and digging up the lawn while looking at me menacingly.
Glamorgan Bird Club 
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