There were some 50 Swallows 30 House Martins and £ Sand Martins. The swallows were mainly over the trees as there were lots of midges. The martins were low over the water. nice to see Black-headed Gulls many of which were first winter types.

Young Reed Warblers and Chiffchaff Few dragonflies Southern Hawker 2 Beautiful Demoiselle 2 Butterflies Gate Keeper 2 Meadow Brown 6 Red Admiral 4 and Large White 10.

On 6th July there were five Little Egrets roosting on the island and three more feeding which I believe were different birds. Also a total of 194 coot. And good numbers of Small Red-eyed Damselflies and Common Blue Damselflies.

There were lots of Common Blue Damselflies at least a 100 many in tandem along with Red-eyed Damselfly new to us here Broad-bodied Chaser 2 female ovipositing Banded Demoiselle male and female Blue-tailed Damselfly 6 and Emperor dragonfly 1 male. A Lesser black backed Gull was seen to take and kill a Canada Goose gosling of which there were many.

Parc Cwm Darren

Four-spot Chaser at Parc Cwm Darren 18th May.

15 Great Crested Grebe on Lisvane Chiffchaff and Blackcap singing Speckled wood 2 and Orange Tip male which was first of the year for us.

At least six Sand Martins this morning investigating nest holes. Good to see them back.

A pair of Chough put in an appearance and a Peregrine but otherwise it was pretty quite.

Little Egret very confiding bird three colour ringed birds, Coot C218 green ring black lettering, Lesser B/B Gull K=V red ring black lettering and Black-headed Gul 9RK white ring black lettering. I have submitted this bird previously but have not received any feedback. Also Raven 4 Teal 3 not little Grebe which is unusual.

The water levels have lowered as the is maintenance work being carried out this does not seem to both ethe birds. Teal 20 most we have seen here Pochard 1 Shoveler 7 Little egret 1 Tufted Duck 80 Coot lots Moorhen 12 Herring Lesser Black-backed and Black-headed Gulls one of the latter colour ringed. And a small flock of Long-tailed Tits feeding in a tree close by.

Black-throated Dive on Llanishen, Ring-necked Duck 1 (female type) and Common Sandpiper on Lisvane.

Common Sandpiper 1 Pochard 1 Mallard 2 Teal 2 and Wigeon 3 not seen by us at this site previously.

The Black Tern is still feeding on Lisvane, also a Common Sandpiper.

Sunday 11th August am. Spotted Flycatcher 2 Redstart Mistle Thrush a flock of 20 Willow Warbler singing Blackcap female Chiffchaff . Dragonflies: Emperor 1 Southern Hawker 3 Common Darter 6 pair ovipositing Azure Blue 10. Butterflies Red Admiral 1 Green Veined White 6 Large White 1 Gate Keeper 6 Common Blue 4

The highlight for us was seeing Small-Red-eyed Damselflies some pairs ovipositing along with Azure Blue Damselfly and Emperor Dragonfly. The where a large number of newly emerged Damselflies not identified. Great Crested Grebe 16 Common Sandpiper 1

Redstart 3 Spotted Flycatcher 1 also Common Newt Beautiful Demoiselle lots of Common Spotted Orchids and some Marsh Orchids.

11th April Common Sandpiper 1 Ring-necked Duck 1 drake Tufted Duck 98 Great Crested Grebe 20 Mallard with 6 ducklings Willow Warbler Blackcap and Chiffchaff singing.

Friday 5th April Sand Martin circa 2o Willow Warbler 1 Chiffchaff 1

22nd March: Willow Warbler 1 Chiffchaff 3 Cetti’s Warbler 3 Great Crested Grebe 1

Ring-necked Duck 2 Pochard 2 Gadwall 3 Tufted Duck 53 Great Crested Grebe 3 Little Grebe 10 Common Sandpiper 1 Chiffchaff 2 mixed flock of Herring and Lesser Black-backed Gulls 70 Black-headed Gull 8