Dipper juvenile on the stream next the hide path Grey Heron 3 Blackcap 4 one eating Cherries. Chiffchaff 2. Azure Damselfly 3 Broad-bodied Chaser 1

On our daily walk it was a nice surprise to see Cuckoo flying over the moat calling. Sand Martin 20 Grey Wagtail 2 Swallow 3.

1st May
Nice to see two Tree Pipits feeding on the ground, Garden Warbler 1 Blackcap 6 Willow Warbler 1 Chiffchaff 2 Jay 1 Mistle Thrush 1 no sign of any Dragonflies yet.

Willow Warbler 2 our first of the year Blackcap 6 Chiffchaff 4 Wren 5 Dunnock 4 Jay 1 Buzzard 1 Butterflies Brimstone 8 Peacock 6 and a Dark-edged Bee-fly.

Sand Martin at least 9 Chiffchaff 1 Shelduck 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull 20 and very few people.

A cold blustery visit yesterday afternoon, Yellow Legged Gull was the only bird of note.   Sadly there were no Goosander.

On Wednesday 12th there was a flock of at least 50 Chaffinches but no Brambling.

Monday 9th. Tufted Duck 83 Marsh Tit in Cogan Wood Green Woodpecker Goldcrest

Goosander 11 including 2 drakes Kingfisher 2

Oslo is back a Black-headed Gull ringed in Oslo in 2015 is back on the moat we will submit the record to the ringer in Norway and see what history we get back. So far the bird has only been recorded in or around Oslo on at Caerphilly Castle Moat!

Also Kingfisher Goosander 6 Yellow-legged Gull.

The Snow Bunting was at Knap Lake again today with a few GBC admirers. Also, to our surprise and delight a Red-throated Diver fishing just offshore at one point we could se the sprats leaping out of the water to avoid being on the menu.

Adult Yellow-legged Gull Caerphilly Castle Moat also Nine Goosander.

There were eleven Goosanders on the moat this afternoon three of which were drakes. Others;  Tufted Duck 1Treecreeper 2 Mistle Thrush 3  and a ringed  first winter LB/B Gull K=Z

There were four Dipers on the Taff this morning in what appeared to be a territorial despute.  There was lots of singing and chasing.

 

 

 

A second summer Mediterranean Gull with lots of BHG Blackcap 3 Whitethroat 2 Willow Warbler 1 Chiffchaff 3 Yellowhammer 1 Stonechat 6 Whinchat 1  House Martin 20. A good selection of Leps at Southerndown Hummingbird Hawkmoth 2 Silver Y 1 Large and Small White Small Heath Common Blue Rea Admiral Small Tortoiseshell Painted Lady. A female Southern Hawker was ovipositing in the small pond in the walled garden.

 

 

 

 Yellow-legged Gull and Oystercatcher the long-stayer Shelduck was also there.

A Semi-palmated Sandpiper was om Monk’s lagoon most of the morning. It was initially seen on Sunday but the views at the time were not good enough for a positive ID.

Migrant Hawker male just before the heavens opened.

A flock of 40 Mistle Thrushes flew over the road near Tedegar Park junction 28.

The first bird saw was a reserve tick for us Pied Flycatcher otherwise very quiet. Southern Hawker and Azure Blue damselfly. Red Admiral Gatekeeper Meadow Brown Large White Common Blue Peacock.