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.

House Sparrow 9th July

Mediterranean Gull 2 ads BP Great Created Grebe 30 one on nest near boardwalk Mute Swan 121 plus several cygnets Black-headed Gull 80 Peregrine 2 Whitethroat 2  Sand Martin 30 also Black-tailed Skimmer 2 Emperor Dragonfly 4. Large White Orange Tip Painted Lady Meadow Brown Downside Dog jumping into the lagoon chasing wildfowl. 

 

Young Sand Martins Caerphilly Castle today 4th June.

 

Yellow-legged Gull probably first summer.

At last Swift the Swift Tower in Cardiff bay is in place. And we did see 20 Swift there on a cold and windy day.

Sunday 14th April. Common Sandpiper 1

Little Gull adult with circa 400 Black-headed Gulls most of which were immature birds also: Goosander 1 Sand Martin 200 Willow Warbler 2 Chiffchaff 1 White Wagtail 2 Pied Wagtail 1. Green Veined White Butterfly 1. The  base  for the swift tower is making good progress the tower is due to be installed during the first week in May.

Lots of butterflies here today Peacock 10 Comma 4 Brimstone 1 several Chiffchaff and Blackcap singing.

Wheatear 2 males Sand Martin 4 Chiffchaff singing Cetti’s Warbler 2   Great Crested Grebe 18 Greenfinch 10 Goldfinch 12 Raven 2 lots of gulls feeding.

A pale looking Lesser Redpoll taken on 22nd Feb unfortunately it decided to take off as I pressed the button.