Thanks to the GBC walk on Sunday

At last the fist pair of Swallows have finally returned to our large workshop/garage, I thought they’d never come. I’ve been putting up several additional nesting ledges high up inside disused outbuildings throughout our site so hopefully the breeding pairs will be up from last year (4).

2 Chough. Good numbers of whitethroat , fulmars & a Peregrine

i have no words, picture say all

Crow and Buzzard battling

By Ogmore

One singing in my urban garden in Canton , Cardiff, the fourth time since 2000.

As a new location field trip, we had a successful 4hr walk round Llanstrisant Common this morning with an unprecedented 29 participants. We broke into 2 groups and walked in opposite circuits, one led by club member Tim Collier and the other by trustee Paul Denning – thanks both. 35 species were logged as per list linked below. Best avians were a couple of Tree Pipits, one feeding and one singing in display flight. Best highlights were non-avian – a female Adder and a Green Hairstreak butterfly. Most birds distant so no prize winning pix. John Wilson
Click here for the full species list.

20/4/24 Monthly Public Walk

Apologies for late posting.

12 folk enjoyed the walk last Saturday, we found 41 species, the highlights being – Lesser Whitethroat, 4+ Whimbrel by the pool, a Great Crested Grebe with 2 young on it’s back cruising in front of the hide, a distant Peregrine Falcon and lots of birdsong from the bushes.

Full List

Canada Goose , Greylag Goose , Mute Swan , Gadwall , Mallard , Tufted Duck , Woodpigeon , Coot , Great Crested Grebe, Whimbrel , Great Black-backed Gull , Herring Gull , Lesser Black-backed Gull , Cormorant, Sparrow Hawk , Buzzard , Peregrine Falcon, Jay , Magpie , Jackdaw, Carrion Crow , Blue Tit , Great Tit , Skylark , Swallow , House Martin , Cetti’s Warbler, Willow Warbler , Chiffchaff , Blackcap, Lesser Whitethroat , Whitethroat , Wren , Song Thrush , Blackbird Robin, House Sparrow , Dunnock , Chaffinch, Bullfinch , Linnet.

Thanks for coming and for the help everyone, and special thanks to Dave Carrington for leading

Great this morning to see my first Swifts of the spring – about 12 flying high over the Ice Rink area and then later towards the barrage end of the bay but still very high. They were reported at 09:30 by regular Bay birder Gareth Stamp. They had disappeared when we walked back across the barrage. The Grey Wag was near the exit lock of Penarth marina and must have a nest nearby judging by the huge beakful of food. A good number of House Martins were present and I noticed one or two fly up into former nest locations on the marina properties. Sand Martns were about, but there was no activity of note at the old dock.

Circular walk from Portobello, Ogmore via Pant Mari Flanders to Southerndown then back via Coastal path. Usual common species but also Raven, Whitethroat, Willow warbler, Swallow, 5 Chough (west farm, Southerndown) , Red Kite, Kestrel ( both Portobello area)

Take on Sat Kenfig Monthly Walk

Fairly quiet during a walk up E paddock, across Mile Rd and down W paddock, then round back of W lake and thence cafe. In W paddock highlights were 1 Jay and 1 Green Woodpecker. No sign of any Common or Lesser Whitethroats yet, at least not for me. There were c.6 Reed Warbers singing in the E lake reeds by the main boardwalk, one even showing itself, plus 2 Cetti’s Wblrs. A harsh call had me thinking Magpie until I looked up and saw a bright green shape in a tree by the reeds – Ring-necked Parakeet! It very quickly flew off towards the carpark and I think it was still there when I left as I heard the call again thru’ the open car door. DIdn’t take camera as it was raining when I left home – doh!
PS this afternoon in a quick visit to Grangemoor Park I managed the hear the reported Lesser Whitethroat – singing on the opposite of the R. Ely.

13 Club members had a successful trip to Kidwelly, Burry Port, Sandy Water Park and WWT Llanelli on Sat 13th. Despite a damp drizzly start and a v v high tide at Kidwelly concealing the best wader areas, we had a pretty successful day. The final tally was 66 species – highlights – Pink-footed Geese, R-b Mergansers, Whimbrel & Common Sand at Kidwelly; c.1000 Oycs and some interesting Rock Pipits at Burry plus a male Wheatear, AdW Little Gull at Sandy Water Park; Greenshank, 5 Ruff, Blackwits galore. and Russian White-fronted Goose at WWT. We suspected at least one of the Rock Pipits was of the Scandinavian subspecies Anthus petrosus littoralis – the jury is out on that one. Click here for the full list. John Wilson

10,maybe,11-Common Sandpipers on the islands this morning.Photos on south wales birders.Also 50+Sand Martins.

I noticed this morning that a wren has built its nest on top of an old Swallows nest high on a beam in our garage in work.

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.

150+ Sand Martins and at least one House Martin over the bay.1-Sandwich Tern alongside a first winter Common Gull on the orange buoys at the barrage.Also,several White Wagtails around the Scott memorial.

A few more recent reports from other sources: Yesterday at Lavernock, Sandwich Terns flying d/c, Grasshopper Warbler reeling in the top hedge above Sully Brook [top of the big sloping field], Reed Warbler in W lake reeds amd Hawfinch at usual spot past the dragonfly pond.
Today: Gannet, 1 Fulmar, 2 Manxies and 1 Sandwich Tern d/c at Lavernock.