I wonder if any of those checking out the Hoopoe this afternoon noticed the Peregrine a few hundred yards off in the field towards the golf course. It was just sitting there on the turf with a posse of Rooks in attendance. I hope it doesn’t make a meal of the local celebrity!

Successful monthly walk at KNNR this morning with 16 participants and Dave Carrington leading. We walked straight out to Sker Farm and watched ‘Strinda’s’ Hoopoe for a while, then walked to Sker Pt, watched a bit from there and then walked back through the dunes via the ‘yellow’ path. A total of 40 species were logged. Highlights – the Hoopoe obviously, several Wheatear, a Marsh Harrier that flew E past Sker Farm, a fly over male Yellow Wagtail, 2 AdW Med Gulls and what was probably a Common Tern in a group of gulls offshore at Sker Pt, Stonechats, Skylarks, a light passage of Swallows….. John Wilson. Full list here:https://drive.google.com/…/1a4w4786y7L4tpZwBWbV…/view…

Can’t follow that! But nice to hear brief Chiffchaff song the last two days.

Managed to find a ‘window’ to drive down to KNNR and walk out to Sker Farm to see the Hoopoe found by GBC trustee Strinda Davies. It performed pretty well in the field it is currently calling home, finding plenty of what looked like black caterpillars to feed on. At one point it was irritated by the sudden arrival of a Wheatear and raised its crest and spread its wings.

Yesterday afternoon’s Hoopoe, found by Strinda Davies, apparently still present at Sker House this morning, reported on the local Whatsapp group.

A bit after the event but a Hoopoe was seen mid afternoon near Sker Farm, apparently still present late afternoon. It also appears that a Ring Ouzel was seen near the R. Ogmore mouth this morning.

An amazing 208 Coot Mute Swan 73 Tufted Duck 13 Teal 4 Moorhen 10. Two colour ringed L/B/B/ Gull and one Black-headed Gull. Also a pair of Coot with four recently hatched chicks.

40+ Ringed Plover, 15+ Dunlin and a few Turnstone feeding amongst the rocks on the falling tide this morning. A single female Wheatear was at the back of beach while another plus a family of Stonechats were in the grassy dunes adjacent to Trecco Bay caravan park.

Peregrine flying west over the car park 1600 hrs, also our only Painted Lady of the year (so far) about quarter of a mile west of the beach.

2 Kestrels together Weds 1500 hrs.

At high tide this morning 8 yellow wagtail near the Cardiff/Newport border on the Cardiff side among a herd of cows. Other birds: Kestrel-2, Wheatear-2, Peregrine over the sea, Sparrowhawk, Dunlin-20, Lapwing – 30+, Curlew – 2

Amazed to see a lone Swift flying over the estate this morning (0830)

Wheatear and Yellow Wagtail on Sully playing fields this morning.

Kingfisher at tidal pool at Cadoxton rivermouth. Little Egret and Grey Heron nearby.

Kestrel hunting over the breakwater near Barry Dock entrance channel.

In our garden this afteroon, a feeding flock of tits containing many Long-tailed Tits, the trees at the bottom of the garden were alive with birds, and a couple of Willow Warblers were with them. One settled by our garden wall long enough for me to grab a couple of photos, plus a couple of an accompanying Long-tailed Tit. The odd one out is a House Martin in a still active nest at Penarth Marina.

Just one highlight this morning. A Goshawk circled fairly high over the dovecote field mid morning and drifted off in the direction of Lavernock.

During a 1 hr walk round highlights were 2 Spotted Flycatchers in the fenced off area at the far end of E paddock, and a Garden Warbler there plus a couple of Willow Warblers and a few Chiffchaff and 1 Green Woodpecker. In the ‘snipe area’ of W paddock there were 4 Common Whitethroats, another Willow Warbler and more Chiffies, and a Sparrowhawk flew over Cogan Wood. The prev day there had been a Whinchat by Sully Brook just outside Cogan Wood per Graham Smith but I didn’t check for it today.

on walk yesterday peregrine, goshawk and sparrowhawk added to the enjoyment

6 Wheatear, 50-60 House Martin briefly, 20 or so Linnets, 4 Meadow Pipits, 1 Kestrel, 1 Whitethroat and 1 Chough(no rings). This was feeding directly on the footpath just west of the small Hanging Valley about half a mile from Llantwit beach and my wife was about 10 yards from it taking a few photos when it called a few times probably in alarm as it appeared to be completely alone.We have tried to send photos but are not clear how to do this?

3 Swifts Sunday evening; 1 Swift Monday evening

A buddleia bush near the dragonfly pools was loaded with butterflies two of which were High Brown Fritillaries we saw another later. The other butterflies were Red Admiral 8 Peacock 10 Painted lady 1 Gate Keeper 1. There was a general coming and going and therefore the number of individuals could have been higher. Could not get a pic of the Frit.

on the bird front Red Kite Buzzard 2 Raven 1 Green WP 1 Great Spotted WP 1 Chiffchaff 2

Dragonflies: Southern Hawker 3 Common Darter 8 Emerald Damselfly 6 and a Blue-tailed Damselfly