Low cloud over Craig Cerrig Gleisiad this morning meant we started in the woods around the nearby youth hostel. Highlights there included several Pied Flycatcher and Redstart, Tree Pipit and two Marsh Tit.

Later, as the clouds cleared and the sun came out, we headed to Craig Cerrig Gleisiad, seeing Stonechat and Wheatear on the way up along with Meadow Pipit and singing Skylark. After a long search, some of the party headed back down, but Ian Hartrey then found two Ring Ouzel. After 20 minutes or so searching, we managed to re-find one of them as it flew across the hillside and landed in a tree, before losing sight of it as it dropped onto the scree.

Some of the party went on for a brief visit to Garwnant. Additions to the day list there included Willow Tit, Grey Wagtail and Dipper.

Thanks to John Wilson for leading today’s field trip and to all 22 participants who came along.

Full species list:
Red Kite, Sparrowhawk, Buzzard, Kestrel, Peregrine, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Woodpigeon, Crow, Raven, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Willow Tit, Marsh Tit, Skylark, Swallow, Willow Warbler, Blackcap, Goldcrest, Wren, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Dipper, Ring Ouzel, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Robin, Pied Flycatcher, Redstart, Stonechat, Wheatear, Dunnock, Grey Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, Tree Pipit, Meadow Pipit, Chaffinch, Siskin and Linnet.

17th April, 2 Cetti’s singing.

Leckwith Road, Canton Ditches near Athletics Stadium–one Reed Warbler singing.

Latest ringing news is HERE

A better than average first half of April, with 6 brambling possibly the more notable captures.

Some good data on returning birds.

Showing well just up from Blackweir, Cardiff.  Moving along the hedge and doubling back towards the weir via the trees in the paddock.

Had confirmation on Twitter from Peter Howlett that my tern was Arctic. Now 2 present as of 13:00. Thanks Peter!

Called in here on way back from the Rhymney for a quick scan from the Ice Rink boardwalk. Got on to a ‘Commic’ Tern feeding with the BH Gulls. Through my mini scope I kind of convinced myself it a an Arctic although Peter Howlett had seen a def Common y’day and poss also this morning. My impression was of very  clean upper wings, slightly dusky belly making white cheeks stand out, and also impression of different flight – wing beats not so deep, slightly more ‘relaxed’. COuldn’t see enough detail to see bill size or colour.

Delayed WeBS count. V v high tide so Green Pt at the Rhymey Est was nearly all under water. Only birds there were 2 Shelduck, 2 Canadas, 2 Oyc and 1 Mallard. A Common Snipe was at the waters edge towards the Lamby Way rbt. c.600 Redshank were resting on the far bank of the Rhymney halfway along Lamby Way. At Heliport Bay, there was virtually no beach – just 2 Oycs there.

First swallows in fields and on lines just below the house, so not quite a 2018 garden tick yet.
Lots of evidence of nesting activity in the garden including pairs of wood pigeon, collared dove, jay, bullfinch, chaffinch, blackcap, blackbird, great spotted woodpecker. Plenty of blue, great, coal tits with long tailed tit flocks around and goldfinch. Singing chiffchaff and song thrush and very vocal tawny owl close by at dusk.

Highlight of a brief visit in the rain this morning, was 15 Swallows sitting in a tree on the mile road between the two lakes, twittering away amongst themselves. An ad Grey Heron was on the far side ot W lake.
Seen recently – 2 Weasels running back & forth across the mile road by the first kissing gate on the RHS that gives access to E paddock; 1 Bank Vole by the ‘witches pool’ – small reedy pool on the RHS as you go up the slope from the dip at the far end of W lake; 1 Water Vole by the dipping pond boardwalk, near the car park.

Wheatear a male on the ramparts.

Early Grasshopper Warbler @ Tirfounder Fields 14.4.18

Very early Grasshopper Warbler (Locustella naevia) on the side of the path near river Cynon at Tirfounder Fields, Aberdare, today, 14th Apr 2018. Normally arrive around June. Caught him on video, link below

Active vocal Peregrine using Brecon town cathedral tower as a pigeon kill station, should get some good photos as tower not too high, if he/she stays around for a while. Regularly swooping over the heads of ambivalent shoppers.

Nice surprise this morning was a singing Sedge Warbler in the E lake reeds. Couldn’t see it but it was very audible. A Peregrine flew S over Cogan Wood and a Sprawk came in the opposite direction. Coot with chicks in W lake bay and a GC Grebe is sitting on a nest there. Pair of Blackcap seen together in the wooded area near the bird table. 2 adult herons were sitting on the large owl? nest boxes on poles in W lake island, but they flew off. Also at the start of the mile road when I arrived an huge ruccus between a pair of Mistle Thrushes and a Crow. I’m assuming they must have a nest in the area – this was near the wooden bridge.

Two grasshopper warblers reeling before dawn this morning

There were several Sand Martins collecting nesting material. Lesser Black-backed Gull with a deformed beak.  White Wagtail 2 Blackcap 1 Willow Warbler 1  The Shelduck surprisingly remains here although it can fly.

 

 

Clyne Woods: 5-6 Chiffchaffs singing; a Marsh Tit was by the exit on Rhyd-y-defaid Drive, Sketty.

By the new path past the environment centre this morning: 1 Common Redstart [fem and poss also a male but just a glimpse if it was], 2 Wheatear, and 5-6 phylloscs incl 1 singing Willow Warbler. Near the environment centre, 1 White Wagtail, and on the barrage rocks 4 Linnets. 1 male Grey Wag in the Dr. Who dock. No sign of any Little Gulls in the 100’s of Black-heads.

The 3 Little Gulls found by Matt Meehan yesterday were still present this morning up to 11:45. 2 AdW birds and an imm. Also 1 2ndS Med Gull. Best viewed from around Pendeen House which is more or less on the corner about 200m towards the R. Taff entrance, from Prospect Place.

No sign of the Redstart that my friend Wayne Strong saw yesterday in W. Paddock. There are 3 Gadwall still hanging around in the small bay of W lake [2 drakes and a duck]. Several Blackcaps around the wooded area opposite the wooden bridge by mile road. A 3rd yr Yellow-legged Gull is still around on E lake with the Lesser Black-backs. It has a clean white head, still brown colouration on the flight feathers, but the ‘saddle’, mantle, or upper back is that warm grey colour typical of YLGulls. Quite a few Swallows seen this morning too.