Heol y Cyw

First singing Blackcap in garden yesterday. Also singing Chiffchaff. Reed bunting still visiting but less regular now. Goldfinch, chaffinch, great, blue, coal and long tailed tits, great spotted woodpecker (also drumming), nuthatch, house sparrow, dunnock, robin, wren, blackbird, song thrush, magpie, jackdaw, carrion crow, wood pigeon, collared dove. Still awaiting first hirundines over.

Cosmeston

Cosmeston late a.m. Best was a surprise first for me at Cossie – a Marsh Harrier circling over W paddock, harassed and eventually chased off by LBBGulls. For once I hadn’t taken the ‘proper’ camera so struggled to get the bridge camera to focus but managed 1 record shot. At least 6 Blackcap noted singing plus Chiffies and a coupe of Willow Warbler. Also had my first Swallows – 3 flew through over W paddock with a lone Sand Martin.P1020163

Cosmeston

Cossie this morning. Not much to report. A fem type Scaup was sleeping on W lake and there was a drake Shoveler there too. A Peregrine shot through over Cogan Wood. Other than that Chiffie, Willow Warbler and Blackcap singing. Grabbed a couple of shots of a Chiffie, incl in full song, and a Buzzard overlooking W lake. Noted a Coot on a nest on E lake.

Garwnant

Excellent morning’s birding around Garwnant Forestry Centre. The highlight was an Osprey flying north. A Willow Tit showed well in the car park area as did 5 Crossbills. On the trails were Lesser Redpoll, Siskin, Dipper, Sparrowhawk, Goshawk, Grey Heron, Peregrine, drumming Great Spotted Woodpecker plus several very showy Mistle and Song Thrushes.