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.

At last..first singing Chiffchaffs-Coed Bychan and Birdy’s Lane. Dipper singing and seen Ely River, Cowbridge Road bridge.

1 female wheatear, 3.15pm.

1-Swallow,1-House Martin,2-Sand Martins and a Chiffchaff.10h30-11h15

Latest ringing news is HERE

Singing Chiffchaff in garden yesterday – first of year

Spoonbill, Spotted Redshank, Greenshank, Ring-necked Duck and Brambling were the highlights of 53 species seen or heard on GBC’s field trip to WWT Llanelli on Sunday. Thanks to Alan Rosney for leading and to all 18 participants who came along.

Full species list: Mute Swan, Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Shelduck, Wigeon, Gadwall, Teal, Mallard, Shoveler, Pochard, Ring-necked Duck, Tufted Duck, Spoonbill, Grey Heron, Great White Egret, Little Egret, Cormorant, Buzzard, Peregrine, Water Rail, Moorhen, Lapwing, Knot, Dunlin, Snipe, Black-tailed Godwit, Curlew, Spotted Redshank, Greenshank, Black-headed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Magpie, Jay, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Chiffchaff, Wren, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Robin, Dunnock, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Brambling, Greenfinch, Goldfinch and Bullfinch.

Good views of the flock of around 20 brambling together with several hawfinch just off the road near the main carpark, between 12 – 1 yesterday.

Male Merlin on rocky foreshore on Locks Common.

 

Summer migrant hunt RCT between Aberdare and Gwaelod y Garth – 0 (zero) results visual or audio. Teal Tirfounder. Goosander Taffs Well. 2 Peregrine above Garth quarry.

Brief view of a Wheatear on rocks near barrage.

Peregrine pair mating Penarth Head.Cettis calling chip (not singing) by the old ice rink.Best view ever of a mink,down to 20ft, completely unconcerned hunting along the rocks from the Watermark building to Prospect Place 11:15.3 Chiffchaff together catching flies by the Sand Wharf building.

S/pl red-throated diver. Also gannet and 4 common scoter.

2 porpoise, 2 grey seal.

Brief drive along New Road today. Great White Egret below Weobley Castle, Wheatear from Marsh Road just west of Crofty and single Red Kite over Penclawdd

Seen early this morning about 50m down river from the house on the Merthyr Mawr side of the river.

W/pl Red-throated diver close in off Whiteshell Pt this AM.

Great crested grebe at Langland.

The extensive burn last year has taken out a lot of the gorse between Snaple and Whiteshell Pts. However, meadow pipit (1), stonechat (both at Whiteshell Pt), linnet, greenfinch and goldfinch singing / holding territory on the slopes, and rock pipit singing at two locations on the upper shore.

Brambling (2+) still present. First chiffchaffs noted (3), of which 1 was captured.

Ringing report HERE. Photo of nuthatch below by Richard Dann.

Please don’t forget the GOS Talk on Friday at the Environment Centre, Pier St, Swansea. 19:15 start. £1 on door. Talk on the birds and marine mammals seen from the Gower Explorer boat. 

27 species today

Blackbird , Canada Goose , Chaffinch , Coot , Great Spotted Woodpecker , Grey Heron,
Jackdaw , Long-tailed Tit , Mallard , Mute Swan – usually 4 cygnets, none today , Pied Wagtail , Robin ,Wren ,Blue Tit ,Carrion Crow , Coal Tit , Dunnock , Great Tit , Grey Wagtail , Little Grebe , Magpie, Moorhen , Nuthatch , Redwing 1 , Teal , Woodpigeon ,
and a Treecreeper exploring a telegraph pole.

Pleasantly surprised to hear one of the over-wintering blackcaps singing this morning in the garden. I was expecting them to move off but perhaps they’ll stick around.

A handful of sand martins, couple of shovelor and a pair of peregrines over Cossie this morning. Little and great crested grebes quite vocal. Buzzards and a chiffy also giving good views.

First Chiffchaff of spring ’18 heard (by me) 9am, 20th Mar, Ynys woods. 9 days later than last year.