Quite busy in Pant Norton this morning. Sightings included Redstart, Garden Warbler, Tree Pipit [2], Lesser Whitethroat [3], Common Whitethroat [35], Blackcap [25], Chiffchaff [15], Willow Warbler [5], Nuthatch, Coal Tits, Yellowhammers, Bullfinches, Stonechats and a Swift.

At Barry Old Harbour this morning about 2 hours after high tide: 1 Whimbrel, 1 Curlew, 2 juvenile Dunlin, 1 Little Egret, 1 adult Mediterranean Gull, 85+ Black-headed Gulls, 1 Great Black-backed Gull, 1 Cormorant, 2 House Martins and a fly over Mute Swan en route to the Knap lake.

Earlier:

Sully Island/Swanbridge: 20 Ringed Plover, 4 Turnstone, 6 Curlew, 2 Whimbrel, 11 Oyks (all on Sully Island), 1 Green Woodpecker in trees behind Captain’s Wife/Swanbridge Farm.

Sully beach/playing fields: 1 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Sanderling, 18 Turnstone, 13 Ringed Plover, 2 Rock Pipit and 5+ Pied Wagtail.

It appears there was a Spot Fly at Cosmeston this morning – per Twitter.

A feral white goose sitting on the GCG nest on W lake didn’t seem to be good news. Then I saw 2 pairs of GC Grebes displaying and acting aggressively towards one another, and finally saw that one of each pair was carrying at least one chick on their back. 2 Herons on the posts and a few Sand Martins flying around. Also a distant display from the Red Arrows as they were performing over Barry.

Wheatear on return passage at Barry Old Harbour this morning. A Little Egret and 2 adult Mediterranean Gulls also present. A Peregrine here a couple of days ago.

A Common Sandpiper at the beach at Bendrick Rock – flew out from Cadoxton River mouth.

A Whimbrel, 3 Curlew and 18 Oystercatcher on the beach at Swanbridge. Great Spotted Woodpecker in the trees at Swanbridge Farm, and a Siskin calling.

Disappointing 45 mins at the searchlight shelter [admittedly late morning], produced just a single Manxie down channel and a Whimbrel, plus the usual gulls. Obviously I need to get up earlier! I did see a Painted Lady in the first field.

River Ely/Bay from corner of Jeffcott Place/John Batchelor Way – Common Sandpiper, Grey Wagtail and 3 Turnstone on the wall near water’s edge. Sand Martins and Swifts overhead.

From boardwalk near old ice rink – Great Crested Grebe with 1 juvenile on its back and 2 more in tow. House and Sand Martins nearby.

Wetland Reserve – at least 20 Great Crested Grebe including 2 juveniles, Swifts and Sand Martins low over boardwalk

At Hensol Lake yesterday a Grass Snake was chased off as it swam across the lake by a Coot who pecked at it to encourage it on its way. I took a very brief video but it would not down load on to the site so have put on pics of the snake.

Early morning, low tide visits in the sunshine:

Barry Old Harbour – 1 Whimbrel, 1 Curlew, 1 Great Black-backed Gull, 2 adult Mediterranean Gulls (now rapidly losing their black hoods) in with 75+ Black-headed Gulls.

Bendrick Rock/Cadoxton river mouth – 1 Kingfisher looking superb in the bright sunshine – perched on a rock in a tidal pool. Also 3 Oystercatcher.

Sully beach – 2 Whimbrel, 5 Oystercatcher and a young fox sauntering along the beach.

Sully Island/Swanbridge – 2 Whimbrel on the causeway, 6 Oystercatcher, Herring Gull busily dismembering a crab

an adult med gull was taking fisher men’s waste off the pier late afternoon

56 sedge warblers, 33 reed warblers, 23 willow warblers, 2 grasshopper warblers among 181 birds this morning.

For a report of the ringing session, follow this LINK

Yellow Legged Gull adult quite confiding, probably the bird we saw earlier in the year.

Last night (Monday 24th July) 21:50 – 22:30

Nightjars – churring and wing clapping heard from 2 different locations, 3 birds in total.

Also Grasshopper Warbler reeling and observed.

20th June:

Short morning walk in Craig Y Nos country park – Dipper, yellow wagtail (3), blackcap (M), firecrest, long tail tit (4) .

The Caspian tern has reappeared this morning…

90+ Canada geese 33 mute swan 30 +mallard 40+ herring gull 20+lesser b b gull 15 black h gull 2 juv pied wagtail .

swansea vale 2 adult mute swan with 2 cygnets 4 adults and 9 juvs coot lots of sand martins and swallows.

This morning Ringed Plover, Turnstone, Dunlin and Oystercatcher on Sully Island, adult Mediterranean Gull on Sully Beach and a Common Sandpiper at Bendrick Rock.

Whimbrel 1, common sandpiper 8, redshank 2, and little egret of note. The goosander family still present.

Just a heads up that WTSWW are having an open day at Lavernock WT Reserve on Sun 6th Aug from 12:00 midday to 4 p.m. Guided walks will leave on the hour throughout the afternoon.

Looks like the kittiwakes on the pier are having a good year again on whats left of the “temporary ledges”.. Is this South Wales’ only kittiwake colony on man made structure??