There was a Spotted Flycatcher in trees along the Radyr side of the River Taf this evening. A regular autumn passage migrant here, but a rare sight in the Spring. Good to see healthy numbers of Swift and House Martin over the river too.

Yesterday, after searching the fields and shore, 8 Whimbrel over the centre,  flying towards the golf course. No sign of purple heron.  Also, stonechat, linnet,  whitethroat, lapwing, ,gray heron , pair of gadwall on a flooded slack, , 4 coot chicks,  great crested grebe, wheatear.

Very smart male Redstart was a garden first this morning. It stayed for a few minutes flitting between perching on top of a feeder station and exploring the lawn. I suspect it is on it’s way further north into the hills and unlikely to treat us to any further views.

3 bar-tailed godwits this morning at 07:30. One in breeding plumage.

1-Spotted Flycatcher this afternoon on the island north west side.

150 to 200, maybe more, Swifts over Cardiff Bay this afternoon.

A Little Grebe on Brynmill Park Lake this evening feeding three newly-fledged young. How commonly do Little Grebes breed in Glamorgan?

Wood Warbler singing, Tree Pipit, stonechat, linnet, skylark, whitethroat, blackcap, willow warbler, chiffchaff, bullfinch, swallow, buzzard.

A cuckoo called from the copse at the base of the ashtip near the SW corner of the lagoon at c.11.30 this morning. Four full-grown hairy Garden Tiger larvae were putting themselves in danger by wandering over the track in search of pupating sites.

Four pairs of Tufties on the lagoon, and two broods of Mallard. Lesser Whitethroat and Reed Bunting singing and showing well there in contrast to the shy Sedge and Reed Warblers.

 

A Little Tern flew south / up-channel at the north end of Lock’s Common at 0815. A lovely fresh morning with very light southerlies, the only other birds of note were 15 immature Gannet also u/c. No waders, so maybe a clear out overnight. A male Wheatear was present and fledged Starlings were present in places.

Male Stonechat regularly this last week and seen carrying food this morning. If nesting I think this would be a first for many decades in this locality.
Reed Warbler singing just east of Leckwith Bridge.

A Hobby and a Red Kite were soaring over Merthyr Mawr this afternoon. A pair of Bar-headed Geese was at the Watermill, no doubt exhausted following their flight from Mongolia 😉

Sand Martins 40 seen is flight at on time lots of nesting in castle walls. Amongst the Lesser Black-backed Gulls were two colour ringed birds white rings black lettering 9LF 3CF  submitted to Euring. Also a pair of Muscovy Duck not seen at this sight previously. 

There was an Oriole Birding Group, DCB, DGC and myself all out at Sker this morning! Despite the easterly winds 10+Manx Shearwater, 25+Gannet and 2 Arctic Tern were moving up channel. An excellent selection of waders many acquiring or in breeding plumage were on offer for the early risers on the high tide: 4 Oystercatcher, a Ringed Plover, 6 Grey Plover, 5+Dunlin, 50+Sanderling, 15 Turnstone, 17 Purple Sandpiper, 15+Whimbrel, 3 Bar-tailed Godwit and a Curlew. A Red Admiral butterfly also moved through and a Grey Seal was poking its nose out of the water just off the point.

 

Spent an enjoyable few hours on the slope just below the ruin of Bwllfa Isaf. Chiffchaff(7),Willow Warbler(8),Whitethroat(6),Blackcap(12),Goldfinch(9),Bullfinch(4 2m,2f),Chaffinch(6),Goldcrest(1),Coal Tit(1),Great Tit(2),Grey Wagtail(2),Stock Dove(1), Cuckoo(1 seen and heard),Spotted Flycatcher(1),Common Redstart(1 pair carrying nesting material)Stonechat(2 pairs), Meadow Pipit(12), Lesser Redpoll(8)Red Kite(4),Song Thrush(6),Blackbird (8),Mistle Thrush(4), Buzzard(2),Peregrine(2),House Martin(10), Swallow(24),Siskin(2).

Butterflies: Peacock,Comma,Large White,Small White,Common Blue,Orange Tip, Red Admiral,Small Tortoiseshell and Speckled Wood.

Whilst coming down the slope at around 2p.m. I came across a Red Fox(judging by size and colour a vixen) feeding on a sheep carcass. She looked up, ripped one of the hind legs off the carcass and strolled calmly away with a massive chunk in her jaws.

Stonechat, linnet, reed bunting, meadow pipit, skylark, willow warbler, blackcap, whitethroat, sedge warbler (heard).

A Spotted Flycatcher in Norton Wood, Ogmore, this evening.

The latest news from Oxwich

http://gowerbirdringinggroup.blogspot.co.uk/2017/05/oxwich-marsh-7-may-2017-and-year-to-date.html

Female goosander with 10 young in the river neath also 2 grey lag geese

brunell dock to baglan bay 15 whimbrel 3 singing whitethroats 2 shelducks male wheatear buzzard 2 adults with 3 juvs mistle thrush 1 little egret

A few shots of the female Dotterel on Garreg Lwyd this morning – one of a pair, along with a male.  The birds were quite flighty so I had to make do with ‘habitat’ shots, but it was nice to find them – a first for me.