A kittiwake over Cardiff Queen Street station was a bit of a surprise this morning…! Nice ‘train tick’.

Male Nightjar churring at replanted clearfell area adjacent to Llanbradach slag heaps on 19th. Closely followed by the same male flying past just above head height and a distance of approx 20 feet.  On the 17th at the same site – lots of churring heard, plus a  pair seen in flight together with wing clapping taking place.  Churring also heard here on 15th.

Neither of us have recorded Nightjar at this site before.

 

 

 

 

Churring and wing clapping Nightjar this evening around 10.10pm, woodland clearing 300m S of Hollybush Inn, also young Tawny Owls calling.

Yesterday: Redstart 1 imm/fem at the western edge of the reserve not seen one here previously. Blackcap 6 singing birds plus a male feeding young. Bullfinch 8 including a family party Chiffchaff  4 Willow Warbler 2. There was lots of bird activity but, not easy to see because of foliage,  there seemed to be many juvenile birds.                                Also: Broad Bodied Chaser male and female.

In addition to the roosting Night Heron, the 3 Grey Herons [1 ad 2 imms] were still present. Also I saw 2, poss 3 Kingfishers, the two flew together from W lake over the top of the central path, to E lake. I swear one was carrying food, which ties in with suspicions by Graham Smith that they could have a nest in the E lake bank alongside the central path. This is right by where the proposed Wakeboarding run would be!

For those not on social media, the night heron is still present at Cosmeston, I believe viewed best from the hide on the west lake.

The Night Heron suddenly re-appeared in flight at around 7:30 p.m. and eventually landed in the large tree opposite the main bridge. It then took off, flew high down E lake and landed in a tree on the far shore of E lake [from the cafe]. Difficult to see there [into the sun] but viewed thro’ a scope from the square platform halfway along the main boardwalk. Hopefully it will stay until tomorrow. Got some stonking pix which I will post in due course. Well done Annie for recognising it as something different.

Not a bird sighting but this morning there was a pod of 10/12 common dolphin 3 1/2 miles out from Porthcawl heading east. I picked them up with my telescope and counted 3 plus a juvenile. I telephoned the skipper of a local fishing boat who was in the area and he was able to confirm that they were common and not bottlenose and that the count was 10/12.

Annie Irving, GBC member found an Ad Night Heron at Cossie this morning. Am juts going down to check if it is still there. In trees at W end of W lake. Photos on SWB Facebook page.

I embarked on my sometimes, nearly always, annual (ish) Puffin hunt at the Outer Head this morning. The max I could manage on any single scan was 4 but there was plenty of comings and goings so I would say there was a minimum of 7 present. A feeding party of 200+ Manxies were just off the head first thing but quickly dispersed, plus Chough and Peregrine present. 2 very juv looking Wheatear were out there , presumably bred?

Stonechat–five birds, at least three were recently fledged juveniles.
Whitethroat singing.

Skylark singing; Reed Warbler singing as usual.

Crossbill in the pine trees at Langland Corner this morning

Red Kite over Pyle yesterday afternoon, approx 4pm. Soaring over Pyle church end of Collwyn woods and then checked out the fields being mowed on other side of Afon Cynffig. Treated to close views as almost over my garden at one point.

 

first Gower yellowhammer of 2017 (female)

several singing willow warblers

skylark, chiffchaff, gsw, goldfinches but overall very quiet

There was a successful trip last night to Llanownno for Nightjars [and midges!!!]. 20 folk attended [thank you] to fight off the little biting pests but we had a total of 5 Nightjars, with at least 3 churring males, one of which showed in short low down flights. We struck lucky when I spotted a dark shape flying away from us along the track we were standing on. A couple of mins later it came back and flew right along the track and right past us, nearly hitting someone in the process!. This was a female so all dark with no white wing & tail flashes. Also recorded were Tree Pipit, Redpoll and Siskin, and I think it was 18 House Martin nests on the Brynfynnon Arms hotel eaves.

Highlights of yesterday’s GBC field trip to RSPB Ham Wall and Shapwick Heath NNR included a Red-footed Falcon, “barking” Little Bittern, Cattle Egret, Glossy Ibis, Great White Egret, Hobby, Marsh Harrier and Bittern.

Sixty four species seen or heard in total. Many thanks to John Wilson for leading the 10 participants.

Full species list: https://tinyurl.com/GBC-Somerset

The long-staying Ring-necked Parakeet seems to have left the park, but I’ve seen this bird a couple of times recently. Anyone know what species it is? Thanks. :-

Following regular sightings of adults (male and female) during the Spring, male and femal with two fledged juveniles present today. First breeding in this locality that I am aware of in the last forty years.
Whitethroat singing.

Red Kite over Eastbound carriageway of M4 near Llanharry at 11.45am this morning