There were three reeling grasshopper warblers this morning, two along the edge of the Royal Porthcawl Golf Club and one next to Sker House. A common sandpiper walking along the top of a dry stone wall was also unusual. Three whimbrel and a bar-tailed godwit were on the coast. There were plenty of wheatears about too.

Late afternoon from Pentrebach to Merthyr Vale (until I got a puncture) there were an impressive 18 singing willow warblers, 12 chiffchaff and 8 blackcap.

Early morning in pretty calm but cool conditions 0745-1100. Six Whimbrel flew north at Irongate Point, but little else so we moved up to the Common. A newly arrived Whitethroat welcomed us and there were at least 5 Wheatear in among the rocks just to the south of the common. There was some wader movement with an estimated 90 Bar-tailed Godwit in three groups which appeared to be pushed back south by a sudden heavy rain shower and the flew back towards the Ogmore estuary. Apart from that just 2 Swallows and the usual local breeding residents.

A reasonable morning in terms of migrants. 2 lesser whitethroat were in the square area of grass and trees along Windsor Esplanade. 6 whitethroat (3 on the wetland reserve and 3 in Hamadryad Park). A sedge warbler singing very loudly from buddleia in Hamadryad Park.  At least 2 sedge warblers on the wetland reserve and several reed warblers. New reed warbler in Hamadryad Park below the flyover.

Lesser Whitethroat singing near the intersection of the two paths where they divide for Penarth Road and Ikea.
Two Cetti’s singing well apart from eachother.
Three Willow Warblers.

Seems there was a minor arrival of Whitethroats today. Numbers have gone from one on Tuesday, three yesterday and a minimum of nine today. Four in Hamadryad Park, two on the Wetland Reserve, two on the barrage path and one at Grangemoor. There was also a Lesser Whitethroat at Grangemoor on the old gas holder site near the mobile phone mast.

Other birds seemingly new in were Sedge Warblers singing from brambles in Hamadryad Park and at Grangemoor. 

Also several Common Sandpipers, with a minimum of six inc. three at Prospect Place. 

2 Reed Warblers were visible in the flattened centre of W lake reeds, my first of the year. Had brief views of a male Wheatear on the twmp beyond the dragonfly pond before it flew off high to the west. Apparently there was a fem too [per Graham Smith]. Thx to Jeff Curtis for the heads up re the Wheatear.

Greenshank,  shelduck, 2 gadwall, 8 golden plover and 4 wheatear.

A lovely morning with gentle cool E/NE winds. Two Little Egret, a pair of displaying Great Crested Grebes, several pairs of Shelduck, 12 Eider, 300+ Oystercatcher, 39 Ringed Plover, 29 Dunlin, 2 Sanderling, 1 Turnstone, 30 Bar-tailed Godwit (most in sum plum – record shot), 30 Whimbrel, 3 Curlew, calling Green Woodpecker, 6 Wheatear, 20+ Swallow, 1 House Martin and 2 Sand Martin.

 

Sedge Warbler singing by the bend in the gravel path in front of St.Davids Hotel 07:25.

Attracted by loud typical calls, 3 probable Cranes flying over Upper Killay, Swansea at 19.00h in approx SW direction. Poor views, flying away from me, no bins, but please keep a look out.

Highlights this morning: 1 male Pere flew over > N; 1 Lesser Whitethroat about 50m beyond the dragonfly pond but quite flighty – didn’t sing; 6 Swallow; shed loads of Blackcaps singing. In Cogan Wood, 1 Brimstone, several Orangetip, 2 Comma and a Holly Blue.

No sign of the Greenshank this morning [I shd have gone y’day!], but 2 Common Sandpipers were on the rocky shore, but very flighty.

Rusty red tailed, grey, robin-like bird fliting from piles of rubble, brash and wood. Not showing any white patches. Vibrating tail on landing. Seen on Rhiwbina Farm, Rhiwbina Hill ST145829. If heading north, look over road side field gate on left on to farm material piles. A right of  way goes through the field gate SW then W to Tongwynlias. Seen on 17 April, 2017 at 11.35am.

Pleased to see swallows over the garden for first time this year. Also, mistle thrush, song thrush, blackcap, chiffchaff, blackbird, robin, dunnock, wren, blue fit, great fit, coal fit, nuthatch, great spotted woodpecker, green woodpecker, chaffinch, goldfinch, magpie, jay, jackdaw, carrion crow, buzzard, herring gull, wood pigeon, collared dove, pheasant

Cold NW and little activity early seawatching apart from 3 Turnstone at Irongate Point, so I moved to Lock’s Common 0730-0830: 9 Common Scoter, 2 Whimbrel and 3 Curlew flew down-channel also a 8 Swallow and a House Martin moving north. An immature Mediterranean Gull in summer plumage (prob 2nd summer) flew towards Rest Bay.

A common tern dropped into the bay during the afternoon showers. It took some time to confirm the ID. Thanks to Peter and Graham for the clinching photos which eventually ruled out arctic. Ring necked duck showing very well indeed off Prospect Place. Two yellow legged gulls (regular 3CY at Channel View and 4CY in Bay). Two 2CY med gulls also. Hundreds of hirundines in the bay including my first house martin of the year.

Singleton Park: Great Spotted Woodpecker, a Green Woodpecker was chased across the park by an unknown species of parakeet (about the size of a Ring-necked, but with a lot of red on it).

Brynmill Park: 6 Tufted Ducks, pair of Mallards with 7 new-born ducklings, pair of Little Grebes on nest.

Clyne Valley: 1 Marsh Tit, 1 Buzzard overhead.

Crumlyn burrows

very quiet swallows over reed bunting willow warblers, chiff chaffs, meadow pipits

port tenant pond  still 3 pairs of teal present pair of mute swan ,pair of Canada geese, morhen, mallard with young ,swallows and sand martins over the pond

Fenrod  lake a common sandpiper on the mud 22 mute swan

Swansea vale 25 sand martins ,20 swallows, pair of mute swan,

Nice views of a Lesser Whitethroat singing briefly by the main entrance gate to the W lake conservation area [in the dip]. Mistle Thrush collecting food again in W paddock, 1 drake Tufted Duck W lake, 2 ad and 1 imm Heron W lake reeds, 1 Sand Martin E lake.