4 Whimbrels and a Bar-tailed Godwit were on the beach at West Cross this evening, flying along to Blackpill as the tide rose.

5 Whimbrel on Sully Beach this morning at high tide, plus 10+ Dunlin in full summer plumage and 10 + Turnstone. 22 Oycs on Sully Island and a Rock Pipit on the foreshore just W of the Captains Wife.

I have received a report of a male and 2 fem Crossbills seen on a bush in a hedge near the stepping stones over the R. Ogmore on 24th from GBC member Mary Davis.

My first ever little ringed plover for the site was on Sker Point this morning. Also 22 whimbrel, 2 bar-tailed godwit, grey plover, 4 dunlin, 8 ringed plover, 30 sanderling, 2 greylags and 8 wheatear.

3 Wheatears were along Swansea seafront opposite Singleton Park on Wednesday evening – first I’ve seen there this year:

A scan of the estuary between Gowerton and Llanrhidian on the evening high tide produced counts of Black-headed Gull 248, Common Sandpiper 1, Curlew 11, Dunlin 17, Marsh Harrier 1, Sanderling 5, Wheatear 20 & Whimbrel 201.

At least 3 swifts in the usual spot just past UHOVI building

A bit late but I’ve been busy. There were 8 Whimbrel on the rocky beach at Sully this morning, level with the cricket pitch field. Alerted to their presence by Ceri Jones’ tweet. Srtill there at 11 when I left.

A Swift over Schooner Way late morning.

Four Common Sandpiper on the Barrage rocks earlier this morning along with 2 Wheatear and 6 White Wagtails.

Cetti’s Warbler and Reed Warbler singing, Grangemoor Park.
Cetti’s Warbler and Reed Warbler singing half a mile away to the west along the Ely Trail.

A Cuckoo was on Garth mountain this morning at 09:30. It then flew North towards Pentyrch and i didn’t see or hear it again for the remainder of my walk.

Good numbers of wheatears – my first for 2017 – this afternoon. Plenty of Willow Warblers and Whitethroat in the dunes (and lovely orchids). Usual suspects like Linnets, Oystercatchers, Turnstones.  On the way back, we saw three curlew type birds circling between the field at approx SS 794 794 and the coast (the tide was in). The jizz suggested Whimbrel and eventually I got close enough to the birds, which had now landed in the field, to distinguish the crown stripe and supercilium. I see three were reported here on 21st as well. There was at least one, possibly two, other curlew-whimbrel birds along the coast but we didn’t come to a conclusive conclusion on those.

Usual warblers in song but, surprise of the day was a Painted Lady butterfly along with Small White 2 Orange Tip 10 and Brimstone 2, have seen more butterflies this spring than ever before.

Reed Warbler singing at usual reed bed site.

There were several Whitethroat and Willow Warblers at Grangemoor this morning, over at CBWR were Reed, Sedge and Cetti’s in full song, along with Whitethroat.

A Common Sandpiper flew from the far shore of E lake and appeared to head in to W lake but I couldn’t relocate it there. There were several Reed Warbler singing in the E lake reed bed by the boardwalk. Also 4-5 male Reed Buntings flitting and chasing around there. Also had a damselfly of some sort – took a pic but am now away for w/e without camera.

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.