Two house martins along the river this morning, and a holly blue in the Treforest sunshine this afternoon.

Highlights of yesterday’s field trip at Craig-y-Cilau were 5 raptor species plus a displaying Tree Pipit and numerous singing Willow Warblers. Stunning views from the former tramway out over the Usk valley and beyond.

Later at the Blorenge we saw at least 3 Red Grouse, including 1, watched from the summit, out in the open in the sunshine for an extended period. Wheatear there too, seen from the Foxhunter car park.

Thanks to over 20 participants who came along on the day, and to John Wilson for leading the walks. A really enjoyable day’s birding.

The Ring-necked Duck was still present this morning at 8 a.m. [per text news – David Gilmore and Graham Smith].

A male Redstart made a brief appearance in the bushes by the knot sculpture early this morning but eventually performed well in the ash trees there in the late afternoon sunshine. A female Stonechat was also present along with the solitary Reed Warbler.

Bird of the day was Ring-necked Duck found Graham Smith, great to get that on the patch again this year.

The Redstart, Stonechat and record shots of the Ring-necked Duck below.

Cardiff Wetland Reserve

There is a pink-footed goose at Parc slip northern Wetlands viewable from the hide. It spends a lot of time in the grass to the right of the first hide but occasionally comes out onto the water.

It was a fine clear morning with light southerlies, though a touch chilly, as I took a walk from Rest Bay out to Sker. A pair of Shelduck flew up channel and a pair of Common Scoter and 14 Black-headed Gull flew down-channel. There were 135 Golden Plover still in the Pink Bay area some many acquiring their summer plumage.

On rocks just south of Sker there were 14 Oystercatcher, 400 Sanderling, 9 Purple Sandpiper, 9 Turnstone and a Curlew. Three Swallow flew north and there was a male Wheatear just west of the farm. The Sker area was busy with a good selection of many displaying / nesting species – Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Pied Wagtail, Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, Goldfinch and Linnet.

During a morning walk – 2 Blackcaps singing and a fem in Cogan Wood, 4-5 Chiffchaff singing, 40 Sand Martin over W lake, quite high up, Ad and Imm Grey Heron by W lake posts, and my first Willow Warbler in trees by the main boardwalk.

A very productive walk along the river produced several Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs,a singing Blackcap.1-Kingfisher.m+f-Goosanders and the star bird a trilling Wood Warbler.13h00-14h15

Willow Warblers singing in Caerau and Michaleston-le-Pit. Blackcaps and Chiffs widespread along Ely River Trail as well as Michaelston-le-Pit through to Leckwith.
Male Stonechat Caerau.

18 singing chiffchaff and 3 blackcap on the ride between Pentrebach and Forest Farm along Trevithick and Taff Trails.

At high tide this morning there were 15 purple sandpipers on a shingle spit towards Pink Bay along with c250 sanderlings.

20 or so Sand Martins around the old dock by Dr Who experience building, including several visiting nest holes.

 Taken with my phone so not so sharp. Mike

Brent Goose 1st winter dark bellied photo to follow (hopefully). Also House Martin 1 Sand Martin 10 Sparrowhawk 1 Buzzard 2.

Perhaps up to 7 Willow Warblers present today. Also 2 Sand Martin, 5 Chiffchaff and 1 Goosander.

Hi all. It is perhaps timely to just remind all observers to refrain from posting news about rare species for our area which are displaying possible breeding behaviour in suitable habitat, or are indeed breeding. There is a notice about this on the RHS further down this page. Many thanks, John Wilson – Sec to the rarities committee.

PS I’ve made this a ‘sticky’ post for a little while.

Male Wheatear showing well on the stone wall around the small lagoon in the north-west of Hamadryad Park.

Just 1 Tufty this morning. Blackcap singing by top end of Cogan Wood. Several Song Thrush in song. Also Common Spotted Orchid leaves now bursting out of the ground although they could be Early Purple.

Single swallow over Upper Boat 9.30 this morning.

At around 14:25 today i watched what I’m certain was a great skua kill a slightly larger gull species at Langland Bay. The two birds were fighting at the water surface with the skua on top – i didn’t really see anything other than the wings of the bird below when it managed to flap them…it appeared to be an immature gull, possibly herring going on the mix of pale grey and brown feathers, it also appeared to be slightly larger than the skua.

The skua basically pushed and held the gull repeatedly under water while pecking at its head and neck. This went on for about fifteen minutes before the gull slowly stopped struggling, presumably dead….at this point the birds were virtually washed ashore…the skua then seemed to tow the gull carcass out through the surf some thirty metres maybe where it started to peck at the corpse in calmer water. It was clearly too large to lift and carry in flight. I had to leave at this point.

Skua was heavily built, dark brown all over except for very clear white/pale “triangular arcs” across the primaries – when swimming it was “chunky” with no obvious tail projections.

Fascinating stuff!