20 sand martins, 32 mute swan 30+ Canada geese a few pochard and tufteds usuall mallard coots moorhens and gulls about

Visited early doors, before the cattle had been let into the field. Four Little Egrets were present. Returned an hour or so later, when the cattle were out and the Cattle Egret flew in.

Went on later to Aberthaw, where there were 59 Wigeon at the mouth of the river.

 

The AdW Little Gull was still present this morning, showing well from the shelter of the narrow path in front of the Penarth Marina houses opposite the barrage. Birding on the barrage, or indeed standing up on the barrage, was impossible/v v difficult. Also in with the feeding gulls was an AdW Med Gull. The very very strong wind seems to be  keeping the gulls away from the Prospect Place area.

Fourteen participants on this morning’s GBC monthly walk at Kenfig NNR. It was breezy along the East Pool shore, though a lot calmer in the sheltered areas near the South Pool hide. In total 43 species were heard or seen including 4 Chiffchaff (3 singing) and at least 6 Sand Martin.

Wildfowl numbers have fallen but Scaup (2m, 1f), Goldeneye, Gadwall, Shoveler, Tufted, Mallard, Great Crested Grebe, Grey Heron and Cormorant were present.

Many thanks to Strinda Davies for leading the walk.

Full species list: Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Gadwall, Mallard, Shoveler, Tufted, Scaup, Goldeneye, Pheasant, Great Crested Grebe, Grey Heron, Cormorant, Coot, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Magpie, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Sand Martin, Cetti’s Warbler, Long-tailed Tit, Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, Wren, Starling, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, Robin, Stonechat, Dunnock, House Sparrow, Meadow Pipit, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Bullfinch and Reed Bunting.

Adult Little Gull feeding with Black-headed Gulls mid-bay 09:45. Viewable from barrage or Prospect Place. 

The Cattle Egret was showing well this morning as all the cattle were out in the field. It’s in the field opposite the first houses as you turn in to St Athan village off the B road by the bus stop & obelisk. Can be viewed form part way down the side road by a metal gate, or from the main road by the bus stop.

Other than quick twitches for Whooper Swan and Marsh Harrier over the weekend, it feels like an age since I’ve spent any time checking out the estuary. So it was nice to spend an hour at dusk, watching what drifted up on the tide. There was no hoped for Long-tailed Duck, but interest was provided by 216 D-b Brent, 2 Goldeneye, 7 Scaup, 2 R-b Mergs, 1690 B-h Gulls, 5 Slavonian and 27 G.C.Grebes.

No sign of Cattle Egret at 3:30 – just 5 Herring Gulls and 3 cows in the field, the rest in the shed.

Delayed WeBS count: at Green Pt, 500 Redshank, c.20 Dunlin, 1 Oyc, 20 Shelduck, 30 Pintail, 1 Snipe. At the Heliport bay, 24 Shelduck & 1 Curlew. No Turnstones or Oycs as 2 large dogs were walking and bathing along the shoreline.

First singing Blackcap at Leckwith this morning.

A Cattle Egret was at St Athan today apparently in a field on the right as you turn off the B road. Here’ a record shot kindly sent to me by Tony Fisher.

Here’s a quick picture of the Dunlin roost this morning…

Grangemoor Park- Reed Bunting singing; Greenfinch, 2 singing; Chiffchaff 2 singing.
Sanatorium Park – Chiffchaff singing.
Chiffchaffs singing variously all along the Ely Trial from Grangemoor Park to St Fagans.

noticed a significant reduction in bh gull numbers this morning. Been replaced by lbb’s.. No small waders again..and 4 oycs.. It’s extremely quiet on a beautiful sunny morning

Couldn’t find any med gulls.. probably all gone now until September

Nice great crested grebe fishing very close in shore

3 Harbour porpoise in the tide race

Emma and I ventured out this morning to check the two inland pools, nothing at Pwll-y-waun so moved on to Wilderness. We were greeted by a splendid Tufted Duck, we’d not had one here this winter until now. Two Chiffchaff were singing strongly and fly-catching in the north-eastern corner. All of a sudden at about 10.00 a Water Rail shot across from one of the islands into some bramble covered shoreline pursued by a Moorhen. It fed in deep cover for a while but soon disappeared from view. This was a first record for the site for us. Two drake Shoveler still remain and one of the coot pairs has begun to build a nest in good view of the eastern side path.

No Wheatear this morning. A Kingfisher was fishing by E lake, from bushes by the central path, and a couple of Chiffchaff were feeding along the latter. Ad Grey Heron sitting in W lake reeds, & 2 male Reed Bunts noted.

Good view of singing Chiffchaff this afternoon with another heard near the reserve Centre.

Approx 10 Sand Martin feeding over the Pool and at least 1 pair of Goldeneye displaying.

A Black Redstart and three Wheatears were at Ogmore-by-Sea, by the small dry valley at the Deeps. A 1st-w Yellow-legged Gull was at the rivermouth.

 

A smart male Wheatear was in W paddock at Cosmeston late morning, and a Chiffchaff was in trees by the bridge. A Brimstone was in flight along by the medieval village. Still ` couple of Pochard lingering on W lake and 2 Gadwall that I could see.