Yesterday a returning reed warbler originally ringed as a juvenile in 2011 (at Teifi Marshes) was the highlight of the ringing session. Our first whitethroat of the season was also captured

More info: http://gowerbirdringinggroup.blogspot.co.uk/2016/05/oxwich-marsh-30-april-2016-return-of.html

Single Whitethroat singing  south of the “Gol Centre”. Single Whitethroat also at Michaelston -le-Pit. Skylark singing, Caerau.

Lsr Whitethroat singing and showing well from the tarmacadam boundary path just inside the north entrance adjacent to the gasholder grounds.

Tree Pipit – 2 singing, Redstart – 1 singing, Wood Warbler – 1 singing.

Another chilly morning – no movement on the sea, but 1 Common Sandpiper and 2 Whimbrel on Lock’s Common, where there were also displaying Rock and Meadow Pipit along with 3 Whitethroat and a few pairs each of Linnet, Stonechat and Skylark. A summer plumaged Black-headed Gull was on Rest Bay. The Wilderness Pool was relatively quiet but sevwral Blackcaps were singing and a family part of Magpies (3 large juvs) were observed.

A Lsr Whitethroat was singing from cover from the boardwalk along the hedge and trees of the yacht club towards the flyover but seems to have moved on. 7 Common Sandpipers (3+2+1+1), 4 Sedge Warblers including one in bushes near to St.David’s Hotel boardwalk, a Snipe, the yellow-dyed Shelduck and the Lsr Scaup all present.

13 Common Sandpipers, 1 Whimbrel, 12 White Wagtails and c. 70 Swifts over the bay.

Flock of 50 + Brent Geese on the beach this evening.

There’s a little tern giving excellent close views at the south end of Kenfig Pool. Well worth a visit.

Tirfounder Fields, Cwmbach. Reed Warbler (29th Apr) 1st Sighting.

9 Common Sandpiper on the outer rocks of the barrage with another two on the shore by the Norwegian church. Also 12 White Wagtail on the barrage.

A very ‘seasonal’ Redwing feeding at Coed Gwilym Park this evening.

Only highlight from a quick whizz round with the hound this morning was a Common Sandpiper which flew under the main bridge from E lake to W lake as I crossed.

Common Tern – 1

Swift – built up from 4 when I arrived to 32 this afternoon but most moved on.

51+ species on the GBC trip eastwards today, despite lengthy very cold showers of rain and sleet which eventually trapped us in the Red Barn hide for about 2 hours! Highlights at the latter were the Glossy Ibis and a Marsh Harrier. At the Goldcliff lagoons we had 60+ Avocet, c.150 Dunlin, 30+ Ringed Plover, 4 Little Ringed Plover, Lapwing, Redshank, 2 Greenshank, a few Blackwits, 8 Whimbrel on the sea wall, 1 Common Sandpiper, some saw a distant Yellow Wag and there were a few White Wags. Wildfowl included plenty of Shoveler, Teal, a pair of Wigeon, Gadwall and Shelduck.

Another cold morning, but perhaps not as chilly as I feared. Sea was calm and wind was out of the North to NW at high tide. Unsurprisingly nothing at all moving on the sea. One of the highlights for me was 22 Wheatear (16 males) in Sker Farm fields. Pink Bay / Ffynon-Wen was productive for waders with 14 Oystercatcher, 2 Ringed Plover, 2 Dunlin (sp), 26 Sanderling (wp), 2 Purple Sandpiper and 14 Turnstone, whilst 42 Whimbrel were wary and mobile and moved north towards Sker and Kenfig Sands. Later a White Wagtail flew north through Pink Bay and 4 Dunlin and a Swallow moved north over the old Rest Bay care home.

There was a yellow wagtail and a common sandpiper at the Watermill this morning. Portobello was quiet.

Cetti’s Warbler singing as usual.

Lock’s Common was quiet this morning at high tide in a strong cold northerly wind. A single Whitethroat was a new arrival and a few Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Rock Pipit and Song Thrush were present. About 12 Sanderling in varying stages of winter and summer plumage flew up channel, presumably towards Rest Bay and Sker. I retreated to The Wilderness Pool where several wild Mallard ducklings have recently hatched and a Cormorant was fishing. There were a few singing Blackap, Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler, whilst a calling Nuthatch was new for the year. No sign of any hirundines yet. Brrr.

13 White Wagtails on the outer rocks and outer breakwater first thing. Common Tern still hawking around off Prospect Place.