Whitethroat singing; two Cetti’s Warblers singing; single Swallow; 4 Blackcaps.

Tirfounder 1st Sighting: Whitethroat  (18th Apr)

Marsh harrier, reed warbler, grasshopper warbler this morning.

Latest ringing info here: http://gowerbirdringinggroup.blogspot.co.uk/2016/04/oxwich-marsh-17-april-2016-first.html

I thought I’d recommend a trip over to RSPB Ham Wall and Shapwick Heath NR (Somerset) at present.

Among the 54 species we saw yesterday were Glossy Ibis, Male Ring-necked Duck, Male Garganey, GW Egret, plenty of displaying Marsh Harriers, and the longest flight by two bitterns I’ve ever seen (over 10 minutes ‘chase’). We also heard ‘booming’ bitterns intermittently

Plus a good range of warblers etc.

I was going to attach some record shots but can’t work out how to do it! It wasn’t a photographic trip, so here are just a couple of record shots.

Male chasing female Bittern

Male Ring-necked Duck

Male chasing female Bittern

On the GBC trip to Kenfig incl along the Haul Road to the rivermouth, a total of 52 species seen. Migrants thin on the ground due to the northerly wind. There were 3 House Martins with the Swallows and Sand Martins over the pool, a couple of Whitethroats were seen, plus plenty of Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff. Three different Sparrowhawks were noted [pic of one of them below], a couple of Wheatears along the haul road. There were around 40 Sanderling on the beach but nothing at the saltmarsh or rivermouth apart from 6 Common Gulls on the beach there. Click each image for a full size one.

Sky Lark

Meadow Pipit

male Sparrowhawk

Sanderling

Late news per Twitter – an Arctic and a Common tern were in the Bay late this afternoon, as was a single Swift amongst the hirundines.

Mill Wood area alive with Chiff Chaff now.
Green and Great Spotted Woodpecker present.
The odd Willow Warbler heard but no
Blackcap noted yet. Three swallows feeding above fields near Clyne farm. Also the curious sight of two nuthatch mating in woods nearby.

1 Sedge Warbler arrival (16th Apr).

Iceland Gull again on The Marl playimg fields 07:30-08:45 viewed from Ferry Road.

Late yesterday afternoon – no sign of the Short-eared Owl, but Graham had nice views of a very smart male Ring Ouzel perched on a willow sapling.

A pair of Peregrines were hunting along the cliffs this morning, giving a good display including a couple of spectacular stoops which ended in failure. Also 1 Common Whitethroat, several Chiffchaff and 3 Blackcaps. Here’s a photo of one Pere, much cropped and manipulated to recover from what was a silhouette.

A Ring Ouzel was perched on top of a sycamore in the walled garden for about 20 minutes, must have known I didn’t have a camera on me! Also there a pair of Red-legged Partridges, male Common Redstart, Wheatear, Peregrine, Kestrel and Chough.

Called in at Ogmore Estuary on the way back, where two Common Sandpipers and 15 White Wagtails.

Whimbrel, immature shag and 3 wheatears this morning. Yesterday, sixty six golden plovers (most in breeding plumage), 3 dunlins (also in sp) and a white wagtail.

Tree Pipit singing Buzzard 5 Peregrine 2 Willow Warbler 4 Chiffchaff 6 Blackcap 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker 1 Green Woodpecker 1 Siskin 2 Linnet 2 Swallow  4

A very showy Grasshopper Warbler was in the west of Kenfig Pool, where there was also a female Redstart. A Goshawk flew over going north and at least 4 Common Whitethroats were song flighting.

7+ Sandwich terns foraging offshore

Estimated combined count of 40+ chiffchaff and a few willow warbler in the valleys at Longhole Cliff and around Overton STW.

3 porpoise foraging off Porteynon Point

Common Whitethroat showing well by the path along the river. In CBWR, now two Reed Warblers, and the Lsr Scaup still present very near the boardwalk at 07:00. A Common Sandpiper and 18 Turnstones were by Plas Taliesin.

Hawfinch in the garden yesterday evening – stayed for 30 minutes or so – and again early this morning.  Seemed interested in the bird feeders without being able to work out how to use them.  Very exciting!

Male redstart seemingly fresh in today (not here yesterday), on NE fringe of Coed y Bedw. No sign of any pied flys here this year (again) though lots coming in further north.

The imm Little Gull was still present from circa 15:00 to 16:30 roughly mid-bay but towards the road bridge end. Also a 2nd yr Med Gull was sitting on the water and flew briefly, more or less dead centre of the bay. Both birds viewed from the Penarth side, by Plas St. Andresse. Also 7 Turnstones there on the river bank.