Took a long walk in the hills above Swansea.Nice mix of residents and migrants.Red Kite(4),Raven(2),Buzzard(6),Skylark(25),Meadow Pipit(43),Stonechat(2),Wheatear(2),Linnet(46),Goldfinch(16),Willow Warbler(8),Chiffchaff(6),Blackcap(2),Reed Bunting(2),Cuckoo(2 calling) and a nice surprise of Lapwing(2 pairs)

Very quiet on the migrant front this morning, but a pair of Red-legged Partridges was still around.

Apart from a Lesser Whitethroat singing and showing well, about 50m up from the sea watching shelter, on the right, and a few Blackcap, and a Green ‘Pecker, it was incredibly quiet. I walked thro’ the reserve and down to Swanbridge and back and at times it was uncannily silent with no birdsong at all. Where are they all? Is it still too cold?

At least three reeling grasshopper warblers, a lesser whitethroat and small numbers of sedge warbler present this morning.

Photo of a gropper captured during the ringing session is below (credit Keith Vaughton).

For a summary of the ringing session and further photos see: http://gowerbirdringinggroup.blogspot.co.uk/2016/04/oxwich-marsh-23-april-2016.html

A very enjoyable walk doing both transects from Merthyr Mawr Village, adjacent farms up to Broadlands and back down New Inn Road to the ‘dipping bridge’ at Newbridge Farm fields. I logged 39 species which appears to have exceeded all previous survey counts by some margin. The highlights were 2 Whitethroats plus Sparrowhawk, Buzzard, Raven, 2 pairs of Dipper, a few pairs of Pied and Grey Wagtails and plenty of commoner woodland species and farmland finches. As I left the square to return home through Newbridge fields, as well as 2 pairs of Dipper actively returning to nest sites, I was delighted to find a Common Sandpiper feeding quietly along the bank of the Ogmore in amongst all the rubbish there- a new species for me on my adjacent home square SS8979.

Non-singing Lsr Whitethroat along the boardwalk.
Lsr Scaup still present.
Several House Martins over Penarth Marina.

The Broad-billed Sand is reported as still present this morning.

News just rec’d @ 18:53 – Broad-billed Sandpiper at Goldcliff lagoons now, from first hide.

The run of Yellow Wagtails continues with a fourth bird this morning – another lovely bright male.

A sandwich tern flew up channel and a distant fulmar flew down channel this morning providing 4 much needed patchwork points. An immature shag was still present on the rocks. Earlier Dean Bolt counted 6 summer plumaged grey plovers, 15 whimbrels and several dunlins.

A Razorbill was an unexpected PWC bonus in ultra-calm conditions this evening, the downside being the swarms of biting midge. Linnet and Greenfinch were also patch additions for the year, more a reflection of how much effort I’ve put in than scarcity. 3 D-b Brent were still present along with 14 Grey Plover, 11 Whimbrel, but no hoped-for early terns / skuas.

A Lesser Whitethroat singing from bushes just to the north of county hall.

Around The Vile migrants included a tree pipit, numerous wheatears and a willow warbler. Manxies and Sandwich terns off The Worm

Mallard have had a brood on the flash pool opposite Knelston Garage, and there have been shoveler and gadwall using it over the past week. Looks good for a wader.

Two Yellow Wagtails on the grass by the play area this morning at 10.00 and presumably the same male Wheatear still present.

Update at 13:00: this morning’s Yellow Wagtails

2 pair of shelduck in the tidal dock another pair on the bay also there were 5 wheatear 3 little egret 1 common sandpiper male stonechat 2 reed bunting a pair of oyster catchers 2 linnet 2 lapwings over the paper factory 16 sanderling and 200+ oystercatcher on the point a whimbrel was on the Crumlyn burrows side ,also seen were meadow pipit robin dunnock blackbird, magpie carrion crow jackdaw. On the paper factory grounds were 41 rabbits (buzzard heaven) .

A trip to Sker this evening to see if Neils Kentish Plover was still around resulted in the finding of 2 Ringed Plover in much the same spot but unfortunately the only bird with them was a Golden Plover – Ah well. Lots around otherwise with 40+ Wheatear in the fields, 60+ Whimbrel, 20+ Bar Tailed Godwits, 4 Grey Plover and 15 Sanderling.

bits and bobs seen today included 5 Sandwich Terns, 22 Whimbrel, 5 Manx, 1 Gannet, 18 Eider, 910 Oycs, 553 Herring Gulls, Whitethroat, Gropper, Sedge Warbler, Wheatear & Water Rail.

1 Swift among the hirundines around Western Avenue bridge at 15:00.