A female brambling was among 43 birds captured this morning (Photo Keith Vaughton).

Siskin is breeding on the marsh again this year. For more info see the Gower RG blog at: http://ow.ly/10rVQr

Lsr Scaup at the far end of the reserve from the boardwalk.Fox also.

Steady flow of Sand Martin through Cosmeston this morning, with several Swallow and at least 1 House Martin with them. Lots of Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler singing and a couple of Blackcap.

Sedge Warbler still present but keeping low and singing intermittently.2 Water Rails on the grass track through the main reedbed. On Tuesday 36 GCG on the reserve and the Gooseander pair by Hamadryad Park were mating.

Approachable Short-eared Owl (down to 20-30 yards) seen by Lee Ashcroft at 7.30pm yesterday. Also seen on the 4th…same spot, same time.

 

Apparently no sign of Boney’s Gull early on [per Gareth Stamp]. Am about to go and check myself – it may reappear.

Sedge Warbler singing in the main reedbe 100m from the boardwalk at 09:15.

Several Chiffchaffs singing this evening in the scrub near Mill Wood / Derwen Fawr recycling site.

Report just received. A full-hooded Bonaparte’s Gull was seen in Cardiff Bay this afternoon – I have been out all afternoon and the caller did not have my mobile number. Gull was seen by Peter Lansdown [who some of you will know] looking from the boardwalk at Cardiff Bay Wetlands, but it was towards the other side of the bay looking towards Penarth marina or the sailing club – so poss check from the Ice Rink area or even the Penarth Marina road adj the mouth of R. Ely.

A male redstart in the woods before the dunes was the highlight of a quiet walk to the beach 6 sanderling 4 dunlin 6 ringed plover  were on the  tide line  skylark meadow pipit and 22 linnets were also seen 100s of gulls were in the air over the old ford plant

At the nearby water treatment works were willow warbler chiff chaff goldfinch and mallard

3 very mobile & noisy chiffchaff .. 2 displaying greenfinch (nice to see).. 1 bullfinch.1 blackcap Plus many blackbirds

 

 

Pair of Goldcrest flitting around in a big pine were a nice bonus on a sunny walk through the park.

I’ve posted a couple of photos of the Purple Sandpipers that’ve been wintering in Porthcawl. On the high tides they have been quite visible anywhere between Hutchwns Point (south end of Lock’s common) down as far as Porthcawl Point by the lighthouse wall. There have been as many as three. Locating the mobile Turnstone flock of about 25 is the key, however I have had them scampering around really close on the rocks a bit further north around Hutchwns Point.

Common Redstart male catching flies in the trees around the little inlet seen from the stones in front of St.Davids Hotel.With Blackcap male.

4 male Blackcaps this morning incl 2 singing, also Willow Warbler, Cetti’s & Chiffchaff singing, plus 3 different Mistle Thrushes in song. 4 Buzzards circling incl a lot of mewing from one pair. No sign of y’day’s Bittern, which was prob the latest date for a Bittern at Cosmeston. There were 8 GC Grebes y’day.

2 Sandwich terns on the Helwick buoy off the point this morning

Wheatear, stonechat carrying food and an agitated ringed plover on the upper shore at Sedger’s Bank that may be attempting to breed

A pair of shoveler on the flash pool near Knelston Garage

2 Great Northern Divers close into the inner head this morning. A few Wheatears on the headland and the odd hirudine were the only migrants seen.

llangenith moors: 1 lapwing displaying, ringtail hen harrier on 28.03. 5 wheatear

whether this one is a wanderer from Llanrhidian, or a separate bird using this area?

oxwich: 6 sand martin, 2 swallow, 1 stonechat flycatching  over the lake from the reeds and a willow warbler.

castell du: 2 little ringed plover this ‘arvo

1st Blackcap arrival this morning @ Tirfounder Fields (3rd Apr, self)

1st Willow Warbler @ Tirfounder Fields (2rd Apr, Martin Bevan. Confirmed 4th Apr, self)

Three records below of what I think is a 2nd yr type Yellow-legged Gull on E lake this morning.