Migrant hunting along the Taff

Fforest Farm – 1 Blackcap. 3 Chiffchaff. 6 Sand Martin a little south

Llandaff – 6 Sand Martin. 1 Chiffchaff

Bute Park – 1 Chiffchaff. 6 Sand Martin

Taff – Goosander still present. 1 Mink.

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Tirfounder Fields (Cwmbach) 1st Chiffchaff 17th March. Cetti’s Warbler now resident possible nesting pair

 

10+Sand Martins over Lamby Lake,11h00-11h40.Also 1-Chiffchaff

Highlights from yesterday evening and this morning (in the company of EAH JNE RHAT & PS at different times) included 2 Great White Egrets, Wheatear, Swallows, Sand Martins, 258 D-b Brent, 1 P-b Brent, 17 RBMergs, 3 Slavs (2 now full s/p), 130 Golden Plover, 58 Curlew, Med Gull, 5 SEOwls, Barn Owl, Kite, Peregrine, Marsh Harrier & Hen Harrier. Regarding the latter Ed mentioned to me a day or two back it thought it was a bit hudsonicus-like, which I must confess after looking back at some ropey video I managed to get this morning, I can see his point. I don’t think it’s colourful enough to warrant a genuine claim, but it’s certainly worth a closer look and if anyone happens to have/get any images of the Llanrhidian Hen Harriers from recent weeks (especially any showing the underparts and/or underwing well),  I’d be very interested to see them. Today’s bird looked very plain below though not especially rich buff, but did have a moderately distinct boa. I’ll add a video grab later though it won’t convince anyone.

The four of us set out this morning for a long walk from Rest Bay out towards Sker. It was a gorgeous day, a little cool, but nice and sunny. On the falling tide we saw 2 Shelduck, 25 Sanderling, 550 Golden Plover and a nice Wheatear out at Pink Bay. There were plenty of singing Skylarks and Meadow Pipits plus a singing Rock Pipit. A female Kestrel and female Sparrowhawk were hunting over the golf course, which also held 2 singing male Stonechats, singing Wren and 3 Pied Wagtail. The path between Rest and Pink Bays yielded a Green Tiger Beetle (Cicindela campestris) and a common Lizard and few Bumblebee sps. On the drive home we saw a Curlew at Manor court Farm and were surprised to see a Brown Hare in the middle of one of the fields.

A Swallow over the fields at Gileston this morning, and 3 Stock Dove in the fields. Behind the beach Yellowhammer on gorse just after the A-frame stile, along with Stonechat. Last bird was a Wheatear in the fenced horse paddock near the beach car park.

Apologies for non-sighting. Tomorrow’s GBC trip to the Forest of Dean is now cancelled – I have just watched the BBC online forecast and it is still very bad for tomorrow and very poor for the next 2 days. I believe I have contacted by text, everyone who said they were coming, but am posting this everywhere to make sure.

Hybrid Tufty resembling Lsr Scaup on the reserve this morning. 3 Snipe and a Water Rail together, a Cettis displaying like crazy to a female, and a Kingfisher.

At Cosmeston there were several singing Chiffchaff and 4 Sand Martins. Black Redstart showing well at Sully and was singing also.

Cetti’s Warbler singing; Chiffchaff singing, both this morning.

In addition to Ceri’s report, a male Stonechat was on posts by the snipe paddock, 3-4 Sand Martins were feeding fairly high over the main bridge at around 1 o’c. Three Swallows had also been seen but not by me [Wayne Strong & Graham Smith – 1] and Lol Middleton – 2]. The Lsr Scaup and the hybrid were loafing together near the cafe [phone pic]:

At Cosmeston this morning good views from the West Paddock of a Great Spotted Woodpecker in a treetop in Cogan Wood. Magpies were harrassing a Jay near the Snipe Field, and a Common Snipe flew around the Snipe Field calling before settling into cover. The Lesser Scaup was on the East lake with the lookalike hybrid and an ever-dwindling group of Tufties.

There were 61 Oystercatcher on Sully Island at high tide early this morning.

At Pontycymer yesterday 2 Dipper and a Grey Wagtail on the Garw river below Pontycymer Pond. Lots of Reed Buntings around the pond and a few Siskin nearby.

3/4 Swallows over barrage lock gates 10:45 but did not linger. 15+ Sand Martins over Taff by Hamadryad Park 9:00.

A single swallow by  stockhams  corner near neath

Single Swallow-heading West at 17.30 hrs

4 Sand Martins as per Gareth’s post, no sign of any Wheatear on the barrage – just 1 Rock Pipit and 4 Pied Wags. However what I believe is a ‘new’ Black Redstart, a fem at the far RH end of the old dock opposite the entrance to Dr Who Experience, near the Gloworks building.

At least four Sand Martins exploring nest holes and collecting nest material in the dock beside Doctor Who.A singing Chiffchaff was in CBWR by the boardwalk.

At Cadoxton Ponds this morning a singing Chiffchaff, 6 Cetti’s Warbler, pair of Stonechat, a Siskin and a Water Rail.

At Swanbridge the Black Redstart was again on the roof of the last house on St Mary’s Well Bay Road, and 1 Curlew, 1 Dunlin, 3 Ringed Plover and 2 Shelduck were present at low tide. A drumming Great Spotted Woodpecker and a calling Green Woodpecker were in the trees behind the Swanbridge Farm houses.

A Mediterranean Gull was on Sully beach approaching low tide and a Kestrel flew over the beach near Bendrick Rock.

The cleared skies seemingly prompted the departure of the Firecrests and most of the Chiffies and Goldcrests this morning, sadly. Graham Smith flushed a Woodcock from the marshy dip in W paddock, near the dragonfly pond. There were still quite a few Redwing around, in the wood by the play area. There was an obliging Goldcrest halfway along the central path. I like the pic below where it seems to be attempting an Irish jig! Click on each pic for a full size one. <later> PS it was nice to be sussed [due to binos, camera & dog] by Mick Lobb, [a name I was familiar with as being active on the birding scene in Glamorgan since before my time here]. Always nice to put a face to a name. Then just afterwards,  the same thing again with a guy whose surname was Brown and is a friend of GBC member Lee Taswell – sorry I forgot your first name if you are reading this!

A pair of Red-legged Partridges along a track and then in stubble was a surprise this morning.

A fall of Chiffchaff accompanied by Goldcrests and two Firecrest provided the interest today as reported by John. Firecrests were particularly difficult to photograph. Also, two Sand Martin.