Some signs of migrant movement over past couple of days -yesterday 4 Redstart, 20+Blackcap, a dozen each of Willow warbler and Chiffy and a few Whitethroat- all concentrated around the car park bushes-This evening a Sprawk took a blackbird and this Whinchat was a nice surprise as don’t get them on the Common very often these days(former breeder).

Good to do a bit of birding with Graham Roblin. Five whimbrel were on the farm’s eastern fields. A breeding-plumaged knot was at Sker Point. In addition, c35 turnstone, redshank and 2 sanderling. Two Sandwich terns were feeding between Pink Bay and Sker Point and a distant little owl was perched up nicely on one of the farm buildings.

The Great White Egret is still present – this morning roosting in the West Pool after being flushed off the South Pool Beach by a pack of six dogs charging at it. Also present were six Little Egrets – the most I have ever seen together on the reserve though these soon flew west, while a Redshank, a Dunlin and five Common Sandpipers were on the East Pool Shore

30 redshank 2 common sandpipers and a juv shelduck

Late news from Sat – there were 8 Common Sandpipers near Portobello Island early a.m. [per South Wales Birding Facebook post].

Gannett 2, Manxies 8, Kittiwake 11, BH Gull 12, Blackbird 1, Oystercatcher 5, Common Scoter 10, Herring gull 3, Med gull1

The Wood Sandpiper found by Paul Roberts yesterday was still present opposite Portobello House this morning up to 1 p.m. at least. Also there 1 Black-t Godwit and upstream by Portobello Island, 3 Common Sandpipers.

3 or 4 Med Gulls were preening with B.-H. Gulls in Singleton Park in the rain yesterday morning, before they were chased off by a Sparrowhawk. Tawny Owls have bred successfully there again this year. A juvenile Green Woodpecker was in Clyne Woods.

Video of Med. Gulls in Singleton Park

News rec’d from Mark Hebden – 5 Common Sandpipers were at Talygarn Lake near Pontyclun today. Thanks Mark.

A Wood Sandpiper and three Black-tailed Godwits this lunchtime, across the river from the house.

Close views of 2 Nightjars circling around me last night at about 22:00. Male wing clapping and churring from nearby tree. Third bird also suspected.

Big movement of swifts (up to 50 birds) heading south/west down the valley around 15:00

A breeding-plumaged Bar-tailed Godwit was on Portobello earlier today.

50 Oystercatcher on Sully Island at high tide today. 63 Black-headed Gull near the Captain’s Wife, and a further 170 along the beach between Sully sailing club slipway and Hayes Point. Green Woodpecker from the coast path by Ty Hafan, and 3 Whimbrel on the beach there with another near Bendrick Rock.

9 med gulls including two long stay ringed birds (E825 -black on white & YHE8 – white on red. — Both reported to the med gull ringing place)

Greenshank and Little Egret new in today.

A greenshank was at Kenfig Pool this morning. Four black-tailed godwits flew over the saltmarsh/reedbed and the/a great white egret flew off from the saltmarsh towards Kenfig Pool at lunch-time.

A much better turn out than last time – 19 participants in today’s field trip to Dare Valley Country Park, so thanks all. Weather was very kind. Overall group list of around 40 species with highlights being Redpoll, Redstart, Peregrine, Kestrel, a very pale Buzzard, superb views of Kingfisher, lots of butterflies including Dark Green Fritilleries, Emperor and Golden-ringed Dragonflies and Common Lizard. All in all a very pleasant day out in good company.  Nice to welcome along a potential new member in Louise Gray from Fairwater.

Many thanks to Strinda Davies for leading this morning’s monthly Glamorgan Bird Club walk at Kenfig. Sixteen participants including 2 newcomers. In total 42 species with the highlight being the Great White Egret giving excellent views from the South hide and again later along the East Pool shore.

Full list:

Black-headed Gull, Blackbird, Blackcap, Blue Tit, Bullfinch, Canada Goose, Carrion Crow, Cetti’s Warbler, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Collared Dove, Coot, Cormorant, Dunnock, Goldfinch, Great Tit, Great White Egret, Greenfinch, Grey Heron, Herring Gull, House Martin, House Sparrow, Kestrel, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Linnet, Long-tailed Tit, Magpie, Mallard, Mute Swan, Reed Bunting, Reed Warbler, Robin, Sand Martin, Song Thrush, Starling, Swallow, Swift, Treecreeper, Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, Woodpigeon, Wren

 

 

A Clouded Yellow was at the far end of the east paddock this morning, plus Gatekeeper, Ringlet, Meadow Brown, Small Skipper. Black-tailed Skimmer on the boardwalk.  Bird-wise the GCG is still sitting on the nest in the Water Bistort in W lake ‘bay’ and there’s a seemingly completely free-floating nest with a GCG sitting, currently near the main bridge. Mute Swan with 6 half-grown cygnets, 2 ad Herons incl a very confiding one by the cafe. Also 4 Tufted Ducks. Oh I forgot, an old friend, Lesser BB Gull with blue Darvic ring 3UF in white characters.