A pair of Wheatear were on the plateau behind the dragonfly pond, 2 Shelduck on E lake, 1 drake Shoveler W lake, a Sedge Warbler by the cafe, and 2 Cetti’s singing, 1 by the cafe and the other at the far end of the board walk.

Lsr Whitethroat singing on territory by the infinis metal chimney.

Collect grandkids from school day today, so a quick walk at Rhoose Pt gave me my second Lesser Whitethroat of the day, again seen very well – in bushes in the large field near Rhoose rly station.

Craig Cerrig Gleisiad – Ring Ouzel, Red Kite, Peregrine, Tree Pipit, Redstart, Lesser Redpoll.

Pied Flycatcher in woods across A470 from car park.

Lesser Whitethroat showed v well down to about 3m this morning, singing its head off. There may have been 2. Also Little Egret on far bank of W lake and Lol Middleton had a pair of Shoveler b4 I got there. Also 1, poss 2 Sprawks and a Buzzard. Car park was heaving – half full of trucks & trailers due to the filming of Dr Who with a load of Vikings in the Med. Village.

Sedge Warbler showing quite well not far from the beginning of the boardwalk.Lots of Whitethroat. 2 Little Grebe whinnying.

V v high tide at Rhymney Est this morning – Green Pt more or less submerged. Hence only 7 Redshank, 2 Oycs  and no other waders, and 8 Shelduck, 1 Little Egret and 1 Heron. Common Whitethroat singing near the boat yard.

At Lamby Lake [Parc Tredelerch] 2 Cetti’s singing, one in superb full view, 2 Common Whitethroat and reed Warblers heard but not seen.

late news from y’day. A Lesser Whitethroat was reported singing next to the hide in the morning and a Little Egret was present [per Lol M].

Watching the local Peregrines today, saw them copulating twice, the male was persistently harassing the neighbouring Raven family, half heartedly tail chased a couple of pigeons and saw off an intruding female Peregrine. Saw the female entering a concealed nestsite. They’ve failed to produce young for the last two years, hopefully this year will be different.

Kestrel then peregine falcon on Great Tor, 30+ goldfinch, linnet 20+ (incl. 3 singing males), male stonechat, whitethroat and chaffinch all singing too, one swallow overhead and numerous chiffchaff.

An osprey was drifting north up the Garw valley at 14:15 this afteroon. Seen just up from  LLangeinor.

A visit to Broughton today noted displaying Whitethroat and Wheatear. Several small White and Peacock butterflies around. The region is absolutely smothered in Sloe / Blackthorn blossom at the moment, quite a nice sight.

Later at Llanrhiddian c1320 a Great White Egret flew west over to and into the reedbeds there. Spoke to Neil Edwards just after and he’d seen what was probably the same bird over his place.

Later at broadlands, Bridgend I was pleased to note my first Orange Tip of the spring.

Mike

On the reserve, 6+ Blackcap singing, Willow W and Chiffchaff, a few Swallows moving thro’. Also 2 what I’m sure were Holly Blue, 4 Peacock, 1 Brimstone and a Small Tort. Quite a lot of Cowslip in flower now.

Re the cranes I received an email via the web site that 2 cranes were seen heading east over Cowbridge at 12:45 yesterday.

lower end of fairyland, neath

2 black cap

1 chiffchaff

heard a garden warbler but could not see him

the ususal great tit, blue tit. long tailed tit, 1 coal tit, robin, blackbird, corvids, sparrowhawk, house sparrows, chaffinch, dunnock, wren and a good few bee flies, peacocks, 1 tortois shell, 1 yellow cloud

A group of nine braved a chilly, but bright, 07:30 start and energetic walk from Kenfig Ind Est out to the river mouth via Kenfig Castle and back via Morfa Tip. The chance of 2 Cranes kept us alert and the birding was good. Highlights, Marsh Harrier (fem type still about from yesterday), Whimbrel (3), Sandwich Tern (3), Shoveler (pair), Sedge Warbler (1), Reed Warbler (4+), Whitethroat, Tree Pipit and female Redstart. At least 56 species seen over the day between the group.

No luck with the Cranes but there were 2 very early pristine Brown Argus flying along the path at the base of Morfa Tip’s southern slope. Also a few Orange-tips, a Green-veined White, a Brimstone, a few peacocks and a few Small Tortoiseshells along the walk.

News from the marsh.  Reed (18/4), sedge (15/4) warbler back on territory.  Recent ringing info:

http://gowerbirdringinggroup.blogspot.co.uk/2015/04/oxwich-marsh-13-april-2014-incoming.html

Sixteen went on the monthly bird walk at Kenfig on Sat 18th including a welcome new young teenager. Although the east wind meant it was a bit quiet we managed 39 species, highlight being Common Snipe, 6  Lapwing, glimpse of Blackcap, more reasonable views of Whitethroat, Swallow and Rock Pipit.

A few counts from the upper section of the Burry (south shore) today, the terns feeding just south of Loughor Bridge this evening being the highlight: Mute Swan 10, Greylag Goose 15, Canada Goose 8, Dark-bellied Brent Goose 4, Shelduck 304, Gadwall 20, Teal 23, Shoveler 5, Red-breasted Merganser 1, Great Crested Grebe 40, Oystercatcher 32, Grey Plover 12, Knot 1, Whimbrel 11, Curlew 10, Common Sandpiper 1, Redshank 9, Black-headed Gull 405, Mediterranean Gull 1, Lesser Black-backed Gull 74, Herring Gull 286, Arctic Tern 2, Common Tern 12, Sandwich Tern 18, Wheatear 10 & White Wagtail 2.

Iceland gull still present, asleep on the railway bridge at lunchtime.