1 male Blackcap in Brynmill Park. Half-a-dozen Chiffchaffs singing there and in Singleton Park. Brimstone in Clyne Woods.

Spent a day birding ‘across the water’. Excellent views of Bittern, Great White Egret, Garganey and Marsh Harrier were the highlights of the 51 species viewed together with my first swallow of the year over the car park as we arrived.

The hybrid Aythya duck still present on E lake, Cetti’s Warbler singing at far end of the boardwalk, Mistle Thrush singing E paddock, 3 prsof GC Grebes, Green ‘Pecker calling. Also the leucistic Herring Gull still on E lake and getting v v pale – almost all white now except for primaries.

Finally, 2 singing Blackcaps this morning in trees behind Longwood, Coryton. Yesterday, 4 Swallows flew up the River Taff at Forest Farm, Whitchurch.

These two showed well this afternoon at Forest Farm.

The hybrid Lesser Scaup was at Cosmeston in the morning and one of the Bonapartes Gulls and two Med Gulls (2cy and 3cy)were at Cardiff Bay in the morning. Yesterday three Swallows were at Cosmeston West Lake in the evening.

Lesser Redpoll, Siskin and Common Crossbill all showing well from the car park today.

dodgy record shot of the male garganey found earlier today in front of the hide

A Marsh Tit holding territory at Allt-wen Wood this morning was a nice return from a first time visit to this very good habitat. Lots of other typical woodland species there in good numbers, including a singing Chiffchaff.

This evening at Crymlyn Burrows just before HT a Manx Shearwater was sitting on the sea not far from the shore. Although not obviously injured or unwell this was a very unusual sighting for the site was a bit concerning. Not seen to fly off before the mist rolled in. Elsewhere in the bay, before the mist arrived, I counted 3 Red-throated Divers but no sign of yesterday’s summer plumage bird, and 4 Great Crested Grebes near the shipping channel. A Bar-tailed Godwit on the beach was a sign of some wader movement and last but not least a Nuthatch in west wood might be described as ‘Patch Gold’!

A lone Swallow heading west this am.

Red-Crested Pochard fem. hybrid probably from last year is back on the reserve. Lsr. Scaup is also present again.

First swallow over patch this afternoon…

Checked the number of Little Egrets leaving the island roost at first light.Total number-0(zero)!!!

Iceland gull still on Taffs Mead Embankment near Cardiff Central Station, 10:30am. Coming to bread and fairly approachable -well worth a visit!

Iceland Gull still present at Taffs Mead Embankment 8.40am.

Not heard anything about Swallows anywhere yet, but Emma had one over the garden earlier this morning heading west.

Pairs of Dipper and Grey Wagtail late this evening on the River Taff at Radyr Weir.

The lame glaucous gull was in the car park at Newton Point earlier this afternoon. Also, at Trecco Bay, on the falling tide, 25 sanderlings and a single grey plover on the rocks.

Iceland Gull on Taffs Mead Embankment just d/s from the railway bridge refound by Phil Humphries from Pontypridd. 2 Bonapartes and Little Gulls perched on orange buoys by barrage.

6 wheatears this morning; three male and three female.