Highlights of the GBC field trip today – thx to the 15 folk who braved the cold wind. 1 Common Sand at the pool plus plenty of Sand Martins and a few Swallow, Gadwall, 4 GCG, good nos. of singing Willow Warbler, male Blackcap. 5 Buzards were active over the rivermouth area. At Sker, 13 Golden Plover and 1 Grey Plover, 10 or so Ringed Plover, Turnstone and Oyc, and a male Wheatear between Sker Farm and the coast. 49 species in all.

Glaucous gull in the breeze near Porthcawl Lifeboat Station.

4 new PWC birds in as many minutes on the south side of the bridge mid-morning. 3 Little Ringed Plovers were main highlight,  backed up with 4 Gannets and singles of Common Sandpiper and Whimbrel. A small number of Sand Martins on the move, all heading south-east!

0800-0930 Willow warbler (3 at least), blackcap singing (6), chiffchaff  (10+), cetti’s (3 calling), single swallow, pair of sand Martin, male sparrowhawk and lots and lots of greenfinch which is encouraging.

2 Reed Warblers singing.

Not much on the seaward side in the strong breeze. Several mead pipit and skylark
Singing/calling, green woodpecker and buzzard also. The only migrants; 3 sand Martin, willow warbler and 2 tree pipit all along the edge of the pines by the lodge.
The tree pipits gave excellent, prolonged,views dropping down to feed on the paddock ,which I’m not used to on passage birds.

House Martin (1), Swallow (3) and Raven (2) over Taff at Morganstown. Also a few Blackcaps singing.

Willow Warbler singing near in Whitchurch this morning.

Vixen followed by dog fox along track to last years den.No sign of Reed Warbler.

In Hamadryad Park, c.30 Sand MArtin and 1 Swallow overhead, pr of GC Grebes nest building in the lagoon, Willow Warbler singing briefly near the road bridge.

Cardiff Bay wetlands – Cetti’s Warbler singing nr the yacht club, Reed Warbler singing to left of the gravel path, 24 GC Grebes, 1 Grey Heron. V cold & windy.

Grasshopper warbler, 6 snipe and a jack snipe at the marsh this morning. Duck numbers now low – 11 gadwall, 8 mallard.

Common sandpiper on the rocks and 4 Sandwich terns off the point

At about 1400h 9 Sandwich Terns were on the beach tideline at low tide plus 5 Gannet offshore.

Emma Cram

Garganey still present on Fountain Pond today [per Margaret Samuel – thanks].

Two singing male blackcap at Clyne and a very active dipper. Counted half a dozen Chiffchaff.  Bullfinch, greenfinch and willow tit calling as well as peckers drumming. Jay and woodpigeon with nesting material. Also jackdaws and starling nesting in and around houses on Gower Rd.

Osprey noted heading north over Mynydd Pen-y-Cae. Yesterday pm.

Wheatear in W paddock this morning, and Egyptian Goose still present 11 a.m.

A male Ring Ouzel was between the car park and the walled garden, this morning.

Redstart male in the large reed bed from the stones in front of St.Davids Hotel. Oystercatcher on the reserve also.Song Thrush imitating Redshank same as last year.Trees in Hamadryad Hospital finally being cut down.

Mix of upto 20  Swallows and Sand Martin over North shore of Kenfig Pool yesterday evening 7.45. Lively vocal pair of Gt Crested Grebe, one with fish far too big to swallow and which it released on a dive. Several singing Willow Warbler.

14 Sandwich terns this evening

This afternoon I received a text from Dave Ripley alerting me to the presence of another Osprey over Ogmore Estuary. Luckily I was at home at the time and was able locate the bird as it moved inland over Bridgend, more or less over Broadlands when I saw it, and at some height by then.