2 pair of tufteds on the run off pool 1 coot a swallow over otherwise ouiet

Brunel dock ,a pair of shelduck 10 redshank 3 oyster catcher and a female bullfinch

Belated post from yesterday: Winter birds still predominate, though 3 dapper summer plumage Slavonian Grebe at Wernffrwd prove Spring is indeed here. Also there were still 180 D-b Brent in these estuary (plus others still out at Whiteford), 34 Eider at Landimore, 7 R-b Mergs at Wernffrwd and the week saw an influx of G.C. Grebes in the estuary with 51 in one area. Chiffchaffs seem to be everywhere now, but I’ve only heard 1 Blackcap and other than the odd Wheatear, a flock 6 Swallows and 12 Sand Martins on the 2nd, things remain uneventful on the migrant front.

Siinging Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Greenfinch and first Willow Warbler at south shore of the Pool at Kenfig this morning, 38 species overall.

28 species this morning.. 8 singing chiffies.. 2 little egrets… First wheatear of the year

At the end of a challenging Breeding Bird Survey visit to ST1576 (Victoria Park area – two sections of my transect are now gated and inaccessible) this morning, my very last bird was a Common Sandpiper – a major surprise and the only one I have ever seen in that square. The preparation works for the Wiggins Teape Ely Paper Mill site redevelopment have left a deep scrape about 225mx30m parallel to River Ely, which has filled with water.

I saw the bird fly across perhaps 100m from my end point (but in my square) and disappear behind some vegetation. I immediately thought it was CS, but slowly moved nearer till it reappeared on the muddy bank and I could see it well to confirm. By next year, this site will probably be housing, so I’ll probably will never see this bird on ST1576 again, unless by the Ely.

Aslo saw 1 sparrowhawk, 1 blackcap (gathering nesting material) and heard 1 chiffchaff. Other than that, the usual jackdaws, gulls, feral pigeons etc. Finches represented by only one goldfinch and one (heard) greenfinch, whereas there always used to be good numbers of each, plus chaffinches, wrens, dunnocks and robins, before their scrubby home was turned into a new school. Of course, the greenfinches have declined in general.

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.