Glorious spring day in the valley today. Lots of woodpeckers drumming, tits clearly prospecting, woodpigeon courting and the highlight, first Chiff Chaff of the year for me, seen and heard at Mill Wood area.

chiffchaff singing in the lane behind illtyd street along with 2 buzzards, red kite and a merlin flying over

9 red-throated divers close inshore off the pill this morning.  Also 6 GC grebe a bit further out.

15 Redwings and a Ring-necked Parakeet in Singleton Park. In Clyne Woods was my first singing Chiffchaff of the year, as well as 2 Brimstones and Red Admiral, Small Tortoiseshell, and Peacock butterflies.

2 Red Kites and 3 Buzzards low over the fields in Llanharan, between 1400hrs and 15.30.

A ring ouzel was found by two photographers on the farm field near the pond this morning. Dave Lewis and myself managed a brief view of the bird before it flew off over the dunes.

20 plus Turnstones at Suly Beach at High tide

Little Gull still in the bay. 2 fem Black Redstarts in marina. Sprawk again f/o. A party of 5 Ravens over CBWR.

Jack snipe among the birds captured on the marsh this morning.  More here: http://gowerbirdringinggroup.blogspot.co.uk/2015/03/oxwich-marsh-18-march-2015-sniping-from.html

A visit to Porthcawl this evening between 1700-1800h was enlivened by at least 2 Purple Sandpipers on the rocks by the seawall in front of the Lifeboat shop, together with 40 Turnstone. A total of 36 Black-headed Gull mostly in or acquiring first summer / adult summer plumage were in two different groups along the seafront

HD Pic Link
Great Grey Shrike. Just as I was packing up with no show, he gets out of bed at 3pm! He was very wary, but just sat in a tree for an hour. I was hiding behind a copse, suddenly he swooped over the top making ‘kestrel’ type noises and was off, possibly a warning. Bright little bird, like a carnivorous parrot. Coincidence that he chooses to stop at the ‘Thieves Pass’? Kudos to whoever found him, not a top birding destination!

Also first wheaters, kestrel, buzzard, fieldfare, raven, stonechat, linnet, GSW, all kinds of songbirds.

A pair of Grey Partridges was in gorse at Ogmore-by-Sea. Good to know that a small population is seemingly hanging on in the area.

Little Gull  on  Taff  again but soon  flew  off  towards  the  bay  11.30am. Vg  views of  Sprawk  male  on  roofs  in  Plas  Taliesin. Yesterday  3  Black  Redstarts  ( 1 m, 2 f ).

First chiffchaff of the year singing this morning… lots of parachuting meadow pipits.. one kestrel.. many many rooks

The Lesser Scaup was very near to the boardwalk outside the cafe this morning so if anyone is still waiting to get a good picture of it, now’s the time.

For those of you interested, Lol Middleton and myself went up to New Brighton yesterday to see the very tame Laughing Gull that has been on the Marine lake there. Half a dozen shots at
http://andyburnsphotography.zenfolio.com/laughinggull/h141f207f#h141f207f

For those of you who need it as a new one, it looks like it has taken up residence so now is the time to go. Very easy to spot although the description on Larsson’s ‘bible’ on gulls says it is the size of a common gull. It looked far more the size of a BHG to me.

Back to Cossie this morning!

Early on with Dave Ripley at the Watermill, 2 Grey Heron, 20 Teal in the flood, 1 Pheasant plus a Great Spotted Woodpecker flew in to trees along the Ewenny river. Later a little Egret flew up from Merthyr Mawr towards there. Merthyr Mawr was busier, another 14 Teal were in the meadow pools together with 4 Curlew, 6+ Pied Wagtail and 35 Meadow Pipit. 2 pairs of Buzzards were soaring and Woodpeckers continue to drum in the woods. A walk to the confluence of the Ewenny / Ogmore produced 6 LIttle Grebe, 14 Canada Goose, 3 Shelduck, 6 Teal, 3 Goosander (1m 2f), fem Gadwall, 16 Mallard, 1 Redshank, 2 Grey Wagtail and a Linnet over calling. PWC list for my inland patch now up to 63 species.

Field trip on Weds to Forest of Dean for Gos, Hawfinch, Mandarin, MarshTit etc. Aiming to get to New Fancy View at 9 a.m. altho’ that may be a bit optimistic given morning traffic. I am aiming to leave St Margaret’s Rd, Whitchurch at 07:45 depending on how long it takes me to get there from Penarth! New Fancy View is N of Parkend here http://tinyurl.com/lt2jlrv [see the orange arrow]. Whatever, we will all eventually be there at NFView and hope the Gosses perform.

Drake Lesser Scaup still on W lake with about 6 Tufties. Flock of 50 winter thrushes in W paddock, c25/25 Redwing/Fieldfare. Six Chiffies fly-catching from the trees adj W lake by the central path. 1 Jay by the central path. No Sand Martins. 2 Mistle Thrush singing in woods behind the play park.

Little Gull back on the Taff by Hamadryad Park opp. Channel View 9.30am and 11.30am. 4 Sand Martins there also, and a ringed ad. Med Gull in sum.plumage on the pontoon by The Sand Wharf building – again flew off before I could scope it. 2 Black Redstarts ( ad.m and fem/imm ) still present in the outer harbour and Plas St. Andresse.