I’ve finally recovered from the annual Club weekend at Portland Bird Observatory on Portland Bill in Dorset. 12 members enjoyed a productive weekend with some excitng birds. Top of the bill for most was probably the immature Red-backed Shrike at Lodmoor, this location also giving us Little Stint, Curlew Sandpiper, Ruff, Spoonbill and some saw Bearded Tit. The Bill itself produced inter alia, passing Balearic Shearwaters, a Firecrest in the hand and a Turtle Dove!. Also we stopped off at Maiden Castle by Dorchester on the way down and eventually got on to a Corn Bunting. Altogether 104 species were logged. Here’s the full list: https://drive.google.com/…/18K7n4Ne8UE3pAvUT4DV…/view…

A big thanks to all who came, and of course to Martin, Pete “The Prof” Morgan and all others at the Obs.

Several raptor species seen this morning within 0.5 km2 of farmland North of Porthcawl, fem. Sparrowhawk, fem. Kestrel , 3 Buzzards, a Goshawk and the lovely sight of 5 Red Kites in the air together.

Upwards of 150 – 200 Swallows swooping to feed over fields during a general South East movement this morning.

A really good Kenfig public walk on Saturday, down to Sker point through the golf course, then back through the reserve. Good company and fine weather. 41 species

The highlights were- Yellow wagtail, Red Kite, Med Gull, Peregrine Falcon, Goldcrest, and a large flock of Linnet (c40)

Canada Goose , Greylag Goose , Feral Pigeon, Woodpigeon , Collared Dove , Oystercatcher , Golden Plover , Curlew , Black-headed Gull, Mediterranean Gull , Herring Gull , Lesser Black-backed Gull, Cormorant , Grey Heron , Sparrowhawk, Red Kite , Kestrel , Peregrine, Magpie, Jackdaw , Carrion Crow, Great Tit , Skylark , Sand Martin , Swallow , Chiffchaff , Blackcap , Whitethroat , Goldcrest, Starling, Blackbird , Robin , Stonechat, Dunnock , Yellow Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit , Rock Pipit ,Chaffinch, Linnet, Goldfinch 

Went down to Lamby Lake tody and luck a Black Tern swooping – may i say the little B {bird} must be the Usain Bolt of the bird world as i must of have click two hundred time and manage a dozen semi decent images – here two

Just now, Cetti’s warbler singing from the thick willow scrub S.E corner of the lake Not seen but song recorded.

Walked through the upper Dovecote field this morning and around the new tree plantation on the slope above Sully Brook hoping to see some species seen by other observers yesterday whilst I was with the GBC group in Pembrey. Eventually connected with 3 Whinchat using the trees and fence posts as perches. In the scrub area in the middle were 4 Reed Buntings and a male Blackcap. In a patch of what looked like low thistles in the cow grazing field to the west there were 3 Yellow Wagtails which proved quite difficult to see in amongst the vegetation. Overhead a Buzzard mewed, and a few Swallow flew through.

Thank to GB walk at Pembry Old Harbour i watch spectacular events – could be seen straight from wildlife film – a bird, hover, darting down towards the water then flying away with fish – best it here in Wales

The Club trip to Pembrey Harbour and Kidwelly today was pretty successful, with 7 participants. Highlights at Pembrey were 100’s of Sandwich Terns with one giving a nice flight shot opportunity. Also there 5 Little Terns, a few Common Terns and an unexpected Black Tern sitting on the beach. Alan managed to clinch an Arctic Tern. Waders comprised a Barwit, 4 Knot for a while, 4 Sanderling and 2 Dunlin and 4 Ringed Plover. Couple of Gannets were offshore and a good number of Med Gulls were present. At Kidwelly several Greenshank, loads of Redshank, a Whimbrel, 2 Common Sand, and a few of the group lucked in on a Wood Sandpiper briefly. We missed a Curlew Sand at Pembrey, that appeared after we’d left. Click here for the full list of 43 species.

Went to Wentlooge Level’s yesterday – very dry but while walking on sea wall this gull flew over – first i thought just BH gull but size didn’t match, then the grey face hood – ask UK Gull 4 beginners as i thought Glaucous – no black tips on wings and mentioned and confirm by 4 sofar on and gaining lot of like and thumps up – somebody suggest bit rare

On wet Wednesday afteroon i took a walk down Cardiff Bay marine and back to check-out all the Swan, did i mention the rain, all being Mute, then walk across the barrage and great the rain stop, sun came out, yes in among twenty mute was the Whooper Swan less then ten feet away.

Eight GBC members came with me to the Goldcliff lagoons, east of Newport, hoping to see some good waders, even tho’ two of the lagoons were dry. It turned out well with the only wet lagoon, Prior’s, giving us couple of ‘star’ birds – a Little Stint and a Ruff, in with Redshank, Black-tailed Godwit, Dunlin, Snipe, 3 Little Ringed Plover, Lapwing and Oystercatcher [the latter on distant mudflats]. Another star bird picked out by another birder and confirmed by our country recorder, Phil Bristow who was also visiting, was a Garganey, albeit not the showy head-striped male, but a female or eclipse bird with subtly different head pattern from the Teal it was with.
We ended up at the Avocet hide below the sea wall and were immediately rewarded with a couple of Green Sandpipers. Outside the hide I got on to a Whinchat on the fence, together with 2 Wheatear. Back in the hide all hell was let loose when I spotted a bird land on a post near the lagoon. Highly patterned with a marked white supercilium, and two bold white wing bars, A load of images were taken and much discussion ensued as to what it was – clearly a wagtail or pipit of some sort. It was eventually decided it was probably an immature Citrine Wagtail but books would need to consulted later, none of us being familiar with non-adult plumage of that species. It was seen and videoed later that day and immediately ID’d as a 1st winter Citrine Wagtail! Possibly a 1st for Gwent! It was still present today [23rd]. My best images below.
We saw 52 species – full list here.

A few extras from this morning’s GBC walk – Ruddy Darter, Common Darter, and Emperor Dragonflies. 20+ Shieldbugs on Sea Stock – they were brown/grey- did anyone ID them? A Red/(Pink?) Grasshopper.

18 folk came on the Kenfig Public Walk this morning, good to see folk again, including some new people – welcome! The sun came out – after we were all soaked!
Many thanks to Dave Carrington for leading.

We saw/heard 42 species: Highlights include – Whinchat, Sanderling, then Water Rail and Redshank heard in the South Pool area.

Full List:
Canada Goose , Greylag Goose, Mute Swan , Gadwall , Mallard , Feral Pigeon , Woodpigeon, Water Rail , Coot , Great Crested Grebe , Sanderling , Redshank, Black-headed Gull , Common Gull, Herring Gull , Lesser Black-backed Gull , Cormorant , Grey Heron, Buzzard , Kestrel, Magpie , Jackdaw, Carrion Crow , Blue Tit , Great Tit , Swallow , Cetti’s Warbler , Long-tailed Tit , Reed Warbler, Blackcap , Whitethroat , Wren , Starling , Blackbird , Whinchat , Stonechat , House Sparrow , Dunnock , Bullfinch, Greenfinch , Linnet, Goldfinch.

Thinking last night – i’m a birdwatcher before a proud Picture snapper, yes i have an image of the Red Grouse but first i must say – seeing the Red Grouse through eyescopes at least three times of Neck, head, Face and red above the eyes and one of full body, face and two red spots scores A plus. So my well crop Pic of a Neck and blur face in among pink of the flowering Heather, nowhere near the justise of the situation on the mountain side P.s i arrow the neck to help veiwing

Successful GBC trip to the Blorenge today in search of Red Grouse. 2 or 3 were seen, not far from the trig point. They were quite difficult to pick out as they fed amongst the heather. We eventually managed to get everyone on to them – a “lifer” for some of the group, which numbered 18.

It wasn’t particularly “birdy” but we also saw Wheatear, Raven, Buzzard, Swallow, House Martin, Wren, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Meadow Pipit, Linnet and Stonechat. Sadly we didn’t see any Whinchats on this trip. It got too warm for birding after lunch so headed home. {This summary courtesy of Alan Rosney – thanks Al}.

Any news on The Blorenge trip on Sunday ?

Large flocks of Linnets, 600-800 ( possibly many more) feeding in stubble of recently harvested oil seed rape just off the Porthcawl Road, Tythegston. Amongst them were Greenfinch, Goldfinch and Chaffinch but in much lower numbers. The flocks were constantly taking off, splitting, rejoining and landing in the stubble or adjoining hedges.