Two pairs of Greater Spotted Woodpeckers feeding young. Skylark singing in adjoining fields.

All change at the bridge on the incoming tide this morning, no Avocets, no Whimbrel, no Curlew, or much else for that matter, however, a Little Ringed Plover that was flying around calling dropped onto the mud right in front of me. Unfortunately it was so close that when I moved to set my camera up it flew off. Nevertheless a very good PWC bird as this is only the 4th I’ve ever seen on my patch. 181 Black-tailed Godwits were the only other birds of note.

The 2 birds present in the HT roost in front of the British Steel hide at WWT this morning (found by Lyndon Evans & Alun John I believe?), were found feeding south of Loughor Bridge this evening. Between the bridge and Crofty the numbers of all other species have been down over the weekend, counts including 3 GCGrebe, 1 D-b Brent, 367 Oystercatcher, 2 Grey Plover, 33 Curlew, 6 Whimbrel, 1 Dunlin, ~30 Little Egret, 199 Herring Gull, 112 LBBGull, other odds and sods including Gannet and a regular Red Kite.

Up the Neath Valley, 42 active Sand Martin holes in a storage pile of coal duff was something I’ve not seen before.

There are currently twenty odd starlings enjoying the contents of my bird feeders (generally to the disadvantage of the usual tit and finch encumbents!). A family of five first arrived a few days ago but the word has obviously got around.

When I was growing up (some many moons ago now) there were Starlings everywhere and breeding in profusion in every nook and cranny. Over the last couple of decades they have been subject to huge decline as residents. Though I have to don ear plugs and the mess on my patio will soon earn me a good income as guano, it is absolutely brilliant to see them here with evidence of prolific breeding to boot.

There are at least four family groups here at the moment with the parents very busy feeding the voracious youngsters but looking resplendently irridescent in the sun.

Garden Warbler showed very well in the trees along the dirt track not far from the river and by-pass bridge 6.00-6.45am;thanks to Steve Young for finding it. In Grangemoor Park the Lsr Whitethroat for once showed well but briefly, together with a pair of Bullfinch there.Also 2 Skylarks, one in song flight.

3 fox cubs playing on the grass track in the middle of the large reed bed viewed from in front of St.David’s Hotel at 8.45am; adult fox seen crossing the gravel path between the reed beds at 8.15am.

Cuckoo (2), Skylark, Tree Pipit singing, Meadow Pipit, Whitethroat, Garden Warbler (2 together showing well).

Spotted Flycatcher (1) and singing Redstart in woods east of common along public right of way. 

I took a walk out to the rivermouth, generally quiet, but glorious weather with a nice cool gentle S breeze. Plenty of moth and butterfly activity today (Little Blue, Common Blue, Orange Tip, Small Heath, Wall, Peacock, GV White, Cinnabar moth). Just 1 ringed Plover flew from Pool over the Burrows towards the beach and I was accompanied all the way out to the sands (and back later!) by 2 noisy territorial Lapwing! Out at the rivermouth there were 50+ mainly imm. Common Gull roosting with the LBB, GBB and Herring gulls, 2 Tufted Duck and 5 Sanderling and about 10 or so Swallow trickled through northwards. Inland at the saltmarsh and sandy slack there were a pair of Little Grebe, 3 Grey Heron, numerous Mallard and Canada Geese with ducklings and goslings, hunting Kestrel, 2 Coot, dozens of Skylark and Meadow Pipit, a male Wheatear, 4+ Sedge Warbler, 6+ Reed Warbler, a dozen or so Linnet and 4+ Reed Bunting. On the falling tide at Kenfig Sands a small wader flock included 8 Ringed Plover, 2 Dunlin and 6 Sanderling. Back at the Pool, the Mute Swan pair have 5 cygnets.

Not a lot about today.  I did manage a reasonable shot of a Reed Warbler

http://andyburnsphotography.zenfolio.com/passerines/h27389d89#h27389d89

…but is it me are these birds getting more secretive? Lots of reed warblers about but all hiding at the bottom of the reeds. I thought by this time they would be singing from the tops of the reeds.

 

…….and an update on the cranes earllier in the week I have contacted Damon who heads up the Great Crane Project. He confimed two of the birds as Tamsin and Chocolo. The third, he could not identify but thinks it is definitely one of theirs (the rings are hidden under the feathers). He gave me some info on movements and confirmed that they are quite mobile. More info with the pics of the birds.

http://andyburnsphotography.zenfolio.com/waders/h3be4e3b9#h3be4e3b9

Well worth a look at the Great Crane project site if you havent already been there.

http://www.thegreatcraneproject.org.uk/

No sign of any cygnets, goslings or Gargeney.

One singing early morning in fields off Lansdowne Gardens. Five Blackcaps, just two Common Whitethroats but no Lesser Whitethroats again, where, until a couple of years ago the species was  “traditional” throughout April and May, probably breeding.

Two nightjars churring at Llanwonno last night just after 21.30. Both were heard from near the 2nd forestry entrance on the right up the hill from the Brynffynnon towards Rhondda. Tree Pipit, Kestrel, Cuckoo and Tawny Owl were nearby, along with lots of singing Song Thrush, Robin, Blackbird and Willow Warbler.

Had a look off Thurba and nearby headlands this evening – in the hope that the earlier Risso’s dolphins might come by. Lots of porpoise activity off Thurba (as there had been off Tutt Head early afternoon) – with at least 4 animals present – but no Risso’s.
Otherwise, whimbrel, shag, and a family party of stonechats at Red Chamber, and the bird highlight, a lesser whitethroat in Ram Grove – full of testosterone and making aerial song flights and singing from an exposed perch more like a common whitethroat.

Family party of ravens over skewen this afternoon 2 ads 3 young  

2 whitethroats in scrub next to macdonalds Car park Fabian way swansea 

One present and singing for a couple of hours this afternoon in a suburban garden a quarter mile from nearest water/river.

2 Cuckoos calling in the reserve at 11.00am when I arrived. One was close to the boardwalk but flew off almost immediately giving good views in flight; the second one continued calling for about 10 minutes, then fell silent and did not show again. I bumped into Steve Strutt 15 mins earlier in Grangemoor Park and he had just come from CBWR and did not see anything so they must have been just passing through. Hard luck, Steve!

05:30 – 07:30 this morning:  Several Gardens Warblers showing well – the best views I’ve ever had of this species.  Also a Cuckoo, Wheatear, Kestrel, lots of Tree Pipit, Skylark, and Willow Warbler, and several Stonechat, Blackcap and Whitethroat.