Lesser Whitethroat singing this morning. A lot of dragonflies at the pond including a pair of Emperors in cop and a number of Black-tailed Skimmers & Blue-tailed & Large Red Damselflies. Several Brimstones seen and a few what I took to be Common Blues.

A pair of Shelduck flew u/c at St Mary’s Well Bay. 

Nice range of species in the early morning sun -Best of being 3 singing Garden warblers, a singing male Redstart, a pair of Stone chat  and a little unusual for here ; a pair of Stock doves

A few more shots from Unst this week. An Arctic Skua and a couple of Bonxies.

http://andyburnsphotography.zenfolio.com/seabirds/hb0f2daf#hb0f2daf

We walked through one of the larger breeding colonies of Bonxies – around 500 pairs getting ready to nest, so very easy to get close. Also lots of pairs of Arctics both light and dark morph despite their rapid decline in numbers up in Shetland.

Andy

A GC Grebe on the Taff near the bridge by the cafe in Bute Park was out of the ordinary at least for that stretch this lunchtime and worth a mention.  Good numbers of swifts, house and sand martin too. 

While my better half went shopping in tesco I spent the time by the river afon the sand Martin colony was busy with adults and juvs on show also 6 pied wagtail 4 grey wagtail a dipper and a female goosander sleeping on the exposed rocks not concerned with the nearby traffic or people, better than shopping 

2 local walks in ST08 this week, totalling approx. 7hours, produced 53 species – included confirmed breeding Dipper with young in nest, female Sparrowhawk just failing to take a non-ID pigeon right in front of us, male Wheatear at previously known breeding area, 5 singing Tree Pipits, Redstart, Stonechat pair, 4 singing Wood Warblers. No Kestrel or Cuckoo, as has become the “norm”.

A pair of Yellow-crowned Weavers (also known as Bishops) Euplectes afer were seen by John Shepherd at Swansea Vale on the 25th. Relocated today by Alastair Flannagan – some pics HERE of these striking birds.

…still looks a slow day down in Glamorgan, so here is a Caspian (not siberian!) Stonechat (only 5th recorded in UK??)

http://andyburnsphotography.zenfolio.com/passerines/h266c529d#h266c529d

Taken on Fair Isle

Andy

Checked the small sand Martin colony by the mine museum at least 5 family parties involving about 30 birds also of note garden warblers spotted fly a male redstart green woodpecker willow warbler and cuckoo 

Just like Minsmere, but with fewer celebrities.

…It looks a slow day down in Glamorgan, so here is a Cetrine Wagtail, taken just outside the area.

http://andyburnsphotography.zenfolio.com/passerines/h14b333d#h14b333d

We’re about 5 miles from Muckle Flugga.

Andy

Just had the rather bizarre sight of a Fulmar flying past from my lounge window!

Newport Wetlands: Savi’s Wbr. still present this am showing & reeling intermittently. Also present Marsh Harrier & Cuckoo [MCP early am, JH & DRWG mid morning]. Well done to Matt Meehan for a VC35 first and a really rare bird nationally.

A Spoonbill was again feeding on the Glamorgan-side of the estuary on the receding tide this morning (SS5597), 9 Dunlin there the only new birds seen. Yesterday evening in the same area a Pale-bellied Brent was flying around with a Dark-bellied Brent.

Llanrhidian marsh road had 1 lesser white throat at the village end, a comm. redstart was singing from some oak trees within farm fields.unfortunately , couldn’t  get views of it. Can’t say I’ve  heard one singing on Gower before.

At Allt Y  Graban, pontlliw ,  1 pair of garden warbler  both birds sounding slightly agitated. One further singing male further up the road

Garden Warbler still singing in Canton; Reed Warber singing in Grangemoor Park plus Skylark as usual.