0610 to 0805: group of ten or so storm petrels through at 0720, 4 skuas together at 0740 (probably Poms), a single common/Arctic tern and 5 fulmars. All birds down channel. Tough viewing conditions out at the point.

This morning there was no sign of the Black, Common or Sandwich Terns seen on the south side of the bridge yesterday evening – the only new birds being a 2cy Med Gull, 33 Dunlin and Bar-tailed Godwit.

Struggled across the barrage this morning with new dog in tow. Just a Common Sand on the inner shore. C.300 Swift over the Bay plus all three hirundines, and plenty of House Martins around Penarth Marina. Nothing seemed to be passing out in the channel although holding bins with one hand and dog lead with the other in a howling gale didn’t make looking easy!

With Watford RSPB group – a breeding plumaged Great Northern Diver was very close in at Porthcawl at 08.00 and later from 15.00 – 16.30 we saw 8 Storm Petrels, 15 Fulmars, adult Gannet and first summer Kittiwake.

At Kenfig Pool the female Red Crested Pochard is still present, while the river mouth produced at least one drake Garganey, a Cuckoo, a pair of Shoveler and large numbers of Swifts & hirundines.

2 Arctic Terns at Dalton’s Point at HT were a welcome patchwork challenge addition in what’s been a very poor May so far. Further out 2 Gannets were the only other seabirds noted in the estuary.

Watch 11:50-12:25 (rain stopped play)
Dark morph Arctic skua chasing kitts off Tutt Head
7 Manx shearwater west
Gannet
Earlier fulmar movement had dried up, with no birds seen.

• Yesterday evening – 100+ Swift over R. Taff

Fulmar 33w, Guillemot 3w, Kittiwake 14e 123w, Manx Shearwater 3w, Red-throated Diver 2 on sea, Great Northern Diver 2w both full s/p, Gannet 5w, Arctic Skua 2 milling around, plus a few Swifts and Swallows in off.

It was nice to bump into Oriole Birding and the hardy Watford RSPB group on a seawatch at Porthcawl from the shelter. Initially quiet, the group retired for dinner, but fortunately for me it livened up after 1810. In a strengthening onshore NW breeze, the following moved down-channel:- 2 Gannet, 2 European Storm Petrel, 2+ Manx Shearwater, 2+ Fulmar, 2 Common Guillemot and a flock of 11 summer plumaged Dunlin. An Oystercatcher was also present at the point.

4 Storm Petreles in total between 12.00 – 12.45 plus three Kittiwakes, Gannet and 2 Common Gulls. Later afternoon – just a skua sp and a tern sp as well as two Fulmars.

1 hr at Lavernock mid-morning – naff all. I shd get up earlier! Did see a Pere fly along the shoreline.

my friends and i were at chasewater light railway on monday  in staffordshire and enjoyed trips on the steam trains as i`m a rail buff . on the return journey the loco had to be taken off and put on the other end of the train and while it was being coupled my friend noticed a bird fly out of a square hole in a buffer of a wooden truck on the rail next to us. i watched and a great tit flew out of the hole! then another flew in and came out a few seconds later. they have a nest of young inside the buffer! even a bee flew in but soon came out! i`d never seen great tits in an unusual  nest sie before so was amazing to watch them . brilliant!

saw my first swifts on thursday .

06:30-07:30
A n/br plumaged red-throated diver on the sea. Last seen just off Outer Head. Foraging.
1 Eider (f), 4+ Fulmar, 2 gannet, 1 guillemot and a grey seal. Seabirds mainly west.
Small scale movement of swallows first thing.

Marsh harrier again – briefly – this evening. Flew over marsh road towards Penrice Castle. Seen from car, then briefly after I pulled over.
9 whimbrel at Nicholaston Pill until flushed by walkers
Nothing in the inshore waters and 2 gadwall on the South Pond.

1330-1500 5 fulmar, 2 gannet, 8 common scoter, 4 kittiwake, 7 whimbrel and 2 shelduck. All down channel.

3 Whimbrel on grass next to Sker Point, 5 near Pink Bay. 4 Wheatear Pink Bay, 2 Pool fields (all 6 female). Red Crested Pochard on Kenfig Pool. A dozen Swifts over pool/east fields. Cettis Warbler seen n/e corner of pool, Reed Warblers heard. Cuckoo seen north side of pool, with lots of Meadow Pipits around it. Lapwing further over. Plenty of Whitethroats and Stonechats.