Quiet at high tide this evening, just a couple of White Wagtail through at the Watermill, plus several Sand Martin and 4 House Martin. Not too far away as the Pigeon flies, at Craig-y-parcau a pair of Stock Doves was a nice find for my local patch. Upriver at Newbridge fields, 2 pairs of Dipper and 2 Grey Wagtail were very actively collecting food this morning and a female Mallard had 4 small downy ducklings in attendance.

Before the rain started again this afternoon. This is what I think is either a leucistic herring gull or Iceland gull, but not sure.

A pair of Gadwall on the reserve and 10 Swifts over.

Of the 157 Black-headed Gulls on the south side of the bridge this evening, virtually all were immature. Also present was one of the two 2cy Med Gulls that have been around recently. Whimbrel numbers there are now up to 57, along with 2 Bar-wits, 1 Knot and 200+ Black-wits which have been feeding regularly in this area (these being feeding parties from the Penclacwydd roost of ~450). Earlier a Greenshank was in the pill at Penclawdd, other birds in the saltmarsh transition there including 2 singing Cetti’s, Sedge & Reed Warblers, Reed Buntings, Bullfinches, Song Thrushes, etc.

Single swift over, my first of the year. Impressive count of GC grebes, approx 25 birds, including many displaying pairs. Whitethroat in display song flight, plenty of cetti’s and reed warblers heard, none seen, everything keeping its head down as it was blowing a gale.

a.m. in the rain shower. Sand and House Martin and Swallow over E lake. Cetti’s, Reed Warbler and Sedgie singing by the main boardwalk.

It was relatively quiet in cool blustery easterlies at KNNR this morning.Only a Greylag, a Coot and a few Mallard on the pool but no sign of the Red-crested Pochard. It could of course be hiding in the reeds. A female Redstart was on the east pool shore, with single elusive Reed and Sedge Warblers heard singing in the north pool reedbed. 2 Grasshopper Warblers were reeling in the brambles adjacent to the open areas on the way down to south pool, giving only brief glimpses. Other than that a few Swallow and Sand Martin flew through.

A walk along the river Ely toward Miskin produced several Blackcap, 2 chiffchaff, 2 Willow Wblr, singles of Whitethroat, Reed Btg, Raven, Buzzard, Can Goose, Cormorant, a Mallard fam of 7 & 10 Sand Martin. No sign of any Cranes here or St. Georges

One singing–none have yet moved further up river.

Here is a shot of a Wheatear, taken yesterday, on the hill where John saw his this morning.

http://andyburnsphotography.zenfolio.com/passerines/h28d9e979#he13fd51

Andy

a bit later than Lol & Andy! QUick walk round with the dog and fem Wheatear on the ‘hills’ behind dragonfly pond was all I could muster. Garden Wblr was a nice one – where was that?

The female is still present today skulking in reeds near the north hide. Best viewed from near the old boathouse. 

Very quiet morning – very few hirundines, chiff-chaff and even willow warblers.

Good few warblers singing in the reeds with their heads down.

Only highlight was this Garden Warbler

http://andyburnsphotography.zenfolio.com/passerines/h316eef58#h28d9e979

 

Just picked up a Facebook message from Carl Luxford. A female red crested pochard was on Kenfig Pool last night (Thursday).

Also Darren Coombes had an osprey and 2 yellow wagtails at the saltmarsh/reedbed in the afternoon.

Although the weather looked good , not many migrants around. 1 Grasshopper warbler and a few chiffchaff , plus 9 wheatear . A   pair of wheatear were getting it on around the lower slopes.  

  Skylark an stonechat no.s seemed fairly normal , only other bird of note was 2 cy Iceland gull

Last photo shows the 2 gulls looking at the subalpine warbler which showed whilst i was not looking….if only!

 

Garden Warbler (1); Whitethroat (2) and plenty of Blackcaps in Swansea Vale today.  Sedge Warbler at Swansea Vale LNR but what was most pleasing was a reeling Grasshopper Warbler.  A welcome return for this species to this site following a gap of 3 years, according to my records at least, as the last time I saw this species at Swansea Vale LNR was on 28th April 2011.

Just need Stonechat to return and we’ll almost be back to the range of species we had here a few years ago.

Apologies I know this is not local bird scene news but it needs to be seen by as many people as possible. Despite EU legislation the massacre of 1000’s of migrating birds over Malta very spring is still occurring, with an incredible density of the so-called hunters [80 per sq km!]. Naturalist Chris Packham has decided to try and publicise it more and is in Malta now with a team, creating a daily video diary of what is going on and what the police are, or in many cases, are not, doing about it. Please visit his web site and watch the videos. They are upsetting, but people need to know what is going on. The web site details how you can help. Thanks you for your patience. I have been to Malta and seen it first hand – it is not hunting – it’s shooting birds for fun. BTW if there are no birds they shoot butterflies – really.

http://www.chrispackham.co.uk

Here’s the photo I meant to post yesterday.

Hamadryad – pair of GCG and pair of Mute Swan with nests in the ‘pool’; CBWR pair of Mute Swan with nest, 30+ GCG 30+ Tufted Duck and loads of Reed Warbler, and a Cettis singing. Bay seemingly totally devoid of hirundines and swift.