In CBWR a mink in a tree (seen with Eileen Y,Peter H,3 Park Rangers and the 2 MOPS who found it); great excitement at first thinking it was an otter but wiser heads eventually prevailed. Also 33 GCG. No sign of yesterday’s Gadwall pair. 9 Reed Warblers, and 1 Sedge Warbler singing briefly and intermittently.
In Hamadryad inlet pond, the swan’s nest was burned out last night; no sign of the swans.
In Grangemoor Park, a Lsr Whitethroat singing for the second day close by the thick metal chimney stack and another LW 400m away singing just over the IKEA boundary wall.
5 Shellducks yesterday on the mud by the barrage rocks engaged in a strange neck-rolling mating ritual.

No Garden Warblers today (!!) but plenty of activity.

A good shot of a whitethroat

http://andyburnsphotography.zenfolio.com/passerines/h28d9e979#h26f84842

Lots of reed and sedge warblers heard but few seen. Cetti’s in at least 3 locations.

Also the first cygnets of the year at Cozzy – on the west lake, with the Male of the adult pair chasing off all the dogs that turned up

http://andyburnsphotography.zenfolio.com/waterfowl/h32ccc051#h32ccc051

highlights am today 3 drake Garganey plus first Swift of the year (JD & TA)

Franklin’s Gull, Spoonbill and a Black Swan on the marsh at dusk, all Glamorgan-side. Black-wits up to 263, otherwise wader numbers down a little.

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.