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.
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.
Lsr Whitethroat seen in the brambles and gorse off the boardwalk but not singing.
Glamorgan still featuring well with Barry on the northern margin getting nicely into his stride.
taken from the Glamorgan Bird Club Facebook page – a report of 4 Common Cranes seen over St Fagans today. Observation was posted as a comment under the Portland Obs post.
In addition to the Garganey this afternoon a Cuckoo was calling from Norton Wood . It was still calling occasionally this evening.
4 Whimbrel were opposite Portobello and yesterday 6 Common Sand and 9 Goosander were on the lower reaches of the river.
cropped from original taken with 400mm lens.
this evening 17:30.
2 swift mingling with a large mixed flock of swallows and martins over the River Taff opposite Hamadryad Park earlier today (10 am) (also Sparrowhawk over).
Should have been a photo attached
Several of these little fellas have been visiting the garden over the past few days
No Common Sandpipers today
Cettis, Reed and Sedge warblers all singing and showing well
One male wheatear towards the dragonfly pond on top paddock
plenty of Swallows, Sand and House Martins on East lake.
Three Mistle thrush –
plenty of Blackcaps, chiff chaffs and willow warblers
A late evening visit produced only 1 Common Sandpiper to accompany the 4 Pied Wagtail and 2 male Pheasants there.
From Sker Court to Sker point. 1130 until 1330.
1 little owl, 2 golden plovers(sp), 1 lapwing, 19 whimbrels, 35 wheatears, 6 stonechats and a little egret at the farm pond, briefly.
Walked thru Reserve into fields at rear, birds singing included 2 Chiffys, 6 Blackcap, 4 Redstart, 2 Tree Pipit, singles of Goldcrest, Mistle Thrush & Green Wdpkr, Cuckoo calling Garth Mtn. Several very vocal Wrens & Nuthatches.
At least 4 Common Sandpipers dotted around the Bay late this afternoon, also 70 or so mixed hirundines with most seeming to be Swallows and 3 Swift. Two Wheatears (male and female) and 2 White Wagtails on the barrage rocks.
If you scroll down a bit you will see that I’ve added a new live Twitter feed in the side bar, which is from a Twitter account set up by Mark Hipkin which will often have more immediate news Tweeted by ‘phone. This feed is also visible on the GRC blog, where Mark first introduced this excellent idea. The feed window has its own scroll bar.
I made it six and maybe even seven (they kept flying around)
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