0930. 4 screaming Swifts over, very briefly. Also Greenfinch calling (has been for weeks)

At last. 2 Swifts with the House Martins (20 or so) over the estate

The ploughed field has been manured today, again attracting birds. Both Whimbrel (5) and Wheatear (4+) continue to drop in for a feed, alongside the resident Herring Gulls, Corvids, Starlings and Thrushes.

There’s a freshly ploughed field at Wigfach which is attracting quite a few birds at the mo. Yesterday lunchtime amongst commoner species were at least 7 Wheatear , a couple of which looked like Greenland, 2 White Wagtail & 4 Whimbrel.

Lesser Whitethroat singing right next to the Athletics Stadium.

Reed Warbler singing, Canton Ditches, Leckwith Road.

Two Whitethroats seem to be holding territory now, Sanitorium Park.

29 April

Whooper swan juvenile. Where has it come from & where is it going?

Lesser Whitethroat, Common Whitethroat and Reed Warbler still singing in the same locations at yesterday. Around 10 Swallows were over W lake for a while and a couple of Sand Martins. A Coot with 4 chicks on W lake. The Robin pix below feature a male attempting courtship feeding by offering a berry to a female who wouldn’t take the bait, and the adult Heron was standing on the main E lake boardwalk on a section that has been temporarily closed off while nearby works are taking place. By the same section of boardwalk was the lovely Water Vole.

Another 8 Whimbrel flying north over Wigfach at 12 noon today (9 passed over last Saturday afternoon). I’ve probably missed others flying over and would have missed these if not for their calls which drew my attention.

During a circuit this morning, a Lesser Whitethroat still singing in the snipe enclosure, and still refusing to show, c.10 Sand Martins and a couple of Swallows over the lakes, Common Whitethroat still on territory by the dipping pond, 1 poss 2 Reed Warblers singing in the E lake reeds, and a male Reed Bunting singing there. Leps of interest on Tuesday were Orange Tip and a Dingy Skipper [see photo], and a Large Red Damselfly. There were 3 active Coot nests that I could see. Some misc pix below.

Garden observations from the weekend. Friday 22nd heard first Cuckoo moving through the woodland. Didn’t stay and moved quickly northward towards higher ground. Also saw first Swallows over the garden (pair) but they also moved on after a short spell of hawking around.

Plenty of singing birds daily including Chiffchaff and Blackcap with more distant Willow Warbler in next field over. Observed mating Woodpigeons, Collared Doves and Green Woodpeckers. Mistle Thrush, Goldfinches and Bullfinches also appeared paired up. Young Robin seen with parent and empty egg found on ground that looks like Song Thrush.

Flyover by two Greylag Geese was unusual sighting for the garden.

Sat on sea wall watching a female Hobby soaring about for best part of five minutes. Also a single (brave) Swallow flitting around and then 2 more Swallows near Llantwit beach..

The pair of Garganey was still present at Roath Park Lake this am.

A few Linnets seen, and then heard 3 or 4 Whitethroat and Chiffchaff, 5 or 6 Willow Warblers, Blackcaps and Dunnocks (seen and heard), 2 Wren, 1 Cetti’s Warbler gave a short burst not far from the lake, my first Wheatear sighting of the year (and that only happened because a tee shot we were watching almost landed on its head sending him or her flying off at high speed!). 1 Sparrow Hawk (seen) and watched a male Peregrine for a while finishing off its breakfast of a bird which, judging by its long dark tail feather, had not long before, been larger than the raptor! On the return trip heard a single Whimbrel call which led us to a flock of 6 flying up from and then down onto the rocks. Single Swallow making its way westwards along the shore.

There were around 10 Sand Martins over W lake this morning with a couple of House Martins, and the Common Whitethroat has set up by the dipping pond, using a small sapling as a song post.

Nothing too exciting but 2 new birds for my year, albeit heard only – Lesser Whitethroat singing in brambles on the right about 200m past the dragonfly pond, and a Reed Warbler singing in the reeds by the main boardwalk. The pair of Gadwall were still present on W lake.

Kestrel hovering over B4270 near go kart track (on way there) also (probably the same) one hovering over the B4265 near Boverton (on way back) Also 3 Swallows over TP and a Mistle Thrush near the entrance.

Several House Martins have joined the Swallows (which arrived monday) over the lake at Pwll y waun. Large numbers of bats are also present in the evening, including, judging by their size, Greater Horseshoe.