Whilst working at west Aberthaw this morning we sadly came across a badly injured Barn Owl, very weak and a damaged wing. The area supervisor from Welsh Water was able to get it into a box and drove over to the Barry Hawking centre to see if they could help the poor thing. Unfortunately the prognosis wasn’t very good due to the extent of the injury and the length of time the owl had been on the ground. It had probably flown into overhead cables or the barbed wire fence surrounding the compound. I’ll phone tomorrow for any news.

Some surface water on Flemingston Moor today for the first time in months on a WeBS visit. No Lapwing but 6 Grey Heron, 22 Mallard, 2 Greylag Geese, 2 Mute Swan, 4 Canada Geese and a Cormorant made a change from the almost complete lack of waterbirds in recent months. Also present a Peregrine on a pylon, Stonechat pair, 5 Mistle Thrush, 4 Stock Dove and a Raven.

Earlier, the WeBS count for Sully Island and surrounds included 8 Curlew, 1 Dunlin, 2 Ringed Plover, 46 Turnstone, 69 Oystercatcher, 132 Black-headed Gull, 13 Herring Gull and 9 Lesser Black-backed Gull.

Yesterday morning in the rain there were small numbers of all three hirundines feeding low over W lake [House & Sand Martins and Swallow]. There were a couple of flocks of c.30 Goldfinch, 1 in E paddock and 1 in W paddock. There were a surprising 10 Moorhens around the duck feeding area – Moo0rhens are not usually that visible in the park.
This morning, Sand Martins were still feeding over W lake and there was a light passage of Swallows. Just beyond the snipe enclosure in W paddock there was a pair of Stonechats.

Weds 2000-2045. Barn Owl flew across the road again also 2 Tawny Owls heard, 1 Eglwys Brewis direction the other Llanmaes direction.

Sunday afternoon female Wheatear flitting on and off the fenceposts around the sheep and 2 Kestrels over in quick succession.

Monday 1930 hours Barn Owl criss crossed the road a couple of times – hope it didn’t get as wet as we did!

We had a successful but tiring trip to W and E Aberthaw today with just 7 participants. Highlight at the western end as we walked along the coast path by The Leys, was a Merlin which shot through westwards along the edge of the fields. On the return we had a large female Sparrowhawk and a Kestrel hunting and there were 2 Buzzards by a distsant field. There were large flocks of Goldfinch and Linnet. During the day we got into double figures of Stonechat [c.12 I reckon] and at the E end of the power station an amazing 13 Jays flew up off the ground. A small group of Wigeon were offshore. Waders comprised Curlew, Oystercatcher, Ringed Plover, Turnstone and 2 fly-by Dunlin. A single Teal flushed from the lagoon. Pathside scrub held a juv Whitethroat. At both E and W locations, flocks of [,mostly] Herring Gulls also had accompanying Med Gulls, all ad winter birds. Thanks to Alan Rosney for being ‘keeper of the list’. Full list can be seen here.

Couple of pix of a Jay at Cosmeston yesterday. There have been 3 or 4 flying back & forth collecting acorns. Today in the morning drizzle, 2 Redstarts and a Common Whitethroat were in the snipe enclosure [beyond the dragonfly pond on the right], and in the trees around the bird table there were 2 Treecreepers, a Nuthatch and 6 Chaffinch. Several Chiffchaffs were along the edge of W paddock.

2 Redstart & 1 Comm Whitethroat in snipe paddock Cosmeston, GS Pecker nr dragonfly pond, 2 Treecreeper, 1 Nuthatch & 6 Chaffinch nr the bird table.

I wonder if any of those checking out the Hoopoe this afternoon noticed the Peregrine a few hundred yards off in the field towards the golf course. It was just sitting there on the turf with a posse of Rooks in attendance. I hope it doesn’t make a meal of the local celebrity!

Successful monthly walk at KNNR this morning with 16 participants and Dave Carrington leading. We walked straight out to Sker Farm and watched ‘Strinda’s’ Hoopoe for a while, then walked to Sker Pt, watched a bit from there and then walked back through the dunes via the ‘yellow’ path. A total of 40 species were logged. Highlights – the Hoopoe obviously, several Wheatear, a Marsh Harrier that flew E past Sker Farm, a fly over male Yellow Wagtail, 2 AdW Med Gulls and what was probably a Common Tern in a group of gulls offshore at Sker Pt, Stonechats, Skylarks, a light passage of Swallows….. John Wilson. Full list here:https://drive.google.com/…/1a4w4786y7L4tpZwBWbV…/view…

Can’t follow that! But nice to hear brief Chiffchaff song the last two days.

Managed to find a ‘window’ to drive down to KNNR and walk out to Sker Farm to see the Hoopoe found by GBC trustee Strinda Davies. It performed pretty well in the field it is currently calling home, finding plenty of what looked like black caterpillars to feed on. At one point it was irritated by the sudden arrival of a Wheatear and raised its crest and spread its wings.

Yesterday afternoon’s Hoopoe, found by Strinda Davies, apparently still present at Sker House this morning, reported on the local Whatsapp group.

A bit after the event but a Hoopoe was seen mid afternoon near Sker Farm, apparently still present late afternoon. It also appears that a Ring Ouzel was seen near the R. Ogmore mouth this morning.

An amazing 208 Coot Mute Swan 73 Tufted Duck 13 Teal 4 Moorhen 10. Two colour ringed L/B/B/ Gull and one Black-headed Gull. Also a pair of Coot with four recently hatched chicks.

40+ Ringed Plover, 15+ Dunlin and a few Turnstone feeding amongst the rocks on the falling tide this morning. A single female Wheatear was at the back of beach while another plus a family of Stonechats were in the grassy dunes adjacent to Trecco Bay caravan park.

Peregrine flying west over the car park 1600 hrs, also our only Painted Lady of the year (so far) about quarter of a mile west of the beach.

2 Kestrels together Weds 1500 hrs.

At high tide this morning 8 yellow wagtail near the Cardiff/Newport border on the Cardiff side among a herd of cows. Other birds: Kestrel-2, Wheatear-2, Peregrine over the sea, Sparrowhawk, Dunlin-20, Lapwing – 30+, Curlew – 2

Amazed to see a lone Swift flying over the estate this morning (0830)