An Arctic Tern has been feeding in Cardiff Bay today. First seen at around 8:30 this morning by Peter Howlett on his regular round of the Bay, I wasn’t able to go until early afternoon. I set my scope up by Plas Taliesin by Penarth Marina and after some scanning soon picked it up flying back & forth more or less mid bay, looking towards the Taff road bridge. It continued to fly back & forth in that general area all the time and was still present when I left at 2:30. The House Martins from the nests in the Penarth Marina apartment complex were very busy feeding over the water. On my way back I came across the smart male Grey Wagtail below on the concrete wall at the opening of the entrance into the Penarth Marina locks. When it few off it was joined by another.

There was 1, poss 2 Spotted Flycatchers present this morning, in the edge of Cogan Wood about 75m beyond the dragonfly pond. I had 1 in open view for about 10 secs, then it moved back into a leafy tree, and appeared to be chased by another, then both birds disappeared further into the trees. I’d tried checking on the path just inside the wood but couldn’t relocate. A Green Woodpecker was in a tree just down from the pond and a few Swift were feeding overhead. A couple of Buzzards were thermalling.

Yesterday, 22nd May we had our first proper field trip since Covid restrictions were eased, although we stuck to our limit of 10 participants for the time being. Despite an unexpected wet start, we enjoyed good views of Pied Flycatcher, Common Redstart, Wood Warbler and Tree Pipit in the oak woods, plus plenty of common woodland species. A Garden Warbler also gave good views near the car park. Alan Rosney has the foresight to bring some seed to ‘bait’ the feeding log by the car park and we had superb views of a male Yellowhammer and a Marsh Tit dashed in and out too, plus a male Great Spotted Woodpecker. In total we saw 40 species. The Afon Tywi was impressive and, incredibly for the time of year, was in full spate. Clear of the woods we saw several Red Kite, a couple of Buzzards and a Kestrel over the nearby ridge. Photos clockwise – Pied Fly, Common Redstart, Tree Pipit, Yellowhammer, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Wood Warbler, Pied Fly. The Pied Flycatchers and Wood Warbler were nowhere as near as the images would suggest. The full trip list can be seen by clicking here.

Wood warbler singing this morning in Castell Coch woods, but didn’t hear any in the Wenallt

House Martin numbers are now up there with the Swallows and Sand Martins, maybe a couple of hundred of each, possibly many more, it really is impossible to tell. Late afternoon after heavy rain and the air is swarming with them feeding on the small flying insects rising from the filter beds. A few Swifts have made an appearance but not many. I would imagine its a great feeding place for bats during the evenings.

This morning, cuteness x 6! We think the nest was one right near the cafe. Reed Warblers are still singing in both reed beds, Cetti’s Warbler was shouting somewhere near the cafe, Grey Heron far side of W lake and the Lesser Black-back was yelling whilst we had our coffee under the trees in the car park. Two Swift flew over whilst we sat there.

During a pause in the rain I was walking along the main boardwalk, on the ‘T’ by the cafe, when I noticed a couple of birds chasing each other in the reeds, one suddenly perching up on a reed stem – a Reed Warbler. The first time one has shown decently since they first arrived, despite having been singing well for the last 2 weeks. I just had time to grab a couple of shots before it disappeared back down into the base of the reeds.

12.30 pm a single Red Kite slowly flying quite low over road to Porthcawl between Tythegston and Happy Valley.

This morning we had our first Saturday Kenfig birdwalk since lockdown , very enjoyable and productive too! Great to see some old friends.

We are still running these with Covid restrictions- only booked participants, not sharing equipment, not using the hide, maintaining social distancing.

We saw/ heard (h) a total of 52 species! The highlights were ,a singing Tree Pipit, -a rarity for Kenfig, Dunlin, Sanderling, Turnstone and a purple Sandpiper at Sker, lots of Hirundines flying low over the pool, with Swift over too.

Full list

Blackbird, Blackcap,(h) Bullfinch, Buzzard, Canada Goose, Carrion Crow, Cetti’s Warbler( h), Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Collared Dove, Coot, Cormorant, Dunlin (6), Dunnock, Gadwall (1), Goldfinch, Great Crested Grebe with young, Herring Gull, House Martin, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Lesser Whitethroat (h), Linnet, Magpie, Mallard – with at least 9 ducklings, Meadow Pipit, Moorhen, Mute Swan , Pheasant, Pied Wagtail, Purple Sandpiper (1), Reed Warbler, Ringed Plover (2), Robin, Rock Pipit, Sand Martin, Sanderling (6), Skylark, Song Thrush, Starling, Stonechat [with young], Swallow, Swift, Tree Pipit , Turnstone (22), Wheatear, Whimbrel, Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, Woodpigeon.

With many thanks to Dave Carrington for leading.

Good few hours this morning best of which was a surprisingly late Short Eared Owl seen flying along the beach from Sker direction before flying into the dunes towards the pool . Also a Peregrine hunting over the pool catching a hirundine and plucking it midair was good value . Lots of Hirundines and Swifts over the pool , fields and dunes .

Warblers seen were Chiffchaff , Willow , Blackcap , Cetti’s , Sedge , Reed , Whitethroat ( everywhere ) and 1 Lesser Whitethroat .

Waders at Sker were Oyks , Purple Sand , Ringed Plover , Dunlin , Sanderling , Turnstone and Whimbrel . Also 3 Wheatear ( 2F 1M ) .

An amazing number of Swifts,Swallows and House Martins over the bay this morning.The majority were Swifts,maybe several hundred.

Lots and lots of Blackcaps singing today, the pictured one high in a tree. The Wren was singing in the reeds by the dipping pond, and the Cormorant was drying its wings by E lake. In a dense clump of bushes and trees 100m past the dragonfly pond, I’m pretty confident I had a singing Reed Warbler which is a bit unexpected considering how far it is away from suitable breeding habitat there. Here’s a link to a short vid on youtube – no bird, but the song coming from the bushes! … https://youtu.be/yoZBTwJmqfg There were some nice twisted branches in Cogan Wood which I took a nice image of but the B&W high contrast version works pretty well.

Greenfinch seen and heard calling from tree by the bridge over the stream with tuneful backing from an unseen Willow Warbler. Then very close to the above junction 3 Swifts flew low and silently over the field for a minute or two.

Decided on a change of scenery and drove to Bryngarw Country Park on a very dull day. It was a very pleasant circular walk, initially alongside the R. Garw, which was a raging torrent. A Dipper was resting obligingly close on a mossy tree that had fallen across the river and a Grey Wagtail showed briefly in the same area. An active Goldcrest had moss in its bill and looked as tho’ it was buiilding a nest behind some Ivy on a tree. There was plenty of common birdsong including many Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs. Wood Anemones and Greater Stitchwort were in flower. Whilst having a coffee outside the cafe, we were entertained by a tame Nuthatch, which had a nest in a hole in a nearby tree.

Canton Ditches (opposite Asda!) Reed Warbler singing.

Along the river between Leckwith Hill and Penarth Road, 3 Cettis singing.

Grangemoor Park, one Sedge Warbler, two Common Whitethroats.

Had a go at seeing/hearing as many sp by bike in the cardiff authority area – reached 82 (plus wood warbler out of area) Nothing truly remarkable but good to see first cuckoo and garden warblers of the year (by Garth Mtn), plus several lesser whitethroats, wheatears (RGW), lots of redstarts below garth, common sandpipers in C Bay – alas really missing any winter ducks or waders. Only embarrassing miss was no treecreeper. But it was a great way to spend a sunny day! ( I am told the record is 97!)

Pretty quiet bird-wise this morning although plenty of common birdsong – Wrens, Robins, Song Thrush, Blackbird, Blackcap, Common Whitethroat, Cetti’s Warbler, Reed Warbler. A pair of Mute Swans with a nest on W lake, Coots and Moorhens with young and a Moorhen sitting at the dipping pond [photo]. There were 5 Great Crested Grebes but the only nest I was aware of seems to have flooded out – not unusual. The insect is a nomad Bee [one of three species which are v difficult to ID from a photo apparently].

Marsh Tit calling around the Pool at the bridge over Nant-y-Gedd. Whitethroat, Sedge and Reed Warbler also present.

Goosander 2 drakes near the jetty Great Crested Grebe 24 Mute Swan 35 a Mute Swan and GCG nesting close proximity. Lots of ‘hirundines’ over the bay difficult to estimate numbers, mostly Swifts. Others: Kingfisher 1 Reed Warbler 7 Cetti’s 4 Whitethroat 2 Blackcap 1 Chiffchaff 1 Reed Bunting 2.

Interesting brief encounter this morning. Whilst walking past the snipe paddock towards the dragonfly pond a bird suddenly appeared flying across the open area and settled briefly in a tree by the sipe paddock, then flew off again – a Hawfinch! A small wintering group had been present up to at least 18th Mar, but a record in May is interesting. I couldn’t relocate it. All three hirundines were over the lakes in the steadily increasing wind.