A couple of sightings of Willow tit on my rounds today. A pair was in scrub just north of Hirwaun industrial estate and a singing male in Nelson in the scrubby area behind the handball Court

A few observations from my ‘working from home desk’ this morning.

Treated to a goldcrest hovering the other side of the window like a humming bird whilst picking insects from under the eaves – fantastic to see but no camera to hand!

Another first was a pair of mating chaffinch . See chaffinches everyday but have never witnessed them actually mating before – Spring is in the air.

Otherwise, a really splendid looking male bullfinch, treecreeper, 2 nuthatch, lesser spotted woodpecker, grey wagtail checking out the pond, great, blue and coal tits, several robins and blackbirds, dunnock, house sparrow, wren, magpies, song thrush and a resident mistle thrush. Not easy getting any work done!

On the weekend, usual buzzards (up to 4), pair raven, single red kite and sparrowhawk, but also a peregrine. Still awaiting garden chiffchaff and other migrants such as blackcap and swallows. Carrion crows are still carrying lots of nesting material and have a woodpigeon on a nest in a conifer. Redwings may have departed.

I visited Kenfig for the first time in months yesterday thanks to the relaxation of covid rules. I had an excellent time with many first year sightings. I started my day at the pool where I saw my first sand martins of the year, a flock of 35 skirting about the water feeding, right in the centre of the pool. There were many waterfowl present there too, 15 gadwall, 6 tufted ducks, 7 teal, 3 shovelers and a single female goldeneye. From the hide I had a great view of the female marsh harrier hunting over the reed beds, taking several swoops down into undergrowth although each time coming up empty-handed.

Next I made my way through the dunes down to Sker point, with sightings of a lapwing, reed bunting, 3 snipe, and a great white egret at the various flooded pools. The sounds of skylarks and meadow pipits were abundant, with sights of both flocks on the move over the dunes and fluttering specks in the sky singing.

Hoping to do some sea-watching, I failed to realise that the conditions at Sker would not allow it, with huge waves crashing and a strong headwind, long distance watching was not possible. Instead, I chose to focus on photographing the shorebirds which were numerous along the rocks. I had great views of the purple sandpiper in particular, 5 were very obliging as they stayed in close company of a turnstone. The flock of golden plover along the shore were well on their way to full summer plumage, with a striking variety of stages in the 300 or so lined up along the rocks. Having tried to carefully approach, they were startled and flew up into the sky in a swirling flock, which stayed in the air for almost 5 minutes before settling on the fields in front of Sker House.

The passerine activity on the fields in front of Sker House was incredible, I counted (at least) 15 wheatears along the walls and common here although their flighty nature made it tricky to create an accurate total – I expect the true number is closer to 25. Another nice sight was 3 breeding plumage stonechats landing on the common and singing. Before I left I even spotted a hare sitting in a field further down towards Porthcawl, typically I barely came any closer before it was long gone…

I finished the day in my garden at Boverton, a grey wagtail and pair of moorhens have become regulars to the pond and fed in front of me as I watched from the hide. There is a water rail too which I hear squealing occasionally from the undergrowth behind the wall but he has yet to actually venture into the garden. The resident female kingfisher has also departed for the time being, she used to hunt regularly on the pond back in mid winter but I expect now she has moved elsewhere for breeding.

Just as a little side note – I have a little radio diary on Bro Radio on the 31st about bird and wildlife watching in the Vale as a student, thought I’d mention it as it might be of interest to a couple…

Paid a visit mid to late afternoon, finishing at about 5:30. There were 4 Fieldfare and 2 Redwing feeding on Ivy berries in a tree near the play park. The Redwing were occasionally singing which you don’t often hear. A Phyllosc type warbler appeared briefly and my grabbed shot just as it started to take off, shows it was ringed. I don’t think it’s the Willow Warbler that Graham Smith had found there yesterday tho’. It’s a rubbish photo as it was distant so it’s a huge crop. At around 5 p.m. 30+ Sand Martins suddenly appeared – there had been none in the morning. They flew around until I left. Down near the wooden bridge in the wood on the left a male Blackcap was calling and then burst into song. Also had a a Chiffchaff there singing – again poor pix due to lack of light and sizeable cropping.

drake scaup still present + drake shoveler this morning. Impressive flock of ~100 sand martins overhead – the air crackling with their buzzy calls – cettis singing seemingly everywhere

On a cold windy day: Sand Martin 20 Swallow 1 first of the year for us. Goosander 13 (two drakes) Also Lesser Black-backed Gull colour ringed F:458

A dinner break walk along the Tawe, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Dipper and a couple of Redwing.

During a walk around the lake this afternoon i counted 17 occupied Coot nests along the fringes of the lake and islands.

3 Sand Martins, 1F 1M Goosander and 1 Chiffchaff, in a quick stop at Swansea Vale.

Kestrel hovering over Marcros. Green Woodpecker flying west to nearby St. Donats and then heard calling. 1 Yellowhammer heard near Frampton and 4 Greenfinch and 6 Chiffchaff heard on the cycle ride.

A varied day today. At home it was nice to see a Greenfinch on the feeder [been a rarity for a number of years, previously having been the most common bird in the garden]. Also a Goldfinch collecting nest material this morning [fur from our dog]. A Greenfinch was collecting this resource yesterday.

Walked across the Barrage. A 1st cal yr Mediterranean Gull was feeding over the bay near the Penarth Marina side and there were c.1000 Black-headed Gulls were over the whole bay. No Wheatear on the barrage rocks, sadly. Sad to see a LBB Gull with what appeared to be a broken or at least badly damaged wing on the inner shore. It was gone when we came back – presumably swam off. A few Sand Martin were flying around over Roath Basin by Porth Teigr and one inspected a poss nest hole in the channel connecting to Roath Dock. There were none over the small dock just before the empty area where Dr Who Experience used to be, where there’s usually 20-30 nesting birds.

5 Crossbills (1 male} in trees behind Miners Memorial about 3 pm

David Rich

With a kestrel, I have just reached 100 sp within the Cardiff city boundary for 2021. I must add that all birds were seen (cettis heard) by foot or by exercise on bike, i.e., all compliant. Just goes to show what is on your doorstep, and there are plenty of migrants still to come.

Circular walk yesterday from Sully via Cog Moors and Pop Hill and a short stretch of the coast path produced 48 species in total. Two Blackcaps were singing near the water treatment works on Cog Moors and a Cetti’s Warbler was singing from scrub along a nearby water channel. Jay, Great Spotted Woodpecker and several Redwing were in trees along Green Lane, and two Green Woodpeckers were calling in the woods on Pop Hill. Greenfinch were singing at six locations on the walk, but there was just one singing Chaffinch, at The Oxhams on the south side of Dinas Powys.

Three Grey Heron and pairs of Teal, Buzzard and Linnet were on the moors. A Snipe flushed from Cadoxton River bank, and a Grey Wagtail was working its way upstream along the river.

Cosmeston a.m. 6+ Chiffchaffs were singing – managed to grab a shot of one by W lake. A Skylark was singing over the upper dovecote field which was nice to hear. As it parachuted back down it was joined by another just before landing – promising? Fem Stonechat was in the plantation of saplings further along above Sully Brook and a lone Redwing was in trees there. W lake has an active Mute Swan nest and Coot. 2 prs of GC Grebes present. Pochard now seem to have departed. but there aere a few Tufties left. 2 Fieldfare flew out of the conservation area. House Sparrows were dust bathing near the Medieval Village.

Today a lone Fieldfare was in trees by the central viewpoint, noted during a hurried visit. Two pairs of Mute Swans were being amorous so will hopefully nest. The pair pictured on the water had just mated.
Just for the record below, a couple of shots of displaying/singing Dunnock from 19th Mar and a record shot of a Hawfinch.

Redshank don’t often stop in Sully Bay (just a few records annually) but two were resting at the water’s edge in calm conditions yesterday morning. Five Canada Geese flew east along the coast before heading inland towards Sully Moors or Cosmeston. A Great Spotted Woodpecker was drumming in trees near Beechwood College and a Goldcrest was singing and Bullfinches feeding along Hayes Road.

Cetti’s Warblers seem well-established on Sully Moors. Three were singing there yesterday including, for the first time for me, one north of the Barry/Dinas Powys road. Other sightings on the moors included singles of Fieldfare and Redwing and two singing Skylarks.

A single Hawfinch was in the trees of the small copse on the left past the dragonfly pond at Cosmeston, as per 2 days ago, at 12:30 today. Flew off but came back again. Seems to like that little group of trees but very nervous, as indeed they always are. Nowt much else to report – car park was more or less completely full – loads of people around E and W lakes.

Red Kite over house 1000 Hrs. Also Blue Tits bringing nesting material into nest box.