8+ wheatear on RGW plus whimbrel and whitethroat. 2 more wheatear at Cardiff bay but too late for the y wagtails that had been seen earlier

Tawny Owl hooting briefly small hours of Tuesday morning from beside railway.

A bit late posting this, but I nipped down to Cardiff Bay on 19th Apr to see the immature Boonaparte’s Gull that had been found the day before. It was out with the Black-headed Gulls, viewed from Plas Taliesin – Penarth Marina., too far out for decent shots. At the Cardiff end of the barrage there were 2 Rock Pipits on the outer rocks, one of which was singing [never heard that before]. A few showy Greenfinch were near the old dock, where 50+ Sand Martins were busy choosing holes in the walls for nest sites. One obligingly perched on a jutting out twig on my side of the dock, to give a good photo opportunity. One image shows how far away the Bonaparte’s was! – spot the gull!

First two Whitethroats of year as well as confiding Common Sandpiper on bank next to me. Chiffchaff, Cetti’s warbler 4,Sandmartin, Stonechat, Dunnock, Tufted duck 1pr.

Two singing males at Sanatorium Park Flood Plain this morning.

Very early breeding record. 3 juv Song Thrush along canal path

2 wheatear feeding on w end of mountain – also good to see kestrel, stonechat, linnets, tree pipits – plus restart singing from down in valley

Sedge Warbler returned to pool near the bridge over Nant-y-Gedd

Goshawk circling over the bottom track.

No Whitethroat yet

Tuesday April 13th with Alex Hagge.

A walk through Coed-y-Bedw NR failed to produce any Pied Flycatchers but we did have nice views of a male and female Siskin on the ground with the female collecting nesting material. Also Goldcrests, Wrens, Jay, Tits etc. We returned to the car via the Garth Hill Trail through the fields with 5 singing Redstart and a Singing Tree Pipit. Green and Great Spotted Woodpeckers heard and a distant Red Kite seen.

Goosander 9 one male House Martin circa 50 Grey wagtail 2 Coot 4 nests two with chicks Shelduck 1

On the daily dog walk today , still 2 separate pairs of Goosander on the Taff . Plenty of singing Blackcap , Chiffchaff and Willow Warblers plus displaying Greenfinches .

Over the last week have noticed a pair of Great Tits occupying a nestbox but unfortunately today it has disappeared , can only assume someone thought it would be good fun to rip it down or steal it . Also workmen cutting down bushes / small trees , why do they do it at this time of year ?

Male Ring Ouzel at Cog Moors Sewage treatment works.

3 common sandpipers at green point. RGW highlight was a little ringed plover flying off a saltings pool, plus at least one whimbrel, 3 wheatear

The Common Redstart was in E paddock again this morning, in the same area. Got a couple of nice shots against a better background, but still from quite a distance. One below as taken and the other cropped with the bird in a better pose. Nothing else particularly special although a Buzzard dropped into trees behind the dragonfly pond.

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One Common Sandpiper.

Grangemoor Park, Willow Warbler-3.

Great Crested Grebe -3.

Cetti’s Warbler-1.

great white egret, group of 7 white wagtails, gadwall with ducklings, 2 snipe, 150+ sanderling on beach, just one whitethroat, one singing reed warbler, and lots of willow warblers were among the highlights. Also Italian lords and ladies (a first for me)

Cosmeston a.m. produced a v smart male Common Redstart in E paddock, 2 singing Willow Warblers by the Mile Road, and an obliging male Pied Wag by the car park picnic tables. Also there of interest, a Tawny Mining Bee and a Buff-tailed Bumble Bee which was carrying a load of mites [these re apparently harmless to the bee but take a ride too the nest where they clean up detritis and other unwelcome guests]. If you’re on Facebook there’s an interesting post here: https://www.facebook.com/monktonreserve/posts/1555662794623353

Due to a visit to Brackla to collect something we decided on a quick visit to Kenfig. There were c.1000 hirundines over the pool, mostly Swallows and Sand Martins but I did pick out a couple of House Martins. Willow Warblers singing everywhere plus Chiffies and Blackcaps but couldn’t find any Whitethroat. It did rain tho’ – continuous light rain getting more & more steady. Had a pair of Linnet in the dunes and a pair of Bullfinch feeding on buds, plus a Stonechat.

20-25 Swallows and a single Sand Martin this afternoon.Also at Goldcliff 20 or so Swallows earlier in the day.Lots of reports from both counties today,nice to see them back.

Truly impressive numbers of swallows, house martins (in abundance), and sand martins this pm.

A walk round today with our 2 teenage grandchildren. In Cogan Wood Flynn & I had a nice encounter with the local Marsh Tit by the dragon tree. A GS Woodpecker was heard calling there, and a Buzzard was sitting up high in a tree. At W lake there had been an arrival of Swallows, with 30+ feeding over the lake and a single House Martin was with them. Another GS Woodpecker drummed briefly in the wood near the Medieval Village. Snapped a bumblebee sp on Hawthorn blossom in W paddock.