100+ Sand Martin over W lake in heavy rain this morning and a lone Swift.

A flock of 40 Mistle Thrushes flew over the road near Tedegar Park junction 28.

Most of the action around the fenced off area of west paddock – 2 Tree Pipit , 1 Spotted Fly , 4 Blackcap , 1 Garden Warbler , 4 Chiffchaff , 3 Willow Warbler , 1 Common and 1 Lesser Whitethroat . 1 Redstart on posts at lake end of west paddock . 1 each of Buzzard , Sparrowhawk and Raven over .

Reported to me via email – a Nightjar was heard last night at dusk on Old Casle Down. It was calling from the left hand side of the common near the ridge off Pen y Lan road.

Near the Penarth end of the coast path just E. of the big field, 1 Garden Warbler and a few Chiffchaff. A little farther west, 2 Greenfinch and 12 House Sparrow. o/w pretty quiet.

Willow Warbler singing (half heartedly) 0700 13/08/19 Andrew Lewis

Reported this a.m. Pied Fly in trees by st davids hotel also Garden wblr, lsr whitetheoat and 20 blackcap.

A good mixture of species seen this morning . 45 Canada Geese at the rivermouth with the usual gulls and a few waders , mainly Oystercatcher and Curlew and 2 Dunlin . Singles of Kestrel , Sparrowhawk and Buzzard hunting over the tip . At least 100 Linnet , 6 Greenfinch and 3 pairs of Bullfinch , plenty of Goldfinch . One group of 5 Wheatear were in the beach area along with several Rock Pipit . 6 species of warbler were seen , Blackcap , 2 Garden Warbler , Reed Warbler , at least 10 Common Whitethroat , Chiffchaff and some really smart looking Willow Warblers . 53 species in total 7.50am to 11.30am .

Dipper on Nash Brook, Monknash 1500 hrs. Sunday 11th August about half mile from sea. Andrew Lewis.

A few Gannets reported this morning offshore at Lavernock and Cardiff including one in Cardiff Bay.

Rather late doing a sea watch [other commitments] so from 13:10 to about 14:15, just 3 Fulmar, and 2 Gannet [1 ad and 1 2nd yr] down channel from the searchlight ‘shelter’, which felt as if it would be blown off its foundations at times! Much earlier, Phil Bristow had 2 Arctic Skuas, a single Storm Petrel, many Manxie, and a flock of Common Scoter, all d/c.

At least 165- Mute Swans today,most mainly just up from the road bridge.Also 1-Common Sandpiper.

A single Common Sandpiper along the embankment by Penarth Marina/R. Ely mouth this morning, plus 100’s of Hirundines over the water, mostly Sand Martin but House Martins mixed in [active nest noted on house near the Penarth Marina outer lock gates] but no doubt plenty of others. Also whilst on the Barrage I noted about 6 Swifts feeding over the water.

Water level is quite low at Llwyn On reservoir with the bridge visible and lots of mud along the shoreline. On a visit late yesterday afternoon 7 Grey Heron (including a juvenile), 1 adult Ringed Plover, 10 Pied Wagtail, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Little Grebe, 2 Buzzard, 10 Cormorant and 2 House Martin.

A 3 hour circular walk around Cardiff Bay was generally quiet . A Common Sandpiper and 3 Turnstone were along the Ely embankment . Lesser and Common Whitethroat , Blackcap and Reed Warbler were seen near the boardwalk area at CBWR . 7-8 Swift seen in total with lots of Sand and House Martin and a total of 11 pairs of GC Grebes with chicks of varying ages .

1400-1630, 06 August. Male Bullfinch and 2 Whitethroat in woods. Male Stonechat bathing in stream with female in vicinity- also 4/5 Goldfinches and 4/5 Linnets drinking. Andrew Lewis

In W paddock, flock of c.15 Long-tailed Tits with 3+ Willow Warbler and some Blue Tits. Also folk of 20+ Goldfinch with at least 2 Greenfinch in attendance. 1 Green Woodpecker in W paddock. On W lake near the bridge a pair of Little Grebe with 2 very small chicks – either a second brood or another pair, as there was a full grown imm a few weeks ago. Ad fem Blackbird feeding a fully grown youngster between the cafe and the office building. Think they have nested in nearby bramble.

August 5th,1230-1530 Coast path between Llantwit Major and Nash Point. Peregrine flying, Female Wheatear, Willow warbler, Blackcap.

Drinking from the Colhugh as viewed from the cafe seats :- 6 Greenfinches and a Yellowhammer in a huddle, 1 Pied Wagtail, 4 Goldfinches, 3 Carrion Crows.

An imm male Common Redstart was a nice surprise in a hawthorn bush south of the dragonfly pond near the lower gap in the W paddock hedgerow. It flew off into the nearby edge of Cogan Wood. Also 1 Willow Warbler, ad Green Woodpecker in W paddock on the dragonfly pond side of the hedge, and a pair of Gt Crested Grebes on E lake with 2 half grown young. These are either a second brood for the pair that had a single surviving chick raised to maturity earlier, or a late brood from another pair. Had no idea there was another nest.

Amazing find by Gareth Stamp this aft of a Manx Shearwater in Cardiff Bay, reported c.16.30. I eventually found it sitting on the water offshore by the Environment building, viewing from the Ice Rink boardwalk. It was still there at 6 and looked settled so maybe will stay overnight.

Also present were a few Swift, and plenty of House and Sand Martins over the water.