From 27 June: a Sparrowhawk carrying prey, flew over W paddock.

4th July – a fem/imm Redstart flew out of the snipe paddock as I was walking through the ‘cut’ and settled in the scrub to the right. In W lake bay a Little Grebe chick showed briefly and a breeding plumage Black-headed Gull was on the posts.
5th July – an adult Grey Heron was by the N shore of E lake

Today, 6th July: Anne spotted a Kingfisher briefly by the main bridge – the usual flash of blue across the water. On checking the small sheltered bay on E lake by the bridge, there were 2 Kingfishers sitting on a dead tree branch in the water. Both have all black bills so they’re either juveniles or males. The latter seems unlikely unless they’re both fully grown male juvs.

A surprise Cuckoo flew out of cover and posed in a dead tree in the snipe enclosure this morning. A rubbish photo as it was about 75m away if not more, so taken at max zoom and even then, cropped massively. It did not vocalise. The last one I saw at Cosmeston was in June 2020 in roughly the same area. More recently there was 1 at Sully in May 2021 and 1 at Lavernock reserve in June 2023.

Ely Bridge, Ely.

Dipper on the River Ely just below the main Cowbridge Road West, viewed from the pedestrian footbridge.

Yesterday morning, 2 Stock Dove flew over W paddock. This morning, 2 Ravens were over Cogan Wood, and a Lesser Whitethroat was singing on and off in scrub near the snipe paddock [100m beyond the dragonfly on on the right]. Reed Warblers still singing by dipping pond and in reeds nr the cafe. Lots of Ringlet butterflies on the wing.

Common Sandpiper seen at Cosmeston 23Jun25.

An adult and a juvenile Green Woodpecker at Cosmeston this morning. The bird on the right is a juvenile [no black moustache and a streaky face]. The other is a female [solid black moustache – a male would have a red streak down the middle of the ‘tache]. This was near the dipping pond, where I’ve seen an ad a couple of times recently, so I reckon they nested in the copse nearby.

Ring Necked Parakeets regularly at this park with up to five seen last week. Proof of breeding also with an adult bird feeding a fledged young bird on one occasion .

For anyone who visits Llanishen & Lisvane Reservoirs, the list below should be of interest. It has been complied by 3 regular birders there – Nick McNeil-Watson, Phil Bristow and Simon Lawrence. It’s a complete list of all species seen at the reservoirs in 2024, and illustrates its importance as an oasis for birdlife in the city. Well done guys!
The embedded pdf below is scrollable – the list is 2 pages.

Monday at Cosmeston. A Green Woodpecker was foraging as they do, on the ground near the dragonfly pond. It flew up into a tree and I managed to creep out of view to behind a bush and got some nice shots. They’re easily spooked.!

Following Martin’s post about his sighting of a circling White Stork whilst most of us were in the Avalon hide, here’s a quick overall resumé.
14 members enjoyed a successful trip to the Somerset Levels and Ham Wall RSPB reserve yesterday. We saw [or in some cases heard] 60 species including the key birds of Bittern, Hobby, Marsh Harrier, Great White and Little Egrets and in the case of two lucky observers, a circling White Stork! The numbers of dragonflies and damselflies present was impressive. Birds are usually quite distant hence only a couple of poor photos, but below are some nice odonata shots. Here’s the full bird list:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1yW0IRUBj-Lq-mKsdS_TjUxbzrchn_eVl/view?usp=drive_link

Very high and long distance

There were lots of Common Blue Damselflies at least a 100 many in tandem along with Red-eyed Damselfly new to us here Broad-bodied Chaser 2 female ovipositing Banded Demoiselle male and female Blue-tailed Damselfly 6 and Emperor dragonfly 1 male. A Lesser black backed Gull was seen to take and kill a Canada Goose gosling of which there were many.

Dipper on the River Ely at Ely Wells this morning.

A belated brief report of our club field trip to the Castell Nos upland area north of Maerdy. This was led by club member Ceri Jones, who is familiar with the area, and co-led by Alan Rosney. {Edit} There were a pleasing 23 participants. Highlights were 4 Cuckoos, Whinchat, Redpoll, Crossbill, Tree Pipit and Peregrine, out of 39 species seen. The list below was compiled by participant John Western – thanks John. I was away and unable to go …. sadly {John W}

Species list: Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Woodpigeon,  Cuckoo, Buzzard, Kestrel, Peregrine Falcon, Carrion Crow, Raven, Coal Tit, Great Tit, Skylark, Sand Martin, Swallow, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff,  Blackcap, Whitethroat, Goldcrest,  Wren, Mistle Thrush, Song Thrush, Blackbird, Robin, Whinchat, Stonechat, Wheatear, Dunnock, Grey Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Tree Pipit, Chaffinch,  Bullfinch, Linnet, Redpoll, Crosshill, Goldfinch,  Siskin.
Non avian wildlife seen was as follows:
Butterflies:- Peacock, Small Pearl – Bordered Fritillary, Small Heath, Green – veined White, Common Blue, Red Admiral, Painted Lady.
Moths:- Meadow Grass -moth, Oak Eggar ( larva), Plain Pollen -moth, Brimstone moth ,  Silver  Ground Carpet, Common Heath.

More misc wildlife – including a couple of birds! The Long-tailed Tit looks a bit tatty, no doubt after raising a sizeable brood. The Coot juvs were in the W lake bay, one sitting nicely surrounded by Water Bistort. The hoverfly is “The Footballer” [Helophilus pendulus], and the Four-spotted Chaser dragonfly was at the dipping pond.

Quiet bird-wise but Brimstone was nice plus my first spike of Common Spotted Orchid in E paddock. The Buzzard was over the dipping pond area and the Broad-bodied Chaser male was by the ditch at the back of the cafe.

Parc Cwm Darren

Four-spot Chaser at Parc Cwm Darren 18th May.

One singing , Sanatorium Fields this morning.

Two singing Whitethroats nearer St Fagans than Fairwater.

Two Dippers. One half way along the trail the other just 400 metres from Fairwater (where the trail starts).

Eight folk took a gamble on the weather this morning and were well rewarded!

We saw/ heard a total of 51 species. The highlights were – Osprey on the coast over the sea, Peregrine Falcon flying over, 7 Whimbrel at Sker Point, 8+ Wheatear, 10+ White Wagtail, a very smart Red Bunting and a pair of Kestrel perched near the barn at Sker House, and … a bright Yellow Wagtail by the pond at Sker.

Full List-

Canada Goose , Greylag Goose , Mute Swan, Gadwall , Wigeon, Mallard , Tufted Duck, Pheasant , Feral Pigeon, Woodpigeon , Collared Dove, Coot, Little Grebe , Great Crested Grebe , Ringed Plover, 7 Whimbrel , Herring Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull , Cormorant , Osprey, 2 Kestrel , Peregrine, Magpie, Rook , Carrion Crow , Blue Tit , Great Tit
Skylark , Sand Martin , Swallow , Cetti’s Warbler , Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff , Whitethroat , Wren , Starling, Song Thrush, Blackbird , Robin , Stonechat, Wheatear, House Sparrow , Dunnock , Yellow Wagtail , White Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Rock Pipit , Linnet , Goldfinch , Reed Bunting

Many thanks to Dave Carrington for leading and navigating the route through the flooded slacks! Also everyone else for coming along and helping with ID