12 folk enjoyed the GBC monthly walk on Saturday, a lovely day, lots of birds, ( 46 species) including – 12 Whimbrel on the golf course, a pair of Bullfinch, Sedge Warbler, lots of Whitethroat, and at Sker point – Golden Plover, Ringed Plover , Rock Pipit, Yurnstone, and at the farm,a family party of Greenfinch and ….. a Little Owl.

Really good selection of waders on the rising tide earlier, mostly in their finest garb.

87 Dunlin, 22 Grey plover, 19 Knot, 18 Oyc, 23 black-wit, 6 whimbrel , 2 sanderling .

some of the grey plover were stunning, don’t often see them in full breeding plumage, likewise the knot. Dublin not too shabby also!

Canton, one singing in scrub along railway line.
Reed Warblers at two sites along Ely Trail.
Cettis regularly at Grangemoor Park.

Poss male Golden Oriole seen today nr the butterfly hide – per Facebook. Folk going to check tomorrow.

Plenty of warblers, blackcap,willow, chiffchaff, garden, whitethroat.. 6 whimbrel on the beach.. distant raptor probably a kestrel..  lots of skylarks and mipits.

Common Whitethroat-4 singing; Lesser Whitethroat – one singing near the small pond; Cettis’-one singing.

Yellow-legged Gull probably first summer.

At last Swift the Swift Tower in Cardiff bay is in place. And we did see 20 Swift there on a cold and windy day.

Two Common Sandpipers were on South Pool beach early on and 24 Whimbrel were on the east pool shore together with 4 Wheatear and a House Martin. There were 3 singing Garden Warblers and 2 Sedge Warblers singing intermittently, but occasionally giving good views, in bushes along the main path west from the reserve centre down to the south pool beach.

 

 

Don’t forget the GBC SGM this evening where we wind up the current charity and launch the new CIO [charitable incorporated organisation]. The formalities won’t take too long as there are no elections or anything of that sort. Just Chairperson’s report and short address and Treasurer’s report. There will be cakes! and a couple of raffle prizes. KNNR centre at 7:45

Dave Carrington and myself found this cracking Wood Warbler singing adjacent to south pool hide this morning. It was still there at noon. There were 6 Swift over this morning and approx. 200 Sand Martin and a few Swallow through. There were also 33 Whimbrel gracing east pool fields and a tame f/w u/r Barnacle Goose.

 

3 Swifts were over St. Agustine’s Church Penarth this eve while I was waiting for the Bonaparte’s Gull at Prospect Place. Waited until 8 p.m. when I left Phil Bristow and Graham Smith still looking. Got home to a tweet that it had arrived to roost at 8.08 p.m.!! Oh well, c’est la vie …. grrrrr!

Sanatorium Park–2 singing since 26th April.

a 2nd c/y.  Little gull was on the pill this morning.

2 pr. little ringed plover further up the river y’day

Several swifts have been reported this morning.

The Gower Club walk around Pant Y Sais fen this evening is cancelled due to the weather..

A first winter Bonaparte’s Gull was seen and videoed in Cardiff Bay this evening. Seen from the ice rink boardwalk.

Just before the rain came in, managed to connect with at least 4 Whimbrel on the beach rocks at high tide, plus 6 Oycs. Jeff Curtis had a brief fem Wigeon on E lake at Cosmeston but it had gone by the time I got there.