A Blackcap was singing this evening in the Clyne Valley.
Lots of butterflies here today Peacock 10 Comma 4 Brimstone 1 several Chiffchaff and Blackcap singing.
Cosmeston a.m.
A buzzard was in the same tree as the other day [ovberlooking the dipping pond]. I saw one of the Kingfishers exit from the E lake bank by the mile road where they nested last year, and it then alighted in an adjacent overhanging bush for about 5 mins. Possibly nesting already? A Treecreeper was in trees by the boardwalk path/Mile Road junction [3rd time I’ve seen one there]. On W lake I watched a vicious battle initially between 2 ‘pairs’ of Coot, then 2 others joined in. They were going hammer and tongs and it looked as tho’ one of each fighting pair was trying to drown the other. This went on for about 10 minutes! A pair of Greenfinch together behind W lake on the elevated path was an unusual sight these days.
Finally a 2nd cal yr Yellow-legged Gull was on E lake.
Swansea
2 Chiffchaffs were calling along the River Tawe this morning; another was at Pluck Lake, where Mute Swans were nestbuilding.
In the Clyne Valley, another 2 Chiffchaffs were calling, Green and Great Spotted Woodpeckers were seen or heard, and Blue Tits were entering the nest-hole used last year by Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers. The Spring sunshine brought out 5 Brimstones, 4 Peacocks, and 1 Red Admiral and 1 Comma.
Somerset
The Glamorgan Bird Club had a successful trip to Ham Wall RSPB & Shapwick Heath yesterday, Sun 24th with 22 participants making the journey. Highlights were plenty of booming Bitterns although only 2 lucky folk managed to see one VERY briefly, Marsh Harriers in the air most of the time [with some display], Great White Egrets, an elusive Glossy Ibis, and a pair of Garganey. 61 species were seen in total.
Cardiff Bay
At CBWR this afternoon a Bittern flew across the lagoon, where there were 40+ Great Crested Grebes. many in display mode, and a pair of Goosanders. Both Little Gulls amongst the thousands of mainly Black-headeds out in the Bay, and 5 Sand Martins explored the dockside holes near the former Dr Who Experience building.
Cosmeston
A Willow Warbler was at Cosmeston this morning near the bird table [per Jeff Curtis and Graham Smith].
Sluice Farm
Amazing record on Twitter of 40+ Water Pipit at high tide this morning, with many in summer plumage, plus Wheatear and 2ndS Med Gull.
Rhymney Est.
Late WeBS. Water Pipit at Green Pt Rhymney Est but on Lamby tip side of river mouth. V high tide no waders!
Correction – Redshank [600] were upstream on the grassy river bank by Lamby Way. Also 43 Teal, 4 Shelduck and 2 Oycs.
Cardiff Bay 3 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
2 male Wheatears were on the outer barrage rocks near the sails, plus 8 or more Pied Wags [couldn’t find any White Wags]. Over at the ice rink boardwalk the adult winter and the 1st winter Little Gulls were feeding mid bay, although by 4:30 they weren’t doing much flying – could be picked up on the water with concentrated scope work! On the grassy area with some ‘decorative’ rocks outside Cardiff Pointe flats, was the 3rd male Wheatear showing very well. The top two pix were on the barrage and the bottom two were at Cardiff Pointe.
Cardiff Bay
Wheatear 2 males Sand Martin 4 Chiffchaff singing Cetti’s Warbler 2 Great Crested Grebe 18 Greenfinch 10 Goldfinch 12 Raven 2 lots of gulls feeding.
Fenrod lake
42 Canada geese 22 mute swan 30 +black h gulls the usuall mallards tufted ,Pochards coots and moorhens
At swansea vale were 15 magpies a pair of Canada geese
Pair of. Tufteds few pairs of coots and moorhens
Earlier this week there were 26 house sparrows on my feeder in Briton ferry
Cosmeston
1 Greylag Goose on E lake. Saw 2 Treecreepers this morning – 1 by the S. entrance to Cogan Wood and the other by the SW corner of E lake. 4 Reed Buntings chasing through the E lake reeds and 2 more by the bird table. Buzzard circling over the car park. 2 drake Shoveler on W lake plus 1 ad Little Grebe and 1 Gadwall visible.
Gileston
It was a Hen harrier day yesterday. In addition to the male at Heol-y-Cyw, a ringtail was seen and videoed over the fields at Gileston – vid is on South Wales Birding Facebook page.
Heol y Cyw
Male Hen Harrier quartering field at junction of Pant Hirwaun and Heol Laethog at 1:00 today before heading off south towards Cefn Hirgoed.
Cosmeston
Highlights this morning. Three Sand Martin and a single House Martin over W lake, drake Scaup under the tree by the end of the reed bed on W lake [presumably back from Cardiff Bay] and a pair of Shoveler under there too. Chiffchaff fly-catching by the main bridge.
lamby lake
2-Chiffchaffs in trees between lake and railway line.Bittern booming from reeds at eastern end of lake.10h00-10h45
Cardiff Bay
Wheatear still showing well on the waste ground by Empire Way near the Ice Rink. It often flies onto the bit of grass by the Ice Rink car park.
Kenfig NNR
Twelve folk joined us on the GBC public birdwalk this morning, we were pleased to see/hear 36 species in the very blustery conditions.
The highlights were- Great white Egret, Slavonian Grebe, Black-necked Grebe, 12 Reed Bunting. Potential breeding evidence was shown by 2 pairs of Carrion Crow by/in nests, a pair of displaying Mute Swans, a couple of Great Crested Grebe investigating the reedbed, and a pair of copulating Tufties. Spring is around the corner!
Black-necked Grebe, Blackbird , Blue Tit , Canada Goose , Carrion Crow,
Cetti’s Warbler (heard), Chaffinch , Collared Dove, Coot , Cormorant , Dunnock ,
Gadwall , Goldeneye , Great Crested Grebe, Great Spotted Woodpecker ,
Great Tit , Great White Egret ,Greenfinch , Greylag Goose , Herring Gull ,
House Sparrow, Jackdaw , Lesser Black-backed Gull , Long-tailed Tit , Magpie ,
Mallard , Mute Swan , Pied Wagtail , Pochard , Reed Bunting, Robin ,
Slavonian Grebe, Teal , Tufted Duck ,Woodpigeon ,Wren (heard).
Cosmeston
Chiffchaff singing in the same place as yesterday, this morning. Treecreeper on tree opp the end of the Med Village path. Pr Shoveler sheltering under the trees by W lake reed bed, 1 drake Pochard that I could see, 4 Gadwall and the usual Tufties. No sign of Scaup.
