Highlights for October

The yank passerine never arrived in Glamorgan,but you never know maybe November will see it turn up? with a host of 'megas' eyes were elsewhere,Alder flycatcher in Cornwall,little blue heron and scarlet tanager in Galloway,Red Flanked blue tail and green heron in Kent, all were twitched by CBC members.Migrant numbers were starting to diminish with only a handful of birds across the area.
A cast of Yellow Browed Warblers at a number of sites,whooper swan, fire crest,Black Necked Grebe,Hen Harriers and grey Phals to name a few.A Hoopoe was in Newport.

1st-Yellow Browed Warbler at Lavernock.Golden plover at Mt.TyTalwyn
2nd-Yellow wag at RGW and Brent goose at Aberthaw.
3rd-40+ house martins and common sand at Cardiff Bay,Brent geese,wigeon,guillemot,med gull at Aberthaw.Hawfich,Yellow wagtail,whinchat,chiffchaff and blackcap at Lavernock.Yellow browed warbler at St.Mellons.
4th-Watermill-green sand,Hoopoe in Newport.
5th-4 med gulls at Porthcawl,Redstart and Goshawk at Kenfig.
6th-Whooper swan at Ogmore,3 med gulls at Porthcawl.
7th-Little gull,Kingfisher and Cetti's warbler at Neath River.
9th-Grey plover,wheatear and little egret at RGW,1500+ swallows and 1000+ house martins over Lavernock.Whooper swan and firecrest at Ogmore.
11th-Black necked grebe at Kenfig.
12th-2 Hen Harriers at Maesteg.
14th-Yellow browed warbler at Kenfig
15th-Red necked phalarope at the Watermill.Caspian gull Cardiff foreshore.
17th-crossbill at Pontcanna,hen harrier,red kite and merlin at Ty Talwyn.
18th- 2 yellow browed warblers at Kenfig,firecrest at Llanhilid.Whooper swan still at Ogmore,2 med gulls at Porthcawl.
19th-Fieldfares and redwings at Pontcanna,50+ siskins at Aberthaw.
21st-Shag at Aberthaw.
22nd-firecrest,blackcap and sparrowhawk at Aberthaw.
23rd-little gull at Cosmeston.
24th-blackcap at Lavernock.
31st-short eared owl at RGW.

Highlights for September

The weather for September was a damned sight drier than it was in August,county rares turned up with Wrynecks putting a show at a number of sites early in the month,redwings heard and a lingering swift mid-month and a Bee Eater towards the end.Migration got well under way for many species with huge numbers of hirundines from many coastal sites,all heading SE.In neighbouring Gwent a Great White Egret was seen at Goldcliffe.

1st-Willow warblers at Nash,swift, spotted fly and green sandpiper at Lavernock.
3rd-Gannet at Cardiff bay along with common and green sandpipers.
4th-Green sandpiper was again at Lavernock along with tree pipit,chiffchaff and whitethroat.
5th-Little gull,c300 house martin and common sandpiper at Cardiff bay.
6th-Ogmore produced common sandpiper,chiffchaffs,whitethroat and 6 common gulls,whilst at Locks Common a Wryneck.
7th-Wryneck again at Locks Common,Heliport saw wheatears,chiffchaffs and a whimbrel.
8th-Lavernock-rose ringed parakeet,18 chiffchaffs,1600 swallows in 2hrs,whitethroat,yellow wagtail,redpoll,garden warbler,spotted flycatcher,tree pipit,blackcap and hobby.Cardiff bay saw kingfisher ,common sandpiper and wheatears.
9th-Porthcawl-6 black terns,15 sandwich terns,2 common terns and 2 choughs,Heliport saw chiffchaffs,whimbrel and a common tern.A wryneck was reported at Kenfig.
10th-Cosmeston-Wryneck and a hummingbird hawk moth,Lavernock-yellow wagtail,whitethroat,blackcap and nuthatch.Spotted fly and lesser whitethroat at cors Crycydd and a hobby over eastern Cardiff.
11th-Cardiff-redstart at dogfield street.Nash saw Whinchat,wheatear and chiffchaff whilst at Portobello there were med and common gulls
12th- Cardiff -redwings over Ryder street and spotted flycatcher at the Heliport.Lavernock produced garden warblers,sedge warbler,chiffchaffs house martins and swallows.
13th-Lavernock-an estimated 8000 swallows past in 2hrs along with a late swift,3 yellow wagtails,chiffchaffs,blackcaps and 2 crossbills.At the black pipe on the Rhymney estuary there were 40 Black tailed godwitts and a little stint.Kingfisher and dipper were seen at Pontcanna on the Taff.
14th-Cosmeston -Wryneck,whinchat and sedge warbler.Hobby at Lavernock and Whinchat at Aberthaw.Garden warbler,blackcap and siskins at Nash,tree pipit,lesser whitethroat and 500 swallows at Rhoose point,greenshank at Bendrick rocks.Hobby at Maesteg washeries.
15th-Lavernock-60+ siskins,peregrine and guillemot.Lesser whitethroat and spotted flycatcher at Heliport.Goshawk at Nantyfyllon.
16th-Kenfig-chiffchaff,siskin,pochard,blackcap,garden warbler & 4 water rail.Aberthaw saw greenshank,little egret and yellow wagtail,summerhouse point produced an impressive count of 27 red legged partridge and at Llantwit major there was a marsh tit.
17th-Cardiff bay barrage-ringed plover,turnstone,wheatear and chiffchaffs.
18th-Cors Crycydd-report of a Hippolais warbler,possibly an olivaceous warbler,unfortunately the bird was not refound,however there was reed warbler,blackcap,whinchat,yellow wagtail,little egret,curlew sandpiper and grasshopper warbler.At summerhouse point there was 7 red legged partridges and at Gileston little egret,wheatear and whitethroat.
19th-Llanbletherry and Gileston there was a barn owl,tawny owl and little owl.At Cors Crycydd there was a juv.scaup,common sandpiper and wheatear.
20th-East Aberthaw produced a Brent goose,sanderling,golden plover,grey plover,med gull and a whinchat
21st-East Aberthaw-grey plover and sanderling.At Cwm Nash there were 2 chough, garden warbler,blackcap and numerous swallows flying SE.Whilst at Cardiff Bay there was a black necked grebe and at Lavernock there was a Goshawk,at Summerhouse point there was 10 red legged partridge,Peregrine and crossbill .
23rd-Kenfig-Marsh harrier,wigeon,sedge warbler and wheatear.
24th-Rhymney great wharf-Honey buzzard,common scoter,wigeon,pintail,whimbel,little egret and wheatear.A little gull was at the outfall at Cardiff bay.
25th-Graig y Llyn-Ring ouzel,peregrine and tree pipit.Pant norton saw a Yellow browed warbler.
26th-Lavernock-Rose ringed parakeet,blackcap,tree pipit,whinchat and peregrine.
27th-Lavernock-produced a Bee Eater flying North along the hedgerows,at Cwm Nash there was 2 choughs,2 peregrine,spotted flycatcher and wheatear.A Yellow browed warbler was reported from Lamby tip.
28th-Lavernock-crossbill and siskins.Redwing over Lamby.There were 2 Ruddy ducks at Cosmeston.At the Watermill there was a green sandpiper and a little egret,with a kingfisher at Portobello.Rhossili there was a Yellow browed warbler,firecrest,pied and spotted flycatcher.
29th-At Sluice farm there was a merlin.
30th-Lavernock-Yellow browed warbler and merlin.

Highlights for August

I suppose the easy way to sum up august would be,wet,very wet,needless to say nothing of any major significance turned up locally,with a wryneck being the best bird.With the exception of the CBC paelagic across the Bay of Biscay the birding has been dire,the weather outlook looks promising with deep lows promised off the Atlantic for September.

2nd-2 med gulls,9 sanderling at Aberthaw
3rd-green sandpiper and juv marsh harrier at Kenfig.
5th-3 green sandpiper at Kenfig,3 common sands at Cardiff Bay,barn owl at Maesteg.
7th-Pontcanna-10 chiffchaff,5 willow warbler and 3 blackcap,5 black tailed godwit and 2 greenshank at Kenfig.Out of county at Goldcliffe 1 wood sand ,7 black tailed godwit, 7 green sands,marsh harrier and a spoonbill.
8th-med gull,little gull and whimbrel at Cardiff bay.
9th-marsh harrier at Trowbridge.
10th-manx shearwater and 'commic' tern at Lavernock
13th-arctic skua and manx shearwater at Porthcawl.
15th-crossbill(2) over Nell's point
17th-med gull at Aberthaw and 6 common sands,4 wheatear,whimbrel and gooseander at Ogmore.
18th-25 black tailed godwit at Sluice farm.Kingfisher at Ogmore to add to yesterdays birds.
19th-5 storm petrels from Cors Crycydd,black tern at Ogmore.
20th to 23rd CBC paelagic to Biscay
25th-whimbrel at Cardiff heliport.
26th-37 med gulls at the Mumbles.
29th-gadwall at Cosmeston
30th-3 choughs at Dunraven, med gull,little egret and common sands at Aberthaw.
31st-bird of the month Wryneck at Blaengarw.Aberthaw saw 20 wheatear,whinchat,whitethroat and lesser whitethroat,whilst at Llanhillid,hobby,cuckoo,yellow wag and peregrine.

Highlights for July

July was a quiet month,the exception being a spoonbill at Portobello island found and photographed by the Llancadle wader.

1st-gropper,nightjar and tawny owl at Cwmdu.
2nd-common sand and black swan at Cardiff bay.
3rd-Med gull and a gannet at Cardiff bay,lesser whitethroat at Lavernock.Kittiwake at Portobello.
4th-Channel 5 enter the 21st century and a photograph is uploaded to the sightings page.
5th-Common sandpiper (12) at the Ogmore estuary.
6th-Storm petrel (3),common scoter (8),manx sheerwater (100+) and gannet(3) at Porthcawl front.Common sand on the river by Lamby lake.Cuckoo and redpoll at Llanhilid.
7th-Spoonbill at Portobello Island nr Ogmore,Gannet and Kittiwake from Cors Crycydd.
8th-A second black swan and a kingfisher at Cardiff bay.
11th-Marsh tit,blackcap and chifchaf at Roath park botanical gdns.
14th-Nightjar (3),little and tawny owl and Gropper in the Llynfi valley.Sedge warbler at Cardiff heliport.
16th-common sand at Lisvane reservoir and Cardiff bay along with a grey seal off shore.
17th-Med gull at Rumney Great Wharf.
19th-Little egret (2) at Cardiff bay
23rd-Med gull and golden plover at RGW.Kite sp. over Barry docks.
24th-Little egret over Lakeside,Cardiff,med gull on the barrage at Cardiff bay.
30th-Common tern and swift (200+) at Cardiff bay.

highlights for June.

After a manic May it was down to earth with a bump in June with normal service resumed. No county rares this month but plenty of recently fledged birds knocking about. Weather wise, some unseasonal S/SW winds during the later part of the month pushed seabirds up into the Bristol Channel, with Manx Shearwater, Storm Petrel, Gannet, Kittiwake, Sandwich Tern, Guillemot, Razorbill and Common Scoter all being seen. Also of interest was a Basking Shark seen off Cardiff Heliport, potentially a first Cardiff record.

Out of county and just over the border at Cantref & Beacon Reservoirs, the Great White Egret lingered into early June. However a Citrine Wagtail in Brecon during the afternoon of 5th was gone the next day, and surely would have prompted a mass exodus up the A470 had it hung around,whilst at Ramsey sound in Pembrokeshire on the 25th a real Welsh mega in the form of an Albatross sp.(probably black-browed) amoungst the gannets . The best Goldcliff could manage was a Spoonbill for several days. Oh and judging from the number of hits, the Blog seems to have gone global during June. We are certainly attracting a lot of interest and we will endeavour to get all breaking bird news onto the site ASAP, so watch this space!

1st Aberthaw - Osprey, Whimbrel, Lisvane Reservoir - Red Kite

4th Aberthaw - Whimbrel (2), Raven (2)

6th McArthur Glen- Bridgend - Red Kite

8th Coed-y-Werin -Caerphilly - Siskin, Garden Warbler, Wood Warbler
10th Llancadle - Red kite

18th Barry - Manx Shearwater (1100), Gannet (9), Fulmar, Porthcawl - Manx Shearwater (1700), Guillemot, Razorbill, Fulmar, Gannet, Kittiwake, Common Scoter (2)

20th Rumney Great Wharf - Med Gull

22nd Lavernock Point - Manx Shearwater (50), Fulmar (2), Guillemot (1) , Cardiff Heliport - Manx Shearwater (15), Sandwich Tern (4ad), Basking Shark (1) Porthcawl - Manx Shearwater (1000+), Sandwich Tern (3), Kittiwake (2), Gannet (10+), Fulmar (10+) 23rd Cardiff-red kite
26th Nash Point - Manx Shearwater 245, Storm Petrel (1), Gannet, Kittiwake, Fulmar , Gileston - Med Gull

29th Peterstone Gout - Manx Shearwater (5), Storm Petrel (3), Kittiwake (2), Med Gull (2)

30th - Breeding Pied and Spotted Flycatcher confirmed Llynfi Valley.

quick round up of the highlights for May.

Weather wise May proved to be unpredictable,hot in the early part of the month,cold & blustery mid-month and warm but showery toward the end of the month.

May proved to be a fantastic month for Cardiff,what with the CBC site set up and running,proving very popular with readers from all over the county and indeed further a field,on the birding front Kenfig & Sker areas went through a purple patch,with the highlights being a Black winged stilt,short-toed lark and Whiskered tern/s putting in a show and a white stork near Welsh St Donats,the highlight must however go to the Arizona 3,Meriwether,secret squirell & portly leader, who,whilst in Arizona managed to stumble upon a tufted flycatcher(shown above),only the 3rd record for the USA.

Round up for Cardiff and surrounding area for May 2008.

1st-Bute park-garden warbler.East Aberthaw-black & little tern.
3rd-Maesteg-wood warbler & pied flycatcher.Green point,-Ring billed & Med.gull.Cardiff Bay-Arctic tern,Med gull & Little gull.
4th-Cosmeston-Cetti's,sedge & Reed warblers,lesser whitethroat.Kenfig-Whiskered tern & Black winged stilt.Maesteg-Hobby.Lamby-Ring billed gull.
6th-Rhymney great wharf-Turtle dove (2).
8th-Kenfig-Short toed lark.
11th-Kenfig,-Whiskered tern.
12th-Maesteg-hobby.
13th-Cardiff-red legged partridge
14th-Cosmeston-Garganey
18th-Dunraven-'transivita' swallow
19th-Cantref-Great white egret.(until 31st atleast)
22nd-Welsh St. Donats-White stork
23rd-Miskin-Cattle egret.