19TH - 31ST MARCH 2007

An early drake Garganey was on the Ogmore Estuary on another cold day on the 19th, when five Goosander and two Green Sandpipers were also present. Two Hen Harriers were still at Llanrhidian Marsh and seventy Sand Martins were at Cosmeston Lakes. On the 20th, the Water Pipit was again at Llwyn On Reservoir and a male Northern Wheatear braved the freezing conditions at Southerndown. A better day on 21st produced eight Slavonian Grebes, 38 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 33 Eider, 21 Red-breasted Merganser, a Merlin and a Peregrine, 133 Golden Plover, 191 Curlew, a Green Sandpiper and a Northern Wheatear on the Loughor Estuary. Three Little Gulls were again at Cardiff Bay and Northern Goshawks and Red Kites were seen displaying in several places. Eight Purple Sandpipers, a Northern Wheatear and a Black-tailed Godwit were at Ogmore Estuary and another Purple Sandpiper and Wheatear, along with 162 European Golden Plovers were at Sker. Kenfig Pool had 27 Sand Martins.
The 23rd saw the Water Pipit still present along with the Greater Scaup at Llwyn Onn Reservoir and Common Chiffchaffs seemed to arrive en masse. On the 24th, a Willow Warbler was at Lisvane Reservoir and the Great Grey Shrike was again at Perthcelyn. Two Jack Snipe were at Kenfig Pool and the drake Greater Scaup and Water Pipit were again at Llwyn Onn Reservoir on 25th. A Little Ringed Plover was at The Watermill on 26th and eight Fieldfare were at Cosmeston Lakes. The 27th saw an Osprey over the Ogmore Estuary and a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker at Bryngarw Country Park and a Marsh Harrier came in off the sea at Gileston. Two Black Redstarts and five Northern Wheatears were at Port Talbot Docks. Two Red-billed Chough were at Kenfig Pool on 28th on a raw day that saw few migrants around. The 29th produced four Bearded Tits at Cardiff Bay and at least three Little Gulls, a Black-tailed Godwit was again at Ogmore Estuary. The 30th produced a couple of Barn Swallows at The Watermill, another at Kenfig Pool and four Purple Sandpipers remained at Ogmore-by-Sea. The four Bearded Tits were again in Cardiff Bay and another was at Cosmeston Lakes. Five Northern Wheatears were at Sker Farm. A cold, windy day on 31st saw the Bearded Tits still at Cardiff Bay, along with three Little Gulls. Seventy five Sand Martins and a Peregrine were at Kenfig Pool and a Red Kite was seen just north of the reserve flying over the M4 towards Margam.

NEW YORK

I'm just back from a hugely enjoyable mini break to New York, where as well as some quality time with the family and seeing the sights, I managed to get 52 species birding in Central Park including 12 lifers and a fine Raccoon! The first wave of migrants hit the day before we left and included 20+ Eastern Phoebes, 10+ Hermit Thrushes and six Northern Flickers, while other highlights included good numbers of Buffleheads,a pair of Hooded Mergansers, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Fox and Song Sparrows with White-throated Sparrows everywhere, Dark-eyed Juncos, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Cedar Waxwings, American Goldfinches and White-breasted Nuthatch.as well as the thousands of American Robins that were all over the park - unforgettable!!

For anyone who enjoys combining birding with cultural activities and hasn't visited this great city, it is well worth considering and I would be happy to offer advice and help in putting together a reasonably priced package. We picked up many invaluable snippets of information that could be used to make the most of both birding time and other activities, as well as budgeting and accommodation advice.

12TH - 18TH MARCH

A busy day on the 12th saw a Short-eared and Barn Owl, as well as four Hen Harriers and 750 European Golden Plovers at Llanrhidian Marsh, ten Purple Sandpipers at Port Eynon and four Little Gulls in Cardiff Bay. The Great Grey Shrike was again at Perthcelyn and three Red-billed Chough were at Ogmore-by-Sea. A Northern Wheatear was at Kenfig Sands and the Iceland Gull was again in Swansea Marina. Three Green Sandpipers were at The Watermill Flood on 13th, along with a very early juvenile Grey Heron and the Iceland Gull was again at Pontsticill Reservoir. The first winter Iceland Gull was also in Swansea Marina and a Sand Martin was over Fendrod lake also in Swansea. On the 14th the Barn and Short-eared Owls were again at Llanrhidian, along with three Hen Harriers. Four Red Kites were over Swansea in the afternoon and Common Chiffchaffs were singing from many places. A very early Willow Warbler was singing in Cardiff, where a Whimbrel at the Rhymney Estuary was also an early arrival. Also there was a Common Greenshank and a Merlin, while at Penclawdd, the six Pink-footed Geese were again present, along with 43 Fieldfare and five Common Snipe. Eight Sand Martins were at Kenfig Pool on 15th and the first winter Iceland Gull was again at Swansea Marina. Two Barn Owls were again at Llanilid, the Greater Scaup and Water Pipit were both at Llwyn Onn Reservoir and the Great Grey Shrike was again at Perthcelyn. A glorious day on the 16th produced the four Little Gulls again in Cardiff Bay, along with a Northern Wheatear and 35 Sand Martins. Three Sand Martins were at Kenfig Pool and a Grey Partridge was at Tyn-y-Caeau Farm. The 17th produced sixty Sand Martins at Cosmeston Lakes, seven Red-billed Chough and a Northern Wheatear at Ogmore-by-Sea and two Jack Snipe at Kenfig Pool. The Great Grey Shrike was again at Perthcelyn. A windy and cold day on the 18th saw 100 Sand Martins at Cosmeston Lakes and three Little Gulls again in Cardiff Bay.

NORFOLK SPRING/SUMMER

Our mini break from 6th -9th June is now full. If you wish to visit this wonderful county for its breeding specialities, we still have a couple of places left from 6th -9th and 13th -16th July.

5TH - 11TH MARCH

On the 5th a pair of Smew at Port Talbot was a cracking find, while elsewhere three Red-billed Chough, four Little Egrets and Green Sandpiper were at various points on the Ogmore Estuary. The Iceland Gull was again at Pontsticill Reservoir and the Loughor Estuary held 565 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, while a Common Sandpiper was at Hendre Lake. A Brambling was in Maesteg on 6th and the adult Little Gull was again in Cardiff Bay. The first real spring like day of the year on the 7th saw the Great Grey Shrike reappear at Perthcelyn, along with a female Northern Goshawk. An Egyptian Goose was at Loughor Bridge and a Little Owl was at Sker Farm. Common Crossbills and Red Kites were seen in several locations. Another lovely day on the 8th produced a Barn Owl near Bridgend, a Black Redstart again in Cardiff Bay and four Tree Sparrows and a female Merlin at Tyn-y-Caeau Farm. The Great Grey Shrike was again at Perthcelyn and three Willow Tits included a pair at Tir Founder Fields, where a Kingfisher was also present. A first winter Iceland Gull was in Swansea Marina for the first time in a month or so. Two Sand Martins were in Cardiff Bay on 9th and a superb male Hawfinch and a Marsh Tit were at Tair Onnen, Cardiff. The Firecrest was again in Cardiff, three Purple Sandpipers, a Common Scoter and forty Sanderling were at Port Talbot Docks and a Red Kite was near Bridgend. Three Grey Partridge were at Tyn-y-Caeau Farm and the Iceland Gull was again at Swansea Marina, the drake Red Crested Pochard was again at Ogmore Estuary, along with six Red-billed Choughs. On the 10th, nineteen Northern Fulmars were back on their breeding ledges at Cwm Nash and the Little Gull was still at Cardiff Bay. On the 11th a Great Northern Diver, 76 Common Scoter and an Egyptian Goose were at Loughor Bridge and two Hen Harriers went to roost at Llanrhidian. Seven Red-billed Chough were seen flying west over Kenfig Pool, the Iceland Gull was again in Swansea Marina and the Little Gull was again at Cardiff Bay. The first Northern Wheatear of the year was at Rhymney Estuary, where there was also a Common Sandpiper. Common Crossbills and Northern Goshawks were seen at several locations.

TRINIDAD & TOBAGO

We have teamed up with Steve Cale again to offer advance details of our fabulous two week tour to Trinidad and Tobago from 31st January - 15th February 2008. Spending seven nights at the renowned Asa Wright centre, two at Pax Guest House and four at the Blue Waters Inn on Tobago, this is sure to be a trip to remember. The tour cost is £2819.00 for a single room or £2369.00 in shared accomodation. Places are already very limited, so please register now if you wish to join this tour. Full details will be published both on this website and in our 2008 brochure due out in August.

1ST - 4TH MARCH 2007

MARCH began with a westerly gale with the only significant news being of the Firecrest still in Cardiff Bay, two Green Sandpipers again at Hendre Lake and four Red-billed Chough in Porthcawl. On the 2nd two Red-billed Chough were again at Porthcawl and a male Northern Goshawk showed very well in Caerphilly. Three Siskin were at Kenfig alder wood on a rather quiet day. The 3rd produced three Red-billed Chough and two Green Sandpipers at Ogmore, while the River Loughor at Pontarddulais held four Green Sandpipers, four Common Sandpipers and three Common Greenshank. The female Greater Scaup was again at Cosmeston Lakes and a Northern Goshawk was near Bridgend. The Firecrest and Little Gull were once again at Cardiff Bay. The 4th produced just a Marsh Tit on a day of torrential rain.