A Ring Ouzel was near Pontypridd on the 16th, a second year Iceland Gull was at Blackpill, and a Little and a Sandwich Tern were at Pennard, Gower. On the 17th, 44 Whimbrel were at Wernffrwd, along with two Common Sandpipers, 266 Common Shelduck and 43 Pied Wagtails. A Common Greenshank, three Grey Plovers and 22 Dunlin were at Rhymney Estuary and two Little Terns were at Blackpill in the evening. A male Common Redstart was at Coed-y-Bedw, Cardiff on the 18th and the 19th produced a Common Cuckoo at Maesteg and eight Sandwich Terns were in Swansea Bay. On the 20th, fifty Manx Shearwaters and two Northern Gannets were at the far end of the Loughor Estuary, while at Llanrhidian Marsh, thirty Whimbrel, twelve Gadwall and three Common Sandpipers were present. A Willow Tit was near Pyle and eight Northern Wheatears were at Ogmore-by-Sea. A Eurasian Hobby was a good early record at Lavernock Point and a Lesser Whitethroat was at Rhymney Estuary. On the 21st two Black-tailed Godwits, a Reed Warbler, Common Swift, four Grasshopper Warblers and nine Whimbrel were at Kenfig Pool. Dartford Warblers and Tree Sparrows showed well at breeding sites and small numbers of House Martins were seen at various locations. A Little Owl was at Southerndown Farm, two Grey Partridges were at Tyn-y-Caeau Farm and a Lesser Whitethroat was at Ogmore Down. Fifteen Whimbrel, four Lesser Whitethroats and a Red Knot were at Gileston and a Wood Warbler and 27 Common Swifts were in Bute Park, Cardiff. A quieter day on 22nd produced the first Whinchat at Maesteg, along with three Grashopper Warblers. Three Lesser Whitethroats were at Kenfig Pool and seven Common Swifts were at Forest Farm, Cardiff.

9TH - 15TH APRIL 2007

A pair of Ring Ouzels were at Cosmeston Lakes and a Sedge Warbler was at Kenfig Pool on the 9th as the wind swung to the north west. A Grasshopper Warbler at Kenfig Pool on 10th was a very early arrival, while two Fieldfares were late visitors. A Common Sandpiper was also present on the river, along with two Barn Swallows. Another Grasshopper Warbler was this time in Maesteg on the 11th, while Kenfig Pool had twenty Barn Swallows, 25 Willow Warblers and two Sedge Warblers of note. On the 12th, another Grasshopper Warbler was at Kenfig Pool, along with two Rooks and eight Eurasian Jackdaws, which are both very scarce spring visitors. An early Lesser Whitethroat was at Eglwys Nunydd Reservoir and Barn Swallows and Willow Warblers were widespread by the end of the day. On the 13th a pair of Garganey, a Little Ringed Plover, three Common Sandpipers, a House Martin and a new Grasshopper Warbler were at Kenfig Pool, The first Whimbrel and an adult Yellow-legged Gull were also there on a busy day for migrants and a Bar-tailed Godwit was at Cardiff Bay. A Lesser Whitethroat was at Margam Moors, Port Talbot. A much quieter day on 14th saw some House Martins nest building on a very early date in the Neath Valley and the first Common Whitethroat and a Common Sandpiper were at Kenfig Pool. Two Grey Partridges and a Ring-necked Parakeet were at Gileston on 15th and two Grasshopper Warblers and two Sedge Warblers were at Kenfig Pool.

APRIL began where March left off really, as the cool NE wind held migrants back, though the four Bearded Tits were still in Cardiff Bay and four Red-billed Choughs and seven Purple Sandpipers were at Ogmore-by-Sea. The four Bearded Tits were still at Cardiff Bay on 2nd and a pair of Barn Owls were at Llanilid. An Osprey was over Beddau, near Pontypridd, a Red-billed Chough was at Lock’s Common, Porthcawl and a Jack Snipe remained at Kenfig Pool. Another day with very few migrants and more cold north winds on 3rd. An Osprey north over Maesteg and another over Clydach, Swansea were the only noteworthy arrivals. Two Grey Partridges and eight Yellowhammers remained at Tyn-y-Caeau Farm feeding stations. A better day on the 4th produced two Barn Swallows in Cardiff Bay and a Little Owl and five Northern Wheatears at Sker. The four Bearded Tits and three Little Gulls were still in Cardiff Bay and two Little Ringed Plovers were at The Watermill Flood. On the 5th an Osprey was over Cardiff and the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker showed very well at Bryngarw Country Park. Two Bearded Tits were seen to fly high east from Cardiff Bay, which probably ended hopes of a possible breeding attempt. A Ruff was a good spring find on the Ogmore Estuary and a Common Sandpiper was also present there. The Water Pipit remained at Llwyn Onn Reservoir where there was also a Barn Swallow. The 6th produced a drake Garganey, two Willow Warblers and a Blackcap at Kenfig Pool, while 25 Fieldfares were at Mynydd Bach, Maesteg. Eleven Purple Sandpipers were still at Ogmore-by-Sea, along with six Northern Wheatears. The 8th saw Willow Warbler numbers up to twelve at Kenfig and a Ring-necked parakeet at Gileston was an unusual record for the county. A Hen Harrier and Cetti’s Warbler were at Cosmeston Lakes.