24TH - 31ST MARCH 2008

On the 24th, two Short-eared Owls and four Dartford Warblers were at Llanilid and an Iceland Gull was again with the Ring-billed Gull at Lamby Way Lake. A Firecrest was in Central Cardiff and another was at Dunraven Walled Garden. A pair of Common Crossbill were at Mynydd Bach, Maesteg and a female Merlin and 92 European Golden Plover were at Mynydd Eglwysilian. The 25th saw a new Great Grey Shrike present at Mynydd Margam and the Ring-billed Gull was at Lamby Lake, the Spotted Sandpiper at Lisvane Reservoir and the two Little Gulls in Cardiff Bay. An Egyptian Goose was on the River Neath. With it still feeling like winter on the 26th, it was no surprise that two Redwing and a Brambling were in Central Cardiff, though a Willow Warbler was a migrant at Lisvane Reservoir, along with the Spotted Sandpiper. The Great Grey Shrike was again at Mynydd Margam. Two Little Ringed Plovers were another sign of spring at Ogmore Estuary, the Ring-billed Gull was at Lamby Lake and a Merlin was at Candleston. On the 27th, two Northern Wheatear and nine European Golden Plover were in Maesteg. Another five Northern Wheatear and 143 European Golden Plover were at Sker Point and an adult Little Gull was in Cardiff Bay. The Ring-billed Gull was again at Lamby Lake. On the 28th, a Barn Swallow was in Birchgrove, Swansea, two Short-eared Owls and a Willow Warbler were at Llanilid and the Great Grey Shrike was again at Mynydd Margam. A House Martin at Lisvane Reservoir on the 29th was a very early arrival and a Little Ringed Plover was at Ogmore Estuary. Ten Northern Wheatears were back on territory at Cwm Parc, Rhondda, thirteen Brambling were in an Aberdare garden and an Osprey flew north over Lamby Lake. On the 30th, two more House Martins were in Central Swansea and two Red-billed Chough were at Ogmore-by-Sea. The Great Grey Shrike was at Mynydd Margam, the Ring-billed Gull at Lamby Lake, the Spotted Sandpiper at Lisvane Reservoir and the Glaucous Gull was again in Port Talbot Harbour. On the 31st, a Cattle Egret was briefly at Kenfig Pool, where eleven Willow Warbler, 23 Common Chiffchaff and a pair of Blackcap were good early spring counts and ten Common Goldeneye remained on the pool. A Short-eared Owl and Dartford Warbler were at Llanilid and a Barn Swallow was in Maesteg.

17TH - 23RD MARCH 2008

On the 17th, 25 Fieldfare and fifteen Redwing were at Cosmeston Lakes and six Northern Wheatear were new in at Southerndown. A Northern Wheatear and an adult Mediterranean Gull were at Eglwys Nunydd Reservoir and 120 European Golden Plover were at Kenfig Sands. The Ring-billed Gull was at Lamby Lake and an adult Iceland Gull was also there today and a Firecrest was in Central Cardiff. Twenty Yellowhammers and six Tree Sparrows were at Newton Farm, Gower. The 18th produced five Northern Wheatears at Sker Point, two Firecrest in Central Cardiff, while five Common Chiffchaff and a Willow Warbler were at Llanharan Marsh. The first Barn Swallow of the year was at Gileston, along with two Little Owls. On the 20th, 260 Sand Martins and a Barn Swallow were at Cardiff Bay and a Northern Wheatear and 150 European Golden Plover were at Mynydd Eglwysilian. On the 21st, a female Northern Wheatear was at Cardiff Bay and six Brambling were in Bute Park, Cardiff. Two Red-billed Chough were at Mumbles Head and three Hen Harriers, twenty Little Egret and a Water Pipit were at Llanrhidian Marsh. Three Short-eared Owls and a ring tailed Hen Harrier were at Llanilid. The 22nd produced two Little Gulls and a Black Redstart at Cardiff Bay, a Hen Harrier at Llanrhidian Marsh and a Barn Swallow at Brynsadler. A male Ring Ouzel was at Caerau, Maesteg and a Jack Snipe was at Lamby Lake. The long staying Spotted Sandpiper was at Lisvane Reservoir on the 23rd and the Ring-billed Gull was again at Lamby Lake. The two Little Gulls at Cardiff Bay were joined by an adult Mediterranean Gull and ten Redwing were still in Singleton Park, Swansea.

10TH - 16TH MARCH 2008

On the 10th, a Ruff was present at Penclawdd Pill, the Cattle Egret was at Pennard and the Firecrest was in Central Cardiff. A Short-eared Owl was again at Llanilid. A very poor day weather wise on the 11th saw five Brambling and small numbers of Eurasian Siskin in a north Cardiff garden. Three Purple Sandpipers and two Red-billed Chough were at Ogmore Estuary. A Lesser Spotted Woodpecker was in Maesteg, two Sand Martin were at Lisvane Reservoir, a Red Kite was near Barry, a Hen Harrier was at Llanrhidian Marsh and the Cattle Egret was at Pennard. The only news on a very windy day on 12th was of the Cattle Egret again in Pennard, a Black Redstart in Cardiff Bay and thirty Red Knot, seven Sanderling and eighteen European Golden Plover at Sker. On the 13th, the Spotted Sandpiper was at Lisvane Reservoir, the Ring-billed Gull was at Lamby Lake and two Firecrest were in Central Cardiff. Poor weather again on the 14th produced just the news of the Ring-billed Gull again at Lamby Lake and twenty Eurasian Siskin in a Maerdy garden. On the 15th, thirty Sand Martins were at Kenfig Pool, another twenty were at Cosmeston Lakes and 25 were at Ogmore Estuary, where there were also four Northern Wheatear and two Green Sandpipers. The Spotted Sandpiper was at Lisvane Reservoir and a Red Kite was over Bridgend. The Spotted Sandpiper was again at Lisvane Reservoir on the 16th and four Northern Wheatear and two Little Gulls were in Cardiff Bay. Forty Sand Martins were at Cosmeston Lakes and a first winter Iceland Gull and the Ring-billed Gull were at Lamby Way Lake. A Little Ringed Plover and a Short-eared Owl were at Llanilid.

CZECH REPUBLIC

Our inaugural mini break to the Southern Moravia area of The Czech Republic from 7th - 11th March 2008 was a tremendous success. Tour Leader Gerard Gorman worked exceptionally hard for our group and turned up some exceptional birds. Pride of place ust go to a third calendar year Eastern Imperial Eagle, but other highlights included four Red-breasted Geese, at least 2000 Bean Geese and a similar number of Greater White-fronted Geese, six White-tailed Eagles, two drake Smew, large numbers of Hawfinches, Eurasian Eagle Owl at the nest on every day, Short-toed Treecreeper, six Long-eared Owls, a drake Garganey and good numbers of Red Kites, Common Buzzards and Great White Egrets! Oh and we musn't forget exceptional views of seven species of woodpecker! This trip looks set to become a regular [and very good value for money at £599.00 inclusive] and popular tour and we will be running again next year with dates very similar to the these, so if you would like advance notification or would like to reserve one of just seven places available, please contact us now.

1ST - 9TH MARCH 2008

1st MARCH saw two Firecrests and a Blackcap in Central Cardiff and a Great Northern Diver, sixteen Mediterranean Gulls , a Razorbill, a Northern Gannet and 185 Dunlin were at Mumbles Head. Two Mediterranean Gulls were at Lisvane Reservoir and a Firecrest was at Kenfig Pool. On the 2nd, the Spotted Sandpiper was at Lisvane Reservoir, the Cattle Egret was again at Pennard and two Spotted Redshank were at Penclawdd Pill, along with a Common Sandpiper. Three Green Sandpipers were at Pendoylan, a Great Northern Diver was at Port Eynon and a Short-eared Owl and a Hen Harrier were at Llanilid. A Eurasian Woodcock was seen in west Cardiff, a Grey Partridge at Nash Point and a Green Sandpiper was at The Watermill Flood. The first winter Ring-billed Gull was present at Lamby Lake on the 3rd, three Short-eared Owls and a ringtail Hen Harrier were at Llanilid, while the Cattle Egret was again present at Pennard. A Barn Owl was at Llancadle. On the 4th, six early Sand Martins and the adult Little Gull were at Cardiff Bay, the Cattle Egret was again at Pennard and three Spotted Redshank, two Common Sandpipers and a Common Greenshank were at Penclawdd Pill. On the 5th, the Ring-billed Gull was again at Lamby Lake and two Sand Martins were at Kenfig Pool, where a pair of Eurasian Wigeon and six Common Goldeneye were present. Seven Sand Martins, two Water Rails and the adult Little Gull were at Cardiff Bay. Two new pairs of Dartford Warblers were present in the Vale of Glamorgan and a Firecrest was again in Pant Norton. The Cattle Egret was again at Pennard and two Great Northern Divers were offshore there. Two Grey Partridge and 26 Yellowhammer were at Tyn-y-Caeau Farm on the 6th, while a Green Sandpiper, twelve Gadwall, eight Goosander and 25 Common Shelduck were at Ogmore Estuary. Red Kites were seen in Bridgend and Llanharran, the Ring-billed Gull was at Lamby Lake and the Great Grey Shrike was briefly at Perthcelyn, the Cattle Egret was at Pennard and the Spotted Sandpiper was again at Lisvane Reservoir. On the 7th, the Ring-billed Gull was again at Lamby Lake, the Water Pipit at Llwyn On Reservoir and the Great Grey Shrike at Perthcelyn. Three Willow Tits were at Tir Founder Fields and a Sand Martin was at Cosmeston Lakes. A Firecrest was at Kenfig Pool, along with a Ringed Plover and a small flock of Fieldfare and a Black Redstart was in Cardiff Bay. The Spotted Sandpiper was again at Lisvane Reservoir and two more Firecrest were in Central Cardiff. A female Greater Scaup, two Common Chiffchaff and ten Common Goldeneye were at Kenfig Pool on the 8th. The Spotted Sandpiper was at Lisvane Reservoir and the Ring-billed Gull was at Lamby Lake. On the 9th the Spotted Sandpiper and three Sand Martins were at Lisvane Reservoir, two Yellow-legged Gulls and two Mediterranean Gulls were at Cardiff Heliport and a Black Redstart was at Cardiff Bay. Four hundred Brent Geese, two Spotted Redshank, three Greater Scaup, a Ruff, a Water Pipit, seven Red-breasted Merganser and a Slavonian Grebe were on the Loughor Estuary and the first winter Glaucous Gull was at Port Talbot Harbour. The Great Grey Shrike was again at Perthcelyn.

NORTHERN MOROCCO

Our fact finding tour to Northern Morocco from 25th - 29th February 2008 was, as ever, a triumph with all of the speciality target species seen. Three African Marsh Owls, three Double-spurred Francolins, a Moustached Warbler, a pair of Black-crowned Tchagra, hundreds of Red-knobbed Coot and Marbled Ducks and at least ten Little Swift gave amazing views as we watched them at the breeding colony. The supporting cast was also hugely impressive with good numbers of Marsh Harriers, Black-shouldered Kites, Audouin's Gulls, Slender-billed Gulls, Ruff, White Storks, Spotless Starling, Common Bulbul, Red Crested Pochard, Purple Gallinule, Long-legged Buzzard, Corn Bunting, Lesser Kestrel, Black Kite, Glossy Ibis, Hoopoe, Southern Grey Shrike and Stone Curlew seen. The wetlands held vast numbers of assorted egrets and herons, wildfowl including flocks of migrating Garganey, Barn Swallows, Yellow Wagtail and shorebirds including thousands of Black-tailed Godwits, while other noteworthy species included Whiskered Tern, Water Pipit, Greater Flamingo, Calandra and Thekla Larks, Short-toed Eagle, Barbary Partridge, Common Cuckoo and we also saw Wild Boar. The total species count was 117 seen or heard. Our inaugural tour will take place in late February or early March 2009 with details to be posted here as soon as arrangements are finalised. If you are interested in advance registration please contact us soon as numbers will be restricted to a maximum of ten and we envisage this being a popular mini break.

25TH - 29TH FEBRURAY 2008

On the 25th, four Short-eared Owls, a Hen Harrier and a redhead Smew were at Llanilid, while Oxwich Marsh had three Jack Snipe, 145 Common Snipe and seven Water Rail. Two Firecrest and a Blackcap were in Central Cardiff. Two Northern Goshawk were at Port Talbot and the Ring-billed Gull and an adult Yellow-legged Gull were at Lamby Way Lake. On the 26th, the Great Grey Shrike was relocated at Perthcelyn. A Lesser Spotted Woodpecker was at Bryngarw Country Park, five Mediterranean Gulls were at Porthcawl and an adult Little Gull was at Cardiff Bay. Rhymney Estuary had a Water Pipit, two Greater Scaup, 1000 Red Knot and 1500 Dunlin, while a third winter Yellow-legged Gull was at Ogmore Estuary. The highlight of the 27th was a very early male Ring Ouzel in Maesteg. Two Short-eared Owls were at Llanilid, and adult Yellow-legged Gull and a female Greater Scaup were at Cardiff Bay and the Great Grey Shrike was again in Perthcelyn. A Great Bittern and Hen Harrier were at Kenfig Rivermouth, two Water Pipits were at Rhymney Estuary and the Ring-billed Gull was at Lamby Lake. A Northern Goshawk was a good record for central Cardiff, where the Firecrest also remained. Glamorgan’s second Cattle Egret was found at Pennard, South Gower on 28th, two Short-eared Owls were again at Llanilid, 21 Purple Sandpipers were at Ogmore Estuary, the Ring-billed Gull was at Lamby Lake and a Black Redstart was again in Cardiff Bay. On the 29th, the Cattle Egret was again at Pennard, a Red Kite came in off the sea at Gileston, the Firecrest was in central Cardiff and the Ring-billed Gull was at Lamby Way Lake to round off a pretty good months birding.