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.