21ST - 30TH APRIL 2008

On the 21st, a Eurasian Hobby was at Kenfig Pool, along with a Lesser Whitethroat, eleven Common Whitethroat, a good count of 79 Willow Warblers and 100 Barn Swallow. The Ring-billed Gull was at Lamby Lake and a Yellow Wagtail and two Grasshopper Warblers were in Maesteg. Eight Dunlin and six Common Sandpiper were at Ogmore Estuary and a further six Dunlin were at Aberthaw Marsh. The Spotted Sandpiper was at Lisvane Reservoir and the Little Gull and two Common Terns were in Cardiff Bay. A much nicer day on the 22nd produced five Whimbrel at Kenfig Pool and a Lesser Whitethroat in Cardiff. A further two Lesser Whitethroat were at Aberthaw Marsh and a Grey Plover and ten Whimbrel were at Ogmore Estuary. Eleven Common Redstart and a male Ring Ouzel were in Maesteg. On the 23rd, a female Marsh Harrier was in Maesteg, while a female Merlin, Northern Gannet, Sandwich Tern and Northern Fulmar were at Sker and a Grasshopper Warbler was at Kenfig Pool. A Jack Snipe was at Oxwich Marsh and 23 Whimbrel were at Blackpill. The Ring-billed Gull was at Lamby Lake and a Garden Warbler, Tree Pipit and Common Redstart were at Gwaelod-y-Garth, Cardiff. On the 24th, the adult Little Gull was again in Cardiff Bay, along with six Gadwall, an Arctic Skua and four Sandwich Terns, a Whinchat was in Maesteg and seven Sedge Warbler, 49 Whimbrel, six Common Sandpiper and fourteen Blackcap were at Kenfig Pool. The Spotted Sandpiper was at Lisvane Reservoir and the Ring-billed Gull was at Lamby Lake, while two Common Swift were in Central Cardiff. A Little Tern was at Aberthaw Marsh, another Whinchat was at Llanrhidian Marsh and a Green Sandpiper was at Ogmore Estuary. The 25th produced two Common Swift, a Gadwall and 44 Common Whitethroat at Kenfig Pool, while Sker had a Great Northern Diver, Common Guillemot, Sandwich Tern and four Common Scoter. Seven Grasshopper Warbler were in Maesteg and a Wood Warbler was in the Swansea Valley. Twenty one Purple Sandpiper were at Ogmore Estuary, another two Common Swift were at Tyn-y-Caeau Farm, the Spotted Sandpiper was at Lisvane Reservoir and a Common Cuckoo was near Caerphilly. A lovely day on the 26th saw a stunning male Whinchat at Kenfig Pool, along with a Grasshopper Warbler and a Northern Gannet was off Kenfig Sands. Two Common Cuckoo, a Tree Pipit, Common Redstart, a Garden Warbler and a pair of Common Crossbill were in the Caerphilly area. The Ring-billed Gull was at Lamby Lake, along with a Eurasian Hobby and a Lesser Whitethroat was at Cardiff Bay. A Pied Flycatcher and a Common Cuckoo were at Felindre, Swansea. On the 27th, the first Black-winged Stilt for Glamorgan flew east over Kenfig Pool for three lucky observers, but sadly it could not be relocated despite extensive searching. Also present there were a forty Sedge Warblers; the highest spring count for many years, 150 Barn Swallow, a Grasshopper Warbler and ten Dunlin. A Little Tern, three Arctic Terns, a Short-eared Owl and two Yellow Wagtails were at Cardiff Bay and Common Swifts were widespread in small numbers. The Ring-billed Gull was again at Lamby Lake, where there was also a Ring Ouzel and a Wood Warbler was singing at Norton Woods, Ogmore Estuary.

A Curlew Sandpiper was at Oxwich Bay and a Whinchat and two Common Greenshank were new in at Llanilid. The 28th saw the Black-winged Stilt reappeared, along with fifty Common Swift at Kenfig Pool, seven Pale-bellied Brent Geese, a Little Tern and seven Sandwich Terns were at Blackpill, five Common Redstart and two Wood Warbler at Ogmore Forest and the Spotted Sandpiper is now in full breeding plumage at Lisvane Reservoir. An Osprey, Great Northern Diver, three Arctic Terns and a Common Cuckoo were at Cardiff Bay. A very cool day on the 29th produced a Lesser Whitethroat at Kenfig Pool in the morning and the Black-winged Stilt returned to the reserve in the afternoon, along with fifty Whimbrel and five hundred Barn Swallows. The month ended with the Black-winged Stilt showing superbly on the east pool shore and eight Sanderling and four Common Shelduck on the sands. Five Purple Sandpipers were still at Ogmore-by-Sea.

14TH - 20TH APRIL 2008

On the 14th, a Wood Lark was at Margam Moor, Port Talbot and a Reed Warbler was a new arrival at Kenfig Pool. The Spotted Sandpiper remained at Lisvane Reservoir, where there were also fifty Barn Swallows, while a Common Redstart and three Brambling were in Central Cardiff and a Common Sandpiper was at Tondu. Three Green Sandpipers, two Common Sandpipers and four Red-billed Chough were at Ogmore Estuary. Two House Martins and a Sedge Warbler were at Hendre Lake. On the 15th, a Common Sandpiper and two House Martin were at Kenfig Pool. Three Common Redstart and a Barn Owl were at Darren Woods, Maesteg, the Spotted Sandpiper was at Lisvane Reservoir and an adult Little Gull was in Cardiff Bay. The 16th produced an Osprey at Aberdare, three Common Sandpipers and thirty Willow Warblers at Llwyn On Reservoir and two Tree Pipit at Tir Founder Fields. A Ruff, four Common Sandpipers and a Dunlin, as well as a reeling Grasshopper Warbler were at Kenfig Pool. The Spotted Sandpiper and Ring-billed Gull were still present at Lisvane Reservoir and Lamby Lake respectively and a Common Redstart was at Coed-y-Bedw, Cardiff. A Green Sandpiper, seven Common Sandpiper and five Little Ringed Plover were at Llanilid. A windy day on the 17th produced six Whimbrel, a Common Whitethroat and two Sedge Warbler were at Kenfig Pool and four Green Sandpiper were at Llanilid. The Spotted Sandpiper and two Common Sandpiper were at Lisvane Reservoir. A Common Tern and Little Gull were at Cardiff Bay. On the 18th, a Eurasian Hobby was at Lamby Lake and a male Pied Flycatcher was at Margam Park, while three Common Sandpipers were at Eglwys Nunydd Reservoir. A Common Swift was a very early arrival at Ogmore Estuary, the Glaucous Gull was in Port Talbot Harbour and fifty Barn Swallow were at Cosmeston Lakes. The Spotted Sandpiper was at Lisvane Reservoir and a Black-tailed Godwit was at Aberthaw Marsh. Another very windy day on the 19th produced a Common Tern at Loughor Bridge. Two Common Terns were in Cardiff Bay, a Red Kite was at St Fagan’s, Cardiff and a Willow Tit was at Tair Onnen. A much better day on the 20th saw a Common Redstart, Tree Pipit, three Grasshopper Warbler, a Garden Warbler, two Sedge Warbler and two Eurasian Siskin at Kenfig Pool and a Merlin and two Whimbrel were at Sker. Another Grasshopper Warbler was at Lamby Lake, along with a Lesser Whitethroat, while Rhossilli held two Ring Ouzel, 42 Willow Warbler, 28 Common Chiffchaff, five Grasshopper Warbler, 24 Northern Wheatear and a Pied Flycatcher. Two Whinchat, a Lesser Whitethroat, Garden Warbler and Common Redstart were at Margam Moor, a Grasshopper Warbler was at Hendre Lake and two Grey Plover were at Llanilid. A male Pied Flycatcher was at Llwyn On Reservoir and the adult Little Gull, a first summer Mediterranean Gull and two Common Terns were in Cardiff Bay.

7TH - 13TH APRIL 2008

More chilly weather on the 7th, but new migrants included three Little Ringed Plovers on the Loughor Estuary and a Tree Pipit at Rheola, Neath. A Sandwich Tern was at Oxwich Bay and a Great Grey Shrike was again at Perthcelyn. A massive count of nine thousand Sand Martins were in Cardiff Bay. On the 8th an adult Yellow-legged Gull and a Black-tailed Godwit were at Ogmore Estuary and the Spotted Sandpiper was again at Lisvane Reservoir. The Glaucous Gull remained in Port Talbot Harbour and a Black Redstart was at Ogmore-by-Sea. A male Common Redstart was in Tondu, while a Common Sandpiper and three Brambling were in Cardiff Bay. The 9th produced eight Purple Sandpipers at Ogmore-by-Sea, where there was also a Grey Plover. A further four Purple Sandpipers and another Grey Plover were at Sker and Kenfig Pool had a House Martin amongst 150 Sand Martins. A Little Gull was again at Cardiff Bay. The 10th produced a Little Ringed Plover and a Common Sandpiper at Ogmore Estuary and a Little Egret, Northern Goshawk, Sedge Warbler, five Blackcap and 51 Willow Warblers at Kenfig Pool. A Brambling was still in Bute Park, Cardiff and a female Greater Scaup was at Cardiff Bay. A wet day on the 11th saw another Great Grey Shrike at Maerdy, Rhondda, a pair of Grey Partridge at Tyn-y-Caeau Farm. A Ruff was briefly at Kenfig Pool and thirty Manx Shearwaters were at Worms Head. A Common Greenshank was at Rhymney Great Wharf and the Spotted Sandpiper was at Lisvane Reservoir. On the 12th, the Spotted Sandpiper was still at Lisvane Reservoir and the Ring-billed Gull was again at Lamby Lake and a Common Redstart was at Maesteg. A much nicer day on the 13th saw the first Grasshopper Warbler of the spring at Kenfig Pool and a Sedge Warbler at Crymlyn Burrows, Swansea. Another Grasshopper Warbler was at Hendre Lake, Cardiff and a Reed Warbler was at Cosmeston Lakes. The Spotted Sandpiper was at Lisvane Reservoir and the Great Grey Shrike at Maerdy.

1ST - 6TH APRIL 2008

APRIL began with a very blustery day and a Short-eared Owl still present at Llanilid, along with four Little Ringed Plovers. Nine Northern Wheatears and eighteen Sky Lark were at Sker Point and the Hen Harrier was at Kenfig Pool. On the 2nd, a House Martin was again in Swansea and the Ring-billed Gull remained at Lamby Lake. An Osprey was seen catching fish over Culverhouse Cross, Cardiff before circling off high and four Barn Swallows were at Cosmeston Lakes. A beautiful day on the 3rd produced the Great Grey Shrikes at Mynydd Margam and Perthcelyn, where there were also six Lesser Redpoll, while Kenfig Pool had a Barn Swallow, two Common Shelduck and 45 Sand Martin. A Red Kite was at Llanilid, the Spotted Sandpiper was at Lisvane Reservoir and four House Martins were at Caerphilly Castle. A pair of Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers were at Parc Cwm Darren and four Little Ringed Plover were again at Llanilid. On the 4th, the adult Little Gull was again at Cardiff Bay, two Greylag Geese and two Eurasian Jay were unusual migrants at Kenfig Pool. A Peregrine was over Bridgend Town Centre and the Water Pipit, now in full breeding plumage, was refound again at Llwyn On Reservoir. Barn Swallows arrived en masse with the largest group being twenty in Maesteg. A cold day on the 5th saw fifteen House Martins arrive near Tondu, Bridgend and 24 Willow Warbler and two Blackcaps were at Kenfig Pool. Over 400 Sand Martins and four House Martins were at Cosmeston Lakes and a Ring-necked Parakeet was at Aberthaw Marsh. The Glaucous Gull and a Whimbrel were in Port Talbot Harbour and a Red Kite flew over Cardiff Airport. The Spotted Sandpiper was again at Lisvane Reservoir. A very cold day on the 6th saw 100 Barn Swallows at Llanilid and the Water Pipit was at Llwyn On Reservoir. A Red Knot and a Common Sandpiper were at Ogmore Estuary.

FLORIDA 13TH - 27TH MARCH 2008

I'm just back from a terrific two weeks in the warm sunshine of Florida - it really feels cold by comparison, as since we've been back,we haven't yet hit a single night time temperature over there during the day here! This was undoubtedly a family holiday, so my birding was for once restricted and we spent a lot of time at the Orlando Theme Parks. I freely admit to enjoying these far more than I expected too, especially the Epcott, the Superman ride at Universal and the Kennedy Space Centre! I was quite surprised to see plenty of birds in and around the parks, especially raptors, egrets and herons, whilst Merritt Island was home to large numbers of shorebirds and Least and Stilt Sandpipers and Lesser Yellowlegs in particular. The birding really took off though when I was fortunate enough to be taken out by Larry Albright, who I met in Morocco last year. Larry as well as being great company was a font of knowledge and helped me to find my target birds. Florida Scrub Jay, Snail Kite, Bachmann's Sparrow, Wood Stork and Limpkin were all exactly where he said they would be and he surpassed himself by stopping at the exact spot at Fort deSoto to allow me to find my own Magnificent Frigatebird circling above its roost site - the only one we saw before we encontered our only rain during the whole trip... The woods held a few early Northern Parulas, Black and White and Pine Warblers, hundreds of Yellow-rumped Warblers and uncountable numbers of Palm Warblers, as well as a few Common Yellowthroats, Hooded Warbler, Prairie Warbler and Worm-eating Warbler, but the majority of migrants had yet to arrive. Other highlights included several Pileated Woodpeckers, many more Bald Eagles than I could ever have imagined including eight together at one point, big flocks of Tree Swallows, Blue-grey Gnatcathcers, Royal Terns, Black Skimmers and a couple of Swallow-tailed Kites; the most elegnat of raptors in a total of 114 species, as well as a close up encounter with a Racoon and a few Alligators. Oh, and how could I forget the mound of Strawberry Shortcake that we ate to celebrate our good fortune! I am currently investigating the possibilities to do a tour that combines the best of Florida birding along with a few days on the Dry Tortugas timed for maximum migration in mid April 2010/2011 and will announce details as soon as the itinerary is complete. As an introduction to North American birding, it is a hard to beat destination with great weather too.