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.