Sightings

Main sighting: Marsh Tit

Calling by Boat Inn (working nearby). Siskin calls also heard.

Main sighting: Linnet

Seven Linnets, 4 Greenfinches, 1 Siskin busily feeding on the seeds of a rosemary bush at the same time. A useful plant!

Main sighting: Swallow

We had a strange sighting on Tuesday of a Swallow that seemed to be in juvenile plumage, It was first considered that it could be a hybrid, but others have now put forward the idea that it was a juv/winter plumage bird, whose plumage is somehow stunted (apparently similar seen in south Africa). The jury is still out at the moment. Managed to get some snatched photos it of perched on a telegraph wire. Could still be around.

Also 2 Com sand + 2 Whimbrel +5 Mute swans.

Main sighting: Swifts

On Tuesday evening there was a flock of approximately 30 Swallows, House Martins and Swifts ( at least 5 seen).

They all appeared to have found a good concentration of airborne insects to feed on and were flying at various heights above the fields and the junction with Golf Road.

This locality seems to be a hotspot for hirundines.

Main sighting: Curlew

Tally of 31 species on my morning walk. Heard Curlew call. Two Cuckoos calling in traditional sites. Redstart catching flies like Spotted Flycatcher. Tree Pipit display flight.

Main sighting: Yellow wagtail

A yellow wagtail was on Crumbland Farm field,also 2 swifts flew over house this morning.
One pair of house martins have started to build on house but no take up of the concrete HM nest boxes yet

Main sighting: Marsh Tit

Marsh Tit on my morning walk.

Main sighting: Cuckoo

Cuckoo calling just above the farm near the old Roman Road by the Folly area just after dawn.
Skylarks in abundance, Meadow Pipits, Wheatear and Starlings. Other species seen enroute – Pied Wagtails, Stonechat,Carrion Crows in good numbers, Chiff Chaff, Willow Warbler, Blackcaps , Lesser Black Backed Gulls and Buzzard.

Main sighting: Yellowhammer

Single Yellowhammer , several Wood & Willow Warblers , 3=4 Whinchats , several singing Skylarks and Meadow Pipits , a single Tree Pipit , a Red Kite and a couple of Ravens this afternoon .
Earlier in the week 3 Pied Flycatchers (2m & 1f) , a pair of Garden Warblers and a Wheatear .

Main sighting: Common Crossbill

Heard calling in conifers by B4347, also Cuckoo calling (heard in England earlier), 6 singing Redstarts in vicinity, 1 Garden Warbler in song, House Martins nesting at Whitehouse Cottage.

Main sighting: Grasshopper Warbler

Grasshopper Warbler at Cwmsychan reservoir near British. Also Whinchat, Wheatear, Redstart, Tree Pipits, 2 Cuckoos, 2 Peregrines, Green Hairstreak butterflies and St. Mark’s Flies.
At British, Whitethroat.
At Blaenserchan, Dingy Skipper butterfly.

Main sighting: Red kite; sedge warbler

Reed bunting; reed warbler; sedge warbler (2), willow warbler (heard); pair stonechat; whitethroat – several; blackcap; 3 linnet; 3 red kite – first time we’ve ever seen them down here; buzzard; GS woodpecker; etc – 28 in all.