Grasshopper Warbler
The underwatched South Wales coastline offers some superb birding during the spring migration, and our selection of tours are timed to coincide with the peak birding period and highest variety of species. The classic Welsh species such as Dipper, Grey Wagtail, Pied Flycatcher, Common Redstart, Wood Warbler, Red Kite and Common Raven are all catered for, along with a selection of rarer birds. Migrants such as Blackcap, Common Chiffchaff , Sedge, Grasshopper and Willow Warbler and Common Whitethroat are often far more numerous than at east coast hotspots. We also stop at an unnamed location to see Dartford Warblers which are now breeding. An early start is a must, if we are to make the most of the superb reserve at Kenfig. A good-sized reed bed and large areas of scrub on the western side, and grassland and shoreline on the east, fringe the large freshwater pool. Spring sees the reserve alive with the song of many summer migrants. Small numbers of Common Redstart, Lesser Whitethroat and Spotted Flycatchers pass through, while scarcer migrants that are seen most years around the pool are Garganey, Marsh Harrier, Eurasian Hobby, Black-necked Grebe and Black Tern. Water Rails breed and can sometimes be noted as they scramble around, calling loudly. Regular species of wader include Common Sandpiper, Dunlin, Ringed Plover and Whimbrel with fewer records of Little Ringed Plover, Greenshank and Bar-tailed Godwit. The chance of rare birds arriving should not be overlooked, as spring rarities in recent years have included Black-winged Stilt, Whitewinged Black and Whiskered Terns, Greater Short-toed Lark, Ferruginous Duck, Ring-necked Duck, Hoopoe, Red-throated Pipit, Montagu’s Harrier, Golden Oriole and Purple Heron. Peregrine, Little Owl and Common Raven are often noted, while Northern Wheatear, Whinchat and Yellow Wagtail are regular migrants around the farm at Sker and the occasional spring rarity has been noted there such as Melodious Warbler, Dotterel, Stone Curlew, Osprey and Roseate Tern. Our trip to Port Eynon and Glamorgan’s only seabird colony at Worms Head should produce good numbers of Razorbills and Common Guillemots. Other breeding species include Black-legged Kittiwake, Northern Fulmar and Shag and there is always the chance of picking up one or two Red-billed Chough that frequent the area. Non-breeding seabirds that are regularly noted include Northern Gannet and Manx Shearwater, and we may also encounter skuas and European Storm Petrel. The new reserve at Goldcliff Pill on the Severn Estuary has already been graced with the presence of several rare shorebirds including Black-winged Pratincole, Temminck’s Stint, Hudsonian Whimbrel and Pied Avocet, while Eurasian Spoonbill has been recorded more than once. On the beautiful North Gower Coast we can expect to see shorebirds such as Black-tailed Godwit, Common Greenshank, Spotted Redshank, Common Sandpiper and Little Egrets. Raptors often put in an appearance and small numbers of wildfowl should still be present, as well as common passerines. Finally we will visit a site to look for the elusive European Honey Buzzard [not April] and with luck, we will encounter the spectacle of wing-clapping males displaying over a large area of forestry. Red Kite, Peregrine, Eurasian Hobby and Northern Goshawk are all possible.
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