2 Skylarks singing on the hill and 1 showing well on the ground in the short grass.

BTD showing well, apparently quite content near the boardwalk corner when I left not long after  midday. No luck with the black redstart at the barrage, but five redshank were present on the rocks at the far end of the outer sea wall. No early wheatears just yet.  

I went to Ogmore this morning, until Lol called. The black-throated diver was still there at 2.00pm and was very accomodating for a number of shots. 2 good ones at

http://andyburnsphotography.zenfolio.com/waterfowl/h379e5960#h379e5960

Very near the bridge on the east lake.

Nothing out of the ordinary at Ogmore.

At high tide this morning: 160 golden plover, 24 curlew, 4 purple sandpiper, redshank, 37 turnstone, 76 oystercatcher, grey plover and two common scoter down channel. On the flooded field below Sker House were 3 greylag geese and a pair of mute swans.

Short visit at high tide this morning, and there were quite high numbers of birds present, with a mobile flock of 15 lapwings, with probably around another 20+ staying grounded, 100+ curlew, 250+ shelduck, approx 30 teal off shore, (which I was very aware could have held the recently reported american that has been reported in the area but without a scope that was practically impossible to tell) a group of 7 little egret.  Little owl present in the normal area off Mardy Road, and so was a showy male chiffchaff in song. 

At lunchtime today the female Black Redstart was showing well on the outer harbour wall, catching flies in the sunshine.

The Little Gull was still present in the bay, fairly close to the shore, viewed from approx. 100m south of the sails.

 

Looks like I should have gone to Cosmeston instead though!

The Black Redstart showed very briefly at 11.15am appearing to come from inside the outer harbour sea-wall but disappeared almost immediately.

1st winter Little Gull still present, now with about 6-700 Black-headed Gulls for company. Also an adult Yellow-legged Gull briefly.

A quick reminder that the rescheduled trip to Whiteford is this Saturday. Arrive at the Cwm Ivy car park from 08:30 to leave there at 09:00. A long day is planned and the weather looks like it will be good for that day. Those wishing to stay for the full day will be encouraged to join me at the Llanrhidian Roost watch from 16:30. Also anyone just wishing to come along to the roost watch is more than welcome to do so. Please contact me if you need directions for the viewing point at Llanrhidian. 

My contact details and a bit more information about the plan for the day can be found on the main site, via contacts and also GOS events.

Photo of the Black Redstart at

http://andyburnsphotography.zenfolio.com/passerines/h18464ca2#h18464ca2

Record shots of the Little gull at

http://andyburnsphotography.zenfolio.com/littlegull/h18a1eeb8#h18a1eeb8

The Little Gull (First winter) was not co-operating and spent 30 mins flying round in the middle of the bay – seen from the barrage looking towards Morrisons.

Black Redstart and Little Gull still present this morning.
In CBWR a Song Thrush by the boardwalk giving a fair imitation of Bearded Tit. A Water Rail and Stonechat(f) showed well.
2 Gooseander (2f) off Taff Embankment.

An early morning high tide visit to Newton point this morning produced 5 Grey Plover, 4 Sanderling, and a couple of dozen of both Dunlin and Ringed Plover.

At Ogmore-by-Sea there were seven Purple Sandpipers on the rocks just inside the wooden gate.

The fem (?)/imm.Black Redstart showed well by the walk-way in the outer harbour (10.35-11.10am).This greyish bird with no trace of a white wing-bar was seen singing earlier this morning by Peter Howlet.
The 1st.yr Little Gull was also showing well close to the barrage near the first viewing platform south of ‘the sails’ (11.30-12.00pm).

Common gull amongst the usual gulls, gadwall (4), pochard (c12), GC Grebe (5), goldcrest, fieldfare (3), redwing (10), male reed bunting singing from boardwalk reedbed.

Mobile fem.Black Redstart showed briefly again this morning coming from inside the sea-wall of the outer harbour,catching flies on the rocks on both sides of the walk-way and the cliff face directly above (11.20-11.30am).
Fox in Hamadryad Park (9.20am) and 16 Magpies on the roof of Cardiff Yacht Club.

hello done a beached survey on aberavon beach from the end of the prom down to the river along sanddunes did not do other half of beach due to tide coming in and i encountered a number of 23 dead seabirds 😦 5 first year puffins, 1 fulmar, 1 unknown gull, 5 razorbills and 10 guillemots there was one strange thing i noticed about the dead birds that they were all intact except that most of their legs had been cut off and there were 3 birds with there heads and legs cut clean off which i found quite strange didnt look like animal contact most birds eyes were still visiable there was one bird which was a razorbill that was ringed metal ring from brit museum M77 212 looked as if it was just ringed no scrapes or sings of age such a sad time 

am HT: Black Brant (Penclawdd – details on GRC blog) with 682 D-b & 1 P-b Brent. Yest: 3 Slavs (Wernffrwd), 1 Water Pipit (Dalton’s) & 2 GWEgrets (Llanrhidian)

2 female eider still off the pier this morning at low tide