5 brambling and 1 woodcock

Of note this morning, a pair of over-wintering Stonechat (the first we’ve had here, they normally just pass through in the autumn) and a Woodcock.

Emma and I celebrated the 16th anniversary of when we first met by venturing out for a few hours this morning. The highlight was a total of 10 Mediterranean Gulls at a variety of locations:- 1 first-winter at the western-most Wilderness Pool, Porthcawl, 1 first-winter at salt lake car park, Porthcawl, 6 adult and 1 first winter on rocks just south of Hutchwns Point, Porthcawl and finally an adult winter at Portobello island, Ogmore estuary.

At the eastern Pool nearer Newton: there were 2 pairs of Shoveler. At the western Wilderness pool a female Common Pochard, a pair of Shoveler and a Great Spotted Woodpecker. There was just 1 Little Egret and 5 Moorhen on the flood at The Watermill (Ogmore est). A bit busier at Portobello island – a male and 3 female Goosander, several Goldeneye and 6+ Teal.

A Dark-bellied Brent Goose flying off towards Pothcawl from the rivermouth was one of 56 species recorded in the locale today.

Arrived at Cardiff Bay Wetland Reserve this morning just in time to see several thousand Starlings leaving the reedbed. An impressive sight and noise! Other highlights here: hunting Kestrel, calling Kingfisher, a Common Snipe launching from one of the wildflower beds and multiple squealing Water Rail.

Elsewhere in Cardiff Bay the Lesser Scaup was on the west side 100m down from the road bridge just after 10am. There were 12 Common Gulls at the orange buoys near the barrage, and at least 1 Black Redstart (quite possibly up to 3 more but only got fleeting view of these) at Plas Taliesin/Llwyn Passat in Penarth Marina. A pair of Raven flew into the Bay from Penarth Head, and there were 3 Great Black-backed Gulls on the mud outside the Barrage.

At Cosmeston this afternoon a very showy Water Rail right at the start of the reedbed boardwalk. A Gadwall pair and 20 Pochard were on the West Lake, and a Common Gull was on the posts.

A circuit of Kenfig Pool produced a Siberian Chiffchaff in the West Pool bushes with three Common Chiffchaffs and a Jack Snipe of note again in the East Pool Marsh. Two Goldeneye were briefly on the pool, but otherwise fairly quiet.