Firecrest showed well several times between 07:50 to 09:30, once down to 6 feet, from the beginning of the boardwalk. With Dave Smith from Porthcawl. Black Redstart male in Penarth Marina.

A Black Redstart was seen briefly in the Butterfly Conservation office yard at Calvert Terrace, Swansea yesterday afternoon.

1 Common Gull on the football field in Hamadryad Park the morning. At CBWR 14 Tufties, 3 GC Grebes and a fem Goldeneye. No sign of Firecrest of y’day. Also what appeared to be a very confiding fem Goosander right by the boardwalk, but then I got a better look. She seems to have a damaged R wing  which is drooping down – see poor phone photo below. Hope she survives but it might hamper diving for food.

2 great northern diver in close to the shore this morning

Bittern flew into reeds near South Hide 10.45 this morning

on sat nov 14th my friend and i went to the wirral wader festival at thurstaston country park . we recently joined wader quest and helped on the stall . there were other stalls there too in the old station visitor centre which also has an indoor bird hide and i spent a bit of time in there watching chaffinches , coal tits , great and blue tits on the feeders and some greenfinches came too . there were 2 moorhens on the ground and 2 squirrels on the feeders then 2 of them went on the birdtable and had a fight sending seed everywhere!, the weather wasnt great but we didnt get the chance to go to the dee estuary to spot waders but heard a lot where there. there were talks and an artist at work and on the whole we had a great day doing our bit to help waders . we did see a couple of buzzards on the way to the festival

Interesting walk this afternoon along the River Ely on Peterston Moors starting at Peterston village. 40 species in total, including a Buzzard flipping over and putting its talons up to successfully defend itself against a Peregrine (which gave up and flew off). Also 5 Green Sandpiper, 1 Kestrel, 1 singing Dipper, 6 Snipe, 2 Water Rail, 2 Moorhen, 2 Jay, 2 Grey Wagtail, 2 Grey Heron, 2 Cormorant, 1 Treecreeper, 2 Nuthatch and a male Bullfinch.

Graham went up to see if the Short-eared Owl was still around. No sign of the owl but he did see a ringtail Hen Harrier come in to roost at 4.15pm.

A Firecrest was in the bushes along the boardwalk for about 10-15 minutes this morning from 8:30. Last seen looking as though it was going to work its way up the hedge from the boardwalk to the yacht club gates.

Successful trip today with 23 participants on a nice clear crisp day. Nothing very unusual but a good selection of what would be expected plus Little Stint, and Ruff among the waders. Full list can be seen here – click here.

1 black throated diver flew across the bay landing further out. Great northern diver in close by the causeway for a short while. Approx 300 plus comm scoter at distance. 40 to 50 skylark plus smaller nos of mead pipit, reed bunting and several song thrush ( one singing)

3-Choughs at Ogmore,13h00,despite hoards of people and dogs.

A fem Black Redstart with an ad.m. present this am.(Richard Smith and Jeff Slocombe saw 2 fem earlier).

Gadwall, Wigeon, Teal and Pochard at a sunny Cosmeston this morning.

2 bullfinch, a goldcrest and a raven of note on a pleasant walk. However the main reason for the post was a new fence and gate at the corner of Pant Quarry and the removal and chipping of well over an acre of gorse. Preparations for another quarry extension?

1 short eared owl over Llangenith moors and 1 red throated diver off Burry Holmes. smallish no.s of scoter at distance in

Rhosilli bay.

A Little Egret was on the beach between Blackpill and West Cross at 1 p.m.

Highlight [sadly for only 3 participants] of this mornings GBC monthly walk was a Bittern seen from south hide, having flown in from the east. The pool had 8 Gadwall and 4 Mallard as the only ducks. Gulls included 2 Common and 1 ad and 1 1stW Great Black-backed. Overall total was 42 species. If you click this link http://tinyurl.com/osex5zw you will see the full list.

Walk along the beach this morning and came across these characters.

Lots of flooding on Sully Moors currently. Friday afternoon 3 Grey Heron, 1 Little Egret, 4 Mute Swan, 43 Mallard (which may explain why the Cosmeston count was lower), several hundred gulls (HG, LBBG, BHG), 2 Buzzard and 30 Pied Wagtail.

On Sully Beach 15 Ringed Plover.