Month: January 2023

Whiteford Point & Llanrhidian – Gower

On By John WilsonIn SightingsLeave a comment

This was a Club trip to a favourite location, and an amazing 21 members attended. A total of 65 species were logged. Highlights at Whiteford after a muddy squelchy slog out there, were c.40 Eider, innumerable Brent Geese, plus Pintail and Wigeon and also 3 Common Scoter which came out of the water and settled on a sandy spit with the Eider to preen and rest. I for one had never seen Scoter out of the water before, One was a smart adult male and some folk who’d never seen one before were able to see the yellow ‘saddle’ on the bill through the scopes. Other wildfowl were huge numbers of Shelduck and a single drake Red-breasted Merganser. Out in the water we found 3 Great Northern Divers and 2 Red-throarted Divers and a very distant Slavonian Grebe. Waders comprised Redshank, Bar-tailed Godwit, Curlew, Knot, Grey Plover, Turnstone and around 100 Ringed Plover on the beach and large numbers of Dunlin.
Some folk had to leave when we retured to the car park and the rest went to the marsh road at Llanrhidian to look for Hen Harrier. We had to split up as parking is limited and we were a large group. A small handful of folk saw a female Hen Harrier and one lucky observer caught brief views of a Barn Owl. A Kingfisher hovered over the saltmarsh and many Little Egrets were coming in to roost, plus a single Great White Egret. All in all a great trip. And we were lucky with the weather!
Click here for the full trip list [not all species were seen by everyone – almost inevitable with such a large group].

Lamby Lake, Port Teigr Cardiff Bay. & Channel View Leisure centre.

On By bobcoolrunningIn SightingsLeave a comment

Lamby Lake, Port Teigr Cardiff Bay. & Channel View Leisure centre.

Lovely to see a few scarce Birds,

Cardiff Bay Ice Rink Greater Scaup was within quite a few Tufty Ducks Close to walk way, Ringed Neck Duck was at Distance to the left hand side. also not far from car park, were a flock of Greenfinches.

Lamby Lake was so choppy Tufty playing Hide & Seek. only a brief visit.

Black Redstart was showing down Port Teigr. along with Mistle Thrush, wagtails & Meadow pipits.

Whopper Swan nice to view at Channel view.

Was nice to see a bit Sunshine, rather than Rain Rain Rain,

Upcoming field trip – Sun 15th Jan

On By John WilsonIn NewsLeave a comment

Hi all

Advanced notice that there’s an all day field trip to Whiteford Point on the Gower, followed by a dusk watch for harriers at Llanridian Marsh, on Sunday 15th Jan – i.e. next Sunday.

High tide is at approx 11 a.m. so I’d suggest getting to the Whiteford Beach car park at Cwm Ivy at 09:30 as it’s a long walk. The map below shows the location of the car park [field] which many will be familiar with. Points to note:

1. It could be v muddy, esp the section after the conifer plantation to the point itself, so wear suitable waterproof footwear. The walk is approx 4 km each way:
2. There’s a steep [tarmac] hill immed after the car parking field which is fine at the start, but has to be walked up at the end of the return from Whiteford Point. And I mean steep!:
3. Because this is a westerly location for me, I can’t pick up anyone from St Margaret’s Rd as it’s in the wrong direction:
4. I haven’t been for a couple of years but theI assume  parking field is still a sloping grass field which can be slippery so be judicious as to where and how you park [as long as it’s neatly].

Please let me know if you intend coming. John Wilson

Indoor meeting, Tues 10th Jan

On By John WilsonIn NewsLeave a comment

There’s an ‘in person’ indoor meeting on Tues 10th Jan next week, which is an illusfrarted review of 2022 with images of many birds that were seen during the year and no doubt other highlights of  the year. It will start at 7:30 p.m. and will be at Pencoed Rugby Club which is at 31 Felindre Road, Pencoed, CF35 5PB. Come off M4 at J.35, go north on A473 and take 1st exit at the first rbt and the Rugby Club is almost immediately on the left.

I’m currently in Norfolk and will still be on the night so please direct any queries to one of the committee:

Contact GBC

December 2022

On By John WilsonIn Monthly summariesLeave a comment

Highlights: Two female Ring-necked Ducks remained at Lisvane Reservoir. An adult Caspian Gull was identified at Cardiff Bay (8th), where the long-staying Whooper Swan was still present. A Cattle Egret was briefly at Porthcawl (15th). Scarcities from Kenfig comprised Whooper Swan (8th only), Yellow-browed Warbler and two Siberian Chiffchaffs at the pool, plus a Snow Bunting at Sker.
Other Sites: The Brent Goose flock at Aberthaw peaked at 15 (10 of which were Pale-bellied), while a single juvenile Dark-bellied lingered at Ogmore Estuary. The only Scaup was at Cardiff Bay. Two Eiders and a Red-breasted Merganser were noted at Sker. Great Northern Divers were sighted on various dates at Kenfig and Sker, although it is not known how many individuals this relates to. Bitterns were found at both Kenfig and Cardiff Bay, where three Great White Egrets were seen flying over (15th). Both Marsh Harrier and Short-eared Owl were observed flying in off the sea at Sker (4th). A male Merlin was hunting at Portobello, Ogmore Estuary. A Whimbrel appeared to be attempting to winter at Sker. Common Sandpipers were frequenting Ogmore Esuary, Cardiff Bay and Lisvane Reservoir. A Little Gull stopped off at Kenfig Pool (24th). Water Pipits were made up of two at Ogmore Estuary and two at Aberthaw. Black Redstarts had a good showing, with records from Cardiff Bay (maximum three), Cardiff City Hall, Barry, Aberthaw (two), Nash Point, Southerndown (two), Bridgend (two locations) and Lock’s Common, Porthcawl. Firecrests were logged at Cathays Cemetery, Aberthaw (two) and Pant Norton. Up to four Hawfinches were at Cosmeston. 
Summary by Paul Roberts

Cosmeston & Cardiff Bay

On By John WilsonIn SightingsLeave a comment

20 folk enjoyed the nice sunny day for the first GBC outing of 2023. We spent 3 hours at Cosmeston, slightly irritated by the loud gunfire due to a local clay pigeon or pheasant shoot, which seemed to have kept some birds away or at least hidden in cover. West lake had the usual Tufties plus 8 Pochard and 6 Gadwall, 4 Great Crested Grebes and 2 Little Grebes and a brief Kingfisher was seen by a few. A small flock of Teal few around [possibly disturbed from a pool hidden in Cogan Wood by the gunfire, but they didn’t drop in]. In Cogan Wood after some patient watching most had views of a Marsh Tit as it dashed in and out to snatch up sunflower hearts deposited in a favourite place. The same location produced Blue, Great and Coal Tits, plus Long-tailed Tit and Nuthatch. West paddock gave us Green Woodpecker but no Hawfinch showed.
Some of us went over to Cardiff Bay by the Ice Rink where we saw the female Scaup and 2 female Goldeneye and a fly-by drake Goosander. After that, round the other side at Porth Teigr, by Roath Basin, we had nice views of the male Black Redstart.
In all we logged 47 species – the full list is here.

Cardiff Bay barrage & Porth Teigr

On By John WilsonIn SightingsLeave a comment

Cardiff Bay Barrage – Penarth > Porth Teigr & Adventurer’s Quay & back. A Grey Wag was by R. Ely mouth at Penarth Marina, 3 Pied Wags on Barrage, 1 Common Gull on the buoy ‘chain’ and 64 Cormorant on the inner ‘jetty’. 2 prs of Goosander in the Bay nr the feeder dock [and 1 fem offshore in the channel]. Male Black Redstart showed well in the usual place opp Adventurer’s Quay apartments. Also noted were Great Crested Grebe, Mute Swan, Coot, Moorhen, Crow, Jackdaw, House Sparrow, Herring Gull, Black-headed Gull. Feral Pigeon.