Black-throated Dive on Llanishen, Ring-necked Duck 1 (female type) and Common Sandpiper on Lisvane.
Month: December 2024
Cardiff Bay barrage & Barry Docks
Walked across the barrage this morning and was lucky to see a female Goosander close in to the inner shore, so got a couple of nice shots. As the Barry Docks Black-throated Diver had been reported whilst we were having coffee at the far end, I nipped over there too. It turned up whilst we were away at Christmas so was pleased to see that it was still present. It was pretty obliging and gave the best views I’ve ever had of any species of diver.
Kenfig NNR
Nine hardy folk joined us for the ‘Pies In The Hide’ monthly public walk on Saturday , and despite the wind , drizzle and poor visibility, we saw/heard 32 species between us, the highlight being an American Wigeon. It was only really visible through a ‘scope but everyone managed to have a view. Great to welcome a new member – and old friends of course. We enjoyed the festive occasion , taking shelter in the hide, with tinsel, mince pies and mulled hot fruit juice.
Full list. – Magpie, Carrion Crow, Blackbird,Wren, Woodpigeon, Jackdaw, Coot, Mute Swan, Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant, Mallard, Gadwall, Eurasian Wigeon, American Wigeon, Pochard, Tufted Duck, Moorhen calling in the reedbed, House Sparrow, Long-Tailed Tit, Chaffinch, Great Tit, Herring Gull, Blue Tit, Chettis Warbler, Chiff Chaff, Lesser Black -Backed Gull, Herring Gull, Black Headed Gull, Feral Pigeon, Stonechat, Sparowhawk, Redwing – spotted flying over at the end of the walk.
Many thanks to Dave for leading, to folk who helped us with ID and scope views, and everyone for coming along.
Rhymney Est.
V v cold WeBS count (Wetland Bird Survey) this morning, on the Rhymney Estuary at Green Point. High tide was way too early last w/e, when it was scheduled – it would have still been dark!. Bit of an obstacle course there at the mo – see photos. Plenty of birds tho’: 100 Pintail, 80 Shelduck, 50 Teal, 40 Mallard, 11 Wigeon, 30 Shoveler, 40 Canada Geese, 800 Redshank, 400 Dunlin, 70 Oystercatcher, 22 Ringed Plover, 7 Cormorant.
Dorset
Just because last mins decision at Traffic lights to turn in for coffee and use RSPB Radipole toilet, After walking RSPB Lodmoor and after stop a night in Poole after brillent low tide trip which highlights was Red throated Diver.
4 Bearded Tits feeding by cafe, during strong wind, funny i struggle with Bitterns this year but its been a Bearded Tits year for me 3 times 3 different places
Special offer membership!
Looking for a last minute Christmas gift? How about membership of Glamorgan Bird Club? We’ve got a special offer on at the moment. Join now and you’ll get extended membership until March 2026. In other words, 15 months instead of the usual 12. To join, go to www.glamorganbirds.org.uk , click the “join” button and fill in our on-line form.
Portland Obs weekend – 4-6 Oct 2024
Posted a little late!
Thirteen Club members met up at the first location, Maiden Castle just outside Dorchester at around 10:15. The fields below this huge iron age fort are a reliable site for Corn Bunting and other farmland birds. There were huge numbers of Goldfinch and Linnet feeding in an old sunflower crop and we eventually managed to ‘scope up a number of stocky Corn Buntings resting on a tree top.
From here we drove to Lodmoor RSPB reserve, E. of Weymouth. At the start of a circular walk, sharp-eyed Tim Adcock spotted a couple of Bearded Tits. After some patient viewing we all got glimpses of these reedbed residents. Other species here were Cetti’s Warblers heard, Black-tailed Godwits, Great White Egret, a good number of Snipe, a few Swallow and all the common dabbling ducks and a few Med Gulls. The resident Marsh Harriers didn’t show, which is very unusual.
Next stop was the Ferrybridge car park, overlooking Chesil Fleet. The tide was low but we had decent scope views of Dunlin, Turnstone, Ringed Plover, 5 Bar-tailed Godwit and a few Sanderling, 2 Sandwich Terns and, for this site, the inevitable Mediterranean Gulls. A couple of Wheatear were also present. Time was marching on so we headed on to Portland Bill itself and down to the Observatory, which comprises the old Portland lighthouse. Once we had our rooms sorted and had ‘moved in’ it was time for a cuppa. A short walk to the ‘Obs quarry’, a vegetated hollow with a back wall of huge Portland stone boulders, failed to reveal the resident Little Owl. We did see this resident at some point during the weekend but I can’t now recall exactly when! Late afternoon and evening were spent chilling and Alan & Tim organised fish & chips.
Saturday is usually early breakfast then out on the terrace with ‘scopes, seawatching for a couple of hours. Most numerous were Gannets of all ages, then large-ish groups of auks comprising Guillemots and Razorbills although ID at distance is never easy. The best birds were small numbers of Balearic Shearwaters – regular passage birds here, best described as Manx Shearwaters with dirty underwings! The occasional Kittiwake passed by and a couple of Great Skuas and a few Common Scoter were seen. After tea/coffee to rest our eyes, we walked down to the tip of the bill. A Wheatear was on the large field. Sea passage had quietened so we headed up to the ‘top fields’. On the way Tim Adcock had brief views of a large pipit but it vanished from view – could have been a Richard’s! Also just as we set off a Hobby suddenly appeared and chased around for a short while, no doubt after the few migrating Swallows. The top fields provided a couple of Whinchat and a few Stonechats, and there were 5 Stock Doves in one field. News then came through of a Red-breasted Flycatcher at the Culverwell ringing area, which was on our way so we hurried off downhill. It looked like a needle in a haystack job in the dense scrub, so 2 or 3 of us [including me], who were wilting a bit, set off back to the Obs. The stalwarts who stayed ‘got’ the bird, so after our picnic lunches on the terrace, the others of us went back and eventually got views of this little gem. Another highlight was a Firecrest which had been trapped in the obs garden, so we had close views of this gorgeous bird when the warden Martin Cade, brought it up to the terrace to show us.
The afternoon was spent in a couple of wooded areas looking for Yellow-browed Warblers, which had been reported. It was quite windy which made finding small birds in tall Sycamores, quite difficult! We managed to find a few Chiffchaffs but not much else. Gareth Jenkins who joined us from his B&B accommodation, managed to see the local Barn Owl in the headlights of his car as he arrived. Dinner this evening was taken at the Eight Kings pub in Southwell, which Alan had booked during the fish & chip run. A couple of hiccups in the food orders, but we did descend on them with 16 orders! All in all it had been a good day.
Sunday and seawatching again early doors – passage seemed to be a bit quieter this morning, but similar species were seen. Alan was lucky enough to see a passing Merlin, spotted by the resident seawtcher. We had to clear our rooms by 10 a.m. so as the weather forecast wasn’t too good we decided to head off to Ferrybridge again as the tide was about right. Our departure was delayed when news came that Martin had trapped a Yellow-browed Warbler, so we all trooped out to the terrace to get fab close up views of this nicely marked relative of Chiffchaff. Then, just as we were about to depart, a Red-breasted Flycatcher had suddenly arrived in a large Holm Oak near the Obs entrance. Sharp-eyed Tim A. spotted it in the dark under the tree and it was a different bird to the Culverwell one. It went into cover and we decided we had to leave. Tim Collier managed to get a great shot later, as he was due to stay another day, having travelled down in his campervan.
At Ferrybridge, the tide was so high there was no exposed mud and no waders! We spent some time studying the Med Gulls, of which there were about 80, so we managed to give some of the assembled spotters, a lesson in Med Gull ageing! Coffees were consumed, and some nice snacks from the cafe, and then the tide began to fall and the same species of wader returned, giving closer views this time. Also as a finale, 16 Brent Geese flew in, these being the dark-bellied race Branta bernicla bernicla, which breed in Siberia. Portland Bill had more or less disappeared in the increasing drizzle, so we all set off for home, except for those who had further plans. For some the journey back was pretty dire with torrential rain and standing water on the motorways, but we all got back safely after a great weekend.
The full list is here.
John Wilson
Cosmeston
The long-staying [since 19th Nov] female Red-breasted Merganser was quite active at Cosmeston this morning, as opposed to yesterday when it was fast asleep [see one of the photos]. This morning it was fishing on E. lake, in the company of a Little Grebe at one point. Also, on W. lake there were 4 drake and 1 fem Pochard, and a lone Wigeon.
Rest Bay > Sker Point
An enjoyable walk was had today by a pleasing 18 participants [thanks folks!], on a Club trip, from Rest Bay to Sker Point and back. An unexpected treat was a Dartford Warbler, first spotted by Jean Carlson as we were watching a pair of Stonechats on gorse, across the road from the car park! An interesting bit of info which not everyone knows is that vagrant ‘Dartfords’ often associate with Stonechats. Highlights at Sker Point were c.150 Golden Plover, a few Purple Sandpipers, lots of Turnstone and Oystercatcher and a Ringed Plover and a Knot. A Mediterranean Gull I got flight shots of by the car park had a yellow leg ring but none of my shots show the code clearly enough. See the bottom LH image.
Diligent scanning by Alan Rosney got him on to a Diver going up channel but it was too distant to ID to species.
Edit: I’ve added in a couple of photos by Cindy Howells, one of 2 adult Great Black-backed Gulls, and another of a Curlew at Sker Point. I’ve taken the liberty of cropping both images [with permission].
The full list if 36 species is via this link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qrMzJZ8vGeBHIu1OXJKZjpPlR-maoDzk/view?usp=sharing
Cosmeston late a.m.
Very cold this morning. Not much action up by dragonfly pond. There were c.12 Redwing on the deck in W paddock near the S. kissing gate plus a couple of Song Thrush and a Mistle Thrush. W lake had 3 drake Pochard. In the willow by the boardwalk opposite the cafe, I was chuffed to see a female Reed Bunting feeding on phragmites heads. Only the second Reed Bunt I’ve recorded at Cossie this year [the 1st was a singing male in May]. They’ve become a bit of a rarity, sadly.
Cosmeston
Late morning as usual. The Mile Road fallen tree had been cleared. There were 2 drake Pochard and a pair of Gadwall with the Tufties on W lake. The recent Red-breasted Merganser seems to have departed. A Sparrowhawk flew over the Medieval Village field and a Buzzard was mewing from a tree nearby although I couldn’t locate it.
Cosmeston
Late morning circuit. The usual route up the Mile Road via the Medieval Village path, was blocked by a fallen tree. Hence we went through the lower dovecote field and joined the W lake back path. Over the lower dovecote there were 2 Buzzards circling, and a Peregrine suddenly appeared and had a go at one of them, then flew off. A few Redwing flew into the conservation area as we passed. In addition to the usual Tufties there were 2 Wigeon and a drake Pochard on W lake.
November 2024
Highlights: A first-winter drake American Wigeon was present at Kenfig Pool (28th-29th). A female Ring-neck Duck arrived at Lisvane Reservoir (25th). A flock of 12 Whooper Swans seen flying up channel off Sker was subsequently noted off Aberthaw (11th). A further five Whooper Swans turned up at Flemingston Moor (15th). A Velvet Scoter (with two Common Scoters) lingered on the sea off Sully (from 18th). A Black-throated Diver flew down channel past Sker (20th). Kenfig Pool hosted a Slavonian Grebe (21st-25th). A first-winter Caspian Gull was identified in the roost off Cardiff Bay Wetlands Reserve on at least two dates. A Yellow-browed Warbler was found at Hailey Park, Cardiff (3rd).
Other Sites: Less common wildfowl included a Scaup at Cardiff Bay, four Eiders off Sker and a Red-breasted Merganser at Cosmeston. Both Bittern and Great White Egret occurred at Kenfig Pool. Mynydd Pwll-yr-Lwrch and Kenfig both had single sightings of Hen Harrier and Short-eared Owl. Llanilid chipped in with an additional Hen Harrier. A Purple Sandpiper was found dead under electricity wires at Cilfynydd Common, well inland. Two Little Gulls were feeding off Sker in stormy weather. A highly unseasonal Common Swift ranged between Cosmeston and the adjacent coast (30th). The only Ring Ouzel sighting came from Kenfig. Black Redstarts were observed at Southerndown, Aberthaw and Cardiff City Hall. Wandering Dartford Warblers continued to feature, with records from Dunraven, Dyffryn Farm (Caerau), Nottage and at a weedy field at Lavernock. At least three Firecrests were at Bute Park. Lavernock enjoyed a good passage of Hawfinches, with over 20 logged, while further reports of the species came from Heath Park, Forest Farm and Cosmeston.
Summary by Paul Roberts
Cosmeston & Lavernock
On Saturday at the w/e a lucky birder found a Dartford Warbler at Lavernock. It proved to be a little elusive but I visited today after my usual Cosmeston circuit to try my luck. There was no action in the scrubby field where it had been seen, but I eventually noticed 2 Stonechats on the adjacent hedgerow. Some folk may not know that wayward Dartfords often associate with Stonechats, and so it proved to be. I only got a brief view but the little devil popped its head out from the dense cover to give me a satisfactory glimpse then back in it went. The Stonechat pair relocated to an adjacent field and I watched them there for a while in case they’d taken the Dartford with them, but got no further action. No pic of the Dartford Warbler but I did take some pix of the Stonechats, although they’re big crops. I also noted a Meadow Pipit, and a male Kestrel was hunting over the field. Also below a drake Shoveler at Cossie and a Woodpigeon head shot [it was resting by the main bridge].
Glamorgan Bird Club 
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