Wheatear still  showing well on the waste ground by Empire Way near the Ice Rink. It often flies onto the bit of grass by the Ice Rink car park.

My first chiffchaff of the year today in 19 species seen this afternoon. Also goldcrest, mute swan, Mallard, tufted duck, great crested grebe, Moorhen, coot, black headed gull, herring gull, heron, Magpie, Carrion Crow, blue tit, great tit, long tailed tit,robin, blackbird and goldfinch.

23 species seen in an afternoon walk around Forest Farm including 2 new year ticks – Dipper and Stock Dove – as well as Great Spotted Woodpecker and Goosander etc. The Stock Dove is a site first for me.

At least 10 skylarks skylarking around at the top of Garth Mountain including a couple in display flight.  Also 3 Ravens and a Peregrine in 10 species seen.

26 species seen at C.B.W.R this morning. Missed out on the bearded tits but at least 6 Cettis warblers heard with brief views of a couple. Also Reed Bunting, Greenfinch, Linnets, Goldfinch, 2 Stonechats and Water Rail etc.

Shelducks, Shoveler and Pintail showing well in the gloom at the little bay by the Helipad this morning. I couldn’t find anything different in amongst the black-headed gulls and  the only waders were Curlew and Turnstone.

25 species seen in a 2 hour walk around Roath Park Lake and surrounding area this morning including 1 Common Gull and 8 Pochards. Also Greylag and Canada Geese, Mute swan, Mallard and Tufted Duck, Little Grebe, Cormorant, Moorhen and Coot, Feral Pigeon and Woodpigeon, BH LBB and Herring gull, Jay Magpie and Carrion crow, Blue Tit and Great Tits, Robin, Blackbird, Grey Wagtail and Chaffinch.

22 species seen on a morning walk including Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, Redwing and Goosander.

Lamby Lake and then up to RGW for one last look for short eared owls for 2018 but still no luck. 24 species seen in all as follows

Coot, moorhen , bh gull, LBB gull, herring gull, mute swan, tufted duck, gc grebe, jackdaw, kestrel, shelduck, lt tits, blue tits, teal, Redshank, mallard, cormorant, grey heron, magpie, carrion crow, woodpigeon,blackbird, starling and pied wagtails.

20 species seen in a 90 minute estuary watch this morning.

Shelduck, mallard, shoveler, pintail, teal, gadwall, lapwing, Redshank, dunlin, knot, bh gull, herring gull, buzzard, meadow pipit, carrion crow, magpie, starling, cormorant, blackbird, pied wagtail.

22 species seen this morning in a 2 hour walk.

Mallard, moorhen,jackdaw,woodpigeon, jay,mistle thrush,redwing,  kingfisher, dipper, grey heron, magpie, robin, wren, grey wagtail, blackbird, great tit, blue tit, coal tit, treecreeper, nuthatch, dunnock and carrion crow.

24 species seen in a 2 1/2 hour walk around Bute Park this morning plus a drumming GS Woodpecker heard. Good to see the redwing numbers building in the Paddocks. Hopefully some Fieldfare will soon join them. Full list as follows

Bh gull, lbb gull, woodpigeon, magpie,carrion crow, jackdaw, feral pigeon, goosander,mallard, dipper,starlings, great tit, mistle thrush, song thrush, blackbird, redwing, robin, chaffinch, goldfinch, grey wagtail, pied wagtail, buzzard, grey heron and nuthatch.

 

A circular walk this morning via Rhumney Estuary, Rhumney Little Wharf & Cors Crydych Reen starting at 09:15 and lasting 2 1/2 hrs. A distance of about 2 miles. 31 species seen as follows

Mute swan, moorhen, coot, mallard, gc grebe, bh gull, herring gull, LBB gull, tufted duck, teal, shoveler, shelduck, cormorant, grey heron, LT tits, great tit, curlew, oystercatcher, barn owl, starling, peregrine, kestrel,carrion crow, magpie, jackdaw, blackbird, woodpigeon, collared dove, Canada geese, feral pigeon, lapwing.

24 species seen this morning including my first Siskins of the Winter.

Blue tit, great tit, Lt tit, coal tit, house sparrow, chaffinch, bullfinch, siskin, robin, wren, blackbird, dunnock, nuthatch, jackdaw, carrion crow, magpie, jay, woodpigeon, grey wagtail, BH gull, mallard, moorhen, goldcrest, grey heron.

 

23 species seen this morning plus an unidentified grebe. Viewed from St Davids Hotel it was in the reeds in the small bay to the right for only a second before it dived and I couldn’t relocate it. Presumably it went round the corner out of sight. It was the right size for a red-necked grebe but I can’t add any more details I’m afraid. Species seen and definitely identified were BH gull, LBB gull, Herring gull, GBB gull, mallard, moorhen, teal, tufted duck, coot, turnstone, cormorant, mute swan, GC grebe,  little grebe, stonechat, robin, blackbird, wren, Reed bunting, starling, magpie, carrion crow, blue tit.

20 species seen in a walk round Lamby Lake and Rhumney Estuary this afternoon.

BH gull, Common Gull, LBB gull, Herring gull, moorhen, coot, mallard, tufted duck, mute swan, GC grebe, grey heron, canada geese, teal, magpie, carrion crow, woodpigeon, robin, LT tits, Jack Snipe and Redshank.

26 species seen on a pleasant walk this morning from City centre to Blackweir along the Taff as follows

Cormorant, moorhen, mallard, Goosander, herring gull, LBB gull, BH gull, snow geese (4 at taffs mead embankment), dipper, kingfisher, pied wag,  grey wag,  carrion crow, jackdaw, magpie, jay, robin, wren, blackbird, goldfinch, starling, woodpigeon, grey heron, feral pigeon, blue tit, mute swan.

At least 20 sightings of Green Sandpipers including 4 together today.

First Spring arrivals this morning with 2 wheatear at RGW. Also flushed a jack snipe and a kestrel. Otherwise very quiet.

32 species seen on a walk around FF this morning, the highlight being a white wagtail at Radyr Weir with 4 grey wagtails. Also dipper, snipe and kingfisher.