The Marsh Tit was feeding off the dragon tree again. I’ve not seen it there for a while.

Reasonable pic at

http://andyburnsphotography.zenfolio.com/passerines/h1a5e4b89#h11f013c3

….it’s just too fast for me to get it on one of the branches!

Ok, in addition to the first Sand Martin of the year for me (I’d have never have seen it without Lol), how about this one.

http://andyburnsphotography.zenfolio.com/uid4/h2a6aa1a5#h2a6aa1a5

Seven pics of gull taken today that from the head, tertials and greater coverts seems like a 2W YLG, but from everything else scream Argenteus. HG’s don’t have greater coverts like this…do they? I’m getting really confused by how variable these coverts and tertials can be.

I went to Ogmore this morning, until Lol called. The black-throated diver was still there at 2.00pm and was very accomodating for a number of shots. 2 good ones at

http://andyburnsphotography.zenfolio.com/waterfowl/h379e5960#h379e5960

Very near the bridge on the east lake.

Nothing out of the ordinary at Ogmore.

Photo of the Black Redstart at

http://andyburnsphotography.zenfolio.com/passerines/h18464ca2#h18464ca2

Record shots of the Little gull at

http://andyburnsphotography.zenfolio.com/littlegull/h18a1eeb8#h18a1eeb8

The Little Gull (First winter) was not co-operating and spent 30 mins flying round in the middle of the bay – seen from the barrage looking towards Morrisons.

Female Blackcap in the garden this afternoon. First time (ever) that I’ve seen one here – I must be doing something right with the bird feeder.

Reasonable photo at

http://andyburnsphotography.zenfolio.com/local/h353f1579#h353f1579

Water Pipit on the rocks along with the normal Rock Pipits. Thanks to Lol Middleton for spotting it.

Record shots at

http://andyburnsphotography.zenfolio.com/p744404838/h34890649#h34890649

No sign of the LTD this morning.

Here is a reasonable shot I got of it yesterday.

http://andyburnsphotography.zenfolio.com/waterfowl/h5118277#h5118277

 

LTD back again this morning at 11 – 11.30am.

Lesser Scaup still on west lake but unusually the tufty flock were well spread out with a large number at the north end and very active diving. LS was best viewed from the viewing platform south of bridge (bird was on far side by the reed bed).

Usual Gadwall (14), Pochards (8), shoveler (3) and a pair of GC Grebes showing to each other. Nothing exotic blown in over the weekend.

A few record shots of the Long-tailed duck on the lake at the Knap this morning.

http://andyburnsphotography.zenfolio.com/ltd/h186f1a29#h186f1a29

Thanks to John and team for letting me know it was still there. It took off and flew round with the tufties and landed again.

I need some help from any Gull experts out there.

For the past 2 months there has been a gull down at Cosmeston that looks like it is a 3^rd winter type Yellow Leg Gull. A number of people have commented that it is not a yellow leg but no one has offered any conclusive suggestions on what it is. I have photographed the bird many times since the end of November (it is quite unique as it is missing white spots on the ends of P8 and P10 on its left side). The wing tip pattern says it is not an argenteus or an argentatus. The mantle colour is too light for a graellsii. On balance it looks then like a YLG….but what else could it be? Any ideas?

There are 14 photographs on starting at

http://andyburnsphotography.zenfolio.com/ylg/h2119a527#h2119a527

 which take you through all the key ID points. On some browsers you may need to scroll down to see the text below the photos.

The bird has been around most days since the end of November although on many occasions took off mid morning and flew north east in the direction of Cardiff bay. Having said that, I have not seen it since the 28^th Jan, so keen to hear if anyone sees it (usually near the main entrance on the east lake). It would be good to get some more shots as it moves towards summer plumage. If you do see it, send me an email (address on web site).

Lesser Scaup still on West Lake this afternoon in with the tufties.

Lesser Scaup back on the west lake this morning. It was  showing very well in with the tufty flock. Very near the Yellow warning sign at the ‘muddy’ south bit of the lake. Managed a few better shots today as it swam quite near to the shore.

http://andyburnsphotography.zenfolio.com/waterfowl/h1926f951#h1926f951

A few other ducks around in with the tufties – pochards (3), shovelers (1 male), Gadwall (9) and a male widgeon. No sign of the pintails today.

Pair of Pintails, on the west lake this morning. In with the Tufties. There’s a record shot at

http://andyburnsphotography.zenfolio.com/p544547808/h308f03a7#h308f03a7

(it was a long way off and very poor light)

First Pintails I have seen at Cozzy this year. Few Pochards and Shovelers also in with the Tufties. No sign of the Lesser Scaup on the west lake but I didnt get a chance to look at the flock of Tufties on the east lake before the rain came.

Lesser Scaup still on the west lake this morning…looking very settled in with the other tufties. It came a bit closer so I managed to get a couple of better shots.

http://andyburnsphotography.zenfolio.com/p544547808/hbea5f51#h9762762

http://andyburnsphotography.zenfolio.com/p544547808/hbea5f51#h21d9ea0

 

Male Lesser Scaup was at Cosmeston again this morning (thanks to Lol Middleton for spotting it again). I managed to get some reasonable ‘in flight’ shots but at the limit of the cameras range. There are 5 shots at:

http://andyburnsphotography.zenfolio.com/p544547808/h8cf77e2#h8cf77e2

It was on the east lake with the tufties and obliged by taking off for the photos – and then landed on the west lake. It was there when we left at 11am, over the far side again with the tufties.

 

 

First post to the list so hope it works!

Good shot of a nice adult med gull this morning

http://andyburnsphotography.zenfolio.com/p339463706/h38d3e1dd#h38d3e1dd

Half a dozen turnstones and a redshank under the pier and a rock pipit by the cafe.