At Cosmeston early morning a Marsh Tit, Nuthatch and Coal Tits in Cogan Wood, Shoveler, Pochard, Wigeon and Gadwall on the West Lake and Fieldfare, Redwing, Mistle and Song Thrush at the south end of the West Paddock. Late morning at Barry Waterfront the Mediterranean Gulls were still present along with a Common Sandpiper. On Sully Moors early afternoon there was a hunting Peregrine, a Little Egret, Water Rail, 11 Goldfinch on teasel and a Grey Wagtail on the Cadoxton River.

Four Lesser Redpoll by the Dragonfly pond were a nice surprise at Cosmeston late morning. Don’t see them here very often. On the West Lake were Gadwall, Wigeon, Pochard and the Bar-headed Goose. A Kingfisher was in the West Lake bay and Fieldfare, Redwing, Song Thrush and Mistle Thrush were at the south end of the West Paddock.

In Barry Dock there were 2 adult Mediterranean Gulls and a group of 9 Great Crested Grebes at the Waterfront. Little Egrets were at Swanbridge beach, Cadoxton Rivermouth/Bendrick Rock and Barry Old Harbour.

Highlights of an early morning walk in the Garw Valley between Llangeinor and Pontycymer were a Dipper and redhead Goosander on the river, plus Red Kite, Buzzard, 4 Ravens and several Bullfinch and Siskin.

This afternoon at Cosmeston a Marsh Tit was feeding with several Great and Blue Tits on the west side of the path roughly halfway through Cogan Wood.

A Bar-headed Goose was at Cosmeston this morning with a group of Canada Geese. Also on the West Lake a female Wigeon and a pair of Gadwall, with a Kingfisher along Sully Brook.

This afternoon a Peregrine over Porthkerry Park and a Kestrel and pair of Stonechat at wasteground immediately east of Barry Waterfront homes. A Mediterranean Gull was again on Barry Waterfront and 22 Redshank were in Barry Old Harbour approaching high tide (high count for this location).

Ringed Plover, Turnstone, Oystercatcher and Rock Pipit at Bendrick Rock at high tide.

Early morning walk in the Garw Valley resulted in 30 species including Red Kite, 1 Green and 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 5 Treecreepers (including a group of 3), Jay and Bullfinch. On the River Garw a Dipper and Grey Wagtail.

At Cosmeston a Chiffchaff feeding at the edge of the narrow field adjacent to the golf course (on east side of car park). Also 55 Siskin feeding in an alder by the boardwalk in the pond-dipping area near the cafe.

Little Egret and Great Black-backed Gull in Barry Old Harbour, the Lesser Scaup lookalike (hybrid) with 29 Tufted on the Knap lake, and 14 Pheasant on a track off the Dyffryn – St Lythans road.

Mediterranean Gull (adult, winter plumage) with about 50 Black-headed Gulls on the Waterfront (down from Morrisons roundabout) in Barry Dock again this afternoon.

7 Redshank and a Curlew in Barry Old Harbour, 18 Ringed Plover, 5 Turnstone and a Rock Pipit at Bendrick Rock and at high tide 50+ Oystercatcher at Swanbridge/Sully Island.

1 Marsh Tit, 3 Coal Tit and 2 Nuthatch feeding at the carved dragon tree in Cogan Wood this morning. Great Spotted Woodpecker by the bridge, still only 2 Pochard on the West Lake, 2 Treecreeper along the path around the West Lake, Redwing, Mistle Thrush and Fieldfare in the West Paddock, Raven over Cogan Wood and a Siskin feeding in a tree adjacent to the pumphouse building in the corner of the car park.

Thursday morning/early afternoon:

Tirfounder – 2 Dipper on the River Cynon, 1 Bullfinch, 1 Lesser Redpoll, flock of 15 Siskin feeding in an alder, 5 Teal and 2 Water Rail

Abercwmboi Lake – 3 Mute Swan, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Bullfinch, 3 Cormorant

Pwll Waun Cynon – 5 Teal, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Water Rail, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker

Dare Valley CP – 1 Green Woodpecker, 4 Tufted, 1 Cormorant

Egyptian Goose on the boardwalk at the gull feeding area on the East Lake at Cosmeston this morning.

Kestrel and Sparrowhawk late this afternoon at Cosmeston along the Sully Brook. This morning Raven, Little Egret and Curlew at Barry Old Harbour, 13 Ringed Plover at Bendrick Rock and a hybrid Aythya duck with a group of Tufties on Knap lake.

Fruitless search for Willow Tit yesterday at Nelson Wern. Nuthatch, Coal Tit and a pair of Bullfinch seen, and a Water Rail heard the other side of the railway line. Up the road at Parc Taf Bargoed, Dipper, Grey Wagtail, Raven, Grey Heron, the usual squadron of Little Grebe and (first time for me at this site) 2 Mute Swans. Three Goosander on the Taff at the north end of Glan-y-llyn on the way home.

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.

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

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.

2 Little Egret, 3 Great Black-backed Gull, 2 Brent Geese, 1 Kingfisher and 23 Wigeon at Breaksea Point/Aberthaw Rivermouth late morning/early afternoon today. A Kestrel over the tip behind the beach, and a Grey Partridge flushed from scrub on the track between the beach and the tip just east of the rivermouth.

Gadwall, Shoveler, Wigeon and Pochard at Cosmeston this morning. Cetti’s Warbler in both East and West lake reedbeds.

This morning at Cosmeston 2 male Bullfinch (at Dragonfly pond), 1 Cetti’s Warbler (cafe reedbed), 4 Goldcrest (3 along the path between the lakes), 2 Green and 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Grey Wagtail (SE corner of West Lake), House Martins and Swallows over the West Lake, Jay, Meadow Pipit and Skylark at the West Paddock, Water Rail in the West lake reedbed and a Wigeon on the East Lake.

Hobby still at Lavernock Point late this morning. Kestrel also present, along with Siskin, Skylark, Chiffchaff, Meadow Pipit, Jay and a few Swallow.

This morning at Cosmeston a Sparrowhawk putting up Meadow Pipits and Goldfinch in the West Paddock, Water Rail calling from the West Lake reedbed, 2 Wigeon on the West Lake, 2 Shoveler on the East lake, and a Cetti’s Warbler calling from the cafe reedbed. At Sully Island this afternoon 5 Stonechat, 1 Wheatear, 25 Greenfinch, 4 Curlew, 9 Ringed Plover and 7 Dunlin.