Highlights of a walk from Garwnant to Gwaun y Pynt and back via Garn Ddu included 2 Red Grouse at Waun Wen and, back in the forestry, decent views in the afternoon sun of 11 Crossbill feeding.

A Dipper was upstream from Garwnant bridge.

Lots of birds at the seasonal Walls Pool and surrounding field near Gileston late morning, ahead of the early afternoon high tide. Counts included 41 Dunlin, 34 Ringed Plover, 14 Turnstone, 17 Curlew, 19 Oystercatcher, 3 Shelduck, 65+ Common Gull, 100+ Black-headed Gull, 1 immature Great Black-backed gull and 2 Mediterranean Gull.

Linnet, Goldfinch, Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Stonechat and Raven on the walk from/to the beach car park.

Fine views of the Great Northern Diver still present late afternoon on a flat calm Llwyn-onn reservoir. Also present at the north end of the reservoir 20 Snipe, 6 Cormorant and 2 Little Grebe.

Lots of Crossbill in the forestry to the east of the reservoir.

Extensive flooding on Sully and Cog Moors and birds there this afternoon included 4 Cattle Egret, 11 Little Egret and 13 Grey Heron.

Birds seen on a short visit over high tide at Newton Point this morning included 7 Grey Plover, 50 Turnstone, 4 Dunlin and 3 Redshank.

At The Watermill flood between Ewenny and Ogmore there were 17 Wigeon, 21 Teal, 4 Redshank, 3 Shelduck, 2 Grey Heron, 1 Little Egret, 7 Moorhen and a singing Mistle Thrush.

Further downstream at Portobello/Ploran Mawr there were 15+ Goldeneye, 3 Gadwall, 7 Teal, 9 Little Grebe, 7 Goosander, 1 Redshank, 1 Kestrel, 20+ Chaffinch and a Stonechat pair.

A Kestrel was hunting close to the B4265 near Pant y Groes between St Brides Major and Wick.

Late morning at Flemingston Moor there were 127 Lapwing, 2 Egyptian Geese, 4 Greylag Geese, 9 Little Egret, 3 Grey Heron, 17 Fieldfare and a Great Black-backed Gull.

Recent rain has significantly increased the surface water on Flemingston Moor. Birds present this morning included 87 Lapwing (highest count so far this winter), 2 Egyptian Geese (also present yesterday), 23 Greylag Geese, 18 Little Egret (highest count so far this winter), 8 Cormorant, 4 Grey Heron, 4 Common Gull, 65 Starling, 13 Fieldfare and 2 Redwing.

Late morning on Pymbylu Moor (across the road from Barry McDonalds), 1 Cattle Egret in with the cattle.

An early morning visit today to Flemingston Moor produced 33 species. Breezy conditions and a much dryer moor than of late with a lot less surface water.

Species seen or heard included a flyover Common Crossbill, 12 Lapwing, 14 Little Egret, 12 Common Gull, 2 Great Black-backed Gull, 3 Grey Heron, 4 Greylag Geese, 20 Fieldfare, 1 Sparrowhawk, 6 Rook and a Stonechat pair.

Sightings on a walk over Sully/Cog Moors earlier this week included a total of 17 Grey Heron present, easily my highest count for East Glamorgan.

Decent views of 31 Snipe at the northern end of Llwyn-Onn reservoir this afternoon. Also there 1 Jay, 2 Little Grebe, 8 Mallard, 8 Cormorant and a few Crossbill. A Dipper was below the dam.

An early morning visit to Flemingston to do the Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS) count before the rain got serious.

Waterbirds present were 7 Lapwing, 7 Wigeon, 48 Mallard, 1 Water Rail, 2 Moorhen, 4 Grey Heron, 6 Little Egret, 22 Greylag Geese, 199 Canada Geese, 11 Cormorant and 13 Mute Swan. Gulls present were 102 Herring gull, 1 Lesser Black-backed, 1 Great Black-backed Gull, 60 Common Gull and 60 Black-headed Gull.

In all we saw or heard 43 species, and others present included 2 Stock Dove, 70 Fieldfare, 30 Redwing, 2 Mistle Thrush, a singing Song Thrush, 2 Stonechat, 2 Raven, Green and Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Kestrel.

On a short visit yesterday morning (8 December):

Watermill – 1 Redshank, 38 Teal, 3 Grey Heron, 1 Cormorant, 1 Little Egret, 31 Mallard

Ogmore Moor – 20 Curlew (field adjacent Ogmore Castle), 170+ Canada Geese, 1 Sparrowhawk, 6 Teal, 23 Mallard

Ploran Mawr/Waterworks bridge area – 10 Little Grebe, 1 Little Egret, 1 Redshank, 12 Teal

River below Portobello – 7 Gadwall, 14 Wigeon, 15 Goldeneye, 1 Redshank, 4 Great Black-backed Gull, 4 Goosander, 1 Turnstone

There’s still extensive flooding on the moor and birds present late morning on Tuesday 5 December included 63 Lapwing, 42 Wigeon, 7 Shoveler, 21 Greylag Geese, 7 Little Egret, 2 Grey Heron, 13 Mute Swan, 43 Mallard, 150 Black-headed Gull, 180+ Canada Geese and 10 Fieldfare.

This morning’s WeBS count in showery, blustery conditions produced 331 Canada Geese, 26 Greylag Geese, 13 Mute Swan, 40 Mallard, 28 Wigeon, 3 Shoveler, 22 Lapwing, 3 Grey Heron, 11 Little Egret, 2 Moorhen and a Cormorant. Gulls comprised 160 Herring, 7 Lesser Black-backed, 1 Black-headed and 1 Common.

Other species included 6 Fieldfare, 1 male Stonechat and a swirling flock of 200+ Starling.

Sixteen Little Egret flew south from Flemingston Moor at dusk. Earlier, other species present included 300+ Canada Geese along with 26 Greylag Geese, 61 Mallard, 41 Wigeon, 35 Fieldfare, 28 Lapwing, 10 Stock Dove, 4 Grey Heron, 3 Shoveler, 3 Moorhen, 2 Teal, 2 Cormorant, 1 Raven and a calling Water Rail.

Two Egyptian Geese late afternoon viewed from the minor road north of Flemingston. Also present a Raven, 3 Shoveler, 5 Grey Heron, 10 little Egret, 12 Mute Swan, 24 Wigeon, 24 Greylag Geese, 27 Lapwing, 48 Mallard and 320+ Canada Geese.

Late afternoon/dusk visit and the Moor is holding lots of surface water – the most I have seen there so far this autumn. Highlights – 2 Bar-tailed Godwit, 2 Raven, 2 Shoveler, 15 Little Egret, 17 Lapwing, 19 Wigeon and 26 Greylag Geese.

Two Cattle Egret in amongst the cattle on Flemingston Moor this afternoon. Six Little Egret, four Grey Heron and two Greylag Geese also present.

Today’s Wetland Bird Survey count, mostly in sunny and mild conditions, comprised 7 Grey Heron, 45 Lapwing, 2 Teal, 1 Wigeon, 1 Little Egret, 6 Mute Swan, 19 Mallard, 1 Water Rail and 3 Moorhen.

Also present a Peregrine resting on the moor, a hunting Kestrel and a Raven. Fine views of Redwing flock at the top of a nearby tree.

A lap of Cardiff Bay yesterday produced 41 species.

Off the ice rink boardwalk: Female Ring-necked Duck, 83 Tufted Duck and a drake Goosander.

River Ely embankment: Common Sandpiper, 2 Redshank, 9 Turnstone and a Grey Wagtail.

On the foreshore south of the barrage: 104 Shelduck, 3 Redshank and a Great Black-backed Gull.

Across the barrage to the skate plaza: Raven, 39 Cormorant, Rock Pipit, Linnet flock and a few Starling.

Near Norwegian Church/Mermaid Quay: 5 Goosander, 5 Little Grebe.

At the Wetland Reserve: Water Rail, Shoveler, Cetti’s Warbler, Kingfisher and 240+ Black-headed Gull.

Extensive flooding on Flemingston Moor after recent heavy rain. On a visit yesterday morning birds on the moor included 41 Lapwing, 8 Greylag Geese, 6 Grey Heron, 248+ Canada Geese, 30+ Mallard and 8 Mute Swan.