Pretty quiet this morning, but a small feeding group near the Medieval Village entrance comprised mainly of Blue Tits and a Great Tit, also had a male Blackcap and a couple of Chiffchaffs. Around the snipe paddock perimeter, there was a single Stonechat and another male Blackcap. A few Swallows were overhead. Green Woodpecker calling loudly by the east paddock.

Saturday, 14 April 2018

On a perfect spring morning 5 members set off from the car park along the Carriage Drive. We soon encountered the expected woodland species which included a coal tit nesting in a hole on the valley slope. Below us was the Upper Lake where a dipper was seen on the waterfall stonework.  Continuing along  Carriage Drive we descended to the Lower Lake where we added coot, moorhen, mallard and 3 little grebes trilling loudly.  Whilst here buzzards were heard ‘mewing’ overhead and in the space of 2 to 3 minutes 4 buzzards, a red kite and the bird of the morning, a large female goshawk flew over the valley.

As the path following the LLan back up stream was wet and muddy, we by-passed this lower section and picked up the riverside path at the Sapper Bridge to walk back to the Upper Lake.  Dead riverside alders showed evidence of woodpeckers and we were fortunate enough to find a tree creeper here.  At the Upper Lake we added grey wagtail –  giving a species list of 33.

Been away for a week! 2 drake Pochard on W lake this morning were new arrivals for me. A Raven flew over W paddock, and 1 poss 2 Redstart were seen by the W paddock hedge [Graham Smith] although I couldn’t find them myself during a brief look. Jeff Curtis had a Spot Fly by the lower dovecote field. 2 poss 3 Stonechat were near the snipe paddock [50m beyond the dragonfly pond].

4 adult Little Grebe present in a brief walk this morning. One pair with a half grown young [they did have two] and another adult pair. About 50 Sand Martin feeding over W lake and a few House Martin over E lake near the golf course.

Male Ring Ouzel still at Cosmeston W. Paddock this morning. 2 Arctic Skuas d/c off Nash Pt plus Guillemots and 3 Porpoise.

Per Graham Tierney – Impressive migration of Wood Pigeon over Efail Isaf this morning (see below), 2 flocks of 1000+ and several smaller flocks. 2 Redwing flying over. According to my email from Graham this was 5 days ago on 18th Oct although I only rec’d the email today.

1 fem/imm Wheatear W paddock and 30 Goldfinch. Pair of Stonechat in the snipe paddock with 4 Reed Bunting and 2 Mipits. Ad Little Grebe middle of E lake and juv Little Grebe W lake. This was actually posted by me, John Wilson, but I must have been logged in as admin.

A sub-ad Little Grebe was in the W lake small bay [far end of the lake]. 13 B-h Gulls incl 1 juv on the posts. A Water Vole was posing well at the dipping pond again.

There was a pretty confiding Water Vole at the dipping pond although it played hard to get amongst the reed stems. The Kingfisher was on the usual dead tree seen from the bridge, and an imm Grey Heron was at the dragonfly pond.

Just a reminder that I’m giving a talk on Galapagos & Ecuador at KNNR for GBC this evening. 7:45 p.m. prompt.

Back after a week in N Norfolk. There were 37 Pochard on W lake [of which only 4-5 were female], plus 2 Gadwall, and the usual Tufties were distributed between both lakes. A sum plum pair of Gt Crested Grebes displayed briefly on W lake. There were 2 Common Gulls on the posts, 50 Redwing flew out of W paddock and a Buzzard was over Cogan Wood.

As I’m leaving for Norfolk for a week, I thought I’d post this as a sticky before I go, in case I don’t get a chance during the week. I apologise that it may have to remain as a sticky until I get back [unless I can do the necessary whilst away]. I will re-sticky the records post after the 10th. PS we have full strength WiFi at the hotel so no probs!

So, a reminder that there’s an indoor meeting on Tuesday 10th at 7:45 p.m. KNNR reserve centre. Club member Paul Seligman is giving a slide/video presentation about his trip to the South Atlantic last year so there will be lots of interesting wildlife on show. In addition Paul is offering a prize of a framed print of your choice from the show – details on the night. Do some along as it should be good. Just sorry I can’t be there. John Wilson

At 4:10 p.m. there was a murmuration of 3000+ starling seen from the mian bridge – performed pretty well and eventually dropped into W lake reeds. 2 Bittern were seen by Jeff Curtis [birds seen to fly briefly in 2 widely separate areas of W lake reeds]. Also 1 Kingfisher briefly at dusk. John Wilson [I posted this from the wrong login].

Highlights from a re-scheduled WeBS count on the Rhymney Est, Cardiff this morning: 1 Jack Snipe which I nearly trod on!, 1 Kingfisher flyng around over Green Point, 800 Redshank 500 Dunlin, 35 Lapwing, about 120 ea of Pintail & Shelduck, a few Wigeon & Teal, and 11 Turnstone at the Heliport Bay. No sign of the reported 2 Black Redstarts by the water works but there were 8 fishermen along the beach there. {John Wilson – I posted this from the wrong login!}

A Bittern flew from by the Medieval Village access boardwalk at Cosmeston this morning and flew through the trees toward E lake. However later I saw a Bittern deep in the W lake reeds, looking down from the nearest end of W paddock. 2 Lapwing flew over and there was a scattering of Redwing all over.

Corking male Redstart at Cossie this morning [ta to Lol Middleton for the call], in small clump of trees & bramble on RHS by the small dried out pool beyond the dragonfly pond. Egyptian Goose still present and a few Willow Warbler singing. At Lavernock Reserve, 3-4 Blackcap singing, Chiffie, fem Green ‘Pecker, Swallow, 3 Bullfinch, Greenfinch, 2 Song Thrush singing.

Chiffchaff on way out to Whiteford Pt. In addition to the usual wildfowl, 1 Slav Grebe and 1 what was prob a partial moult Slav although we first thought Black-necked but bird v distant. Also 1 G N Diver. Plenty of Sanderling and 10 or so Grey Plover. At Llanridian 2 m Hen Harriers and 1 poss 2 Ringtails came in at around 3 p.m. Also 1 G W Egret. Lucky with the weather. GBC trip.

Flock of 60+ Goldfinch seen today – per Allan Dowson