Dull and very windy at Cosmeston this morning. The female Scaup was asleep [as usual] on E. Lake. The gull is a 1st year Lesser Black-back with a Flat Holm ring F:J97. The Robin often comes to seed in my hand.
Also in the photos, a drake Goosander and a Rock Pipit seen on a walk across the barrage.
Pretty dire conditions at Cosmeston this morning, esp during the fine sleety rain shower. There were about 10 Siskin feeding in tbe Alders by the dipping pond. On E. Lake there was an adult Yellow-legged Gull, 1st one I’ve seen at Cossie for quite some time [although I’m only any good at ID-ing adult birds]. The female Scaup was quite active on W lake for a change [it’s invariably asleep]. I grabbed a few shots in the rain/sleet from the Mile Road. Rattty was raiding some bird seed left at the W lake viewpoint.
The first year female Scaup was on W lake this morning, not far off the Mile Road, so provided an opportunity to get a better shot. Looking v drab at distance, as the photo shows, close up it has lots of subtle warm brown tones. The only other highlight was a Peregrine which flew low from W paddock, across W lake and out towards Lavernock.
It was nice to come across a feeding flock of at least 50 Siskin high in Alders adjacent the golf course at Cosmeston this morning. One dropped down to spruce up a bit and I managed to grab a couple of shots. The drab female Scaup was on E lake at the north end. Not avian but the Turkey Tail fungi were worth a shot ay Sully Brook.
We had a successful Club trip to Rumney Great Wharf this morning despite a dampish start. We had an amazing 25 participants so thanks to you all. The final list was an impressive 51 species, including a good selection of common waders & wildfowl, the highlight being an unexpected fly-by Woodcock at Cors Crychydd Reen as we reached the end near Wentloog Avenue. Not many photo opportunities apart from a couple of Skylarks on the foreshore and a Kestrel which hunted up & down the Wharf.
Here’s a link to the final list: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1s2zRtQH48d22LStE3bUdTQ5Xa_OAYxpy/view?usp=drive_link
A wet walk across to the Norwegian Church for coffee and back. On the outer barrage rocks by the fish ladder, a brief view of a fem/imm type Black Redstart. Couldn’t re-find it on the way back. At the other end just before the old feeder dock there were 4 fem and 1 male Goosander in the Bay and a Cetti’s Warbler sang right next to the path there. A couple of Linnet were by the path adj the old dock and a Greenfinch was wheezing.
Late morning today, there were 3-4 Firecrests in the Ivy covered trees by the trees at the bottom of the ‘dolly steps” in Alexandra Park [down the path that start next to the Glendale Hotel. Too fidgety for photos sadly.
Highlights: At Kenfig the four Tundra Bean Geese, which arrived in December, departed on the 1st, while four Barnacle Geese there appeared more settled. A Russian White-fronted Goose was briefly at Ogmore Estuary. A Siberian Chiffchaff was at Burrows Well, Merthyr Mawr Warren.
Other Sites: A female Scaup was noted at both Cosmeston and Cardiff Bay. Great Northern Divers lingered at Llanishen Reservoir and Llwyn-on Reservoir. Kenfig hosted a Bittern and two Great White Egrets. A Merlin was at Wigfach. At least three Common Sandpipers were wintering on the Ely Embankment, Cardiff Bay, with another at Ogmore Estuary. A Little Gull dropped in at Cardiff Bay. Black Redstarts comprised three at Gileston, two at Nash Point and two in the vicinity of Penarth Marina/Cardiff Bay Barrage. Firecrests were at Aberthaw (two), Tompson’s Park, Cardiff (two), Kenfig and Parc Slip. A Hawfinch was at Forest Farm.
Summary by Paul Roberts
In a brief visit this morning, most of which was spent staring up into the Alder by the dipping pond, a feeding Siskin finally stayed long enough in the open for some half decent shots, plus a Goldfinch. Later, after I had left, Wayne Strong found 2 female Pintails on W lake.
News from VoG council is that the Aqua Park will not return to Cosmeston this year, whilst more detailed environmental and other investigations are carried out. Good news but it doesn’t preclude it returning in the future dependant on what the investigations reveal.
From 26th Jan when there were c.50 Redwings feeding in W paddock and resting in the trees by the Mile Road between sessions, a pic below of some Rewings in a tree.
Then this morning at the dipping pond a Biue Tit was feeding on reedmace heads. I’d have preferred it to be a Penduline Tit but it’s cute nonetheless.
15 folk attended a Club field trip today. We walked from the car park upriver as far as Portobello and back again and then spent a short while in a howling gale on the seafront looking for purple Sandpipers at high tide. Near Portobello there were 7 Goldeneye [2 males and 5 females] 2 Little Grebes, a lone drake Teal and a lone Shelduck. There were only 2 Redshank and a few folk saw a Common Sandpiper.
There were around 30 Black-headed Gulls feeding in the surf at the river mouth, and an adult Common Gull joined them from time to time. Along by the rocky foreshore a few lucky folk managed to find a couple of Purple Sandpipers but I only managed around 4 or 5 Turnstone. A small flock of waders did fly by and didn’t look right for Turnstone so they could have been Purple Sands but they had to remain as the ones that got away,. The wind at this stage was really fierce so we gave up.
Not a big list – just 27 species. Click here to see it.
Finally caught up with the imm female Scaup at Cosmeston this morning. She was fortunately quite active rather than asleep as the group of Tufties etc there usually are.
Ventured out in the wind & rain this morning. I was pleased to catch up with the wintering Common Sandpiper which has been present since December ’25 along the R. Ely embankment by the Marina. Also had brief view of the fem Black Redstart flitting across the rooftops. I went round to the beach area below Penarth Head, where a male Black Redstart has been seen but it was blowing a gale and raining so I gave up.
Beautiful day for a full Cardiff Bay Trail circuit, although the 10 km seemed a lot further than when we last did it! Goosander were out in force – I reckon 21 in all – 3f and 1m from the barrage, 2m 1f near the swift tower, 8 [3m and 5f] by the old dock [where the Sand Martins breed], a pair aty Prospect Place and 3f and 1m on the R. Ely by Penarth. There were 70 Cormorant lined up along the inner barrage jetty, 1 Rock Pipit on the barrage rocks and a couple of Redshank and Turnstone by the R. Ely embankment.
Caught up with the wintering Black Redstart at Penarth Marina this morning, hopping around the roofs, although at one point perched briefly in a tree, and caught a spider from a small palm tree.
Icy this morning! Couldn’t find the fem/imm Scaup that Graham Smith has reported. Roland rat was in the W lake viewing area. On the lake there, there were 5 Shoveler [incl 2 drakes] and 7 Pochard in with the tufties. There were 3 Mistle Thrushes feeding in W paddock and a smart adult Common Gull was by E lake [1st one I’ve seen there this winter although other folk have seen one occasionally.
Highlights: A female Bufflehead was discovered at Kenfig Pool (31st), a first county record. Arrivals to the flood at Sker included four Tundra Bean Geese (28th) and four Barnacle Geese (26th). Ten Whooper Swans (25th) and two Russian White-fronted Geese (26th) were seen overflying Kenfig Pool. Two Black-necked Grebes were brief visitors to Cosmeston (6th). First-winter Caspian Gulls were identified at Rhymney Estuary (11th) and Cardiff Bay (23rd). A Siberian Chiffchaff was at Lavernock (12th).
Other Sites: Two Dark-bellied Brent Geese frequented Newton, Porthcawl. Great Northern Divers were noted at Llanishen Reservoir, Llwyn-on Reservoir and Kenfig Pool. A Great White Egret was at Kenfig Pool. Two Black-tailed Godwits turned up at Sker. Common Sandpipers were wintering at Ogmore Estuary and Lisvane Reservoir. Short-eared Owls occurred at Rumney Great Wharf at Rhigos. A Black Redstart was at Penarth Marina. Firecrests occurred at Kenfig and Dinas Powys. Four Willow Tits were logged at Garwnant. Two Hawfinches were at Michaelston-le-Pit.
Summary by Paul Roberts
Had a nice little 30 min session by the dipping pond this morning. A Cetti’s Warbler was foraging very actively in the vegetation below the Alder. Never in full view I only managed the single dodgy shot below. Also foraging around the pond edge there was a Water Rail which was even more elusive. The main body of the pond was frozen. Highlight was a female or immature Kestrel which seemed oblivious to me as it sat in trees overlooking the reedy area by the dipping pond boardwalk, looking for prey.
Spot the Cetti’s in the top LH photo …… not too difficult.
W lake had 13 Teal, 10 Gadwall and a drake Pochard with some Tufties. Most of the latter were on E lake [approx 160 of them]. Redwing were feeding on hawthorn at various locations [W paddock by the edge of Cogan Wood, in Cogan Wood, by Mile Road, and along Sully Brook].
The photo is of Rudolf the red-nosed Redwing!
A random collection with a thrushy bias, from a chilly saunter round Cosmeston this morning. In addition to the birds in the pix, there were 4 Gadwall on W lake and a pair of Pochard with the 100 or so Tufties on E lake at the golf course end, sheltering from the cold wind. I’m pretty sure the gull is an adult Yellow-legged Gull. The photo is a huge crop as it was right in the middle of E lake. The warm grey upper parts and v clean head are pointers for me. To left is Fieldfare, top right is Mistle Thrush.
Glamorgan Bird Club 
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