A nice find by Wayne Strong this morning at Cosmeston was 2 adult Cattle Egrets in the dovecote field, with the small herd of cattle that are now grazing there. No photos from me – they were too far away for anything decent. Also via Wayne, an adult Med Gull moulting into breeding plumage was on E lake near the sluice in the NW corner. There’s a couple of pix I took below which give a nice comparison of overall structure compared to Black-headed Gull, for any gull ‘newbies’. A couple of other pix of common birds of Cogan Wood taken a few days ago when I was failing to tempt Marsh Tits with some seed.!

Brief short walk at Cosmeston this morning [dodgy back!]. A Common Gull was on the canioe launch jetty on E lake, pr of Great Crested Grebes displaying briefly on W lake, 3 Little Grebe being very vocal, and a large of birds feeding in W paddock amongst the low vegetation [c.50 Redwing, c.10 Fieldfare, Greenfinch and Goldfinch].

A good turn out for the GBC trip to Cosmeston today – 18 participants! East Lake, West Lake via Mile Road, West Paddock and Cogan Wood were covered during 3 1/2 hours. Sadly depsite promises by the leader yours truly, Hawfinch and Marsh Tit weren’t playing ball. Actually we had what was probably a Marsh Tit seen very briefly high up in a tree beyond the dragonfly pond but concensus was that it wouldn’t be logged. Tufted Duck numbers were down on recenr cold weather numbers and the recent female RIng-necked Duck couldn’t be found. We did see a very smart Aythya hybrid, most likely a Pochard x Tufted Duck. Other highlights were a Cetti’s Warbler in the open briefly by the dipping pond, Treecreeper, Great Spotted and Green Woodpeckers, and a large flock of feeding thrushes and finches above the dragonfly pond which included Redwing & Fieldfare affording nice scope views, plus Goldfinch and Greenfinch. Cogan Wood produced Great, Blue and Coal Tits, Nuthatch and Chaffinch coming to seed but no Marsh Tit. Many, including me, were pooped buy the time we got back to the cafe so we called it a day, and didn’t head off to Cardiff Bay. Light was pretty dull but here’s a few piccies. John Wilson. Edit – we saw 41 species including the hybrid – full list here

The lone Waxwing was seen again early this morning in E paddock, but it then reappeared in the row of trees by the dragonfly pond where I saw it yesterday afternoon, as I was walking past there late morning, although I only saw it briefly. It was then seen again not long aftterwards. There were c.10 Fieldfare and c20 Redwing plus 4 Mistle Thrush, 20 Goldfinch and 2 Greenfinches in that raised area of W paddock behind the dragonfly pond. A Hawfinch was seen early on at the far end of E paddock and also 3 in the usual area beyond the dragonfly pond.

Yesterday, west lake was more or less completely frozen over with a bunch of Black-headed Gulls and a lone Common Gull resting on it. A couple of Green Woodpeckers were near the dragonfly pond, and one paused enough for a photo. After I got home, news came that a single Waxwing had been seen near the dragonfly pond. I couldn’t return so hoped it would be there today. Thankfully it was although I missed on my first pass, but after a coffee in the cafe I got a Whatsapp that it was showing and went back and was pleased to see it still there. It just rested on the same tree for about 20 minutes before flying off. Needless to say a lot of photos were taken. On the way back I managed a couple of record shots of the female Ring-necked Duck that was found yesterday. As a PS the Waxwing was refound later in E paddock.

Back to local birding after a week away in N. Norfolk [117 species!! – maybe a separate post when I’ve got time].
On Mon 15th I did my monthly WeBS [Wetland Bird Survey] count at the Rhymney Estuary on the E. side of Cardiff. Highlights were around 800 each of Redshank and Dunlin, plus 55 Pintail, 30 Teal and 90 Shelduck. On my way back I stopped off at Cardiff Bay to see the Black-necked Grebe [distant from the road bridge] and then the Long-tailed Duck [from the barrage].
Yesterday, 17th on another ‘tick’ hunt I went up to Llanishen/Lisvane Reservoirs and found the Red-necked Grebe, and also the drake and female Ring-necked Duck pair plus an overwintering Common Sandpiper. Sadly the Great Northern Diver had left.
Today was the usual circuit of Cosmeston where W lake was partly frozen over but there were 140 or so Tufted Duck, 2 drake Pochard, a pair of Gadwall, and around 20 Teal. Got a couple of nice shots of Redwing and Fieldfare feeding on berries, and there were 2 Water Voles by the dipping pond boardwalk.

Photos – top L some of the Redshank & Dunlin; top R fem Goosander in the bay; middle R – v distanrt Long-tailed Duck; middle L Redwing; bottom L Fieldfare; bottom R Water Vole.

Just 30 species today to kick the year off. A couple of good ones at Cosmeston, which can betricky – first 5 Hawfinch flew a loop out of the edge of Cogan Wood, beyond the dragonfly pond, then looped back in again. Had then perched briefly then lost them. Plenty of Redwing there and a Green Woodpecker. Second, in Cogan Wood I was pleased to see a Marsh Tit and get a couple of pix, although the light was very dull, and then some distance further along the path, 2 more Marsh Tits – defo different individuals. A male Bullfinch in the wood was nice to see too. Other than these, plenty of common species incl the usual Tufties on the lakes [52 in all] and a drake Pochard, 3 Little Grebes and 2 Great Crested. At our garden feeder at breakfast, a Coal Tit was an addition for the day. The 2 Magpies in the photos were fighting over the scrap of bread on the ground – I’ve never seen one pinned down like that before.
In the afternoon I deciced to take a trip to Newport to see if I could see the Waxwings that have been feeding on a Rowan in Rogerstone, for a while now – this was my first convenient opportunity, and although the rain had come in, I went anyway. I got to the location and lo & behold there they were, 14 of them resting at the top of a large tree. The rain was getting heavier but I persevered and took some record shots and had a good look at the birds and then regained the shelter of the car and headed home. A bit of a smash & grab raid but they were nice to see.
Here’s a link to the full list for today.

Decided to avoid the mud of Cosmeston and walk across the barrage this morning, then around Porth Teigr and back. Just off the orange buoys inside the barrage locks there was a female Goosander and a single Common Gull on the buoys, and a Rock Pipit flew in and landed by the inner shore. Farther along a flock of around 12 Linnet flew past, as did a flight of 16 Cormorant over the Bay. By the feeder dock where the Sand Martins nest a lady pointed out a Kingfisher sitting on a railing, which then flew down to a ledge on the dock wall. I grabbed a pic but it was rather too far off for a decent image. Round at the Porth Teigr area by Roath Basin there was a decided no-show by any Black Redstarts, although it was quite gusty. A Chiffchaff was flitting around in scrub by the bridge next to the Gloworks building [Common Chiffchaff I’m sure – I detected no greyish tones suggestive of Sibe], and there were just 3 Meadow Pipits on the rough ground by Gloworks. On the return leg there were 3 Common Gulls on the orange buoys and 53 Cormorant sitting along the inner jetty [there had been none there on the way out]. Kingfisher below, 1 as taken on max Zoom and one cropped from the same image as much as I dare.

Just a quick visit this morning, dodging a nasty shower at one point. First bird on arrival was a male Great Spotted Woodpecker atop a tree behind the dipping pond. A Cetti’s Warbler gave a quick burst there too. There were 24 Tufties on E lake and 8 on W lake, plus 4 Gadwall near the posts [visible in omne of the pix below]. The W lake posts had 3 smart aduilt Cormorants all sporting their white thigh patch. One was partiularly white headed but I’m not claiming it as a full sinensis.! I just scanned W paddock from the gate and the only bird on the deck was a male Pheasant by the hedge, and whilst I was watching that, a female Sparrowhawk shot across from left to right. A sharp shower as I returned to the cafe produced a full rainbow.

Delighted to see this female Great Spotted Woodpecker at our garden peanut feeder this morning in the rain, although it was soon spooked by a marauding squirrel. Even more delighted when it was back again this afternoon and through the kitchen window, I managed to get a nice still and some video showing her having a real go at the peanuts. The video is via a link to my Youtube channel [file too big to upload to ths site].

I did a pretty productive Rhymney WeBS count this morning, conducted at Green Point. A veritable murmuration of Redshank and Dunlin, c.1000 and c.1500 respectively, 40 Lapwing, 32 Wigeon, 80 Pintail, 60 Teal, 86 Shelduck, 40 Mallard, just 1 Curlew, 2 Cormorant, plus 9 Pied Wags and 3 Meadow Pipits. The waders were very restless, settling then flying around en masse, and frequently the Redshank would settle on the water and swim around in a tight group. No pix as I didn’t take the camera. For those that don’t know, Green Point is the area by the rivermouth, on the opposite side of Rover Way to the Tesco superstore. Be v careful crossing Rover Way at the lights – it’s not a pedestrian crossing.

Avoided the mud of Cosmeston late morning and walked across the barrage instead. Just 3 Pied Wags on the barrage and the usual bunch of Sparrows, although there were 50 Cormorant resting on the inner ‘jetty’. At Porth Teigr just the male Black Redstart was on the favoured pile of rocks and wouldn’t come closer to the fence. On the way back a Kestrel was hovering across from the Swift tower and there were 5 Redshank on the mud outside the barrage.

A large feeding party of Long-tailed Tits were by the lower end of Mile Road, with a Goldcrest in tow. Managed a miraculous couple of shots of a LTT despite having to hold the camera one-handed at full zoom, with the pup on the lead in the other hand! Whilst I was by the dipping pond, a Sparrowhawk made a couple of rapid passes. The Casualty filming is still going on at the far end of West Lake, despite its supposed status as a ‘conservation lake’. I hate to think what a quagmire the grassy bank there will be when they’ve finished. Anyway despite that there were 7 Gadwall in the middle of W lake, an increase on the 2 pairs of recent days – maybe the extra three have been pushed out of the reeds by the disturbance of the filming, which has involved the roof of a car in the water, and attendant frogmen, and a jetty being installed by ther waters edge to support equipment. The tree shot was just ‘cos it was nice to see them illuminated by the strange bright round object in the sky.! FInally there was ratty feeding on some spilt bird food seed.

Pretty quiet this morning – filming for ‘Casualty’ by the far end of W lake didn’t help. However sitting in the cafe having coffee with my ‘last of the summer wine’ pals, I was fortunately facing the windows and a female Goosander flew in and settled on E lake for a short while then few off and headed towards W lake and poss beyond.

At Cosmeston on 5th Dec, my first Treecreeper for a while, in the wooded area on the right, 50m beyond the main bridge.
On 9th Dec a circuit of the lake at Parc Tredelerch just gave 45 Tufted Duck and some Coot and a pair of Mute Swans.
Today, 10th Dec, at Cosmeston, east lake had 122 Tufted Duck in amongst which were 2 female type Scaup, and there were a further 45 Tufted on W lake. Also a fem Pintail was reported. I also logged 2 Little and 2 Great Crested Grebes. There were c.30 Redwing feeding around the conservation area and a small flock of Goldfnch were there too.