Help required. There’s a scheduled local field trip to Rumney Great Wharf on Sat 4th November. Unfortunately I will be driving back from a break in N. Wales that day, so I’m not able to lead it. It usually involves meeting in the car park at Parc Tredelerch aka Lamby Lake and walking from there to go up Cors Crychydd Reen then east along the sea wall. High tide is 10 a.m. so a meet time of 9 – 9:30 woud be OK, or earlier. Full details are on the website. Any volunteers? Get in touch with me b4 27th Oct. John Wilson
Author: John Wilson
Birder and traveller
Cosmeston
In the last few days: a pair of Pochard were on W lake 2 days ago but have departed. Up to 3 Herons have been present. Jays have been noticeable collecting acorns. Yesterday I got a couple of shots of one in the tree plantation. It was about 75m away but I got one shot of it taking off where the blue wing panels stand out. Also yesterday I logged 3 Green Woodpeckers, 1 heard, 1 in flight and the one below which rested in a tree in E paddock. Today not much of note – around 50 Swallows were feeding quite high above W paddock. Finally yesterday Flat Holm ringed 1st year Lesser Black-backed Gull F:D94 was present – a regular visitor.
Cosmeston
Cosmeston so far this week [on late morning walks – I’m not a crack of dawn birder these days! 
]. Tues – c.100 Redwing flew over Cogan Wood and small parties flitted around in the dragonfly pond area, always mobile so no pix. [There was heavy passage at Lavernock early morning]. Today, 2 Siskin heard and seen flying over near the dipping pond, also 2 Gt Spotted ‘Peckers there, quite vocal. 2 Herons W lake and 1 E. lake. a Pair of Pochard were on W lake – new arrivals I think. Cetti’s Wblr quite vocal near the dipping pond and a Chiffchaff in the trees behind. Also a number of Swallows very high over.
Goldcliff 5th Oct 2023
We had a reasonably successful trip to Goldcliff in Gwent with 8 participants. Waders were scarce due to high water levels & no exposed mud, but the highlight was a ‘set’ of 5 ‘heron types’ – 2 very active Spoonbills which were juveniles due to their flesh coloured bills, 1 Great White Egret, 1 Grey Heron, several Little Egrets and best of all, a Bittern which initially appeared briefly and then after a short while in cover, flew left to right for some distance on front of the seawall hide. A lone Barnacle Goose [prob not of truly wild origin] was associating with the Canadas present. Full list of the 36 species logged is here.
Parc Slip NR 24th Sep 2023
We were pleased to welcome 10 folk on our first GBC Birdwalk for Women, it was great to see old and new friends, then have snacks in the cafe together afterwards to discuss the list!
On this overcast damp day, saw and heard 31 species between us, the highlights being – good views of a kingfisher on the lake, glimpses of a Water Rail by some, and several Bullfinch. We were entertained by a juvenile Little Grebe trying to swallow a fish.
Full list – Magpie, Robin, Carrion Crow, Mallard, Woodpigeon, Bullfinch, Wren, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Goldcrest, Long-tailed Tit, Siskin, Chiffchaff, Stonechat, Meadow Pipit, Coot, Little Grebe with young, Moorhen, Jay, Kingfisher, Herring Gull, Buzzard, Red Kite, Coal Tit, Blackbird, Raven, Chaffinch, Water Rail, Blackcap, Grey Wagtail, Dunnock.
Many thanks to Strinda for co- leading and Angharad for keeping the list.
Summary by Jean Haslam
Steart Marshes Sep 23rd 2023
A successful GBC trip with 10 participants, to Steart Marshes WWT reserve. Wader-wise the reserve was pretty quiet with just a few distant Lapwing & Golden Plover. Highlights there were 3 sleeping [of course!] Spoonbills, an immature Cattle Egret and a few Ruff. Out at Steart Point we had 2 Little Stint, at least 6 Curlew Sandpipers, plus Knot, Ringed Plover, Dunlin, Oycs and Curlew and about 1000 Shelduck. Other highlights were Marsh Harrier and Peregrine. 55 species in the end was pretty good. Many thanks to those who came along. Click here for the full list. Only 1 photo taken [birds here are often pretty distant] – the fem/imm Wheatear which was one of a few seen on the walk out to Steart Point. An Osprey!! … was only seen by two folk who had lagged behind finishing their sandwiches – good move!!
Lavernock 7th Sep 2023
We had a warm humid troll round the Lavernock WT reserve and along the coastal path – 11 participants came along – thanks for your support and patience folks. The hoped for small birds were very much not in evidence but nevertheless we logged 28 species – click here for the full list. There was continuous light passage of Swallows. Apart from the common birds, other interest was provided by a Small Copper butterfly, Common Migrant and Common Darter dragonflies and various hoverflies including several of the impressive and scary looking hornet mimic, Volucella zonaria. For interest I’ve posted some pix below.
Peterston Moors 27th Aug 2023
Twenty folk enjoyed the field trip on Sunday 27th August.
We were very lucky to be led by Dan Jenkins-Jones , an expert on the site, who made sure that everyone had some view of the elusive and rare Green Sandpiper. After a lot of skulking, a total of seven were found!
Full list-
Grey Heron, Cormorant, Carrion Crow, Common Buzzard, Long-Tailed Tit, Wood Pigeon, Starling, Robin, Jackdaw, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Swallow, Magpie, Wren, Chiffchaff, Nuthatch, Lesser Black-Backed Gull, Jay, Blackbird, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Rook, Stonechat, Kingfisher (heard), Green Sandpiper, House Martin, Goldfinch, Meadow Pipit, Moorhen, Mallard, Canada Goose.
Many thanks to Dan (especially for the chocolate!) and to David Hibler for leading.
Summary by Jean Haslam
Goldcliff 6th Aug 2023
We had a reasonably successful trip to Goldcliff in Gwent when 21 participants logged a total of 58 species. Waders were a little disappointing but we did see c.55 Blackwits, c.100 Lapwing, c.40 Dunlin, 1 Redshank, 11 Ringed Plover and a fly-over-calling Green Sandpiper. Other highlights included 4 Yellow Wagtails, a Spoonbill, fem/imm Redstart and 2 Marsh Harrier. Not many bird pix were taken [by me at least]. Featured below are the notorious Goldcliff ‘Bosprey’ [v distant][a v pale Buzzard that is often mistaken for Osprey], a fem/imm Redstart and some Blackwits & Dunlin. Full list can be seen by clicking here. John Wilson
Goldcliff
We had a reasonably successful trip to Goldcliff in Gwent this morning, with 8 participants. Waders were scarce due to high water levels & no exposed mud, but the highlight was a ‘set’ of 5 ‘heron types’ – 2 very active Spoonbills which were juveniles due to their flesh coloured bills, 1 Great White Egret, 1 Grey Heron, several Little Egrets and best of all, a Bittern which initially appeared briefly and then after a short while in cover, flew left to right for some distance on front of the seawall hide. A lone Barnacle Goose [prob not of truly wild origin] was associating with the Canadas present. Full list of the 36 species logged is here .
Cosmeston
Three Herons present this morning. 2 in trees at the end of W lake and 1 on the fallen tree by E lake near the bridge. In W paddock there was a flock of around 100 Goldfinch with a few Greenfinch & Linnet mixed in and a lone fem Reed Bunting. These were feeding on the seeds heads of ground vegetation.
September 2023
Highlights: Two firsts for Glamorgan were found on two consecutive days at Sker – Red-eyed Vireo (21st) and Cliff Swallow (22nd) – an excellent reward for dedicated patch work by Neil Donaghy. Continuing the theme of American rarities was a Spotted Sandpiper, briefly on the causeway at Sully (10th). In addition, a probable Bobolink was discovered in the valley at Nash Point (22nd), but lost to view flying up to the headland. Female Ring-necked Ducks were found at Llwyn-on Reservoir (20th) and Lisvane Reservoir (24th), the latter lingering and most likely a returning individual. A Turtle Dove was seen a couple of times west of Kenfig Pool (13th). A Grey Phalarope at Kenfig Pool sadly succumbed soon after arrival, while another was on the sea off Newton Point (both the 28th). A Balearic Shearwater was off Porthcawl (19th). Cattle Egrets turned up at Kenfig (two) and Ogmore Estuary.
Other Sites: A flock of 32 Pale-bellied Brent Geese (19 of which were juveniles) commuted between Ogmore Estuary and Newton Beach (14th). A drake Mandarin Duck arrived at Pwll-y-Waun, Porthcawl. A Common Scoter stopped off at Lisvane Reservoir (12th). Two Storm Petrels passed Porthcawl. Bitterns were recorded from Parc Tredelerch and Cosmeston. Ospreys were logged at Kenfig/Sker on two dates, with another hanging around at Aberthaw. A Hen Harrier moved quickly through at Kenfig, where a Hobby or two stayed a while to feast on the abundant Migrant Hawker dragonflies. Merlins were seen at Craig Ogwr and Southerndown. Waders from Rumney Great Wharf on the 5th included three Ruffs, three Black-tailed Godwits and 33 Whimbrels. Ogmore Estuary hosted a Greenshank and a couple of Green Sandpipers. A seawatch at Porthcawl produced two Black Terns, an Arctic Tern and four Arctic Skuas (19th), with three of the latter seen from there the next day. A Little Gull found Lisvane Reservoir to its liking. The only Short-eared Owl sighting came from Lavernock (17th). Firecrests graced Nash Point and Dunraven. Choughs wandered from their Heritage Coast stronghold as far as Sker and Barry. A feeding flock of 30+ Yellow Wagtails in the upper dovecote field at Cosmeston for a few days bridging 5th, was notable.
Summary by Paul Roberts
Reminder – zoom talk tomorrow eve [Tues 3rd]
Just a quick reminder about the Zoom talk tomorrow eve at 7:30 p.m., by Simon Gillings of BTO, the talk entitled “Things that go “tseep” in the night”. The invite link was sent out in the round robin email I sent on 24th Sep. If you are not on the email contact list then email me and I will send it to you. johndw1948 at gmail dot com.
Successful trip to Steart
Successful GBC trip today with 10 participants, to Steart Marshes WWT reserve. Wader-wise the reserve was pretty quiet with just a few distant Lapwing & Golden Plover. Highlights there were 3 sleeping [of course!] Spoonbills, an immature Cattle Egret and a few Ruff. Out at Steart Point we had 2 Little Stint, at least 6 Curlew Sandpipers, plus Knot, Ringed Plover, Dunlin, Oycs and Curlew and about 1000 Shelduck. Other highlights were Marsh Harrier and Peregrine. 55 species in the end was pretty good. Many thanks to those who came along. Click here for the full list. Only 1 photo taken [birds here are often pretty distant] – the fem/imm Wheatear which was one of a few seen on the walk out to Steart Point.
Update. I forgot Osprey!! … although it was only seen by two folk who had lagged behind finishing their sandwiches – good move!! Osprey now added to the list which now totals 55 species.
Upcoming field trip – Steart Marshes
A heads up that the next field trip is Sat 23rd Sep, next week, to the Steart WWT reserve near Bridgwater. We’ll be hoping for passage waders in the main although anything is possible at this large reserve and the surrounding area. High tide is either side of midday. It’s about an hour and a half drive there so I suggest leaving at 8 a.m. to arrive in good time to give us a good amount of time to wander around and catch the tide rising.
Let me know by email if you intend coming [johndw1948 at gmail dot com], and also whether you wish to car share [I can take 3] and whether you are willing to drive & share yourself. If either, the depart time will be 8 a.m. from the St Margaret’s Road, Whitchurch location shown on the website [https://glamorganbirds.org.uk/gbc-events/].
The destination address is Stert Drove, Bridgwater TA5 2PU [ST252441].
Cosmeston
The hay in the Dovecote field has been collected and baled so the previous 30+ Yellow Wags have left. A group of 12 or so Starlings feeding in the large area of Hawthorn and other trees in ‘tree plantation’ field were accompanied by a female Reed Bunting. In the tree plantation itself a single Tree Pipit was atop the tallest of the bushes and there was a Stonechat fly catching there. Whilst on the wooden bridge across Sully Brook I struggled to get a decent clear image of a very active Reed Warbler. The juvenile Moorhen was sitting in the invasive aquatic ‘weed’ [which I have fiorgotten the name of] at the dipping pond, and a Cetti’s Warbler sang very loudly near there.
Lavernock
We had a warm humid troll round the Lavernock WT reserve and along the coastal path this morning – 11 participants came along – thanks for your support and patience folks. The hoped for small birds were very much not in evidence but nevertheless we logged 28 species – click here for the full list. There was continuous light passage of Swallows. Apart from the common birds, other interest was provided by a Small Copper butterfly, Common Migrant and Commomn Darter dragonflies and various hoverflies including several of the impressive and scary looking hornet mimic, Volucella zonaria. Edit: for interest I’ve posted some pix below.
Cosmeston
A good passage of Yellow Wagtails in the last few days. There have been 30+ in the hay cut grass in the dovecote field at Cosmeston for 3 days now, and 50+ were noted at RGW the other day. A few ix of the Cossie ones below – couldn’t get one of a bright yellow male. Yesterday I was chatting to an intertested couple at the central viewpoint by W lake when what I thought was an imm large gull was flying towards as but then it banked, and …. wow! … a BIttern! It flew past us and then headed towards E lake. Not relocated tho’. It could possibly have been the one that was seen a couple of days before at Parc Tredelerch.
Cosmeston
Yesterday and again this morning, there are 20+ Yellow Wagtails feeding in the cut grass in the Dovecote field, basically in the flat non-sloping area above the Dovecote ruin [which is basically a mass of brambles that you can see as you enter the field from the Mile Road]. This is possibly the highest ever count at Cosmeston.
Upcoming field trip
There’s a local field trip to Lavernock on Thursday next week, 7th September. Basically we’ll be looking for migrants although I’m worried that a lot seem to be moving this weekend!
Start time will be 8:30 a.m. but the meet point will be decided when I know how many are coming. There is now limited parking down by the church at Lavernock Point as the gated parking area there has been closed off for some years. There is some space by the church and just beyond, and also by the roadside by the entrance gate to the WT reserve, but it’s a popular location, and will be well used as the weather is going to be fine.
If there are a lot of takers it might be necessary to park at Cosmeston [parking charges apply] and to walk out to the coastal fields via the farm track opposite Cosmeston.
Let me know if you intend coming as soon as poss to give me time to decide on a course of action. There are various options, including parts of Cosmeston which have been productive recently.
John Wilson – johndw1948 at gmail dot com
Glamorgan Bird Club 
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