Pretty quiet on the small bird front this morning. This Song Thrush sat just above me on Sunday.
Today there were c. 120 Tufties, 2 drake Pochard and 50 Canada Geese.
Cosmeston
Author: John Wilson
Birder and traveller
Cosmeston
10 hardy souls braved the bitter NE wind for a walk around Cosmeston this morning. We were off to a good start with 2 male Siskin in with a flock of Goldfinch feeding on Alder near the cafe and a Gt Spotted Woodpecker in a nearby tree,There was no sign of yesterday’s Wigeons but the drake Pochard was still present on W lake. A Fieldfare was resting in a tree there. A total of 5 Little Grebes were noted. We then spent a fair time among trees near the play park looking for a Yellow-rowed Warbler that had been seen for the prev 2 days. It was neck breaking stuff with those very tall trees! We had more or less gven up due to the wind when yours truly spotted a feeding flock and had a v brief view of the target bird but after ages craning our necks to try & follow this mobile flock, no-one else could get on to it sadly. There were Long-tailed Tits, Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Goldcrest, Treecreeper and Chiffchaff in the flock. Cogan Wood produced the usual tits & Nuthatch and along the Sully Brook field there were many Redwing. The Cormorant shown is part way through swallowing an Eel! 43 species were seen!
Click here for the full list.
Cosmeston
Cosmeston late a.m. 3 Teal and 1 drake Pochard were on W lake with the Tufties. 1 each of Buzzard, Kes and Sprawk were over W paddock, 1 Redwing feeding on hawthorn there, plus Misgtle Thrush, and 3 Fieldfare fly-overs, quite high.
A Yellow-browed Warbler was reported early afternoon in sycamores between the Mile Road and the playground
Cosmeston
This hybrid Tufty type was on W lake Cosmeston this morning. V distant so big crops. There was also a single drake Pochard and an ad Heron. No sign of the Firecrest that was seen yesterday morning by the main boardwalk. Also couple of Mipits in E paddock. All rubbish photos!
Tomorrows trip [Rest Bay > Sker] cancelled
In view of the forecast and looking at various radar predictions I have decided to call this one off. It is a longish exposed walk with no shelter whatsoever, and the BBC site states “heavy rain and a moderate breeze” from 10 a.m. onwards, and the % chance of rain is from 70% up to 100% as the afternoon progresses.
I certainly don’t relish the idea. Apologies to anyone who would want to ‘give it a go’.
October 2025
Highlights: A Whooper Swan stopped off at Aberthaw (22nd). A Garganey lingered at Llanishen/Lisvane Reservoirs until early in the month. A Leach’s Petrel was seen off Lavernock (21st). Cardiff Bay Wetlands Reserve hosted a Glossy Ibis (17th). A Sabine’s Gull passed Porthcawl (4th). Yellow-browed Warblers were located at Dunraven (6th), Kenfig (7th) and Cathays Cemetery (27th).
Other Sites: Three Dark-bellied Brent Geese called in at Sker. Single Red-breasted Mergansers visited Kenfig Pool and Ogmore Estuary. A Red-throated Diver was off the sluice gates at Cardiff Bay Barrage, the first seen at the Bay since the barrage was created. A Bittern was at Kenfig Pool, where Marsh Harriers and Merlins were also sighted. Four juvenile Hobbies fattened up on dragonflies by the River Ely at Leckwith and another was at Dunraven. A Spotted Redshank overflew Kenfig Sands. An Arctic Tern was off Sker and a Common Tern was at Aberthaw. A Short-eared Owl flew west at Lavernock. Three Ring Ouzels were at Dare Valley Country Park. A Black Redstart was briefly at Southerndown. Firecrests were noted from Bute Park, Aberthaw and Kenfig.
Summary by Paul Roberts
Cardiff Bay Barrage
Got down to the barrage for first time in a while and eventually found the Red-throated Diver that was found a coupe of days ago. It was quite distant towards the Cardiff end off the dock area by the gas storage tanks. After coffee by Porth Teigr it fortunately came a little closer on the walk back and I Iucked in on some wing stretch shots. There was also a very confiding female Pied Wag on a wall by the sluices.
Cosmeston
New arrivals in the rain this morning were 2 m and 1 f Pochard on W lake in amongst the Tufties. A Jay was by the dipping pond, carrying an acorn.
Two upcoming events
Two GBC events to alert you about:
On Tuesday next week, 4th November, there’s a live indoor meeting at Pencoed Rugby Club, when John Wilson will be giving an illustrated talk about a birding trip he and his wife did last year, to the Danube Delta in Romania – it’s called Birding by Boat.
On Sunday week, 9th November, there’s a field trip involving a walk from Rest Bay to Sker Point and back, hoping for some waders including Purple Sandpiper. Regulars will have done it before – it’s a flat but longish walk along the coast path – probably about 2km each way. Meet at 9 a.m. in Rest Bay car park. All day parking there now is just £1 [from 1st Oct thru the winter]. Let John Wilson know by email if you’re coming – johndw1948 at gmail dot com
Cosmeston
In the light drizzle and v poor light at Cosmeston this morning. I was walking across W paddock when a Kes came and alighted in the hedge, but only briefly as a second Kes flew in a flushed it off. The camera wasn’t ready but they flew up fairly high then had a kind of dog fight. I think they were both young birds and there was no real aggression. Nice to watch tho’. One pic below shows how distant they were when I took the pix, hence they are pretty fuzzy.
The Woodpigeon is I understand, one that has been around for a couple of years, although I’ve never seen it before. As the pic shows, it has a pretty bad deformity of one of the bill mandibles, but it’s obviously coping OK as it was pretty plump.
Trip for Thurs 23rd Oct cancelled
Just a heads up that the trip to Cwm Nash tomorrow has been cancelled due to a yellow weather warning. Sorry folks, but your wellbeing is a priority.
Various locations
Just a few from the last few days. The Jay was burying acorns on the slope by the dipping pond at Cosmeston on Thursday. The Linnets on Hawthorn were part of a flock of about 40 at Lavernock this morning, where I also counted at least 20 Skylark over the large field. I wasn’t early enough for much active vis-mig but I did note a small group of Crossbill and a single calling Yellow Wagtail flying over. A high group of vocal crows drew my attention, whereupon I discovered they were mobbing a high circling Short-eared Owl, which was a nice surprise. The photos are MEGA crops – it was v high. It continued west until lost from sight. The African Grey parrot!!! was perched on the railings by Chew Valley Lake yesterday eve [long story as to why I was there]. Its owner appeared to be the inhabitant of a tatty campervan. Lastly I was dead chuffed to get a few nice portraits of a Wren whilst I was sitting outside the back of the Cosmeston cafe this morning.
Portland Bird Obs
The Club ran a great trip to the Portland Bird Observatory in Dorset over the weekend – an annual event. 10 club members stayed in the lighthouse. Some special birds were seen, including a first for GBC – a White-tailed Eagle. We were very lucky to see a Wryneck in a local quarry, accompanying the resident Little Owl. Also of note were huge numbers of Razorbills passing the tip of Portland Bill over a couple of hours. Thanks to Cindy Howells for the photo. We logged an impressive 101 bird species over the weekend.
This brief summary by Alan Rosney but posted by John W with a couple of additional comments.
Cosmeston
Nothing exciting around, and i got caught in the unexpected heavy drizzle!. Had a Great Tit feeding from my hand by the Medieval Village. A Heron was sitting rather dejectedly in the drizzle in the favoured tree near the main bridge. A dog exploring the trees there flushed it and it flew & landed on a tree on the conservation ‘island’. It was an adult with some impressive plumes. What I assume was a pair of Little Grebes were together on E lake near the shore.
Cosmeston
A surprise this morning was a Hobby which flew over our heads from the direction of the golf club and alighted in a tree by E lake – unfortunately with its back to me – see photo. It was only there for about 30 secs when it was chased off by a Crow and was lost to view over the trees by the playpark. I saw it again above W lake being harassed by Jackdaws , then again hunting v high over E paddock which I took some flight pix of, but it was just a dot, so the pic below is a HUGE crop. Nice to see tho’. Nothing much else to report apart from a few Common Darter and Migrant Hawkers still about.
Cosmeston 5th Oct
I decided to do the Glamorgan Bird Club Big Bird Count today and logged 28 species. My route went via the dipping pond, then up the Mile Road between the lakes, into West Paddock, then round through Cogan Wood, out into the westerly field and up by the plantation above Sully Brook, along the top of the so-called upper Dovecote field and back down to the Mile Road and back past the Medieval Village. My full list is here. Nothing of real note although Jay and Green Woodpecker were best of the bunch. Noticeable absentees were Coal TIt and Nuthatch in Cogan Wood [and Marsh Tit I guess], despite my taking some seed.
Indoor meeting Tues 7th Oct
Don’t forget we have a live indoor meeting at Pencoed Rugby Club on Tuesday [7th Oct], 7:30 p.m. in the upstairs room. Long standing club member David Rich will be giving us an illustrated talk about his many birding visits to the USA, over the years. It should be very interesting.
The Rugby Club is in Velindre Rd, CF35 5PB.
September 2025
Highlights: Garganey were noted at Llanishen/Lisvane Reservoirs and Kenfig. The only Leach’s Petrel was off Sker (18th). A total of six Cattle Egrets called in at Kenfig, with another two in fields near Llanharry. An extraordinary flock of 24 Glossy Ibises flew east past Sker (8th), while further sightings of the species came from Rhoose (one on the 8th), Llanishen/Lisvane Reservoirs (seven over on the 22nd) and Kenfig Pool (one late in the month). Remarkably, two Red-necked Phalaropes were located in Cardiff: one on the River Taff, ranging from Radyr to Morganstown (7th), plus another at Llanishen Lisvane Reservoirs (15th-18th). Grey Phalaropes were very well represented, with observations from Kenfig (maximum count five), Ogmore Estuary (three or four in total), Cardiff Bay (seen at several locations), Llanishen/Lisvane Reservoirs (at least two), Barry (one, possibly two, on The Knap), Llandaff (one on the River Taff), Llwyn-on Reservoir (one) and Rumney Great Wharf (one). Long-tailed Skuas were off Lavernock (4th) and Cardiff Bay Barrage (18th). Windblown Sabine’s Gulls were recorded from Porthcawl (one on the 15th, two on the 17th), Cardiif Bay Barrage (15th) and Sker (18th). A Turtle Dove was at Cosmeston (26th–27th). A Hoopoe turned up at Sker (21st), but unfortunately was taken by a Peregrine. Yellow-browed Warblers were found at Kenfig (28th) and Cwm Mawr (29th).
Other Sites: Eight Pale-bellied Brent Geese passed Porthcawl. A Red-breasted Merganser was a brief visitor to Ogmore Estuary. A Great Norther Diver flew down channel past Porthcawl, where a couple of Storm Petrels were also logged. As usual, Kenfig held the lion’s share of the Great White Egrets, with a maximum count of five, possibly even seven. Further occurrences of the species came from Dunraven (three coasting down channel and another in off the sea), Ogmore Estuary, Llanharry and Llantwit Major (this taken into care and sadly died). At least five records of Ospreys came from Kenfig, with others at Aberthaw, Ogmore Estuary and Porthcawl. Hen Harriers were seen at Rhigos and Kenfig, with Marsh Harriers also present at the latter site. Hobbies were enjoyed at Kenfig (multiple sightings) and Dunraven (two individuals). A Merlin was at Mynydd Pwll-yr-lwrch, Maesteg. A Little Ringed Plover and two Knot were at Ogmore Estuary. A Curlew Sandpiper was off Cardiff Bay Barrage. Waders at Kenfig included several Curlew Sandpipers, Grey Plover (unusually one at the Pool), Ruff, Greenshank, three Green Sandpipers and up to 12 Knot. Two Arctic Skuas were noted off Porthcawl. A Yellow-legged Gull was at Ogmore Estuary. Single Arctic Terns were at Kenfig and Ogmore Estuary. Black Terns graced Kenfig (perhaps four in total), Cardiff Bay (two off the barrage), Llanishen/Lisvane Reservoirs (two), Lavernock and Porthcawl. A Dartford Warbler found at Royal Porthcawl Golf Club also strayed into the Kenfig recording area. Firecrests were seen at Dunraven and Kenfig on multiple dates, with another at Cardiif University. A Pied Flycatcher was at Dunraven.
Summary by Paul Roberts
East Glam Big Bird Count – update
In respect of the above [see the post before last on this blog page], in view of the incoming storm we have decided to expand the count dates to include the weekend after as well -i.e. 10th to 13th Oct. That is only these two weekends and not the whole week in between.
Cosmeston
Did a very slow shortish walk round W lake Cosmeston this morning – my 1st outing recovering from a v nasty cold & cough. The Kestrel was hovering over W paddock, so the photos are biggish crops. Also of interest, plenty of Ivy Bees around at the moment and finally a nice pristine Speckled Wood.
Glamorgan Bird Club 
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