Of note this morning were 2 adult Common Gulls on W lake, 1 on the far side and another on the posts, c.40 Redwing and c.20 Fieldfare feeding in W paddock, a pair of breeding plumage Great Crested Grebes display ‘dancing’ on E lake [in the middle so too distant for photos] and a Water Rail in Sully Brook. The latter teased by foraging in amongst the vegetation and the images below are the best of many as I tried to aim the central focus point at gaps in the reeds to focus on the bird itself! Couldn’t quite manage a decent shot of the whole bird!

There were 43 Redwing foraging in E paddock this morning. In trees adjacent the golf course, 3 Greenfinch were calling incessantly, as were 2 Jays and a Fieldfare flew in calling. Couldn’t see any reason for the alarm [e.g. Tawny Owl]. W lake had the usual c.200 Tufties and 12 Pochard, whinnying Little Grebe. A smart adult Common Gull was by the end of E lake.

Back to my usual haunt … W lake had 16 drake Pochard, 1 Grey Heron in its favourite tree a pair of Gadwall, 2 pairs of GC Grebe now in full breeding plumage. The ditch by the concrete parapet as you enter the park, has been dredged, and there was a Grey Wagtail foraging on the heap of spoil.

Today, 21 participants joined me for a yomp around Garwnant. After a horrendous journey up there [traffic – hour and a half from Penarth] we met up in the car park in dismal conditions which didn’t clear as quickly as had been forecast. So the start was very quiet but we did eventually connect with a Willow Tit down near the Taff bridge. It was foraging in low scrub right by the road off the A470. A Great Spotted Woodpeker put in an appearance there and we had Dipper on the river. We could only walk the Wern trail as the upper trail was closed so the usual circular walk wasn’t possible. As the sun came out at snack time at the car park, we eventually were able to watch 10 or so Crossbills feeding in a larch. They were very high up making photography a neck wrecking experience! A scan of the Tufties at the N end of the reservoir failed to reveal the female Ring-necked Duck, but there were a few Teal, a Grey Heron, 4 LIttle Grebes and 2 Cormorant. Ultimately a good trip after a quiet start. Thanks to all who came.

No pic [distant scope view only] but I caught up with the Cirl Bunting early afternoon at Ty’n-y-Caeau Farm, where GBC and the farmer have a strip of sacrifical crop. On arrival late a.m. I met Cliff Woodhead who said it had been seen earlier but then flew off [the bird, not Cliff! ]. I walked down the field and was pleased to meet Glyn Roberts. Spent about 1 1/2 hrs watching 6-7 Greenfinches coming to the lower feeder, then decided to give up. Walking back up the field, I noticed another obs enter the gate, and then there was a sudden eruption of birds out of the hedge near the gate. They hadn’t been there when I arrived. Pleased to see 3-4 Yellowhammers perch up on the hedge but then all birds flew away – there must have been 6-7 Yellowhammers. They headed in the Marcross direction and were lost to view. Started scoping all hedgerow tops, and then noticed a bird perched on a telephone wire – scoped it up and lo & behold … Cirl Bunting! It didn’t stay up there for long and dropped down out of sight. This was a few 100 metres east along the road to Marcross. I guess it was with the Yellowhammers that flew off. Later, a no show by Short-eared Owl at Rhoose although I only stayed until 3:45.

Did my WeBS count this morning, which covers Rhymney Estuary at Green Point, and Cardiff Heliport bay. At Green Pt: 700 Redshnak, 800 Dunlin, 27 Teal, 4 Wigeon, 16 Shoveler, 7 Pintail, 96 Shelduck, 3 Coromrant and 30 Mallard.
At Heliport bay a good count of c100 Pintail, 46 Shoveler, 11 Oyc, 6 Shelduck and 8 Turnstone. Some walkers on the beach below the landfill at Green Pt caused the Redshank to flush and at one point a large group landed on the water and started swimming about in a tight group. I’ve seen them do this before. Here’s a link to a short video on my Youtube channel: https://youtu.be/XZOGKYyHs6M
The birds flying around are some of the Dunlin flock. Here’s a link to a vid of that: https://youtu.be/fpjf2FBgBVw

Decided on a change from the mud of Cosmeston and went across the barrage this morning. There were two v smart pairs of Goosander by the jetty at the exit of Penarth Marina lock. So difficult to get the eye to show esp in the males, but the fem with her back to me had a catchlight. There was a bunch of House Spadgers by the apartments there, incl a fem with nest material! On the barrage itself a PIed Wag was chasing off a Grey Wag quite agressively, and a Raven was on the grass at the far end. I thought the pattern on the imm Mute Swan was quite eye-catching.

Pochard were up to 18 on W lake this morning, and there were 2 Common Gulls, 1 by E lake and 1 on the W lake posts. There were a few Redwing and Fieldfare in W paddock, with a Mistle Thrush, and a v friendly Robin posed by the lower Dovecote field by Sully Brook.

There were 16 Pochard with the Tufties on W lake this morning and an ad Common Gull on the W lake posts.

At the first feeding stump down the slope from the southern entrance to Cogan Wood, an obliging Marsh Tit was coming down to seed. It was mostly snatch and grab but it perched at one point and reposnded to my imitated ‘pitchoo’ call and allowed for quite a few photos, albeit in rather poor light. Walking back down the Mile Road I came upon a confiding Bullfinch feeding on buds above my head.

Had all 5 thrush species this morning. Plenty of Blackbirds, single Song Thrush and Mistle Thrush in W paddock where there were about 6 each of Redwing and Fieldfare. A Mistle Thrush was singing 2 days ago. On arrival this morning a Great Spotted Woodpecker was seen calling from the top of a tree by the car park, a Green Woodpecker flew over E paddock and a distant one was heard calling there, and another was in a tree by the dragonfly pond. W lake had the usual Tufties, plus 5 Pochard and 3 Shoveler, a pair of Little Grebes doing lot of whinnying, and 2 Great Crested Grebes, and finally a single Common Gull. Yesterday a Goldcrest was singing by the main bridge and today there were a number of Great Tits singing.

Late afternoon, there were 3 Black Redstarts on waste ground opposite the Adventurer’s Quay appartments – 2 males and a female.

Yesterday saw a white-heaed Cormorant on the W lake posts. Photos confirmed it as a standard ‘carbo’ bird rather than the continental ‘sinensis’ subpsecies which is always charaterised by a white head. The one pictured is a breeding plumage adult [due to the white thigh patch] but the cropped head photo shows the ‘gular angle’ as being clearly acute and nowhere near the almost 90 degrees that sinensis would show. It was on the adjacent post today. Also yesterday a Cetti’s Warbler sang briefly near the café.
Today, the highlight was a smart adult winter Mediterranean Gull on the grass overlooking W lake bay. There were also 4 Gadwall by the W lake reeds [3 drakes and a duck].

Highlight this morning was the drake 1stW Scaup that had disappeared yesterday. It was on E lake with the Tufties. W lake still had the 15 Pochard from 22nd and a pair of Gadwall. 2 Little Grebes on E Lake.