This morning, 24th there was a small flock [6 or maybe a few more] of very vocal Siskin feeding on an Alder just past the main bridge. On 23rd there was much finch activity just beyond the dragonfly pond, with Greenfinch, Chaffinch and Goldfinch. I had 8 Greenfinch together in one bush which is pretty unusual these days, and I got a shot of one singing. In the fenced off ‘snipe enclosure’ two Blue Tits were feeding on the bullrush heads and nearby there were two lone Fieldfare up in the trees.
The Black-necked Grebe found by Mike Cram this morning was still present up til 4:30 p.m. at least, on the far side of the pool, often mingling with the numerous Pochard, Wigeon, Tufted Duck and Gadwall, making a ‘scope a necessity. Also present the drake Ring-necked Duck and the Scaup. Too far away for pix, sadly.
There was an adult winter Mediterranean Gull on W lake this morning, and a Cetti’s Warbler sang briefly by the dipping pond.
On a quick walk round, W lake had 5 Gadwall and 2 female Wigeon. There were moderate numbers of Redwing and Fieldfare in both E and W paddocks.
A 1stW Glaucous Gull was seen at Potobello Island this morning by David Rich. Nice one!
We are just getting involved with a major Rookery survey, both for our local area and in partnership with the Welsh Ornithological Society, who are organising a Wales wide survey. It involves surveying Rookeries to see which have breeding activity, as Rooks are in serious decline. There’s a full page on this site here, which gives all the detail and how to get involved – do take a look.
What a fascinating talk we were delivered by Julian Hughes, editor of the Welsh Bird Report and co-editor of the recently published “The Birds of Wales, Adar Cymru”, for which GBC sponsored the summaries of two species. Forty participants were treated to 90 minutes of how the book was researched and put together, historical facts about Wales and its birds, conservationists, habitats, lost species, new colonisers …. you name it, we heard about it. An absolutley fascinating talk, so a big diolch yn fawr to Julian.
On Monday 7th February, 6 GBC members undertook a Big Farmand Bird Count at Ty Tanglwyst Farm, a partner of GBC, where we have previosuly installed nestboxes in an area of woodland on the farm. They spent from 10:00 until 12:45 walking a route around the farm, making a note and count of every species seen. This resulted in a count of 30 different species, covering a good range of common species including both Green and Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 4 thrush species {Blackbird, Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush and Redwing], and many others. See the full list here. With apologies to the purists, it’s not in taxonomic order. Well done to the team tho’.
This count is orgamnised by the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust, sponsored by NFU, with many other partners. Full details can be seen on the website here.
We are pleased to announce that we have booked a Zoom presentation from Julian Hughes, the editor of Birds in Wales, the publication of the Welsh Ornithological Society. The presentation is entitled ‘Birds of Wales‘. Julian is also one of the editors of the recently published major work, The Birds of Wales, which GBC contributed to by sponsoring the chapters of two species. As a reward for this, sponsoring clubs and societies have been offered the presentation by Julian. Hope to ‘see you there’, as it were. The date and time are Tues 15th Feb starting at 7:30 p.m. The proposed start time is 7:30 but Zoom will be started at 7:15. to give people time to join. Members on the email news group have been notified with a link. If you are not in that group then contact John Wilson for details. John will be away from Fri 11th Feb and will be driving home on the day of the meeting, getting back in time. However he might not have WiFi whilst away so other members of the committee have been given the meeting details and link as well and can be contacted for it. John Wilson
Fab moment in Cogan Wood Cosmeston late a.m. In Cogan Wood we became surrounded by 20-30 Great & Blue Tits, which always expect food. We had a small bag of seed so soon I had Great Tit and a Blue Tit both feeding on my hand and a Marsh Tit sitting at arms length. It didn’t quite have the courage to come to me so we rewarded it with some on the ground. Had further GT and BT both sitting on my hand at the same time at the Dragon Tree. First thing in the morning, Graham Smith saw 10 Hawfinch in the trees lining the edge of Cogan Wood just past the dragonfly pond, but they didn’t put in an appearance as we passed late morning.
Just a heads up that there’s a field trip next week, on Thurs 10th Feb, to Whiteford Point on N Gower. The plan is to meet at the Cwm Ivy car parking field at 09:30 – timing to allow us to get out to the point without rushing, with the tide nearly high, but still rising [approx high at 12:53]. We would hope to also visit Llanridian Marsh at dusk, hoping for Harriers & Owls. Be aware that this is quite a long and arduous walk, the outer stretch possibly being quite muddy. The car park is at the top of a steep tarmac hill which you have to climb on return. Whiteford Point provides the possibility of seeing divers, rarer grebes, Eider, Geese & waders. As always please email me if you intend to come [unless you’ve already done so, in which case you’re on the list]. Here’s a link to a map of the meet point:
http://streetmap.co.uk/map?X=244094&Y=193577&A=Y&Z=120
John Wilson johndw1948 at gmail dot com
2 Adult Common Gulls still present this morning, 1 on W lake 1 on E lake. GS Woodpecker calling in the trees by the edge of the Mile Road and most impressive, 100 – 150 thrushes feeding in E. paddock, about an 80/20 mix of Redwing and Fieldfare. Short vid on youtube linked below – not the best as it was drizzling!
https://youtu.be/3EjaxYEZ0WY
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!
Members who wish to attend may wish to follow this link to the funeral director’s official announcement for Richard’s funeral on 9th Feb.
https://www.dignityfunerals.co.uk/funeral-notices/12-01-2022-richard-gordon-smith/
Highlights: A male Cirl Bunting was a superb find at Ty’n-y-Caeau Farm, Marcross, representing the first confirmed in the recording area since 1934! The bird appeared settled and it’s tempting to speculate how long it had been around before discovery. Dedicated watchers at Cardiff Bay unearthed a Bonaparte’s Gull (29th) and a Caspian Gull (14th). A Grey Phalarope was somewhat unexpected at Ogmore-by-Sea (3rd). A new female Ring-necked Duck was found at Llwyn-on Reservoir (22nd), with a drake remaining at Kenfig and at least two mobile females at sites in the vicinity of Cardiff, most notably Lisvane Reservoir and Cosmeston. A male Lesser Spotted Woodpecker was seen near Caerphilly.
Other Sites: At least 25 Brent Geese (mostly Pale-bellied) were off Aberthaw. Scaup were present at Cardiff Bay and Kenfig. Great White Egrets were briefly at Pwll Waun Cynon (Mountain Ash) and Kenfig. Wintering Common Sandpipers were observed at Ogmore Estuary, Cardiff Bay and Lisvane Reservoir. Rumney Great Wharf hosted a Marsh Harrier. Short-eared Owls were noted at Rhoose and Marcross. Water Pipits comprised four at Ogmore Estuary and three at Rumney Great Wharf. At least four Black Redstarts were frequenting Cardiff Bay, with others at Barry, Nash Point and Porthcawl. A Hawfinch was at Cogan Wood, Cosmeston. Up to 15 Crossbills were at Hensol Forest.
Summary by Paul Roberts
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.
Members may recall the announcement in the Oct 2021 newsletter that I will be retiring as Bird Report editor after c.24 years. The idea was that someone could shadow me as work starts on the 2021 report [and work has now started]. No-one has come forward yet, but we have produced a pdf describing all that the report prodution entails, and this is accessible and downloadable from the ‘Volunteering’ page of the website. See the link below. We are also looking for more volunteers to write species summary sections and the pdf covers this as well. Do have a look and see if this is something you could do. John Wilson
Here’s the link: https://glamorganbirds.org.uk/volunteering/
Glamorgan Bird Club 
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