It appears there was a Grey Phalarope in Cardiff Bay Wetlands this morning, last seen flying out to middle of the bay. (Per Twitter & Whatsapp).

Tantalisingly close fleeting naked eye views just beyond social distance, of Cettis Wblr along base of reeds in Sully Brook, Cosmeston just beyond the gate by Dovecote field.

V wet couple of days [and more to come!], means that Cosmeston away from the paths is very muddy and slippery at the moment. The recent two Ring-necked Ducks have migrated to Cardiff Bay and there’s only about 15 Tufties present on E lake at the moment, with up to 3 Pochard. Didn’t notice the Goldeneye this morning. The Herring Gull was having a good old shout yesterday and this morning I managed a couple of nice shots of the pair oof Stonechat that have been around, although they are big crops from the originals. There were also a couple of very vocal Bullfinches near the far entrance to Cogan Wood and a Few Redwing in the snipe paddock.

A few random ones from Cosmeston this a.m. 1 Fly over Peregrine, 1 Gt Spot Woodpecker, a few Redwing, small group of Tufties and 1 Pochard, 3 Little Grebe on E lake 1 GCG.

Brief v wet session this a.m. Max 7 Pochard on E lake and the drake Goldeneye. No sign of either the imm or 1st yr male Ring-necked Ducks, so assume both are in Cardiff Bay with the rest of the prev 90 Tufties that were here.

Last couple of days. Yesterday, the imm Ring-necked Duck was joined by a 1st year male, found by Graham Smith. It was not present this morning although the imm bird was still on E lake as was the drake Goldeneye. Late news rec’d as I type was that the 1st yr Ring-necked had relocated to Cardiff Bay, just off the Ice Rink area. Yesterday at Cossie a pair of Stonechat were on the perimeter of the snipe paddock and a few Redwing were in the trees there, and this morning a male Stonechat was in E Paddock with a few Goldfinch.

Saw my first Common gull of this autumn this morning, a 2ndW on E lake by the feeding area. The latter had me going for a little while as it had a very pale grey mantle [Ring-billed Gull!] but sadly it’s not. In a short fight it had a broad black terminal tail band. Also pair of Stonechat in the snipe paddock and a Common Sipe flew out of the W lake reeds and headed off high over E lake.

Imm Ring-necked Duck still on E lake Cosmeston. Not easy to pick out if asleep and in with 90 Tufties! Was active for a while but too distant for pix. Also drake Goldeneye still, 2 Pochard and an influx of c.200 Canadas!!

News for Cardiffians just rec’d. 3 Bearded Tits were seen at CBWR this morning. Last seen diving into reeds at hotel end.

Bit delayed posting this. Had a walk up the farm track opposite Cosmeston, up to the cooastal fields [which sadly may eventually be covered in tarmac and houses]. First bird was a Sparrowhawk chasing a Magpie, then as I crossed the big field, first one, then two then three Peregrines appeared and patrolled up and down parallel to the coast for about half an hour. A large mixed flock of Goldfinch and Linnet constantly flew up, and a distant Kestrel flew by. Having done a circuit of the field, as I walked back a group of 10 Skylark flew over, then a few Meadow Pipits and also a single Siskin, whose flight call I heard, and a few Chaffinches. Standing at the top corner of the big field I then noticed another raptor coming from inland – a Goshawk! It drifted slowly above the big field with the typical leisurely fairly deep wingbeats [unlike the rapid flick flick of a Sparrowhawk], and walost from view over Lavernock Point. All in all a good session. Below, 2 shots of one of the Perrys, and three of the Gos, one showing how high it was.

Cosmeston late a.m. Drake Goldeneye on E lake near the reeds – thx to Sharon Mullins the ranger for txt. Along the lower Dovecote meadow by Sully Brook, 8 Redwing. 2 Green Peckers, and 1 Gt Spotted Pecker on fence by dipping pond then the uprights of the gazebo.! A few Swallows over.

No sign of drake goldeneye on either lake (from earlier this a.m.) – prob scared off by swimming dogs in the small bay. Gone to Cardiff Bay?? E lake had 60 Tufties and a pair of Pochard.

Very briefly – The three Wigeon were still on W lake, one of which had a vigorous bathe. I had about 12 fly-over Swallows and for the first time in years, actually heard the harsh call of a fly-over Brambling. Didn’t get a good look at it tho’, but these new fangled hearing aids are ace! Also I saw what I believe was a Hornet Mimic Hoverfly, Volucella zonaria – what a huge beast. Sadly I wasn’t quick enough to grab a photo. It was in the wood behind the dragonfly pond. In the pix below the Green Pecker, Mistle Thrush and LTT were from the 13th.

Cosmeston a.m. 3 Wigeon W lake. Two feeding flocks with LTT, Goldcrest, Coal, Blue & Gt Tits but no Yellow-browed Warblers. Also Green Pecker and Mistle Thr W paddock and 6 Skylark flew over.

A few photos from a stroll along the Sully foreshore on 8th Sep. Highlights were a couple of lingering Wheatear, and amazingly around 20 Greenfinch near the dirt parking area. Also the usual Turnstones [c.20] , 4 Rock Pipits, around 20 Swallows low over the playing field, prompting me to try some flight shots [not v successfully!]. 1 Rock Pip was quite pale and had me going [putative Water Pip, but I don’t think it was]. The Heron was at Cosmeston.

2 Wigeon still on W lake Cosmeston. 30+ Swallows over the upper Dovecote field and 2 House Martin with them, and pr of Stonechat by the sapling plantation, plus Linnet, Mipit, & Goldfinch.

Had a walk round this morning with 2 new GBC members from Penarth. Highlights were a Red Kite high up just SW of Cosmeston being mobbed by 2 Crows. So distant I thought Harrier at first due to the long wings, but eventually got the forked tail. It drifted off in the general direction of Dinas Powis. Good views of Green Woodpecker near the dragonfly pond and a couple of Greenfinch and Song Thrush and a few Goldfinch there. A Stonechat was by the dipping pond and a Buzzard was sitting in a dead tree there too. A few Swallows and House Martins passed overhead.