An adult Yellow-legged Gull was on E lake Cosmeston this morning. The adult Little Gull re-appeared in Cardiff Bay late morning but I couldn’t find it between 3:30 & 4 p.m. A Waxwing was seen briefly and photographed in a tree in Schooner Way opposite County Hall , by Peter Howlett.
Author: John Wilson
Birder and traveller
Merchandise
We now have beanie hats available bearing the Club logo – have a look on the Merchandise page.
Cardiff Bay
Ad Little Gull reported in Cardiff Bay this morning seen from Penarth Marina.
Cosmeston
A Kingfisher flew across W lake this morning and under the main bridge. A Mistle Thrush has been singing in a tree by the car park for the last three days, living its old name of Storm Cock in the strong winds and rain of yesterday and the day before. Also 2 days ago a flock of 40-50 Fieldfare flew across E lake and settled in trees on the far side.
Upcoming events
First a reminder about my talk on the Brazilian Pantanal tomorrow [Tues 3rd] eve. All details re venue under ‘Events’, ‘Indoor meetings’.
Second, there’s a field trip next weekend on Sunday, 8th March when we will visit the Forest of Dean. The aim is to see Goshawks from the New Fancy View viewpoint overlooking the forest canopy, and to find Hawfinch, and there’s also a Great Grey Shrike in the area too. Mandarin Ducks and Cannop Ponds and also Marsh Tit and other passerines.I plan to leave Cardiff promptly at 8 a.m., picking up at St Margaret’s Road in time for a departure at that time, for anyone who wants a lift. We try to encourage car sharing if possible. Some areas there could be quite muddy so come suitably shod. Please let me know if you intend coming. The first location will be New Fancy View where there’s a gravel car park, not far north of Parkend. Click here for a map. Please let me know if you’re coming and whether you will be at St Margaret’s Road. A map for that is on the web site under ‘Events’, ‘Field Trips’. John Wilson
February 2020
Highlights: A Great Grey Shrike ranged around between Cwm Cadlan and Garwnant. A Glaucous Gull was briefly at Sker (13th). Four Avocets stopped off at Green Point, with another two at Rumney Great Wharf. A Great Northern Diver was still at Mwyndy at the start of the month. Sightings at Kenfig included Bittern, Marsh Harrier, Merlin, Short-eared Owl, two Siberian Chiffchaffs and Firecrest. Further Firecrests were at Bute Park (two present) and Ewenny Priory. Three Hawfinches were also at the latter site. Water Pipits comprised six at Rumney Great Wharf and two at Ogmore Estuary. Scaup were noted from Cardiff Bay and Cosmeston. A Merlin was at Mynydd Eglwysilan. Waders included two Common Sandpipers and four Purple Sandpipers at Ogmore Estuary, seven Purple Sandpipers at Sker and Green Sandpiper at Rumney Great Wharf. Yellow-legged Gulls were identified at Ogmore Estuary, Caerphilly Castle Moat and Cosmeston. Penarth Marina held a Black Redstart. Summary by Paul Roberts
Cosmeston
Pretty quiet apart from the usual this morning but a female Sparrowhawk shot through past the big carving near the dipping pond, and there’s some frog spawn in the water there just at the start of the dipping pond path from the car park.
Cardiff Bay
Walked across the Barrage this morning. Huge quantity of debris has been brought down the Taff & Ely by the recent weather. Only birds of note were a couple of Pied Wags, 1 Grey Wag, and 6 Goosander over by St David’s Hotel/CBWR, viewed from The Lookout cafe. There was a very white-headed Cormorant fishing in the old Roath Dock but I’m not going to claim it as a ‘sinensis’.
Aberthaw/Gileston
A bit of a damp GBC trip to the above this morning but 14 folk braved the weather, including a welcome overseas visitor, Syd Cannings, from Whitehorse, in the Yukon, visiting family in Cardiff. Just 40 species seen, the highlight [and surprise] of which was a Gannet sitting on the water just offshore in front of the power station. It flew a short distance, harrassed by Herring Gulls then settled again out by the large outlet structure, when it became hard to spot in the choppy water. We couldn’t find and Brents although one observer had a brief view of a singleton. There were c.100 Wigeon by the river mouth as the tide came in. A fox gave good viws as it walked up the grassy spoil tip.
Sker
A bit late but in case anyone’s in the location before the next storm, Dave Carrington found a very smart Glaucous Gull off Sker this morning, also seen by Neil Donaghy.
Field trip – Aberthaw & Gileston
There’s a field trip next Weds, 19th Feb to the above. Parking is rather limited for east Aberthaw unless you use the Blue Anchor carpark which I am reluctant to do as it’s a popular pub/restaurant and we will be running past lunch time. So I suggest meeting in the gravel car park on the west side of the power station, down past Gileston village. Easiest access, to avoid a very narrow lane, is to go past the petrol station on the B4265 and turn left at the St Athan crossroads into Gileston Road [it’s the next left after the garage]. Follow this down into Gileston village where you need to turn right, sign posted Beach. Just follow this along to the end where there’s a gravel car park by the west flank of the power station. I suggest meeting there at about 10 a.m.. We can explore there a bit then walk along in front of the power station to the East Aberthaw end. It can be very muddy so bring appropriate footwear. I will not be picking up at St Margaret’s Rd as it’s in the opposite direction! Plse let me know if you are coming. Here’s a link to a map – the orange arrow is where to park:
https://streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=301994&Y=166310&A=Y&Z=120
Posting sightings
Just a quick message to those who do use our sightings blog. If you want to simply have a new line in a post without creating a new ‘block’, just hit Shift+Return. That produces a carriage return.
Cosmeston 8th & 9th Feb
On 8th a Kingfisher flew along the far shore of W lake with a small fish in its bill. There were c20 Fieldfare feeding in W paddock together with just 6 Redwing and 2 Mistle Thrush.A fem Kestrel was haunting over W paddock and there were 80- Tufties on W lake. Didn’t count E lake.
On 9th during storm Ciara, 80+ Fieldfare feeding in W paddock and I counted 7 Pochard on E lake
Cosmeston a.m.
c20 each of Fieldfare and Redwing were feeding on the ground in W paddock mid morning. A pair of Bullfinch were seen eating tree buds by the path that goes round the back of W lake.
Penarth Marina
c.4:15 p.m. the Black Redstart showed briefly on the roofs of the tall houses facing the Bay about 100m beyond the sign for Plas St. Andresse. These are the houses that on the marina side, face into the small square, where the bird has all been seen. On the river Ely embankment there, just 4 Turnstone, 2 Redshank, 1Pied Wag male and 1 Grey Wag. One of the Redshanks was colour ringed and is probably the same bird that Annie Irving tweeted about a while ago. I couldn’t see the rings clearly as it was wading with the rings under the water but one was yellow.
Cosmeston a.m.
2 Green Woodpeckers, 1 in E paddock and 1 in W. paddock. 2 Mistle Thrush in W paddock. 3 Shoveler on W lake [2m 1f] and 3 Pairs of GC Grebes displaying. Other than that the usual suspects.
January 2020
Highlights: A 1st-winter Caspian Gull dropped in briefly at Cosmeston (12th). A Great Grey Shrike was reported at Garwnant. Two Whooper Swans turned up at Flemingston Moor. Two Siberian Chiffchaffs were at Cardiff Bay, where Scaup, Yellow-legged Gull and Black Redstart (this favouring Penarth Marina) were also recorded. A Great Northern Diver lingered on a small fishing lake at Mwyndy, near Llantrisant. Firecrests were at Bute Park (two) and Porthkerry. Two Short-eared Owls and a Marsh Harrier frequented Kenfig. Common Sandpipers were at Cadoxton River and Ogmore Estuary, with a Water Pipit also at the latter site. A roost of 150 Pied Wagtails was observed in Bridgend town centre. At least eight Hawfinches were at the regular Forest Ganol locality, with another seen near Michaelston-le-Pit. Summary by Paul Roberts
Llanelli WWT
13 folk went to Llanelli today where it was less grey and overcast than in Penarth at least. Highlights were a Greenland Whitefront out in the salt marsh, 4 Spoonbill, 1 ad Yellow-legged Gull, hundreds of Black-tailed Godwits a flock fo which contained about 20 Knot. Alan common wildfowl were logged and out in the estuary on the falling tide, scopes managed to pick out 1000’s of Oycs, Dunlin, Ringed Plover, Curlew and Redshank. A total of 58 species were seen. List will be added to the trip lists in due course.
Two upcoming events
Apologies for the short notice. On this coming Sunday 2nd Feb there’s a field trip to Llanelli WWT reserve. We normally try and be there by opening time which is 09:30. This fits in with high water which is 11:30 so we’ll catch the rising tide. Please note there is a charge for non-members of WWT. Adult admission is £9.70 or £8.25 for concessions. If folk can car share all well and good. I’d rather not go to St Margaret’s Road as it’s in the opposite direction for me. It takes about an hour with a clear run from me so I’ll be leaving Penarth at around 08:30. Please let me know if you are coming.
The other event is an indoor meeting on next Tuesday 4th Feb, when Paul Bowden is giving us an illustrated talk on Birding in Eastern Europe, specifically Belarus and Bulgaria. As now announced on the Events page, this will be at the new venue of the Pencoed Miners Welfare Hall, which is 5 mins off J.35 of the M4. Click here for details. Meetings there start promptly at 7:30 p.m. so arrive before then.
Cosmeston
A quick walk before the hail storm, which we got caught in! 2 Green Woodpeckers still hanging around the E paddock area, today by the playground. A sub ad drake Scaup was with Tufties in W lake bay, as was a pair of Gadwall. GCG were displaying as was a pair of Mute Swans.
Glamorgan Bird Club 
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