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.
Author: John Wilson
Birder and traveller
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.
Cosmeston
No sign of any Scaup amongst the 100 or so Tufties present this morning, but a single drake Pochard on W lake. Graham Smith apparently had a couple of Teal. 1 Green Woodpecker in E paddock and 30 Fieldfare and a few Redwing in trees adj W paddock, and small flock of Goldfinch there. Common Gull still present on E lake. Song Thrush in full song by the mile road at top end of E paddock.
Bird Records
It’s that time of year again! At the end of this month I will be tackling the dreaded BirdTrack download for East Glam for all the records from 2019. So this is a request to make sure that if you use BirdTrack, you are all up to date for 2019.
Also if you record in any other way, the the same applies. If you send records direct to me, then please do so, or if you use SEWBReC or any other method of recording, plus make sure your records are up to date.
Many thanks, John Wilson East Glam Report editor
Cosmeston
There were c.50 each of Redwing and Fieldfare in W paddock yesterday, and a fw Redwing dotted around other parts of the park. Today during a very quick visit there were 2 Green Woodpeckers feeding on the ground in E. paddock, together with 3 Mistle Thrush. The only wildfowl of interest both yesterday and today, were Tufted Ducks, although there was a pair of Teal on Tuesday.
Field trip Weds 22nd Jan
Late notice but I’ve been away on a birding trip to Thailand.
I’m at our hotel prior to our return fight from Thailand tomorrow, so whilst I have WiFi just to say that there’s a local field trip to Cosmeston and Cardiff Bay on Weds 22nd Jan. I propose to meet people at the Cosmeston car park at 09:30 or as near as poss depending on morning traffic. We will do a walk around there and then probably go to the Penarth side of the barrage so look for the Black Redstart and anything else that might be around. I can’t promise to be fully alert after the travel, plus I’ve had a persistent cough since 24th Dec which has lasted all this holiday and has still not cleared up, but we’ll see how it goes.
December 2019
Highlights: Two Whooper Swans turned up at Flemingston Moor (31st). Up to 18 Brent Geese (all but one being Pale-bellied) were at Gileston. Long-tailed Ducks remained early in the month at both Lisvane Reservoir and Sker. Greater Scaup were at Cosmeston and Cardiff Bay. A Red-crested Pochard spent a day at Parc Slip. Notable counts of Goosanders came from Caerphilly Castle Moat (51) and Pwll-y-Waun, Porthcawl (20). A Great Northern Diver stopped off briefly at Kenfig Pool, where a Bittern was also seen. The highest Little Egret count was eight by the River Thaw, near Aberthaw. Birds of prey included Marsh Harrier at Kenfig, Hen Harrier at Llanilid and Merlin at Ogmore Estuary. Eight Green Sandpipers were on the River Ely near Pendoylan, while a Common Sandpiper looked set to winter at Ogmore Estuary. A Jack Snipe was at Rhymney Estuary. The only Short-eared Owl sightings came from Llanilid, where two were noted. A remarkably late Swallow was at Merthyr Mawr Warren (18th). Three Water Pipits were at Ogmore Estuary, with another at Rumney Great Wharf. Black Redstarts were observed at Sker, Gileston and Penarth Marina. Siberian Chiffchaffs were identified at Cardiff Bay Wetland Reserve and Kenfig. A Firecrest was still at Kenfig, with one unearthed at The Wilderness, Porthcawl. Summary by Paul Roberts
Cosmeston
There as an aythya drake on W lake this morning which could have been and ad Scaup or the Scaup type hybrid that’ been around for a while on and off. It was on far side of W lake and in the glare of the sun, difficult to be sure.
Penarth Marina & Bay Barrage
At the Marina intially had a distant view of the Black Redstart that has been around on and off, then got better view just before dusk at the square by Plas Taliesin. Seems to be a fem or 1st yr bird – see poor cropped pix. Also had a Rock Pipit and a Grey Wag on the roofs there and 3 Turnstone were along the R. Ely edge. In the Bay there were 3 drake Goosander and 5 females and c.8 Gt Crested Grebe. Click each image for a bigger one.
Cosmeston
In pretty dense mist this morning, a 1st yr drake Scaup was on W lake, plus a pair of Teal and 2 pairs of Gadwall, with the usual Tufties. Whilst I was at the central viewpoint a Sparrowhawk shot through, down the length of the mile road [the central path] weaving in and out of the path-side trees – v impressive.
Field trip on Sun 5th Jan
The first field trip of 2020 is the annual jaunt to Whiteford Point on Gower on 5th January. I will be away so Alan Rosney has kindly agreed to lead this one. I am posting now before the Christmas break as I will be preparing for a long haul trip afterwards. Due to the high tide time, the meet time will be 9 a.m. in the Cwm Ivy car park.Here’s a link to a map of its location:https://streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=244155&Y=193559&A=Y&Z=120
In view of recent weather, wellies or sturdy waterproof boots are the order of the day [it’s a wettish walk in any case]. If you’ve not been before be aware that it’s a longish walk out to the point [roughly 3 km each way]. Also be aware that on the walk back the last bit is a steep uphill stretch back to the car park. The main part out to Whiteford Point and back is level but uneven in places. Please contact Alan Rosney in case of any queries [alanrosney@gmail.com] and also to let him know if you are coming. Thanks, John Wilson.
Cosmeston
An adult winter Mediterranean Gull was on west lake at around midday, so a different bird to the second year that was seen by Wayne Strong earlier in the morning. A quick scan of the Tufties revealed no Scaup from yesterday [per Graham Smith and Annie Irving].
Kenfig Pool & surrounds
Highlights of the GBC monthly walk at Kenfig this morning in surprisingly OK weather considering the conditions driving down there along the M4, were a Marsh Harrier quartering the western dunes and lake edge, where it flushed 3 Snipe, and an Otter swimming and diving on the western side of the pool, viewed from south pool hide whilst we had our mince pies and mulled cranberry juice concoction which was delicious – thanks Jean Haslam! All in all 41 species seen including in addition to the Harrier & Snipe, just two each of Gadwall, Tufted Duck and Teal, the latter and a Wigeon in a flood in the dunes, 3 Gt Crested Grebes, Cetti’s warbler seen well from the hide, a Common Gull, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 male Bullfiunch and other common species. 16 folk attended.
2018 East Glam Bird Report
Finally …. The 2018 Bird Reports were taken to our post office in Penarth when they opened this morning, where they will be postage labelled and sent on their way. Apologies to all for the lateness this year, and thanks to everyone who had a hand in its production.
Capel Gwladys – W of Bargoed
Seven Red Kites were seen together by the cross at Capel Gwladys today, which is on Gelligaer Common – this news per Geri Thomas. Thanks for calling it in Geri.
More rarity acceptance news
The following records have now been accepted by the Glamorgan Rarities Committee.
- 2cy Caspian Gull, Cardiff Bay, 16th Jan 2019
- Yellow-Browed Warbler, KNNR, 8th October 2019 onwards
- Siberian Chiffchaff, Oxwichm 17th November 2019
- Citrine Wagtail, Llwyn-on Res., 27th April 2019
- Wryneck – Ogmore-by-Sea, 25th Aug – 1st Sep 2019
- Snow Bunting, Pink Bay – Porthcawl, 2nd – 4th November 2019
- Siberian Chiffchaff, Cardiff Bay Barrage, 7th December 2019
- Serin, Nash Pt, 24th November 2019 [2nd county record].
Penarth Marina
A Black Redstart was seen on roofs in Penarth Marina this morning [per Annie Irving]. Not sure of exact location but building was three storeys.
Glamorgan Bird Club 
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