Highlights: A Black Kite was seen over Llanharry, headed east (23rd). A Great Grey Shrike remained at Cwm Cadlan/Garwnant. A lone Waxwing turned up at Schooner Way, Cardiff. Records in the vicinity of Cardiff Bay included Black-necked Grebe, Osprey, Little Gull and Black Redstart. Three Pink-footed Geese, Great White Egret, Siberian Chiffchaff, Long-tailed Duck, four Black-tailed Godwits, Short-eared Owl and Merlin were sighted within the environs of Kenfig NNR. Water Pipits comprised two at Ogmore Estuary and four at Rumney Great Wharf, with a Greenshank at the latter site, too. The Watermill Flood, Ogmore, pulled in two Little Ringed Plovers, a Black-tailed Godwit and several White Wagtails. Two Scaup and a Yellow-legged Gull were at Cosmeston. A Ring Ouzel flew over a Caerau garden. Three Hawfinches frequented the churchyard at Ewenny Priory.
Summary by Paul Roberts
Author: John Wilson
Birder and traveller
Cardiff Bay
A Black-necked Grebe has just been reported [at 10:54 in fact] in Cardiff Bay poss best viewed from Prospect Place towards the yacht club/wetland reserve.
Cosmeston
Highlight early afternoon was 2 adult drake Scaup with Tufties on east lake. Chiffchaff singing and 2 Blackcap heard in song, 2 Buzzards thermalling. Nice show of Primroses in E paddock.
Cosmeston
Very crowded this morning and many people not observing the 2m ‘rule’ and walking around in groups and queueing cheek by jowl for ice creams [a bit surprised the cafe was open]. A Mistle Thrush was quite active in Cogan Wood and Blackcap singing there again too. The 3 Shoveler of Thurs had increased to 4 yesterday [3m 1f] but no sign of any today, or Sand Martins. A fem Bullfinch seen briefly by E paddock. Quite a lot of what I assume to be Dog Violet out now.
2019 Bird Records/Bird Report
The result of a rainy, self-isolated day chez Wilson: all the 2019 bird records from 5 different sources are now in a single spreadsheet which contains, wait for it …. 105,112 records!! Now to split it up into species groups for SECTION WRITERS, your bird report needs you! 🙂 Any volunteers? Usual requirements – must be familiar with MS Excel and able to sort data within them.
Cosmeston
c.10 Sand Martin over the lakes this morning in the rain plus 2m and 1f Shoveler on W. Lake. Mistle and Song thrush singing. Yesterday a Cetti’s Wblr sang by the dipping pond and a Blackcap sang briefly in Cogan Wood.
AGM 2020 postponed
We should have specifically mentioned this in the previous news post re COVID-19 – an important event which is involved is of course the GBC AGM scheduled for 28th April. This is postponed until such time as we can safely hold it.
Covid19 situation
In view of the national situation regarding the Covid19 virus, and government advice in that respect, it has been decided to cancel all GBC meetings and walks until further notice. This includes the planned Kenfig walk that was to have been on Saturday 21st Mar. We shall monitor the situation carefully and hope to resume activities as soon as it safe to do so. This is in line with the similar decisions taken by our neighbouring clubs and societies.
Cardiff bay- Penarth marina
An ad Kittiwake reported in the bay off Plas Taliesin by penarth marina this morning.
Cosmeston
A Buzzard was sitting in a tree by the dipping pond this morning – a favourite perching area. There were 4 Pochard on W lake and a Coot was sitting on a nest in the reeds on the far side of W lake. Also several Chiffchaff seen and a couple of Goldcrests.
Kenfig NR
A Long-tailed Duck has been on the pool for two days now, and a Short-eared Owl has been seen in the dunes, plus a female Merlin, photographed by Neil Donaghy [see South Wales Birding Facebook page if you have access.
Cosmeston/Cardiff Bay
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.
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.
Glamorgan Bird Club 
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