Here are some recent accepted rarity reports for 2019, published by the Glamorgan Rarities Committee, listed here with their permission.
At my Rhmney Estuary count there were 800 very flighty Redshank, the flock containing just a single Dunlin. They spent several interludes swimming about in the centre of the river. Also 25 Lapwing there, 30 Pintail, 20 Shoveler, 40 Teal by Lamby Way and 32 Mallard. At the Heliport section, 30 Shelduck, another 20 Shoveler, 5 Pintail and just 2 Turnstone.
In a count at R. Ely floodplain, a Woodcock flushed by the river, and there were 8 Green Sandpiper, 32 Snipe, 23 Teal, 2 Dipper, many winter thrushes, Red Kite and Peregrine of note.
The drake Smew reported still at N end of Llandegfedd reservoir this morning and 4 Whoopers E of Magor Marsh. Also Merlin at Steel hide WWT Llanelli.
I’ve just heard from the printer. It’s still with the binders but they’re expecting it back “early part of next week”. As I’m spoken for on three days next week it going to be a close call as to whether it gets posted before Christmas, or whether folk receive it before Christmas. John Wilson
A Little Egret was sitting on the posts on W lake at 12.13. Flock of 20 Goldfinch back of W lake plus male Bullfinch and many Blackbirds. Checked the Cogan Wood stump again but no seed there. About 20 each of Great and Blue Tits surrounded me when did some soft pishing and a Jay was foraging on the path.
No sign of Marsh Tit in Cogan Wood this morning [seen in the last couple of days by Annie Irving and Tate Lloyd], but plenty of Great and Blue Tits coming to the tree stump on the right as you go down the path from the southern entrance to the wood. Also Coal Tit there too. By the dragon tree there were 2 Jays and a Nuthatch, and near the aforesaid stump a Treecreeper. I must have seen at least 10 squirrels along the woodland path and around 20 in total in my walk. Also 2 rats at the dragon tree.
On E lake in the SW corner there were 50 Tufted Duck of which just 5 were fems, plus 1 Pochard and 2 pairs of Gadwall. 2 Little Grebe near the cafe.
The last field trip of 2019 is to Ogmore Estuary and shoreline, on Weds 18th Dec. High tide is at 11 a.m,. so we will meet at 10 a.m. at the sloping grass car park by Portobello House/Island. If you can car share with someone please do, but I will not be going to the St Margaret’s Road meet point as it is in the opposite direction. I will be going from Penarth via Barry and the coast road. Perhaps folk can let me now if they are coming so I have an idea of numbers. John Wilson
A Long-tailed Duck reported as still present at Lisvane Res this morning and 2 Scaup and 2 aythya hybrids at Cosmeston E lake. Firecrest, Bittern, 2 Little Egret, at Kenfig Pool.
4 Turnstone and 1 Redshank along the Ely embankment by Penarth Marina. 2 Pied Wags, 5 Common Gull and a Rock Pipit barrage south end. 4 drake and 1 redhead Goosander by barrage north end beyond the swift tower.
Also reported there early morning, a possible Siberian Chiffchaff [on #glambirds Twitter feed] by the path by Roath Dock.
Highlights from Cosmeston this morning. W lake had an adult winter Med Gull, 2 prs of Gadwall, 1 drake Pochard I could see, 1 Little Grebe 2 GC Grebe and the usual Tufties. Near dragonfly pond – 1 Gt Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Fieldfare.
A Sparrowhawk was in a tree in the snipe paddock then flew off. A few Redwing scattered around, and nice Song Thrush by E paddock. A Kingfisher was briefly by the dragonfly pond but flew off [it had a thin layer of ice]. A lone Goldfinch was all alone feeding on a teasel, 2 Reed Buntings by the dipping pond.
In case anyone’s wondering I contacted our printer on 28th Nov and was told that they had 3 days more of printing and collating, before sending the whole lot out to be bound. So I’m hopeful that it will be ready this week and that we can get them all stuffed in envelopes and posted before Christmas. John Wilson [Ed].
West paddock very far end – fem Great Spotted Woodpecker. East paddock – 3 Mistle Thrush and a Green Woodpecker feeding on the ground in the middle. Couldn’t find Graham Smith’s Scaup of yesterday.
Highlights: A Serin dropped in briefly at Nash Point lighthouse compound, before flying off east (24th), constituting the first in the East Glamorgan recording area since 1972. Almost as rare locally was the Shore Lark at Newton Point (10th to 11th), not having been recorded in our area since 1976. A late Red-backed Shrike lingered around the northern periphery of Royal Porthcawl Golf Club, between Nottage and Pink Bay (15th to 29th). Richard’s Pipits were noted at Nash Point and Sker (both on the 13th). A Slavonian Grebe was at Kenfig (10th). A Long-tailed Duck at Lisvane Reservoir, first seen in October, made it until the start of the month, while another lingered on a flood at Sker (9th until the month end). Up to five Woodlarks were present at Lavernock, including a group of four in stubble (24th), with another two found at Newton Burrows (11th). Both Siberian Chiffchaff and Yellow-browed Warbler frequented Kenfig. A Lapland Bunting flew over Sker (17th). Snow Buntings were at Pink Bay/Sker (two on the 4th), Dunraven (8th) and The Knap, Barry (11th to 22nd).
Other Sites: A Great Northern Diver flew inland at Dunraven. Another Great Northern Diver was off Sker, where a maximum of 13 Red-throated Divers was counted. Up to six Pale-bellied Brent Geese were at Aberthaw. Cosmeston and Cardiff Bay hosted single Greater Scaup. A maximum of 32 Goosanders was at Caerphilly Castle Moat. A Common Scoter was an unusual occurrence at Cardiff Bay. A Great White Egret was seen at Abercwmboi Lake, perhaps a returning bird. A Marsh Harrier was observed on several occasions at Kenfig. Merlins were logged at Mynydd Eglwysilan, Kenfig, Southerndown, Merthyr Mawr and Barry. Waders included Bar-tailed Godwit at Flemingston, Ruff, Common Sandpiper and four Purple Sandpipers at Ogmore Estuary, four Purple Sandpipers at Newton Point and seven Green Sandpipers of the River Ely, near Pendoylan. Short-eared Owls were noted at Rumney Great Wharf, Llanilid and Sker. Late records on the 27th concerned a Swallow at Lavernock and a Garden Warbler at St Mary’s Well Bay. Water Pipits were at Ogmore Estuary (two) and Sker. Black Redstarts were noted from Cardiff Bay Wetland Reserve, Dunraven, Gileston, Llantwit Major, Sker and Trecco Bay, Porthcawl. Firecrests occurred at St Donat’s (two), St Mary’s Well Bay, Lavernock and Kenfig. Summary by Paul Roberts.
Just a quick reminder that there’s an indoor meeting tomorrow [Tues 3rd] at Kenfig Reserve centre starting 7:45 p.m. when Steve Watson of the Gloucester Raptor Group will be giving a talk on Goshawks. Those who came to his previous talk on Peregrine will know that it shd be very interesting. This is the last talk of this year and indeed the last that will be held at Kenfig. PS there will be mince pies!
Apparently the recent Red-backed Shrike seen by the edge of Royal Porthcawl golf has relocated to Pink Bay in the vicinity of the lifeguard hut.
Amazing record this morning of a Garden Warbler found by Phil Bristow at St Mary’s Well Bay and a Swallow seen by Phil and also Graham Smith, at Lavernock.
Decided to walk in some different mud this morning! ….. the reserve is completely waterlogged – path v v muddy and slippery. Nevertheless lots of Redwing there. c.150 in the second ‘paddock’ bursting out of every tree, and about 200 in Rowlands Well Field [behind the caravan park] where they were feeding on the ground amongst stubble and weeds. Also around 10 Fieldfare seen.
Folk will have noticed no doubt that the website has changed. Following some changes in the committee of the Gower Ornithological Society, with whom we have been partners on this website and the preceding one for a good number of years, it was decided that they, GOS, would like to set up a bespoke website of their own, which they have now done, in partnership with the Gower Ringing Group. Both ourselves and GOS feel that this is a positive step, especially for new members of either club who now have the relevant information immediately to hand, without the need to negotiate to the correct set of menus and /or web pages on a shared site. We wish GOS all success with their new site and hope that GBC members will continue to use ours. Please use the Sightings pages as well as social media for bird news, so that all members see what’s about. Here’s a link to the new GOS site: https://www.gowerbirds.org.uk/.
The next event is a field trip to WWT Slimbridge. It’s on Sunday 1st Dec. Sundays are a popular day and we like to try & get there when they open which is at 09:30. This will require departure from Cardiff at 08:20. To car share, meet at St Margaret’s Rd, Whitchurch in time for an 08:20 departure and please let John Wilson know if you are coming and whether you will meet there or at Slimbridge itself. A map of St Margaret’s Rd is on the web site: https://glamorganbirds.org.uk/gbc-events/ There are entrance fees for non-WWT members:Adult £14.80 with gift aid, £13.45 without. Concession – 65+ disabled etc, £12.60 or £11.45. You can save 10% by buying entrance tickets online via their web site. Click here for the relevant page.
Following that, on Tues 3rd Dec, we have an indoor meeting at Kenfig NNR centre, when Steve Watson of the Gloucester Raptor group will be giving a talk on Goshawks. Starts at 7:45 p.m. Steve didn’t have time in his talk last year, to tell us about this aspect of his work.
Glamorgan Bird Club 
You must be logged in to post a comment.