News from this morning:
Following a request from the farm, John Wilson, Strinda Davies, Rhos Williams and 4 other folk pus the farmer and a ranger, did a 4 1/2 mile walk in the rain around the cold, wet muddy fields of Slade Farm this morning doing a bird survey in partnership with the farmer and his daughter. The weather kept small birds low but we logged and counted 27 species, the highlights of which were around 30 Yellowhammer, 50 or so Skylark [they were flushing up all the time], 20 Goldfinch, 30 Linnet, Reed Bunting, 5 Stonechat, 2 Buzzards, 1 Kestrel, 4 Common Gulls in with a resting flock of 23 Herring Gull, and 40 Rook. 5 Curew came out of one field too. Most surprising was what was almost certainly a Quail which flushed and flew low across a stubble field, but could not be relocated. We understand that some were introduced in a nearby establishment some time ago. It’s a bit late for a genuine wild bird. The tea and cakes at the end were most welcome!
V. cold & windy this morning. Wildfowl on W lake comprised 2 Wigeon, 3 Pochard, 1 Gadwall, & 5 Shoveler. An ad Grey Heron on the W lake posts and 2 Little Grebes nearby, about a dozen Redwing dotted around the place, Green ‘Pecker in E paddock and c.50 Goldfinch feeding in alders at the RH end of E lake. There were 2 Mistle Thrush in W paddock yesterday.
Pretty quiet at Cossie this a.m., with 2 Wigeon and 3 Gadwall on W lake of note. Elsewhere the Snow Bunting is still showing well at The Knap, Barry; the Red-backed Shrike near Sker was seen again; plus a Siberian Chiffchaff near the south pool hide at Kenfig, and a Short-eared Owl flew along Rumney Great Wharf.
A sibe Chiffchaff, Yellow-browed Warbler and a Firecrest were seen at Kenfig this morning! – in the same area, down the path past the bird table. Sorry this is late – didn’t discover it on social media until just now.
Rhymney Est. – 500 Dunlin, 1 Heron, 2 Cormorant, 330 Shelduck, 18 Shoveler, 55 Pintail, 36 Teal, 20 Mallard ands very surprisingly no Redshank. Alan Cripps was there and had seen 2 Jack Snipe. At the Heliport bay, 49 Shelduck, 27 Pintail on the beach and just a single lonely Turstone.
The GBC monthly walk with 16 participants went out to Sker past Sker Farm and the huge flooded field there where the long-staying Long-tailed Duck showed well. There were many Pipits but none in the rare category – lots of Meadows and a single Rock Pipit. C.30 Golden Plover flew over. Up the path alongside the Royal Porthcawl course we eventually found the Red-backed Shrike found yesterday by club member Peter Harrop. It never came very close but I managed a couple of photos capable of being cropped. Overall we saw nearly 50 species.
Having got the Bird Report files to the printer today, I treated myself to a local ‘twitch’ for the Snow Bunting at The Knap, Barry. It didn’t disappoint – an incredibly confiding bird. Light was v poor but I got some nice photos.
Also late news for today, a Red-backed Shrike was found along a fence line adjacent the Royal Porthcawl Golf Course.
Pleased to say that I took the files for the 2018 Eastern Glamorgan Bird Report to the printer today, and thanks to fancy software after about 30 mins I came away with a proof copy! I need to check carefully through that then hopefully will be able to give the go-ahead for the print run early next week.
Female Pintail on the grassy ‘beach’ W lake, c.15 Tufties on W lake plus 2 Pochard and 3 Gadwall. 57 Tufties on E lake. Sully brook by Medieval Village was as full as I’ve ever seen it.
The Snow Bunting has apparently been present around the lake this afternoon, mostly around the seaward side paths and near the skate park.
The Snow Bunting was reported at the Knap Lake this morning by the beach of Barry Old Harbour/Watch House Bay, and the Long-tailed Duck was still on Sker farm flood.
Apologies for the lateness of this but I have been away since Friday and had a hectic week last week. There’s a field trip to Garwnant on Wednesday [13th] and the plan is to meet in the car park there at around 10 a.m. Garwnant is the forestry centre at the northern end of Llwyn-on Reservoir, off the A470. There’s a brown sign where the turning is.
News just noticed on WhatsApp – Snow Bunting at The Knap Lake Barry – post timed 16.34.
Today’s news from elsewhere: A Scaup at Prospect Place, Cardiff Bay this morning, Long-tailed Duck still on the flood at Sker, and best of all a Shore Lark [which was found yesterday aft], was still at Newton Point – Porthcawl this morning but flew off towards Merthyr Mawr dunes.
On a more mundane front in a cold wind at Cosmeston this morning there were 3 Little Grebes and 3 GC Grebes on W lake.
Also today from social media – Slavonian Grebe on Kenfig Pool [poss the returning bird form last winter], and the Long-t Duck still on the flood at Sker.
In case anyone hasn’t seen it on social media or any other forum, a Shore Lark was found Newton Point – Porthcawl late today. Photo on the #glambirds Twitter link on the right.
Gt White Egret present yesterday and went to roost – per Martin Bevan. Present since Weds apparently.
Great White Egret there y’day and went to roost, per Martin Bevan.
There were 20 Teal on W lake plus a pair of Gadwall and the usual Tufties. In the recently mowed far end of W paddock there were at least 30 Pied Wagtails and a Meadow Pipit feeding amongst the grass and vegetation on the ground. A Jay by the golf course.
Glamorgan Bird Club 
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