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.
Author: John Wilson
Birder and traveller
Cosmeston
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.
2018 East Glam Bird Report
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].
Cosmeston a.m.
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.
November 2019
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.
Indoor meeting – Goshawks by Steve Watson
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!
Red-backed Shrike
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.
Late migrants!
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.
Lavernock WT reserve
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.
Web site changes
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/.
Upcoming field trip to Slimbridge and indoor meeting
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.
Various locations
News from this morning:
- 4 Woodlark in stubble field E of St Mary’s Well Bay Road near Cosmeston, but mobile;
- Serin briefly in the lighthouse compound at Nash Pt then flew E.
- Hawfinch in trees SE corner of Cefn Mably Woods fringing N side of gated housing estate [just N of J.30 M4]
- 2 Firecrest trapped & ringed at Oxwich
- and finally farther afield, an impressive 52 Whooper Swans at Ro-fawr, W of Cilsan bridge in the Towy valley.
Slade Farm [St Brides Major]
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!
Cosmeston
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.
Cosmeston [and elsewhere]
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.
KNNR
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. [WeBS] and Cardiff Heliport bay
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.
Kenfig NNR & Sker
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.
The Knap (Barry), and Porthcawl
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.
2018 East Glam Bird Report
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.
Glamorgan Bird Club 
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