From the closed Whatsapp group – the Ring Ouzel apparently showed again this afternoon  – was nowhere to be seen in my walk this morning although c. 20 Redwing were flying around. Also this morning there seemed to be just 1 single fem Shoveler left on W lake unless the 4 drakes of yesterday [2 full plumage, 2 eclipse] were skulking in the reeds. I didn’t have time to check the gulls for an ad Yellow-legged that David Rich saw yesterday afternoon, which had creamy rather than yellow legs.

Just a reminder about this evening’s GBC indoor meeting when David Rich will be giving an illustrated talk on a trip to the Falklands Islands. Shd be very interesting. Starts 7:45 p.m. prompt.

Annie Irving photographed a Lapland Bunting on the barrage today. Not sure if there’s any further news.

A Bittern turned up yesterday [per Graham Smith] and was seen twice today in the morning [sadly not by me]. It’s using the W lake reed bed. Watched for about 45 mins late afternoon with Graham & Wayne Strong but no show. A flock of c.80 Starlings flew around over the lakes at about 5:45 so a poss sign that we will have a murmuration this winter. Nearby there’s a Yellow-browed Warbler hanging out with a tit flock down St. Mary’s Well Bay road, mostly in Sycamores on the LH side round about where there’s a ruin down among the trees on the left [again found by Graham about 3 days ago].

Pleased to catch up with the immature Red-necked Grebe that Mike Pointon found this morning on Roath Park Lake. Here’s my best shots – all taken against the light.

There were 3 drake Pochard on W lake this morning, my first of this autumn/winter. A flock of c.100 Goldfinch was in W paddock and contained 3-4 Linnet, and a couple of Mipits. In trees in the snipe paddock there were 2 Chiffchaff and 2 Reed Bunting, and there was a fem Blackcap by W paddock. Finally there was a male Gt Spotted ‘Pecker in a tree near the main boardwalk.

There was a Cetti’s Warbler singing its head off on the RHS at the end of the main boardwalk before it goes under the trees, this morning. First I’ve heard there for quite some time. A Sparrowhawk had a go at a flock of c.50 Goldfinch near the dragonfly pond. Otherwise v quiet, although there was apparently some good vis mig at Lavernock earlier [per Jeff Curtis/Graham Smith]. There are apparently huge numbers of Linnet in the coastal fields, and this morning Graham found a morbid juv Common Rosefinch!! – which had been predated judging by its injuries.

Delayed WeBS count this morning [Sunday was awful!]. For the first time ever in doing this count for c.20 yrs, I saw no waders! There were 710 Shelduck, 22 Pintail, 6 Shoveler, 15 Mallard, a Grey Heron and 4 Cormorants. Also 2 Rock Pipits and a very pale breasted Buzzard. Walked around all the shallow pools but couldn’t find a Jack Snipe.

Not a sighting but just a heads up that the 2017 East Glam Bird Report files will shortly be taken to our printer. It’s been a big job as always and a big vote of thanks goes to all who have helped in its preparation and of course all the observers who take the trouble to log their observations by whatever means, and our many talented photographers.

On Sat 13th 12 participants braved the strong wind for a visit to this reserve which gets better and better. We saw some quality birds in the 59 species logged: Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Shelduck, Wigeon, Teal, Mallard, Pintail, Shoveler, Pheasant, Little Grebe, 1 Glossy Ibis, 1 Spoonbill, 12 Cattle Egret!!, Grey Heron, Little Egret, Cormorant, Marsh Harrier, Buzzard, Kestrel, Merlin, Hobby, Moorhen, Coot, Ringed Plover, Golden Plover, Grey Plover, Lapwing, Knot, 2 Little Stint, Dunlin, Ruff, Snipe, Black-tailed Godwit, Bar-tailed Godwit, Curlew, 2 Spotted Redshank, Greenshank, Redshank, Black-headed Gull, Mediterranean Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Stock Dove, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Raven, Blue Tit, Skylark, Cetti’s Warbler, Wren, Starling, Blackbird , Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, and Linnet.

The Hobby was still around this morning. I saw it briefly as it disappeared over Cogan Wood, having come from the W lake direction. It was seen yesterday afternoon hawking dragonflies over W lake, and has been seen over the children’s playground area. A flock of c. 50-60 Hirundines was over W lake and higher this morning, comprised of House Martins and Swallows. I had a brief Sparrowhawk yesterday and a couple of Chiffchaffs at the far end of E paddock, plus what I am sure were 3 Redwing. If they called I didn’t hear it, although that’s par for the course these days! but they flew over me in silhouette so no markings seen but the flight was typical Redwing and they dived into cover in a bank with lots of Hawthorn berries. I searched that for a while but couldn’t locate them. A pair of Stonechat are hanging out around the snipe paddock.

A lot of hirundines in a mixed flock of c.100 at Cosmeston this morning – mainly Swallow and House Martin but a few Sand Martin as well. It may account for the Hobby that flew over the cafe heading towards Lavernock where it may still be – this was at around 1 p.m. Probably the bird that Graham Smith saw couple of days ago. Also a Sparrowhawk flew over. Male Stonechat by the snipe paddock.

A reminder that the first Glamorgan Bird Club indoor meeting of this autumn/winter period is on Tues 2nd Oct, at KNNR starting at 7:45 p.m. The meeting comprises a talk on Peregrines and Goshawks by Stephen Watson. We should learn some interesting facts about these two impressive raptors.

Jeff curtis has seen 3 bearded tits this morning in reeds left of the main boardwalk.

Brief walk at Cosmeston this morning. c.40 or so hirundines over the lakes – mainly Sand Martin but also with a few House Martin including juvs. Sub ad Little Grebe W lake. A few Swallows going over but v quiet generally.

The Whinchat from yesterday afternoon. It has been feeding in the wild parsnip patch at the far end of W paddock for a few days now.

Quite a productive day:

a.m. E paddock just beyond playground – Blackcap (a pair), Willow Wblr 6+, Chiffchaff, Blue Tit 10+, Long-t Tit 10, Dunnock 2, Coal Tit 1, Green ‘Pecker 1, Spotted Flycatcher 1. W. paddock far end – Whinchat 1;
p.m. W paddock far end – Whinchat (same place as a.m.) Tree Pipit 2; E paddock far end fenced area, Spotted Flycatcher 4 poss 5, Blackcap 1 fem, severaal Willow Wblr, c.6, Blue Tits.

A fem/imm Common Redstart was in the W paddock hedgerow and opposing trees behind the dragonfly pond this morning. Thanks to Annie Irving for the txt. She also had a Wheatear in W paddock earlier but it was prob flushed by dogs. Only other interest was c.10 Sand Martins over W lake.

Highlights of the GBC trip to Garwnant & Llwyn-on today in the low cloud & mizzle, braved by 14 folk. 3 Willow Tits were seen, plus several Crossbill, a few juv Bullfinches, a couple of nice feeding flocks comprised mainly of Willow Warblers but also Coal & Blue Tits, Goldcrest, Chiffchaff, Treecreeper & Nuthatch, 2 Tree Pipits, a fem Reed Bunting, 2-3 Spotted Flycatchers. A Dipper was on the Llwyn-on feeder stream. In the afternoon at the N end of Llwyn-on we were treated to a fantastic aerial feeding display by at least 200 House Martins. The reservoir itself held several Cormorants, 2 GC Grebes and 2 LBB Gulls. On the shoreline there were 16 Pied Wagtails of various ages, and with them, 3 Yellow Wagtails. I made the total list 35 species but I might have missed a few.

This is on the #glambirds Twitter feed, but just to make sure, there’s a Sabine’s Gull currently at Rhaslas Pond, found this morning by Mike Hogan. In case you’ve never been there it’s east of Dowlais top near Merthyr. Here’s a link to a map:

http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=309280&Y=207360&A=Y&Z=120