A Grey Phalarope was found and photographed on E Aberthaw pool today, by Maxine Levett. I have her permission to post the photo here.

A Bittern was seen at Cosmeston this morning, first in the W lake main reeds then across the ‘bay’ into the reeds to the L of the hide [per Graham Smith]. Nice one Graham. Hope it stays.

Single Treecreeper and Goldcrest by the central path. Fem Shoveler on E lake, 84 Tufties in total, could only see 3 Pochard on W lake, 1 Green ‘Pecker and only 4 Redwing seen by W paddock [there have been up to 50]. A Common Darter seemed a bit late, and a Red Admiral was in the sun by E lake.

The 2015 Bird Reports to be posted, are now at my local post office for postage labels to be printed and applied. They shd go out either tomorrow or Monday. Penarth ones nearby to me, were hand delivered his afternoon. Postage is not cheap these days, at £1.54 per copy!

I’m pleased to announce that we are now in possession of 320 copies of the 2015 Bird Report. 🙂 Those who came to last night’s talk were able to take theirs away with them [saving a little bit at least on the increasingly expensive postage]. Everyone else please be patient whilst the remainder are stuffed in envelopes and labelled, before my kind local postmaster works thro’ them to add postage labels.  PS Thanks to Alan Rosney for collecting them.

Lavernock – a Short-eared Owl came in off the sea this morning – per Jeff Curtis.

Cosmeston – couldn’t connect with the YBW. Around 30-40 Redwing flying around over W paddock plus 2 Green Woodpeckers there, and 6 Long-t Tits plus a Chiffchaff and a Goldcrest in the hedge by the children’s play area.

News reported to me by email – 3 Red Kites were seen over Heol-y-Cyw on 27th Oct. Also there were 6 Grey Partridge in Llanmaes on 26th Oct.

8 Reed Buntings in reeds by the new dipping pool boardwalk, 6 juv Wood Pigeon in a tree there and 2 Jay over, 70 Canadas on W lake, 6 Pochard [5m 1f], 1 Wigeon and 30 Tufties on W lake, and 2 Herons, 1 on E lake near the bridge and 1 by W lake posts. Flock of LT Tits near the bird table.

3 p.m. this afternoon I was out in the garden, when alerted by a high pitched strident call, heard only Sunday on the GBC Portland trip. Ran inside to get my bins and was soon on to a Yellow-browed Warbler feeding with Chiffchaff in the trees that overhang the old railway line which is now a public path. Didn’t appear to stay long – I lost it in the canopy fairly quickly although the Chiffie was still around 30 mins later.

Pair of Stonechat this morning, on the snipe paddock fence. 1 Green ‘Pecker in W paddock and 20+ House Martin over there, and many juv Swalllows. Ad Little Grebe on W lake.

Just had a call from GBC member Peter Faber – he had a Yellow-browed Warbler in his garden in Cyncoed this afternoon. Nice one Peter!

Fem Stonechat by the Medieval Village boardwalk this morning.

All I could muster of interest at Cosmeston this morning were 2 Meadow Pipits, a male Stonechat, a Green ‘Pecker and 30+ Goldfinch in W paddock, the first two of which I’ve not seen there for a while. A few Swallows were passing through and on Friday there were c.30 House Martin over W lake.

Highlight this morning comprised 2 fem/imm Common Redstarts in the long W paddock hedgerow, by the second ‘plateau’ behind the dragonfly pond. Also 2 Green ‘Peckers, 2 ad Little Grebes in W lake ‘bay’, and a ‘kettle’ of 3 Buzzards. Plus nice to bump in to my Bird Report collaborator David Gilmore.

News just rec’d – 2 Black Terns from y’day still present.

1 Common Whitethroat, 2 Blackcap, 6+ Chiffchaff, 10 Goldfinch, mostly juvs, 10 Long-t tit, 4 Greenfinch, 5 Linnet, 2 juv Green ‘Pecker, mixed flock of c.30 hirundines, GC Grebe young x 3 as big as the ads now, 1 ad Little Grebe [2 yesterday], 6 Tufted Duck.

2 Black Terns were reported at Lisvane Reservoir this morning, up to 13:30 – on Facebook. Apologies for late posting but I only noticed it just now.

Pretty quiet during a quick circuit. The GC Grebe young are now 2/3 the size of the ads and diving independently. 6 Tufted Ducks. A Peregrine flew over W lake.

Great Crested Grebe family with one of the chicks trying to swallow a Rudd in a couple of them.

I have concerns for the GC Grebe pair. Could only see 2 ads on E lake and 1 on W lake and no sign of young. Last time I saw them they were almost half the size of the ads so it would be a huge shame if they have been predated, esp as it was third time lucky to get beyond the egg stage. Last time they were swimming but still resorting to parent’s back on occasion. There were a few House- and Sand Martins over W lake this morning.