In addition to Ceri’s birds, there was 1 drake Gadwall and 3 Wigeon [1m 2f] on W lake mid-late morning.

Not much of ornithological interest apart from a few Common Gulls, but a large bull [I believe] Seal was just off the barrage rocks just beyond the sluices. I’ve posted a vid clip on my FB wall. Can’t insert video clips here but here’s a link to the clip on YouTube: https://youtu.be/V7g534bnx40

Some sea watching was done at Lavernock Pt this morning. Earlier arrivals than me had plenty of Kittiwake [still passing in small nos. the I arrived at 11:40] and a couple of Bonxies. Luckily for me a Pom Skua was sitting on the water when I arrived – thanks to the lads for putting me on to it. It drifted d/c then flew up again when I had nice views in the scope – it was a pale phase bird. Also around 20 Common Gull were sitting on the water and others flying by,. Apparently 3 Skua sp were seen from Cardiff Bay [presumably the barrage] – Bonxie, Arctic and Pom – by Peter Howlett.

Don’t forget there’s a GBC indoor meeting TONIGHT at 7:45 p.m. at KNNR. Club member Richard Smith, who many of you will know, will be giving an illustrated talk on the reserves of central India – Tadoba, Pench, Kahna and Satpura. Should be very interesting.

A fairly brief session in the shelter this morning [dog Poppy was very spooked by the huge iron door banging against the concrete], just produced a Diver sp going down channel – too far out in the murk to ID to species.

Can’t better Peter’s efforts with my equipment but here’s my contribution. Nice find by Peter t’other day 🙂 A cracking bird and probably my best ever views of Firecrest.

1 Common Gull on the football field in Hamadryad Park the morning. At CBWR 14 Tufties, 3 GC Grebes and a fem Goldeneye. No sign of Firecrest of y’day. Also what appeared to be a very confiding fem Goosander right by the boardwalk, but then I got a better look. She seems to have a damaged R wing  which is drooping down – see poor phone photo below. Hope she survives but it might hamper diving for food.

Successful trip today with 23 participants on a nice clear crisp day. Nothing very unusual but a good selection of what would be expected plus Little Stint, and Ruff among the waders. Full list can be seen here – click here.

Highlight [sadly for only 3 participants] of this mornings GBC monthly walk was a Bittern seen from south hide, having flown in from the east. The pool had 8 Gadwall and 4 Mallard as the only ducks. Gulls included 2 Common and 1 ad and 1 1stW Great Black-backed. Overall total was 42 species. If you click this link http://tinyurl.com/osex5zw you will see the full list.

Not bird news but pleased [and relieved!] to announce that the 2014 East Glam Bird Report is now with the printer. Just awaiting a costing before giving the go ahead to print but I took away a proof copy which he prepared while I watched him in action. Impressive.

Delayed WeBS from Sunday. 180 Pintail, 3 Wigeon, 35 Shoveler, 80 Shelduck, 30 Teal, 200 each of Redshank & Dunlin [low figs], 1 Jack and 1 Common Snipe, 15 GBB Gulls, just 3 Lapwing. Pretty horrible conditions! A pair of Stonechat were near the boatyard.

An AdW Med Gull was in the middle of E lake this morning. Filmed hand held at 50x optical in the rain!

https://youtu.be/5Ki6CBY-PJU

Not been birding myself today, but Lol Middleton had a 1st Kittiwake and a Gannet off Lavernock Pt this morning, and a 1st Med Gull at Cosmeston. Black Redstart still at Penarth Marina per Gareth Pryce.

I try & transfer news to here as there are quite a number of people who do not use Facebook, so a plea to post here too if you can.

Main bird of note was a fem Goldeneye on W lake, in the small bay with the posts. There were 20 Tufted Duck in total but only 2 Pochard. Plenty of Redwing and a few Fieldfare flying around.

Very dull & dismal this a.m.. CBWR just produced 1 fem Goldeneye of interest, and a Cetti’s singing briefly. No sign of Lsr Scaup or RND, either here or by the road bridge in Hamadryad Park.

Pochard are now up to 9. Many Redwing & Fieldfare flying around and 20 or so of the former in trees near the bird table. Great Tit, Blue Tit, Coal Tit, Nuthatch, Chaffinch and Goldcrest in Cogan Wood by the feeding log, but no sign of the Marsh Tit there, seen recently by Paul Denning.

Dedicated vis-miggers were out early this morning but I haven’t seen any reports as yet. At Lavernock reserve there were many Fieldfare and Redwing going over and in the trees, and I met Graham Smith who had counted something like 1000 Chaffinch going over, together with Brambling. I heard a few Brambling calling and there were a number of Goldcrest about. In Rowlands Well fields there was a flock of 1500-2000 Linnet and the far hedgerow there had many Chaffinch dropping down to feed, and I did manage to see a few Brambling. Lol Middleton had a single Swallow at Lavernock Point, plus Peregrine, Kestrel, Sprawk and both winter thrushes, and a possible Wood Lark. As Lol & I left a Merlin shot through along the cliff line. There were put to 6 Goldcrest around the Church area. Graham Smith also had a pair of Goosander fly over the reserve, and a flock of Golden Plover.

At Cosmeston there were 4 Pochard on W lake and 2 Little Grebe were out in the open. Plenty of Redwing a Fieldfare there too, and I flushed a Jack Snipe as I walked past the ‘snipe paddock’.

pretty quiet this morning. Highlights were 2 Swallows heading west, and 2 very active Green ‘Peckers, and a Lesser B-b Gull 1st yr with blue darvic left leg with characters in white F.281 which I think is a Flat Holm bird.

no sight or sound of YBW at recently reported location but 4 Chiffchaff and a male Blackcap there [mid-late afternoon].

delayed WeBS: highlights – 1000 Redshank, 100 Dunlin, 220 Shelduck. 40 Pintail, 7 Shoveler, 7 Teal, male Stonechat, 3 ad GBB Gulls. At the Heliport, 10 Turnstone, 2 Curlew, 7 Oyc,  24 Shelduck.