Would all observers please note that there is no public access to Llanishen reservoir. There is a small authorised group who are allowed access to monitor wildfowl and carry our WeBS counts and Rob Thomas is one of that group. This access was specially negotiated with Celsa and the security people, and NRW. Any other access is not allowed and anyone doing so will be trespassing. The dog walkers get through a hole in the fence and are trespassing, and also risk disturbing the birds that do turn up there . The security people are authorised to request anyone other than those authorised, to leave immediately. Basically, it is impossible to view Llanishen Res without trespassing. Lisvane is still OK and as I understand it, you can view it from the car park. We would therefore ask that people do not attempt to get in to view Llanishen Res otherwise you will be jeopardising the limited access that has been negotiated. Obviously this is frustrating when a good bird turns up but this is the situation.

Good nos. of Redwing and Fieldfare [the latter my first of the year], flying around this morning – poss 110 & 50 respectively but too spread out to be accurate. Also Kingfisher flew across E lake from the sluice towards the boardwalk. Lol Middleton saw what was probably a Jack Snipe in flight near W lake.

A Little Egret in a tree by W lake ‘island’ and a Grey Heron, obviously intending to roost. Around 5000 Starlings gathered and swirled around for several minutes, but not a proper murmuration, and decided against dropping in and eventually headed off NE [to Cardiff Bay?]. Mad panic at one point as a male Sparrowhawk swooped into the flock [unsuccessfully].

Penarth Marina area – ad male Black Redstart seen briefly on roofs of houses that face on to Cardiff Bay at Plas St Andresse. Also 1 Tursntone, 1 Grey Wag and 1 Rock Pipit on the rocky shore there. 60 Coot in the R. Ely there.

Barrage south – 1 GBB Gull, 1 2nd cal yr Med Gull, 2 Common Gulls; mid barrage – 2 Rock Pipit, 2 Pied Wag;

Barrage north/docks – 1 Raven on a lamp post in the docks area

GBC indoor meeting – Cate Barrow – birding in Finland – 07:45 p.m.

a massive 130 Canadas on W lake this morning. 4 Green ‘Peckers seen around the W paddock area, and a Mistle Thrush, and a few Redwing at the back of W lake. A pair of winter plumage GCGs were doing the display dance by the main bridge. o/w pretty quiet.

late afternoon, around 100 Redwing flying around above west paddock, and c.500 Wood Pigeon going to roost in Cogan Wood. Also 1 Grey Heron at roost by W lake reeds.

per Graham Tierney: flocks of Redwing over today. Flocks counted so far :- 60+ , 8, 7, 5, 32.

From Green Point: 1000 Redshank, 1 fly-by Dunlin, 235 Shelduck, 80 Pintail, 18 Shoveler, 2 Snipe. Just 11 Teal on the river by Lamby Way. At the Heliport Bay, 6 Curlew & 15 Oyc, and another 200 Shelduck.

Just rec’d a call from Alan Cripps. He’s got a Grey Phal in the pool by the block house at Sluice Farm just over the border in Gwent. The block house is an obvious cubic structure on the seaward side of the sea wall to the W of the path that leads up to the sea wall by Sluice Farm.

At Cossie this morning a Snipe flushed from grass about 50m beyond the dragonfly pond – the first for me this autumn. Also 2 Chiffchaff, & Green ‘Pecker of note.

Lavernock 4:15 p.m. – the Firecrest found by Phil Bristow this morning showed very well in the Field Maple tree by the road, in the garden of Church House, until about 4:30 when it poured with rain. A stunning, very bright bird.

The Glamorgan Bird Club first indoor meeting of this autumn/winter period is tonight 7:45 p.m. at Kenfig Nature Reserve Centre. A stills and video presentation by Paul Bowden on the little known [at least bird wise for most of us] Nakhchivan Autonomous Region of Azerbaijan, and the Lesser Caucasus Mountains. Should be good.

Lavernock this morning:

Reserve: 50 Goldfinch feeding on dead Scabious heads, 1 Jay, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Kestrel.

Lavernock Pt and fields: 3 Stonechat in the coastal paddock by the house, plus 2 Reed Bunting, 30 Linnet, 2 Jays over, 1 Sprawk, 1 Buzzard, several Chiffchaff by Church House. Also a fair few Swallows and House Martins overhead.

Penarth > Norwegian Church via the barrage. 1 juv Wheatear and 1 2nd S Med Gull, N end of barrage; 6 Meadow Pipit son weeds by the new path; 1 Kingfisher just beyond Dr Who; 2 Clouded Yellows on the planted wild flower beds; Lesser Scaup cd be made out over by St David’s Hotel. A few House Martins still about.

Jays in evidence with 6 along the fringe of Cogan Wood and 2 from the edge of W paddock. Also 2 Green ‘Peckers. Cetti’s Warbler singing near the cafe.

light vis mig of Swallows and Mipits over the reserve and the coast path to the west this morning. In the fields to the west [Rowland’s Well fields], around 50 mipits were feeding, tog with 10 or so Pied Wags and 20 Linnet. Coffee by the Captain’s Wife pub and there were 32 Oycs at roost on Sully Island at high tide. 2 Chiffchaff by the Lavernock sea watch point and a Heron was at the small pond on the reserve.

PS Lol Middleton was pretty sure he saw a juv Turtle Dove on the road, together with a Wood Pigeon and a Collared Dove, however he was driving and it flew off. Worth keeping a lookout for tho’ if you are there.

Too many people for there to be much bird-wise but a fem/imm Pochard on E lake was the first I’ve seen this autumn.

pretty quiet this morning: flock of 40-50 Goldfinch above the dragonfly pond, 1 Jay & 1 Green ‘Pecker there too, and a scarce species for Cossie, a single Stock Dove stopped in to drink at the dragonfly pond and then fed on the plateau behind.

Lavernock reserve – Pheasant 2 fem in first field margin, Willow Warbler 1, Jay 2, Bulffinch 1 juv;

St Mary’s Well Bay – 1 Heron on the beach

Coast path W of ST Mary;’s Well Bay – Jay 6, Linnet 50, Mipit 100+ [feeding in the two ploughed fields], Pied Wag 3, Blackcap 1 m, Chiffchaff 1, Goldcrest 2

Swanbridge [Capt Wife pub] – Ringed Plover 3 that I cd see, and 1 Turnstone.

In case anyone missed this in the comments on my post yesterday. I met a guy who, seeing I was a birder told me about building plans for the site of the old Hamadryad hospital. I’m assuming it’s the same person, who has found our site and commented. It’s yet another area of greenery being removed for the sake of it. I have seen good numbers of Greenfinch using these trees as a roost in the winter. Anyway here’s what he posted: feel free to respond or submit objections.

Good morning bird watchers. Great to see you round our place! Not sure if you’re aware, but Cardiff Council are looking to overturn preservation orders on the trees behind Hamadryad hospital, clear the site of all greenery and build 75 properties there. There is significant opposition by local residents, and we’re in the process of submitting objections. If you could let us know of any sightings of rare species in the area, we could incorporate those into our objections as well. We’ve got a Facebook pagehttps://www.facebook.com/SouthDocksButetown?ref=hl and a Twitter account https://twitter.com/SouthDocks. We’d appreciate any help you could offer. Many thanks, and happy spotting. Iwan (On behalf of South Docks Residents)