GBC monthly walk with 7 participants. Highlights – Grey Wagtail, 13 Gadwall [pretty sure this is a record for Cossie], 1 drake Shoveler, the usual Tufties, male Sparrowhawk, a few Redwing and Fieldfare, 2prs Bullfinch, Common Gull, Green Woodpecker, and also a Kingfisher seen W lake by Lol Middleton.

A fem/imm Black Redstart showed briefly this morning at around 11:00 on roof by Plas Taliesin although it had flown in from the flats farther down towards John Bachelor Way. It’s probably worth checking all the rooftops of the flats along by the R. Ely here. Also on roadside bushes by Plas Taliesin, by the riverside, a fem Blackcap. 5 Redshank and 3 Turnstone were along the river side there, plus a Rock Pipit.

By the barrage, 53 Common Gulls on the orange buoys and 140 Black-headed Gulls on the jetty and buoys.

from observer Steve Hughes [thanks Steve], a flight pic of 10 Pale-bellied Brents at E. Aberthaw on 9th Jan [the same birds as reported by Rob & Linda Nottage on 5th Jan].

With Neil Donaghy. Neil got the Bearded Tits just b4 I arrived. A few Tufted in CBWR but Lesser Scaup drake was with another group of Tufteds over by the west side of the road bridge by Windsor Quay, just downstream of the bridge. The Black-necked Grebe was in the Taff just upstream of the bridge, with about 30 Little Grebe there too and 2 GCG. Neil had a singing Redwing round by the Ice Rink earlier, and I had a fly-over back at CBWR where I spent another hour trying for the Beardies with no success. A couple of Cetti’s heard and a few Water Rail. About 20 or so Teal flying around CBWR.

GBC indoor meeting tonight – ‘Members Own’. First of the new year so do come along 07:45 p.m.

An adult Kittiwake was at CBWR this morning, first seen on the mooring boom looking right from the far end of the boardwalk. Then flew and spent a short time on the water left of the boardwalk, then flew back again onto the boom. Looked a bit sickly and had a reddish stain behind the left eye. No sign of Lsr Scaup – the tufties seem very spread out around the bay. Black-necked Grebe still around Cardiff side of the road bridge. A Kingfisher flew up the Taff at Hamadryad and under Clarence Rd bridge. Nice to meet Peter Howlett and finally put a face to a name – he writes the Glamorgan ringing report to put in the Bird Report each year – for which I am very grateful – very remiss of me not to say so at the time.

Cosmeston: A pristine ad Yellow-legged Gull on E. Lake, 24 Canadas, 46 Mute Swan, 6 Gadwall W. Lake, total pof c.60 Tufted Ducks, mostly drakes. No Lsr Scaup with them. Also 4 GCG and a Little Grebe. Where are all the Pochard this winter?

The Black-necked Grebe first seen yesterday afternoon by Chris Hawes from the Ice Rink area, was round the corner at the mouth of the Taff this morning, associating with around 12 Little Grebes between the east side of Cardiff Bay road bridge and the first line of moored boats, best viewed from the W side by Windsor Quay apartments, where there is shelter if it’s raining! Present  until 12:30 at least, when I left.

Ooops, Dave Gilmore posted [below] whilst I was in the process of composing this! 🙂

Just a quick family walk, but an ad Yellow-legged Gull was noted on E lake, and 6, poss 8 Gadwall on W lake, plus 2 Little and 2 Great Crested Grebes.

It’s new year, so happy new year everyone. Before you get too tied up with this year’s birding plans remember to get your 2013 sightings sorted and sent in to me, by the end of the month if poss. Any upcoming grotty days would be an opportunity 🙂

For info for anyone thinking of going for the Brunnich’s Guillemot in Portland Harbour, here’s a map of the best place to park – plenty of room and it’s free!

http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=368325&Y=74275&A=Y&Z=120 

Basically go all the way across the causeway/road over towards Portland Bill and at the very last roundabout where there’s a brown sign for Portland Castle, turn left and about 200m along this road there’s a dirt car park. This gives access to the shoreline by the Castle and and also along to the sailing academy. When I saw it on boxing day it was very mobile but did give exc views near the shore, but when it dives it can travel a long way before it comes up again! There’s also a BLack Guillemot in that location and all three divers. On the other side of the harbour at Castle Cove I had all three ‘rare’ grebes [there were at least 8 Black-necked and singles of Slav and Red-necked].

For this park here, just before the entrance to Castle Cove sailing club:

http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=367270&Y=77235&A=Y&Z=120

No sign of the Ring-necked Duck this morning sadly. The Barnacle Goose below was with a v large flock of Canadas that arrived this morning. Also present 3 Shoveler [2f 1m] and 2 pairs of Gadwall as per the other day and 1 AdW Med Gull on E lake.  Also checked CBWR, R. Taff at Hamadryad and Prospect Place for R-n Duck but no joy.

Cardiff barrage was quite impressive at low tide with all 5 sluices open. There were 60 Common Gulls on the orange buoys and adjacent water – seemingly the most numerous species present.

highlight of brief walk this morning – 3 male Bullfinch by the W lake overlook and a couple of Redwing there, 4 Gadwall and 1 drake Pochard on W lake and about 100 Tufties in total. No sign of Lsr Scaup [gone back to Cardiff?]. Several Water Rail squealing in E lake reeds.

I have been alerted to an unconfirmed report of a poss Great White Egret at Hendre Lake by “a local resident birder”. Not sure when this was but poss today or y’day.

We rec’d a msg on our FB page just now. An obs thought they saw an Osprey on the wall of 1st house past the sewage wks. They supplied pix of which these are the best two. Looks like it’s prob a pale Buzzard to me. The pix are low res and won’t zoom in a lot.

6 Redwing in trees opposite our house this arvo.

Birding seems a bit quiet after Panama!

Kingfisher on E lake, just 1 drake Pochard with the Tufties, 2 Common Gull and 3 GCG were the highlights on a brief walk b4 the rain.