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.

There were 23 Common Gulls on the orange buoys this morning. No sign of Black Redstart either on barrage or below Penarth Head.

2 Grey Wags on outer rocks of Penarth Marina complex, seen from the barrage car park.

brief walk round late this morning. 120 Tufted in all, 6 Pochard, pr of Gadwall still present, 2 Little Grebe on W lake [not been seen for a while]. No sign of Beardy [has it migrated to be with its chums in CBWR?] or of Turtle Dove.

Did no-one check out the Slav Grebes today?

Per David Smith by e-mail: Black Redstart at Southerndown “It moved around the car park walls, the top of the storm beach and the roof of the lodge”. This was at the carpark by Dunraven .

I must have just  missed you Lol. I came after a quick walk along Lavernock. Not much there except a Goldcrest and Chiffchaff. There was also a pair of Gadwall on W lake at Cossie [still present from Sat]. I heard the Beardie and as I stood there a young male Sprawk shot by and had a go at a Chaffinch then sat in a tree near the cafe. 1 Common Gull on E lake. I didn’t venture anywhere muddy [e.g. the paddock] due to footwear.

from Gwent OS web site per Roo Perkins – flock of 15 Two-barred Crossbill between Speech house and Crabtree Hill in the FoD. I’ve only ever seen 1 in the UK, in Kent, and it took me 5 visits to nail that! 🙂

Click here for a map of the area [arrow on map halfway between the two ref’d locations]

The Turtle Dove was seen this a.m. by Jeff Curtis and Matt & Ceri Binding nr the dragonfly pond, the only place I didn’t look!  On W lake, 120+ Tufted Duck, 12 Pochard, 2 Gadwall, 3 GCG, and 4 Cormorant and a Common Gull on the posts. 20+ Redwing flying over, 1 Green ‘Pecker in the Snipe enclosure. Plenty of birds at the dragon tree but no MarshTit.

The Turtle Dove was feeding along by the hedgerow that borders the left hand side of west paddock. Bearded Tit apparently seen [I only heard it as I walked past the array of lenses]. Also in W paddock 1 Green ‘Pecker and 2 Mistle Thrush. On W lake 6 Shoveler, 30 Tufted Duck and 5 Pochard. Nice to bump into Lol Middleton, Gareth Pryce, Rob & Linda Nottage and Joyce & Terry Hoy from the photo club.

The male Penduline Tit has been reported at Newport Wetlands by the visitor centre this morning, per BirdGuides. There’s a broad band of rain arriving which looks like hanging around all day.

Bearded Tit eventually showed this morning either side of 9 a.m. Quite vocal but very flighty. Looked as tho’ it was leaving at one point but wheeled round and came back. Last seen flying over to an inaccessible part of the reeds backing on to the dog field. Crap light but got a couple of record shots.

No show from the male Bearded Tit this morning, but it was a tad windy – gusts blowing the reeds almost flat! A few Reed Bunting were coming out to the seed on the boardwalk, and a Blue Tit. Nice to meet up with Nicki S & Glyn Roberts. Might try again later.