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.