Cosmeston – no Lesser Scaup but did get brief views of what I believe to be a 4cy Yellow-legged gull before it headed off towards the bay.
Knapp Lake – Long-tailed duck was still there but strangely elusive. Also an adult winter Kittiwake put in a brief appearance but I think Andy may have got off a quick record shot before it flew away.
LT Duck on Knap still also Yellow-legged gull.
Adult Med gull on railings beside docks opposite Morrisons – got about 50% of hood already.
but no sign of BT Divers.
Just had to go and get a record shot.
drake Lesser Scaup on west lake amongst tufties – also two pair Wigeon and two drake Pochard. Was about to get a record shot when the driving hail convinced me that sitting sipping coffee behind some decent double glazing has some advantages. Which reminds me, any luck with the lesser whitethroat John?
Lol
Picked the bird up in a large group of black-headed gulls on the West Lake around 10am. The bird flew off towards Cardiff Bay just as John Wilson was arriving – about 10:30 I guess. This is just a record shot thro my telescope – Andy Burns was with me and I expect he will post a link to his photos when he gets them onto the internet.
later : Andy got some great shots at
http://andyburnsphotography.zenfolio.com/bonapartes/h240b2116#h3424543a
Yellow-legged gull probable 3rd or 4th winter Larus michahellis atlantis on the swan feeding spot near the entrance this morning 10am to at least 11:30 – looks a lot like the bird we saw on 28th and 29th November.
also a Grey Plover on Sully beach yesterday
http://andyburnsphotography.zenfolio.com/p220725598/h3a7da751#h3a7da751
Adult winter Med gull on East Lake around 10:30 – had disappeared by the time I left at 11:30
Andy Burns managed to get a distant shot of the gull – it was asleep but it amazed me he got any sort of shot at all
http://andyburnsphotography.zenfolio.com/p585642274/h73c05ac#h1b88ed18
Adult winter Yellow-legged gull (larus michahellis) on East Lake
Cosmeston – It has been a bit quiet for a couple of days
Here is a link to 6 photos of a bird which appeared briefly on 28th and again on 29th November.
Andy Burns was with me on the 29th and managed to get a few shots. I am struggling to make much sense of this one and would appreciate any opinions. In brief it is a large – larger than adjacent LBBs, mid tone (between LBB and argentaeus Herring gull), with dark bill with yellowish tip and legs appear to be flesh coloured. Am I missing something obvious?
http://andyburnsphotography.zenfolio.com/gulls/h3773c04#ha6d57d3
Cosmeston
Male Bearded tit called and flew over boardwalk this morning.
Several common gulls, a mid tone large gull was most probably an argentatus Herring gull, 3 little grebe, a very vocal chiff-chaff and the kingfisher has been showing well for the last few days. Lots of tufted ducks, but only 6 pochard and not much else of interest on the duck front.
Bearded Tit called as I walked along the boardwalk – checked to make sure no-one was playing a tape 😉 Turtle Dove in usual paddock above the West Lake but very near to the the fence just above the lake. Only one Pochard today.
Turtle Dove and Marsh tit still showing well. Adult winter Mediteranean Gull amongst Black-headed gulls on quieter end of East lake, 6 Wigeon (2m4f) on West lake. I didn’t see Bearded tit today but didn’t spend much time looking.
9:30 Wet drizzley morning. Brief views of Merlin (juv or female) from car as we arrived. Buzzard, lots of corvids, few pipits and finches, but stuff was generally keeping their heads down out of the rain.
Glamorgan Bird Club 