Adult Night Heron roosting in trees near reed bed in west lake. Seen in flight a couple  of times earlier and has just disappeared from view in trees at 9.25 photo to follow when I get back home

Best of the heavily cropped photos from this morning. Glad others caught up with it later!

Just had the rather bizarre sight of a Fulmar flying past from my lounge window!

Flock of 6 Whimbrel and 2 Bar-tailed Godwit over at 7:15, appeared to head off SE across the Bay.

At least 4 Common Sandpipers dotted around the Bay late this afternoon, also 70 or so mixed hirundines with most seeming to be Swallows and 3 Swift. Two Wheatears (male and female) and 2 White Wagtails on the barrage rocks.

Minimum of 19 White Wagtails on the barrage rocks and breakwaters also one Wheatear.

Flock of 5 Cranes high over at 14.45 heading west. Heavily cropped pic to follow when I get home

Upper shot uncropped image @500mm for reference – they were high!

 

c.200 Sand Martin and 4 Swallows over the Bay at about 18:00 but almost all disappeared the moment the cloud broke up and the sun came out. Few Black-headed Gulls but still one 1st year Little Gull and 1 1st year Med Gull.

Looks like Lol beat me to posting shots of the gulls in the Bay this morning. Here are a couple of the Bonaparte’s and the adult Little Gull.

 

 

 

 

 

Osprey came in over Penarth Head at 10:00, over the west edge of the Bay and off to the north towards Leckwith. Little Gull and Bonaparte’s Gull also still present.

Bonaparte’s Gull and Little Gull showing in the Bay late morning. The Bonaparte’s was right out in the middle of the Bay, about as far from land as it’s possible to get.

Two L. glaucoides put in a brief appearance this afternoon from 14:35-14:45. One or the other (or possibly even a different bird) was there briefly at 14:15 or so, this bird was last seen gaining height and disappearing off, wings looked very white but not really sure as not photographed and not seen that well through binoculars.

Photos of the other two birds below to add to the discussion on the GRC blog. Having looked at the photos I would say today’s L_glaucoides b appears to be the one referred to as Kumlien’s No 2 in the blog. The other bird photographed today appears to have pale outer primaries although as I only managed 2 grabbed shots as most of the gulls took off before I had a chance to find the second bird on the ground and only picked it up as it flew past so the light and focus isn’t great.

P.S. also Red Kite high over heading west just before these two turned up.

L_glaucoides a1

L_glaucoides a2

L_glaucoides b1

L_glaucoides b2

L_glaucoides b3

Bonaparte’s and Little Gull in the Bay late morning, in with Black-headed Gulls close to the barrage.

First winter Little Gull out in the middle of the Bay mid-afternoon also 1 Sand Martin prospecting the holes in the dock by the Dr Who Experience.

1 House Martin over the barrage at 08:30 coming hot on the heels of the Sand Martin yesterday!

1 Sand Martin and 3 Chiffchaff late morning.

Two Kingfishers from the boardwalk in front of the Senedd at 8:00 this morning.

1st winter Little Gull still present, now with about 6-700 Black-headed Gulls for company. Also an adult Yellow-legged Gull briefly.

1st winter white-winged gull from the barrage at 09:00 for 15-20 minutes mostly well offshore but finally came in close enough to get some very poor photos. Size-wise appeared smaller than nearby Herring Gull and the profile when sat on the sea suggests Iceland. Primaries appeared paler than rest of wings, despite the appearance here. Any thoughts? Also adult Med Gull

1st year Little Gull in Cardiff Bay this am. Occasionally close to the barrage but mostly out in the middle of the bay. Far fewer Black-headed Gulls today than recently!

 

 

 

 

Colour-ringed Common Gull J0Z9 seen again today on the buoys near the barrage (first seen on 4 Feb) ringed 1240km away in Norway at Torderød, Moss, Østfold  59°26’07″N 010°38’02″E on 15/06/2012.