Migrant hunting along the Taff

Fforest Farm – 1 Blackcap. 3 Chiffchaff. 6 Sand Martin a little south

Llandaff – 6 Sand Martin. 1 Chiffchaff

Bute Park – 1 Chiffchaff. 6 Sand Martin

Taff – Goosander still present. 1 Mink.

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Tirfounder Fields (Cwmbach) 1st Chiffchaff 17th March. Cetti’s Warbler now resident possible nesting pair

 

Cetti’s Warbler present calling again this morning @ Tir Founder Fields, Aberdare. Thought it might have left due to cold weather, but no, been here 6 months so hints that it may have a partner and is here to breed! Could this be a first for the Valleys? Will try a stake out to get photo record.

Link to Youtube video: https://youtu.be/59-gDpivsQk

Cetti’s Warbler calling from near the railway tracks @ Tirfounder Fields this morning 23:09:15. Could be a young male establishing new territory, expanding from the Cardiff Bay group, or a migrant “taking a break”. Last spotted here before 2011. Update: heard calling by another local bird watcher Sat 26th AM & myself 8:30AM Mon 28th, & 8AM Tue 29th, 2nd Oct 8:30AM near original sighting.

I know not how rare it is to spot a Goosander and 10 chicks in summer, but I personally think it deserves a mention since it is a first for me at least, and they disappear from the Valleys in around April. Also 2 adult dippers with 2 chicks @ Sgwd Yr Eira.

Hi for anyone whose keen on this gem in the Valleys:

Breeding Migrant Summer Arrivals 2015 Tir Founder Fields (Cwmbach, Aberdare):

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Chiffchaff 14th March (10). Willow Warbler 6th April (4). Blackcap 10th April (7). Sedge Warbler 16th Apr (3). Reed Warbler 17th Apr (2).  Swallow 19th Apr (5). Whitethroat 19th Apr (7). Sand Martin 23rd Apr (3). Garden Warbler 23rd Apr (4). House Martin 4th May (5).  No Grasshopper Warbler as yet but possible.

Brackets indicate average numbers of birds found per visit in this small area of around 40 hectares, not counting sitting females. I have yet to find another area where there is this concentration of warblers, open to suggestion of course. * Arrivals correct within 1-2 days.

Unidentified Pipit – Solved – thought to be mottled Meadow Pipit

Hi, I am slightly perplexed by this pipit, I am inexperienced with the genus, the sun was in my eyes and the camera and pictures on Google are varied and sometimes inaccurate, and am searching for an opinion before I enter it into databases. I just feel that from viewing my usual meadow pipits over the years this stood out as being different. Notably it had sparse black flecking on a white chest. It did not call in flight. There are prominent white eyebrows, moustache and wing bars.

Might it be a migrating tree pipit? Found at Kenfig dunes approx 2pm 18.4.15.

HD Pic Link
Great Grey Shrike. Just as I was packing up with no show, he gets out of bed at 3pm! He was very wary, but just sat in a tree for an hour. I was hiding behind a copse, suddenly he swooped over the top making ‘kestrel’ type noises and was off, possibly a warning. Bright little bird, like a carnivorous parrot. Coincidence that he chooses to stop at the ‘Thieves Pass’? Kudos to whoever found him, not a top birding destination!

Also first wheaters, kestrel, buzzard, fieldfare, raven, stonechat, linnet, GSW, all kinds of songbirds.

Great day for birding, rain=no people=more birds. No sign of Black redstart, unusual gulls or Scaups.

Chiffchaff. 2 @ gas tanks (chirping as I have commonly seen with females, I’m guessing that females arrive first looking for nests?). 1 @ Jim Driscoll Way (seemed more yellow but mbe just the light).

Goosanders (2 x fem) in the bay.

Linnets (m+f) near barrage.

Cettis. 1@ Harvester. 1 @ Jim Driscoll. 1@ Clarence Rd Bridge

Turnstone 2 at Starbucks boardwalk.

Greast Crested Grebes starting to display at Harvester pond. Also privileged to witness the mating display of the Jay in Bute Park, often noted for being raucous & aggressive, the sensitive delicate song was a cross between a budgie a squeaky bike and a toy drum. Peregrine pair carrying a dead thrush? to Town Hall peak while a flamboyant wedding went on beneath.

Hi, Turnstone in winter plumage, granted bad lighting and long shot but stumpy beak and legs. Flock of 6.
Not sure on rarity but Amber status, and 1st for me. Confirmed, thanks.

Other: chiffchaff, peregrine, buzzard, kestrel, stonechat, raven, green wp, shelduck, rock pipit, little grebe, swan, possible carrion crow with albino wings etc

HD Link: Turnstone

Cardiff Bay 9am-15pm
Just to backup others reports. Great Northern Diver @ DrWho (juv 1st winter). Black Redstart (male) @ Barrage. Tuft x Poch (xHybrid) @ boardwalk. Kingfisher x2 @ Hamer & board. Kestrel x2 @ NNR. Sparrowhawk @ Drwho. Cetti (call only) @ Penarth s. Shelduck flying over. Flock of 20 Lesser Redpoll all over. 20 Common Gull @ Barrage. 47 species, 3 rares best day in Bay so far!

Edited confirmation: Little Gull @ Barrage, is now confirmed as Black Headed Gull with early summer plumage. Scaup is now listed as a Tufted x Pochard (xHybrid). My reasons: total grey on back with no mottling, extended black marks on beak tip, reddish eyes, brownish hue to head. Cheers, James

HD Links:  Black Redstart Great Northern Diver xHybrid Duck

Tirfounder Fields, Aberdare. chiffchaff present again at same time, foraging along canal. Took photos & video. Seems to tick all the boxes for chiffchaff, I just thought it unusual that it should be so far north in winter, thought it might be a subspecies for a few hours.

Edit: having read the comments and the articles on subspecies, and comparing photos I am happy to relax and put this down as common chiffchaff, due to its yellow streaks and olive buffing. Still, it is exciting for me to have a usually summer migrant this far north in winter. Thanks all for help.

HD photo: http://www.spookspring.com/Tirfounder/chiff19.1.15.7.JPG

Also 1x willow tit. 2x kingfisher. 2x dipper. 7 lesser redpoll.

Aberdare Park, approx 10am. One single Bar-Headed Goose. As there are Egyptian Ducks, African Geese, Greylags here also I’m presuming an escaped domestic gone wild, or maybe even let loose in the pond, but its not ringed. Picture Link:

http://www.spookspring.com/Tirfounder/barheadedgoose%2012.7.14.JPG

Tir Founder Fields, Cwmbach, Aberdare. 11-12 am

Notable: Blackcap 2. Chiffchaff 7. Willlow Warbler 1 (1st). Willow Tit 1. Mink 1

Black necked Grebe amongst the Tufted Ducks in the central reserve. 1-3 pm.

Credit goes to two expert gentlemen who let me view it through the telescope and debated ID in their book.

Confirmed, Distinctive black tufted crest, bright red eye, yellow very tufted cheek feathers. black neck, white mottling on lower neck, brown mottling on underside (moulting plumage).

Also usual Cetti’s calling. Also House Martin 10+ above Bute Park. ( Did not have close up of Martins, I am assuming they were House as there were so many and high up but seems a little early looking at Portland arrival times)

James Burton (Tirfounder Fields http://www.spookspring.com/Tirfounder/TirFounderFields.html)

Tirfounder Fields 7-9am. Willow Tit foraging on Cattails. Plenty Wigeon, Teal, Kingfisher etc http://www.spookspring.com/Tirfounder/TirFounderFields.html for full list. Pic by James Burton 

Well, I’m sure the other 100 photographers there in the week will have better HDR pictures, but, well, here’s proof I’m committed to the cause! Penduline Tit. Newport Wetlands NNR. 09:11:13 c.10am. Overcast. Picture By James Burton. Others: 18 Cettis. List uploaded to Bird Track.