I am still undecided about this bird. It has divided opinions. I managed to get some better photos yesterday evening. The bird is in heavy moult so its flight feathers have a bit of growing to do. The mantle colour is darker than herring approaching yellow legged gull. Opinions welcome.

Nice to find a Caspian gull in daylight. This 2nd Cal Year was present for 30minutes from 9.30am before flying up the River Taff. Excellent series of photos by Peter Howlett.

2CY Caspian gull picked up at near darkness. A different bird from January. Poor photos attached. I do have a video but I was unable to upload it.

Huge roost tonight with thousands of birds to go through. I picked out the 1st winter Caspian gull again. Also at least 8 yellow legged gulls (4 ad; 2 x 2nd win; 2 x 3rd win). No sign of any white wingers.

Cardiff Bay gull roost is always a challenge – distant birds and low light. This bird instantly stood out amongst the flock tonight. I am pretty confident on its ID but comments always welcome

Another aythya oddity with the 250 tufties. Pretty much like a tufted duck but with rufous flanks with a white spur. Head shape also more rounded. Any suggestions?

Popped to a cold wetland reserve this evening. No sign of the bittern up to 1645. 3 yellow legged gulls came in early (adult, 2nd winter and sub adult). The tufted duck flock were tucked in out the wind but eventually pushed out. There were approx. 240 birds with this interesting ring necked look-alike. Sadly it appeared around dusk so apologies for poor photos. Head shape and bill lookeded interesting but was not really sold on the rest. Hybrid? Pochard x tufted duck perhaps? May be worth a 2nd look.

2 brambling in the riverside trees on the way into work today. A male hawfinch was showing very well in maple trees behind the office. 6 hawfinch flew over the offices yesterday

The last few days have seen up to four hawfinch at Forest Farm, ranging between the car park and reserve. They are predominantly feeding on maple seeds. A male showed particularly well in the gardens around the office at midday. Photo by Raj Chettri.

Yellow legged gull from Blackweir yesterday

 

An adult yellow-legged gull was showing very well on the weir at lunchtime today tucking into a small pike. The first time I have seen one this far upstream.

2 hawfinch se/ over Forest Farm this morning

Great to experience part of the UK wide hawfinch influx locally today. Whilst looking skywards at the bizarre yellow skies this morning, one then another and then a flock of three flew over the office at Forest Farm. 5 birds in total all heading north.

Couple of photos of the dotterel on Garreg Lwyd yesterday.

Whinchat still present this evening at Cardiff Bay Wetland Reserve

Lots of activity and bird song this morning. A brief view of a male common redstart near St David’s hotel. At least 9 singing sedge warbler and 8 whitethroat on the reserve of note.

A reasonable morning in terms of migrants. 2 lesser whitethroat were in the square area of grass and trees along Windsor Esplanade. 6 whitethroat (3 on the wetland reserve and 3 in Hamadryad Park). A sedge warbler singing very loudly from buddleia in Hamadryad Park.  At least 2 sedge warblers on the wetland reserve and several reed warblers. New reed warbler in Hamadryad Park below the flyover.

A common tern dropped into the bay during the afternoon showers. It took some time to confirm the ID. Thanks to Peter and Graham for the clinching photos which eventually ruled out arctic. Ring necked duck showing very well indeed off Prospect Place. Two yellow legged gulls (regular 3CY at Channel View and 4CY in Bay). Two 2CY med gulls also. Hundreds of hirundines in the bay including my first house martin of the year.

A 2nd winter Iceland gull was present on the pontoons at Mermaid Quay from 09.15 this morning. Presumably Graham’s bird from yesterday.

Little gull still present showing well at the mouth of the Taff. Also at least 5 med gulls in the bay (2 x 2nd sum; 2nd win; ad sum; 1st year. 9 scaup still.

A female wheatear was present at Hamadryad Park (my first of the year)

Both glaucous gulls were present mid afternoon both fast asleep on the ABP building. The 9scaup and long tailed duck were showing well on the reserve. Long tailed duck looking rather dapper now. Several chiffchaff in good song around the reserve.

A 2nd winter yellow legged gull still around Channel View.

A nice selection of birds this morning. Both glaucous gulls were present. The dark 1st winter showing very well from the boardwalk and the pale 1st winter sat on its usual spot on the ABP building.

The hybrid med x black headed gull also present. 9 scaup flew into the reserve whilst the long-tailed duck was still present off the old ice rink. A few photos added.