A different glaucous gull was present in the bay around 1130. It looked almost white, possibly a 3rd winter or very bleach 1st winter bird. Also adult med gull on the Marl playing fields.

Tuesday – both Siberian chiffchaff still overwintering below St David’s Hotel. Earlier in the week the glaucous gull (long stayer) was present on the Brains building a couple of days in a row when cycling into work.

My phone scoped effort from this morning. Also the 2 Siberian chiffchaff still present with 2 common chiffchaff.

Bittern flew from roost at 07.57 to main reserve.

2 Siberian type chiffchaffs present this morning on the wetland reserve but very mobile. Neither bird called during the period I was there.

Yesterday afternoon the 1st winter glaucous gull dropped in at 1559 for a very quick bathe before flying out onto the estuary.

Thanks for the comments. One more to add to the mix. Again thanks to Alec for the excellent photos.

Comments welcome. Photos courtesy of Alec Stewart who I happened to bump into at the same time this bird popped up into the buddleia.

A nice walk round Cardiff Bay. 7 scaup still, 1  male black redstart (Penarth Marina) and long tailed duck showing very well by the sails.Also a Siberian chiffchaff showing very well in buddleia 200m north of the sailing centre.

1 female pintail around the islands and several shoveler and teal present.

A late afternoon search for the bittern from the 2nd hide drew a blank. However a yellow browed warbler was feeding in the trees immediately left of the hide. It showed well for 10 minutes in the same area as the Siberian chiffchaff before flying out of view.

I received photos today from a local photographer of a Siberian chiffchaff taken on 18th November. The photos were taken from the 2nd hide in roughly the same area the bird has been favouring in recent days. Looks like it has been around for a while.

Siberian chiffchaff was still present this morning at 8.20am favouring the area of scrub and reeds to the left of the 2nd hide but also on occasions in trees above the hide. It called 4 or 5 times giving the distinctive bullfinch type single note. It was again present at 15.20 showing quite well.

6 scaup on the reserve this afternoon. Also adult med gull and 1 kingfisher.

5 scaup on the wetland reserve mid afternoon. Yesterday 2 black redstart at Penarth Marina (male and a very approachable female).

Yellow browed warbler heard calling in riverside trees by Bute Park Education Centre mid morning.

Yesterday 1 stock dove near the Wardens Centre. I don’t recall seeing one here before.

12 goosander (all redheads) on the river just north of Blackweir bridge. My highest count here to date.

1 garden warbler – CBWR last Sunday

Red-crested pochard (fem type) found early morning, loosely associating with tufted duck flock. It was viewable distantly from the boardwalk. Also good to see at least 3 broods of tufted duck.

John, in response to your concerns about the ditches and pools vegetating over. This work is scheduled in the near future.