Big numbers of Tufted Duck 70 Mute Swan 80 Coot 120 also three colour ringed gulls. A tree next to the road had Fieldfare 2 Redwing 10 Song Thrush 2 and Blackbird 2 feeding on the berries. A Black-headed Gull had an almost complete hood.

Goosander three drakes and one redhead. There was a large  mixed flock circa 50 birds mainly Siskin and also Goldfinch and Cole Tit feeding in the larches. The hope for Crossbills did not appear.

A Yellow-legged Gull here today and the long stay Shelduck is nearing adult plumage Black-headed Gull 93. 

Harris Hawk  an adult no jesses last seen perched on a tree at the rear of Lavernoch house. Lots of birds in the hedgerows and fields. Goldcrest 6 Blackcap 1 Robin 20 Dunnock 12 Long-tailed Tit 20 and a Mediterranean Gull near the Pier. Also a very confiding Bank Vole and Red Admiral 4

Not much in the bird line but,  fifteen Red Admirals a Painted Lady and  Peacock butterflies is not bad for November!

Rock Pipit Cardiff Bay.

Mediterranean Gull adult winter plumage 1 flew several times low over the pier.

Blackcap 2 females Long-tailed tits 30 Goldcrest 4  Chough 2 Shag 2 Kingfisher 1 Little Grebe 1 Wigeon 2 Stonechat 2 There were at least 6 Red Admirals a Comma and a Painted Lady feeding on ivy at Portabello. Red Admirals were seen elsewhere.

Grey Phalarope juvenile very close to the bank down stream from Portabello Island also Common Sandpiper 2 Goosander 3 Kingfisher 2 Canada Goose 458 and one Dunlin also a Greenshank at the Watermill.

Shelduck juvenile it is the first time that we has seen this species here. 

Two Little Egrets one adult in full BP and a juvenile also; 106 Coot at the north end of the lake alone. A lesser B/B Gull took a chick off a coot nest and was set about by the adults. Big punch-up, at one time it looked as thought the Coot would drown the gull but it few of. We did not see what happened to the chick which, was very small some perhaps the gull managed to swallow it. We found four colour ringed L B/B Gulls  two at least from the Bristol Gull ringing group.

 

 

At Hensol Lake yesterday a Grass Snake was chased off as it swam across the lake by a Coot who pecked at it to encourage it on its way. I took a very brief video but it would not down load on to the site so have put on pics of the snake.

Yellow Legged Gull adult quite confiding, probably the bird we saw earlier in the year.

Swift 100+ Sand Martin 20 Great Crested grebe 20 incl 2 juvs and a bird on a nest. Black Swan 1  Mute Swan 50  Tufted Duck 1

Lots of coot with young. Whitethroat 4 singing males plus 2 juvs Blackcap i juv Linnet 1 Reed Bunting 2

 

Yesterday: Redstart 1 imm/fem at the western edge of the reserve not seen one here previously. Blackcap 6 singing birds plus a male feeding young. Bullfinch 8 including a family party Chiffchaff  4 Willow Warbler 2. There was lots of bird activity but, not easy to see because of foliage,  there seemed to be many juvenile birds.                                Also: Broad Bodied Chaser male and female.

Sand Martins 40 seen is flight at on time lots of nesting in castle walls. Amongst the Lesser Black-backed Gulls were two colour ringed birds white rings black lettering 9LF 3CF  submitted to Euring. Also a pair of Muscovy Duck not seen at this sight previously. 

Usual warblers in song but, surprise of the day was a Painted Lady butterfly along with Small White 2 Orange Tip 10 and Brimstone 2, have seen more butterflies this spring than ever before.

Blackcap 4 Chiffchaff 3 Willow Warbler 1 Siskin 2 also Butterflies: Brimstone 4 Large White 1 Comma 2 Peacock 3 and a Weasel.

 Taken with my phone so not so sharp. Mike

Brent Goose 1st winter dark bellied photo to follow (hopefully). Also House Martin 1 Sand Martin 10 Sparrowhawk 1 Buzzard 2.