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

 

Sand Martin 2

Glaucous Gull roosting on Cardiff Dock Building. Having seen the recently published photograph we think that this might possibly be a different bird. It appeared white, if there were brown vermiculations they were very faint indeed. We observed the bird from circa 400 meters telescope x 25-60 the light was good, white of primaries paler than mantle. It was a very large bird as big as Great B/B Gull long straight pale bill with distal third dark brown.

Also: Black Redstart male Chiffchaff 2 both singing Turnstone 2 Great Crested Grebe 6, No sign of the LTD or Scaup.

Had to go into Caerphilly so did a lap around the moat: Goosander 8 four males and four females Teal 2 males Kingfisher 2 and no camera! Also a preroost gathering of Jackdaw involving circa 600 birds.

Lesser Redpoll 2 in a mixed roving flock otherwise very quite.

Chiffchaff 1 looked like nominate race. Water Rail heard Snipe 3

A male Wigeon was a bit of a surprise Tufted Duck 40 Teal 30. We noticed again that the Black-headed Gulls were associating with Coot to obtain food when they dive and disturb food particles to the surface, the Coot tolerate this behaviour without showing any signs of aggression towards the gulls.

Further to Gareth’s sightings at the bay. Scaup 2 females associating with lookalike Lesser Scaup and Kingfisher Water Rail  heard.

Goosander 2 a drake and duck.

Goldfinch feeding on teasel today.

Water Rail 1 Kingfisher 1 Buzzard 3 Black-headed Gull 51 Mallard 35 Grey Heron 1 Stonechat 2

Goosander 2 redheads, Redwing 6 Cormorant 5 on power cables.

Red Kite 1 and Yellow-browed Warbler heard but not seen in Sycamores. Also lots of Red Admirals many Small Whites and a Painted Lady.

Water Rail on the East side of the island. There was also lots of Goldcrests.

Wryneck again on hill leading to car park. Excellent views, does not seem to be too bothered by the traffic. Also Peregrine 1 and Stonechat 2 Grey Wagtail 2 and lots of Meadow Pipits. In the walled garden Chiffchaff and lots of small whites circa 40 Large White 12 Red Admiral 15 Common Blue 2 Small Tortoiseshell 10 and Silver Y moths 8

Spotted Flycatcher 6 possibly more, Willow Warbler 1 Chiffchaff 6 Coal Tit 2  Great Spotted WP 1 Nuthatch 2

Buzzard 3 Siskin 1 Also: Southern Hawker 3 Migrant Hawker 3

Robin Sunbathing Penallta Park

A Woodpigeon has built a nest in the metal beams of the railway station’s platform shelter. Protected from the wind and rain a perfect des-res, and the acoustics enhance the cooing. Lends a whole new meaning to bird-brain.

 

Submitted for cute value a grainy pic.

Tree Pipit 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker 1 Nuthatch 2 Blackcap 3 Chiffchaff 1 Willow Warbler 1 Whitethroat 1 Linnet 2 Also Small White 1 Ringlet 6 Downy Emerald 3  Emperor 2 Four-spotted Chaser 2 Blue-tailed Damselfly 3 Azure Blue Damselfly ++