A few random ones from Cosmeston this a.m. 1 Fly over Peregrine, 1 Gt Spot Woodpecker, a few Redwing, small group of Tufties and 1 Pochard, 3 Little Grebe on E lake 1 GCG.

Brief v wet session this a.m. Max 7 Pochard on E lake and the drake Goldeneye. No sign of either the imm or 1st yr male Ring-necked Ducks, so assume both are in Cardiff Bay with the rest of the prev 90 Tufties that were here.

Last couple of days. Yesterday, the imm Ring-necked Duck was joined by a 1st year male, found by Graham Smith. It was not present this morning although the imm bird was still on E lake as was the drake Goldeneye. Late news rec’d as I type was that the 1st yr Ring-necked had relocated to Cardiff Bay, just off the Ice Rink area. Yesterday at Cossie a pair of Stonechat were on the perimeter of the snipe paddock and a few Redwing were in the trees there, and this morning a male Stonechat was in E Paddock with a few Goldfinch.

Jackdaw with single white feather.

Saw my first Common gull of this autumn this morning, a 2ndW on E lake by the feeding area. The latter had me going for a little while as it had a very pale grey mantle [Ring-billed Gull!] but sadly it’s not. In a short fight it had a broad black terminal tail band. Also pair of Stonechat in the snipe paddock and a Common Sipe flew out of the W lake reeds and headed off high over E lake.

Imm Ring-necked Duck still on E lake Cosmeston. Not easy to pick out if asleep and in with 90 Tufties! Was active for a while but too distant for pix. Also drake Goldeneye still, 2 Pochard and an influx of c.200 Canadas!!

Sunday afternoon – lone male Yellowhammer and lone male Stonechat ( a first for me in that area) and a Grey Wagtail on the Colhugh near Eglwys Brewis railway bridge.

News for Cardiffians just rec’d. 3 Bearded Tits were seen at CBWR this morning. Last seen diving into reeds at hotel end.

Bit delayed posting this. Had a walk up the farm track opposite Cosmeston, up to the cooastal fields [which sadly may eventually be covered in tarmac and houses]. First bird was a Sparrowhawk chasing a Magpie, then as I crossed the big field, first one, then two then three Peregrines appeared and patrolled up and down parallel to the coast for about half an hour. A large mixed flock of Goldfinch and Linnet constantly flew up, and a distant Kestrel flew by. Having done a circuit of the field, as I walked back a group of 10 Skylark flew over, then a few Meadow Pipits and also a single Siskin, whose flight call I heard, and a few Chaffinches. Standing at the top corner of the big field I then noticed another raptor coming from inland – a Goshawk! It drifted slowly above the big field with the typical leisurely fairly deep wingbeats [unlike the rapid flick flick of a Sparrowhawk], and walost from view over Lavernock Point. All in all a good session. Below, 2 shots of one of the Perrys, and three of the Gos, one showing how high it was.

Cosmeston late a.m. Drake Goldeneye on E lake near the reeds – thx to Sharon Mullins the ranger for txt. Along the lower Dovecote meadow by Sully Brook, 8 Redwing. 2 Green Peckers, and 1 Gt Spotted Pecker on fence by dipping pond then the uprights of the gazebo.! A few Swallows over.

This morning a Raven cronking overhead accompanied, as it were, by a Chiffchaff singing heartily from the hedgerow ( I have often heard one of the latter in September but never October – and so often this year) This afternoon a lone male Bullfinch in the hedge, although it was calling.

No sign of drake goldeneye on either lake (from earlier this a.m.) – prob scared off by swimming dogs in the small bay. Gone to Cardiff Bay?? E lake had 60 Tufties and a pair of Pochard.

I started the day visiting the Boverton Seawatch Centre where I saw a lone barnacle goose in a field. On the cycle back I spotted some large flocks of linnet – 40-50, mixed with about 15 pied wagtails on the roof of a barn. The fence below the barn was scattered with 6 meadow pipits. Other sightings here included 1 kestrel, 2 buzzards, 30-35 goldfinches.

I later arrived at Llantwit beach hoping to get some more views of an obliging golden plover I had seen last weekend. The tide was in so instead I took a walk along the coast path towards St Donats. Here I had a nice view of a female common scoter which was heading from Llantwit towards St Donats at impressive speed. It took me a minute to make the ID as I don’t think I’ve ever seen one locally before. It would be interesting to know whether anyone else has seen one this year in the Vale and whether they’re regular visitors on this part of the coast.

Very briefly – The three Wigeon were still on W lake, one of which had a vigorous bathe. I had about 12 fly-over Swallows and for the first time in years, actually heard the harsh call of a fly-over Brambling. Didn’t get a good look at it tho’, but these new fangled hearing aids are ace! Also I saw what I believe was a Hornet Mimic Hoverfly, Volucella zonaria – what a huge beast. Sadly I wasn’t quick enough to grab a photo. It was in the wood behind the dragonfly pond. In the pix below the Green Pecker, Mistle Thrush and LTT were from the 13th.

Twenty five Redwings overhead this morning.

Tuesday 13th October: Redwing 6 Mistle Thrush 10 Great Tit 8 Blue Tit 6 Goshawk 1 Song Thrush 2

Cosmeston a.m. 3 Wigeon W lake. Two feeding flocks with LTT, Goldcrest, Coal, Blue & Gt Tits but no Yellow-browed Warblers. Also Green Pecker and Mistle Thr W paddock and 6 Skylark flew over.

5 shoveler and 8 teal among birds on Roath Park lake this afternoon.