2030: Barn Owl hunting in ideal conditions (you could hear a pin drop) half a mile along the Aston Martin Road from the B4265 roundabout, on Eglwys Brewis side.

Also this morning in Ivy/Hawthorn by railway 2 Great Tit, 2 Blue Tit, 2 Coal Tit, 1 hen Chaffinch, 1 Robin, 1 Nuthatch , 2 Collard Doves, several Magpies (heard)

While scanning the lake this morning there was a sudden cacophony as well over a hundred, mostly Black Headed Gulls with several Herring Gulls screamed and whirled above. The reason was what looked very much like a Goshawk, broad winged and long tailed, but it’s sheer size was what was noticeable, much bigger than the 2 brave Carrion Crows that escorted it as it flew back inland. I’ve seen them several times in the hills and forests in central Glamorgan but wasn’t expected one so near the coast in open countryside. Without doubt the hundreds of Woodpigeon in the area are a big attraction.

The female Ring-necked Duck Mathew Meehan found yesterday was still with 50 Tufted duck at north end of reservoir.

Did my WeBS count this morning, which covers Rhymney Estuary at Green Point, and Cardiff Heliport bay. At Green Pt: 700 Redshnak, 800 Dunlin, 27 Teal, 4 Wigeon, 16 Shoveler, 7 Pintail, 96 Shelduck, 3 Coromrant and 30 Mallard.
At Heliport bay a good count of c100 Pintail, 46 Shoveler, 11 Oyc, 6 Shelduck and 8 Turnstone. Some walkers on the beach below the landfill at Green Pt caused the Redshank to flush and at one point a large group landed on the water and started swimming about in a tight group. I’ve seen them do this before. Here’s a link to a short video on my Youtube channel: https://youtu.be/XZOGKYyHs6M
The birds flying around are some of the Dunlin flock. Here’s a link to a vid of that: https://youtu.be/fpjf2FBgBVw

Decided on a change from the mud of Cosmeston and went across the barrage this morning. There were two v smart pairs of Goosander by the jetty at the exit of Penarth Marina lock. So difficult to get the eye to show esp in the males, but the fem with her back to me had a catchlight. There was a bunch of House Spadgers by the apartments there, incl a fem with nest material! On the barrage itself a PIed Wag was chasing off a Grey Wag quite agressively, and a Raven was on the grass at the far end. I thought the pattern on the imm Mute Swan was quite eye-catching.

2 female ring necked ducks (still) at Lisvane Res this morning – viewed from the Blackoak ‘platform’. Rather overshadowed by the astonishing performance of a young female peregrine – bombing around causing chaos and finally landing 100yd away

Second visit in 5 days and managed to find the Redstarts – 2 males and a female, moving about on the waste ground showing quite well. As a bonus saw a Red Kite over Cowbridge on journey home.

Today’s Wetland Bird Survey count, mostly in sunny and mild conditions, comprised 7 Grey Heron, 45 Lapwing, 2 Teal, 1 Wigeon, 1 Little Egret, 6 Mute Swan, 19 Mallard, 1 Water Rail and 3 Moorhen.

Also present a Peregrine resting on the moor, a hunting Kestrel and a Raven. Fine views of Redwing flock at the top of a nearby tree.

Pochard were up to 18 on W lake this morning, and there were 2 Common Gulls, 1 by E lake and 1 on the W lake posts. There were a few Redwing and Fieldfare in W paddock, with a Mistle Thrush, and a v friendly Robin posed by the lower Dovecote field by Sully Brook.

6 Med Gulls (4 ad Winter, one 2nd Winter, one 1st Winter), large number of Common Gulls, B-h and Herring Gulls, a few LBB. 7 Wigeon + the regulars.

There were 16 Pochard with the Tufties on W lake this morning and an ad Common Gull on the W lake posts.

there was at least 51-Common Gulls in the river in amongst Black Headed and Herring Gulls.

7-Goldeneye,4m3f and 4-Goosanders 1m3f.11h00-13h00

At the first feeding stump down the slope from the southern entrance to Cogan Wood, an obliging Marsh Tit was coming down to seed. It was mostly snatch and grab but it perched at one point and reposnded to my imitated ‘pitchoo’ call and allowed for quite a few photos, albeit in rather poor light. Walking back down the Mile Road I came upon a confiding Bullfinch feeding on buds above my head.

Sunday 16th Jan

Five Crossbills feeding in the Alders also a mixed flock of Siskin 40 Cole Tit10 Goldfinch 10 Blue Tit 8 and a Nuthatch. Raven 4 Goosander 1 with 24 Mallard.

2 adult Med Gulls – one ad winter and the second one having a delicate black shading of the hood. Other regulars present

Had all 5 thrush species this morning. Plenty of Blackbirds, single Song Thrush and Mistle Thrush in W paddock where there were about 6 each of Redwing and Fieldfare. A Mistle Thrush was singing 2 days ago. On arrival this morning a Great Spotted Woodpecker was seen calling from the top of a tree by the car park, a Green Woodpecker flew over E paddock and a distant one was heard calling there, and another was in a tree by the dragonfly pond. W lake had the usual Tufties, plus 5 Pochard and 3 Shoveler, a pair of Little Grebes doing lot of whinnying, and 2 Great Crested Grebes, and finally a single Common Gull. Yesterday a Goldcrest was singing by the main bridge and today there were a number of Great Tits singing.

21 folk joined us on our first public birdwalk of the year, on a cold , overcast day. It was good to meet friends old and new.

We were pleased to find 41 species, the highlights being Ring-necked Duck, Siberian Chiff Chaff, Scaup, and 5 very smart displaying male Goldeneye with at least 1 female.

Full List-

Canada Goose , Mute Swan, Gadwall, Wigeon, Mallard, Teal, Pochard , Ring-necked Duck , Tufted Duck ,
Scaup, Goldeneye , Woodpigeon , Collared Dove , Coot Great Crested Grebe, Black-headed Gull Mediterranean Gull, Common Gull, Herring Gull, Cormorant, Grey Heron, Buzzard, Magpie , Jackdaw , Carrion Crow , Blue Tit , Great Tit , Long-tailed Tit, Chiffchaff (Siberian – tristis) , Goldcrest , Starling ,
Song Thrush , Mistle Thrush , Blackbird , Robin, House Sparrow, Dunnock , Chaffinch, Bullfinch , Greenfinch , Goldfinch.

Many thanks to Dave for leading and Rhos , deputy leader.

Sker Point & Rest Bay

Thursday 13th – Flock of Golden Plover, several hundred, basking in the January sunshine on the rocks. Also 4 Skylarks on Royal Porthcawl golf course.