Mediterranean Gull 1 but no GND

Herring Gull The Knap Lake

2CY Caspian gull picked up at near darkness. A different bird from January. Poor photos attached. I do have a video but I was unable to upload it.

Yesterday 12th Feb per Phil & Sandie Hardwick. 97 Lapwing & 5 Golden Plover in a field at the above at SS869858.

350+ Lapwing on Flemingston Moor this afternoon. Also an adult Mediterranean Gull in Barry Docks, 20 Redshank in Barry Old Harbour and at high tide late this afternoon 26 Curlew were on Sully Island.

1-ad-Med. Gull with BHGulls on concrete jetty up river at rowing club jetty.It had a wide red ring with numbers and/or letters on its right leg which I couldn’t read.Also it had a narrow silver coloured ring on its left leg.Should have had my scope,with hindsight!!

An AdW Med Gull was off Penarth seafront this afternoon, with the BH Gulls, occasionally using the roof of the pavilion to rest. I think this bird has been around for a while.

The GND of y’day was apparently still n E lake at 9 a.m. today but I and several others could not find it on either lake late morning. Ditto the Pintail. The imm Iceland Gull on E lake this morning was a nice find by Mike Pointon [see photo in his post below], before it flew off just before I got to where he was standing!. The Redpolls haven’t been seen for a couple of days.

Iceland Gull. I am sure all members of the GBC would join me in wishing John Wilson a very happy 70th Birthday. Sadly he missed the Iceland gull by one minute.

per Wayne Strong – GN Diver and Pintail W lake this morning. Nice one Wayne.

Slavonian Grebe and at least one of the White-fronted Geese still present this afternoon.

Exc. GBC trip today with 21 participants. Total of 62 species seen with highlights of 2 v smart Med Gulls, 1 AdW at Portobello and 1 Ad with almost full hood at Ogmore-by Sea, 13 Goldeneye, no Purple Sands on the rocks sadly, Slav Grebe at Kenfig Pool and finally 2 Short-dared Owls seen flying in the dunes observed from a high point not far from the reserve centre. 1 was seen to circle up very high in the company of a Kestrel [apparently also seen to do this yesterday by Dave Carrington]. The full trip list is available as a pdf from the <Sightings><GBC Trip Lists> menu item on the main web site – here’s a link – http://www.glamorganbirds.org.uk/gbc-trip-lists.html

Finally got out into the fresh air today, feeling much better. Emma and I took a stroll at The Wilderness in Porthcawl. Fresh and cold and blue skies after a frost, the pool was mostly frozen but still good numbers of birds there, a Little Grebe (only the 2nd I’ve seen there), Grey Heron, 8 Shoveler, 2 Goosander, 45 Black-headed Gull, a Lesser Black-backed Gull and a few Coal Tit, Long-tailed Tit a Redwing, 4 Goldfinch and a Bullfinch. 5 Grey Geese flew over calling heading for Rest Bay, probably Greylags. Looked for the regular Curlew flock who were partially out of sight at Manor Court Farm, at least 20, probably more.

There were at least 3 Lesser Redpoll feeding on Alder cones on the RH side of W paddock this morning, about 200m up from the kissing gate, found yesterday by Annie Irving. Also 2 Green Woodpeckers flew up from the path between E paddock and the golf course.

Just a quick reminder that there’s a GBC indoor meeting tomorrow eve  7:45 p.m. KNNR [Tues 6th Feb]. Rio Grande Birding – Dave Rich has been to the United States on numerous occasions. This talk covers a visit to the deep south.

Comments on ID please

Sophia Gardens: firecrest

Forest Ganol: At least 10 hawfinch looking stunning in sunshine.

Barry Docks West: 2 great northern divers. (photo courtesy of Mike Pugh)

Mixed flock in stubble field Yellowhammer circa 30 Reed Bunting 25 Linnet 40 also Meadow Pipit 4 Chaffinch 6 at Portabello Island one adult Mediterranean Gull and a Curlew.

Two great northern divers still present in the west dock at 11.30 on Monday 29th, near the old tank wash.

A nice sunny morning so I took a few photos during a circular walk taking in Cogan Wood. There was a Buzzard sitting in a tree by the dipping pond and another sitting on the ‘snipe paddock’ fence posts. 1 Treecreeper crept up below the first buzzard [see photos], 2 Goldcrests were by the central path, another Treecreeper was in Cogan Wood together with Coal, Blue Great and Long-tailed Tits and a Mistle Thrush. No show by the Marsh Tit. No change in the widfowl. Quite a few pix so small thumbnails [click on each one].

Just caught it flying off!

Spot the Treecreeper!

A male Blackcap made a brief appearance in my garden this morning.Pity it didn’t come whilst doing my rspb birdwatch!!