Goosander 17 highest number we have recorded there.

Red Kite over the bypass this morning being mobbed by corvids.

1000+ starlings over the m4 a mile west of the services at 1 15 pm

A female blackcap at the garden feeder this afternoon, chasing away the goldfinches to get at the sunflower hearts.

2 Gt Northern Divers were still present mid to late afternoon although kept disappearing behind the ‘island’. No sign of the reported Slav Grebe.

Tonight’s murmuration mainly over Oaklands Road was an impressive sight with more aerobatics. Most of the birds appeared to mass on wires south of Broadlands before heading over here. It was enlivened by a Sparrowhawk successfully attacking the flock and knocking a bird which it took after it plunged into a local garden. There were 2,000 Starling together at one stage and the majority of them dropped into conifers between Oaklands Road and Broadlands between 1625-1635h.

Hello yep saw 2 Seo today not far from sore house and flying toward kenfig golf course here is a bad photo for now

First visit after returning from a week in Norfolk. 19 Teal on W lake was a good count for the site. Otherwise nothing over and above the usual suspects although there were a couple of Common Gulls.

Also good news is that the leader of the now Conservative Vale Council, Councillor John Thomas has decided that the proposal for a wakeboarding facility at the lakes is not to be OK’d. Although there is still an planning application in place, as landowners the Vale Council will not allow any new facility of that type to be built. More detail can be seen on the Penarth Daily News blog – click here.

Some sightings reported on other platforms today:

Whooper Swan on Flemingston Moor (per Phil Bristow)

2 Short-eared Owls at Sker (per Leah Couch) – also reports of Little Owl in the barn next to Sker House recently

At least 60+ Teal over and on the reserve lunchtime,2 Pochard and the hybrid Lsr Scaup lookalike.

Just enjoyed watching 2,000 Starling going to roost in conifers between Oaklands Road and Broadlands, Bridgend. The flock had been slowly building up in number over the past couple of weeks and fragments have been performing aerobatics this evening. Most of them seem to come in from the south east gradually from about 4.15pm, settling in by about 4.45 usually. The sound right now is amazing and I’m only about several hundred yards away looking down on them.

The Red-breasted Merganser is still present in the bay today, and there is also a single Common Scoter just off Sedger’s Bank.

A minimum of 60-Snipe on south side of the island.Numbers are increasing with every visit.Also 1-Water Rail and a Kingfisher.10h30-11h00

Great Northern Diver currently (11:45) in Port Eynon bay, near the Salthouse/Youth Hostel. Also 5 Brent Geese, Curlew and several Ringed Plover (ie the usual crew).

Edit – went for a walk later in the day (3:15), and the diver had disappeared, to be replaced by a Merganser (rather distant pic as I didn’t have my big lens this time)

I popped down to check for these at midday, ran into Rob Jones (@glambirder) and by about 1245h they flew in from the east with some Canada Geese. They were wary but eventually swam out and waddled onto the north shore and walked up the field. They look to be albifrons race. The south side of the hedge overlooking north shore was a good hide to pop a few record shots off. Still present at 1400h.

Iceland gull at the Water Treatment Works early afternoon today.

Many thanks to all 21 participants who came along on yesterday’s GBC field trip to Whiteford Point and Llanrhidian on a sunny, breezy and at times cold day. Highlights among the 80 species seen or heard included Black-necked Grebe, Slavonian Grebe, Great Northern Diver, Marsh Harrier, Red-breasted Merganser, Eider, Woodcock, Merlin and Great White Egret.

Full species list:

Mute Swan, Brent Goose, Shelduck, Wigeon, Teal, Mallard, Eider, Common Scoter, Red-breasted Merganser, Great Northern Diver, Great Crested Grebe, Slavonian Grebe, Grey Heron, Black-necked Grebe, Great White Egret, Little Egret, Cormorant, Red Kite, Marsh Harrier, Sparrowhawk, Buzzard, Kestrel, Merlin, Peregrine, Oystercatcher, Ringed Plover, Golden Plover, Grey Plover, Lapwing, Knot, Sanderling, Dunlin, Jack Snipe, Common Snipe, Woodcock, Black-tailed Godwit, Curlew, Redshank, Turnstone, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Stock Dove, Woodpigeon, Tawny Owl, Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Magpie, Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Raven, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Skylark, Long-tailed Tit, Goldcrest, Wren, Treecreeper, Starling, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Redwing, Mistle Thrush, Robin, Stonechat, Dunnock, House Sparrow, Grey Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Linnet, Bullfinch and Reed Bunting.

Appear to be 2 Bittern on the reserve. One flew from the island reed bed at 16:15 and then a second at 16:45. Was watching the area inbetween and didn’t see the first bird fly back. 

Brynmill Park: A male Goosander was catching fish on the lake (only the 2nd I’ve seen here), as was a Little Grebe; long-staying male Wigeon still around.

Singleton Park: C. 20 Redwings feeding in the school field at the top.

27-Little Egrets flew from the island roost at first light.