the Great Northern Diver is still here.. Showing really well close in to the slipway… Not sure how it’s going to react to the water skiers! 😎

A Willow Tit and several small groups of Crossbill were in the forestry on the west side of Llwyn-On reservoir south of the minor road to Penderyn. Also there Stonechat, Raven, Nuthatch, Bullfinch, Coal Tit, Siskin and Great Spotted Woodpecker. At the reservoir 3 Grey Heron and 14 Cormorant, and a Dipper in the river below the dam.

At Cosmeston late afternoon, a Bittern flew briefly over the West Lake reedbed.

As usual, though a little earlier, Wood Pigeon movement ssw over Canton this morning:
25,500 counted in two hours between 7.25 and 9.25am.

This afternoon,

Black-headed Gull 5+, Blue Tit 4, Carrion Crow 15+, Curlew 4, Goldfinch 10,                Lesser Black-backed Gull 1, Magpie 5+, Robin 3, Woodpigeon 8+, Blackbird 4, Buzzard 1,
Cormorant 3, Goldcrest 2, Herring Gull 6+, Long-tailed Tit 6+, Oystercatcher 13+
Starling 20+

I counted 10 Coal Tits on the garden feeder this morning.

Early Thursday evening at least 10 Redwing in fields on Ffordd-y-Gyfraith,  Laleston, just off junction with A473.  Nash Point, Saturday afternoon, had excellent view of  Short-Eared Owl in off the sea, flying  low over fields until mobbed by large group of assorted corvids. Ascended very high until all but one of them  pursued it relentlessly for several minutes (overhead @ 90 degrees!)  and eventually chased it off, very high  over sea in SW direction.

Rock Pipit Cardiff Bay.

Mediterranean Gull adult winter plumage 1 flew several times low over the pier.

2 hawfinch se/ over Forest Farm this morning

3 great northern divers, 2 great crested grebes, lots of shags

partial moult great northern diver with 3 great crested grebes this morning off boat slip

Blackcap 2 females Long-tailed tits 30 Goldcrest 4  Chough 2 Shag 2 Kingfisher 1 Little Grebe 1 Wigeon 2 Stonechat 2 There were at least 6 Red Admirals a Comma and a Painted Lady feeding on ivy at Portabello. Red Admirals were seen elsewhere.

Apologies for late posting here, both Emma and I heard a Yellow-browed Warbler calling several times in the bushes to the rear of Frankie and Benny’s in Landore, Swansea yesterday evening about 5pm. It was with a tit flock, but we didn’t manage to see it as the weather was foul! Plenty of habitat down there especially along the Tawe and to the south and east of the Liberty Stadium nearby.

This morning:

Barry Old Harbour: 1 Pale-bellied Brent Goose, 1 Little Egret, 5 Oystercatcher

Bendrick Rock: 1 Kingfisher at tidal pool, 1 Curlew, 1 Little Egret, 9 Turnstone, 8 Oystercatcher, 1 Kestrel

Sully Beach: 38 Turnstone, 35 Ringed Plover, 5 Oystercatcher, 6 Rock Pipit

Sully Island: 49 Oystercatcher, 10 Ringed Plover, 8 Curlew

Chiffchaff singing in Collwyn wood, Pyle, this morning – before the rain settled in.

A single Swallow was over the Clyne Valley, and a couple of late Red Admirals were on the wing.

Sea watching from 7:30 til 9:00 produced 9 Common Scoter and 2 Kittiwakes d/c. 2 Mediterrranean Gulls and a Shag were also present. Also surprisingly there was a Merlin battling the winds off-shore. A Harbour Porpoise was close in.

At Kenfig the Great Northern Diver showed well but spent long periods under the water.

A search in vain for the Ring Ouzel at Pant Norton did produce 2 Yellowhammers however.

Didn’t find the Ring Ouzel, but saw two very bright Yellowhammers in Pant Norton!

Plus-

Black-headed Gull 30+, Blue Tit 2, Canada Goose 200+, Cormorant 2, Great Tit HouseSparrow 4 , Little Egret 1, Mallard 30+, Pied Wagtail 1, Shelduck 1, Wren 1
Blackbird 6Buzzard 2Carrion Crow 2Curlew 1
Herring Gull 200+, Linnet 2, Magpie 4, Mute Swan 4+, Robin 1, Woodpigeon 50+
Yellowhammer 2

3 more birds for yesterday’s GBC walk, Dunnock, starling, tufted duck

Ten hardy souls took part on the GBC monthly Saturday morning bird walk, very blustery with occasional squally showers.  We were very pleased to log 36 species. Highlights included two Ringed Plover, and a Med Gull (thanks to Tom) a Great Spotted Woodpecker in flight, and a small flock of Golden Plover between the pool and the Centre.

Full list-

Black-headed Gull 10+         Meadow Pipit 3                          Magpie 3
Mute Swan 3                          Blue Tit 2                                      Gadwall 4
Collared Dove 2                     Canada Goose 6                          Golden Plover 10+
Ringed Plover 2                      Cetti’s Warbler -Heard             Great Spotted Woodpecker 1
Sparrowhawk 1                     Wigeon 6                                     Swallow 1
Water Rail 1                            Wren                                            Greenfinch 2
Woodpigeon 1                         Goldcrest 1                                 Mediterranean Gull 1
Cormorant 6                            Goldfinch 7                                  Pied Wagtail 1
Blackbird 1                              Great Tit 2                                    Mallard 6
Buzzard 1                                 Coot 30+                                        Long-tailed Tit

Carrion Crow 6                        Herring Gull 10+                      Robin
Chaffinch 3                              Jackdaw 40+                               House Sparrow 10+

Apologies for gaps, I copy and pasted the list from Bird Track, then ended up with a long list.  Then when published, the columns came out of line!