Just a quick walk this morning. 3 sightings of Kingfisher involving 2 birds, 1 by W lake grassy ‘beach’ and the other flew under the main bridge E lake > W lake. 8 Tufted Ducks, Little Grebe with 1 imm, GC Grebe with large imm, good number of hirundines [Swallow and House Martin], ad Heron in W lake trees, 1 Mistle Thrush in W paddock.

Juvenile Redstart in the southern fields, to the west of the Medieval village this evening.

Swift hawking insects with House Martins over the River Cynon at Mountain Ash at 13.55 for 10 minutes. Unfortunately I did not have binoculars with me to get a closer look given the time of year.

There’s currently an Arctic Tern in Cardiff Bay. Was seen well by the sails  this morning [by Peter Howlett]. When I was on the barrage late morning it was right over by St David’s Hotel on the RH side [Techniquest/Mermaid Quay side], flying up & down the shore line. Apparently present yesterday also. Other than that today, a good number of House Martins keeping low, at the Cardiff end of the Barrage and the path beyond, plus a few Sand Martins.

Sparrowhawk hunting over Collwyn this morning, harried by Jackdaws. Cormorant checked out weir then flew downstream. 5 House Martin, could be sole remaining pair from Pyle Cross, with young.  Mixed Tit flock buioding up and Nuthatch venturing into nearby gardens. Carrion Crow “crocking” like a timid Raven.

Single grey phalarope seen this morning (0730-0800ish) at Ogmore by Portobello House (likely the one in the RH picture of Mike Cram’s post). Very confiding, giving views to about 3 metres as it swam past. Quite mobile and sharing time on the eastern side of the river either foraging on the bank or swimming. Didn’t have time for a full search, but no sign of the other phal on that part of the river.

Also; 7 goosander and single greenshank, common sandpiper and redshank.

Yesterday Ceri Jones, Mike Pointon & I saw two Swifts over the barrage. Lots of House and Sand Martins there also.

Emma, James and I popped down this evening at about 6pm to check out the Grey Phalarope and there were two waiting for us along with The Wader! Adult winter and juvenile moulting to first winter. The adult appeared to give “peep” call as the juvenile flew toward it (markedly smaller). It did make us wonder if it is parent and young? Regardless, I have a funny feeling there are more of this species to be found around the county!

2 grey phalaropes feeding together near the bridge.

2 Grey Phalaropes were feeding on the edge of the marsh as the tide pushed up today at around 11 am. Also a Guillemot and a Manx on the water looking a bit out of place.

Grey phalarope still by Portobello House at 5.00 pm Thanks Paul

V brief Hobby flew over Cogan Wood this morning. W lake had 20-30 Sand Martins, there were 40 or so House Martin over the snipe paddock, a fem Stonechat appears to have replaced the recent Whinchat [in field beyond the snipe paddock], W lake had 1 Little Grebe.

This Grey Phalarope was at Ogmore Estuary today, feeding along the Vale side shoreline near Portobello House.

A little run of yellow wagtails at the marsh in the last ten days, including different birds roosting with pied/white wags on Friday and Saturday.

Quiet for migrants with small numbers of reed and sedge warbler, a whitethroat and a tree pipit captured during the Welsh Ringing Course.

More information HERE.

A Leach’s Petrel flew down channel this morning, otherwise just five Common Scoter and a Gannet noted in over two hours.

Shelduck juvenile it is the first time that we has seen this species here. 

Currently a flock of approx 50 Sandwich Tern, which have been present for at least 90 mins, and 15 Ruff, which have appeared in the last 30 mins, all at the end of the boat launch lane.

Dave Morris

 

2 Black Terns still present over towards the Ice Rink and Prospect Place side.

Still present at 3 p.m. viewing from the boardwalk by the old Ice Rink site – better views.

A flock of 50+ Goldfinches,nearly all juveniles,1-Spotted Flycatcher,2-Blackcaps m+f, 1-Whitethroat.12h00-12h45

Three Spotted Flycatchers still present this morning, having moved from their location at the end of the W paddock central hedge yesterday afternoon, to near the far LH corner of the far W paddock field, where they were some days ago. Four Mistle Thrush in W paddock, 7 Tufted Ducks [6 E lake and 1 W lake]. The many Sand Martins of y’day afternoon had diminished to a few.