One Woodcock this afternoon.

Cracking mornings birding with John Duffy & Tim Adcock. 52 species seen including Sand Martin, Jack Snipe, 35 Common Snipe, 2prs Dipper, 2 Goosander, 4 Green Sandpipers, 10 Lesser Redpoll, 11 Teal, 7 Stock Doves plus 5 raptor sp.

As well as singing Goldcrest x 2, treated to single singing Redwing and nearby flock of 10+ Redwing in sub-song in trees along lane near Marlas Farm/bridge this morning

My first chiffchaff of the year was a singing male in Treforest on 8 March.  My earliest local bird by some 9 days.  One, possibly two singing birds at Oxwich on 11 March, followed by two non-singing birds at Clydach Vale CP this morning (my earliest ever in the Rhondda), leads me to wonder if there’s been an earlier general arrival of this species across Glamorgan this year.  BirdTrack hints at this too.

Has anyone else noted this locally?

I know we’ve had earlier individuals in the past.

 

 

 

Bit later than others..first Chiffchaff singing this morning East of Leckwith Hill.

Both glaucous gulls were present mid afternoon both fast asleep on the ABP building. The 9scaup and long tailed duck were showing well on the reserve. Long tailed duck looking rather dapper now. Several chiffchaff in good song around the reserve.

A 2nd winter yellow legged gull still around Channel View.

Back from Lanzarote and now stomping [or squelching at the mo.] round Cossie again. No Sand Martins, but W lake had 6 Gadwall, 2 male Pochard, a pair of Shoveler, and 2 Grey Herons – 1 ad in the edge of the W lake reeds and an imm bird sitting on the posts.

A few chiffchaffs, including a singing bird, a sand martin, 7 little egrets in the roost, and a goshawk tussling with two buzzards late morning.

Snipe numbers down. Jack and common snipe still present though.

Finch numbers high. Probably 100+ goldfinch in the area, along with smaller numbers of chaffinch and siskin.

For todays ringing report and photographs, click HERE

Signs of migration. 30 Redwings flew over the house this afternoon

A productive morning today. Highlights were: Wheatear (male); Glaucous Gull (1st w); Scaup (9); Long-tailed Duck; Siberian Chiffchaff (1); Chiffchaff (6) and a pair of ‘weed-dancing’ Great Crested Grebes (DJJ/GJJ).

Glaucous Gull roosting on Cardiff Dock Building. Having seen the recently published photograph we think that this might possibly be a different bird. It appeared white, if there were brown vermiculations they were very faint indeed. We observed the bird from circa 400 meters telescope x 25-60 the light was good, white of primaries paler than mantle. It was a very large bird as big as Great B/B Gull long straight pale bill with distal third dark brown.

Also: Black Redstart male Chiffchaff 2 both singing Turnstone 2 Great Crested Grebe 6, No sign of the LTD or Scaup.

Had good views of Sparrowhawk over the park. Heard Green amd Greater spotted Woodpecker.

From the incline side 4 buzzards, nuthatch, 7 blackbirds, 4 song thrush, 8 robins, small numbers of great and blue tits,3 chaffinch,2 long tailed tits,carrion crows ,jackdaws,wood pigeons,and a male sparrow hawk a dog walker told me she had heard a drumming woodpecker

On Flemingston Moor this afternoon: 8 Lapwing, 1 Redshank, 4 Mute Swan, c. 50 Canada Geese, 8 Mallard, 2 Grey Heron and a Moorhen, along with Lesser Black-backed and Herring Gulls.

A Peregrine was eating prey high up on an electricity pylon. Also present were 2 Buzzard, 3 Stock Dove, 2 Raven, a flock of c. 40 Starling and a solitary Redwing.

Viewed from the narrow road running north from Flemingston village (approx grid ref ST017702)

A nice selection of birds this morning. Both glaucous gulls were present. The dark 1st winter showing very well from the boardwalk and the pale 1st winter sat on its usual spot on the ABP building.

The hybrid med x black headed gull also present. 9 scaup flew into the reserve whilst the long-tailed duck was still present off the old ice rink. A few photos added.

 

 

usual suspects, gadwall,teal,mallard,shoveller,mute swans, little grebes, moorhens.. But unexpectedly a male tufted duck.. Also one female stonechat fussing behind the hide

Snipe numbers on south side of island up to 25 this morning.It is essential to have a ‘scope to view some of the birds.

Not a sighting, but a reminder that on Tuesday March 7th, Dr. Rob Thomas from Cardiff University is giving a talk on some of the long term monitoring projects that the University has been undertaking. Venue Kenfig NNR at 7.45pm. This talk provides some fascinating insights into the lives of some of our migratory birds.

Many thanks to Alan Rosney for leading 12 participants on today’s enjoyable GBC field trip to the Forest of Dean. For the most part we avoided wet weather and even had sunshine at times!

Birding highlight was surely a Great Grey Shrike at Crabtree Hill which gave good views perched on various trees and shrubs and then hovered Kestrel-like for some time. Peregrines and displaying Goshawks were seen from the New Fancy viewpoint, a Hawfinch and Sparrowhawk were at Parkend near the cricket ground, and Mandarin ducks were seen on a small pond near Kensley Lodge and again at Cannop Ponds.

Full species list (41 species):
Mute Swan, Mandarin Duck, Gadwall, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Little Grebe, Goshawk, Sparrowhawk, Buzzard, Peregrine, Moorhen, Coot, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Woodpigeon, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Great Grey Shrike, Jay, Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Raven, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Goldcrest, Wren, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Blackbird, Fieldfare, Song Thrush, Redwing, Mistle Thrush, Robin, Stonechat, Dunnock, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Siskin, Hawfinch.