An Iceland Gull was found this afternoon on the roof of the old Tesco in Bridgend by Neil Donaghy. I arrived shortly after, by which time it had relocated to the roof of the post office, where it was only really viewable from Newcastle Hill.

Thanks to Strinda Davies for leading this morning’s GBC monthly walk with 11 participants at Kenfig NNR. Highlights included Sparrowhawk, Stonechat and singing Skylark near Sker House, Curlew, Dunlin, Turnstone and Oystercatcher at Sker Point, and Scaup, Lapwing and Goldeneye at Kenfig Pool. Forty six species seen or heard in total.

Full species list: Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Greylag Goose, Mallard, Wigeon, Scaup, Tufted, Gadwall, Pochard, Shoveler, Goldeneye, Cormorant, Coot, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Great Crested Grebe, Curlew, Dunlin, Turnstone, Oystercatcher, Lapwing, Sparrowhawk, Meadow Pipit, Pied Wagtail, Starling, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Robin, Wren, Dunnock, Collared Dove, Woodpigeon, Feral Pigeon, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Reed Bunting, Carrion Crow, Magpie, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Bullfinch, Chaffinch, Great Spotted Woodpecker and Skylark.

9-Scaup,5m 4f and 1-Long Tailed Duck together midway between the sails and the locks close in to the bank. Also 1m-Black Redstart on rooftops in Penarth Marina.10h00-11h30

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

managed to see the r f bluetail at 11 15 briefly after 7 hours and 2 visits well done to Tony fisher for finding it

Dipper singing on Afon Cynffig in Pyle yesterday. Water level has to reveal perches which are either rocks or fallen branches,  as bird has been absent during, and after, heavy rain.

Excellent view of pair of displaying Goldcrest in trees above singing Dipper. Male with fully revealed crest (more bright orange than yellow). First such sighting for me.

The Glauc seems to be there every morning of late. I arrived in time to see it fly off not long before 1pm, which was roughly the same time it made an exit on Friday.

Perhaps of interest to Cardiff listers, the 3 Stock Doves seem to be wintering at Forest Farm, all being present today and yesterday.

A few sightings from this morning’s WeBS count:

Teal (62), Shoveler (2), Pintail, Gadwall (3), Wigeon (2), Goldeneye (13), Little Egret, Grey Heron (5), Little Grebe (8), Purple Sandpiper (2), Redshank (16), Common Sandpiper, Curlew (83), Turnstone (21), Mediterranean Gull (2), Yellow-legged Gull (3 – an adult and two 1st-winters).

Just missed it at 9:45 but saw it at 10:15 in usual spot.

Black redstart town centre (roof tops Windsor Rd). Flock of 50 Redwing with couple of Fieldfare on Stanwell school rugby pitch

15 long tailed tits 21 redwings 1 dipper 6 blackbirds blue tits robins dunnocks 6 collard doves 4 wood pigeons 2 song thrush .

in my garden in Briton ferry this afternoon a chiff chaff was a surprise.

Black redstart on the cliff top near ‘The Barn’

Suspected Siberian Chiffchaff present again, camping near the Aberaman bridge. 

The RFBT popped out briefly to the side of the path looking back the way you come, near the pipes that go under the path at around 8.40. It then did a little half loop and came out again behind the group of us on the path in the other direction around 10/15 minutes later.

Generally quiet.Great Spotted Woodpecker(2),Jay(1),Nuthatch(1), Bullfinch(4), Lesser Black-Back Gull(22 all on lower reservoir), Red Kite(5), Buzzard(4), Peregrine(1). Greylag Goose(11 circled Upper reservoir but did not land).Brynllefrith quiet and still, best were Reed Bunting(16 in a feeding flock on the fringes of the reservoir), Lesser Redpoll(7) ,Woodcock(1 which I flushed near the ruins of Brynllefrith farm) and Raven (4 “honkers”).

 

The Glauc is there again this morning – not bad at all before starting work on a Friday!

In the company of Ed Hunter, we grilled the Common Scoter flock of 2,000+ from Burry Holms for the recently reported probable Black Scoter (BS). 0945-1445. No sign, however it was still a most productive and enjoyable session as we picked out an immature Surf Scoter, 6 Long-tailed duck, 1 Red-throated Diver, 1 Fulmar and a first winter Iceland Gull. The Gull was initially feeding off the west tip of Burry Holms but soon flew to rest on the beach and was flushed north by dog walkers and not relocated. A Grey Plover flew in calling. A walk back through Llangennith Moors was quiet just 5 Mallard, 2 Stonechat, 4 Dunnock, 2 Robin and 2 Chaffinch but I just could not resist a photo of a recently born lamb!

later on to feed on the beach.

I was sent these two pix of a putative Sibe [tristis] Chiffy near the St David’s hotel by Tony Fisher [thanks Tony]- they were seen yesterday.