Despite the murk and gloom this morning the Bittern left the island reed bed at 07:50 and landed high up in the reeds across the bay facing the boardwalk about 130m away. It stayed there until 08:45 when it finally climbed down the reeds and crept away. Light was terrible but scope views were actually okay once the cloud lifted a bit.

Poor record shot of the bird sitting in the reeds. ISO 3200, 130m and really poor light don’t make for great photos – nor the fact the bird is extremely well camouflaged!

Evening update:
At 16:55 the bird came out of the reed island, did a circuit of the the reserve then landed back in the reeds. I had been down there since 16:00, I’d like to think I didn’t miss it going in but crossing the channel takes seconds so it’s easily missed. Some even grainier flight shots below.

Late afternoon dog walk. There were 57 Pochard on W lake, again nearly all drakes. 50 Redwing and a single Fieldfare in W paddock which suddenly flew up when a smart male Sparrowhawk had a go and nearly got one after doing a spectacular stall-turn.

Bittern flew from roost at 07.57 to main reserve.

Footage from the hidden bird table from yesterday.

Delayed WeBS count from Sunday. Not v pleasant in mist & drizzle, and large grassy area of Green Point at the Rhymney river mouth completely ripped to mud by quad bikes!

At Green Pt impressive flock of waders covering the end of the point – c.1000 Redshank and c.2000 Dunlin. Managed to find about 6 Knot in with the Dunlin [located in flight initially]. Also 100 Lapwing, 120 Shoveler [high count for there], 4 Wigeon, 35 Pintail, 120 Shelduck, 1 Snipe.

At the Heliport bay, 30 Shelduck, 75 Pintail, 5 Shoveler, 1 Curlew, 12 Oyc, 1 Redshank and 24 Turnstone.

Shoveler and Tree creeper at the Wilderness Lake

Marsh Tit calling by trees 25m u/s west bank from Clarence Road Bridge 11:00. Bittern flew from the large bay to the reed island CBWR at 16:25. Blackcap fem in Plas St Andresse.

No sign of Glaucous Gull this evening but 1 Yellow Legged Gull present. Bittern was seen by another birder flying to the island to roost at 16:30 (but I was looking the wrong way at the time!) Also 8 Scaup and Long-tailed Duck near the old ice rink.

Back after a week in N Norfolk. There were 37 Pochard on W lake [of which only 4-5 were female], plus 2 Gadwall, and the usual Tufties were distributed between both lakes. A sum plum pair of Gt Crested Grebes displayed briefly on W lake. There were 2 Common Gulls on the posts, 50 Redwing flew out of W paddock and a Buzzard was over Cogan Wood.

Had to go into Caerphilly so did a lap around the moat: Goosander 8 four males and four females Teal 2 males Kingfisher 2 and no camera! Also a preroost gathering of Jackdaw involving circa 600 birds.

6 female Goosander and a Water Rail during WeBS count this morning

tir John pond port tenant 14 teal 7 male , Crumlyn bog,buzzard, 500 starlings,10 redwing,200 jackdaw,danagraig cemetry,great spotted woodpecker, 6 wood pigeon,4 blackbird,2 carrion crow, 2 blue tits,robin and dunnock.fenrod lake ,30+ Canada geese 21 mute swan, 10 tufteds,10 pochard, 6 chaffinch,60 black h gulls,4 dunnock,12 coot one with a ring but couldn’t,see the numbers,6 moorhen 2 robin,11 sparrows.15 magpies.

Huge count of 68 Snipe (one of which was later taken by a Peregrine) and 61 Teal today on the Ely floodplain. Large flock of Redwing with a few Fieldfare mixed in. (ASR, JFD & TA)

A dreadfull afternoon at the Liberty stadium today brightened up by a female perigrine  flying  from stand to stand oblivious of the crowd it’s been there a few weeks apparently

Kingfisher(2),Common Snipe(4),Canada Goose(2),Mute Swan(3),Mallard(18),Tufted Duck(1), Coot(6), Moorhen(8), Redwing(8).Foraging flock of Great Tit(8),Blue Tit(12),Coal Tit(8)Long Tailed Tit(14) and Black-headed Gull(25) on one of the pools.

The ringing report for Oxwich is now on line. See: http://gowerbirdringinggroup.blogspot.co.uk/2017/01/oxwich-marsh-ringing-report-2016.html

I’ve been scoping out some nice berry-laden trees recently, that I pass on my daily walk to the train station. This morning on my way to the station, empty of birds except a lone blackbird, but on the way back, I was very excited to hear a gentle trilling as I approached – rounded the corner, and bingo!!!

13 of the little lovelies – feeding on a rowan next to the car park of the council offices, a car park shared with Barry Leisure Centre. I watched them from 3:34-4:45, when they flew off and sat in a tree in Home Bargains car park. I’ll check again and report on twitter (@lizardschwartz) if they’re there in the morning!

A little grebe this lunchtime of note on the Taff near the first bridge as you go from the entrance at the start of Cowbridge Road East. First time I’ve seen one on this stretch.

Bittern seen flying across from the big bay into the far end of the reed islands at 16.25

Some dates for your diaries plus some additional information. I’m running a field trip this year in each January, February & March. Two local trips and an away trip to North Wales.

1# As is traditional for the January trip we will combine a trip to Whiteford before driving to Llanrhidian for the Egret & Harrier roost. This will take place on Saturday 14th January 2017. Meet at Cam Ivy car park at 08:30 with a full day around Whiteford planned before heading to Marsh Road e/o Llanrhidian by 15:00 to observe the roost before last light.

2# Away trip to North Wales. This trip will target Black Grouse, Twite, Surf Scoter and possibly Greenland White-fronted Goose depending on time. At present there are four of us confirmed and we’ll be going up together in my car. The plan will be to travel through the night to get to the Black Grouse lekking sites (near Wrexham) before first light on Friday 17th February 2017. From there we will go to the private reserve on Connah’s Quay for Twite before finishing with a check over the Scoter flock near Llandudno. Overnight stay in Premier in at Llandudno (Glan-Conwy) LL28 5LB is already booked for four of us. On Saturday 18th, depending on the success of Friday, we will either try for Black Grouse again, or perhaps return to South Wales via Greenland White-fronted Geese. I’m quite happy to lead additional car-loads of birders over both days but travel arrangements (including car-share) and accommodation will need to be arranged independantly. For further details about joining with this trip please contact me directly.

3# Looking for Great Grey Shrikes. This has been a successful trip in previous  years and this year’s target location will be Mynydd Marchywel. Meet beforehand at Aberdulais Falls visitor centre at 09:00 on Sunday 12th March 2017 to travel up together from there. It is essential to contact me before this trip so that I have an idea of numbers.

07875 431 917 or markhipkin1@gmail.com