Early on, there were 4 adult winter Mediterranean Gulls resting on rocks just south of Lock’s Common. Late morning, there were still 11 Goosander (3 drake / 8 female) at the Wilderness Pool (12 yesterday with 4 drakes). A Kingfisher was also heard there and a Grey Heron, 3 Cormorant and 2 pairs of Shoveler were present. At Manor Farm, the Bar-tailed Godwit is still with the Curlew flock in the paddocks viewable from Pwll-y-waun adjacent to the main A4106 (approx. SS833783).

Pair of Goosanders on River Ely–first of winter at this site.

Glaucous gull showed well(eventually) at the back of CBWR this morning and I’ve just seen a message saying there is an Iceland gull at prospect place

Went to see the waxwings on Newport Road on Friday, and whilst attempting to get an accurate count of them, noticed that one of them was wearing at least ‘a’ red ring on its leg, but the angle was difficult, and it was doing that thing waxwings do when they hide their legs under their body feathers! Luckily it flew down to feed very close to me, and I was able to get some shots that confirmed it as metal over orange on the right leg, and triple red on the left.

Sent the record off to the Grampian ringing group, and within the evening received a reply. Andy Burns seems to have also noticed the bird and sent in a report – here’s an excerpt from the reply:

As I’m leaving for Norfolk for a week, I thought I’d post this as a sticky before I go, in case I don’t get a chance during the week. I apologise that it may have to remain as a sticky until I get back [unless I can do the necessary whilst away]. I will re-sticky the records post after the 10th. PS we have full strength WiFi at the hotel so no probs!

So, a reminder that there’s an indoor meeting on Tuesday 10th at 7:45 p.m. KNNR reserve centre. Club member Paul Seligman is giving a slide/video presentation about his trip to the South Atlantic last year so there will be lots of interesting wildlife on show. In addition Paul is offering a prize of a framed print of your choice from the show – details on the night. Do some along as it should be good. Just sorry I can’t be there. John Wilson

104 Canada geese ,15 wigeon,15 mallard,20 black h gull,2 teal,2 little grebe,4 lapwing,3 cormorants,1 heron,2 common gull,1 curlew,3 redshank,24 goldfinch,3 large white geese with the Canada geese

Felt like spring. A few Great Tit “see sawing” and a bat was feeding above the Tawe where the bridge crosses by Faerdre RFC. On the canal usual suspects, Kingfisher(1), Moorhen(5),Mallard(9). Only Redwing(6) remained in the field where a large flock fed last week. With them were Blackbird(7) and Song Thrush(4). Amongst the birch and alders Goldfinch(12) and Lesser Redpoll(10). Dipper(2) singing males on the Tawe and Buzzard(1) kept watch as the mist rolled in.

4 Snipe, 1 Ad Med Gull on W lake, 1 Common Gull on the posts, 1 drake Teal on W lake and good count of 32 Pochard. There seem to be 120+ Tufties of which I reckon 80-90% are drakes. A few Redwing, a Fieldfare, Mistle Thrush and Green ‘Pecker in W paddock.

42-Waxwings showing really well around the Range and garage area.10h00-11h15

4.45 p.m. – Woodcock flying along edge of Mill Wood – same area as a couple of days ago.

Went back this afternoon and managed a few shots in failing light and mega high ISO. They flew off at around 15:00 into v tall tree beyond KFC, possibly to roost. Plenty of berries left on the two trees at The Range car park so will prob still be there tomorrow.

Nice surprise to see a female black redstart in the office basement carpark this morning. There’s no public access to the carpark, but should be able to see the bird foraging in the back lane from Green St where it is currently.

The Waxwings were still present when I left at around 13:00. About 50 in two berry laden trees by the side of The Range outlet car park next to KFC.

It was Brass Monkey weather this morning as I made the walk out to Sker. There were three Mediterranean Gulls at Rest Bay car park (2 adults and a 2nd winter bird). In calm conditions at least 6 Red-throated Divers afforded good views along with 8 Great Crested Grebe. There were 900 Golden Plover in Sker Farm fields and were quite a spectacle as they took flight. Out at Sker there were about 50 Oystercatcher, 1 Curlew, 1 Redshank, 16 Turnstone and a couple of Purple Sandpiper. Pretty quiet passerine-wise with just 1 Meadow Pipit, 2 Stonechat and a Skylark. A quick lap of Wilderness Pool later on produced five Goosander including (pictured) a stunning male and 4 females, which were surprisingly elusive, along with a Pochard. Passerines included 1 Treecreeper, 1 Nuthatch, 4 Coal Tit, 2 Bullfinch, Chaffinch and Goldfinch.

Several times recently, including today, I have seen no less than 9 buzzards together on a field near Merthyr Mawr. The field is down to Oilseed Rape, but rabbits have taken much of the crop , leaving several acres of bare earth. There are many worm casts on the soil surface, and I assume that the buzzards are after worms – the birds are spread out across the field. Several of them are immature, so presumably a family group (or several families?) A few weeks ago there was a Merlin on the field, presumably doing the same thing.

2 ad.male Black Redstarts in Penarth Marina (Plas Taliesin and Plas Pamir) lunchtime.3 Snipe in the reserve from the boardwalk.Possible Siberian Chiffchaff still present at 15:45.

A lunchtime walk around Singleton Park showed a Buzzard (first I’ve seen there ) being mobbed and a small flock of Redwings feeding in the top field.

One possible Siberian Chiffchaff and one Common Chiffchaff present for the third day this morning around the circular viewing area in front of St.Davids Hotel.The Sibe showed well but briefly in the good light including yellow at the wing bend and a faint pale wing bar. No calls heard.

5 p.m. – A Woodcock thrice zigzagged across path in Mill Wood area – or could have been different birds. Male and female Tawny Owls calling in Mill Wood.