Sightings today included Pale-bellied Brent Goose (two), Pintail, Wigeon, Goldeneye (three), Goosander (three), Little Egret, Water Rail, Purple Sandpiper (six), Sanderling, Common Sandpiper, Turnstone (21), Tawny Owl, Kingfisher and Dipper (singing).

fem snow bunting was along the edge of the dunes by the fenced-off lapwing area.

at least 64 grey plover, may have been an extra 52 which were on the sands at start of the walk, but not sure of duplication. around 75 curlew, 120+ dunlin, 64 ringed plover, 12 sanderling, 38 eider.

GN diver off salthouse point, crofty y’day and fem RB merganser by loughor bridge,

both higher up the estuary than usual

Late posting for yesterday.  A (female?) peregrine seemingly indecisive over whether to roost in the north or east stand rafters provided a welcome distraction from the football yesterday afternoon, flying from one to the other between 4:30 and 4:45.

A Bittern flew across the west lake reeds at Cosmeston at 1635 today, landing in the reedbed edge behind the posts. A drake Pintail was present on the west lake.

Earlier in the afternoon at Kenfig there were plenty of birds on the pool including drake Scaup, drake Goldeneye, Wigeon, Teal, Shoveler, Pochard, Tufted Duck, Gadwall, Mallard, Coot, Cormorant and Great Crested Grebe.

Generally quiet with a stiff northerly breeze. On the canal Kingfisher(1),Moorhen(5),Mallard(7).On the fast flowing Tawe Cormorant(1) and singing Dipper(3).Otherwise Buzzard(2),Goldcrest(1),Redwing(250+),Starling(4),Song Thrush(1) and Blackbird(6)

A water rail and two jack snipe were among 23 birds captured this morning.

See: http://gowerbirdringinggroup.blogspot.co.uk/2016/12/oxwich-marsh-31-december-2016-blwyddyn.html

Nine little egret roosted on the marsh (which is far more than the usual 2-4).

The Long-taield Duck was at the far [N] end of the barrage and made its way towards the sails. Moulting so now showing a fairly good tail spike, much whiter face and some pink on the bill. Hopefully it will stay long enough to show full drake plumage. The 7 Greater Scaup were at the extreme S end just past the fish run. Also a Cormorant in the bay trying to swallow a v large eel. Annoyed I didn’t take my camera as it was drizzling when we left home.

In Penarth Marina, the male Black Redstart was on roofs by the Plas Pamir parking area.

I’ve made this a ‘sticky’ post for a while – hope y’all don’t mind.

Not a sighting I know, but bear with me. Well done to Graham Powell for being the first person to send his 2016 bird records to me – no prize sorry! So, it is an opportune moment for me to issue a plea to all East Glam birders out there to get your records for 2016 in please. Most contributors already use the preferred spreadsheet but if you need one let me know, or download it from the Records page of the web site {http://www.glamorganbirds.org.uk/records.html}. My details are on the main web site contacts page. I would like to get all records in by the end of Jan as it takes quite a long time to collate them all into a single spreadsheet. Thanks in anticipation. Any birds requiring descriptions shd be sent to our Recorder, Phil Bristow, ASAP. The lists of description species are also on the above linked page. [These need updating due to recent changes, which will do shortly.

Thanks for the comments. One more to add to the mix. Again thanks to Alec for the excellent photos.

Dunraven – a male Dartford Warbler in scrub by the car park toilet block.

Ogmore Estuary – there are now eight Goldeneye (including five males). This is the most so far this winter and hopefully numbers will continue to build, but I have never known so few in midwinter. A Pintail is still present.

Island Farm – 150 Redwings and 100 Linnets in a weedy field north of New Inn Road.

Watermill – Water Rail, Little Egret (flew towards Ewenny), Kingfisher, 10+ Snipe and two Woodcock noted between sunset and dusk.

The long stayers still hanging around today:  Black Redstart at Plas Taliesin (Penarth Marina); Long-tailed duck between the ‘sails’ and barrage lock gates, and 7 Scaup off International Drive (old ice rink). (DJJ/GJJ).

3 great northern divers and 2 red-throated divers between Broughton and Blue Pool Corner.  Also 15+ great crested grebe and at least one other distant diver spp.

2 kestrel at Burry Holms and c. 50 common scoter close enough to the island to be grilled for velvets etc.

First visit after return from Dorset. 100+ Tufties, 8 Pochard, 12 Redwing and 2 Mistle Thrush feeding in W paddock, 1 Common and 1 Jack Snipe flushed by the snipe paddock. O/W very crowded.

Comments welcome. Photos courtesy of Alec Stewart who I happened to bump into at the same time this bird popped up into the buddleia.

Boxing Day. 33 species. Highlights were the 3 Goosander (2m, 1F, more or less under the footbridge), the Dipper singing strongly between Western Avenue and Llandaff, and the 55-80 Redwings near Pontcanna Riding School and the wooded paddock edges.

 

Goldeneye 5, goosander 3, snipe 1, sparrowhawk 2 and a pintail of note this morning before the bulk of the Bank Holiday walkers arrived.

Male Hen Harrier. Red Kite. Snipe. Chough.

A nice walk round Cardiff Bay. 7 scaup still, 1  male black redstart (Penarth Marina) and long tailed duck showing very well by the sails.Also a Siberian chiffchaff showing very well in buddleia 200m north of the sailing centre.

Jack Snipe (2) and Common Snipe (5) in a wet field east of the village this afternoon (DJJ/GJJ).

Cattle egret Showed well for 15 minutes at about 14:30 in field opposite Pinewood studios on the Wentlooge rd in East Cardiff. More details on south Wales birding Facebook page.