Caught up with the Grey Phal found by Maxine Levett at Aberthaw y’day, then went to Cardiff Bay for the L-t Duck. Also a few Rock Pipits there.

I did a cetacean survey from Locks Common this morning in flat calm conditions. 2 porpoise present for 3/4 hour. 2 great crested grebe, 2 RT divers u/c, 3 diver sp d/c, 13 common scoter d/c, 10 guillemot d/c, 30+ auk sp on surface of water about 1.5 miles out. An egret went d/c which I suspect to be GWE but too far out to be confident. 4 chough were feeding on the common.

Long-tailed Duck close in near the sails at 09:55. Still present at 12:30 at least.

Couple of shots – it was very close in at times – shame it wasn’t in a slightly neater plumage.

 

A Grey Phalarope was found and photographed on E Aberthaw pool today, by Maxine Levett. I have her permission to post the photo here.

A fem type Black Redstart was catching flies on the roof of Ty Gwalia (Chandler Quay) on the balcony facing Pont y Werin (14:00). The ad male Black Redstart with a protruding loose neck feather is still present in the courtyard of Penarth Marina. 2 Scaup still in CBWR towards the far end from the boardwalk, and also a Chiffchaff. Update 16:00: from Julian Swan: 4 Scaup, 3 Gooseander, 1 Wigeon from the boardwalk.

A Bittern was seen at Cosmeston this morning, first in the W lake main reeds then across the ‘bay’ into the reeds to the L of the hide [per Graham Smith]. Nice one Graham. Hope it stays.

Continued ssw movement to ssw-lighter than yesterday but c 13,000 in one and a half hours over Canton.

Very quiet in the valley with a brisk breeze. Blackbird(7),Song Thrush(2),Red Kite (3),Buzzard(2),Bullfinch(2).A surprising first for me here was a Water Rail flushed from a very small ditch by Brynllefrith plantation. Highlight was a single Golden Plover being chased by two Merlin. The plover was calling constantly and the speed and maneuvers of the chase were quite spectacular. I don’t know what the final result was as they disappeared out of sight over Mynydd Garn Fach. There was no sign of the Long Tailed Duck on the Upper Reservoir

East end of waterfront this afternoon, Common Sandpiper, 3 Grey Wagtail. 5 Meadow Pipits, 2 Male Stonechats, 3 Linnets, no sign of Scoter though

2 Chiffchaffs first thing this morning at the end of the boardwalk.Still 2 Scaup. An ad male Black Redstart in Penarth Marina skulking in the corner of the courtyard.

Single Treecreeper and Goldcrest by the central path. Fem Shoveler on E lake, 84 Tufties in total, could only see 3 Pochard on W lake, 1 Green ‘Pecker and only 4 Redwing seen by W paddock [there have been up to 50]. A Common Darter seemed a bit late, and a Red Admiral was in the sun by E lake.

Heavy ssw movement this morning over Canton with c42,000 in two and a quarter hours. Birds still passing at end of counting period at 9.45 am.

Tawny Owl sat on one of the signs on the roundabout

21 Curlew on Sully Island on this morning’s high tide. Second highest count for me there in last 5 years. Dunlin, Ringed Plover, Turnstone and Oystercatcher on Sully beach. Kingfisher at Cadoxton River mouth.

At Cadoxton Ponds, great views of a hunting Sparrowhawk in the early morning sunshine. Also present 5 Cetti’s Warbler and 3 Water Rail.

Common Scoter and adult Mediterranean Gull still at Barry Docks early afternoon.

2 Scaup 200m from the boardwalk.An ad. Med Gull on the Sand Wharf pontoon at Channel View.

Two firecrests this morning, plus two chiffchaffs. Very few goldcrests and no evidence of YBWs.

6 shoveler and 3 wigeon on the South Pond.

For photos and summary of ringing, see: http://ow.ly/7zBL305SQ8H

Light movement to the ssw again this morning with 6,100 in an hour and a half over Canton.

An Adult Mediterranean Gull was at the west end of Barry Waterfront this evening with 40+ Black-headed Gulls.

The 2015 Bird Reports to be posted, are now at my local post office for postage labels to be printed and applied. They shd go out either tomorrow or Monday. Penarth ones nearby to me, were hand delivered his afternoon. Postage is not cheap these days, at £1.54 per copy!

Goosander 2 redheads, Redwing 6 Cormorant 5 on power cables.