A fall of Chiffchaff accompanied by Goldcrests and two Firecrest provided the interest today as reported by John. Firecrests were particularly difficult to photograph. Also, two Sand Martin.

Nice afternoon birding at Cosmeston with nice company too. 2 Firecrest and several Goldcrest. Fieldfare and Redwing in E Paddock but no sign of Redpoll. Reed warbler by the hide. More Goldcrest, Chiffchaff  from the 1st platform south of the bridge. A Kingfisher was flying around W lake landing at several points, on the lake was several Greylags, Cetti heard in reed bed opposite hide.

A Firecrest was at the top end of Pant Norton late afternoon, earlier on today a Wheatear was on the lower estuary.

Went back this afternoon – 2 Firecrests reported. Eventually got on to both birds feeding uncharacteristically very high in the tops of the tall trees about 30m beyond the far end of the main bridge, either side of the path. Also several Goldcrest there and a few Chiffchaffs. Firecrests present until at least 4:30 – one had moved into the small isolated ‘copse’ on the path that leads around the back of E lake. Got some record pix but not v good due to their insisting on staying high up. Below is the best I could manage and that is cropped!

Couldn’t find a Firecrest at Cosmeston this morning, although there were 3 ‘crests’ in the right area, one of which I did manage to ID as a Goldcrest [duh brain remembered his camera but forgot his bins!] – they were mostly high above me so using the lens at 400mm as a ‘scope was no good].
A lone Lesser Redpoll was in the snipe paddock, 20 Redwing and 2 Fieldfare in W paddock, Green ‘Pecker calling, lots of people.

Near Penarth Road Bridge (picnic area west of Penarth Road) Chiffchaff singing; Cetti’s Warbler singing.

Female Blackcap in Canton garden.

An interesting record from 19th Mar: Mary Gallagher, a GBC member who lives in Porthcawl, opened her curtains to see this strutting along their garden wall: Nice pic Mary!

Firecrest at Cosmeston late Saturday afternoon. It was on the west side of the path between the lakes north of the bridge at the point where you can either carry on north or go west around the top end of the West Lake.

On the same visit, in the East Paddock 2 Lesser Redpoll seen briefly feeding on the ground west of the shallow ‘valley’ until disturbed by walkers. Common Snipe and Green Woodpecker in the fenced area at the top of the West Paddock.

Ceri Jones saw a Firecrest at Cosmeston this afternoon on LH side of the main ‘mile road’ path between the lakes beyond the far end of W lake [I guess somewhere just after the bridge].

Four little egrets leaving the roost this morning, and water rail and chiffchaff among 32 birds captured for ringing.

For the latest ringing news see: gowerbirdringinggroup.blogspot.co.uk/2016/03/oxwich-marsh-19-march-2016-gower.html

 

Highlights from Cossie dog walk this morning: my first Sand Martin of the year briefly over W lake, c.20 Redwing feeding in W paddock with a Mistle Thrush, cracking view of a Cetti’s Warbler [just missed grabbing a shot 😦 ], c.6 Chiffies around the hide area and the middle viewpoint, fly-by Kingfisher from the main bridge, still a few Pochard around, and the Tufted x Scaup hybrid – basically a “Scufty”!  🙂

A singing Chiffchaff was on the riverbank just south of the dog-leg in the path, and two 2nd yr Med Gulls were on the playing fields nearby. Mistle Thrush were singing by Tesco in the bay and in Grangetown. 36 Shellduck were on the mudbanks beyond the barrage.

Thanks to Strinda Davies for leading another enjoyable Glamorgan Bird Club monthly walk at a cold and grey Kenfig. There were 12 participants and we saw or heard 48 species in all. Highlights included Golden Plover, Lapwing, Curlew, Redshank, Sparrowhawk, Greylag Geese, Pintail, Goldeneye, Great Black-backed Gull and Bullfinch.

Full species list:
Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Greylag Goose, Mallard, Pintail, Goldeneye, Tufted – Duck, Wigeon, Teal, Gadwall, Pochard, Coot, Great Crested Grebe, Curlew, Lapwing, Golden Plover, Redshank, Great Black-backed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Common Gull, Black-headed Gull, Raven, Carrion Crow, Magpie, Jay, Blackbird, Mistle Thrush, Starling, Robin, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Bullfinch, Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, Great Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Collared Dove, Woodpigeon, Reed Bunting, House Sparrow, Dunnock, Cetti’s Warbler, Meadow Pipit, Pied Wagtail and Wren

A brief look on E lake seemed to show the Lsr Scaup was back although it was distant. However when I got back round to the cafe boardwalk that bird turned out to be the Tufted X Scaup hybrid which is the middle, dusky-sided looking bird in this cropped phone pic. This is the one with the broad black bill nib.

Whilst watching that I scanned again and saw the Lsr Scaup along the shoreline adjacent the golf course, so one assumes it had returned from Lisvane.

Also noted, around 10 Redwing and 2 Fieldfare feeding on the grassy ‘meadow’ by Sully Brook, beyond the dovecote field, and 2 pairs of Bullfinch feeding on buds by the Med Village entrance.

Delighted to find a drake lesser scaup cavorting in front of Lisvane Res car park at 15:15, chasing and courting a female tufted duck in company with various male tufties. Still present when I left at 15:45. The Cosmeston bird was absent this morning, apparently, so presumably the same bird.

Redpoll still in E Paddock, also Goldcrest and Chiffchaff along main path between both lakes.

Sand Martin over the Taff by the inlet at 11.30

Cetti’s Warbler singing. 7 Cormorants.

40-50 Redwings were feeding in the grounds of St. Paul’s Church at 7.30 a.m., which must be more than the total I’ve seen all Winter!

2 Redpoll in the E paddock same area as reported by John Wilson & Ceri Jones.

Also 2 Goldcrest, Reed Bunting and Chiffchaff along main path between both lakes.