2 Black Redstarts (1 male,1 fem/imm? brown but with faint grey wing flashes) still present in Penarth Marina/Plas Taliesin – the first seen since last Monday. The hybrid resembling Lsr Scaup has been under Grangetown fly-over (A4232) since yesterday.

The firecrest reported yesterday was there again today at around 3.40, with possibly two individuals present, just to the N of the limekilns.

Good count of 6 Great Northern Divers feeding off the Lighthouse scar today, also 1638 Oystecatchers, 33 Eiders, 701 D-b Brents, 2P-b’s, 3 R-b Mergs, 550 Herring Gulls, 80 Knot, 360 Dunlin, etc. We bumped into Ian Tew near the lodge who had just seen a Firecrest.

A Great Northern Diver was feeding out in the Bay. On the falling tide 56 Brent Geese (bernicla) flew in to feed and there were 47 Oystercatcher. A Curlew flew over calling and a pair of Kestrel, pair of Raven and a Sparrowhawk were hunting over the caravan park.

An unusual record of three Lesser Redpoll feeding in the carpark just before 9am, (probably the same birds seen by Ceri Jones).Even more unusual was the Redwing that sang briefly from one of the trees in the carpark. A Bittern was also seen by a birder from Manchester, who showed me a picture of it on the back of his camera.

 

Mediterranean Gull was on the East Lake this afternoon and 3 Lesser Redpoll in the East Paddock found by Ceri Jones. Lesser Scaup on the West Lake today.

 

A Little Egret was feeding in the West Cross area of Swansea Beach this afternoon:

 

 

Cosmeston – Buzzard, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, 2 Green Woodpecker (in West Paddock, both seen from gate at SE corner), 1 GS Woodpecker calling from Cogan Wood, Fieldfare, Redwing and Mistle Thrush all in West Paddock. Lesser Scaup, Pochard, Gadwall and Shoveler on the West Lake. Treecreeper in the car park.

Sully (this morning soon after high tide) – 1 Mediterranean Gull on the playing fields (viewed from coast path just east of Clevedon Ave), 7 Grey Plover and 20 Turnstone on the beach (between Clevedon Ave and the derelict slipway).

Lavernock (fields along Fort Rd south of the disused railway bridge) – mixed flock of Mistle Thrush, Fieldfare, Starling and (mostly) Redwing, 1 Grey Wagtail (seems a bit out of place here, though there was 1 on Lavernock church roof last Autumn!), 3 Jays, 1 Buzzard, 1 Raven and a Pheasant.

Great Grey Shrike this morning viewed from the Lower Summerhouse Path bench on the way up the path to the Motte.

Good birds from the door less hide today. 17 Snipe present – a record for me here, 2 Water Rail, 1 Kingfisher, 4 Moorhen, 2 Mallard and at least 3 Reed Bunting. Also a Little Grebe on the canal. (GJJ)

Really pleased to get my first ‘self-found’ firecrest today at Aberthaw. The bird was in the bushes immediately below and east (right looking up the hill) of the old works at ST038661. A goldcrest also popped up to provide a comparison. Also a chiffchaff, 9 brent and 40 plus wigeon on the sea.

 

Glaucous Gull juv offered fabulous views this morning down to 20m perched on the rocks by Lock Cottage for about 5mins before appearing to fly out to sea possibly towards Penarth 11:00.

Juv Glaucous Gull close inshore from Llwyn Passat at 09:50.

3 Mistle Thrush, 1 Song Thrush and 1 Redwing in W paddock this morning. There seem to be 7 GC Grebes on the lakes. The Lesser Scaup was on E lake, by the reed bed.

Hybrid resembling Lsr Scaup in Prospect Place. Glaucous Gull still present and showing well in CBWR at 13:30.

The Glaucous Gull found by Graham Smith was still present at 14:00 but by then out in the middle of the Bay with the other big gulls.

Bit distant but managed a couple of record shots.

An imm Glaucous Gull was reported from Cardiff BaY Wetlands this morning, resting on the perimeter buoys, still present at 13:10.

Drake Goldeneye on the lake this morning. Also 6 Teal, 10 Pochard and 121 Tufted Duck amongst the usual suspects.

Whiteford: 3 great northern diver at the point foraging together, lots of crossbill activity in the plantation (including a singing bird), and a red kite flying across the Inlet over the dunes
Rhossili: 587 common scoter in several flocks. Relatively accurate count as most loafing as opposed to foraging. Red kite.
Wernffrwd / Llanrhidian: 2 RB Mergs, 2 ringtail hen harrier, short-eared owl, 3 GW Egret
I am giving a talk at the Environment Centre, Pier St, Swansea tomorrow 19:00 on Ringing at Oxwich 2013 to date. Admission £1.

Cetti’s Warbler present calling again this morning @ Tir Founder Fields, Aberdare. Thought it might have left due to cold weather, but no, been here 6 months so hints that it may have a partner and is here to breed! Could this be a first for the Valleys? Will try a stake out to get photo record.