Early this morning 2 Snipe were an unusual sight on a frosty boardwalk at Cosmeston. Late this afternoon 4 Chiffchaff were feeding together by the Cadoxton River about 100m east of Sully Moors Road. Near Cadoxton Ponds at dusk there was a rooftop gathering of at least 70 Pied Wagtail. Kestrels were at Bendrick Rock and Sully Moors.

Five Goosander on Pontycymer Pond, and Dipper and Grey Wagtail on the Garw river were the highlights of a walk on Monday afternoon in the Garw valley.

Best of a quick walk this morning a water rail from the hide with a door, and siskins, 6 bullfinch, and at least 3 snipe from the other hide, including one in flight.

50+ common gull, 50+BH gulls, 2 gbb’s, 3 lbb’s, 20 herring gulls, 250 oycs, 5 dunlin, 1 curlew, 1 med gull, 1 gcg flying over towards Crymlyn… lots of corvids (crows + jackdaws), 1 pied wagtail

7 Grey Plovers on the beach just before high water. 3 pics at

http://andyburnsphotography.zenfolio.com/waders/h67e782fd#h67e782fd

Also circa a dozen turnstone,  a few oycs and a couple of curlew. Otherwise very quiet.

An early morning visit to the Wilderness Pool proved wise as it was relatively quiet. We noted 2 Cormorant, a Canada Goose, a pair of Tufted Duck, 4 pairs of Shoveler, 5 Pochard (a male with 4 females), Great Spotted Woodpecker heard calling and a fine male Bullfinch feeding on willow buds. Pwll-y-waun was quiet with a few Coot and Moorhen and there were about 100 Black-headed Gull on the Manor farm fields. Late morning high-tide at Hutchwns point produced 2 Mediterranean Gull, 1 in winter plumage and the Belgian-ringed (E187 right leg) bird now approaching summer plumage with a nice blood red bill and black hood, also 2 Redshank, 2 Turnstone and 70 Black-headed Gull. Not much else due to the usual expected seasonal half-term human and canine activity.

2 Black Redstart (1male+1fem/1st yr male??) in Penarth Marina. 1 Chiffchaff on the barrage coast path.20+ Redwing in the paddock by Blackweir.

On a glorious morning along the cliff top there were: two peregrine falcons, one ‘stooping’ into a pigeon flock and two kestrels further along. About 30+ oystercatchers were roosting on the causeway as a cormorant followed the tide in. In an adjacent field two meadow pipits turned up and a very obliging black redstart (male).

Glamorgan Bird club will be holding a nest box making session on Saturday morning. If you can help out, please meet at 9.30 a.m. at Kenfig Reserve Centre.

The monthly club walk around Kenfig will still be going ahead.

Our first visit to the caravan this year, we were welcomed by a Red Kite and a pair each of hunting Kestrels and displaying Ravens. Offshore in Broughton Bay was a Great Northern Diver, Cormorant and 2 Shelduck. 6 Common Scoter were on the sea out towards Bluepool where 2 Fulmar were patrolling the cliffs. There were 32 Oystercatcher on the rocks at Twlc Point at high tide and about 25 Common Gull on the sea. Broughton farm fields held 3 Lapwing in among the roving Starling flock.

GBC trip today. Great selection of birds with 6 spp of wader, plenty of duck and common birds plus great views of Short-eared Owl

Checked the Little Egrets leaving the island roost at first light.Unusually all the Egrets got up in flight together before then splitting into several flocks.This made it impossible to do an accurate count,but nevertheless there seemed to be many more than the 34 I counted on my last visit.I will try again later in the week,taking my camera.Also at dusk 2-Kingfishers together.

Fab views of hunting ringtail  harrier this morning.. Also present 2 great white egrets, red kite, kestrel…. And all the regular stuff

8 Goosander at 8.45am. 3 males, 5 ‘females’ (brown heads). Great close up views. There most mornings.

A day of finches – the garden finches have increased now to over 80 siskins this morning, at least as many goldfinches, plus a handful of chaffinches and greenfinches, together with two lesser redpoll. Later in the day visited Garwnant, which produced 10 crossbills near the Giant’s Chair and a further three in the car park.

Barn Owl seen and Tawny Owl calling at Cosmeston earlier this evening.

6 purple sandpiper on the rocks just after high tide. My thanks to the birder in Watermill who told me of two. I had not intended going there but when I found his two 4 more flew in. The usual suspects at the Watermill and Portobello

Good views of 6 + Reed Buntings feeding on bird seed on boulders in car park.

Excellent views of redpoll, siskin, greater spotted woodpecker (M&F), long tailed tits, jays, greenfinch plus others on bird tables around back of Education Centre

Goshawk over Parc Slip this morning