Undertook the RSPB BGBW this morning. Unusually the birds played ball this year. Recorded 18 species, the max count being a flock of 44 Siskins. They tend to take over the feeders, not letting other species get a look in – until a Wood Pigeon crashes in. Siskins seem to come in, in numbers when it’s raining. I believe that their usual food, the Alder catkins swell up in wet weather, forcing them to search elsewhere.

I’ve just been informed that the adult winter Mediterranean Gull I saw recently 16/01/16 in Porthcawl (white ring, right leg, black lettering E187) was ringed first in Antwerp, Belgium 22/05/10 as a 3rd calendar year bird. Last recorded 30/03/11 in Antwerp. That means it is now in its 9th calendar year.

The Knap – Glaucous Gull at beach at about 15:00.

Barry Dock – 3 adult Med. Gulls.

Cosmeston – Lesser Scaup near boardwalk.

Chiffchaff showing well on the west bank of the Taff by CRB. 7 Bullfinch (4m 3f) in GP from the path just inside the NE entrance near the old Staples.

Grey Heron(4),Black Headed Gull(54),Goosander(8, 4 males 4 redheads),Dabchick(3),Coot(4),Moorhen(4),Mallard (35),Canada Goose(6),Stonechat(1 pair),Bullfinch(3 males),Buzzard(1 overhead),Red Kite(1 overhead),Blackbird (15),Song Thrush(3),Dunnock(6)

BTO N.E.W.S. survey produced the following highlights early afternoon on falling tide:- 2 Grey Plover, 1 Purple Sandpiper, 7 Redshank, 23 Turnstone and 1 Mediterranean Gull (Ad winter unringed). Lock’s common was quiet in the high winds, just a couple of Rock Pipt, Stonechat and a Robin.

Good variety of birds today. From hide without door 10 Snipe, 1 Water Rail, 1 Fox and a few Moorhen present. Also 12 Grey Herons in the marshy area near the hide.

At the Coryton hernonry there are plenty of Herons already repairing nests and displaying.

200 Black-headed Gulls flying around the field at Glantaf on the 21st was a record for me here. (GJJ)

 

Canton, Cardiff- one this morning.

The Lesser Scaup was still present this morning, sheltering from the wind in the lea of the central path on E lake. 4 Bullfinch [1m 3f] were feeding together by the Med. Village concrete path. I put some seed by the dragon tree in Cogan wood and was immediately surrounded by birds, but no show by Marsh Tit during 20 mins sitting on the bench.

Best of a short visit to Garwnant on Thursday morning was 2 Willow tit, 4 Crossbill and a Kestrel. The first Willow Tit was seen and heard calling at the top of the visitor centre car park near some large green storage containers. The second was heard calling with a mixed Tit flock about 150m north along the forestry track from the Visitor Centre car park. Good views of the Crossbills in the top of a tree in the VC car park. The Kestrel was hunting in the northern clearfell.

A drake Goosander was at the eastern end of Butetown Pond, and the Mute Swans were still at Parc Taf Bargoed.

Cosmeston a.m. the drake Lesser Scaup was by the cafe boardwalk and a pair of Gt Crested Grebes were displaying. The Bittern was apparently seen in flight.

At the Knap, Barry late afternoon, Ceri’s Glaucous Gull was either flying up & down the beach or on the lake for a short while. Click on all pix for a bigger image.

upwards of 50 med gulls there this morning.. Most I’ve counted this winter

Water Rail 1 Kingfisher 1 Little Egret 3 Grey Heron 8 Grey Wagtail 1 Redwing 2 Black-headed Gull 20 Buzzard 2

Sorry about poor image vegetation got in the way

1st Winter Glaucous Gull at Knap Lake, Barry late this afternoon. Flew off towards Knap Beach at 16.45

GBC trip today in howling winds! Despite the winds we clocked a couple of Chough at Rhossili, a small raft of 20-30 Common Scoter in Rhossili Bay, several Fulmar off the cliffs, a Great Northern Diver just off the Worm ’causeway’ and a GC Grebe there, and Alan Rosney had a fly-by Kittiwake, and a flock of c.200 Linnet were in the stubble fields. At Oxwich, another raft of 20-30 Scoter, another very ‘contrasty’ GN Diver, several GC Grebes, 30 or so Sanderling, and a v distant flock of Ringed Plover on the beach.

First posting .. so testing really!

44 birds in the mixed finch flock feeding in the garden this morning – 17 chaffinch, 16 goldfinch, 10 siskin and a solitary male house sparrow. Probably won’t see half of them for the Big Garden Bird Watch at the weekend.

A skua was present from 15:45 until dusk. I initially thought it was a Pomarine, but am now happy it was, in fact, an Arctic. It alternated chasing the gulls around the rivermouth with resting on the beach. No pics, unfortunately, weather foul.

First thing this morning, before the rain.  The Lesser Scaup at the far end of East Lake, near the central path, and at least one Marsh Tit in Cogan Wood.  Cetti’s Warbler calling near the boardwalk.

Kingfisher female seen on and around the island.

Got a nice video clip of the Lsr Scaup this morning, off the cafe boardwalk – will upload in a bit. Other than that the usual suspects.