This morning at Cosmeston a Lesser Scaup on the East Lake, Kingfisher over the East lake and later flying down the stream from the West Lake to Sully Brook, Green Woodpecker feeding in West Paddock, Cetti’s Warbler in East Lake reedbed, 15 Siskin in the tall, ivy-covered tree at the west end of the cafe boardwalk and a singing Goldcrest along the path between the lakes. On the West Lake Gadwall, Pochard, Teal and Common Gull, a male Bullfinch along Sully Brook and a Buzzard in Cogan Wood.

On Sully Island at sunrise 76 Oystercatcher sheltering from the wind at the western end.

A pair of Stock Doves were in the Ornamental Gardens area of Singleton Park this afternoon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5q0ngzj-8nk

Lesser Scaup now at the knap lake with several tufties as of 15.30 today. The picture below is the best I could get with my phone.

The Lesser Scaup was at Cosmeston this morning – apparently also present yesterday. I saw it in the middle of W lake where there were 350 Tufted Duck, but it was commuting between both lakes. Also present c.15 drake Pochard and about 5 ducks, 7 Gadwall, 2 fem Shoveler, just 2 Teal I could see, 2 Common Gull on the posts, 3 Little Grebe, pair of GC Grebe in full sum plum displaying. 10 Siskin were by the dog field board walk.

Sully beach at low tide this afternoon: 11 Ringed Plover, 15 Turnstone, 14 Oystercatcher, 3 Shelduck, 1 Rock Pipit, 1 Curlew, 2 Dunlin and 1 Grey Heron. The birds were mostly between the sailing club slipway and the Hayes Road beach car park.

At Lavernock earlier 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Kestrel, 1 Water Rail and a singing Goldcrest.

Hutchwns Point on the falling tide again produced 2 Grey Plover and another Adult Mediterranean Gull (white ring this time left leg / white with black lettering / probably a Belgian breeding bird). Lock’s Common held 6 Skylark, 5 Meadow Pipit and 2 Song Thrush. It was pretty quiet birdwise on the walk out to Sker but highlights were a Shag, 40+ Golden Plover and 13 Skylark. A visit to the Wilderness Pool in Porthcawl early pm was productive with nice views of a drake Goosander and a Kingfisher, together with a pair of Tufted Duck and several Shoveler. Just to the north a flock of 200 Lapwing were over Manor farm.

highlight of this morning’s NEWS count at slade sands was 4 Purple sandpiper. Couple of photos:

Bittern came out of the reeds opposite the hide at around 1.30pm today

A nice male redpoll was the best of 74 birds captured at Oxwich this morning.  See: http://gowerbirdringinggroup.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/oxwich-marsh-23-january-2016-first.html

Fieldfare 1, snipe 2, and 100+ lapwing flying over the fields

Male Goldeneye on Lisvane res this afternoon.

I’ll be presenting the Gower Bird Quiz at Swansea Env Centre tonight at 7:30 – friendly questions suitable for all levels of experience. All welcome. £1 entry

    Alba Wagtail Roath Park lake 20th January 2016. Alba yarrellii or Alba alba what’s your 10p on? I think despite the Aa appearance it is probably yarrellii as the mantle has faint markings but, I would not bet too much on it!

The Bittern showed briefly again behind the gull posts in W lake bay late afternoon and there was a reasonably good murmuration of starlings. Eartlier in the day, Poppy the dog flushed 5 Common Snipe and what I’sure were 2 Jack Snipe from the wet, at the time partially frozen puddles at the far end of W paddock by the corner of the fenced in paddock. The Jacks were ID’d solely on mode of flushing – quick, low silent and straight into cover again. There were 2 small flocks of Siskin, 1 by the Med Village boardwalk and the other by the sluice on the other side of E lake, both in Alders. Few pix below. Got a record shot of the Bittern but not as good as Lol’s.

Pluck Lake: 13 Tufted Ducks and a Mute Swan.

Half Round Pond: 2 Cormorants, 1 Grey Heron, 3 Tufted Ducks, 1 male Goosander.

Bittern showed well for a few minutes at 12:35 – also 5 Wigeon, 6 Teal and 3 Snipe in addition to earlier sightings, Chiff Chaff still hanging around the concrete path close to the Med Village entrance.

2 Black Redstarts again (1 male and 1 fem/imm) in Penarth Marina.6 Common Gulls near the orange buoys.Cettis and simgimg Coal Tit showed well.

Quick visit this morning produced 10 siskin feeding on alder tree just off boardwalk near to feeding tables. Also, 19 pochard (17m 2f – ratio for BTO survey purposes), 2 gadwall, 1 little grebe, 2 gc grebe (displaying), 1 fieldfare, 1 redwing, 4 bullfinch, 2 green peckers. In Cogan wood, large numbers of tits around the dragon tree and another feeding location included 2 nuthatch (one very tame) and 2 marsh tits (unless it was the same bird seen at the two diff locations).

A couple of hours in the sunshine at Nelson Wern on Wednesday morning yielded great views of plenty of birds including Green Woodpecker, Nuthatch, Coal Tit, Jay, Bullfinches and Raven. Sadly though no Willow Tit, the second time recently I have drawn a blank here.

Better luck later towards the northern end of Llwyn On reservoir with a Willow Tit in roadside shrubs on the narrow road on the west side of the reservoir. The bird called as it flew over the road from the reservoir side trees and settled in view. Grid reference approxiamtely SO005126, where there is a small off road muddy ‘layby’ on the west side and an opening to the reservoir grounds on the east side. It flew off in the general direction of the Garwnant visitor centre.

On the reservoir at the north end a female Goosander and 3 Little Grebe. At the south end a Grey Wagtail foraging in the shallowest water on the outflow, a Grey Heron below the dam and a Dipper also below the dam flying out from one of the manmade openings in the riverside wall and heading off downstream.

Great views of a hunting Kestrel in the sunshine in the northern clearfell at Garwnant, but no luck with the Great Grey Shrike. Quiet here birdwise – there is treefelling ongoing in part of the visitor centre car park.

Despite recent sightings of up to 8 Great Northern Divers, I couldn’t find one today. However, the male Snow Bunting was showing well and a Purple Sandpiper was a pleasant surprise. Counts at the point included 125 Turnstone, 2572 Oystercatcher, 313 shelduck, 27 Eider, 4 Pale-bellied & 324 Dark-bellied Brents. There were a further 2 Pale-bellied & 490 Dark-bellied Brents at Pwll-y-Froga.