Apparently Ceri Jones saw a Hawfinch this morning, in the trees on the right of the gravel path going towards the Med Village, after the end of the boardwalk there. Nice one Ceri ! Saw one there in Oct 2005 by W lake. I think this is the first record  since then.

31st January…I was told of a Starling murmuration of several thousand at Cosmeston and which has been seen there on several occasions.

Barry Docks – two Med gulls, three GBBs and two Stonechat

Barry Old Harbour – a Little Egret and 16 Redshank

The Knap – Glacous gull

Sully Beach – six Grey Plover and a Black Redstart

Cosmeston – Lesser Scaup, female Wigeon, 3 Teal, Marsh Tit and a Raven

(and a probable Brambling by the entrance to The Medieval Village)

 

Brief view of the Glauc flying along the beach towards Porthkerry this morning. A strong squall came in, which together with the very strong wind, was most unpleasant. Couldn’t relocate the bird at all afterwards, but I guess it’ll be back.

Not very pleasant conditions / rain and strong Westerlies. Down-channel by 1000h were 1 Fulmar, 2 Kittiwake, 18 Turnstone, 1 Curlew and an adult wp Mediterranean Gull. Also a Raven and 2 Rock Pipit. There were few Gulls braving the rocks up to the Hutchwns Point end of Lock’s Common but no sign of the Ring-billed Gull reported there yesterday.

Earlier a good check of Salt lake Car Park and adjacent beach area produced 216 Black-headed Gull, 1 Mediterranean Gull, 34 Herring Gull, 2 Common Gull and 2 GBB Gull. Pwll-y-Waun pool held the usual small numbers of Mallard, Coot and Mute Swan but I did not have time to check Wilderness Pool.

 

Just a reminder that there is an indoor meeting tomorrow (Feb 2nd) beginning at 7.45 p.m. in the Kenfig Reserve Centre. Dave Rich will be talking on Alaska.

Sunday 31st pm   Bittern seen from the hide with no door – plus 1 snipe, 1 water rail, Other hide, siskin and kingfisher.  Also 2 buzzards

The Glaucous Gull, still present on the beach at The Knap this morning.

Gower Bird Hospital “released & ringed” herring gull looking healthy this morning..

Good to see their gull release scheme is working… Waiting for the history of this bird..

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.