Winter bird numbers picking up. Goldeneye 4, goosander 7, little grebe 9, turnstone 6 and a flock of about 20 linnet.

Can’t better Peter’s efforts with my equipment but here’s my contribution. Nice find by Peter t’other day 🙂 A cracking bird and probably my best ever views of Firecrest.

Firecrest was in bushes to the right of the start of the boardwalk and was extremely obliging this morning.

Grey wagtail feeding on the stream.

 

This one flew in quietly, rustled around in the seaweed for 10 minutes, then departed down channel with a 7 note farewell in the style of a Little Grebe. My Iphone did well to capture even these record shots in the dull drizzle.

Firecrest showed well several times between 07:50 to 09:30, once down to 6 feet, from the beginning of the boardwalk. With Dave Smith from Porthcawl. Black Redstart male in Penarth Marina.

A Black Redstart was seen briefly in the Butterfly Conservation office yard at Calvert Terrace, Swansea yesterday afternoon.

1 Common Gull on the football field in Hamadryad Park the morning. At CBWR 14 Tufties, 3 GC Grebes and a fem Goldeneye. No sign of Firecrest of y’day. Also what appeared to be a very confiding fem Goosander right by the boardwalk, but then I got a better look. She seems to have a damaged R wing  which is drooping down – see poor phone photo below. Hope she survives but it might hamper diving for food.

2 great northern diver in close to the shore this morning

Bittern flew into reeds near South Hide 10.45 this morning

on sat nov 14th my friend and i went to the wirral wader festival at thurstaston country park . we recently joined wader quest and helped on the stall . there were other stalls there too in the old station visitor centre which also has an indoor bird hide and i spent a bit of time in there watching chaffinches , coal tits , great and blue tits on the feeders and some greenfinches came too . there were 2 moorhens on the ground and 2 squirrels on the feeders then 2 of them went on the birdtable and had a fight sending seed everywhere!, the weather wasnt great but we didnt get the chance to go to the dee estuary to spot waders but heard a lot where there. there were talks and an artist at work and on the whole we had a great day doing our bit to help waders . we did see a couple of buzzards on the way to the festival

Interesting walk this afternoon along the River Ely on Peterston Moors starting at Peterston village. 40 species in total, including a Buzzard flipping over and putting its talons up to successfully defend itself against a Peregrine (which gave up and flew off). Also 5 Green Sandpiper, 1 Kestrel, 1 singing Dipper, 6 Snipe, 2 Water Rail, 2 Moorhen, 2 Jay, 2 Grey Wagtail, 2 Grey Heron, 2 Cormorant, 1 Treecreeper, 2 Nuthatch and a male Bullfinch.

Graham went up to see if the Short-eared Owl was still around. No sign of the owl but he did see a ringtail Hen Harrier come in to roost at 4.15pm.

A Firecrest was in the bushes along the boardwalk for about 10-15 minutes this morning from 8:30. Last seen looking as though it was going to work its way up the hedge from the boardwalk to the yacht club gates.

Successful trip today with 23 participants on a nice clear crisp day. Nothing very unusual but a good selection of what would be expected plus Little Stint, and Ruff among the waders. Full list can be seen here – click here.

1 black throated diver flew across the bay landing further out. Great northern diver in close by the causeway for a short while. Approx 300 plus comm scoter at distance. 40 to 50 skylark plus smaller nos of mead pipit, reed bunting and several song thrush ( one singing)

3-Choughs at Ogmore,13h00,despite hoards of people and dogs.

A fem Black Redstart with an ad.m. present this am.(Richard Smith and Jeff Slocombe saw 2 fem earlier).

Gadwall, Wigeon, Teal and Pochard at a sunny Cosmeston this morning.

2 bullfinch, a goldcrest and a raven of note on a pleasant walk. However the main reason for the post was a new fence and gate at the corner of Pant Quarry and the removal and chipping of well over an acre of gorse. Preparations for another quarry extension?