Managed to get shots of both birds in the same light and at the same (unfortunately extreme) range this afternoon. You can see how visible the P9 marks are on the one compared with the other and the variation in black smudge shape. Sadly the two in one shot never came off because as one drifted off up river the other one took its place.

Pete

GOS Indoor meeting tomorrow night (27/03/15)

Emma-Louise Cole will be talking to the society tomorrow evening about her experiences that got her into birding and also some views the birding scene today. Emma-Louise wears many different hats including Secretary for Next Generation Birders, BTO rep for Swansea University and trainee ringer amongst other things. In her final year as an undergraduate in Ecology at Swansea University she has made a lot of time to partake in bird studies locally as well as going on the occasional twitch.

It’ll be interesting listen to Emma-Louise’s views and ideas on how our society can be doing more to encourage the younger generation to get into birding and become part of local bird societies or clubs. I’m led to believe there will be an element of interaction between the audience and Emma-Louise who will be assisted on the evening by WWT Llanelli employee Dani Rouse. Expect something more contemporary from this style of talk with some good old reminiscing mixed it. It should be a good laugh.

Also making an appearance will be the elusive GOS annual report for 2013.

Arrive at 19:15 for 19:30 start, Environment Centre, Pier Street, Swansea

£1 on the door to help cover room hire.

2-Chiffchaffs and a singing Blackcap in the car park area.13h30

Lsr Scaup  and hybrid  on  the  reserve.

Skylark singing by the ice rink. Lsr Scaup back on CBWR, also m.Bullfinch there.

Two Bonaparte’s Gulls were seen at Cardiff Bay this morning, and the Little Gull, I believe at the road bridge end of the Bay. I and several others watched one of the Bonaparte’s at the Barrage end late morning,and the footless 2nd yr Med Gull was there too.

The fact the the very large church in Porthcawl this afternoon was completely full, and that at least 25 of Steve’s birding acquaintances were present says it all. You will be sorely missed but not forgotten Steve.

I’ll leave this link to the  touching tribute by Madeleine in Walesonline: http://tinyurl.com/pwymqrh

I hadn’t seen the very pale immature gull (Herring Gull)  at Cosmeston for a while but it was there again on Sunday, it seems to have become more pale as time progresses.

Following on from the discussion between Lol and Peter here are photos of the Bonaparte’s Gull from Prospect Place this afternoon. Certainly the lighting conditions will have been different for each bird but the markings on Peter’s bird from this morning are striking and appear to prove beyond doubt there are at least 2!

Male singing,(first singing of year here) Lansdowne Garden Fields this afternoon.

Bonaparte’s and Iceland Gulls around the barrage this morning (along with the Little and Med to add to the mixture). Iceland wasn’t behaving for photos but the Bonaparte’s was close enough to get one or two. Also Raven over and Peregrines making a racket.

   

Last year’s bird for comparison (following Lol’s question in his comment):

Went back with my camera this morning to get some trophy shots of ‘my’ bird, lol. Finally caught up with it when it flew up the R. Ely and landed amongst the yachts moored by the white water centre. It then came back allowing a few flight shots and landed off Plas St Andresse.

 

Fourteen of us were at Kenfig on Saturday 21st for the monthly bird walk. Of the 38 species seen/heard over 2 hours only (dur to the Rugby) the highlights were: good views of ground feeding Reed Bunting, singing Chiffchaff and Goldcrest, possible Marsh Tit, distant Golden Plover flock gleaming in the sunshine, displaying Common Buzzard, Lapwing flock drifting over the Pool and oomparing Goldeneye with Tufted Duck.  Good to be joined by  a birder new to the reserve and to welcome back a couple of others.

Pair of Chiffchaff singing in the woods off the main path yesterday morning.

I took the Iceland Gull photo just before lunch and returned late afternoon hoping to see the Bonaparte’s but could only find this 3rd cy Med Gull. Interestingly it doesn’t seem to have feet!

I

Thanks to John for the call re the Iceland Gull. I arrived as it flew off to the reserve but it later returned to the barage area. Some good shots including flight shots at
http://andyburnsphotography.zenfolio.com/icelandgull/h28932f81#h28932f81

A really nice 2nd CY bird. It seemed very mobile so may not hang around too long.

As we were waiting (as Lol said in the previous post) the Bonaparte’s turned up and landed on the boom. Three shots at
http://andyburnsphotography.zenfolio.com/bonapartes/h8522e5a#h8522e5a
including one that shows the comparison to BHG’s showing the size comparison and aslo the much shorter leg length in the Bonapartes.

Quite exciting for a Sunday morning.

A 1stW going into 2nd yr plumage Iceland Gull was a nice surprise at the barrage this morning. First seen sitting on the inner jetty then on the water just inside the barrage. Sods law I hadn’t taken my camera but here’s a phone shot FWIW. There shd be some decent pix forthcoming, from Lol Middleton and A N Other. After a while it flew off and landed somewhere in the Wetland Reserve. Also after I left I had a call to say that the Bonaparte’s was there, sitting on the buoys where the Common Gulls often hang out. A fem Black Redstart was at Penarth Marina in the small square that overlooks the outer harbour of the marina.

There was still an emphasis on winter birds in the Burry [Wernffrwd to Gowerton section] this morning, with just the faintest hint of spring migration; counts included Mute Swan 11, Canada Goose 34 [the most I’ve in the Burry since 2010], Dark-bellied Brent 669 [many now moving into the upper part of the Burry as they do every year before departing], Shelduck 230, Gadwall 27, Wigeon 190, Teal 77, Red-breasted Merganser 22, Heron 12, Little Egret 28, Great White Egret 2, Oystercather 350+, Knot 200+, Bar-tailed Godwit 27 (RHAT), Redshank 155, Spotted Redshank 1, Ruff 1 & Wheatear 1.

For some of this mornings goose action click HERE

Just had a phone call from Martin Bevan to say that the Great Grey Shrike is still there this morning at 8.30.

Dawn walk this morning drumming g s woodpecker calling green woodpecker 3 nuthatch pair of goldcrest pair of coal tits several blackbirds and song thrush singing ,2 jay 5 calling wood pigeon ,singing chaffinches , robins dunnocks,Wren 5 redwings buzzard carrion crow ,blue and great tits