Not heard anything about Swallows anywhere yet, but Emma had one over the garden earlier this morning heading west.

Pairs of Dipper and Grey Wagtail late this evening on the River Taff at Radyr Weir.

The lame glaucous gull was in the car park at Newton Point earlier this afternoon. Also, at Trecco Bay, on the falling tide, 25 sanderlings and a single grey plover on the rocks.

Iceland Gull on Taffs Mead Embankment just d/s from the railway bridge refound by Phil Humphries from Pontypridd. 2 Bonapartes and Little Gulls perched on orange buoys by barrage.

6 wheatears this morning; three male and three female.

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