Marsh Tit showing well in Cogan Wood this morning and Great Northern Diver showing well by the sails in the bay.

In probably the worst possible light for looking at gulls, I saw this Caspian-like Gull on the lake around mid-day today. Unfortunately it refused to flap, fly or do anything else to show it wings, so this is not a claim of a Casp, but just flagging it up as as possible and for those interested in the mystical world of white-headed gulls. If you’re down that way, look for the one with the dark eye and long bill. Should anyone get any pics of the wing tip I’d be interested in seeing them. NB There’s another dark-eye bird with a really dinky bill – aren’t gulls just great!

Tirfounder Fields, Aberdare. chiffchaff present again at same time, foraging along canal. Took photos & video. Seems to tick all the boxes for chiffchaff, I just thought it unusual that it should be so far north in winter, thought it might be a subspecies for a few hours.

Edit: having read the comments and the articles on subspecies, and comparing photos I am happy to relax and put this down as common chiffchaff, due to its yellow streaks and olive buffing. Still, it is exciting for me to have a usually summer migrant this far north in winter. Thanks all for help.

HD photo: http://www.spookspring.com/Tirfounder/chiff19.1.15.7.JPG

Also 1x willow tit. 2x kingfisher. 2x dipper. 7 lesser redpoll.

Chiffchaff was the highlight of a morning visit yesterday. Bittern reported briefly earlier in the morning from Llyn Y Gamlas (the doorless hide). Also present were 3 Snipe, 2 Reed Bunting and 2 Kingfisher.

At Heliport Bay this afternoon, with the tide already well in, 26 Pintail, 24 Oystercatcher, 4 Shoveler, 3 Turnstone and 14 Shelduck.

Late afternoon 4 Goosander were just outside the Cardiff Bay Wetland reserve at the St David’s Hotel end.

Earlier in the day 18 Redshank in Barry Old Harbour was a decent count for this site.

 

A male Hen Harrier was over the lower slopes of the eastern side of the down and a flock of eight Choughs was just south of Llangennith.

A belated Happy New Year to everyone.  Haven’t been out much lately, but managed to get out to a few sites today and had a good day’s birding.

At Cardiff Bay first thing, the Lesser Scaup was showing well just outside the reserve, viewed from St David’s Hotel.  Also a male Pintail on the reserve, and a Snipe.  At least three Black Redstart (1m, 2f) still at Penarth Marina, but I failed to see the GN Diver, despite trying from several vantage points around the Bay.

At Cosmeston, no unusual Gulls to speak of, other than the pale Herring Gull.  Shoveller, Gadwall, and Pochard all on West Lake.

At Sker this afternoon, the Glaucous Gull was still present and showing well at the Point, along with several Purple Sandpiper and a decent flock of Golden Plover (which I didn’t count).

The Firecrest was again in the same area as described by NPR and showing very well.

A Little Egret was briefly on Sully Island shore late morning/early afternoon, and a Kestrel was hunting over the island. The wet ground is attracting waders to Sully playing-fields – around 20 Curlew and a handful of Oystercatcher there today. On the beach, 4 Grey Plover, more Oystercatchers and 3 Turnstone.

Llantrisant Forest car park was open again today, despite a sign on the gate saying it is shut until 2/2/15! A Crossbill and lots of Siskin seen from the car park this afternoon.

 

Glaucous gull still present

Ringtail Hen Harrier hunting over the snowy terrain this morning. Except for singles of Stonechat and Reed Bunting there wasn’t much else around.

The Firecrest showed beautifully in brambles at the perimeter of the sewage works, just upstream of the bridge at SS87667669. Further additions for the patch year list this morning were Water Pipit (took quite a few visits to refind this for the year), Blackcap, Green Woodpecker, Feral Pigeon (yes, I know), Grey Wagtail and Sparrowhawk. There are now around 50 Fieldfares at Candleston, after being very thin on the ground so far this winter.

News from David Ripley – my fellow Ogmore Patchwork Challenge participant – of a Firecrest, adjacent to the sewage treatment plant.

Very sunny, calm day in Coed Taf Fawr. A Great Grey Shrike gave very good views close to the main forestry track at approximately SO001142. There were 2 small groups of Crossbills along this track. One group was further north most of the way towards Cantref Reservoir, and the other nearer the Garwnant Visitor Centre.

A Willow Tit was on the west side of the Visitor Centre car park.

There were 20 Common Snipe viewed from the Llwyn On hide.

40+ Canada geese 15 coot including the ringed bird b r x usual other birds including a 2nd winter common gull with small colour rings one green and one blue on each leg I first seen it 16  11 2013 tried euro ring site but no luck also a 1st winter herring gull with a white ring with black writing  0 6 y 7

Quick walk to the top of Rudry Common as light faded this evening -2 woodcock flew up from the bracken near the summit (backlit by the orange glow of Caerphilly),2 tawny owl heard and a snipe added a point to my PWC list.

G.N. Diver still present, earlier this morning it was close in near the Norwegian Church (unfortunately I was looking from St David’s Hotel!) then drifted back out towards the middle. Lesser Scaup still on the reserve, no sign of the hybrid. At least 3 Black Redstarts around Penarth Marina (1 male, 2 females).

The Glaucous was still at Sker this morning on the rocks at the point [per DCB], but there has been no sign of the bird at Cosmeston all morning, until 12:30 at least. Just the aberrant Herring Gull there of interest.

There is a local midweek field trip to Cosmeston & Cardiff Bay next Weds, 21st Jan. I will be on holiday so if you are interested please contact Alan Rosney who has kindly agreed to lead it. Tel 01443 841555, 07906558489, or alanrosney at gmail.com.

Flight views of a Bittern, Jack & Common Snipe in the East Pool Marsh and a dog Otter in the middle of the pool.