Happy boxing day all. I have already had some spreadsheets of 2014 records sent in. If you use the formatted spreadsheet that I send out or from the web site, please could you not leave blank rows in your list of records. I have to go through and delete them all otherwise they prevent proper sorting of the data, and also please could you make sure the species name, and your name, is entered in every row pertaining to it, again otherwise I have to go through the whole list and copy the info down the column of cells below, where it is missing, again otherwise the records can’t be sorted properly.

PS … and also the site name shd be entered every time where there’s a number of consecutive rows for a number of records.

Great Grey Shrike this morning on the north side of the road from Llwyn On reservoir to Cwm Cadlan. Parking on the roadside for a few cars at the forestry gates at approximately SN992115 and the shrike was viewed from this location. Last time I drove this road was back in April and there’s clearly been substantial clearfelling since then both north and south of the road.

Merry Boxing Day everyone. Jack Snipe flushed by the dog this morning.

Both adult male Black Redstarts showing very well in the marina area. Also adult Mediterranean Gull on the wetland reserve with a Polish colour-ring – awaiting ringing details.

3 red-throated diver and 1 diver spp off the point/in the outer bay at low water.  Also 60+ guillemot rafting on the sea.

There is a big flock of scoter in the bay again this winter.  Not possible to get an accurate count off the point, but several hundred at least.  Would be best viewed from one of the tors between Nicholaston Burrows and Shire Combe.

Checked numbers of Little Egrets leaving the island roost at first light.29 Egrets flew out,the first at 7h53 and the last at 8h02.24/12/2014

Beautiful male Yellowhammer in garden Cadwgan Road, Craig Cefn Parc today, also seen on10th December.

in the garden in Whitchurch Cardiff this afternoon feeding on berries in my natural hedge that I have planted was nice to see. JFD

Interesting to note, nine mallards have moved into an area of flooded woodland. Also, five redwing overhead, large party of long-tailed tits and inadvertantly flushed single snipe from long grass on top of ridge at  Clyne Woods.

29- (plus 1 heard) species on the monthly birdwalk- including a swimming bittern while we were putting up the decorations in the hide, thanks Strinda
Jean and Rod

In CBWR this morning, the Lsr Scaup, 2 m. Kingfishers perched 25m apart, fem. Stonechat, poss Chiffchaff calling briefly off the boardwalk, crows repairing nest in children’s play area. In Penarth Marina, 3 Black redstart (1m 2 f/imm ), 1 Blackcap (m).

3 woodlark still in the turnip field at Overton this morning (with a few meadow pipit and two reed bunting).  Mobile, but still in the field when I left.  No other flocks of birds in this or adjacent field, and area exposed to NW wind.

Oxwich: 45 oystercatcher, 2 sanderling and a little egret on the beach.  19 mallard, 31 gadwall, 2 shoveler, and a kingfisher on the ponds (combined count of north and south).  Very few teal on the main pools.

from Twitter feed – it appears a Bittern has been seen at Cosmeston – either today or yesterday.

In my opinion, the small islands should have a separate UK Islands Minileague. Islands attract more rarities and other birders have difficulty gaining access so island patch workers have too big an advantage over mainland birders. 

Hi all. With the end of the year approaching it’s timely for me to ask all observers to start thinking about making sure your observations for 2014 are up to date by the time 31st Dec arrives. It is also very important if you are a MapMate user, to make sure that you sync with your hub as soon as possible after 1st Jan, so that all records reach me by the time I do my final sync. Thanks in anticipation and have a good Christmas.

100 + Redwing in the field and trees next to our house, Blackcap still visiting our feeders (4th day)

Late afternoon yesterday in the pouring rain was cheered a little by two Redpoll which have sadly  become a rare  winter treat on the Common,also a nice ground feeding flock of 100+ redwing.

Circular walk today around part of Clydach Vale Country Park in the Rhondda Valley. Started at the lower lake, up to the windfarm on the ridge, descent to the upper lake, then followed the Nant Clydach back to the lower lake.

Great spotted woodpecker calling as I got out of the car. Coot, moorhen, mallard , little grebe and black-headed gull on the lower lake, along with a flotilla of domestic fowl!

Roving tit (blue, coal, great, long-tailed) and finch (siskin, chaffinch, goldfinch) flocks on the climb. Just a solitary mallard on the upper lake, but a dipper on the Nant Clydach and a sparrowhawk back at the lower lake.

Late afternoon, a kestrel hunting west of the minor road from Hirwaun Industrial Estate to Penderyn was the best I could do there on the raptor front.

6 Black Redstarts still around the far end of Penarth Marina. I saw 2f and 1m and then met Gareth Pryce who had seen all 6 in and around Plas Pamir/Pals Taliesin/Llwyn Passat. Also 1 Redshank, 1 Turnstone and 1 Grey Wag on the rocky slope by the waters edge, and oddly, 2 Moorhens. 6 Common Gull by the orange buoys by the barrage, and 1 Rockit.