Alistair Flanagan and I had the woodlark briefly this morning.  They dropped into the field closest to Overton Village, made a short flight within the field, then flew off to the east at c. 10:45.  All five still present.

At Porteynon 25 Med gulls among c. 90 black-headed gull was a far higher count than normal.  Otherwise 25 ringed plover and 6-8 turnstone (but tide wrong to get a good wader count), little egret etc.  A lot of song thrush on Porteynon Point.  Kestrel hunting there and sitting in the valley at Longhole.

Did a walk from Overton , just west of Port Eynon , to Paviland . Highlight was 5 Woodlark seen in flight and a few times on ground in the first field west of Overton as you join the top coastal path. Managed to screw up the photos by rushing to take them, they were too dark.
Also, 6 reed bunting, 6 mead pipit, approx 35 chaffinch , 10 linnet, 8 pheasant.
These were all in the first 2 weedy, cabbage stump fields. The fields further west were poor with only 14 skylark and a couple of yellowhammer. 2 golden plover and 24 lapwing also.
Shame about the rugby, pity the game doesn’t last 65 mins only!
Wrk

3-Hawfinches in hornbeam tree just below the white house.12h00-12h30

with Barbara W-D

Very pale Black Redstart showing as almost white against rocks.

An imm male Eider was preening on the rocks at Sker and a pale Chiffchaff giving the Bullfinch like `peep’ call looked a good candidate for a sibe at Merthyr Mawr this morning, although its true plumage tones were hard to judge in the brilliant sunshine.

Common Gull nos. building up – there were 21 on the orange buoys by the inner barrage this morning.

The adult male Black Redstart was extremely obliging this morning and in glorious sunshine, seemed completely unconcerned by me clicking away a mere 5-6m from it. More photos here

Yet another Black Redstart (1st.yr.male?) at the entrance to Roath Lock on the quay-side by the swing-bridge. In Penarth Marina, 4 or 5 Black Redstart (2or 3 males and 2 definite female/imm. types seen together in Plas Pamir). Yesterday, 2 Blackcaps (m+f)  here in the trees seen from Llwyn Passat car-park ( with Jeff Lack).

2-Great Northern Divers showing well,mid reservoir.No sign of the Great Grey Shrike at Garwnant.10h25-13h00.

Very obliging Kingfisher and Water Rail from the boardwalk this morning – or rather on the boardwalk in the case of the Kingfisher! More photos here.

Not bird news I know. I am picking up the 2013 Report from the printer later this afternoon. It will then take a couple of days or so to stuff 250+ of them into envelopes and get them posted so please bear with us.

A Snow Bunting remains at Southerndown, both on the cliff top and around the sheep field. A Water Pipit was on Portobello Island, Ogmore, with four Brents in the Canada Goose flock on the lower estuary.

Red Kite over at 9.30 this morning.

15 redshank in the Dock including 1 with a damaged wing 20 curlew flying to the Crumlyn burrows side 8 little egrets at the roost and a Merlin flying towards baglan bay
With bob anderson

with Barbara W-D

Snow Bunting present in sheep field above cliffs, feeding alone close to wall – still there at 15.30.

Also 5 Choughs flying along cliffs, and several Rock Pipits near cliff edge.

3 Black Redstarts still present this am (2m,1f). Stonechat on the north end of the barrage and a Water Rail calling at Prospect Place.

Male Snow Bunting at ST8770873774, right on the cliff edge. Also Unid bird, Pipit like but with pure jet white throat patch, unfortunately only seen for one second and couldn’t refind as too close to the edge for safety.

At Ogmore Estuary, seven Goldeneye, four Brent Geese, three Turnstone, two Redshank and a Bar-tailed Godwit.

This afternoon at East Aberthaw :

Lagoon – Water Rail and Snipe both watched from the sea wall. Also 5 Little Grebe and a drake Tufted Duck.

Saltmarsh – 1 Little Egret

Beach and sea – 2 Pale-bellied Brent Geese and 29 Wigeon on the sea near the rivermouth, Great Black-backed Gull and a handful of Common Gulls amongst many Herring and Black-headed Gulls. On the beach, 14 Ringed Plover, 2 Turnstone, 27 Oystercatcher and 5 Curlew

I had a call from Geri Thomas today  – a contact of his, who isn’t a birder, has found an active nest with young being fed, whilst pruning a tree! Perhaps we shd all keep a look out for birds still breeding in this, at times, still mild weather. Thanks for the heads up Geri.