I took these shots at Broughton last weekend,and only just getting around to looking at them on the screen,i’m still not sure as to it.

Possibly an odd looking,heavily worn herring gull,but  it looked bigger than surrounding Herring gulls,larger bi-coloured bill,pale tail,pale brown tertials and primaries.Glauc\Herring cross??

On path between lakes heard unfamiliar overhead call, looked up to see two or possibly three thrush sp. flying purposefully north, got one in the binos and thought possible ring ouzel. Have since listened to ring ouzel flight call on the web and think that’s most likely. Also one willow warbler and one blackcap in song, plenty of singing chiffchaff, cetti’s singing from boardwalk.

Looks like Lol beat me to posting shots of the gulls in the Bay this morning. Here are a couple of the Bonaparte’s and the adult Little Gull.

 

 

 

 

 

An interesting collection this morning.

Bonaparte’s gull – just the one

Little gull 1 adult and 2 first winter (one with a missing primary)

Med Gull 1 2nd W and 1 1st W

Since there are two Bonaparte’s sightings from this location it would be nice to see what differences there are.

I have seen the bird on two occasions (26th and 31st) attached are the (rather distant) records shots I took.

First two photos from 26th other from today.

I am pretty sure it was the same bird on both occasions.

This morning at Fendrod Lake – Willow Warbler (3 singing); Blackcap (1m); Chiffchaff (4 singing); Goosander (1fem); Great Crested Grebe (1); Tufted Duck (21) and Pochard (3).

Tir Founder Fields, Cwmbach, Aberdare. 11-12 am

Notable: Blackcap 2. Chiffchaff 7. Willlow Warbler 1 (1st). Willow Tit 1. Mink 1

Transect today, 26 species including 11 Chiff Chaff, 1 Willow Warbler, 7 Blackcap, 3 Reed Bunting, 2 Lapwing. Great to hear so much birdsong. Also Butterflies 16 Brimstone, 2 Small Tortoiseshell, 19 Peacock, 2 Comma, 2 Speckled Wood

2 little ringed plover plus 18 teal on sat evenings high tide

6 male Blackcaps – 5 of them singing – this morning. Also 1 Willow Warbler and 10+ Chiffchaffs singing.

No sign of B-n Grebe this morning but 22 Gt Crested Grebes present, and a single Sand Martin. Poss worth checking R. Taff for BNG but I didn’t have time.

Osprey came in over Penarth Head at 10:00, over the west edge of the Bay and off to the north towards Leckwith. Little Gull and Bonaparte’s Gull also still present.

Black necked Grebe amongst the Tufted Ducks in the central reserve. 1-3 pm.

Credit goes to two expert gentlemen who let me view it through the telescope and debated ID in their book.

Confirmed, Distinctive black tufted crest, bright red eye, yellow very tufted cheek feathers. black neck, white mottling on lower neck, brown mottling on underside (moulting plumage).

Also usual Cetti’s calling. Also House Martin 10+ above Bute Park. ( Did not have close up of Martins, I am assuming they were House as there were so many and high up but seems a little early looking at Portland arrival times)

James Burton (Tirfounder Fields http://www.spookspring.com/Tirfounder/TirFounderFields.html)

Bonaparte’s Gull and Little Gull showing in the Bay late morning. The Bonaparte’s was right out in the middle of the Bay, about as far from land as it’s possible to get.

An Osprey drifted low NE over the reserve at 14:45, also one Swallow.

No sign of the Boneparts but I did manage a long shot of a 1st winter Med Gull

http://andyburnsphotography.zenfolio.com/medgull/h3ee2b5d8#h3ee2b5d8

and also a 1st winter Little Gull with a chunk missing from it’s left wing (well maybe it’s just it’s P8 missing) – this was a long, long way away

http://andyburnsphotography.zenfolio.com/littlegull/hf68bd2d#hf68bd2d

There was also a 2nd winter Med Gull, but still trying to find it in the pics. Thanks to Lol Middleton for spotting them. ……Boy it was cold!!!

Also, one Wheatear.

This afternoon 2 Grey Wagtail and a pair of Goosander at Parc Taf Bargoed. Two Red Kite over Merthyr & Gelligaer Common, 1 Lapwing near ASDA roundabout, Merthyr and 3 at Cwmbargoed.

At Llwyn On Siskin, Raven, Green Woodpecker and 5 Grey Heron; 2 Grey Wagtail on the reservoir outflow. Mute Swan and Great Crested Grebe on Butetown Pond.

Willow Warbler singing this afternoon. Also 5 Chiffchaff singing and 2 breeding pairs of Dipper.

Highlights – Swallow, Sand Martin, Chiffchaff, Goldeneye, GCG, Lapwing displaying and Purple Sandpiper. In the afternoon we visited Parc Slip to see the new elevated hide and scrapes – very impressive.