This Avocet, seemingly grounded by fog, was a nice surprise at Ogmore Estuary this morning. The bird was initially on an almost submerged Portobello Island, before flying down river to feed on a pool on the saltmarsh on the Bridgend side, then on the mud on the Vale side as the tide dropped.
Plenty of Willow Warblers around now and in good voice. Also singing Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs seemingly everywhere this lunchtime, and a Cetti’s Warbler heard briefly from the boardwalk.
Elsewhere, excellent views of a female Sparrowhawk over the Dragonfly Pond, and a Nuthatch busy checking out nest holes in Cogan Wood.
Some of the golden plovers were looking rather dapper this morning!
Some of the 21 purple sandpipers counted at high tide (counted by DCB, I only managed to get 18). A white wagtail was nearby on the beach too.
Lisvane: 1 green sandpiper asleep on the N shore. 62 tufties, 1 Canada, 9 coots, 6 GC grebes, 4 mallards etc.
Llanishen: 1M & 1F shoveller, 7 little grebes, 12 coots, 4 tufties, 3 teal, 2 Canadas, 1 snipe visible.
Some belated news: 18th March, Roath Park Lake wild end, 2 adult tawny owls with 2 calling chicks, plus 2 foxes.
16th March, Llanishen: 147 snipe during WeBS count, plus 9 teal, 1 GC grebe, 10 tufties, 14 coots, 1 moorhen, 3 reed buntings, 1 leucistic jackdaw, etc.
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.
Two of the three birds on a sandy slack next to the coastal haul road at SS783822.
Green winged teal was seen on the saltmarsh/reedbed again during the afternoon.
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.
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