theres a great northern diver on swan pool in sandwell valley near birmingham and has been here a few days now . hope to go and see it tomorrow .   should be exciting. heard about it last night at our Sandnats meeting at rspb sandwell and saw photos of it . 

First post to the list so hope it works!

Good shot of a nice adult med gull this morning

http://andyburnsphotography.zenfolio.com/p339463706/h38d3e1dd#h38d3e1dd

Half a dozen turnstones and a redshank under the pier and a rock pipit by the cafe.

Bittern showed briefly this afternoon at Hide 1 (With A Door)at 1445. No further sign by 1615 when I left

Male photographed by Paul Copner hunting over the fields above Landimore – recent records suggest there are 1, possibly 2 males and 2 females roosting at Llanrhidian in recent weeks.

At least ten Hawfinches present at around 09.00. Birds were ground feeding and flying up into the canopy approximately 50 – 75 metres in along the bottom track. They were also visible from the top road from opposite the large walled house with the security cameras.

A 3 mile “foot-it” birding session produced 30 species this morning, mainly along the River Ogmore in Bridgend. Highlights were a male Peregrine Falcon, a pair of Goosander, a pair of Dipper and a Grey Wagtail by the bridge under the A48, 100 Redwing at Craig-y-parcau, plus Goldcrest, Bullfinch, Siskin and Goldfinch at several locations.

The Lesser Scaup was still amongst Tufted Ducks this lunchtime, viewable from the boardwalk.  Also viewable from the end of the boardwalk, amongst the boats in the direction of the Barrage Sails, was an adult Yellow-legged Gull.

Yesterday the fem/imm Black Redstart showed once on the roof top at the beginning of John Batchelor Way and twice more very briefly in Plas Taliesin on the roof top and on the shore line.
A Chiffchaff was calling by the Penarth Osystercatcher. A party of 4 Bullfinch (3m,1f) were near the NE entrance of Grangemoor Park. Today no sign of the BR. 2 Blackcap (m+f) were in trees near the corner of JB Way. Yesterday and today the Lsr Scaup was on CBWR with c.140 Tufted Duck and the BNG was under the fly-over.

15 or so hawfinch put on a good show yesterday at Forest Ganol for myself, Rob Thomas, James Vafidis and a bunch of stats course students.

Red-throated diver and (approximately) 225 common scoter off Oxwich Point this morning. Sea too choppy for accurate count – they were closer to the point yesterday. Also 20+ guillemot, 6 shag (with Paul Tyrell).
On the marsh waterfowl included 52 teal (my highest count of the year), 23 mallard, 14 gadwall, 6 shoveler, kingfisher. 25 snipe yesterday. Flyover redpoll and a flock of siskin present. 3 tawny owl males calling around the edges of the marsh yesterday morning pre-dawn.
Marsh tit (3) in Oxwich Woods.
On the beach 17 ringed plover and 43 oystercatcher (yesterday), with 3 great crested grebe close inshore.

31 fieldfare and 6 redwing feeding in the fields

Bittern flew from far South East corner across pool to reed beds on West Saturday 11th 4.35pm. Excellent view of bird which was lit by the late afternoon sun.

A Guillemot close-in at the Point Car Park was a surprise in an otherwise quiet morning at Newton Point. No luck with any unusual waders or gulls.

A single somewhat elusive Black Redstart (fem/imm) showed briefly on the roof-tops in Plas Taliesin 8.40-8.50am. This female may have chased off the male seen here on Thursday.Also here 4 Redshank on the shore line.
The drake Lsr Scaup was back on CBWR together with c.150+ Tufted Ducks. No sign of the BNG tho it was reported present under the fly-over earlier this morning.A large butterfly-species unclear.

GBC monthly walk with 7 participants. Highlights – Grey Wagtail, 13 Gadwall [pretty sure this is a record for Cossie], 1 drake Shoveler, the usual Tufties, male Sparrowhawk, a few Redwing and Fieldfare, 2prs Bullfinch, Common Gull, Green Woodpecker, and also a Kingfisher seen W lake by Lol Middleton.

A fem/imm Black Redstart showed briefly this morning at around 11:00 on roof by Plas Taliesin although it had flown in from the flats farther down towards John Bachelor Way. It’s probably worth checking all the rooftops of the flats along by the R. Ely here. Also on roadside bushes by Plas Taliesin, by the riverside, a fem Blackcap. 5 Redshank and 3 Turnstone were along the river side there, plus a Rock Pipit.

By the barrage, 53 Common Gulls on the orange buoys and 140 Black-headed Gulls on the jetty and buoys.

No sign of the 2 Black Redstarts nor of the drake Lsr Scaup yesterday afternoon nor this morning.
The BNG still showing well – best viewed from on top of the down river side of Grangetown fly-over.

A close encounter this evening with a Barn Owl on the moor, plus a pair of Tawny Owls nearby, brings my Foot It running total to 83. A few other recent goodies on foot have included Water Pipit, Goshawk, Red Kite, Cetti’s Warbler and Kingfisher. 

 

Peregrine and merlin at lunch time today

 

from observer Steve Hughes [thanks Steve], a flight pic of 10 Pale-bellied Brents at E. Aberthaw on 9th Jan [the same birds as reported by Rob & Linda Nottage on 5th Jan].