Just a quick reminder to say that I’m running a field trip to Rhossili tomorrow morning and then onto Burry Holms for the afternoon.

Details are on the Field Trip pages via the main Glamorgan Birds Website. I’ll be in the car park at Rhossili from 08:00 and we will stay there until 09:15 before going on a circular walk. The weather might be kind to us and all being well the circular walk will have us back to the car park by 11:30. The advantages of turning up early means that if you get to the car park before the attendant arrives then parking is free; otherwise it’s £3 per car. High tide is early morning and hopefully this will bring the Scoter flock closer to shore where they can be viewed from the car park. From 09:15 there’ll be a few stopping points along the coastal path to check the sea and then on to Fall Bay before heading back to the car park via the arable fields. We will not be going onto the causeway or Worms Head.

Due to the recent Gull fest at Burry Holms over the last few weeks I’m planning to tweak the afternoon plan a little to try and include going onto Burry Holms itself. The afternoon part of the day will involve more static viewpoint periods, which isn’t for everyone but with Thayer’s, Kumlien’s, Iceland, Glaucous and Little Gulls all being seen over the last couple of weeks it could very well turn out to be a rewarding part of the day.

So hopefully plenty to see and talk about. Apart from possible parking charges the trip is free. Members of GOS and non-members alike are very welcome to join in. Please come prepared to face the elements and also be advised that some of the terrain will be challenging due to wet and muddy conditions. Also many of the birds on view during the day will be distant and will require telescope views to appreciate them; if you are able to bring a telescope with you please do. If you don’t have access to a telescope then generally on these trips we all offer use of the scopes available to make sure the whole group gets to see all the birds.

The link to the GOS Events pages, including field trip info, is provided below

http://www.glamorganbirds.org.uk/gos-events.html

The female mandarin was to the right of the hide first thing. Roosting with mallard. Then moved into the area where the teal roost a bit further away (also to the right of the hide on the near shore). Counts of 48 teal, 32 mallard, 22 gadwall, 6 little grebe. Est 6-7 shoveler, but no decent count of them.

A red-throated diver was foraging close in off the Oxwich Bay Hotel. Flocks of 120+ black-headed gull, 2 Med gull and small numbers of common gull also present.

A peregrine flew across the bay at Porteynon – and caused a bit of havoc in a gull flock at Slade.

3 Eider still off Mumbles Pier

HI , my friend and i went over to sandwell valley this morning to see if we could see the great northern diver on swan pool–and we were not disappointed!  we had good views of it albeit it was on the other side of the lake.  other species we saw were kestrel, BHG,  canada geese,  swan, coot, pochard, tufted duck, moorhen,  pied wagtail, magpie, wood pigeon, greaterblack backed gull, cormorant, mallard, great crested grebe,  young herring gull, robin, crow, blue tit , great tit,  blackbird, wren and great tit.. 

The elusive Black Redstart (fem/imm) showed once briefly on the roof tops at the beginning of John Batchelor Way at 8.20am and once again at 10.35am.The drake Lsr Scaup was on CBWR among c.170 Tufted Ducks and the BNG was down river from the fly-over near to the west bank.

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.