Lovely close view of our resident Black Redstart this afternoon, looking resplendent in the spring sunshine

3 Chough on coastal path between Ogmore and Southerdown at midday. 11 Goldeneye still on the river at Portobello plus a large gathering on gulls including 4 Great Black Backed. Also 5 Goosander, 10 Wigeon, Teal and 2 Redshank.

First Blackcap singing well this morning, a week earlier and in the same locality as last year.

1 March 2022 a visit to Porth Teigr, yes Black Redstart also small flock goldfinches – Pied Wagtails 4 Goosanders – 4 Great Crested Grebe [summer]- Mallards – Coots – Black-head Gull [Summer] – lesser Black-back Gull – Great Black-back Gull – Cromorants – not forgetting the Robin that follow me around

A Club trip with 20 participants to the Forest of Dean finished up logging 40 species. The full list is here. At New Fancy View some had distant views of two displaying Goshawk, a Sparrowhawk, many Buzzards and a very showy male Crossbill. At Parkend some finally had views of a Hawfinch high in a tree, plus a GReat Spotted Woodpecker. Highlights at a very busy Cannop Ponds, were the Mandarins, Grey Wagtail and a Marsh Tit. Full trip list is here.

Earlier this afternoon a pair of Chiffchaff were moving through the vegetation fringing Pwll y waun lake, but on closer inspection both looked generally pale grey brown above with largely white underparts, no real olive hues at all. I managed to get good views for several minutes and managed to get a pic whilst one stopped to preen in the winter sun. Didn’t hear them call but the plumage definitely suggests Siberian Chiffchaff although the pic, with the sunshine, generally makes the plumage appear warmer than with the naked eye at the time.

This morning, 24th there was a small flock [6 or maybe a few more] of very vocal Siskin feeding on an Alder just past the main bridge. On 23rd there was much finch activity just beyond the dragonfly pond, with Greenfinch, Chaffinch and Goldfinch. I had 8 Greenfinch together in one bush which is pretty unusual these days, and I got a shot of one singing. In the fenced off ‘snipe enclosure’ two Blue Tits were feeding on the bullrush heads and nearby there were two lone Fieldfare up in the trees.

The Black-necked Grebe found by Mike Cram this morning was still present up til 4:30 p.m. at least, on the far side of the pool, often mingling with the numerous Pochard, Wigeon, Tufted Duck and Gadwall, making a ‘scope a necessity. Also present the drake Ring-necked Duck and the Scaup. Too far away for pix, sadly.

Great to see the male Black Redstart again in the back garden, I haven’t seen him for a while, he does seem to enjoy bright, sunny days, keeping a low profile when it’s damp and cold. Sorry about the picture quality.

There was an adult winter Mediterranean Gull on W lake this morning, and a Cetti’s Warbler sang briefly by the dipping pond.

5-Shovelers,4m+1f don’t see this species here very often.Also 1-Ring Necked Parakeet in the trees on the railway side.15h40-16h10.

On a quick walk round, W lake had 5 Gadwall and 2 female Wigeon. There were moderate numbers of Redwing and Fieldfare in both E and W paddocks.

A female Goldeneye was a nice surprise a pair of Great Created Grebes displaying Teal 4 Pochard 1 lots of Tufted Duck.

A 1stW Glaucous Gull was seen at Potobello Island this morning by David Rich. Nice one!

10 Feb

Flock of 32 Curlew , 18 Teal and 5 Grey Herons on the flooded field.

At a very windy Portobello on the river, 7 Goldeneye, Goosander, 2 Common Sandpipers, Redshank, Teal, Wigeon, 3 pairs of Gadwall, Little Grebes, Shelduck, Little Egret, Cormorant and a mixture of gulls.

Glossy Ibis – Sorry I know is not in our area – yes I found it WWT Llanelli on 9 Feb 1.30 pm – Peter Scotts hide – dropped in spent twenty mins – one good tick

Fab moment in Cogan Wood Cosmeston late a.m. In Cogan Wood we became surrounded by 20-30 Great & Blue Tits, which always expect food. We had a small bag of seed so soon I had Great Tit and a Blue Tit both feeding on my hand and a Marsh Tit sitting at arms length. It didn’t quite have the courage to come to me so we rewarded it with some on the ground. Had further GT and BT both sitting on my hand at the same time at the Dragon Tree. First thing in the morning, Graham Smith saw 10 Hawfinch in the trees lining the edge of Cogan Wood just past the dragonfly pond, but they didn’t put in an appearance as we passed late morning.

Ducks were close in to the shore SE Corner near outlet. Taken using a 600 with a 1.4 converter