2 Adult Common Gulls still present this morning, 1 on W lake 1 on E lake. GS Woodpecker calling in the trees by the edge of the Mile Road and most impressive, 100 – 150 thrushes feeding in E. paddock, about an 80/20 mix of Redwing and Fieldfare. Short vid on youtube linked below – not the best as it was drizzling!
https://youtu.be/3EjaxYEZ0WY

Of note this morning were 2 adult Common Gulls on W lake, 1 on the far side and another on the posts, c.40 Redwing and c.20 Fieldfare feeding in W paddock, a pair of breeding plumage Great Crested Grebes display ‘dancing’ on E lake [in the middle so too distant for photos] and a Water Rail in Sully Brook. The latter teased by foraging in amongst the vegetation and the images below are the best of many as I tried to aim the central focus point at gaps in the reeds to focus on the bird itself! Couldn’t quite manage a decent shot of the whole bird!

Enjoyed watching a pair of Bullfinch feeding on Hawthorn buds about 10 feet away this morning for about 15 minutes- do they get through a lot of buds in a short time! Half an hour later a male Sparrowhawk was surveying the scene briefly from the same vicinity.

There were 43 Redwing foraging in E paddock this morning. In trees adjacent the golf course, 3 Greenfinch were calling incessantly, as were 2 Jays and a Fieldfare flew in calling. Couldn’t see any reason for the alarm [e.g. Tawny Owl]. W lake had the usual c.200 Tufties and 12 Pochard, whinnying Little Grebe. A smart adult Common Gull was by the end of E lake.

Nice trip to the bay today star of the Show was a Common Sandpiper also Turnstone 6 Redshank 4 Goosander 7 a hybrid Scaup/Tufted Duck Common Gull 6 and a Gull looking like an immature Caspian Gull but could not say for certain.

Back to my usual haunt … W lake had 16 drake Pochard, 1 Grey Heron in its favourite tree a pair of Gadwall, 2 pairs of GC Grebe now in full breeding plumage. The ditch by the concrete parapet as you enter the park, has been dredged, and there was a Grey Wagtail foraging on the heap of spoil.

Today, 21 participants joined me for a yomp around Garwnant. After a horrendous journey up there [traffic – hour and a half from Penarth] we met up in the car park in dismal conditions which didn’t clear as quickly as had been forecast. So the start was very quiet but we did eventually connect with a Willow Tit down near the Taff bridge. It was foraging in low scrub right by the road off the A470. A Great Spotted Woodpeker put in an appearance there and we had Dipper on the river. We could only walk the Wern trail as the upper trail was closed so the usual circular walk wasn’t possible. As the sun came out at snack time at the car park, we eventually were able to watch 10 or so Crossbills feeding in a larch. They were very high up making photography a neck wrecking experience! A scan of the Tufties at the N end of the reservoir failed to reveal the female Ring-necked Duck, but there were a few Teal, a Grey Heron, 4 LIttle Grebes and 2 Cormorant. Ultimately a good trip after a quiet start. Thanks to all who came.

No pic [distant scope view only] but I caught up with the Cirl Bunting early afternoon at Ty’n-y-Caeau Farm, where GBC and the farmer have a strip of sacrifical crop. On arrival late a.m. I met Cliff Woodhead who said it had been seen earlier but then flew off [the bird, not Cliff! ]. I walked down the field and was pleased to meet Glyn Roberts. Spent about 1 1/2 hrs watching 6-7 Greenfinches coming to the lower feeder, then decided to give up. Walking back up the field, I noticed another obs enter the gate, and then there was a sudden eruption of birds out of the hedge near the gate. They hadn’t been there when I arrived. Pleased to see 3-4 Yellowhammers perch up on the hedge but then all birds flew away – there must have been 6-7 Yellowhammers. They headed in the Marcross direction and were lost to view. Started scoping all hedgerow tops, and then noticed a bird perched on a telephone wire – scoped it up and lo & behold … Cirl Bunting! It didn’t stay up there for long and dropped down out of sight. This was a few 100 metres east along the road to Marcross. I guess it was with the Yellowhammers that flew off. Later, a no show by Short-eared Owl at Rhoose although I only stayed until 3:45.

4 ad winter Med Gull still present but no Common Gulls, LBB nor GBB

2030: Barn Owl hunting in ideal conditions (you could hear a pin drop) half a mile along the Aston Martin Road from the B4265 roundabout, on Eglwys Brewis side.

Also this morning in Ivy/Hawthorn by railway 2 Great Tit, 2 Blue Tit, 2 Coal Tit, 1 hen Chaffinch, 1 Robin, 1 Nuthatch , 2 Collard Doves, several Magpies (heard)

While scanning the lake this morning there was a sudden cacophony as well over a hundred, mostly Black Headed Gulls with several Herring Gulls screamed and whirled above. The reason was what looked very much like a Goshawk, broad winged and long tailed, but it’s sheer size was what was noticeable, much bigger than the 2 brave Carrion Crows that escorted it as it flew back inland. I’ve seen them several times in the hills and forests in central Glamorgan but wasn’t expected one so near the coast in open countryside. Without doubt the hundreds of Woodpigeon in the area are a big attraction.

The female Ring-necked Duck Mathew Meehan found yesterday was still with 50 Tufted duck at north end of reservoir.

Did my WeBS count this morning, which covers Rhymney Estuary at Green Point, and Cardiff Heliport bay. At Green Pt: 700 Redshnak, 800 Dunlin, 27 Teal, 4 Wigeon, 16 Shoveler, 7 Pintail, 96 Shelduck, 3 Coromrant and 30 Mallard.
At Heliport bay a good count of c100 Pintail, 46 Shoveler, 11 Oyc, 6 Shelduck and 8 Turnstone. Some walkers on the beach below the landfill at Green Pt caused the Redshank to flush and at one point a large group landed on the water and started swimming about in a tight group. I’ve seen them do this before. Here’s a link to a short video on my Youtube channel: https://youtu.be/XZOGKYyHs6M
The birds flying around are some of the Dunlin flock. Here’s a link to a vid of that: https://youtu.be/fpjf2FBgBVw

Decided on a change from the mud of Cosmeston and went across the barrage this morning. There were two v smart pairs of Goosander by the jetty at the exit of Penarth Marina lock. So difficult to get the eye to show esp in the males, but the fem with her back to me had a catchlight. There was a bunch of House Spadgers by the apartments there, incl a fem with nest material! On the barrage itself a PIed Wag was chasing off a Grey Wag quite agressively, and a Raven was on the grass at the far end. I thought the pattern on the imm Mute Swan was quite eye-catching.

2 female ring necked ducks (still) at Lisvane Res this morning – viewed from the Blackoak ‘platform’. Rather overshadowed by the astonishing performance of a young female peregrine – bombing around causing chaos and finally landing 100yd away

Second visit in 5 days and managed to find the Redstarts – 2 males and a female, moving about on the waste ground showing quite well. As a bonus saw a Red Kite over Cowbridge on journey home.

Today’s Wetland Bird Survey count, mostly in sunny and mild conditions, comprised 7 Grey Heron, 45 Lapwing, 2 Teal, 1 Wigeon, 1 Little Egret, 6 Mute Swan, 19 Mallard, 1 Water Rail and 3 Moorhen.

Also present a Peregrine resting on the moor, a hunting Kestrel and a Raven. Fine views of Redwing flock at the top of a nearby tree.

Pochard were up to 18 on W lake this morning, and there were 2 Common Gulls, 1 by E lake and 1 on the W lake posts. There were a few Redwing and Fieldfare in W paddock, with a Mistle Thrush, and a v friendly Robin posed by the lower Dovecote field by Sully Brook.

6 Med Gulls (4 ad Winter, one 2nd Winter, one 1st Winter), large number of Common Gulls, B-h and Herring Gulls, a few LBB. 7 Wigeon + the regulars.