Successful trip today with a Glamorgan Bird Club group. Despite a rather damp start which soon cleared, 16 participants walked from Rest Bay along the coast to Sker Point and back. Rest Bay car park gave us views of all significant ages of Mediterranean Gulls and a couple of Common Gulls. Along the coast we had around 10 Purple Sandpiper on rocks at Pink Bay. Sker Point gave us lots of Turnstone, around 6 Ringed Plover, c.30 Sanderling, 4 Grey Plover, a few more Purple Sandpipers, 20 Curlew, a few Dunlin, and eventually [they were well camouflaged] about 150 Golden Plover. Alan got us on to a Red-throated Diver flying up-channel. Thanks to all who attended. John Wilson. Full trip list is here: https://drive.google.com/…/1okgRxvi70Sjp68Wsm47…/view…

On the usual dog walk at Cossie this morning, first thing was a posing Wren, albeit in dense shade but managed to retrieve a passable shot. Then 9 Gadwall on W lake was a good count. Then – wow! – scanning through the loafing Black-headed Gulls on W lake by the centre viewpoint, a smaller individual with a black, shorter bill …. Bonaparte’s Gull! A first in the park for me. Quickly got a Tweet and a Whatsapp out then got some photos. Fortunately it wasn’t right out in the middle of the lake. Also of note, a Chiffchaff singing by the conservation area gate, and a Cetti’s Warbler singing in E lake reeds.

A good trip on Sunday morning with Strinda, birding with a keen young family from Brecon. We were very pleased to find 22 species, good numbers of waterfowl on the pond, Skylark and Mistle Thrush calling well.

Canada Goose , Mallard , Teal, Moorhen, Tufted Duck , Woodpigeon, Coot, Little Grebe, Jay, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Blue Tit , Skylark, Long-tailed Tit, Wren, Mistle Thrush , Blackbird, Robin , Dunnock , Chaffinch, Bullfinch, Goldfinch 

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