An adult Yellow-legged Gull was on E lake Cosmeston this morning. The adult Little Gull re-appeared in Cardiff Bay late morning but I couldn’t find it between 3:30 & 4 p.m. A Waxwing was seen briefly and photographed in a tree in Schooner Way opposite County Hall , by Peter Howlett.

Ad Little Gull reported in Cardiff Bay this morning seen from Penarth Marina.

A Kingfisher flew across W lake this morning and under the main bridge. A Mistle Thrush has been singing in a tree by the car park for the last three days, living its old name of Storm Cock in the strong winds and rain of yesterday and the day before. Also 2 days ago a flock of 40-50 Fieldfare flew across E lake and settled in trees on the far side.

Pretty quiet apart from the usual this morning but a female Sparrowhawk shot through past the big carving near the dipping pond, and there’s some frog spawn in the water there just at the start of the dipping pond path from the car park.

Barn Owl flying across 2100 Monday 24th Feb.

Usual common woodland species including Nuthatch and Treecreeper. Flyover Red Kite plus a pair of Buzzards. Woodcock flushed. This a lovely little reserve which I’ll certainly revisit. Perfect habitat for Willow Tit but no sightings on this occasion.

Walked across the Barrage this morning. Huge quantity of debris has been brought down the Taff & Ely by the recent weather. Only birds of note were a couple of Pied Wags, 1 Grey Wag, and 6 Goosander over by St David’s Hotel/CBWR, viewed from The Lookout cafe. There was a very white-headed Cormorant fishing in the old Roath Dock but I’m not going to claim it as a ‘sinensis’.

A cold blustery visit yesterday afternoon, Yellow Legged Gull was the only bird of note.   Sadly there were no Goosander.

A bit of a damp GBC trip to the above this morning but 14 folk braved the weather, including a welcome overseas visitor, Syd Cannings, from Whitehorse, in the Yukon, visiting family in Cardiff. Just 40 species seen, the highlight [and surprise] of which was a Gannet sitting on the water just offshore in front of the power station. It flew a short distance, harrassed by Herring Gulls then settled again out by the large outlet structure, when it became hard to spot in the choppy water. We couldn’t find and Brents although one observer had a brief view of a singleton. There were c.100 Wigeon by the river mouth as the tide came in. A fox gave good viws as it walked up the grassy spoil tip.

A mated pair of Little Grebes on the lake today; hopefully, breeding this year.

Also, 20+ Tufted Ducks, 2 Cormorants, pair of Mute Swans, Moorhens, Coots, etc.

It was our monthly public walk this morning. 13 folk braved the wind and rain and were rewarded by finding 39 (!) species.  Highlights – good views, in the bushes by the hide, of a Siberian Chiffchaff,  2 very close Goldcrest, a Treecreeper,  a moving flock of long-tailed tits,  then on the pool, a Goldeneye and 4 Shovelers.

Black-headed Gull,  Blackbird,  Blue Tit, Canada Goose,  Carrion Crow, Cetti’s Warbler, Chaffinch,  Chiffchaff (Siberian – tristis),Collared Dove, Coot , Dunnock, Gadwall, Goldcrest,  Goldeneye,  Goldfinch,  Great Black-backed Gull, Great Crested Grebe , Great Spotted Woodpecker, Great Tit , Greenfinch (7), Herring Gull , House Sparrow,  Jackdaw,  Long-tailed Tit , Magpie, Mallard, Moorhen,  Mute Swan,  Robin, Shoveler,  Song Thrush,  Sparrowhawk,  Starling, Teal,  Treecreeper, Tufted Duck, Wigeon , Woodpigeon,  Wren.

Good to see some new folk, welcome!                                                                                                Many thanks to Strinda for leading.

 

On Wednesday 12th there was a flock of at least 50 Chaffinches but no Brambling.

2 Hawfinches seen very briefly this morning plus 2 Bullfinches and 12 Chaffinches but still no Brambling.

https://ebird.org/checklist/S64446970

A bit late but in case anyone’s in the location before the next storm, Dave Carrington found a very smart Glaucous Gull off Sker this morning, also seen by Neil Donaghy.

Seen flying east over new Aston Martin/ St Athan road 2000 hrs.

I did an hour’s sea watch from the hill away from the sea-front.Only birds of note were 6-Kittiwakes,2-pairs of Cormorants flying down channel,could of been Shags but too far away for certain ID. 15h00-16h00,yesterday.

On 8th a Kingfisher flew along the far shore of W lake with a small fish in its bill. There were c20 Fieldfare feeding in W paddock together with just 6 Redwing and 2 Mistle Thrush.A fem Kestrel was haunting over W paddock and there were 80- Tufties on W lake. Didn’t count E lake.

On 9th during storm Ciara, 80+ Fieldfare feeding in W paddock and I counted 7 Pochard on E lake

An early WeBS today, in view of the bad weather forecast!

Tufties here today, a first for for us at Talygarn.  Down to three swans, just one cygnet left

Blackbird , Blue Tit , Canada Goose ,Carrion Crow ,Coot, Chaffinch
Dunnock, Great Tit,  4 Little Grebe,  Magpie,   Mallard,  Moorhen ,  Mute Swan
Nuthatch , Robin,  Shoveler,  Starling, Teal , Tufted Duck,  Wren .

Plus, flowering, – Snowdrop, Violets(almost white) Dog’s Mercury, Lesser Celandine .

3 short-eared owls seen this evening at R.G.W. Flushed from the salt marsh by someone with a rifle at 16:00!!!

c20 each of Fieldfare and Redwing were feeding on the ground in W paddock mid morning. A pair of Bullfinch were seen eating tree buds by the path that goes round the back of W lake.