We had an excellent bird walk this morning, 22 folk came, including some new folk – welcome!- and saw or heard 57 species between us the most I’ve ever recorded for a Saturday Kenfig walk! We went to Sker to catch the falling tide, then to the pool. The highlights were – a Great White Egret, a Purple Sandpiper, and John spotted a Bittern flying towards us giving everyone great views.

Full List – Canada Goose, Greylag Goose, Mute Swan , Shoveler , Gadwall , Wigeon, American Wigeon, Mallard , Teal , Pochard , Tufted Duck Goldeneye , Goosander , Feral Pigeon , Woodpigeon, Collared Dove , Water Rail , Moorhen, Coot , Great Crested Grebe , Golden Plover , Ringed Plover, Curlew , Turnstone, Purple Sandpiper , Black-headed Gull , Common Gull , Herring Gull , Great Black-backed Gull , Cormorant , Bittern , Great White Egret , Grey Heron , Sparrowhawk , Kingfisher , Kestrel , Jay,  Magpie, Jackdaw , Carrion Crow , Blue Tit , Great Tit , Long-tailed Tit , Wren , Starling , Song Thrush , Mistle Thrush , Blackbird , Robin , Stonechat , House Sparrow, Dunnock , Meadow Pipit, Rock Pipit, Chaffinch, Bullfinch, Pied Wagtail

With thanks to John Western and John Wilson for leading, also to folks who helped with ID , and of course everyone else for coming along. Jean Haslam

We had a very successful monthly walk at KNNR this morning in the very dull conditions. I didn’t do a proper head count but I think there were just short of 20 folk. We went straight to Sker Pt, finding Stonechats on the way. At Sker I managed to wheedle out 4 Purple Sandpipers, one of which showed very nicely for some. Also there, were c.10 Curlew, 4 Golden Plover, 4 Turnstone, 7 Ringed Plover and 2 Grey Herons. Surprisingly there were no Oycs. Back at Kenfig Pool, careful scanning eventually gave us the 1st yr drake American WIgeon along with a good number of [Eurasian] Wigeon, Gadwall, Shoveler and a few Teal, Tufted Duck, Pochard and a few Goldeneye, including 2 drakes. A Great White Egret lurked in the western reeds. I was getting tired and about to leave, but had another scan and there, out of the far reed fringe, a Bittern burst out and was suddenly flying towards us in the hide. I called it and thankfully everyone got on it, as it flew across the pool and dropped into the western reeds. A bonus bird! 2nd Edit: species count updated from 49 t0 57 Here’s the list, which I’ll keep up to date with any ‘extras’.

A pleasant walk across the barrage in the sunshine, with a snack in the Norwegian Church. First checked the beach below Penarth Head for the recent Black Redstart & failed to find it. At the Cardiff inshore end of the barrage, there were 3 Goosander [2f, 1m]. Whatsapp then told me the Black Redstart had been seen, so checked again on the way back. Met another Penarth birder [and GBC member] and we found it on the second concrete groyne across the beach. Pleased to get a lift up the hill back to Penarth centre so thanks Richie.!

Most noticeable today were Bullfinches of which I saw 4: – 1 in the hedge at S. end of W paddock, 2 together in N. end of W. paddock central hedge and 1 feeding in the scrubby ground cover in W paddock near the mile road. That one I managed to get some nice pix of, and they clearly show it suffering from trichomonsis, which may account for it being more confiding than the species is usually.
On Thursday it was very foggy and difficult to see anything at all!

Today, late morning, there was an active feeding flock of Goldfinch and Siskin in tree tops at the north end of Cogan Wood. Also in the wood, a male Bullfinch, Coal, Blue and Great Tits, a single Redwing and 3 Jays.
On 11th Jan I had a brief view of a Hawfinch in tree tops 50m past the dragonfly pond. There were c.250 Tufted Ducks on W lake plus 8 Pochard, 2 each of Little and Great Crested Grebes and a pair of Bullfinch was in the west paddock hedge.
On 12th Jan there were 8 Gadwall on W lake and a single Common Gull on the W lake posts.

Several hundred, probably at least a thousand Jackdaws swirling in a tight flock over Newton Nottage area of Porthcawl yesterday evening. Not quite as impressive as a Starling murmuration but pretty impressive nonetheless.

Yes fur not feather but worth showing

A sparkling afternoon for birding here today -in spite of it being a bit busy and the tide just coming in. A lovely sunset too.

We found plenty of gulls- Herring and Black-Headed, at least 15 Turnstone, numerous Oystercatchers, a few Sanderling, 6 Curlew, Carrion Crow, 2 Dark -Bellied Brent Geese, and a Redshank,

Black-throated Dive on Llanishen, Ring-necked Duck 1 (female type) and Common Sandpiper on Lisvane.

Walked across the barrage this morning and was lucky to see a female Goosander close in to the inner shore, so got a couple of nice shots. As the Barry Docks Black-throated Diver had been reported whilst we were having coffee at the far end, I nipped over there too. It turned up whilst we were away at Christmas so was pleased to see that it was still present. It was pretty obliging and gave the best views I’ve ever had of any species of diver.

Nine hardy folk joined us for the ‘Pies In The Hide’ monthly public walk on Saturday , and despite the wind , drizzle and poor visibility, we saw/heard 32 species between us, the highlight being an American Wigeon. It was only really visible through a ‘scope but everyone managed to have a view. Great to welcome a new member – and old friends of course. We enjoyed the festive occasion , taking shelter in the hide, with tinsel, mince pies and mulled hot fruit juice.

Full list. – Magpie, Carrion Crow, Blackbird,Wren, Woodpigeon, Jackdaw, Coot, Mute Swan, Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant, Mallard, Gadwall, Eurasian Wigeon, American Wigeon, Pochard, Tufted Duck, Moorhen calling in the reedbed, House Sparrow, Long-Tailed Tit, Chaffinch, Great Tit, Herring Gull, Blue Tit, Chettis Warbler, Chiff Chaff, Lesser Black -Backed Gull, Herring Gull, Black Headed Gull, Feral Pigeon, Stonechat, Sparowhawk, Redwing – spotted flying over at the end of the walk.

Many thanks to Dave for leading, to folk who helped us with ID and scope views, and everyone for coming along.

V v cold WeBS count (Wetland Bird Survey) this morning, on the Rhymney Estuary at Green Point. High tide was way too early last w/e, when it was scheduled – it would have still been dark!. Bit of an obstacle course there at the mo – see photos. Plenty of birds tho’: 100 Pintail, 80 Shelduck, 50 Teal, 40 Mallard, 11 Wigeon, 30 Shoveler, 40 Canada Geese, 800 Redshank, 400 Dunlin, 70 Oystercatcher, 22 Ringed Plover, 7 Cormorant.

Just because last mins decision at Traffic lights to turn in for coffee and use RSPB Radipole toilet, After walking RSPB Lodmoor and after stop a night in Poole after brillent low tide trip which highlights was Red throated Diver.

4 Bearded Tits feeding by cafe, during strong wind, funny i struggle with Bitterns this year but its been a Bearded Tits year for me 3 times 3 different places

The long-staying [since 19th Nov] female Red-breasted Merganser was quite active at Cosmeston this morning, as opposed to yesterday when it was fast asleep [see one of the photos]. This morning it was fishing on E. lake, in the company of a Little Grebe at one point. Also, on W. lake there were 4 drake and 1 fem Pochard, and a lone Wigeon.

An enjoyable walk was had today by a pleasing 18 participants [thanks folks!], on a Club trip, from Rest Bay to Sker Point and back. An unexpected treat was a Dartford Warbler, first spotted by Jean Carlson as we were watching a pair of Stonechats on gorse, across the road from the car park! An interesting bit of info which not everyone knows is that vagrant ‘Dartfords’ often associate with Stonechats. Highlights at Sker Point were c.150 Golden Plover, a few Purple Sandpipers, lots of Turnstone and Oystercatcher and a Ringed Plover and a Knot. A Mediterranean Gull I got flight shots of by the car park had a yellow leg ring but none of my shots show the code clearly enough. See the bottom LH image.
Diligent scanning by Alan Rosney got him on to a Diver going up channel but it was too distant to ID to species.
Edit: I’ve added in a couple of photos by Cindy Howells, one of 2 adult Great Black-backed Gulls, and another of a Curlew at Sker Point. I’ve taken the liberty of cropping both images [with permission].

The full list if 36 species is via this link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qrMzJZ8vGeBHIu1OXJKZjpPlR-maoDzk/view?usp=sharing

Very cold this morning. Not much action up by dragonfly pond. There were c.12 Redwing on the deck in W paddock near the S. kissing gate plus a couple of Song Thrush and a Mistle Thrush. W lake had 3 drake Pochard. In the willow by the boardwalk opposite the cafe, I was chuffed to see a female Reed Bunting feeding on phragmites heads. Only the second Reed Bunt I’ve recorded at Cossie this year [the 1st was a singing male in May]. They’ve become a bit of a rarity, sadly.

Late morning as usual. The Mile Road fallen tree had been cleared. There were 2 drake Pochard and a pair of Gadwall with the Tufties on W lake. The recent Red-breasted Merganser seems to have departed. A Sparrowhawk flew over the Medieval Village field and a Buzzard was mewing from a tree nearby although I couldn’t locate it.

Late morning circuit. The usual route up the Mile Road via the Medieval Village path, was blocked by a fallen tree. Hence we went through the lower dovecote field and joined the W lake back path. Over the lower dovecote there were 2 Buzzards circling, and a Peregrine suddenly appeared and had a go at one of them, then flew off. A few Redwing flew into the conservation area as we passed. In addition to the usual Tufties there were 2 Wigeon and a drake Pochard on W lake.

On Saturday at the w/e a lucky birder found a Dartford Warbler at Lavernock. It proved to be a little elusive but I visited today after my usual Cosmeston circuit to try my luck. There was no action in the scrubby field where it had been seen, but I eventually noticed 2 Stonechats on the adjacent hedgerow. Some folk may not know that wayward Dartfords often associate with Stonechats, and so it proved to be. I only got a brief view but the little devil popped its head out from the dense cover to give me a satisfactory glimpse then back in it went. The Stonechat pair relocated to an adjacent field and I watched them there for a while in case they’d taken the Dartford with them, but got no further action. No pic of the Dartford Warbler but I did take some pix of the Stonechats, although they’re big crops. I also noted a Meadow Pipit, and a male Kestrel was hunting over the field. Also below a drake Shoveler at Cossie and a Woodpigeon head shot [it was resting by the main bridge].

First desent image of Merlin with a Greylag goose acting as next door friend