Nice to see a Heron on the small pond just outside the Concourse yesterday attracting people to take photos on their phones!

GRANGEMOOR PARK today–Kingfisher.

River Ely, Leckwith– pair Goosanders again.

An excellent pm birdwatching. Without moving from Portobello House, saw Water Pipit, Ad winter Med Gull, adult Yellow-legged Gull and 2 Common Gull in the Gull flock.

Then onto Ewenny Priory to see Hawfinch.

Firecrest still present today at lunchtime in the location posted by others. Occasionally in the treetops and on the west side of the steam.

Good numbers on the Ogmore in the sunshine this afternoon, including a Black Swan.

Black Swan,  Black-headed Gull,  Blackbird,  Buzzard, Canada Goose , Carrion Crow
Chaffinch,  Collared Dove,  Cormorant,  Dunnock,  Goosander (4),  Herring Gull , Linnet
Little Grebe (2),  Magpie , Mallard,  Mute Swan,  Pied Wagtail , Redshank (6) , Shelduck
Teal (12) , Woodpigeon

c.4:15 p.m. the Black Redstart showed briefly on the roofs of the tall houses facing the Bay about 100m beyond the sign for Plas St. Andresse. These are the houses that on the marina side, face into the small square, where the bird has all been seen. On the river Ely embankment there, just 4 Turnstone, 2 Redshank, 1Pied Wag male and 1 Grey Wag. One of the Redshanks was colour ringed and is probably the same bird that Annie Irving tweeted about a while ago. I couldn’t see the rings clearly as it was wading with the rings under the water but one was yellow.

2 Green Woodpeckers, 1 in E paddock and 1 in W. paddock. 2 Mistle Thrush in W paddock. 3 Shoveler on W lake [2m 1f] and 3 Pairs of GC Grebes displaying. Other than that the usual suspects.

Dipper on the River Taff near Cilfynydd

4 Avocets at Green Pt were a pleasant surprise this afternoon. Unfortunately flushed by walkers. I relocated one of them but not the other three.

https://ebird.org/checklist/S64087477

13 folk went to Llanelli today where it was less grey and overcast than in Penarth at least. Highlights were a Greenland Whitefront out in the salt marsh, 4 Spoonbill, 1 ad Yellow-legged Gull, hundreds of Black-tailed Godwits a flock fo which contained about 20 Knot. Alan common wildfowl were logged and out in the estuary on the falling tide, scopes managed to pick out 1000’s of Oycs, Dunlin, Ringed Plover, Curlew and Redshank. A total of 58 species were seen. List will be added to the trip lists in due course.

Hawfinch sighted in treetops in the trees lining the Wrinstone Brook valley near Michaelston-le-Pit (ST139729).

Also seen along the brook and ponds: Kingfisher, 1st W Stonechat, Heron, Mallard, Moorhen, Common Buzzard.

A quick walk before the hail storm, which we got caught in! 2 Green Woodpeckers still hanging around the E paddock area, today by the playground. A sub ad drake Scaup was with Tufties in W lake bay, as was a pair of Gadwall. GCG were displaying as was a pair of Mute Swans.

Just spotted what was first thought to be a Slavonian Grebe definitely a Black-necked Grebe in front of the hide at Oxwich Reserve midday today.

No sign of any Scaup amongst the 100 or so Tufties present this morning, but a single drake Pochard on W lake. Graham Smith apparently had a couple of Teal. 1 Green Woodpecker in E paddock and 30 Fieldfare and a few Redwing in trees adj W paddock, and small flock of Goldfinch there. Common Gull still present on E lake. Song Thrush in full song by the mile road at top end of E paddock.

Pair of Stonechat in same vicinity where they successfully bred in 2018.

Am Sat between 9.45 – 11.45

Location: Take the track alongside the feeder north from the Music College to the buildings at Blackweir. Some 150 yards from Blackweir, there is a large Rhododendron bush on the bank of the feeder on the right of the track. The firecrest was in the bushes over the feeder opposite this large bush. Patience is needed. Saw it twice in the 2 hours I was there!

Visited Cwm Cadlan Sat 18th, the Great Grey Shrike was back in the usual clear fell area.

There were c.50 each of Redwing and Fieldfare in W paddock yesterday, and a fw Redwing dotted around other parts of the park. Today during a very quick visit there were 2 Green Woodpeckers feeding on the ground in E. paddock, together with 3 Mistle Thrush. The only wildfowl of interest both yesterday and today, were Tufted Ducks, although there was a pair of Teal on Tuesday.

Three drake and two redhead Goosander this morning.

I have not seen L. f. fuscus for a very very long time (30+ years). According to Olsen & Larsson ‘ Gulls of Europe, Asia and N. America’ , adult winter L. f. fuscus has the upperwing black with NO contrasting wing-tip (the photo shows a distinct contrast).

2nd Winter L. f. fuscus should have strong head markings around the eyes and on the back of the head, bill should have black subterminal markings and coverts brownish tinged.

It is a pity there was no photograph of the bird flying away.

15-20 Redwings flew from large tree (some came back) approx 1500hrs. ( my first definite ones of the winter)