Pretty quiet at Cossie this a.m., with 2 Wigeon and 3 Gadwall on W lake of note. Elsewhere the Snow Bunting is still showing well at The Knap, Barry; the Red-backed Shrike near Sker was seen again; plus a Siberian Chiffchaff near the south pool hide at Kenfig, and a Short-eared Owl flew along Rumney Great Wharf.

Good to welcome some new folk on our Kenfig monthly walk this morning [it was actually Saturday {16th} – sorry to be picky! John W].

We went down to Sker to find the Long-Tailed Duck on the flood, then moved east along the coast to the edge of the Royal Porthcawl golf course where we located the juvenile Red-backed Shrike. (and lots of other friends!)

Other highlights were, -2 Sparrow Hawk, 30+ Lapwing,  Common and Mediterranean Gull,  50+ Woodpigeon flying over,  4 Raven, a Sanderling, and a Redwing.

This is my list, some members continued afterwards to the pool, so they have some additions.

Black-headed Gull , Blackbird, Blue Tit , Canada Goose , Carrion Crow , Collared Dove,    Common Gull , Curlew , Feral Pigeon , Goldcrest , Great Black-backed Gull , Great Tit,
Grey Heron , Herring Gull , Jackdaw , Lapwing , Lesser Black-backed Gull ,                  Long-tailed Duck , Long-tailed Tit , Magpie , Mallard , Meadow Pipit , Mediterranean Gull
Oystercatcher , Pied Wagtail , Raven , Red-backed Shrike , Redshank , Redwing , Robin,
Rock Pipit , Rook , Sanderling, Song Thrush , Sparrowhawk , Starling , Stonechat, Turnstone , Woodpigeon , Wren , Skylark.      41 species

Our  next Kenfig walk will be on the 21st December, for ‘Pies in the Hide’ !  … and some birdwatching …    all welcome.

PS others seen were Golden Plover [flock flew over at Sker], Cormorant, Dunnock, Linnet, Goldfinch. {John W}.

A sibe Chiffchaff, Yellow-browed Warbler and a Firecrest were seen at Kenfig this morning! – in the same area, down the path past the bird table. Sorry this is late – didn’t discover it on social media until just now.

Rhymney Est. – 500 Dunlin, 1 Heron, 2 Cormorant, 330 Shelduck, 18 Shoveler, 55 Pintail, 36 Teal, 20 Mallard ands very surprisingly no Redshank. Alan Cripps was there and had seen 2 Jack Snipe. At the Heliport bay, 49 Shelduck, 27 Pintail on the beach and just a single lonely Turstone.

The GBC monthly walk with 16 participants went out to Sker past Sker Farm and the huge flooded field there where the long-staying Long-tailed Duck showed well. There were many Pipits but none in the rare category – lots of Meadows and a single Rock Pipit. C.30 Golden Plover flew over. Up the path alongside the Royal Porthcawl course we eventually found the Red-backed Shrike found yesterday by club member Peter Harrop. It never came very close but I managed a couple of photos capable of being cropped. Overall we saw nearly 50 species.

Having got the Bird Report files to the printer today, I treated myself to a local ‘twitch’ for the Snow Bunting at The Knap, Barry. It didn’t disappoint – an incredibly confiding bird. Light was v poor but I got some nice photos.

Also late news for today, a Red-backed Shrike was found along a fence line adjacent the Royal Porthcawl Golf Course.

Female Pintail on the grassy ‘beach’ W lake, c.15 Tufties on W lake plus 2 Pochard and 3 Gadwall. 57 Tufties on E lake. Sully brook by Medieval Village was as full as I’ve ever seen it.

The Snow Bunting was at Knap Lake again today with a few GBC admirers. Also, to our surprise and delight a Red-throated Diver fishing just offshore at one point we could se the sprats leaping out of the water to avoid being on the menu.

The Snow Bunting has apparently been present around the lake this afternoon, mostly around the seaward side paths and near the skate park.

Adult Yellow-legged Gull Caerphilly Castle Moat also Nine Goosander.

The Snow Bunting was reported at the Knap Lake this morning by the beach of Barry Old Harbour/Watch House Bay, and the Long-tailed Duck was still on Sker farm flood.

On Flemingston Moor this afternoon: 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 113 Lapwing, 4 Greylag Geese and 278 Canada Geese.

70+ Wigeon on the sea a few metres east of the Thaw river mouth, and a few Oystercatcher, Ringed Plover and Turnstone on the beach nearby in very windy conditions late afternoon.

 

News just noticed on WhatsApp – Snow Bunting at The Knap Lake Barry – post timed 16.34.

Today’s news from elsewhere: A Scaup at Prospect Place, Cardiff Bay this morning, Long-tailed Duck still on the flood at Sker, and best of all a Shore Lark [which was found yesterday aft], was still at Newton Point – Porthcawl this morning but flew off towards Merthyr Mawr dunes.

On a more mundane front in a cold wind at Cosmeston this morning there were 3 Little Grebes and 3 GC Grebes on W lake.

Also today from social media – Slavonian Grebe on Kenfig Pool [poss the returning bird form last winter], and the Long-t Duck still on the flood at Sker.

In case anyone hasn’t seen it on social media or any other forum, a Shore Lark was found Newton Point – Porthcawl late today. Photo on the #glambirds Twitter link on the right.

Gt White Egret present yesterday and went to roost – per Martin Bevan. Present since Weds apparently.

Great White Egret there y’day and went to roost, per Martin Bevan.

Juv Long-tailed Duck

 

Cetti’s Warbler calling from brambles just to the west of the bridge. 2 pairs of Bullfinch calling from wooded hill to west of valley. Pair of Stonechats alongside stream quarter of a mile inland.