Cardiff Bay

4 Turnstone and 1 Redshank along the Ely embankment by Penarth Marina. 2 Pied Wags, 5 Common Gull and a Rock Pipit barrage south end. 4 drake and 1 redhead Goosander by barrage north end beyond the swift tower.

Also reported there early morning, a possible Siberian Chiffchaff [on #glambirds Twitter feed] by the path by Roath Dock.

Cosmeston a.m.

Highlights from Cosmeston this morning. W lake had an adult winter Med Gull, 2 prs of Gadwall, 1 drake Pochard I could see, 1 Little Grebe 2 GC Grebe and the usual Tufties. Near dragonfly pond – 1 Gt Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Fieldfare.

Cosmeston

A Sparrowhawk was in a tree in the snipe paddock then flew off. A few Redwing scattered around, and nice Song Thrush by E paddock. A Kingfisher was briefly by the dragonfly pond but flew off [it had a thin layer of ice]. A lone Goldfinch was all alone feeding on a teasel, 2 Reed Buntings by the dipping pond.

Various

Fenrod lake
140 black h gulls ,three goosander 2male 1 female ,22 mute swan ,40 + Canada geese ,10 moorhen, 8 coot, 20 herring gull, 4 common gull, mallards and tufted ln small numbers .
Nearby amenities tip 200+ herring and lesser b b gulls,and 45 starlings
2 red kites were over Longford ,and one was over Briton ferry bridge .
60 redwing were over Briton ferry yesterday (30th)
On Friday 29th a disappointing night at the Liberty stadium was brightened up by watching 10 pied wagtails chasing moths and landing on the pitch

Lavernock WT reserve

Decided to walk in some different mud this morning! ….. the reserve is completely waterlogged – path v v muddy and slippery. Nevertheless lots of Redwing there. c.150 in the second ‘paddock’ bursting out of every tree, and about 200 in Rowlands Well Field [behind the caravan park] where they were feeding on the ground amongst stubble and weeds. Also around 10 Fieldfare seen.

Various locations

News from this morning:

  • 4 Woodlark in stubble field E of St Mary’s Well Bay Road near Cosmeston, but mobile;
  • Serin briefly in the lighthouse compound at Nash Pt then flew E.
  • Hawfinch in trees SE corner of Cefn Mably Woods fringing N side of gated housing estate [just N of J.30 M4]
  • 2 Firecrest trapped & ringed at Oxwich
  • and finally farther afield, an impressive 52 Whooper Swans at Ro-fawr, W of Cilsan bridge in the Towy valley.

Slade Farm [St Brides Major]

Following a request from the farm, John Wilson, Strinda Davies, Rhos Williams and 4 other folk pus the farmer and a ranger, did a 4 1/2 mile walk in the rain around the cold, wet muddy fields of Slade Farm this morning doing a bird survey in partnership with the farmer and his daughter. The weather kept small birds low but we logged and counted 27 species, the highlights of which were around 30 Yellowhammer, 50 or so Skylark [they were flushing up all the time], 20 Goldfinch, 30 Linnet, Reed Bunting, 5 Stonechat, 2 Buzzards, 1 Kestrel, 4 Common Gulls in with a resting flock of 23 Herring Gull, and 40 Rook. 5 Curew came out of one field too. Most surprising was what was almost certainly a Quail which flushed and flew low across a stubble field, but could not be relocated. We understand that some were introduced in a nearby establishment some time ago. It’s a bit late for a genuine wild bird. The tea and cakes at the end were most welcome!

Cosmeston

V. cold & windy this morning. Wildfowl on W lake comprised 2 Wigeon, 3 Pochard, 1 Gadwall, & 5 Shoveler. An ad Grey Heron on the W lake posts and 2 Little Grebes nearby, about a dozen Redwing dotted around the place, Green ‘Pecker in E paddock and c.50 Goldfinch feeding in alders at the RH end of E lake. There were 2 Mistle Thrush in W paddock yesterday.

Caerphilly Castle Moat

Oslo is back a Black-headed Gull ringed in Oslo in 2015 is back on the moat we will submit the record to the ringer in Norway and see what history we get back. So far the bird has only been recorded in or around Oslo on at Caerphilly Castle Moat!P1000848

Also Kingfisher Goosander 6 Yellow-legged Gull.