A beautiful day,but short of birds!

At Garwnant 2-Crossbills m+f.

At Cwm Cadlan a very brief sighting of either a Marsh or Willow Tit not enough of a view to confirm which,but head black so not a Coal Tit.Unfortunately no G.G.S. to be seen,maybe a bit early yet.10h30-14h30.

There were 20 Teal on W lake plus a pair of Gadwall and the usual Tufties. In the recently mowed far end of W paddock there were at least 30 Pied Wagtails and a Meadow Pipit feeding amongst the grass and vegetation on the ground. A Jay by the golf course.

A flock of c.50 Fieldfare flew over W paddock this morning and landed in trees by the central path. There were a few Redwing with them. Both E and W paddocks have now been mowed so a couple of areas are pretty muddy. At the far end of W paddock this morning, 2 Buzzards were on the ground looking for easy pickings in the cut vegetation lying on the ground. One thought it had got something and flew up into a tree with talons full of cut grass and stems. t soon became evident that there was nothing within and it flew off in a huff! One fem Great Spotted Woodpecker flew across the lower Dovecot field and landed in a distant tree. There is apparently a Pintail on W lake but it is being very elusive.

Goosander numbers up to 10 – 8 fem & 2 males, Common Sandpiper & Kingfisher still around

One, Sanatorium Park this morning.

A pair of Green Woodpeckers were feeding along the edge of E paddock this morning. There were c.100 Black-headed Gulls in the W lake bay area, and a single Pochard on E lake.

Nice garden year tick was a Treecreeper by our feeder. The 6th record since 1994, the most recent in 2010.

22 species seen this morning in a 2 hr walk around Forest Farm including a Stock Dove. https://ebird.org/checklist/S61170051

12 GBC members enjoyed a nice sunny day at sites along the south Gower coast – Oxwich, Port Eynon and Rhossili. Highlights included Red-throated Diver, 2 fly-by Great Northern Divers, and a distant raft of Common Scoter at Oxwich, Guillemots, Med Gulls, Rock Pipits, Curlew, Turnstone and fly-by Kittiwake at Port Eynon, and 6 Chough [2 near Rhossili car park and a group of 4 to the south of the Worm], 2 Kestrel, Buzzard and a brief fly-by Merlin, unfortunately only seen by a couple of us and a couple of Seals. We made it back to the cars just as the rain started to come in. Trip total yet to be compiled.

Sunday afternoon – about half a mile inland from the estuary – Pair of Peregrines tussling over the hillside. 7 female Goosanders apparently hunting in a pack. 2 pairs of Goldeneye also diving frequently.

Snow bunting reported this morning by nearest tee to green lifeguard hut at Pink Bay.

4 red kites circling over the house and surrounding fields today. Whilst red kite is a regular sighting, this is the first time I have seen 4 together in this location. Joined by a raven and several carrion crows.

In the garden today, 2 treecreeper (only had singles before), great spotted woodpecker, nuthatch, blackbird, robin, dunnock, blue/great/coal tit, chaffinch, wood pigeon (7), collared dove, magpie, jay, grey wagtail (2), tawny owl calling this evening.

There were eleven Goosanders on the moat this afternoon three of which were drakes. Others;  Tufted Duck 1Treecreeper 2 Mistle Thrush 3  and a ringed  first winter LB/B Gull K=Z

11 species seen at Lisvane and Llanishen reservoirs this morning including the long-tailed duck. Full list here https://ebird.org/checklist/S61084645

On Port Road Barry to Cardiff, surprised to see a Red Kite low over the roundabout between Wenvoe and Cardiff.

There were four Dipers on the Taff this morning in what appeared to be a territorial despute.  There was lots of singing and chasing.

 

 

 

Monday 28 Oct am. 7 fem Goosanders, 1 Green & 1 Common Sandpiper, Kingfisher

Following a small movement ssw of 1,100  on 22nd and 4,000 on 27th there was a large movement ssw over Canton and Leckwith this morning: c 62,000 birds passed over with the greatest numbers between 7.30am and 7.45 am when 20,700 were counted. Birds still passing over when counting ended at 9am.

A Peregrine cruised over the reserve this morning. A Heron in St. Mary’s Well Bay plus a few Oycs, and a Buzzard over Rowland’s Well field. Otherwise pretty wet & muddy!

Saw my first Redwings of this season this morning – c.10 were in trees bordering W paddock and the Mile Road at Cosmeston.

Late WeBS on Wed 16th Oct.   The highlights were -7 returned Little Grebe, a Kingfisher and 5 Redwing

Mute Swan, Gadwall , Mallard , Teal, Little Grebe, Moorhen , Coot , Woodpigeon Kingfisher, Magpie , Carrion Crow, Great Tit, Long-tailed Tit , Wren, Nuthatch Blackbird , Redwing, Robin , Chaffinch.