We’re back from the GBC annual weekend visit to the Portland Bird Observatory in Dorset. Clear skies meant that many migrants went straight through, although we did see some special birds, including Corn Bunting, Lesser Yellowlegs, Brambling and Short-eared Owl. The trip list was 99 species. Full list below:

Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Brent Goose, Shelduck, Wigeon, Teal, Mallard, Pintail, Pochard, Tufted Duck, Common Scoter, Grey Partridge, Pheasant, Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Spoonbill, Grey Heron, Little Egret, Gannet, Shag, Cormorant, Marsh Harrier, Sparrowhawk, Common Buzzard, Kestrel, Peregrine, Water Rail, Moorhen, Coot, Oystercatcher, Avocet, Ringed Plover, Golden Plover, Grey Plover, Lapwing, Knot, Dunlin, Ruff, Snipe, Black-tailed Godwit, Bar-tailed Godwit, Curlew, Green Sandpiper, Greenshank, Lesser Yellowlegs, Redshank, Turnstone, Black-headed Gull, Mediterranean Gull, Common Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Sandwich Tern, Feral Pigeon, Stock Dove, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Little Owl, Short-eared Owl, Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Magpie, Jay, Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Raven, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Skylark, Swallow, Cetti’s Warbler, Long-tailed Tit, Common Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Goldcrest, Wren, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Starling, Blackbird , Fieldfare, Song Thrush, Redwing, Robin, Stonechat, Dunnock, House Sparrow, Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Rock Pipit, Chaffinch, Brambling, Goldfinch, Linnet, Bullfinch, Corn Bunting.

Annie Irving photographed a Lapland Bunting on the barrage today. Not sure if there’s any further news.

Monday afternoon a pale-bellied Brent Goose was with 3 Teal on a small pool about 100m west of of the Thaw river mouth, where there were also 60 Wigeon, a Great Black-backed Gull and 2 Little Egret present.

At Limpert Bay 7 Ringed Plover, 15 Turnstone, 2 Curlew, 1 Common Gull and a Little Egret.

On Aberthaw Power Station buildings a flock of 150 Feral Pigeon, and on one of the coal piles a flock of 20 Linnet were enjoying the afternoon sun whilst keeping out of the cold wind.

Earlier in the day, 17 Curlew split between Swanbridge playing fields and Sully Island was my highest count there so far this autumn. There was an adult Mediterranean Gull on railings at Barry Docks waterfront, 10 Stock Dove on Flemingston Moor and at Cosmeston a Cetti’s Warbler in the East Lake reedbed, a hybrid Aythya duck and 275 Canada Geese on the East Lake, and a drake Pochard and 5 Teal on the West Lake.

 Yellowhammer 15 Reed Bunting 1 Goldeneye 2

Kingfisher 1 Common Gull 2 lots of Black-headed and Herring Gulls.

Single Brambling provided a new garden list bird and a great start to a frosty morning.

Almost daily ssw movement during this generally clear, cold spell. 5,235 ssw over Leckwith between 8am and 9am.

Latest ringing news HERE.

Firecrest (photo Lara Bates-Prior)

 

I was lucky enough to find a Cattle Egret at Kenfig Pool this morning. It initially flew over the Pool for a while then landed on the east shore near the boat house. It then flew over to the south hide and perched on one of the posts for a few minutes before flying back towards the east shore and landing in one of the fields behind the shore. It was not seen after that.

Adult Winter Med Gull on the Island.

Also, a big clean up by The River Clean Group (I think that is their name). Over 200 car tyres removed with sacs of other rubbish.

More SSW movement but only saw the tail end of what was probably going on–1,700 counted in fifteen minutes.

Another big Woodpigeon movement over Leckwith, with smaller numbers over Canton. Movement SSW as usual. 24,200 birds passing in one hour between 08.15 and 09.15. Two large flocks of about 500 birds “fell” from quite a height into Company’s Wood, Leckwith. Smaller numbers continuing after count ended.

Sully Island/Sully beach/Bendrick Rock after high tide this morning: 110 Oystercatcher, 9 Curlew, 53 Ringed Plover, 20 Dunlin, 12 Turnstone, 2 Great Black-backed Gull and a Little Egret. A flock of 25+ Greenfinch was a fine sight in the sunshine on shrubs in the Burnham Avenue beach car park.

One on the roof at the Heath Hospital and a female on the City Hall.

A Bittern turned up yesterday [per Graham Smith] and was seen twice today in the morning [sadly not by me]. It’s using the W lake reed bed. Watched for about 45 mins late afternoon with Graham & Wayne Strong but no show. A flock of c.80 Starlings flew around over the lakes at about 5:45 so a poss sign that we will have a murmuration this winter. Nearby there’s a Yellow-browed Warbler hanging out with a tit flock down St. Mary’s Well Bay road, mostly in Sycamores on the LH side round about where there’s a ruin down among the trees on the left [again found by Graham about 3 days ago].

Caught up with this little beauty this afternoon, nice to see so many people enjoying it, today and last night. Its feeding well, and looks very content with its surroundings.

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Pleased to catch up with the immature Red-necked Grebe that Mike Pointon found this morning on Roath Park Lake. Here’s my best shots – all taken against the light.

2 Greenshank, Green & Common Sandpipers, Kingfisher, adult Yellow-legged Gull, 1 first winter Common Gull (ringed), Sparrowhawk + the usual.

A Red-neck Grebe at the north end east side of the lake this morning feeding fairly close to shore.

Per Graham Tierney – Impressive migration of Wood Pigeon over Efail Isaf this morning (see below), 2 flocks of 1000+ and several smaller flocks. 2 Redwing flying over. According to my email from Graham this was 5 days ago on 18th Oct although I only rec’d the email today.

A bit earlier than in recent years-Woody movement SSW over Leckwith this morning. 11,700 birds in fifty minutes counted from 0800 hours with birds seen (uncounted) before and after.