Water Pipit - Ogmore Estuary

This Water Pipit was with several Rock Pipits on the lower estuary saltmarsh (Vale side) late afternoon, but mainly keeping in the areas shaded from the sun.

Siberian Chiffchaff ( tristis) at Forest farm this morning.

Forest Farm - Sibe Chiffchaff

Just a heads up that Rob Mitchell has an excellent pic of a Sibe [tristis] Chiffie at Forest Farm - photo on SWB Facebook page and SWB [Cardiff] blog.

RGW & Foreshore

RGW: A Water Pipit with Meadow Pipits at high tide along the wharf. A Red-throated Diver D/C, an unusual species off the wharf. Jack Snipe flushed from grass & 2 fem/imm Common Scoter D/C. Also Grey Plover, Knot, Dunlin, Redshank, Curlew, Pintail, Wigeon, Teal & Little Egret.

Cardiff Foreshore: 2 Black Redstarts along path next to WTW. Seen on fence & feeding on beach. Good numbers of B-h Gulls.

Interesting Chough record

Andy Burns of Dinas Powys photographed a Chough at Lock's Common yesterday and got a good enough pic to read its colour rings. He sent the info off to Adrienne Stratford who is involved with ringing Chough on Angelsey. It turns out that Andy's bird is a young female and one of the Angelsey ones. Ringed on 9th Jun and seen with her siblings on 2nd Jul. This is double the previous max distance one has been seen away from Angelsey. The rings carrie are Lime/BTO on left leg and Green/ Blue "9U" on right leg. There's a photo on the South Wales Birding Facebook page.

Hume's Leaf Warbler at Middleton sound recording request

I've had a request from Eddie Hunter to ask if anyone who managed to connect the Hume's Leaf Warbler at Middleton a few weeks back could make contact with this blog if they managed to record the bird calling. The true identity of this bird still seems a topic for discussion for birders that have seen and heard it or viewed photos of it online. Analysis of recording of the bird's call will certainly allow more confidence in the bird's identification. Eddie has some recording of the bird, which he is confident do produce sonograms that match Hume's, but it will certainly help the bird's assessment if these can be backed up with further good recordings if possible.

Either GlamRC@gmail.com or markhipkin1@gmail.com or edhunterhere@yahoo.com can be used as a means of contact.

Those that are completely confident in the bird's identity should be encouraged to make formal submissions to BBRC for assessment. As county recorder for West Glamorgan it is good to be kept informed about these types of records and I politely request that I am able to have a copy of all submitted material for my and the Glamorgan Rarities Committee's records. Thank you!

The Cardiff bay Long-tailed duck.

Aberthaw Grey Phal

I caught up with this bird this morning, so here's a couple of closer shots for use in circ if req'd.

East Aberthaw

Just seen a post [and photo] on Facebook - Grey Phal at E. Aberthaw pool today. Have asked for permission to copy photo here - awaiting reply. Permission granted see below. Observer and finder was Maxine Levett.

Pallas's Warbler in Middleton lane.

Ed Hunter found a Pallas's Warbler at Middleton Lane this morning at 10:25. Luckily for me I work just down the road from there and by 10:40 was watching the bird feeding frantically in the Apple Tree and surrounding bushes. It was showing very well and called a few times before heading off with with a tit flock. Probably a different bird to the bird found by PP & PT last weekend, but difficult to be sure. Hopefully it will stick around so that a few more folk can catch up with it. My thanks goes to Ed for my latest Glamorgan tick.