BNG and Slav

Black-necked Grebe (top) (c) P. Morgan

Just to pass the time before someone finds something of wind-blown interest in the county, I thought I'd post a picture showing Black-necked Grebe with a Slavonian Grebe. There aren't many places in the county where you can see both species side by side. Probably the Burry Inlet offers the best chance due to the constant presence of Slavonian Grebes there during the winter. This being backed up by Barry Stewart's recent record, although it doesn't happen very often.

Bittern Forest Farm

Just posting these record shots of Bittern at Forest Farm on 18th Jan, observed and snapped by Matthew Morgan, so thanks for the record Matthew. The first is the original with the bird circled faintly in red in centre back. Fortunately the pic was 5000+ pixels wide so this and another allowed for the following 2 crops.

Sunday News

Llanrhidian Roost - 2 Great White Egret, 2 Hen harrier and 3 Barn Owl (SM)

Kenfig - Black-necked Grebe, Bittern and ringtail Hen Harrier (DJJ, GJJ)

Kenfig - Black-necked Grebe and 2 Bittern (JC)

Portobello, Ogmore - 1 ad Bonaparte's Gull (MDa), (AB)

Cosmeston Lakes - 2f Scaup and the hybrid still (JDW)

News

26th Jan.
Black-necked Grebe still Kenfig Pool [AM, GH]
Bonaparte's Gull (ad W) still at Cardiff Foreshore WTW [PB]
Bittern (1) at KNNR

25th Jan.
Bonaparte's Gull (ad W) still on the Ogmore river [DCB]
Bittern still at Forest Farm, Cardiff [RM]
Water Pipit at Ogmore [DCB]

Tagged Red Kites on Gower

A3 left-BLACK right-WHITE

A couple of records of tagged Red Kites from near Newton Farm, Gower, yesterday. Thanks to Gwyn Roberts I've been able to trace their origins. Above, "WHITE A3" is from Swansea county outside of Gower and was tagged in 2011.

T4 left-BLACK right-RED

"RED T4" is from Gower and was tagged in 2012

Prior to yesterday, and speaking with Gwyn, I didn't know too much about the Red Kite colour coding system so here are a few pointers for anyone like me.

Left tag is colour coded for region

BLACK - Wales
YELLOW - Southern England
BLUE - North Scotland
WHITE - East Midlands
ORANGE - Yorkshire
RED - Central Scotland
GREEN - Dumfries & Galloway
PINK - Northumberland

Right tag is colour coded for Year of Hatching

1998 - LIME GREEN
1999 - BLACK
2000 - PINK
2001 - BLUE
2002 - WHITE
2003 - RED
2004 - YELLOW
2005 - ORANGE
2006 - GREEN
2007 - PURPLE
2008 - BLACK
2009 - PINK
2010 - BLUE
2011 - WHITE
2012 - RED

Forest farm Bittern,this a.m.

News

Waxwing (2) at Roath Court Road briefly at 13.15. 11 there yesterday [OY]

Excellent numbers of Redwing about, c1000 feeding in fields & hedgerows along the Cardiff Levels, Hendre Lake & Lamby Lake yesterday, also increased numbers of Sky Larks & Common Gulls reported. A Brambling was at Lamby Lake 24th - No sign of the Bittern there 24th, but the reeds there have been flattened by the recent snow.
* Don't forget to have a wee dram for Burn's night!

Bittern at Parc Tredelerch [Lamby Lake]

Thanks to Lisa Wilmot for supplying the photos below of a Bittern she saw at Lamby Lake on 17th and 22nd Jan this year.

black-necked grebe at Kenfig NNR

Black necked grebe.

                                 Still present at Kenfig pool yesterday. Photo Colin Gittins