Bittern at Kenfig Pool. At Sker Point: Little Gull [ad W], Med Gull [ad] & Kittiwake [1st W]. [ND]
OOC A Green-winged Teal reported from Peterstone Wentloog foreshore (Gwent) this am. This could possibly move over the border into Cardiff (RGW).
Friday, 7 February 2014
Black-throated Diver at Barry Dock
Late news - Glaucous Gull at Burry Holms, yesterday
A relatively small ad Glaucous Gull and an ad Little Gull were showing around Burry Holms, yesterday. (EAH)
Thursday, 6 February 2014
Late News - storm driven Razorbill in Baglan
I took a phone call yesterday afternoon from Phil George who let me know he had been somewhat surprised by a Razorbill that nearly hit him on the head, while out walking the dog. Phil described how he was in the local park at Baglan when a crashing sound coming from an Ivy covered tree preceded a large bird falling to the ground near him. Phil was expecting it to be a Sparrowhawk with a kill and so when confronted with a Razorbill looking back at him things became a little bit surreal! However, Phil had good presence of mind to pick the bird up and take it home, where he put it in a box in the garage.
Later on I visited to find the bird in good health. Alert, aggressive and flapping its wings like crazy; I decided it would be best to get the bird back to sea quickly. I took it to Aberavon Beach and released it into the Afan River where the Harbour Short-arm was providing some protection from the still strong winds. It dived 3 times before flying out strongly, low over the water and beyond the harbour breakwater.
As some reward an Ad Little Gull was showing well in the small bay between the Afan River and Jackstones Pier. The Little Gull was still present this afternoon on the Aberavon beach side of the pier, seen by T Tovey and R Anderson.
Later on I visited to find the bird in good health. Alert, aggressive and flapping its wings like crazy; I decided it would be best to get the bird back to sea quickly. I took it to Aberavon Beach and released it into the Afan River where the Harbour Short-arm was providing some protection from the still strong winds. It dived 3 times before flying out strongly, low over the water and beyond the harbour breakwater.
As some reward an Ad Little Gull was showing well in the small bay between the Afan River and Jackstones Pier. The Little Gull was still present this afternoon on the Aberavon beach side of the pier, seen by T Tovey and R Anderson.
News
VC41: The fem/imm Long-tailed Duck is still at the Knap Pool, Barry this am. [GP]
Late News: 6th, Glaucous Gull [ad] & Little Gull [ad] both at Burry Holms, Gower [EAH]
Late News: 6th, Glaucous Gull [ad] & Little Gull [ad] both at Burry Holms, Gower [EAH]
OOC The American Wigeon still at Uskmouth VC35, viewed from the path by the lighthouse & the Red-flanked Bluetail was still in the Shire Valley, Marshfield, Gloucestershire. Also several Corn Buntings at Marshfield. [MCP & DRWG]
Tuesday, 4 February 2014
News
A GND at Kenfig Poll briefly this am, flew off south calling. Also Bittern seen there from south pool hide. [ND] Another Bittern is still present at Forest Farm. [per BirdGuides]
The GND is still present at Llwyn-on Res. and the Great Grey Shrike is still present at Garwnant. [MTH]
Late News: 4th A Long-tailed Duck (fem/imm type) was on the Knap Pool, Barry. A first for this site. [RN & LN]
News from 3rd Feb.
Lesser Scaup at Cosmeston CP & BNG still in Cardiff Bay. [per BirdGuides]
The GND is still present at Llwyn-on Res. and the Great Grey Shrike is still present at Garwnant. [MTH]
Late News: 4th A Long-tailed Duck (fem/imm type) was on the Knap Pool, Barry. A first for this site. [RN & LN]
News from 3rd Feb.
Lesser Scaup at Cosmeston CP & BNG still in Cardiff Bay. [per BirdGuides]
Cardiff Bay Wetland Reserve & Hamadryad
A brief visit this morning. CBWR - bearded tit/s heard calling briefly but unfortunately no sighting. No sign of black necked grebe from Hamadryad side but 41 little grebe of note. An additional 13 little grebe at CBWR. 54 a respectable total for these two sites?
{Note: Taking the area Cardiff Bay into account, 54 is the highest count for Little Grebe in VC41. Splitting the sites, 41 also qualifies as the highest, beating the 39 at Roath Park Lake in Jan 2009. GRC.}
Sunday, 2 February 2014
6 Snow Buntings at Whiteford Sands
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Otherwise some good stuff included 22 Eiders, 8 Red-breasted Merganser, 1 Great Norther Diver, 3 Slavonian Grebes & 2 Peregrines from Whiteford. Also 2 Great White Egrets and a Merlin at Llanrhdian. Golden Plovers and Lapwings filling the skies in their thousands was seen regularly throughout the day, and each time always special.
Special thanks to Darren Coombs and Rob Jones for their significant help today. Also Becky Sharp, Dave Pritchard, Peter Douglas-Jones, Gary Light and Colin Stevenson for coming along on a most enjoyable day out.
It is also worth noting that Bob Tallack recorded 6 Snow Buntings at Broughton Bay, on 17th December 2013, which is about 1km SW of yesterday's sighting (SS430942). It seems likely that these are the same birds and, that they have wintered in this area. I haven't had chance to compare how this seemingly high count fairs against other database counts, but Rob Jones gave an anecdotal account of between 12-15 Snow Buntings on the Outer Worm many years ago.
Kumlien's Gull at Blackpill
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