Late News

5th March: A Ring Ouzel in the Llynfi Valley yesterday. [Thanks to CR via PP]. Also the 1st W Little Gull still in Cardiff Bay [per BirdGuides]

Ring-billed Gull still at Blackpill

© J Garside

James Garside sent in this photo of the Ring-billed Gull at Blackpill, from this evening. It was on the beach with the large gull flock at 17:00. To my knowledge this is the only record shot of this cracking bird, so far..

Ring-billed Gull and Kumlien's Gull still at Blackpill

 The ad Ring-billed Gull was still present at Blackpill, today at 15:30. It was with a large gull flock on the beach, but took to the air very quickly after I picked it up. It proceeded to fly off west towards Upper Killay/Fairwood Common with a small, mixed group of gulls. There was no sign of it's return by dusk to the gull roost in the bay. A Kumlien's Gull did drop in towards dusk, presumably the same bird seen early in the week. The bill is perhaps a little advanced looking but otherwise it looks good for 2cy

 Barry took some nice video of the bird as it came to the beach to preen, briefly. Found on the link below Kumlien's Video - Click Here

Possible Kumlien's Gull, Cardiff

1st winter/2nd cy gull seen from the barrage between 08:45-09:10 02/03/2014. Bird was c.1 km out in the Bristol Channel when first seen and stayed a long way off shore for most of the time. Finally came in to about 500-600m and I managed some very distant shots. Last seen sat on the sea drifting down channel on the falling tide.

 

Small white-winged gull (smaller than accompanying Herring Gulls), round head seen when sat on the seas indicates Iceland/Kumlien's. Primaries paler than rest of wing feathers but still appeared dirty at the range seen.

 

Photos are 100% crops and the best of the ones taken so not much more to be gleaned.

 

 

 

 

Beached Bird Survey around Baglan Bay

The recent winter storms that have brought such riches to our shores in the form have rare or scarce birds have also brought much less pleasurable sightings. It has been well documented on local blogs and other media that some of our much loved seabirds have not faired the stormy season well. Maybe this harsh example of natural selection leaves the surviving population with a stronger gene pool, and I'm sure many of us will be looking forward to the summer ahead being the start of a speedy recovery. Hopefully, some of our warden friends on the Pembrokeshire Islands will be able to feed back brighter news come the end of the breeding season.

In some ways this natural disaster couldn't have come at a better time of year. With the beached bird surveys organised by the RSPB, locally by rep Alistair Flannagan, comprehensive data should be readily available to analyse this event in greater depth. Furthermore, I hope that we will be informed of any findings in due course.

My own sightings came from Crymlyn Burrows yesterday, and Aberavon Beach, today, where I received the able support of Becky Sharp. The birds found stranded were as follows :-
Crymlyn Burrows (1/3/14) - Pheasant (1), Kittiwake (1), Guillemot (29) and Razorbill (13)
Aberavon beach (2/3/14) - Kittiwake (2), Guillemot (7), Razorbill (3) and Puffin (3)

Paul Griffiths sent in the photo above showing the remains of a Puffin at Oxwich Beach, today. Along with the Puffin, Paul found Guillemot (3) and Razorbill (3) also washed up dead.

Black Brant at Penclawdd

Some info which hopefully will be of use for anyone intending to go looking for what has been a rather elusive Black Brant this winter. Until today there have only been a handful off sightings of this bird, all from the Landimore end of the main Brent feeding area (shown yellow), which does not get looked at very much by anyone as far as I know.  I do check the flocks fairly regularly between Llanrhidian and Penclawdd, so it seems it's probably been stuck down there all this time. Today on what was a very big tide, a large part of the usually dispersed flocks were congregated in the upper section of the estuary (shown red) feeding on flotsam, but I'm guessing as the tide dropped the bird ended up back down the Landimore end. Seems obvious but I should add that the chances of seeing the bird are massively increased on a high tide, the bigger the better.

Ad Ring-billed Gull and Kumlien's Gull (yesterday) at Blackpill

A pristine Ad S Ring-billed Gull was at Blackpill, this afternoon. On the beach at 16:15 before being flushed by the tide, when it relocated to the sea. It was watched drifting west until 17:20 at least (SLM)
A 1st W Kumlien's Gull was on the sea viewed from Blackpill, yesterday at 16:15 (PJM)

Burry Holms and Broughton

At Burry Holms an imm Iceland Gull, and a Purple Sandpiper on the rocks. On the beach many dead auks, including a Puffin. In Broughton Bay there were 2 imm Iceland Gulls. At Salthouse Point 2 Slavonian Grebes and 4 Mergansers.

Crymlyn Burrows and Mumbles

Crymlyn Burrows - My previous highest count of Sanderlings in West Glam was taken on 26th Feb 2011, during a Beached Bird Survey along Aberavon Beach. That day 529 Sanderlings were between the Neath River mouth and Afan River mouth. Today, during the same survey my previous record fell easily to 684 Sanderlings on Crymlyn Burrows. There were also 600+ Dunlins along with about 50+ Ringed Plover and 3 Grey Plover. On the falling tide small waders, mainly Dunlins, were flying in to feed along the shore which was great to see. Lots of gulls about too 300+ Common Gulls were notable and a 2nd W Med gull was the best I could manage. 3 Stonechat pairs in the dunes also very nice.
Later to Mumbles for an afternoon Harbour Porpoise watch saw Common Scoter (11), Eider (1f), Red-throated Diver (2) and Great Crested Grebe (1). No Porps!

Chiffchaff at Lavernock

Chiffchaff at lavernock churchyard.
Little gull at cardiff bay off prospect place