Black-throated Diver - Barry Dock : 29. December 2024

My last venture of 2024 was a visit on 29th December to Barry Dock to see and photograph another juvenile Black-throated Diver which had already spent a couple of days in the dock. This is a great location with good parking and over the years I have seen and photographed a number of Great Northern Divers there.

The only drawback is that one is photographing from an elevated dockside position which is not ideal.

I was on my own searching for the bird until Mark Hipkin from Neath turned up followed closely by Carmarthenshire 'toggers' Richard Cleobury, Mike 'Trim' and Neil Fermandel.

Mark had spent 2024 concentrating on an attempt at breaking the Glamorgan Year List record jointly held by Dean Bolt and Barry Stewart of 222, finishing frustratingly short on 218, still a magnificent effort.

Mark had the idea of phoning Dave Pritchard who now lives in Barry/Rhoose who had already seen the bird and Dave advised that the diver favoured the north-west corner of the dock which was not visible from our viewpoint.

We all therefore jumped in our vehicles and headed for the location and low and behold upon arrival the bird was showing really well and coming in as close as 20' or so to the dockside on occasions.

John Wilson then turned up and we both agreed that we had never got such great views of one of the diver species, this was only the third occasion from memory that I have seen and photographed a Black-throated Diver on an inland water body.

We all filled our boots and I came away with just over 200 images which I whittled down to a couple of dozen when home.

We all then said our goodbyes and headed for home, here are some images from a very pleasant afternoon.......

Black-throated Diver - Llanishen Reservoir, Cardiff : 12. December 2024

Back on 12th December I made a visit to Llanishen and Lisvane Reservoirs in Cardiff to see and photograph the juvenile Black-throated Diver which had recently taken up residence on Llanishen Reservoir.

The weather was dry and very overcast with not great light which seems to have been the case throughout December and the bird was found fishing in the centre of the reservoir from which it barely moved.

I bumped into old friend Rob Mitchell who was just leaving and a fairly new birder/togger who introduced himself as Nick Perry from Cardiff and we kept each other company for 25-30 minutes hoping that the bird would come in to shore a little closer but it never came closer than about 100m.

We both tried our best to get some photos given the gloom and distance of the bird and I was reasonably pleased to get some detail in my images before heading off home........

Willow Tits - Maesteg : 13.November 2024

On Wednesday 13th November I paid a visit to our local feeding station in the Llynfi Valley to top up the feeders following Colin Gittins' visit the previous weekend.

We have been fortunate to have a small number of Willow Tits present in the area since 2020 and they appear to still be holding their own despite being the UK's fastest declining bird species.

After topping up the feeders birds came in quickly to feed and amongst them were 2, possibly 3 Willow Tits.

Also present were Blue, Great and Coal Tits, M+F Bullfinch, Dunnocks, Blackbirds, Robins, Chaffinches, Jays and Magpies.

The Willow Tits come in and depart so quickly that it is quite difficult to get a photo of one perched on a branch and not on a feeder which is easier, I did however luckily manage just the one perched shot.

Here are some photographs from a very enjoyable morning......

Snow Bunting - Burry Port, Carms : 30.October 2024

On my way to our caravan for a few days on 30th October I took a slight diversion in order to have a look for and photograph a Snow Bunting found a couple of days previously just east of Burry Port beach.

Having parked up and with my dog Timmy in tow we enjoyed the 15 minute walk to the bird's location which had been well documented on the Carmarthenshire Birds WhatsApp group and BirdGuides.

Fortunately there were two birders already present one of whom was Paul Stephens who I have got to know in recent years.

The bird was showing well in the tussocky dune grass and I proceeded to get several images that I was quite pleased with despite the gloomy conditions, the wonders that Lightroom is capable of !!

I just can't resist a Snow Bunting, such beautiful little birds, here are some images from my visit.......