"Cosie turns up trumps"

With the weather over the Xmas holiday being a little indifferent to say the least I was determined to get out with the camera yesterday and take advantage of the sunshine forecast and some good light for a change. I started the day down at Pontyclun having a good look at a couple of stretches of the River Ely for Goosander (but without any luck) with the intention of moving on to Gileston for the Little Gulls and finishing off the day at Cosmeston C.P for the recently arrived Whooper Swan. As I got back to my car a phone call in response to my txt from Peter "Pedro" Morgan arranged for us to meet up at Junc 34 of the M4 followed shortly by a "grapevine" txt that a Lesser Scaup had been found by John Wilson on his local patch at Cosmeston C.P. A change of itinary was agreed and we headed for Cosie first wanting to catch up with the rare scaup. The Whooper Swan wasn't exactly difficult to find coming to bread with the resident Mute Swans on the East Lake in front of the boardwalk the main difficulty being to get it in the camera on open water isolated from it's mates !! A couple of the regular "toggers" had beaten us to it and Steve Hinton and Alex Bevan,in company with visiting Russ Eynon were already snapping away as was Paul Denning. We were advised that the Lesser Scaup which had spent most of it's time out in the middle of the East Lake had flown over to the West Lake but a scan of the remaining Tuftie flock soon picked up the Greater Scaup across the lake from the boardwalk.

We moved around to the other side and although we couldn't get as close as we would have wanted we both managed a few shots of the smart drake.

We weren't getting it all our own way with the weather and despite some well overdue sunshine we got caught in the open with some heavy blustery showers.

Martin"Billy Whizz" Thomas caught up with us and we headed over to the West Lake hoping we could find the "Lesser",a quick scan with the bins picked up the scaup and Martin confirmed it through his 'scope,the target bird was with the Tufties in the reedy bays on the far side of the lake opposite the bridge.

Martin had to dash so myself and Peter moved around to the back of the lake where we had the sun behind us and the scaup showed well at about 30m from us in really good light.

Getting some decent photos (sorry I mean "images") had taken longer than anticipated and we didn't make it to Gileston which is another trip/another day over the holiday period and hopefully we'll have some similar luck.

"Town Centre Birding"

Although the light was crap all day with a blanket of grey cloud cover I took a stroll along the riverwalk from Aberafan Town Centre down past McDonalds and back in the hope of catching up with the Goosanders that Terry Tovey has been reporting on the GBC sightings page. I've seen them in previous winters when I've been out with Teresa but never with a camera in my hand and sure enough they were on the river (Afan) opposite Tesco. There were also three different pairs of Dippers on territory with one male in full song.

Nadolig llawen!

There haven't been any photos of owls on this (or any other Glamorgan) blog for all of . . . oh, I don't know - two weeks? And so, I was delighted when these two appeared on our Christmas tree this week.

This is just a record shot of course and the light was terrible

I was slowly moving in to take that killer image when another photographer appeared out of the blue, stomped right up to them and flushed them!

Gone!

They haven't been seen since. Clearly two different species. Any thoughts on ID? :o)

We wish all birders from Glamorgan and beyond, as well as all (careful!) photographers, a very Merry Christmas and top birding in 2012 !

Nadolig llawen!

Geth and Dan

First "White Wing" of the winter.

I dashed down to Ogmore on Saturday morning in the hope the the adult Iceland Gull found earlier in the week by Dean Bolt would still be around,if it was and I could get some pics it would be a "photo tick" for me. The bird had been proving elusive but I was lucky and found it within a couple of minutes loafing with the mixed gull flock on Portobello Island,I managed a few quick shots before losing the bird again as the nervous flock took to the air as they seemed to do every five minutes.

Dave Pritchard approached and having arrived a little earlier then me he had been watching the gull from a little closer on the river bank,we moved cautiously back down to where Dave had been watching and the flock went up again with the Iceland heading down river.

We set off in pursuit and soon came across "The Wader" and Alex Bevan who armed with their long lenses were also hoping to get some photographs.

Steve picked up the bird in flight as it headed back up the river and it settled on the water allowing some more shots.

It took off again and as I was luckily already focused on the bird was able to get some flight shots that I was quite pleased with.

Rob Gaze,Martin Bell and Mike Hogan arrived and we chatted for a few minutes as I headed back to the car leaving Steve and Alex "snapping away".

Just before getting to the car Martin "Billy Wizz" Thomas and his son the ever eager Teifion arrived and were well pleased to be informed that the bird was showing well as Teifion dashed off in pursuit of what was probably another lifer for him.

Mission accomplished I headed for home and out with Teresa for a Xmas shopping weekend and a night away winning loads of "brownie points" which will hopefully get me out with the camera several times over the Xmas holiday.

All I need now is some dry,crisp,cold,sunny weather with loads of blue skies,not too much to ask Santa for is it ?

Kestrel:Southerndown

Popped down to Dunraven again on Sat a.m 10.Dec with a couple of hours to spare hoping to get a few pics of the Black Redstart in better light. Unfortunately the light wasn't any better despite a good forecast and the redstart didn't show either although it was seen by others in the afternoon !! As I drove past the gravel car park at the top of the hill I noticed a Kestrel perched upon the Heritage Coast sign from where it flew on to a nearby electricity pole allowing me to get a couple of shots,just a pity the sun didn't break through and give the shots a little bit of "warmth".

Black Redstart:Dunraven,Southerndown

Popped down to Southerdown first thing this morning before the bad weather came in hoping to catch up with the Black Redstart that had been seen around the Heritage Centre during the last week.It only took me about 5 minutes to catch up with the bird although it was very mobile flitting between the roof of the Heritage Centre and the trees surrounding the thatched cottage opposite.

It also relocated down to the lodge house at the car park a couple of times but always came back.

I didn't have a lot of time as I'd promised Teresa I'd finish off some decorating that I'd started during the week and was on my way home by 11.00am as the light was getting worse by the minute.

I'll probably give it another go on a brighter day and with a little patience and a bit of luck could greatly improve on the "record" shots achieved today.

The above photograph is of a different bird which was much paler than the grey male and is probably a juvenile,it only put in a brief appearance so there are probably a few birds in the area.

Waun Y Gilfach feeding station,Llangynwyd

Myself and Colin Richards ventured up to Mynydd Margam yesterday morning in the hope of catching up with the Great Grey Shrike found by Gwyn Randall and the Port Talbot lads last weekend,no such luck I'm afraid although we searched several clear fells for a few hours.

We did get good numbers of Lesser Redpoll,Common Crossbills and a few Common Buzzards.

I didn't get much chance to point the camera at anything so called in at the feeding station at Waun Y Gilfach on the way home and managed a few close ups of our more common woodland birds.

I must spend a little more time time there as Jay,G S Woodpecker and Nuthatch all visit and I'm hopeful that one of the "rarer" tits also visit.

RGW:Return Visit

Paid another visit to Rumney Great Wharf at first light this morning in the hope that the highest tide for some time just after 8.00a.m would push some of the SEOs up on to the rough grass area.

I was really hoping that one or two would perch up so that I could get some "static" shots,some birds duly obliged,how lucky was that ?? !!

There were about 15 SEOs around and I "flushed" 6 from one narrow reen (not intentionally I must add).

I luv it when a plan comes together !!

I would have loved to have stayed all day but with a family christenning to attend in the afternoon I had to be satisfied with a couple of early hours.

Nice to bump into "Cardiff Clive" and to meet Trevor Fletcher and put a face to the name.