Cattle Egret : RGW, Cardiff

I had arranged a day out around the Cardiff area with fellow 'togger' Peter Morgan yesterday our main targets being Hawfinch at a couple of locations and the Cattle Egret at Rumney Great Wharf found by Paul Bowden on Thursday afternoon.
We arrived at first light at Fforest Ganol and easily found 20+ Hawfinches but getting even a record shot in such dismal light and with the birds so high in the canopy was impossible.
We moved on to St James's Church in Rudry where there had  been a few Hawfinches lingering in the church grounds where there are several Yew trees for a week or so, we had several sightings over the course of an hour and a half or so but only managed a few 'record' shots of one bird high in the trees against a bright sky......

Moving on to Rumney Great Wharf by early afternoon we had more luck with the Cattle Egret finding it feeding in the roadside fields as soon as we arrived with a group of 6-7 Little Egrets and although we couldn't get as close as we would have liked we both managed some reasonable images.........

We next moved on to Penarth Marina where we failed to find a Black Redstart and finished the day with a return visit to Fforest Ganol and whilst we found 15-20 Hawfinches high in the canopy the gathering gloom didn't allow us to get any photographs, time to head for home.

Kenfig NNR over Christmas and New Year

I haven't ventured far over the holiday period and my more successful days have been when I have called in to Kenfig in the hope of picking up one of the wintering Bitterns, on New Year's morning one duly obliged............

Slavonian Grebes : Kenfig NNR

I was hoping that the two Slavonian Grebes found on the pool during the week would stay until the weekend and they duly obliged showing well from the South pool hide although a little too distantly for any meaningful photographs, therefore 'record' shots only, good to bump into Neil Donaghy, Colin Gittins and Paul Tabor this morning.........

"A lazy day"..........

After a bit of a lay in I didn't venture out of the valley today preferring to stay local, after a fruitless search of Bryngarw Country Park for Brambling and a possible Hawfinch I called in to Parc Slip NR and picked up the returning wintering Water Rail and then encountered an unusually photogenic Common Buzzard as I drove over Mynydd Ty Talwyn on the way home, Pearl enjoyed the walk though............

Common Rock Thrush : Pwll Ddu, The Blorenge, 'what a difference a week makes'................

Made my second visit today to try and get some better images of the bird having failed miserably last Saturday 14th October when visiting with friend and fellow 'togger' Richard 'Smudger' Smith.
Last Saturday the bird did not come closer than 60m and we both struggled to get anything better than poor record shots, however since somebody had started feeding the bird live mealworms mid last week the bird has become very confiding with no fear of people and today came as close as 20' allowing myself and others to get some really great images.
It was great to see some familiar faces and chat with Steve Howcroft, Martin Thomas, Matt Evans, Mark Dutfield, Steve Hinton, Nigel Addecott, Alun Hughes and Paul Denning.
It was also fantastic to meet up with Rochdale birder and member of 'The 500 Club' Dave Ousey and his two birding friends Bob and Steve who had made the trip from Greater Manchester all being avid 'twitchers'.
I met Dave during a holiday to Sharm El Sheilk in November 2012 and we birded everyday together and have remained friends ever since, long may it continue.
Below are some of today's pics with a couple of two confiding Wheatears thrown in, the first photo is a 'record' shot from last weekend for comparison to those achieved today............

Almost forgot to say that of course the Rock Thrush was a 'lifer' for me, 'Tunnocks' all round !!!