1ST - 9TH DECEMBER 2007

DECEMBER began with really poor weather. The two Siberian Chiffchaffs were again at Kenfig Pool, where three Ruddy Turnstone were an unusual record on the east pool shore and a Great Bittern was in the south pool. Forty Brambling were near Merthyr Tydfil and the Spotted Sandpiper remains at Lisvane Reservoir. The awful weather continued on the 2nd when a Jack Snipe was near Caerphilly and an adult Mediterranean Gull was in Cardiff Bay. Five Little Egret, 29 Common Teal and two Dark-bellied Brent Geese were at Ogmore Estuary. A Great Northern and two Red-throated Divers, as well as an Mediterranean Gull were at Porthcawl. Three Hen Harriers and 100+ Dark-bellied Brent Geese were at Llanrhidian Marsh. On the 3rd, a Water Pipit flew south at Kenfig Pool, but could not be relocated, and 357 European Oystercatchers were at Kenfig Sands. A Short-eared Owl was at Nash Point and the Spotted Sandpiper was again at Lisvane Reservoir. Excellent counts of 129 Mute Swan, 24 Little Grebe and 45 Great Cormorant were at Roath Park Lake in Cardiff, where there was also a drake Gadwall and fifty Redwing. On the 4th, a Black Redstart was again at Swansea Marina and a Great Bittern, drake Northern Pintail and a Ruddy Turnstone were at Kenfig Pool. More poor weather on the 5th, though a very impressive mixed flock of up to a thousand Chaffinches and 100 Brambling were at Margam Park. A Peregrine and ten Black-legged Kittiwake were off Kenfig Sands. After a washout on the previous day, a wild but dry day on the 7th produced two Great Bittern at Kenfig Pool, along with forty Common Snipe and two Red-throated Divers and 22 Red Knot were at Kenfig Sands. A Great Northern Diver was at Mumbles and a first winter Mediterranean Gull was at Ogmore Estuary. The Spotted Sandpiper was at Lisvane Reservoir and eight Tree Sparrows were at Newton Farm, Gower. Another foul day on the 8th produced an amazing record of a Humpbacked Whale off Mumbles Head, Swansea – it has apparently been present since the 5th and has been seen very close inshore. A Great Northern Diver was also present there and a Firecrest was at Eglwys Nunydd Reservoir. The Spotted Sandpiper was at Lisvane Reservoir along with the first Red-breasted Merganser for the site since 1988. More appalling weather on the 9th and the Humpbacked Whale was again at Mumbles in the morning along with two Great Northern Divers and a Peregrine. A female Greater Scaup was at Kenfig Pool and the Spotted Sandpiper and an adult Yellow-legged Gull were at Lisvane Reservoir. A male Hen Harrier was at Loughor Bridge.