The Spotted Sandpiper was still at Lisvane Reservoir on the 24th, an adult Yellow-legged Gull was at Cosmeston Lakes and a pair of Willow Tits were at Llwyn On Reservoir. The first winter Little Gull and six Little Egrets were at Gileston. Christmas Day and the Spotted Sandpiper was again present at Lisvane Reservoir, while 100 Sanderling were on Aberavon Beach. A pair of Greater Scaup were at Cosmeston Lakes and a Short-eared Owl was again at Llanilid. On the 26th, two male Blackcaps were in a Cardiff garden, four Grey Plover and five Mediterranean Gulls were at Porthcawl. A Short-eared Owl was again at Llanilid, nineteen Northern Fulmar and seven Red-billed Chough were at Nash Point. The Spotted Sandpiper was at Lisvane Reservoir and a Great Bittern was at Kenfig Pool. On the 27th an amazing count of 24 Purple Sandpiper were at Ogmore-by-Sea, a Mediterranean Gull and second winter Yellow-legged Gull were at Lisvane Reservoir and six Green Sandpiper and a Little Owl were at Pendoylan and a two Great Bittern, a Siberian Chiffchaff and a Jack Snipe were at Kenfig Pool. On the 28th a Firecrest was in Pant Norton, two Great Bittern and four adult Mediterranean Gulls were at Kenfig Pool and the Spotted Sandpiper was at Lisvane Reservoir. A Dipper was in Bridgend town centre and an excellent count of 1094 Northern Lapwing were near Lan Farm. A Short-eared Owl and a Black-tailed Godwit were at Lamby Way. A further two hundred Northern Lapwing were at The Watermill Flood. Two Greater Scaup were at Cosmeston Lakes on 29th and a Green Sandpiper was near Caerphilly. Fifteen Common Crossbill, two Peregrine, a Northern Goshawk and Red Kite were all near Maesteg and 102 Sky Larks, 55 Stock Dove and ten Red-legged Partridge were at Laleston near Bridgend. Another Northern Goshawk was at Llantrisant Forest along with 100 Brambling and a male Hen Harrier was at Llanrhidian Marsh. On the 30th, the Spotted Sandpiper was again present at Lisvane Reservoir, while Kenfig Pool had a female Merlin and a first winter Black-legged Kittiwake and two Common Scoter, two Purple Sandpiper and seven Red Knot were offshore at Kenfig Sands. At least 1000 Brambling were again at Tair Onnen and a Great Grey Shrike and five Common Crossbill were at Perthcelyn. Two Short-eared Owls were at Llanilid and a Firecrest and Dartford Warbler were at Pant Norton. New Years Eve and the final day of the year brought some excellent birding with Whitford NNR producing 37 Common Eider, eight Slavonian Grebe, five Red-breasted Merganser and the usual thousands of Red Knot, Grey Plover, Dunlin, Common Redshank and Eurasian Curlew. Male Hen Harriers were at Cwm Ivy and Llanrhidian and a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker was in Bute Park, Cardiff. A Merlin and two Red Kite were at Merthyr Common and an amazing count of 200 Coal Tits were in Llantrisant Forest. Another Lesser Spotted Woodpecker was at Margam Park and two Greater Scaup were again at Cosmeston Lakes. Another five Common Eider were at Rhymney Estuary and two Willow Tit were at Tir Founder Fields.
Finally, I'd like to say a big thank you to everyone who travelled with CELTIC BIRD TOURS in 2007 - we've seen some amazing birds and enjoyed some fabulus travel experiences and I look forward to many ore in 2008. Happy New Year and Good Birding to you all.
