18TH - 24TH FEBRUARY 2008

On the 18th, three Green Sandpipers and a Jack Snipe were at Pendoylan. Two Great Bittern and a Northern Pintail were at Kenfig river mouth. A first winter Ring-billed Gull was an excellent find at Lamby Way Lake in Cardiff; the first in the county for a couple of years. On the 19th, the Ring-billed Gull was again present at Lamby Lake, along with a Water Rail, the Water Pipit was at Llwyn On Reservoir and the adult Yellow-legged Gull was at Ogmore Estuary. The Spotted Sandpiper was at Lisvane Reservoir on 20th and the Ring-billed Gull was at Lamby Lake, while two Black Redstarts were in Cardiff Bay. The Ring-billed Gull and Spotted Sandpiper were again present on the 21st and a Firecrest was again in Central Cardiff along with a Blackcap. A Green Sandpiper and Common Kingfisher were at Ogmore Estuary and the first winter Glaucous Gull was again in Port Talbot Harbour. Poor weather on 22nd and 23rd meant little birding, but the Firecrest was again in Central Cardiff, nine Pied Avocets were at Rhymney Estuary and the Ring-billed Gull was at Lamby Lake. A female Greater Scaup was in Cardiff Bay. Six Purple and a Green Sandpiper were at Ogmore Estuary. On the 24th, the Spotted Sandpiper was at Lisvane Reservoir, the Greater Scaup and an adult Little Gull were in Cardiff Bay and the nine Pied Avocets were at Rhymney Estuary. The Ring-billed Gull put in an appearance late afternoon at Lamby Way Lake.

CORNWALL IN WINTER 2009

Please note that we have already sold out the first dates for this new tour, additional dates will follow soon.

CORNWALL WINTER

Neil and Ashley spent an amazing couple of days in Cornwall from 18th – 20th February 2008 on a fact finding trip for our new joint Cornwall Winter tour. We enjoyed some absolutely superb birding and great weather and the views were exceptional of just about everything we saw, but pride of place must surely go to the extraordinary Great Bittern that spent ten minutes filling our scopes outside the hide at Stithians Reservoir – fantastic! Other highlights of Day One were three Iceland Gulls including a full adult bird that gave prolonged views in Newlyn Harbour, where a Black-necked Grebe was also present, a second winter Glaucous Gull at Drift Reservoir, eleven Cattle Egrets also seen in the Drift/Sancreed area, a single Pied Avocet at Hayle Estuary, a Hume’s Leaf Warbler at Tehidy Country Park and a Water Pipit advancing rapidly into breeding plumage at Gwithian Sands; phew! Day Two saw us exploring the extensive network of channels, creeks and vast bays of the Fal Estuary complex at sites such as Loe Beach, Pendower and Rosevine. Once again, we found an excellent selection of birds with eight Great Northern Diver, three Black-throated Diver, a breeding plumaged Red-necked Grebe, approximately fifty Red-breasted Mergansers, a single flock of nineteen Black-necked Grebes that included several breeding plumaged birds and small numbers of Northern Gannets, a Black-legged Kittiwake, Razorbills, Northern Fulmar and Common Guillemots. We also encountered a Common Nuthatch and a Firecrest, as well as good numbers of Little Egrets, Common Raven, Common Kestrel and Stonechat. Day Three saw us finish our trip with a displaying Firecrest, at least ten Common and one Siberian Chiffchaff and a Yellow-browed Warbler at Loe Pool, while a return visit to Stithians Reservoir produced a cracking first winter Ring-billed Gull which rounded off a superb few days birding. We also stopped on the way back at Bowling Green Marsh, where a Long-billed Dowitcher was the highlight, but where we also added Grey Plover, Common Greenshank, Spotted Redshank and both Bar and Black-tailed Godwits to the trip list which totalled 104 species. If you would like to join us from 23rd – 26th February 2009, we are taking bookings now and with spaces limited to just seven, we expect the tour to fill very quickly. Tour Cost is £425.00. We are based at the excellent Green Lawns Hotel in sunny Falmouth.

11TH - 17TH FEBRUARY 2008

On the 11th, a Short-eared Owl and Jack Snipe were at Llanilid, a Water Pipit was again at Llwyn On Reservoir, a male Hen Harrier at Llanrhidian and the Common Greenshank and Common Sandpipers were again at Penclawdd Pill. Four hundred Redwings were at Pencoed, a pair of Barn Owls and a Tawny Owl were displaying in Maesteg, where there was also a Red Kite and a female Northern Goshawk and a Marsh Tit was in the Swansea Valley. Seven Mediterranean Gulls and a Purple Sandpiper were at Porthcawl. Two Green Sandpipers were at Ogmore Estuary , a Dartford Warbler was at Ogmore Down and six Yellowhammers at Norton Farm. Fifty Grey Plover, a Red-throated Diver and three Purple Sandpipers were in Port Talbot Harbour, two Water Pipits and two Jack Snipe were at Rhymney Estuary and the two Black Redstarts were again in Cardiff Bay. Another glorious day on the 12th and the first winter Glaucous Gull and an adult Mediterranean Gull were again in Port Talbot Harbour. At Hafod Farm, a male Northern Goshawk, three Red Kites and a pair of Common Crossbill were present, while Ogmore Estuary and environs produced an adult Yellow-legged Gull, three Little Egrets, five Purple Sandpipers, two European Shag, three Red-billed Chough, a Little Owl, a drake Goosander and 26 Common Goldeneye. Three Pied Avocet were again at Rhymney Estuary and the Spotted Sandpiper was at Lisvane Reservoir. The 13th saw the Great Grey Shrike relocated at Perthcelyn and a Dartford Warbler and the ringtail Hen Harrier at Kenfig river mouth. A male Hen Harrier and 1000 European Golden Plover were at Llanrhidian Marsh, while Whiteford NNR produced vast flocks of Red Knot, Eurasian Curlew, Common Shelduck and European Oystercatcher, along with a supporting cast of five Red-breasted Merganser, thirty Common Eider, ten Slavonian Grebes, two hundred Dark-bellied Brent Geese and good numbers of Northern Pintail, Grey Plover, Bar-tailed Godwit and Dunlin. Another Dartford Warbler and a Firecrest were in Port Talbot, the Spotted Sandpiper was at Lisvane Reservoir, six Grey Plover and three Mediterranean Gulls were at Porthcawl, a Blackcap was in Swansea and a pair of Marsh Tit were on the outskirts of Cardiff. On the 14th, four Hawfinches were at Tair Onnen and showing well, fifteen Brambling were at Castell Coch and another seven were in Bute Park, where there was also a very showy Firecrest. The Spotted Sandpiper showed very well at Lisvane Reservoir, the first winter Glaucous Gull was again in Port Talbot and six Purple Sandpipers were at Ogmore-by-Sea. On the 15th, the Water Pipit was again at Llwyn On Reservoir, the Glaucous Gull at Port Talbot and two Jack Snipe were at Llanilid. Twelve Mediterranean Gulls were in Porthcawl, the Spotted Sandpiper was at Lisvane Reservoir, the Black Redstart in Cardiff Bay, three Pied Avocets at Rhymney Estuary and the Firecrest again in Bute Park. Fantastic weather on the 16th and the first winter Glaucous Gull was still in Port Talbot and a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker was in Maesteg. A cold and frosty day on the 17th produced 400 Dunlin and fifty Ringed Plovers at Blackpill, nineteen Mediterranean Gulls at Mumbles and a Hawfinch and Marsh Tit at Tair Onnen. Three Black Redstarts were still in Cardiff Bay, two Hen Harriers were at Llanrhidian and three Jack Snipe, as well as the usual Slavonian Grebes, Common Eider, Red-breasted Merganser and Dark-bellied Brent Geese. A male Dartford Warbler was at Locks Common, Porthcawl and a female Northern Goshawk was at Kenfig Pool, along with a Common Kingfisher and 24 Northern Shoveler. A Short-eared Owl was at Rhymney Estuary, a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker in Maesteg, the Glaucous Gull was again in Port Talbot and a Great Northern Diver was in Swansea Bay. The Water Pipit was at Llwyn On Reservoir and a Willow Tit was at Hirwaun.

SOUTH WALES 11TH - 15TH FEBRUARY 2008

OUR final SOUTH WALES WINTER tour of the winter from 11th – 15th February 2008 was blessed with some exceptional weather that made it feel more like April than February! With limited time on Day One, we opted to get Dartford Warbler on the list, and we succeeded with a brief, but showy, male. Six Yellowhammers were also noted at Norton Farm, while other highlights today included a few displaying Common Ravens, a European Sparrowhawk and Common Kestrel. Day Two brought weather and temperatures more reminiscent of May than February, so perhaps it was no surprise to see three Red Kites, a male Northern Goshawk and ten Common Buzzards displaying at Hafod Farm, where there was also a pair of Common Crossbill and a male Bullfinch. A Red Deer hind and a Red Admiral butterfly were also seen there. Ogmore Estuary and environs produced three Little Egrets, five Purple Sandpipers, a Green Sandpiper, two European Shag, three Red-billed Chough, a drake Goosander, a Little Owl and 26 Common Goldeneye and Kenfig Pool added Fieldfare, Northern Shoveler, Great Crested Grebe, Tufted Duck and Common Pochard to the trip list. A first winter Glaucous Gull and an adult Mediterranean Gull were in Port Talbot Harbour to round off a fantastic days birding. Day Three brought more exceptional birding, and if possible, even better weather for our day on North Gower! Penclawdd Pill produced wintering Common Greenshank and Common Sandpiper, as well as good numbers of Little Egrets and Common Teal. As ever Whiteford NNR was the place to be with vast flocks of Red Knot, Eurasian Curlew, Common Shelduck and European Oystercatcher, along with a supporting cast of five Red-breasted Merganser, thirty Common Eider, ten Slavonian Grebes, two hundred Dark-bellied Brent Geese and good numbers of Northern Pintail, Grey Plover, Bar-tailed Godwit and Dunlin. A pair of Great Spotted Woodpeckers and a Red Fox were other highlights here. Our final stop of the day at Llanrhidian Marsh produced the much hoped for hunting male Hen Harrier at close range, as well as approximately 1000 European Golden Plover, 500 Northern Lapwings and more views of the huge flocks of Red Knot to end another exhilarating day. A return to winter on Day Four, but some more exceptionally good birds were seen at various sites around Cardiff. Four Hawfinch showed superbly at Tair Onnen, a Firecrest was in Bute Park, small numbers of Brambling were at a couple of locations and the Spotted Sandpiper showed down to five metres at Lisvane Reservoir. Cardiff Heliport provided us with the opportunity to catch up with more Northern Pintail and Common Nuthatch, Redwing and Eurasian Jay were also added to the tour list today. Day Five was quiet by comparison as we were unable to locate any Great Bitterns at Kenfig Pool in the hour we had available. There was a mini influx of wildfowl on a cold morning with four Eurasian Wigeon, seventeen Northern Shoveler and seven Common Teal new in, along with four Northern Lapwing. We finished on a very respectable 104 species in three and a half days birding. We hope that you will consider joining us in under watched South Wales for some exceptional winter birding later in the year or 2009.

4TH - 10TH FEBRUARY 2008

A sunny day on the 4th and the Spotted Sandpiper showed very well at Lisvane Reservoir. At least 100 Brambling were at Castell Coch, two pairs of Dippers were at Miskin, along with a Green Sandpiper and a Marsh Tit was at Tair Onnen. On the 5th, a ringtail Hen Harrier was at Llanilid, a Firecrest again in Cardiff city centre, three Red-billed Chough and a Little Owl at Ogmore-by-Sea, but the big news was of three Pied Avocets and a Glaucous Gull at the heliport near Cardiff Bay. At Rhymney Estuary, an adult Yellow-legged Gull, 4000 Red Knot, 4000 Dunlin, a Bar-tailed Godwit, 400 Common Shelduck, 110 Northern Pintail and 650 Common Redshank were present. Another Hen Harrier was at Llanharan and a Red-throated Diver, 200 European Golden Plover and a Black-legged Kittiwake were at Sker. On the 6th, 31 Fieldfare, 16 Redwing and a Great Spotted Woodpecker were at Kenfig alder wood. A male Blackcap, the Firecrest and three Lesser Redpoll were in Central Cardiff and a Green Sandpiper and 29 Common Goldeneye were on the Ogmore Estuary. A Common Crossbill and one Hawfinch were at Tair Onnen. The 7th saw two Short-eared Owls again at Llanilid, a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker in Port Talbot and a Red Kite and a Northern Goshawk were in Maesteg. The Spotted Sandpiper was again at Lisvane Reservoir. On the 8th, four Pied Avocets, the first winter Glaucous Gull and an adult Iceland Gull were at the Cardiff Heliport. On the 9th, the four Pied Avocets and Iceland Gull were again at Cardiff Heliport and a first winter Glaucous Gull and two Common Sandpipers were at Port Talbot Harbour. The Spotted Sandpiper was at Lisvane Reservoir, a Barn Owl was near Bridgend, and a Peregrine, Merlin and 54 European Golden Plover were at Mynydd Eglwysilian. On the 10th, the first winter Glaucous Gull was again in Port Talbot Harbour and a Common Chiffchaff and ringtail Hen Harrier were at Kenfig Pool. Small numbers of Brambling were in Central Cardiff, along with a Firecrest, two Blackcaps and 100 Redwing. Two Black Redstarts were in Cardiff Bay and the Spotted Sandpiper was again at Lisvane Reservoir. A Black-throated Diver was again at Swansea Docks, along with two Great Northern Divers and two Red-breasted Mergansers.

THE SOLWAY FIRTH 31ST JANUARY - 3RD FEBRUARY 2008

THE SOLWAY FIRTH tour from 31st January – 3rd February 2008 almost didn’t go ahead due to an appalling weather forecast, but thankfully, our plucky group went for it and enjoyed some fantastic birding as well as shall we say some interesting weather… Sea fowl included 500 Greater Scaup, 200 Common Goldeneye, 50 Red-breasted Merganser, 200 Common Eider, 15 Great Crested Grebe, 15 Slavonian Grebe, 15 Common Scoter, five Red-throated Diver, two Great Northern Diver, 10 Black Guillemot, four Goosander, 50 European Shag and 500 Eurasian Wigeon. As ever geese featured highly with 75 Greenland White-fronted Geese the highlight, though a fine supporting cast of Barnacle Geese, “wild” Greylag Geese and Pink-footed Geese, as well as large numbers of Whooper Swans were also present. Raptors also featured with several Red Kites, Hen Harrier, Common Kestrel, European Sparrowhawk, Peregrine and Common Buzzard. Our group also found a first winter Iceland Gull, two very showy Willow Tits and Yellowhammer, Tree Sparrow, Brambling, Twite and Fieldfares and Redwings among a very respectable total of 98 species.

SOUTH WALES 1ST - 5TH FEBRUARY 2008

OUR South Wales tour from 1st -5th February 2008 began quietly on a windy, but cold and clear afternoon with a visit to Hafod Farm. The wind meant that raptors were staying low, but we did get excellent views of a pair of displaying Common Raven and a pair of Common Crossbill that at one point were seen to copulate, while another five flew overhead. Day Two and the weather stayed dry as we added a couple of adult Mediterranean Gulls at Porthcawl and three Red Kites, an unusually showy Eurasian Jay as well as more displaying Common Ravens and a few Greenfinches at Abernant Tip. The rest of the day was spent on North Gower, where we enjoyed a fine selection of birds including a Common Greenshank, Little Egrets, a Green Sandpiper, two Common Sandpipers and a stunning male Hen Harrier. The walk to Whiteford NNR produced four Slavonian Grebes, eleven Common Eider, nine Red-breasted Merganser, a female Merlin and flocks of Dark-bellied Brent Geese, Northern Pintail, Red Knot, Common Redshank, Common Teal, Common Shelduck, Eurasian Curlew and two Grey Plover. Day Three was very breezy and still cool and overcast, though we managed to stay dry all day despite the forecast of heavy rain which arrived after dark! A Great Bittern gave reasonable flight views at Kenfig Pool, where we also saw Tufted Ducks, Common Pochard, six Common Goldeneye and six Northern Shoveler for the trip. Small flocks of Redwings and Fieldfares were at Tythegston and three Red-throated Divers and a Common Guillemot were at Porthcawl, but only Neil saw these in very rough seas. Ogmore Estuary and environs proved to be a good move as we saw at least seven Purple Sandpipers at close range, good numbers of Gadwall, Common Teal, Eurasian Curlew and Northern Lapwing, a Little Egret, two pairs of Goosander and a Northern Goshawk that caused pandemonium amongst the corvids, Wood Pigeons and Stock Doves at The Watermill Flood, while as we drove back in the gloom Neil caught view of a Peregrine briefly over the car. Day Four began much calmer and brighter and we spent much of the day birding around Cardiff. The Spotted Sandpiper showed very well at Lisvane Reservoir, where we also added the first of six Grey Wagtails seen today, as well as good numbers of Little Grebes and Tufted Ducks. At least 100 Brambling were at Castell Coch, two pairs of Dippers were at Miskin, along with a Green Sandpiper and a male Eurasian Siskin and a Marsh Tit and Great Spotted Woodpecker were at Tair Onnen. Our first Linnets and an adult Black-legged Kittiwake were in Cardiff Bay. Other commitments meant that Day Five was our final day on this tour and once again we beat the weather. Two Northern Fulmars were the first new birds of the tour at Nash Point and these were soon joined by a small group of Reed Buntings at Tyn-y-Caeau Farm. A very showy Little Owl was at Ogmore-by-Sea and this was soon followed by three Red-billed Chough that allowed a very close approach. We remained in the Ogmore area for the rest of the day and got excellent views of an adult Mediterranean Gull at the river mouth, amongst huge flocks of Black-headed Gulls, six very showy Yellowhammers at Norton Farm, five Little Egrets near The Watermill and rounded things off with a Grey Heron eating a frog at the flood. It had been an excellent way to finish the tour and as we approached Porthcawl, the sun came back out – perfect timing again!!

1ST - 3RD FEBRURY 2008

FEBRUARY began quietly with a Hen Harrier in Maesteg and 45 Eurasian Siskin at Tonypandy the only records of note on the 1st. Hafod Farm had seven Common Crossbills and a pair of Northern Ravens as well as good numbers of Coal Tits. Two Yellowhammers and two Lesser Redpoll were good records for northern Cardiff and a Brambling was again in the city centre. On the 2nd Whiteford NNR produced four Slavonian Grebes, eleven Common Eider, nine Red-breasted Merganser, a female Merlin and flocks of Dark-bellied Brent Geese, Northern Pintail, Red Knot, Common Redshank, Common Teal, Common Shelduck, Eurasian Curlew and two Grey Plover. Three Short –eared and a Tawny Owl were at Llanilid, while a stunning male Hen Harrier and a Green Sandpiper were at Llanrhidian Marsh and at least 500 European Golden Plover and the same number of Northern Lapwing were at Oldwalls, North Gower. The Spotted Sandpiper was again at Lisvane Reservoir, three Red Kites were at Abernant Tip, three Green Sandpipers were at St Mellons, Cardiff, a Firecrest and four Brambling were in the city centre and four Hawfinches were again at Tair Onnen. Six Goosander were at Eglwys Nunydd Reservoir. A very windy day on the 3rd saw a Black-throated and three Red-throated Divers off Porthcawl Sea Front, along with a Common Guillemot, while seven Purple Sandpipers, a Peregrine and a European Shag were at Ogmore-by-Sea. A Little Egret and a Northern Goshawk were at The Watermill Flood, two pairs of Goosander and fifteen Gadwall were on the river and a Great Bittern and six Common Goldeneye were at Kenfig Pool. A male Blackcap, 150 Redwing and five Brambling were in Bute Park, Cardiff and the Spotted Sandpiper was at Lisvane Reservoir.