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.