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!!