25TH - 29TH FEBRURAY 2008

On the 25th, four Short-eared Owls, a Hen Harrier and a redhead Smew were at Llanilid, while Oxwich Marsh had three Jack Snipe, 145 Common Snipe and seven Water Rail. Two Firecrest and a Blackcap were in Central Cardiff. Two Northern Goshawk were at Port Talbot and the Ring-billed Gull and an adult Yellow-legged Gull were at Lamby Way Lake. On the 26th, the Great Grey Shrike was relocated at Perthcelyn. A Lesser Spotted Woodpecker was at Bryngarw Country Park, five Mediterranean Gulls were at Porthcawl and an adult Little Gull was at Cardiff Bay. Rhymney Estuary had a Water Pipit, two Greater Scaup, 1000 Red Knot and 1500 Dunlin, while a third winter Yellow-legged Gull was at Ogmore Estuary. The highlight of the 27th was a very early male Ring Ouzel in Maesteg. Two Short-eared Owls were at Llanilid, and adult Yellow-legged Gull and a female Greater Scaup were at Cardiff Bay and the Great Grey Shrike was again in Perthcelyn. A Great Bittern and Hen Harrier were at Kenfig Rivermouth, two Water Pipits were at Rhymney Estuary and the Ring-billed Gull was at Lamby Lake. A Northern Goshawk was a good record for central Cardiff, where the Firecrest also remained. Glamorgan’s second Cattle Egret was found at Pennard, South Gower on 28th, two Short-eared Owls were again at Llanilid, 21 Purple Sandpipers were at Ogmore Estuary, the Ring-billed Gull was at Lamby Lake and a Black Redstart was again in Cardiff Bay. On the 29th, the Cattle Egret was again at Pennard, a Red Kite came in off the sea at Gileston, the Firecrest was in central Cardiff and the Ring-billed Gull was at Lamby Way Lake to round off a pretty good months birding.