24TH - 30TH NOVEMBER 2008

On the 24th, a Common Scoter was on Lisvane Reservoir, eight Common Goldeneye were at Kenfig Pool and an adult Yellow-legged Gull was on Ogmore Estuary. The Ring-billed Gull was at Lamby Lake and seven Grey Partridge were at Tyn-y-Caeau Farm. The Bearded Tit was again at Cosmeston Lakes on the 25th, along with a first winter drake Greater Scaup. A Jack Snipe, five Common Chiffchaff, two Water Rail and two Lesser Redpoll were at Candleston, while two Velvet Scoter, a Great Northern Diver, a Brambling and nine Eurasian Wigeon were at Oxwich NNR. The Ring-billed Gull was again at Lamby Lake. On the 26th, a Richard’s Pipit was an excellent find in the Vale of Glamorgan at Glan-y-Mor near Southerndown. The bird frequented set aside fields on the cliff top, where fifty Sky Lark and a Common Snipe were also present and seven Red-billed Chough were also on the cliff tops there. Elsewhere, a Spotted Redshank, Common Sandpiper and Common Greenshank were at Penclawdd Pill and another Common Sandpiper was in Swansea Marina, along with a Black Redstart. Two Tree Sparrows were at the very unusual location of Blackpill, yet another Common Sandpiper was at Rhymney Estuary, along with 1800 Dunlin and 1000 Red Knot and another Black Redstart was in Cardiff Bay. Two Mediterranean Gulls, 114 Great Crested Grebe and ten Common Scoter were off Aberavon Beach. A first winter Mediterranean Gull was at Kenfig Pool on 28th along with a Common Chiffchaff and seven Eurasian Wigeon and a male Merlin was at Glan-y-Mor, but there was no sign of the Richard’s Pipit. Ten Little Egret were at Hendre Lake, thirty five Dark-bellied Brent Geese and a Barn Owl were at Rhymney Estuary. Seven Lesser and a Common Redpoll, as well as a Black Redstart were in Cardiff Bay. The male Bearded Tit was again at Cosmeston Lakes. On the 29th, the Ring-billed Gull was at Lamby Lake, along with a Barn Owl, Black Redstarts were at Cardiff Bay and St Donats and a Merlin and Common Crossbill were on Maesteg. The Bearded Tit was at Cosmeston Lakes and the Slavonian Grebe again at Penarth Marina. On the 30th, two Barn Owls were at Lamby Tip and eleven Fieldfare, thirty Greenfinch, twenty Reed Bunting, fifteen Yellowhammer and one hundred and fifty Wood Pigeon were at Tyn-y-Caeau Farm. A Black Redstart was in Cardiff Bay and the Bearded Tit was again at Cosmeston Lakes.