1ST - 7TH DECEMBER 2008

The 1ST DECEMBER saw a Eurasian Woodcock at Llanwonno Forest and a Water Pipit, two Jack Snipe and two Common Chiffchaff were at Candleston. A Firecrest was in Cardiff and a Yellow-browed Warbler was in Maesteg. On the 2nd, a male Hen Harrier and fifty five European Golden Plover were on Mynydd Eglwysilian and the male Bearded Tit was again showing well at Cosmeston Lakes. A Yellow-browed Warbler was at Summerhouse Point, Llantwit Major. A glorious day on the 3rd saw a small influx of wildfowl to Kenfig Pool with twelve Northern Shoveler, ten Eurasian Wigeon, three Common Teal and eight Gadwall. Two Great Northern Divers, seven Pale-bellied Brent Geese, 350 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, two Common Greenshank, five Red-breasted Merganser, a Green Sandpiper, twenty Common Scoter and fourteen Common Eider were the highlights on the North Gower coast. The Bearded Tit remained at Cosmeston Lakes and four Red-billed Chough were at Southerndown. A miserable day on the 4th saw the Ring-billed Gull at Lamby Lake and a Little Owl nearby. On the 5th, two Hen Harrier, eight Common Crossbill, four Slavonian Grebe and ten Common Eider were at Whiteford NNR and ten Eurasian Siskin and two Common Kingfisher were at Forest Farm, Cardiff. A first winter Mediterranean Gull was at Kenfig Pool and the Bearded Tit was again at Cosmeston Lakes. Two Black Redstarts were in Cardiff Bay. On the 6th, the Ring-billed Gull was again at Lamby Lake and a Mediterranean Gull was at Ogmore Estuary. Ninety Common Snipe, a Red-throated Diver, Merlin, Firecrest, Green Sandpiper were at Oxwich NNR and four Mediterranean Gulls were at Scurlage, South Gower. An adult Little Gull was in Swansea Marina, and the Black Redstart and Slavonian Grebe were at Cardiff Bay. On the 7th wildfowl counts at Kenfig Pool included eleven Gadwall, twelve Eurasian Wigeon and a Northern Pintail, while seventeen Red-throated Diver, three hundred European Golden Plover and a Dark-bellied Brent Goose were at Kenfig Sands and two Bearded Tits were at the Rivermouth. The Ring-billed Gull and a Common Greenshank were at Lamby Lake. The Ferruginous Duck re-appeared at Cosmeston Lake along with the Bearded Tit and a drake Greater Scaup and a Black Redstart was at Port Talbot Harbour. Eight hundred Ringed Plover were at Blackpill, a Great Northern Diver was at Mumbles and a Hen and Marsh Harrier were at Llanrhidian Marsh, along with eighty Little Egret. Two Jack Snipe were in Maesteg and five Eurasian Woodcock at Perthcelyn, Rhondda.