1ST - 4TH JANUARY 2009

New Years Day saw the Lesser Scaup and Bearded Tit again at Cosmeston Lakes, a Barn Owl at Maerdy Farm and the second winter Ring-billed Gull at Lamby Lake. Eighteen Common Snipe and a Jack Snipe were in Maesteg. A Great Bittern was at Kenfig Pool and two Greater Scaup at Eglwys Nunydd Reservoir. Three Black Redstarts were at Gileston. On the 2nd, two Bohemian Waxwings were in Sully, the Lesser Scaup and Bearded Tit were still present and a Black Redstart was again at Gileston. An adult Yellow-legged Gull was at Rhymney Estuary and the Water Pipit was at Llwyn On Reservoir, while a Green Sandpiper was at Hendre Lake. On the 3rd, an adult Mediterranean Gull and a Common Kingfisher were at Ogmore Estuary and eleven Purple Sandpiper were on the seafront at Ogmore-by-Sea. The Ring-billed Gull was at Lamby Lake and a Great Grey Shrike was at Llwyn On Reservoir. A Water Pipit, Firecrest, Siberian Chiffchaff and four Common Chiffchaff were at Merthyr Mawr. A further fifteen Bohemian Waxwing were in western Cardiff, the Lesser Scaup relocated to Cardiff Bay, a Northern Goshawk, Firecrest and two Eurasian Woodcock were in Maesteg, the Bearded Tit was at Cosmeston Lakes and another Mediterranean Gull was in Porthcawl. The 4th saw the Firecrest and Water Pipit, as well as a Water Rail and four Blackcap at Merthyr Mawr. The Ring-billed Gull, a Eurasian Woodcock and a Jack Snipe were at Lamby Lake and a Red-throated Diver, 500 European Golden Plover, two Red-billed Chough and a Jack Snipe were at Blaen-y-Cwm. The Bearded Tit was at Cosmeston Lakes, four Greater Scaup were at Cardiff Bay and a Firecrest was again in Maesteg. Twenty Red Kites were at Abernant, 185 Dunlin, three Bar-tailed Godwit, three Common Eider, ten Mediterranean Gull and seventy Sanderling were at Blackpill and the two Bohemian Waxwing were again in Sully to round off an excellent start to the years birding.