Category Archives: birds

Red-crested pochard

22 Tuesday Mar 2022

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Last Monday it was a Little gull in Cardiff Bay; yesterday a Red-crested pochard at Cosmeston Lakes – I’m already wondering what next Monday might bring.

220322 red-crested pochard (1)

According to the BTO website, the Red-crested pochard (Netta rufina) usually spends the summer in Europe and central Asia, and overwinters in north Africa, India and Japan. In Britain, where the earliest record of this bird dates to 1818, the population is tiny and originated from birds that escaped captivity.

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This particular Red-crested pochard was most likely the bird that was first seen at Kenfig National Nature Reserve on 10 March. It stayed on Cosmeston’s west lake all day Monday, diving often to find weed to munch on and contentedly preening between times. Unfortunately, it remained quite distant so I couldn’t get any decent photos but it was still a treat to watch this handsome exotic visitor.

The smallest gull in the world

15 Tuesday Mar 2022

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Local birders have been treated to another striking gull visitor to Cardiff Bay in recent days, this time an adult Little gull (Hydrocoloeus minutus). They can often be seen locally at this time of year as they move from their over-wintering locations to their breeding grounds but they can be difficult to spot, especially if they are flying in the centre of the Bay.

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These are the smallest gulls in the whole wide world – compare the size of the Little gull perched on the buoys with the Black-headed gull standing next to it. Their size is one distinguishing feature, but the best way to pick out the adults is from their wing colours, light grey with a white edging on top, very dark grey with that white edging underneath. The wing shape – often described as paddle-shaped – is also distinctive.

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First Spring Wheatear

12 Saturday Mar 2022

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I was just about to head home from Cosmeston when I got word there was a Wheatear in the southern end of the west paddock – I was at the northern end. Back I stomped and splashed – it’s exceedingly muddy there after all the recent rain – and enjoyed close views of this very handsome bird, as well as a lovely catch up with a female birding friend. I’ve since seen reports of Wheatears in other locations today – Spring migration has begun!

220312 wheatear

A Bonaparte’s makes 90

10 Thursday Mar 2022

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A Bonaparte’s gull has been frequenting Cardiff Bay since 12 February but had eluded my attempts to find it until yesterday, when I was down at the Bay and word came through that the gull had been sighted on the west lake at Cosmeston. The timing was between buses so I had a long and rapid (for me) walk to get there, and I was utterly convinced the bird would have flown before I arrived. But, my luck was in – the Boney’s was still on the west lake, and I was very glad I’d made the effort. That’s patch bird number 90 for 2022.

A mischief

08 Tuesday Mar 2022

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There’s something about the grassy playing fields of Cardiff’s Hamadryad Park that Magpies love, as I often see large numbers there, prospecting for worms and other insects. Today I counted 44 birds, and more could be heard and seen in the neighbouring trees.

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I’ve just been reading that there are several collective nouns for a flock of Magpies – amongst them, congregation, tribe, charm – but the one I like best is mischief. The four birds shown below certainly looked like they were plotting some kind of devilment.

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Red-listed Greenfinches

05 Saturday Mar 2022

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The current conservation status of the Greenfinch (Chloris chloris) in the UK is RED (meaning the species has been accorded the highest conservation priority and requires urgent action) because of its ‘recent severe breeding population decline’. So, I was very gratified during yesterday’s walk to see at least six birds, including 3 males sitting in treetops, wheezing their strange call, and females nearby taking notice. Let’s hope this attraction translates to fledgling success this breeding season.

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The need to breed

02 Wednesday Mar 2022

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After a mild winter, the local birds are already feeling the need to breed, and yesterday’s walk took me past a Mute swan and a Coot both sitting on nests, as well as this pair of Great crested grebes.

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During the time it took me to walk first along one side of the waterway, then back along the other side, the grebes mated twice, so I’m sure they’ll soon be sitting on nests as well.

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Garbage Bay

01 Tuesday Mar 2022

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Cardiff Bay has a reputation as a lovely area but the sad reality is that when you place a barrier across a bay into which two rivers discharge then the garbage that flows down those rivers, especially after raging storms and heavy rain, is bound to accumulate. And, though the local council does remove some rubbish, this particular corner of the Bay is never cleared. No chance of any lunch for the Grey heron here, I’m afraid.

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