No major surprises this month although a number of lingering rarities got the year list off to a good start. The 2nd winter Ring-billed Gull at Lamby Lake was joined on a few occasions by a first winter bird, whilst the Slav Grebe (Cardiff Bay) and Bearded Tit (Cosmeston) continued to show well. The Lesser Scaup found the lure of the capital and it's bright lights too much and moved from Cosmeston to Cardiff Bay. Some showy Waxwings in Weston Ave, Sully proved very popular, whilst Waxwings were also seen at Culverhouse Cross, Barry and Sarn.
The latter half of the month gave rise to a few White-winged Gulls with both Iceland (ad) and Glaucous Gull (juv) seen at the Ogmore River Mouth, Possibly the same Glaucous Gull had earlier been seen at Margam Breakwater, whilst other Iceland Gulls were seen off Cardiff Foreshore and in Swansea Marina. Snow Buntings were seen at both Werfa and Mynydd Eglwysilian and Bitterns were seen at Lamby Lake, Cosmeston and Parc Slip NR.
With Gyr Falcon and Green-winged Teal in nearby Welsh Counties there is still plenty of scope for some more good birds this winter. Fingers crossed it's the big white one !
1st - Lesser Scaup and Bearded Tit, Cosmeston, Ring-billed Gull Lamby Lake. 5 Scaup Cardiff Bay.
2nd - Waxwings, Sully. Merlin Rumney Great Wharf. Lesser Scaup and Bearded Tit, Cosmeston.
3rd - Waxwings Sully and Culverhouse Cross. Goshawk, Red Kite, Woodcock and Firecrest Llangynwyd. Lesser Scaup relocated in Cardiff Bay. Bearded Tit Cosmeston. Firecrest and Water Pipit Merthyr Mawr.
4th - 2 Waxwings Sully, Bearded Tit Cosmeston and Lesser Scaup Cardiff Bay. Firecrests Llangynwyd and Merthyr Mawr. Water Pipit Merthyr Mawr.
5th - Lesser Scaup, Cardiff Bay. 2 Waxwings Sully and 10+ Barry. Bearded Tit Cosmeston. Water Pipit Llwyn-onn Reservoir. 2 Ring-billed Gulls Lamby Lake (1st w & 2nd w). Black Redstart Cardiff Bay.
6th - 2 Ring-billed Gulls Lamby Lake. Lesser Scaup and Jack Snipe Cardiff Bay. White-fronted Goose Lavernock Point. Slav Grebe Hamadryad Park. 3 Waxwings Sully,
7th - 1 Brent Goose Gileston.
8th - 2 Ring-billed Gulls Lamby Lake. Lesser Scaup Cardiff Bay.
9th - Lesser Scaup, Slav Grebe and Yellow-legged Gull Cardiff Bay. 2 Ring-billed Gulls and Bittern Lamby Lake. Bittern Parc Slip NR. Water Pipits Portobello and Llwyn-onn Reservoir.
10th -2 Ring-billed Gulls and Bittern Lamby Lake. Firecrest Cilfynydd. 10 Waxwings Sully. Lesser Scaup and Slav Grebe Cardiff Bay. Water Pipit Ogmore. Bearded Tit Cosmeston.
11th - 10 Waxwings Sully.Ring-necked Parakeet Insole Gardens. Lesser Scaup and Slav Grebe Cardiff Bay. 2nd W Ring-billed Gull Lamby Lake.
12th - Waxwing Sarn. Black Redstart Penarth Head. Bearded Tit Cosmeston.
13th - Lesser Scaup Cardiff Bay. Bittern Cors Crychydd Reen.
16th - 3 Brent Geese Gileston.
17th - Slav Grebe Cardiff Bay. 2nd w Ring-billed Gull Lamby Lake. Bearded Tit Cosmeston.
18th - Slav Grebe Cardiff Bay. Little Gull Ogmore. 3 Brent Geese and Little Gull Gileston.
19th - Ad Iceland Gull Ogmore River Mouth. Lesser Scaup Cosmeston.
20th - Lesser Scaup Cosmeston. Water Pipit Portobello Island. Snow Bunting Tutt Head
21st - Juv Glaucous Gull Margam Break Water.
22nd - Bittern Cosmeston.
23rd - Glaucous Gull Ogmore River Mouth. Juv Iceland Gull Swansea Marina
24th - Glaucous Gull Ogmore River Mouth. Iceland Gull Swansea Marina
25th - Snow Bunting Tutt Head. Iceland Gull Swansea Marina. Glaucous Gull Ogmore River Mouth.
26th - Snow Buntings Werfa and Tutt Head. Water Pipit Portobello Island. Glaucous Gull Ogmore River Mouth.
27th - 2 Brambling Cefn Mabley. Iceland Gull Cardiff Foreshore. Little Gull Gileston
28th - Bittern Cosmeston.
31st - Snow Bunting Mynydd Eglwysilian. Juv Glaucous Gull Sker.
