Adult winter BONAPARTE'S GULL, River Taff, Cardiff (Jan Hein Steenis)
WEDNESDAY 10 MARCH
I decided to return to South Wales again today, in an attempt to finally 'nail' the Bonaparte's Gull. It was another fine day, but still remaining cold, with temperatures in Wales reaching 7 degrees C. I left home late morning to cover the 152 miles.....
Sadly, yet another local dead Badger. This one on the A404 at Penn Street at SU 927 966.
RIVER TAFF, CARDIFF BAY (GLAMORGAN)
Arrived shortly after 1315 hours at the Cardiff Bay Water Activity Centre car park in Jim Driscoll Way, Cardiff. Walked along and checked from the verander below the flats and as I did so, a local birder whistled to say that the target bird - an adult winter BONAPARTE'S GULL - was straight out and directly opposite where I had just parked the car. I got straight on to it and watched it fly up on to a raft. Even at distance, its smaller size, pale pink legs and soft grey nape and hindneck were diagnostic.
I walked back to the car and got my loaf of bread out and then walked 200 yards around to the left where the gulls were congregating. The BONAPARTE'S GULL afforded all six gathered observers outstanding views - down to 25 yards - both in flight and sat on the water. It was in constant view from 1330 to 1410 hours and was consorting with the Black-headed Gull flock and the odd Common Gull. It was clearly the returning adult from last spring and was in exactly the same place where I had previously encountered it. It was easily distinguished from the Black-headed Gulls, primarily by the pale grey feathering on the whole of the hindneck and nape (rather than gleaming white), the small dark spot on the ear-covert, the much slimmer and shorter all-black bill, the smaller size and the very pale pink (rather than dark red) shorter legs. In flight, the underwings were much paler, with the black wedge on the underwing restricted to the tips and uniform grey on the under inner primaries. The grey on the mantle was very slightly darker.
After dipping this bird on Sunday afternoon, I was delighted with my success today, the bird representing my 204th species of the year.
COSMESTON LAKES COUNTRY PARK, PENARTH (GLAMORGAN)
(1443 hours) The adult drake LESSER SCAUP was showing very well on the Eastern Lake, just yards out from the boardwalk and reedbed, 75 yards left of the viewpoint and car park. It was dredging up weed from the lake bottom and was associating with a few Tufted Ducks. The head was seen to have a dark green sheen to it, whilst the black on the bill was restricted to a fine tip at the nail.
The Eastern lake held 117 Tufted Ducks in total, along with 65 Mute Swans and a gathering of 40 or more adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls (all now in their full summer finery).
A Carrion Crow was repeatedly throwing a mussel shell around on the boardwalk, presumably to open it.
EGLWYS NUNYDD RESERVOIR, NEAR PORT TALBOT (GLAMORGAN)
(1530-1630 hours) In calm conditions, I was able to locate all four 'Scaups' present on the large reservoir adjacent to the M4 at Junction 38 - an adult drake GREATER SCAUP at the north end and two female GREATER SCAUPS and a female LESSER SCAUP with other Aythyas at the south end. The LESSER SCAUP was smaller, much more rounder-headed, with less white on the face than the Greaters.
The reservoir also held 25 Common Goldeneye, 6 Great Crested Grebes and a Little Grebe
I decided to return to South Wales again today, in an attempt to finally 'nail' the Bonaparte's Gull. It was another fine day, but still remaining cold, with temperatures in Wales reaching 7 degrees C. I left home late morning to cover the 152 miles.....
Sadly, yet another local dead Badger. This one on the A404 at Penn Street at SU 927 966.
RIVER TAFF, CARDIFF BAY (GLAMORGAN)
Arrived shortly after 1315 hours at the Cardiff Bay Water Activity Centre car park in Jim Driscoll Way, Cardiff. Walked along and checked from the verander below the flats and as I did so, a local birder whistled to say that the target bird - an adult winter BONAPARTE'S GULL - was straight out and directly opposite where I had just parked the car. I got straight on to it and watched it fly up on to a raft. Even at distance, its smaller size, pale pink legs and soft grey nape and hindneck were diagnostic.
I walked back to the car and got my loaf of bread out and then walked 200 yards around to the left where the gulls were congregating. The BONAPARTE'S GULL afforded all six gathered observers outstanding views - down to 25 yards - both in flight and sat on the water. It was in constant view from 1330 to 1410 hours and was consorting with the Black-headed Gull flock and the odd Common Gull. It was clearly the returning adult from last spring and was in exactly the same place where I had previously encountered it. It was easily distinguished from the Black-headed Gulls, primarily by the pale grey feathering on the whole of the hindneck and nape (rather than gleaming white), the small dark spot on the ear-covert, the much slimmer and shorter all-black bill, the smaller size and the very pale pink (rather than dark red) shorter legs. In flight, the underwings were much paler, with the black wedge on the underwing restricted to the tips and uniform grey on the under inner primaries. The grey on the mantle was very slightly darker.
After dipping this bird on Sunday afternoon, I was delighted with my success today, the bird representing my 204th species of the year.
COSMESTON LAKES COUNTRY PARK, PENARTH (GLAMORGAN)
(1443 hours) The adult drake LESSER SCAUP was showing very well on the Eastern Lake, just yards out from the boardwalk and reedbed, 75 yards left of the viewpoint and car park. It was dredging up weed from the lake bottom and was associating with a few Tufted Ducks. The head was seen to have a dark green sheen to it, whilst the black on the bill was restricted to a fine tip at the nail.
The Eastern lake held 117 Tufted Ducks in total, along with 65 Mute Swans and a gathering of 40 or more adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls (all now in their full summer finery).
A Carrion Crow was repeatedly throwing a mussel shell around on the boardwalk, presumably to open it.
EGLWYS NUNYDD RESERVOIR, NEAR PORT TALBOT (GLAMORGAN)
(1530-1630 hours) In calm conditions, I was able to locate all four 'Scaups' present on the large reservoir adjacent to the M4 at Junction 38 - an adult drake GREATER SCAUP at the north end and two female GREATER SCAUPS and a female LESSER SCAUP with other Aythyas at the south end. The LESSER SCAUP was smaller, much more rounder-headed, with less white on the face than the Greaters.
The reservoir also held 25 Common Goldeneye, 6 Great Crested Grebes and a Little Grebe
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