A new year and new lists started in earnest. With travel still restricted local patch birding was the only option.
Three RING-NECKED DUCKS, including two drakes, were at Talley Lakes Carmarthen throughout and a female was in Cardiff Bay on 2nd – 4th. Others were at Salthouse Point and Dalton’s Point Gower on 3rd and Llyn Tegid (Meirionnydd) on 16th. A SURF SCOTER was off Llanddulas on 5th and two drakes off Old Colwyn on 9th. Another was off Rhossili Bay (Gower) on 9th. Russian White-fronted Geese were reported at several locations.
The GLOSSY IBIS remained at Goldcliffe Pools (Gwent) on 3rd. Spoonbills were at the NWC (Carmarthen) on 4th and Dalton’s Point (Gower) on 4th and 31st. CATTLE EGRETS were at Hundleton (Pembrokeshire) from 17th -29th and Llanfachraeth (Anglesey) from 21st onwards.
A KUMLIEN’S GULL was on Ogmore Estuary on 4th – 15th. A CASPIAN GULL remained in Cardiff Bay from 2nd -24th. A Glaucous Gull was at Ynys Hir (Ceredigion) on 5th and Glandyfi on 8th. An Iceland Gull was on the Rhyl Brickworks (Flintshire) from 4th onwards and another at Swansea (Glamorgan) on 15th . The long-visiting RING-BILLED GULL was at Llys y Fran (Pembrokeshire) on 10th.
The ROSY STARLING remained in an Amlwch garden on Anglesey throughout. A Great Grey Shrike was at Llandrindod Wells (Radnorshire) on 6th. Starling murmurations were featured on Winterwatch at Aberystwyth Pier (with Barn Owl on occasions) and were also well photographed at RSPB Conwy (with Peregrine – see attached photo).
Water Pipits were at Llandudno and Penrhyn Bay (Caernarfonshire) throughout. Another was at Newport (Pembrokeshire) on 3rd.
A Yellow-browed Warbler was a good January record at Llyn Llewennan (Anglesey) on 2nd.
A Siberian Lesser Whitethroat was in a garden in Carreglefn (Anglesey) from 4th onwards and a Siberian Chiffchaff was in Cardiff Bay on 14th. Black Redstarts and Snow Buntings were at several locations.
