Yet another Bittern!

A different Bittern to the one seen at WWT Llanelli on Monday (pics below) was sadly found dead in the Millennium Wetlands today. The map above shows all records relevant for the winter atlas at absolute (red dots) and tetrad (open squares) levels. It is likely that a minimum of 9 birds have been recorded in the area shown by the map since 1st January (red dots centred black - click on map for higher resolution), which is quite a total! ...and still time for more...

Another Bittern at Eglwys Nunydd Reservoir

I bumped into George Morgan today who informed me that a Bittern was seen at the reservoir during the cold snap. Counts today were down on what has been around recently, nevertheless I did see 439 Pochard and a fine male Scaup (above). Only 3 Great Crested Grebe on the res. - sounds like they're all on the sea off Aberavon judging by Mark's post below!

Another day another Bittern!

Technically this one's not in the Gower area, but it is only just outside and it's not often you get views this good!
Photographed from the British Steel Hide at WWT Llanelli this morning. A new adult Spoonbill was also present.

Bittern at Oxwich

Probably the same Bittern as that seen by Andy a couple of days ago was in a patch of rushes in the new fen area. Other cryptic species seen in the marsh were Jack Snipe, 23 Snipe and 4 Woodcock (roosting communally). Ducks on the ponds, good parts of which are now ice free, included 24 Gadwall, 9 Teal and a Shoveler. Water Rails seemed to everywhere calling and at least 1 Cetti's Warbler has survived the big freeze. In the bay around 550 Herring Gulls, 32 Great Black-backed Gulls and a Yellow-legged Gull were feeding on wide range of items on the falling tide, the main ones being Starfish, Otter Shells, Razor Shells. A Great Northern Diver was just off the rocks.

Bittern at Wernffrwd

It had to come eventually, with Bitterns seemingly everywhere in South Wales, that one would turn up in Gower. Neil Edwards followed up a report from one of his neighbours (a non-birder I hasten to add) of a possible Bustard in the rushes not far from his house. When he walked out to where the bird was seen a Bittern flew up and headed towards Crofty. I checked quickly this afternoon and found the bird roosting in some Bulrushes not far form where Neil saw it go down. Hopefully it will be there again tomorrow when I'll have my camera at the ready...

Bittern at Crymlyn Bog

A Bittern was seen yesterday by Jamie Bevan of CCW while undertaking work to recreate areas of open water. Look forward to hearing more about what turns up at this site...