Kenfig & ID help please. (1 Viewer)

Hi All,
Had a great day out at Kenfig Reserve on Wednesday.
My target Bird was the Dartford Warbler, I was unlucky with that, but the anticipation and the variety of Birds seen made up for it.

My route took me down through the sand dunes onto the reserve, in the distance the regular Waders, Gulls and Cormorant could be seen and. A pair of Crows displayed a handsome silhouette perched on the lifeless trees and I was sure I spotted a Stonechat in the distance. (see pic)

I headed towards the first of 4 stiles as the Cetti taunted me with it's familiar ("you cant see me") song! Am I bovvered?

A pair of Pied Wagtails were enjoying the shoreline which made a nice change from their usual concrete habitat.
I was treated to amazing view's of a pair of bathing beauties who's id confused me a bit (I'm leaning towards one of two options) your help would be appreciated.

My journey was cut short by a loud hissing sound in the overgrowth. I'm not snake phobic, and would love to see one, but without knowing the id and the risk of walking into a nest in an isolated place, I decided not to take the risk.

A variety of woodland Birds escorted me back to the field with a Goldcrest putting in a brief appearance.

In the field I saw the first Redwing this year and was intrigued by a flock of secretive birds hiding in the grass in the distance.

Heading back I heard an unfamiliar song in the bracken and wondered if this was my bird. I hid myself in the bushes and waited patiently.
Unfortunately my wait was cut short by a dog named Tyrone!
Still, I decided not to feel to down about it and enjoy the Blue Winter Sky.

To round off the day I headed to the Authur Morgan hide, and was treated to fantastic views of 3 visiting Sandpipers/Redshank.
A chap hurried passed me with tripod & camera who turned out to be the onlooker from the hide. His friend told me he was off to find the Dartford Warbler. We watched him through our bins as he stood in my "Tyrone" bush when all of a sudden his thumb went up! Doh!
It turned out to be a Firecrest! I was so pleased for him.

Before leaving the hide, I got spectacular views of the Water Rail busily probing the reed-bed stopping only to pose for a picture.

The area outside the hide always interests me, I often hear an unfamiliar Warbler song, and although I listen to Birdsong CD's and watch my DVD to familiarise myself, I am still a long way from confident in the field.

I did manage to take pics of a couple of Warblers which I would appreciate your id thoughts.


The first set of pics are ones I would appreciate your id thoughts, followed by some nice pics of the day.
appologies for poor quality in some.

Bye for now all

(more id's to come)

Here are the other pics for id please.
Many thanks

And some nice ones included

Thanks for sharing my Kenfig day all.

Hi Pie,what a great day to be out birding!
And you saw some good birds too...well done!
Some great pics too.....I love your Water Rail!:t:
I think pic 4 is a Willow Warbler and pic 5 a pair of Linnets.....I'll leave the rest to the experts!

That does sound a wonderful day, just my kind of birding! Shame about the Dartford W's but you clearly had a great time anyway and saw a good variety too. Shame you didn't manage to see the snake, but as you say you have to be careful! Love your pics, as always! Especially the Water Rail, thanks for sharing your day!

Sounds (and looks) like a nice day. The water rail is fantastic!:t:
I think the photos probably go chiffchaffs for 1,3,4; meadow pipit in 2 and linnets in 5?

I love a challenge! My guesses are:

1 Chiffchaff
2 Meadow Pipit
3 and 4 Chiffchaff
5 Linnets
6 Drowned Rat?
7 Meadow Pipit
8 Stonechat
9 Turnstone
10 Knot

Just my thoughts though, could well be wrong! Thanks for posting these pie, I enjoy a challenge even if I'm not right!! Great fun.

Hi pie,
You've got some wonderful photos there, (sorry, can't help with id's, except I'd agree with the others on Chiffchaff, as it's one I've seen meself!!). You had a great day by the sounds of it, shame you missed the D.Warbler. Very wise action re the Snake, I'd have run a mile I'm afraid! I'm a right scaredy-cat when it comes to snakes!!
Thanks for sharing your day, a very enjoyable read.
My Best to You pie,

Hi Ruth, Kezza, Chris & Judo,
Thank you all for helping with the id's, I'm so pleased about the Linnet confirmation, it's a first for me, so I'm always cautious before I tick a lifer!:t:

Can you look again at pic 2 & 7 please, are these both Meadow P? I was sure pic 2 was a smaller Bird.

Also, the Bird in pic 1 maybe to big for Chiff Chaff, this pic was taken from a distance of a tennis court'ish. At first glance I thought it was a Greenfinch (same size) & didn't pay much attention, but something made me look twice and so I quickly took a pic for id. Anymore thoughts on this would be appreciated.

Pic 6 & 7 made me very curious, I watched them bathing in the water for ages. I have more pics of them if needed.

Thank you all for joining in and helping with id thoughts and thank you for your kind comments. x

ps, I hope you dont mind having another look for me. :t:

Hi pie, I can't really add anything else I'm afraid but I hope someone else comes along to help you. I'm still learning and mine were really just guesses. I would hate to think you'd labelled them wrongly based on my reply. Hope you get them sorted and well done on the lifer.

I've had a look again, pie, I think 2 is a Meadow Pipit. You can see its long rear claws. Slightly yellow on the sides. It could be a youngster.
Maybe the bird in pic 7 looked bigger cos it was bathing? They ruffle their feathers right out and can look a lot bigger?

Hopefully someone else will be able to confirm I'm not speaking rubbish!

Lovely pictures, pie. Afraid I find Warblers somewhat confusing though!

Hi All,
Thanks Kezza, Chris and Pam, I really appreciate your help, I know what you mean about different angles making the id difficult, it all helps to make this hobby fun.
Thanks again all

Crikey Pie, the bird in Pic 4 looks like a siberian chiffchaff, it shows a hint of a wingbar and a real supercillium, both good indicators. but it doesnt look grey enough. The call is always the real way to tell, but i've never heard one. It could be worth popping it up on the main board to see what race it is? There a darford warbler at newport wetlands BTW!

luke said:

Crikey Pie, the bird in Pic 4 looks like a siberian chiffchaff, it shows a hint of a wingbar and a real supercillium, both good indicators. but it doesnt look grey enough. The call is always the real way to tell, but i've never heard one. It could be worth popping it up on the main board to see what race it is? There a darford warbler at newport wetlands BTW!

Click to expand...

Siberian can be ruled out, it has green in the mantle and yellow in the supercilium, but it is a very interesting looking chiffchaff 'thing'. I'd agree this would be interesting to post in the main forum.

Hi Luke & Nick,
Thanks for that, I will post it on the main board. Fingers crossed for something nice.

Hi Luke & Nick,
I posted the pic on the main board and so far Abietinus (scandinavian) Chiffchaff has been suggested and supported.
My books do not extend to Abietinus, and a quick google has given me a bit of info on this lovely Bird.
I will keep my eye on the thread.
Thank you both.

Luke, I was hoping to go to Gwent today or Wed but rain stopped play!!
Where is the Dartford? Also, have there been recent sightings of the Snow Bunting at Nash point? it seems to have gone quiet on GBC.
(any chance my pipit is Buff Belly?)
Thanks again All

Well done with the chiffchaff, good record! The dartford was over by the power station in the scub around the pylon. But if you want to see loads of good birds, its worth visiting pantygasseg near pontypool to see the brambling, 522 today! All the details are on GOS but if you want directions let me know.

The last report of the snow bunting was no sign, but i might still be there, but i cant string your pipit as buff bellied!!!

Hi Luke,
Thanks for the info, my next opportunity to go out wont be for a few days.
I'm working nights! grrrr! unless I abandon sleep and go anyway (Ive done that before!)zzzzzzz!
If the rain stops between Fri am & Sun night, I may squeeze in a couple of hours Birding between shifts. Will go for the Bramblings me thinks :t:

Oh, by the way, I was going to ask if you would answer a Q posted on my id thread about Warblers in Wales, but that section is so fast moving it has already disappeared into cyberspace! eek! I hope he doesn't think we are rude in Welsh Wales!
Thanks again Luke
ttfn