birding...

Cosmeston Lake

Satellite View
An early morning visit is recommended here, so as to avoid the hoards of dog walkers, which come here. Walk swiftly away from the tame flock of Mute Swans and the motley collection of ducks on the first pond in front of the visiting centre, by following the boardwalk to the left. This crosses a small area of reeds, which has breeding Reed Buntings, Reed and Sedge Warblers. In this area it splits, but it doesn't really matter which branch you take, as both come out onto the same bridleway, in front of the second pool. This area of bushes is worth a few minutes, for birds like Garden Warbler, Blackcap and Bullfinch. This second pool is much better for birds than the first, being reed-lined in places and less prone to disturbance. Turn right along the bridleway until you come to a bridge over a small channel which connects the two ponds - this gives a good view over both ponds, and especially over the largest expanse of reeds at the far side of the second pool. Last winter this area of reeds held a couple of Bitterns and a Pied-billed Grebe. At the top end of the second pool, a path leads off left, and circles the whole pool, rejoining the bridleway at the mock medieval village near the visitor centre. This walk is a lot quieter than most of the rest.

Lavernock Point

Satellite View
This is undoubtedly the best sea watching spot in Glamorgan, outside the Gower. Although it can't really compete with spots on the south and east coasts of England, or even some of the Pembrokeshire headlands, it regularly produces small numbers of seabirds, including Gannet, Manx Shearwaters and skuas. It is also an excellent spot for migrants, in both spring and autumn, with good scrubby cover along the cliff top. Rarities are often recorded among the usual summer visitors, and have included Bonelli's Warbler, Richard's Pipit and Firecrest.

Birds of Glamorgan

Clive Hurford and Peter Lansdown 228 pages, 30 col & 17 b/w photos, line illus, maps. 1995
ISBN: 1872808344
Buy this book from NHBS.com

Glamorgan Bird Club & Gower Ornithological Society

Website

The Glamorgan Birds Website, a joint venture between the Glamorgan Bird Club and Gower Ornithological Society. The main function of these bodies is to produce the annual bird reports for the East and West of the county of Glamorgan. This website features a number of online services aimed at making your birding in Glamorgan much easier. There are links to a number of pages that will be useful to anyone with an interest in birds, from the casual birdwatcher to the keenest of birders...

Glamorgan Wildlife Trust

Website

Glamorgan Wildlife Trust was established in 1961 to maintain and increase the biodiversity in the old county of Glamorgan, and to enhance public understanding, enjoyment and respect of Glamorgan`s environment. The Trust has approximately 1,400 members and manages 46 nature reserves, which cover nearly 1400 acres - from cliffs and sand dunes in the south to woods and moor land in the north.

Cosmeston Lakes Country Park

Website
Satellite View
Cosmeston Lakes Country Park is a free entry public country park between Lower Penarth and Sully, 7.3 miles (11.7 kilometres) from Cardiff in the Vale of Glamorgan county of Wales...

Sheepleys B&B

Accommodation

Situated on the outskirts of the village of Llandow, near Cowbridge, Sheepleys is an ideal venue for exploring the Heritage Coast and the stunning countryside of the Vale of Glamorgan...

Birders in Boxers

Blog

Adventures of Glamorgan birders, who sit in cars in their underwear ... well two of them do after dipping on Dotterel on a wet and misty Garreg Lwyd...