Sightings

Main sighting: Curlew request

Although Curlews aren’t calling so frequently now, they’re still about. Please continue to send all sightings (and heards) of inland birds to curlew@gwentbirds.org.uk . Every record counts but the more info (number, location, habitat etc) the better.

Main sighting: Terns

Spent an enjoyable hour or so with Ed Stevens sea watching the Severn yesterday, where Ed spotted Gannet(ad), 24 Comic terns, and also two Arctic terns which were feeding by the side of the Prince of Wales bridge. Ed also had 2 Fulmar on the west side of the bridge. 3 Little egrets were also seen.

Main sighting: Spoonbill

Seen well feeding and flying around south of island on monks – seen well from both hide 1 and 2

Other birds include Skylark Lapwing Ringed Plover. Dunlin. Oystercatcher. and Swallow

Main sighting: Bar-tailed Godwit

Bar-tailed Godwit 3 (WP) Black-tailed Godwit 22 Dunlin 300 Sanderling 3 Ringed Plover 20 Turnstone 18 (BP) Gadwall 27 Little Grebe 1 Swift 10 Green Woodpecker 1 Reed Warbler 1. Also, Holly Blue Peacock Small White and Orange Tip butterflies.

Main sighting: Waders

0515 – 1000 Wheatear on fence to the right of the hide, Chiffchaff 2, pheasant, buzzard, cettis calling, common whitethroat 1, blackcap 2, lesser whitethroat 1 and a raven with a small chick. Good wader roost including 624 dunlin (several Arctica race and the pale looking bird), 4 grey plover, 3 sanderling (1 almost in summer plumage), 46 ringed plovers, 2 bar-tailed godwits, 2 knot (1 partial summer plumage), 2 black-tailed godwits, 2 whimbrel and 17 turnstone. 1 heron, 3 skylarks and reed buntings. Hide two – reed warbler singing, avocet, lapwing, shelduck, 2 whimbrel overhead. Hide three – 8 bar-tailed godwits, 5 black-tailed godwits, mute swans, 4 tufteds, teal and around 11 sand martins but good numbers of swallows (80+) with a number landing on the fences and in the reeds, with a spectacular feeding almost in slow-mo right in front of the hide within 10 feet.

Main sighting: Common Sandpiper

Another wet visit – 1615 to 1830. Blackcap 1, chiffchaff 2, lesser whitethroat 1, common whitethroat 1, cettis warbler 1, pheasant, skylark singing and a raven which took a Canada goose gosling. Hide two (scanning the three lagoons) – gadwall, 3 pairs tufted ducks, avocet with 2 chicks, grey heron 2, cormorants 3, lapwing (one pair copulating), common redshanks, oystercatchers, at least 100+ house martins feeding over the lagoons with swallows and sand martins mixed in, 1 swift over the seawall, 1 whimbrel with a second seen on the seawall, 1 bar-tailed godwit with 2 more later, reed warbler singing, reed bunting, 33 black-tailed godwits, 1 dunlin, 1 little ringed plover and 1 common sandpiper. Dan Webb and John Lawton remained after I left so not sure if the main wader flock came in later?

Main sighting: Dunlin

Good numbers of dunlin on the ebb tide @ 1400hrs, several small groups combined to estimate 700 + , also inland 14 buzzards soaring on a thermal then dispersing. Single male wheatear on the seawall

Main sighting: Dipper

Also Wheatear main highlight of BTO BBS survey at Celyn Farm near Grosmont

Main sighting: Spotted Flycatcher

A brief visit by a Spotted Flycatcher – first record for the site. Two singing Whitethroats, two Swallows and, at last, a House Martin.

Main sighting: SWIFTS

I know it’s just out of area, but these two were my first sightings this year. Good to see them back!

Main sighting: Lapwing, Whinchat

The river was running v high and fast, and there was massive flooding – two Sand Martin colonies were under water and a third one partially so. Two Lapwing on a newly ploughed ‘island’ in a huge sea of water; a swan pair rebuilding and delving for their eggs in a flooded nest; Stonechat pair unusual and 5 Whinchats first for this site – obviously passing through. Also 2 Swifts, 4 redhead Goosander and 3 Mandarin.

Main sighting: redstart

A pair of female redstarts flying into the silver birch on edge of our orchard, probably just passing through, 1430 hrs