Sightings

Main sighting: Work to be commenced on Electric Fence

The society has been informed by the Senior Land Management officer for NRW who manages the Goldcliff Lagoons nature reserve of essential maintenance to the electric fence.

Work will commence on Monday 15th July 2024 and could potentially last until Saturday 31st August 2024.

The NRW appreciates that this is a during the time of Autumn Passage when some potential rarities pass through the reserve.

However, this is the only time between the breeding season and the SPA winter roosts ( and potential wet conditions) that the work can be carried out.

Whilst this will be quite significant work and likely to lead to some disturbance at the reserve. apologies in advance for any inconvenience caused to birders but it is for the greater good of the nature reserve.

Main sighting: Turnstone

There was a flock of 75 Turnstone on Bec’s island highest number we have seen here. Little Ringed Plover 10 mix of adults and juveniles. Also a large flock of Black-headed Gulls at the far side of the island. Several Swifts were hawking insect low over the lagoons and three Swallows took a short-cut flying through the door and out of the viewing slats of the Curlew hide.
It has been a terrible year for butterflies Meadow Brown 3 Small Tortoiseshell 1 and a single Blue-tailed Damselfly.

Main sighting: Whinchat

Single male Whinchat seen perched and calling for extended periods. Also: Stonechats, Meadow Pipits and Skylarks.

Main sighting: Skylarks

10+ skylarks, 4 mistle thrush, 2 ravens, a buzzard, numerous willow warblers.

Main sighting: Lesser Whitethroat (singing)

46 Species: Blackbird; Blackcap; Blue Tit; Bullfinch; Buzzard; Canada Goose; Carrion Crow; Chiffchaff; Coot; Cormorant; Dunnock; Goldcrest; Goldfinch; Great Crested Grebe; Great Spotted Woodpecker; Great Tit; Greenfinch; Grey Heron; Grey Wagtail; Herring Gull; Lesser Black Blacked Gull; House Martin; House Sparrow; Jackdaw; Jay; Lesser Whitethroat; Little Grebe; Long Tailed Tit; Magpie; Mallard; Moorhen; Mute Swan; Nuthatch; Pied Wagtail; Raven; Robin; Song Thrush; Sparrowhawk; Starling; Stock Dove; Swallow; Swift; Tufted Duck; Wood Pigeon; Wren

Main sighting: Spoonbill

En-route to hides – woodpigeons, chaffinch, blackcap, wrens, magpie, swallows, crows, pheasant, collard dove, starlings, sparrows, long tailed tits, dunnock, jackdaws, blackbirds, ls whitethroat, moorhen and a hare. Hide 1 – most productive with cettis, skylarks, 4 oystercatchers, 8 redshanks, Canada and greylags, 1 lt ringed plover with 4 ringed plovers, 21 lapwing, rook, 2 teal, 14 black headed gulls, 1 ls black-backed gull, 3 black-tailed godwits, blue tit, coot, tufted pair, 1 shelduck and 2 herons. En-route to hide 2 goldfinches, reed warbler, chiffchaff family group and 12 swifts. Hide 2 – single wigeon and 10 gadwall. Snipe platform – 2 pairs lt grebes one with 1 young the other with 2, 2 more gadwall, 13 swans, 1 sand martin, common whitethroat, linnets and mallards. Seawall – 6 passing cormorants, stonechat pair and singing sedge warbler. Hide 3 – spoonbill roosting, 12 dunlin, 13 more redshanks, 6 more teal (all males), pied wagtail and 2 lt egrets. Other: marbled white, meadow browns, female black-tailed skimmer, large skipper and common darter.

Main sighting: Spotted Flycatcher

Apparent pair seen around house being renovated. Also 1 Marsh Tit, 1 Treecreeper and 1 Stock Dove plus nesting Swallows and Chiffchaff with food in bill.

Main sighting: Garden Warbler

GOS Walk at Henllys LNR gave few sightings but many in song or calling. Species list: Song Thrush, Blackbird, House Sparrow, Wren, Carrion Crow, Starling, Collared Dove, Lesser Black backed and Herring Gull flying over, Dunnock, Robin, Woodpigeon, Magpie, Garden Warbler, Jackdaw, Blue Tit, Raven, Chiffchaff, Cuckoo, Goldcrest, Jay, House Martin, Swallow, Treecreeper, and Great Spotted Woodpecker. Due to dull conditions very few butterflies were flying, only Speckled Wood, Small White and Meadow Brown, Damselflies were present on both ponds in the reserve.

Main sighting: Curlew flying and curlew calls

Saw a pair of curlew flying I live at Ty Uchaf Granary opposite. I have been hearing them for a few weeks and am still hearing them. I used to hear them much earlier.

Main sighting: Nightjar

A successful late evening visit to Blaenavon community wood- highlights included 3 Nightjar churring and calling and a reeling Grasshopper Warbler on the heath near to the road.

Main sighting: Curlew chicks

Exciting news: two Curlew chicks hatched this morning after an unusually long incubation – hoping the other two eggs will hatch tomorrow. Still time to report your sightings to curlew@gwentbirds.org.uk – all reports will be followed up.

Main sighting: Garden warbler

1607 – on one of my roses – first one I have seen in a while.
Audio was also captured on the BirdWeather.com that I have permanently monitoring in the garden.