Sightings

Main sighting: Common Gull

Common Gull 8 mainly first summer one adult Ringed Plover 22 Little Ringed Plover 2 Spotted Redshank 1 Knot 1 Ruff 2 Shelduck 142 Pintail 4 Tufted Duck 9 Bean Goose 1 White=fronted Goose 1 Blackcap 2 Chiffchaff 2 ( one pale individual)

Main sighting: Red kite

Red kite soaring over Vauxhall Meadows 4pm.

Main sighting: mixed Hirundines

Mixed flock of 20-30 Hirundines ( partially out of sight behind trees) passing up the Usk. Included one Swallow, 2 House Martins (minimum numbers) and Sand Martins. About 3.00 pm.

Main sighting: spotted redshank

Cracking couple of hours at Goldcliff, with spotted redshank right in front of first hide (coming into summer plumage), 2 ruff from second hide, 2 great white egret from second hide, one flying to join a little egret, providing a nice comparison. Further along were several swallow and sand martin, a pair of pintail from last hide, as well as many (60+) avocet. Behind last hide on path and sea wall, were at least 8 lovely adult male white wagtails, a wheatear and two reed bunting. A couple of meadow pipit also with the wagtails.

Main sighting: Great White Egret

2-GWEs around the small reed bed in the north west corner of the reserve,6-White Wagtails on the ground near to the sea wall hide,2-Ruff,1-White fronted goose,no sign of Bean goose,20 or so Swallows,2+LRPs,2-Wheatears on sea wall and lots of Avocets too many and too spread out and mobile to make a count,but 70 to 80 possibly.11h30-13h25.

Main sighting: Swallows

A late afternoon passage of swallows observed along the river @ 1 mile upriver from the bridge, several groups of 500 + birds heading upriver also feeding low over the sheep fields, a few house martins also, 25 sand martins over their nesting site, a pair of goosander, single green sandpiper, single common sandpiper, pair of grey wags, little egret and grey heron.

Main sighting: Merlin

0725, shortly after arriving at first (Greenshank) hide, a small group of Redshank took to the air as a Peregrine flew in chasing a Redshank (which it subsequently missed) , followed closely by a Merlin (female). Both flew off beyond the sea wall. Other sightings: Swallows (3); Gadwall; Widgeon; a few Teal; Tufted Duck; Dabchick; Black Tailed Godwit (250+), Avocet (50+); single Curlew (no leg rings); Ruff (2); Little Ringed Plover; Bean Goose and White Front Goose sat together in adjacent field; Reed Bunting; Skylark singing. Rather cold and windy.

Main sighting: Brent goose

regarding report of Brent goose at Sudbrook, date should have read 1st April, sorry

Main sighting: Curlew request

Please go to the Home page to see details of GOS’s request for all inland Curlew sightings in Gwent. It’s essential to know where they might be breeding if we’re to do anything to prevent the appalling decline in numbers of this lovely bird.

Main sighting: Swallow

Single Swallow (male). First this year for me.

Main sighting: White Stork

Stunning views of a White Stork low overheard just north of Llangybi. Refound on the deck, following the plough and scoped through a bit of a heat haze. It took off flying northwards but I was unable to relocate it.

Main sighting: Lesser Redpoll

Lesser Redpoll visiting on a daily basis for the last 14 days, feeding on sunflower hearts feeder in my garden. (I have photo). One or two birds frequently seen. Is this unusual? Also regular visits by up to four Greenfinch, the occasional Chaffinch and many Goldfinch.