Sightings

Main sighting: Spotted Redshanks

Afternoon low tide visit.
Generally very quiet – 1 x Spotted Redshank on Monks Lagoon. “Bosprey” Buzzard sat up on post at Becs. Absence of the big wader flocks noted. Little Ringed Plovers on Becs.
Lapwings on Monks and Becs.
Merlin seen flying between Monks and Priors Lagoon and flew off towards Farm.
Reported to me that the Bean and White Fronted Goose has been seen earleir.

Main sighting: Waders and Merlin

Visited at dawn at high tide. Monks Lagoon – 43 x Curlew and 2 Great Black Backed Gulls and lots of shelducks. Priors Lagoon – 1 x White Fronted Goose and 1 x Bean Goose showing in front of Marsh Platform. Scaup/Hybrid duck in with Tufted. 2 x Pochard. 9 x Mute Swans. There was a flock of 85 x Avocet showing on Priors and Becs.
Becs Lagoon – Big flock of 292 x Black Tailed Godwits and 1 x Knot. 2 x Little Ringed Plovers. 12 x Ringed Plovers ( some flew by in a flock with c10 Dunlins). 30 x Redshanks throughout the reserve. Female Merlin showing well for some. Sparrowhawk.
Spotted Redshank seen on Monks Lagoon.

Main sighting: Brambling

A female Brambling and 40 Linnets this morning.

Main sighting: Sand Martins

First bird seen was a singing Blackcap, On the river, a pair of Goosander, a Kingfisher and two Sand Martins. Several chiffchaffs in full song. Later, returning to Pontypool, a Buzzard and a Red Kite close together.

Main sighting: Bean Goose

With John Marsh.BeanGoose ,Marsh Harrier,Canada Lapwing .Redshank.Gadwall.Shoveler,Dunlin ChiffChaff and GreenWoodpecker Greylag .Geese

Goldcliff with John Marsh.Marsh Harrier over Fields Bean Goose Tufted Duck Gadwall.Shoveler .Lot of Canada .Few Greylag .Chiffchaff and distant call of Green Woodpecker .Also Lapwing RedShank and distant flock of Dunlin

Main sighting: Blackcap

A walk along the Wye, north from Monmouth for a couple of miles. At least four chiffchaff singing and one (brief) blackcap. Two separate pairs of mandarin on the river.

Main sighting: Avocet

Avocet numbers are increasing.Today there were at least 75 Avocets mostly on the tidal area.10h00-11h45

Main sighting: Sand Martin

2 Sand Martin just above Llanfoist Bridge this afternoon
Sorry about spelling of Ouzel on previous post

Main sighting: Ring Ousel

Male Ring Ousel just below the trig point

Main sighting: Chiff chaff

Heard and saw first chiff chaff near river Ebbw

Main sighting: Chiff chaff

First chiff chaff heard and seen near river Ebbw.

Main sighting: Red KIte

Red Kite 1 Buzzard 4 Peregrine 3 and Raven 1