Sightings

Main sighting: Waders

Dawn visit. Very dark and wet. Monks had good numbers of waders on it. Curlews x 272, Grey Plover x 3, Knot x 3 , Black Tailed Godwits 10+, Dunlin 100+, Ringed Plover 100+. Barnacle Geese x 4
All flew just after dawn broke.

Priors had good numbers of ducks – Teal, Wigeon , Mallard and Shoveler. Also Tufted Ducks x 4. There was a flock of Black Tailed Godwits 12c on Priors.

A female Marsh Harrier flew in and quartered the lagoons.

Becs had Wigeon, Shelduck and Curlews x 3.

Hedgerows are full of Fieldfare and Redwings

Other – Black Headed Gull, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Herring Gull,Blackbird, Carrion crow, Chaffinch and Robin.

Cettis calling from behind Snipe Platform.

The hedgerows were full

Main sighting: Snipe

6 snipe at Hendre lake, St Mellons; also kingfisher, cormorant, BHGulls, canada geese; coots, moorhens; LTTits, goldcrest.

Main sighting: Mistle thrush

Coal tit, jay, mistle thrush.

Main sighting: Red-breasted Merganser

The Red-breasted Merganser found yesterday by Craig Constance was still present this afternoon – dam end.

Main sighting: Male Blackcap and Goldcrest

1 male blackcap, seemed dozy and resting, 1 goldcrest, 1 wren, 2 blue tits, 2 great tits, 2 coal tits, family of long tailed tits, 1 robin, few sparrows.

Main sighting: Kestrel

Kestrel. Passed over village at 11am, stopping to hover frequently.

Main sighting: Pintail

Pintail with a couple of mallards just up from Llanfoist bridge . Also Little Grebe , 2 female Goosanders , a Little Egret and an Otter

Main sighting: Barn owl

Barn owl crossing new dual carriageway between end of steelworks and new Glan Llyn housing site tonight at 1850

Main sighting: Ring-necked Parakeet

Single flew west just before 1015 over the seawall itself.

Main sighting: Barnacle Geese

Four associating loosely with Canadas at the back of the pools, seen from the second platform.

Main sighting: White fronted goose (1 juv)

A single bird in with 90 Canada geese. Also: Blackbird, Blue Tit, Carrion Crow, Dunnock, Goosander (2 RH), Lapwing (2), Long-tailed Tit (12), Pied Wagtail, Robin, Woodpigeon

Main sighting: marsh harriers & hen harriers

Female marsh harrier flying east at 1515hrs, soon followed by male bird heading west to reedbeds, 8/9 cettis calling, mixed flock of 50/60 fieldfares & redwings along lane, stonechats, reed bunting, 200 plus wigeon offshore, a few curlew and single shelduck, finally at 1630 hrs two ringtails flying in to roost at eastern end of reserve.