Sightings

Main sighting: Comic terns

c100 terns over river Severn gained height flew off over Second severn crossing high west mid afternoon – Passage pill Redshank 43 – Sudbrook Wheatear

Main sighting: Wood Sandpiper

Sat 8th – 55 species from 0645 – 1100. Of note 2 chiffchaffs and 1 common whitethroat en-route to first hide. Hide one – 1 little stint in partial breeding plumage, female sparrowhawk on the mud, 4 curlew, 10 ringed plovers and 1 common sandpiper. Redshank platform – 41 lapwing and small passage of swallows (31 counted with 20 house martins also). Snipe platform – very productive with 12 little egrets, 5 grey herons, 1 green sandpiper which flew off towards Uskmouth but a 2nd one located at the top end of the lagoon where I was pleased to also pick out an adult wood sandpiper. The glossy ibis at one point was very close in offering excellent views by all, 4 yellow wagtails over, sedge warbler going into the reeds, 1 stock dove, 21 teal, buzzard, 1 turnstone, 106 dunlin, green woodpecker calling, gt spotted woodpecker overhead, 1 bar-tailed godwit with some lapwings and a fem marsh harrier made a brief appearance, Marsh platform – huddled along the edge of the reeds were 206 black-tailed godwits with 1 ruff, 16 knot, 2 greenshank (1 juv) and a good count of 181 redshanks mixed in together., soveler and 2 sand martins also. Seawall – male wheatear moving along the wall and a raft of 280 shelduck on the water. Other: numerous gatekeepers, meadow browns, 1 red admiral, common darter (male), large whites, small blue and a possible southern hawker.

Main sighting: Common scoter

Looking out on the Severn this afternoon 4 scoter were found at approx 2.45pm floating out on the outgoing tide, when they got near to the Second severn crossing, they took off and flew back up river and repeated the exercise at least once, before flying off high s/w over the bridge. Also Med gull, Common buzzard and Common sand

Main sighting: Great White Egret

Walk around Garn Lakes at approx. 10.30 a.m.

Main sighting: Crossbills

Flock of around 10 crossbills this morning in Beechwood Park in the centre of Newport.

Main sighting: Young kesstrel

Newly fledged Fluffy kestrel perched, male stonechat with fledgling.

Main sighting: Siskin

Siskin on garden feeder – unusual at this time of year here. 42 juv house martins on wires this morning. 5 song thrushes on walk last evening (often pleased if we see one – must be doing well this year)

Main sighting: Crossbills

A party of about 10 crossbills were in Douglas Firs on the road from The Narth to Pen y Fan Green this morning.

Main sighting: Garden Warbler

River low, Himalayan Balsam high. Sand Martin colony still active, 56 Canada Geese including juvs, Garden Warbler, 2 well-grown juv Goosanders plus the head of a decapitated Goosander in the field. Be alert – ticks rife across the Severn.

Main sighting: Green Woodpecker

Walk around Garn Lakes. No sign of the Great White Egret on the upper pond.
Lots of Bull Finches around the lakes.
Buzzard being mobbed by Magpies, near the Whistle Pub . Later it was doing a balancing act on a telegraph wire.
Green Woodpecker showed well at a distance. Really impressed by the amount of wild flowers and insects on the site.

Main sighting: Chats

Walk to the mast and back. Stonechats in the patches of bracken. Juvenile Wheatears , Linnets and Meadow Pipits. Pair of Ravens.

Main sighting: Whimbrel

12noon – 1500hrs. Hide one – 2 house martins, 2 common sandpipers, 3 swallows and yellow wagtail calling. Redshank platform – 61 lapwing, 310 dunlin 6 of which were juvs, 3 shelduck, chiffchaff contact call, 2 greenshanks (1 in adult plumage), green sandpiper still present, 1 ruff (damaged leg), 6 ringed plovers and 5 yellow wagtails overhead. Snipe platform – 8 lt egrets (3 of which were juvs), 9 grey herons (3 of which were also juvs), 6 redshanks, ravens, 6 teal, another yellow wagtail over and a female reed bunting in the hedgerow. Marsh Platform – a single whimbrel passing was a nice surprise, possible juv spotted redshank (pictures awaiting confirmation). Seawall – 304 black-tailed godwits on the mudflats with 18 knot mixed in (no sign of any avocets), oysteratchers and 2 gt black-backed gulls. Hide three – 2 more yellow wagtails. Other: Green lacewing, numerous gatekeepers, meadow browns, small copper, large skipper and several hawkers species but too far to ID.