Sightings

Main sighting: Osprey

Osprey seen fishing at low tide just west of carpark accessed from lane past Magorpill Farm and Water Treatment works. I had seen the bird here briefly two weeks previously. Perhaps it is here for a while, and certainly was fun to watch.

Main sighting: Hobby , Vismig and Waders

Dawn until almost duck visit yesterday.
At dawn there was a large number of Curlews on Monks 120+. There was probably a lot more and other Curlews on Becs Lagoon but I it was practically dark so I could not count them. They flew the minute it got a little light.
Throughout the morning the wader flock of Black Tailed Godwits, Knots , Lapwing,Dunlins,Redshanks and Waders remained on Priors quietly on Priors. Snipe were showing well on Priors.
A large flock of House Martins and Swallows were feeding and drinking over Priors and there were also some Sand Martins.
Vismig was being done by Dan Webb and Andy Strong – there was a flow of Meadow Pipits coming through but not as much as previous visits.
Wheatears were showing well around the SeaWall Area. The fencing was alos a favoutite of the StoneChats
PM visit – the wader flock moveed regulalry when startled. Gavin Vella spotted a Hobby near the farm and we had good views.
Later a Sparrowhawk had a goo at the wader flock.
Lots of Dragon flies – including migrant hawkers and Common Hawkers

Main sighting: Hen Harrier

Male hen harrier flying over Newport Wetlands at around 16:10, heading towards the east.

Main sighting: Disturbance at Goldcliff lagoons

There will be some disturbance in the late morning at Goldlcliff Lagoons on Tuesday 15th September, when the flood defenses are inspected. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.

Main sighting: Goosander

Goosander 3 redheads Grey Wagtail 2 Chiffchaff 1.

Main sighting: Great White Egrets and waders

Arrived before dawn. Great White Egrets x 3 on Monks Lagoon near the sluice. ( Record pics on Twitter).
Priors Lagoon. – The wader flock was concentrated near the Marsh Platform. Glossy Ibis x 1, Black Tailed Godwits x 250+, Greenshank 1, Knots x 100c. Redshank x 30, Lapwings x 40, Dunlin x 8. Snipe x 8 ( more also seen around the reed edges. Peregrine x 1 attacked wader flock. Short time after a Black Tailed Godwit was observed trying to stand and failed and later seems to have died.
Vismig observed – lots of Meadow Pipits passing through, Swallows and House Martines. Yellow Wagatils and Wheatars. Chiff Chaffs calling from hedgerows
Foreshore – Oystercatches x 20, Curlews x 20, Shelduck x 100.
Becs – Sparrowhawk and Meadow Pipits and Little Egret.
Ducks seem to be growing in number – Shovelers , Teal and Mallards.
Dragonflies – Common Darters, Southern Hawkers.
Butterflies, Small and Large Whites and Small Copper.

Main sighting: Kestrel

Female kestrel, 40+ ravens, 5 buzzards, goldcrest,, wren, 4 jays, 3 green woodpeckers

Main sighting: Black-tailed Godwits

Significant numbers of waders. Sightings were: Mute Swan, Canada Geese, 2 Teal, Mallard, 120 Shoveler, 2 Little Egret, Grey Heron, Sparrowhawk, Moorhen, 34 Ringed Plover, 99 Lapwing, 40 Knot, 1 Little Stint, 50 Dunlin, 11 Snipe, 200 Black-tailed Godwit, 6 Curlew, 50 Redshank, 2 Greenshank, Black-headed Gulls, Woodpigeon, 1 House Martin, Carrion Crow, 2 Raven, 1 Greenfinch.

Main sighting: KIngfisher

KIngfisher perching on branches then flying along the canal at Two Locks around 6.00 this evening.

Main sighting: Waders and Passage

Visited just after dawn.
Lots of movement going on in the skies above the lagoons.
Passage birds- Swallows, House Martins and Sand Martins particualrly over Becs and sea wall. Flocks of Siskins flying throgh Westwards.
Priors Lagoon – The Black Tailed Godwits 25o+ joined by nice flock of Knots 170c., Dunlin and Redshank. Greenshank also showed.
Monks Lagoon – Dunlin and Ringed Plover flock on the mud viewable from Hide 1. There were Curlew Sandpipers x 2 ( pics on my blog) and I saw 1 Little Stint but reliably told their was a second. Kestrel was todays protagonist causing some panicked wader flocks.

Lapwings showing well on Priors Lagoon mainly 30+ birds.

Numbers of ducks seem to be increasing. Shovelers and Teal. Paul Joy saw 4 Wigeon on Becs.

Wheatear and Yellow Wagtails reported on the Sea Wall and Meadow Pipits were seen flying through the reserve.

Main sighting: Curlew Sandpiper, Golden Plover, Weasel

Curlew sandpiper with numerous redshank; common sandpiper; 2 golden plover with c100 each of Ringed Plover and Dunlin; similar numbers of oystercatchers and curlew; plenty of swallows still; female pintails have arrived to join shelduck and mallards++. Little egrets, grey heron, black headed gulls, linnets, stonechat, goldfinches; and then great view of weasel scuttling back and fore across path 10m in front. red admiral also.

Main sighting: Knot

Green woodpecker, chiffchaff 2 (contact calls) and stock dove 1. Hide 1: single pintail flying past, 48 ringed plovers with 58 dunlin, 1 little stint and 1 sanderling mixed in. Redshank platform – 2 greenshank flying towards the power station, single avocet, 1 grey heron, 3 little egrets, grey wagtail overhead, 15 lapwing and 2 knot. Marsh platform – glossy ibis flying up quite high and heading towards Uskmouth, 3rd greenshank dropped in, 106 knot mixed in with 256 black-tailed godwits (ringed bird still present),6 dunlin, 5 house martins and a kingfisher flying along the hedge in the field. Hide 3 – 13 siskins in a group overhead, 6 curlew, 3 skylarks, 2 yellow wagtails and a pair of stonechats on the fence. Seawall – masses of shelduck with curlew and oystercathers and 4 sand martins over. 3 common buzzards (including the light-morph bird) over hide 1. Other: Migrant and Southern Hawkers around the bramble bushes by hide 1.