Sightings

Main sighting: Shelduck

A pair of Shelducks with ten small juveniles also a first summer Mediterranean gull.20h25-21h15.

Main sighting: Raven

Raven, 16 swifts, 30 sand Martins, 2 grey wagtails, heron, buzzard, 2 adult mallards with 9 large ducklings

Main sighting: Hobby

Single Hobby over river this morning . Also Goosander with 10 chicks , a Spotted Flycatcher , several Grey Wagtails with fledglings and at least a dozen Common Sandpipers between Llanwenarth and Llanfoist

Main sighting: Seabirds

I done a bit of a sea-watch on the Severn from my home yesterday, raising my bins I picked up what looked like a small tern flying west, it was quite dark the wings appeared greyish , and flying with it’s wings folded back in the manner of a Swallow, unfortunately I did not get it in my scope, and then I lost it behind some trees. I picked it up again flying away from me and then it was gone, As it was morning the light was coming at me. I am wondering if it could have been a Black tern? but will have to just dismiss it as one that got away. To cap all I later I had what was certainly three comic terns flying n/w but picked them up to late to be certain. there was a Scoter though which was probably two. Oh well

Main sighting: Spotted Flycatcher

36 species on a long walk from home to Strawberry Cottage Wood and back. Highlight a Spotted Flycatcher in a tree by the Honddu

Main sighting: Common Sandpiper

Common Sandpiper, Mandarin pair, Goosander with six well-grown young, Kingfisher and Garden Warbler seen but missed the reported Yellow Wag feeding four young and a Cuckoo.

Main sighting: Grey Heron

A Grey Heron had three Roach about four inches long in its bill. It dropped two, swallowed one and then re-caught the other two one by one and swallowed them. Never seen a Grey Heron with a multiple catch before. Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler singing and a Whitethroat seen. Dragonflies: Golden-ringed and Broad-bodied Chaser Azure Blue Damselfly.

Main sighting: Med gull

1st summer bird flying west
c 25 BH gulls

Main sighting: Breeding birds

As we have been on lockdown have not caught up with many of the summer breeders, so was pleased see Reed and Sedge warblers in good numbers, with great views of three well grown fledgling Sedge warblers, sat side by side completely unperturbed by us. If only I’d had a camera with me! Also a single Whitethroat singing out from a perch on a tree. Will bring our own seats to the hide next time as it is backbreaking otherwise! Good numbers of Little egret and several Chiffs singing. One funny thing was that the Welsh government allows us a limit of 5 miles, our journey was 4.9

Main sighting: Yellowhammer

2 singing males, one just N of village, second near Trevonny. Also 5 Redstarts and possible Raven breeding territory in woods at Coed-y-pwll.

Main sighting: Linnets and Lesser Redpoll etc

The gorse habitat at Penyreheol and the surrounding mountain moorland has been full of birds – Stonechats, Willow Warblers, Linnets, Lesser Redpolls, Bullfinches, Meadow Pipits, Skylarks, Wheatear and Reed Bunting. Also Magpies, Jackdaws, Carrion Crow, Buzzard, Raven and Lesser Black Backded and Herring Gulls.
The male Linnets and Redpols have been looking particularly colourful.
There is more on my blog detailing the birding to be had.

Main sighting: Swift

At least 50 swifts over Monnow at 6.30 am. Great to see so many. A few sand martins below. Single marsh tit in Mitchel Troy. At least four tree pipit singing from felled forestry and adjacent ‘parkland’ trees behind Pen y Clawdd Farm, Dingestow.