Sightings

Main sighting: Red Grouse

Two Red grouse on the Blorenge this morning plus lots of singing Skylarks & Meadow Pipits and a couple of pairs of Stonechat

Main sighting: Blackcap

High-tide visit with 57 species seen including a blackcap in song near to the entrance (suspect this is an overwintering male as opposed to an early migrant)?, flock of 10 linnets (hide 1) – 2 pairs skylarks (and displaying), 26 redshanks (pair copulating), 11 lapwing (2 pairs showing interest in nesting, 4 ringed plovers, 42 wigeon, 36 teal, 49 shoveler, 4 gadwall, 9 dunlin, 1 gt black-backed gull over, 11 black-tailed godwits (2 in breeding plumage, 4 in partial breeding plumage), 13 avocet, cettis calling, 1 lt egret and a single redwing over. Snipe platform – glossy flying around several times and dropping out of sight into the thick reeds, pair of little grebes, 1 female goldeneye, 3 pairs of tufted ducks, female kestrel hovering and a flock of siskins overhead high calling. Sea wall – 56 curlew on the saltings with 22 more redshanks and 2 knot. Hide 3 – 2 black-headed gulls, 2 cormorants and my first small tortoiseshell butterfly of the year. On route back to hide 1 was a flock of 25 fieldfares in the tall trees leading to the railway carriage, and 3 female stonechats on the fence by hide 1. Buaazrd circling and a male reed bunting flew past.

Main sighting: Brambling

Brambling, singing Chiffchaff and a single Siskin. Apart from loads of Chaffinches and Coal Tits along the main track, the forest was surprisingly quiet on this glorious morning.

Main sighting: Waders

Dawn Visit . Monks Lagoon – Small number of Curlew Roosting. 3 x Dunlin on edge of Monks Island. Small flock of Knot and Dunlins flew over the reserve. Redshanks now spreading all over the reserve. Large number of Shelducks on Monks and Becs. Priors Lagoons. Good number of ducks – highlights 5 x Goldeneyes and quite a few Tufted Ducks. Flossy the Glossy Ibis showed weel near the Snipe Platform. 32 Avocets congregated at Priors with Redshank and Oystercatchers. Becs Lagoons – Skylarks singing away around the seawall hide. 3 x Ringed Plover on Becs Island and Lapwings/Redshanks. Late on in monring the Avocets moved to Monks and a flock of 13 Black Tailed Godwits flew in and landed.
More on my blog with pictures.

Main sighting: Black-tailed Godwit

AM visit over HT with regular showers coming up the channel. 13 black-tailed godwits dropped into 1st lagoon from up high, presumably fresh arrivals, golden plover flying over 3rd lagoon then out to the pill. Around 30 avocets including two copulating pairs, a pair of ringed plover on each island with one pair copulating and nest scraping, c30 lapwings many in pairs with nest scraping and display, c30 redshank with display flights, 8 oystercatcher with 4 birds ‘piping’ at each other a great deal of fun to watch.
Duck numbers down with under 30 wigeon, c80 teal, c50 shoveler, 10 gadwall. 16 tufted duck plus a grey flanked hybrid or at least some genes of another aythya sp.
5 female goldeneye still present. C90 shelduck in roost, 3 curlew came in later on. Early on Blair saw and photographed a flock of 6 knot and 1 dunlin. Glossy ibis feeding amongst rushes of second lagoon.
Passerines included minimum of 2 singing chiffs, 6 singing redwings, a group of 20 plus fieldfares in the hedge that then headed north east quite high. 3 mipits display flighting, 8 plus skylarks many display flighting and fighting, also pair of long tailed tits in suitable nesting habitat and singing reed bunting and 2 cetti’s warblers.

Main sighting: Curlew

First curlew of the year calling today.
Stay safe everyone.

Main sighting: Male Blackcap

Male Blackcap self-isolating on a seed feeder in my garden

Main sighting: Chiffchaff & Blackcap

Chiffchaff & Blackcap singing their hearts out the early morning dog walk – Abergavenny.

Main sighting: Marsh harrier

A close view from car park as it landed for prey in reeds, took off after a minute or so.

Main sighting: Firecrest

Firecrest 1 Goldcrest 1 both gnat catching , Chiffchaff 4 two (singing) Cetti’s warbler 1 seen plus 6 heard. Peregrine 1 Kestrel 1 Buzzard 1 Linnet 30.

Main sighting: Barn Owl

Barn Owl flying over the A4042 near Goytre

Main sighting: red kite

red kite flying low over henllys lanes. first time ive seen one here