Sightings
Verity Picken
Wentwood
Mon 16th Mar 2020
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.
Blair Jones
Goldcliff Lagoons
Sat 14th Mar 2020
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.
Dan Webb
Goldcliff Lagoons
Sat 14th Mar 2020
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.
Grant Robinson
Skirrid Fawr
Sat 14th Mar 2020
Main sighting: Curlew
First curlew of the year calling today.
Stay safe everyone.
Trevor Russell
Monmouth garden
Sat 14th Mar 2020
Main sighting: Male Blackcap
Male Blackcap self-isolating on a seed feeder in my garden
John Davies
Abergavenny
Sat 14th Mar 2020
Main sighting: Chiffchaff & Blackcap
Chiffchaff & Blackcap singing their hearts out the early morning dog walk – Abergavenny.
Hugh James
Magor Marsh
Fri 13th Mar 2020
Main sighting: Marsh harrier
A close view from car park as it landed for prey in reeds, took off after a minute or so.
Mike andJackie Pointon
NWR Uskmouth
Fri 13th Mar 2020
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.
John Davies
Goytre
Wed 11th Mar 2020
Main sighting: Barn Owl
Barn Owl flying over the A4042 near Goytre
lee ashcroft
henllys
Tue 10th Mar 2020
Main sighting: red kite
red kite flying low over henllys lanes. first time ive seen one here
Daniel Webb
Goldcliff Lagoons
Tue 10th Mar 2020
Main sighting: Knot
Wet and windy morning high tide WeBS on lagoons pushed in 2 knot amongst the 65 curlew, 14 oystercatchers, 36 avocets, 14 redshank, 166 teal, 80 shoveler, 29 wigeon, 80 shelduck, also a chiffchaff near entrance
Kevin Wood
Brynmawr ponds
Mon 9th Mar 2020
Main sighting: Snipe
Morning visit at 7.40am, which included visits to all 3 ponds, 4 Snipe on the small pool near bridge, up to 6 on another recent visit. Machine pond busy with Male Goosander, Cormorant, 15 Canada Geese, Tufted Duck, Mallard, pair of Mute Swans and Coots with nesting material. Pair of Bullfinches, Reed Bunting, Chaffinch and Blue Tits visiting nesting box, also Great Tit and long tailed along Hedge rows.Raven overhead and lots of Magpies visiting nest sites. Dunlop Semtex pond much quieter but Great Crested Grebe near Island in middle of pond 4 female Goosanders and Lesser Black backed gulls returning to site.