Sightings

Main sighting: Kingfisher

Two Kingfishers this morning – one on the top lake and one on the school pond. A Dipper on the top lake, displaced from its usual home by high water levels and another on the channel below the Whistle Inn bridge. Just two Goosanders. Flock of five Bullfinches at Whistle Road car park. Flock of some fifty Woodpigeons over.

Main sighting: Marsh Harriers

Good views of Male & Female @ 1600 hrs from the Red Barn hide, both settling to roost in thick scrub near the embankment.

Main sighting: Little Egret

Single egret on bank of Monnow @ 2 miles south of Pontrilas

Main sighting: Little Grebe

There was a Little Grebe diving amongst the bank vegetation just above the old Monnow Bridge this morning, about 1100, amongst the Mallard. Male Tufted Duck still there too.

Main sighting: Red Kite

Two Red Kites over Devauden at 1400 hrs heading east over woods.

Main sighting: Garganey

Probable female Garganey seen from the hide at Uskmouth.Photograph on gwent birders facebook.

Main sighting: Green Sandpiper.

23 species including 1Stock Dove, 1Green Sandpiper, 1Grey Heron, 10 Little Egret, 2 Red Kite, 1Buzzard, 3 Rook, 40 Jackdaw, 6 Mistle Thrush, 6 Redwing, 19 Fieldfare, 1Grey Wagtail.

Main sighting: Dead swans

We have been informed today by an RSBP volunteer that three dead swans have been found at Goldcliff Lagoons, Newport Wetlands NNR. This is the second occurrence in the last 4 months.
DEFRA has been informed and will make an assessment if they will attend and remove the potentially affected birds for testing. This could take up to four days. If we have not received anything from DEFRA by Monday morning, it will be NRW’s responsibility to have the dead birds removed.
One dead swan is on the island of Monk’s Lagoons, one is partly hidden in reeds at the lagoon edge and one is in reeds/water between Monk’s and Prior’s. Please report any other dead swans or birds direct to DEFRA at:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/report-dead-wild-birds

and also to NRW incident line:
0300 065 3000 24 hours a day or online at –
https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/NU2VYV/

Signage is already in place on site advising those in the area.

Main sighting: Black Redstart

One on private ABP property near South Dock.

Main sighting: Twite

There was a single twite perched on the ground as we crossed the meadow, just above the footbridge just above the small river (Clydach). We had just passed the isolated house (Nantllanerch). The bird may not have been very healthy – we could walk up to it without it flying away.

Main sighting: Lapwing & Starlings

Viewing from Goldcliff towards the reserve 1530 – 1630 hrs, 2 marsh harriers hunting at dusk but spectacular numbers of starlings over the reserve, 2 murmerations, probably in excess of 10,000 birds, also belated report from New Years day of 2,000 lapwing west of reserve.

Main sighting: Short eared owl

1400 – 1500 hrs, Viewing west from the Goldcliff seawall to the wetlands, I spotted a juvenile marsh harrier quartering near Saltmarsh lane, then Jan spotted a large bird resting on the field @ 200 metres south of the Red Barn hide, as soon as we scoped it, we were amazed to have a short eared owl, it took flight after 15 mins and disappeared towards the woodland.. Great start to the new year.