Sightings

Main sighting: Unusual little stint

Couple of hours at Goldcliff before high tide today. Single greenshank, single green sandpiper, single avocet (juvenile) and two ruff from marsh screen. Also, what was almost certainly a little stint at the back of the lagoon here, associated with a ringed plover. This looked surprisingly elongated, and from the front, the primaries projected a long way behind the bird, to such an extent that they crossed over. It’s a long shot but it looked rather like Baird’s sandpiper. Probably not and too distant to get decent views. Also around were one yellow wagtail, at least 4 whinchat from furthest hide and single wheatear from there. Good numbers of black-tailed godwit and a smattering of knot. Two pintail from furthest hide. Sparrowhawk perched on hedge. I’d be interested to know what others make of the ‘stint’.

Main sighting: unusual stint

I haven’t seen this bird and it might be a Bairds. I have however been in the hides/platforms at Goldcliff and on three separate occasions over a number of years and seen excellent birders look at “long winged” Little Stints and call them as Bairds. It took a little while to persuade them they were Little Stints, Little Stints can look very sleek and long-winged, particularly in hot weather. I suspect it is a form of temperature control???

Main sighting: Wigeon

Two Wigeon on Dunlop Semtex Pond – first of autumn – along with a notable 130 Coot, single Little and Great Crested Grebes plus eight House Martins. Yesterday a female Wood Duck on Machine Pond – not seen today – probably one from the flock at the Festival Park lakes.

Main sighting: Garganey

Just the highlights of a long vigil at Goldcliff today: juvenile Garganey, Little Stint, 2 Green Sandpiper, 1 Greenshank, 1 Ruff, 1 Little Ringed Plover, 25 Pintail, 3 Great Egret, 3 Whinchat, 1 Spotted Flycatcher.

Main sighting: White Wagtail

4-White Wagtails in the field leading to the coast at a cattle feeding spot.Also,at Peterstone Gout 6-adult male Wigeons in eclipse plumage,one was showing its orange forehead coming through.
11h30-13h00.

Main sighting: Kingfisher

Kingfisher, 3 little egrets, grey wagtail

Main sighting: Rose Ringed Parakeet

The Parakeet flew into the Church grounds from a tree next to the the Church hall. Seen several times lately.

Main sighting: Late sightings for Wednesday

Apologies for late sighting, but citrine was still present (1400hrs) from snipe platform, top left exposed mud area. Also of note, single grey plover, 126 black-tailed godwits, lapwing, shoveler, little egret, juv green woodpecker, 2 kestrels, 2 male stonechats and redshanks (Only snipe platform visited). Other: holly blue, speckled wood, small whites, gatekeepers, migrant hawker and common darters.

Main sighting: Hobby

Highlights of 55 species recorded were swift, hobby, little ringed plover, at least 3 whinchat and wheatear including a greenland race, 2 yellow wagtails, kingfisher and sparrowhawk.

Main sighting: Barn owl

Barn owl flying across A4051 just between parkway hotel & rougment roundabout 05:45 this morning
Goshawk drifting north over greenmeadow golf club
Red kite regularly seen around henllys lanes

Main sighting: Ruff

1 ruff among 100 redshank on the gout; also heron, little egret; few hundred BHGs and 200 mallards on the estuary (very high tide), few juv shellduck, and then flock of 100 ringed plover + 50 dunlin; few linnets around; 2 painted lady butterflies

Main sighting: Marsh Harrier

Hightide visit 09:45 Two juvenile Marsh Harrier were quartering the fields at the back of the Golf Club House. Mallard 250 Oystercatcher 42 Ringed Plover 40 Ruff 1 Redshank 167 Dunlin 6 Black-tailed Godwit 7 Knot 2 Common Sandpiper 1 Common Gull 2 Black-headed Gull lots Swallow 20 Sand Martin 3 Jay 1