Sightings

Main sighting: Ruff

18:05-20:40 A male Ruff in smart plumage remnant of ruff remaining Common Sandpiper 1 Snipe 4 Little Ringed Plover 2 Ringed Plover 2 also Dunlin Black-tailed Godwit Oystercatcher Redshank Curlew Lapwing, and a large flock of Black-headed Gulls several l hundred. Other: Ruddy Darter 1 Blue-tailed Damselfly 1 Gatekeeper 6 lots of Meadow Browns.

Main sighting: Mediterranean Gulls

1 Mediterranean Gull at sudbrook, 2 on shore just east of black rock and at least two probably more with flock of black-headed gull feeding on flying insects over black rock

Main sighting: Mediterranean Gull

This afternoon near smaller jetty between sudbrook and black rock 1 Mediterranean Gull. This morning under second Severn crossing pair of shelduck with 23 young.

Main sighting: Whinchat and barn owl

0550 – 0900. 45 species seen, highlights included 2 blackcaps, pheasant and green woodpecker on the way in. Hide one – male whinchat showing briefly. Redshank platform – 3 reed warblers in the near reeds, 4th bird singing close by, also 2 common whitethroats there with 2 more seen further along, 44 lapwing, 2 shelduck, 5 oystercatchers, 2 little ringed plovers, 3 herons, 5 redshanks only, 6 teal (some in eclipse plumage), linnets, 2 skylarks singing, sedge warbler in the near reeds, 1 adult cormorant and later a fly-by of 5 juveniles. Seawall – reed buntings, 17 curlew, 300+ black headed gulls, 17 swallows aerial feeding over the lagoon and a female marsh harrier sat on the ground in the saltings. Hide three – 32 dunlin, 6 ringed plovers, 1 little egret, kestrel, barn owl hunting for about 5 mins (0757hrs), 11 mute swans, 14 black-tailed godwits and a meadow pipit. Other: Large skippers, meadow browns, gatekeepers, large whites, 1 painted lady, 2 male common darters and a large female dragonfly (tbc).

Main sighting: Help

Has anyone sighted what I can only describe as a great white egret, but with totally black plumage, long sharp completely yellow bill, cardiff side of wentloog. Humbolts heron is nearest I can get, nothing missing from Slimbridge.

Main sighting: Marsh Harrier

Four sightings of Marsh Harriers this morning all at different times.The first was an adult female,later a juvenile female,then a juvenile male and again an adult female.Probably the same bird as appeared first.Lots of Ringlet butterflies.10h15-12h55

Main sighting: Swift survey

Now that the Swift survey has come to and end will all those taking part please submit their sighting. Please note that if you did not find any Swifts nesting or displaying (screaming) in your patch your record is still important.
Many thanks
Trevor and Mike

Main sighting: Yellow Wagtail

17:05 -20-10 low tide. Male Yellow wagtail on Monks and a flock of 17 Little Ringed Plover on Becs  Kingfisher and two grey Wagtails in the reen by the bridge. also Common Darter Blue-tailed Damselfly.  ?Essex Skipper 1 Meadow Brown 20

Main sighting: Mediterranean gull

0600-0900, hard going in the wind and heavy showers, but highlights included 2 chiffchaffs, 1 common whitethroat and 1 blackcap generally. Hide two – 108 redshanks, skylark singing, 81 lapwing, 7 black-tailed godwits, linnets, 5 oystercatchers, buzzard overhead, kestrel hunting, 5 dunlin only, 2 swifts, cettis calling, little ringed plover with 2 fully grown chicks, male teal, cormorant, 146 black-headed gulls including 5 juveniles, also juvenile Med gull mixed in, 10 ringed plovers, 5 swallows and a sedge warbler in the small reeds near the fence. Hide three – half a mute swan eggshell outside and feather remains of a lesser black-backed gull, 45 mallards, 1 little egret, 46 shelduck and 6 meadow pipits passing. Seawall – very quiet, 5 curlew only. Marsh platform – non-breeding spotted redshank amongst the mallards, 17 mute swans and a fly-past stock dove. Other: several meadow browns and 1 ringlet.

Main sighting: Swifts

Still plenty of Swifts screaming and accessing nesting sites in Usk.

Main sighting: Dabchick

Dabchick – adult in a strange place yesterday evening

Main sighting: Barn Owl

The owl was on a post near the reen. It moved to the next fence post before diving into the long grass. It emerged with its prey and flew low level towards the nearby farm.