Sightings

Main sighting: Cerlews

One pair this morning whistling since 6 oclock

Main sighting: Otter

2 male Reed Bunting , 12 Greenfinch,
2 Little Grebe , 5 Long tailed Tits
Cetti’s Warbler, Chiffchaff, Great Spotted
Woodpecker, Hedge Sparrow
All seen on walk from Cafe to Lighthouse

At first reen on way to lighthouse looking east about 10m out from viewing point I had great views of an OTTER diving, feeding and bobbing around for about 15 mins – brilliant

Main sighting: Spoonbill

Sea wall hide: 1 spoonbill

Main sighting: Siskin

20 siskin feeding in alder trees, kingfisher.

Main sighting: Dipper

A Pair of Dipper collecting nesting material in a stretch of the river Rhymney near Machen. Also, two Grey Wagtails.

Main sighting: Woodcock

Midday vist very quiet until I flushed 2 woodcock the bracken just below the Tumble. First time I have seen them here. Several groups of mixed tits in the valley and a mistle thrush.

Main sighting: Spoonbills and waders

Dawn visit today. Highlights – 9 x Black Tailed Godwits, 12 x Avocets, 2 x Marsh Harriers ( M and F), Brent Goose ( Pale Bellied) , 14 x Redshanks, 1 x peregrine, 2 x Ringed Plover and 15 x Lapwing.
Ducks – Wigeon, Gadwall, Pintail, Teal, Mallard , Shelduck and Shoveler
Skylarks and Reed Buntings all over the place.
There are still Redwings in the hedgerows.
Monks had 13 x Mute Swans and there were two others on Priors Lagoon.
Chiff Chaff head singing in the blossom trees.

Main sighting: Wheatear

Male Wheatear West Pill and also 1 Jack Snipe

Main sighting: Wheatear

Male Wheatear near West Pill plus 1 Jack Snipe flushed.

Main sighting: Wheatear

Male Wheatear at quarries this am.

Main sighting: Chiffchaff

Quick lunchtime walk in Mitchel Troy, both chiffchaff and blackcap singing from scrubby woodland on way up to Mitchel Troy common. This was the same location I heard blackcap a few weeks ago (early February?) Neither singing strongly, but great to hear them anyway.

Main sighting: Common Gull

Afternoon visit with 45 species seen, highlights were 2 Chiffchaffs (contact calls), Pheasant, Stonechat, 21 Redwings with a single Fieldfare mixed in and a male Reed Bunting. Hide one – Shelduck and 2 Curlew (one colour-ringed bird). Redshank platform – Spotted Redshank with 9 Common Redshanks, 29 Lapwing, 1 Little Egret, 26 Teal, 16 Wigeon and a Gt Black-backed Gull over. Seawall – 48 Avocet flew overhead and settled on second lagoon, 2 Common Gull on the foreshore quite close n, 2 Black-tailed Godwits, distant Dunlin, 2 Cormorants and 41 Black Headed Gulls (most with full breeding hoods). Hide three – 279 more Wigeon, 1 Heron, 4 Gadwall, 11 Shoveler, 1 Ringed Plover and a male Marsh Harrier hunting twice. Finally, a pair of Tufted Ducks were from the Snipe platform. Other: Teal feather remains.