Sightings

Main sighting: Hawfinch

Single hawfinch briefly in the garden in Mitchel Troy yesterday, which prompted a quick walk to the churchyard where at least five more birds (four flying from a yew and one perched on top of another yew). Today, at least nine hawfinch in the churchyard, feeding in dense part of a yew, before flying. Making ‘clicking’ type noises, very excited, probably by nearby grey squirrel.

Main sighting: Chiffchaff

Highlights included 1 Chiffchaff (contact call), Water Rail (calling), 1 Cettis (calling), female Sparrowhawk hunting, Redwings and a pair of Great Spotted Woodpeckers feeding. Hide and pool – 1 Little Grebe (male), 4 Mute Swans (cygnets), 15 Teal, 1 Heron, Black Headed Gull and 6 fly-over Canada Geese.

Main sighting: Red Kite

Red Kite seen hunting over M4 between Ridgeway and High Cross Newport at 9-45
this morning

Main sighting: Red Kite

Red Kite seen hunting over M4 between Ridgeway and High Cross Newport at 9-45
this morning

Main sighting: Red Kite

Red Kite hunting over Ridgeway, M4 junction 27 and Highcross Newport at 9-45 am this morning

Main sighting: Lesser spotted woodpecker - male and female

Seen as I got out of car at roadside parking adjacent to Goldcliff hides. I’m as certain as I can be of Id. Both about size of sparrow. Female remained drumming, male flew off towards the reserve. No other birders around unfortunately. Wondering if anyone else has seen them?

Main sighting: Disturbance

There will be some disturbance at Goldcliff Lagoons on Friday, between 11am and 12pm, when I monitor water levels and salinities. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.

Main sighting: Dunlin

High count from the coast path near the lighthouse – 2000 plus dunlin in flight at high tide, largest count here for some time, along with 30 plus grey plover and 120 curlew.
En route to the motorway, a female marsh harrier overhead above the A4810 with buzzard nearby for comparison.

Main sighting: Bean Goose

A Bean Goose and 20 Pink-footed Geese from the seawall hide this morning

Main sighting: Colour ringed Curlew

25 Collard Doves on the roof of Henton Farm Goldcliff. Seawall tea rooms area – 15 Curlew one colour ringed (yellow ring upper right leg, metal ring upper left leg with number 50 on it), Fieldfares and 78 Starlings.

Main sighting: Waders

Red Barn Pool – Gt Spotted Woodpecker drumming, 31 Teal, 3 Pintail (2 male, 1 female), 25 Shoveler, 6 Gadwall, 1 Snipe, Cettis calling, female Marsh Harrier and a female Peregrine that put up 162 Lapwing, she singled 1 out and made multiple twists and short dives but this was one lucky Lapwing.
Boat Lane – 7 Reed Buntings (mostly females), 108 Wigeon, 5 Curlew, 1 Buzzard (light bird), 1 Heron. Seawall – female Peregrine perched on a rock on the saltings, 44 Shoveler, 12 Oystercatchers, 3 Pintail, 5 Shelduck, 4 Dunlin, 26 Redshanks, Black Headed Gulls and a Cettis calling.

Main sighting: Merlin / Bean Goose / Spotted Redshank

Pheasant, Goldcrest, 35 Fieldfares with 8 Redwings mixed in, 131 Starlings, 2 pars Stonechats and 10 Reed Buntings (2 males the rest females). Redshank platform – 25 Teal, 5 Mute Swans, female Kestrel, Spotted Redshank and 3 Little Egrets. Snipe platform – Cettis calling, 3 Cormorants and 8 Meadow Pipits. A Bean Goose was mixed in with 25 Greylags feeding in the grass alongside the hedgerow leading to the seawall (lovely close views). Seawall – 4 Pintail, 4 Grey Plovers and 129 Wigeon. Hide three – 143 more Wigeon, 48 Lapwing, distant views of the female Marsh Harrier and a female Merlin that passed right in front of the hide. No sign of the Barn Owl when I left around 1500hrs.