Sightings

Main sighting: Barn owl

Single barn owl hunting over salt marsh east of black rock at 17:10.

Main sighting: Lesser Redpoll

My first Lesser Redpoll in the garden since March 2021; also Reed Bunting and 3 Brambling under the feeders. At least 4 Lesser Redpoll seen yesterday at Llanbadoc.

Main sighting: Blackcap

Male blackcap on garden feeders in St Julians

Main sighting: Redwings

Small flock of 25 Redwing flying over fields North of Caldicot.

Main sighting: male bullfinch & redpoll

At Stanton on one of the Brynarw house’s was a pied wagtail on the roof. Further along the road travelling north were 2 buzzards ( in different locations ).
Just after Bugle Bridge on the right side of the road on top of the hedge resting on bracken was a male bullfinch. In Llanthony next to the Afon Honddu in the fields were 20 chaffinch.
Near the top of Cwm Bwchel was a blue tit and wren in the bracken and to the left of the path on silver birch trees was a coal tit and 2 treecreepers. In Llanthony wood ( North ) there was a coal tit and Britains smallest bird, a goldcrest flittering around in the conifer tree’s. In hazel tree’s next to Sunnybank was a female and another male bullfinch. 3 bullfinches seen today!.
Finally, coming off the hill below Troed-rhiw mon was a redpoll on short-sized alder tree’s just before the fields, a fairly rare bird for this area.

Main sighting: Goosander

The lake at Drybridge Community Nature Park has been busy with Goodander this week; I saw five birds fly off this morning at ca 1000 when a dog disturbed them, including 2 males, but a pair left earlier, and a single male had arrived, so it was hard to keep track of totals. There were two pairs fishing there on New Years Day at 1000. The barking dog didn’t disturb the Kingfisher!

Main sighting: Blackcap

male blackcap seen in garden in Usk

Main sighting: woodcock

Roding woodcock over Vedw road at 1645 hrs

Main sighting: Barn owls

2 hunting barn owls over salt marsh east of black rock at dusk

Main sighting: marsh harrier

After a quiet start the sun made a brief appearance which woke up a kestral, female peregrine on the seawall, female marsh harrier quartering the seawall from the Wetlands, good views of the pale phase buzzard at the red barn area, a couple of pairs of stonechat, cettis and 3 little egrets in nearby field.
Later at the Bryn Oxbow, red kite, 2 female goosander, 2 grey herons and single egret coming to roost.

Main sighting: Bittern

Bittern seen at 10-20 from path between RSPB centre and Lighthouse overflying reeds and dropping down out of sight
Other birds seen include 2 x Curlew
Cormorant Chaffinch and male Pheasant

Nice start to new year – happy new year to all

Main sighting: Crossbill

4 Crossbill flying over.