Sightings

Main sighting: Swallow

Single swallow over garden Sudbrook

Main sighting: Wheatear

1-Wheatear today,quite a late date for me.12h00.

Main sighting: curlwe

WeBS count 07:30-09:30 Curlew 250 (water levels high so rings could not be seen) Redshank 104 Black-tailed Godwit 9 Dunlin 60 (did not land) Teal 66 Pintail 4 Lapwing 60 (distant) Shoveler 35
Great B/B Gull 1 Common Gull 2 Little Grebe 3 Skylark 10 Fieldfare 12 Redwing30 Stonechat 4 Great Spotted Woodpecker 1.
Also A late Common Darter

Main sighting: Kingfisher

Fishing on small pond at caldicot castle, also seen along the nedern brook

Main sighting: Crossbill and brambling

5 crossbills flying overhead towards the pine copse. Four days ago in the garden (two villages away) a male brambling also.

Main sighting: Woodpigeon

Flocks of Woodpigeons, totalling 1090, east between 0730 and 0830. Very few later. Also 240 Redwings. Another 950 Woodpigeons yesterday between 1330 and 1430, again heading east.

Main sighting: Curlews

At big high tide this morning, about 40 Curlews present, of which seven were carrying colour rings from the 2015/16 catches on the Usk estuary. At the same time at Peterstone, four colour rings from the same catch were observed; one of these birds was seen at two roosts; illustrates survival and site fidelity. At Peterstone there was also a Curlew with a Polish colour ring, already seen here before.
Also at high tide at St Brides: 248 Oystercatchers, 23 Ringed Plovers, 25 Lapwings, 270 Dunlin, 2 Knot, 8 Black-tailed Godwits, 10 Redshanks.

Main sighting: Hooded Crow

Hooded crow on telegraph pole on Raglan side of village about 15.00 today.

Main sighting: Woodpigeon

1074 Woodpigeons flew west in one hour 11:45-12-45 Collard Dove 20 feeding in field Chiffchaff 1. Also Peacock butterfly.

Main sighting: Wheatear

One Wheatear on mountain this am.

Main sighting: Brambling

Two Brambling under my feeders,  20 Linnets and 20-odd Redwing devouring Holly and Hawthorn berries.

Main sighting: Passing Low North to South down Rhymney Valley

Bewick’s Swan (2)
Small swan, fast wing beats with pronounced whistle from wing feathers, no call.
Time 3.30 Cold. Sun .Wind W.
Naked eye only so no bill markings.