Gwent Sightings
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Darryl Spittle Friday 03-Jul-2009 Newport Wetlands - Goldcliff
2 Ruddy Shelduck, 1 Knot, 3+ Green Sandpiper, 1 Hobby and 2 LRP.

Richard May Friday 03-Jul-2009 GLWR Goldcliff
Two ruddy shelduck still present up to when I left around 1430

Tom Chinnick Thursday 02-Jul-2009 Llandegfedd Reservoir
2:45-4:45pm. Water level very high, 1 mobile Redshank, 1 m Pied Flycatcher (Grey individual), 1 Garden Warbler.

Brian Thomas Thursday 02-Jul-2009 Newport Wetlands - Goldcliff
9.30-12.00: 2 ruddy shelduck, barnacle goose, knot, dunlin, black tailed godwit, redshank, peregrine.

Keith Jones Thursday 02-Jul-2009 Wentwood
Walked from Parc Seymour up to Little Oak, east to Cadira Beeches, down west path to Nine Well, completing at the reservoir early morning. Just 41 species noted including 2 ad 2 juv Great Crested Grebe, 1 Cormorant, 2 Mallard, 6 ad 2 juv Coot, 1 Buzzard, 12 Wood Pigeon, 3 Green Woodpecker, 4 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 13 Wren, 2 Tree Pipit, 1 Common Whitethroat, 12 Blackcap, 2 Garden Warbler, 1 Wood Warbler, 6 Willow Warbler, 11 Chiffchaff, 1 female Common Redstart, 4 Marsh Tit, 23 Coal Tit, 1 Tree Creeper, 3 Siskin, 1 Redpoll, 5 Crossbill, 1 male Bullfinch, 1 Jay, 2 Raven etc.

Keith Jones Wednesday 01-Jul-2009 Goldcliff Lagoons
A walk early morning to the foreshore produced 46 species including 3 Grey Heron, 1 Little Egret, 1 Barnacle Goose, 52 Shelduck, 4 Wigeon, 42 Teal, 74 ad 4 fl Mallard, 2 Pheasant, 1 Oystercatcher, 22 Avocet, 60 Black Tailed Godwit, 50 ad 2 juv Lapwing, 54 Common Redshanks, 1 Spotted Redshanks (Summer Plumage), 6 Knot, 8 Dunlin, 1 Green Sandpiper, 16 Curlew, 50 Black Headed Gull, 1 Stock Dove, 5 Reed Warbler, 1 Blackcap, etc.

Keith Jones Tuesday 30-Jun-2009 GLWR Uskmouth
Just got back from a weeks holiday in Great Yarmouth. Did a little birding, Egyptian Geese, Marsh Harriers, Common and Little Terns etc aplenty. Walked around Uskmouth lagoons early morning sighting 51 species including 16 ad 13 juv Little Grebe, 5 ad 3 juv Great Crested Grebe (3 broods), 6 Little Egret, 6 ad 3 juv Mute Swan, 9 Canada Geese, 3 Shelduck, 64 Mallard, 8 ad 18 juv in 5 broods Tufted Duck, 1 female Pochard, 2 Water Rail, 27 Moorhen, 28 ad 22 juv Coot, 24 Curlew, 2 Green Woodpecker, 1 Cuckoo, 1 Kingfisher, 15 Wren, 33 Reed Warbler, 13 Sedge Warbler, 10 Cetti’s Warbler, 1 Garden Warbler, 6 Blackcap, 5 Common Whitethroat, 4 Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Stonechat, 1 Willow Warbler, 4 Chiffchaff, 10 Goldfinch, 28 Greenfinch, 14 Reed Bunting, 1 Raven etc.

Nigel Garside Tuesday 30-Jun-2009 Peterstone Gout
Summer plumage Spotted Redshank in pill at low tide. Also 3 Common Sandpiper, 3 Whimbrel, 65 Lapwing, Cuckoo calling from golf course and 2 juvenile Lesser Whitethroat.

tony & jan jenkins Monday 29-Jun-2009 Chepstow
At around 1900hrs yesterday evening along the riverbank, a peregrine first heard then seen trying to gain height whilst holding a fresh kill. The prey had a long tail and then we realised it was a large rat ! Has anyone else had similar observations ?

Tara Okon Monday 29-Jun-2009 Newport Wetlands - Uskmouth
Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Chaffinch, Reed Bunting, Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Cetti's Warbler, Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, Blackcap, Wren, Robin, Dunnock, Great Tit, Swallow, Swift, House Martin, Magpie, Wood Pigeon, Tufted Duck, Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Moorhen, Coot, Little Egret, Grey Heron, Black-headed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Kestrel, Buzzard, Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Cormorant, Curlew, Shelduck. Hobby also reported.

Holly Monday 29-Jun-2009 B&Q Roundabout Cwmbran
Hobby feeding from its talons in flight, heading up towards Police College direction. As it struggled with the weight it was carrying to ascend it spread (like a fan) its wings and tail feathers never noticed that before!?

Tony McGowan Sunday 28-Jun-2009 Blaen Bran Res., Upper Cwmbran
Along the level path above res. 2 pairs of Redstarts feeding young,Spotted Flycatcher,Grey Wagtail,Redpoll(f),Reed Bunting,family of Wheatears, Whinchat(m only ) Tree Pipits.Butterflies inc. Comma but no sign of Green Hairstreak. Constant noise from motorbikes and Quadbikes and dogs.

Eddie Wang Sunday 28-Jun-2009 Peterstone Gout
12:15-13:15 - high tide. 2 Common Sandpipers and 1 Black-tailed Godwit on the Gout

Chris Jones Sunday 28-Jun-2009 Goldcliff Pools
Garganey in front of the 1st viewing platform at lunch time today with 10 Shoveler. Also 40 Teal and 2 eclipse male Wigeon on the 3rd lagoon. Otherwise just small numbers of Redshank and Dunlin.

Steve Williams Saturday 27-Jun-2009 Garn yr erw, nr Blaenavon
Walk in the Garn yr erw - Hills Pit area produced at least four singing Reed Bunting, 2 reeling Grasshopper Warbler, 2 Snipe, 1 Heron and good numbers of Linnet, Meadow Pipit and Skylark. Dragonflies included, Golden Ringed, Broad bodied and Four Spotted Chaser, and an Emperor. Finally a nice ground beetle Bembidion illigeri (see coleopterist website for pic).

John Bennett Saturday 27-Jun-2009 Usk
Yellow wagtail in flight just south of Usk . First I’ve seen there this year ?

Roger Price Thursday 25-Jun-2009 Peterstone Wentlooge
9.30am surprise- 25 Manx down channel with easterly tail wind.Also, return of regular species: 560 BH Gulls,102 Lapwing, 110 Mallard,2 Widgeon,110 Shelduck,146 Curlew, 2 Whimbrel, 30 Redshank,1 Kestrel,1 imm. male Peregrine,many Swallows.

Timberbear Thursday 25-Jun-2009 LEECHPOOL HOLDINGS
Final young Barn Owl ringed by Denis Jackson. Four young developing well. Parents seen most nights hunting around fields.

mark davies Wednesday 24-Jun-2009 Llanwenarth
A pair of sandpipers with at least 3 chicks on riverbank this evening

Mal Jenkins Wednesday 24-Jun-2009 Pontypool Golf Course
Red Kite over this evening, headed down hill towards town.

Mike Jackson Wednesday 24-Jun-2009 Blorenge
To Jackie H and Mal Jenkins, thanks very much for your response'. At first I thought the bird was a Peregrine but the underparts looked very busy with dark markings. 4 hours later when I returned to the car park at Foxhunter I saw the bird (same bird?) again and it appeared more sickle shaped in the wing and seemed to be feeding from its talons. Unfortunately I had no point of reference to indicate the size and I could not see any red markings underneath. My gut-feeling is that it probably was a hobby. I supose the first sighting could have been peregrine and the second a hobby!? One of those where you just need one more look!

Ed Stevens Wednesday 24-Jun-2009 Caldicot Castle Country Park
Late morning a red kite flying over the grounds of Caldicot castle being mobbed by a lesser black backed gull.

Luke Phillips Tuesday 23-Jun-2009 Newport Wetlands
07:00 USKMOUTH: at least 9 Bearded tit showed very well, but it was very interesting that most of the birds seen were Juvs. Also 2 Whimbrel were with the Curlew flock on the saltmarsh and 3 Lesser Whitethroat showed well at Farmfield Lane. GOLDCLIFF: Very quiet, just usual waders and not alot else!

Jackie H Monday 22-Jun-2009 FAO Mike Jackson
Hi Mike I live near the Blorenge and we see at least one Hobby every year, usually chasing dragonflies near the Keeper's Pond. Went up this morning and surprised to hear a Cuckoo still calling.

Tara Okon Monday 22-Jun-2009 Newport Wetlands - Uskmouth
Peregrine Falcon, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Cetti's Warbler, Magpie, Wood Pigeon, Tufted Duck, Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Pochard, Moorhen, Coot, Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Swallow, Swift, Cormorant, Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Little Egret.

Maurice Chown Monday 22-Jun-2009 Nr Began Farm -
2 Green Sandpipers this morning on small pool close to the road from Old St Mellons to Cefn Mably. (Approx 50 metres inside Gwent) Assumed to be very early migrants.

chris west, julie west and digger. Sunday 21-Jun-2009 Oxbow and R Usk, Gobion
2.00pm. Little ringed plover and chick. Red tractor drove across river and through nesting site! Two groups of 6 goosander. 3 buzzard, pied wagtail,curlew, GBB gull feeding on large fish, kingfisher, 8 common sandpiper, swift, sand martin, house martin.

Mal Jenkins Sunday 21-Jun-2009 Blorenge
Hi Mike, I was at the Blorenge yesterday too. I saw one falcon, but from behind, which came off the relay tower next to the car park, probably a Kestrel. Hobby do occasionally venture up there so you may have seen one. Red Grouse not seen but several breast feathers found. A possible Red Kite way over in the distance, too far to confirm it's ID even with binos but it felt right for one. Male Stonechat, many Meadow Pipits and Skylark. Single Buzzard and LBB Gull.

tony & jan jenkins Sunday 21-Jun-2009 Oxbow and R Usk, Gobion
Late afternoon visit produced, 2 sightings of hobby soaring high, 3 buzzards, several pairs of common sands plus one gathering of 6, 2 moorhen, grey heron, 9 adult mute swans, a juvenile sparrowhawk swooping through a sand martin colony but unsuccesful and goosander with 5 young.

Mike Jackson Sunday 21-Jun-2009 Blorenge
My first time at Blorenge, but red grouse stayed out of site. But dark falcon seen twice appeared to be a Hobby, but lack of good observation could have mis-identified a Peregrine - what is the chance of Hobby on these uplands? Please respond. Otherwise, on lower slopes Whinchat were numerous, as were Tree Pipit and two families of Redstart with very young juveniles showing well. Also a few Stonechats. The point of travelling 50 miles from Bristol was to target three "red" birds, but Red Grouse did not happen and Red Kite were amazingly absent - is this normal? Anyway, great site and I will be back!

mark davies Sunday 21-Jun-2009 Abergavenny
Red kite over Nevill Hall Hospital this afternoon

Steve Williams Sunday 21-Jun-2009 Tirpentwys LNR
Curlew overhead, 3 singing Tree Pipit, Linnet, Redpoll, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Nuthatch.

Keith Jones Saturday 20-Jun-2009 Bulmore Lakes
Out of action over the last few weeks with a minor injury, but walked early morning from the lakes back to Caerleon along the Bulmore Road to complete summer atlas. Just 45 species noted including breeding Great Crested Grebe, Mute Swan, Canada Geese, Coot, Reed Warbler,. Also seen 6 Cormorant, 1 Little Grebe, 12 Mallard, 3 Tufted Duck, 14 Wren, 5 Dunnock, 12 Reed Warbler, 5 Blackcap, 3 Common Whitethroat, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Willow Warbler, 4 Chiffchaff, 5 Reed Bunting, 1 female Bullfinch. The highlight of the morning however was a single mole observed for a good five minutes feeding on earth worms exposed along surface of metalled road.

Nicholas Beswick Friday 19-Jun-2009 hafod road,brynmawr
A nocturnal walk yielded 15 Glowworms between Pen-y-Lan Fach and Ty-yn-y-Coed, a quarter of the number two years ago but still good to see

mick bailey Friday 19-Jun-2009 Bettws
(I take this Bettws to mean the Newport housing estate.) I only go there for Atlas visits, but was disappointed to find no Garden Warblers this time. When doing the GOS atlas, I had several on the steep wooded hillside overlooking the rugby club. Did I just miss them or have they gone? However, highlight of day was a Hobby chasing rather sparse House Martins over field behind the shopping centre.

Tom Chinnick Friday 19-Jun-2009 Goldcliff Point
7:40-8:45pm. 1 Razorbill down channel @ 7:45, 3 Fulmar, 14+ Manx Shearwater up.

John Bennett Friday 19-Jun-2009 Wentwood
3 Crossbills in flight and perched briefly and plenty of the expected species.

Roo Perkins Friday 19-Jun-2009 Pentwyn
Local walk just west of Pentwyn/Pentrepiod - nice to see local singing Yellowhammer (2) and Tree pipit (2), plenty of Willow warbler, Chiffchaff and also a singning Garden warbler. Butterflies were limited due to wind and mostly dull conditions - 20+ Common blue, Small heath and a couple of Meadow brown. Two Broad-bodied Chaser dragonflies and a few Common Spotted Orchids.

Tara Okon Thursday 18-Jun-2009 Newport Wetlands - Uskmouth
Little Owl, Kestrel, Buzzard, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, House Sparrow, Reed Bunting, Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Cetti's Warbler, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Wood Pigeon, Feral Pigeon, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Cormorant, Little Grebe, Coot, Tufted Duck, Mallard, Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Little Egret, Grey Heron, Swift, Swallow, House Martin.

Nathan Casburn Thursday 18-Jun-2009 Goldcliff Point
Plenty of Manx Shearwaters this evening.Must of been 80-100 birds over an hour and half of watching.All Mid Channel.Also 1 Fulmar.

Steve Williams Wednesday 17-Jun-2009 Llandegfedd Reservoir
Quick visit between showers produced the usual bag of breeding wildfowl. Canada goose flock of over 100, and judging by the amount of discarded primary feathers are well into moult. Other birds of note include singing sedge warbler and kingfisher. Many thousands of Common spotted and southern marsh orchid with adders tongue fern still showing. Also a rather letharic hornet.

Ian Smith and LEARN students Wednesday 17-Jun-2009 Wentwood
Tuesday evening under clear skies: From 9:55 Nightjars singing in at least five locations either side of the road between Cadira Beeches, the Forestry cottages to the SE and the Ninewells to Five Paths area. Woodcocks roaming whole area. Common Pipistrelles throughout and one Glowworm illuminated.

Ian Smith Wednesday 17-Jun-2009 Osbaston, Monmouth
10:58 Hobby over garden

Lyndon Gwillym Sunday 14-Jun-2009 abergavenny sports centre
Single red kite being attacked by two crows above sports centre,5.45 pm. Attracted a good crowd of centre users

Tara Okon Sunday 14-Jun-2009 Newport Wetlands - Uskmouth
Bullfinch, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Reed warbler, Sedge Warbler, Cetti's Warbler, Reed Bunting, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Herring Gull, Curlew, Shelduck, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Little Grebe, Mute Swan, Grey Heron, Carrion Crow, Magpie, Wood Pigeon, Green Woodpecker heard, Swallow, Swift.

Tara Okon Sunday 14-Jun-2009 Newport Wetlands - Goldcliff
Avocet, Dunlin, Lapwing, Ringed Plover, Black-tailed Godwit, Redshank, Knot (with only 1 leg), Oystercatcher, Little Egret, Grey Heron, Shelduck, Tufted Duck, Pochard, Shoveler, Mallard, Little Grebe, Cormorant, Wood Pigeon, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Blackbird, Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, Blue Tit, Reed Warbler, Pied Wagtail, Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Cormorant, Swallow, House Martin, Sand Martin, Swift, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Coot.

Roo Perkins Sunday 14-Jun-2009 Blorenge
Llanfoist path - 5 singing Tree Pipit and 2 Meadow Pipit for comparison, male Whinchat and a few Small Heath. Keepers Pond - just Large Red and Common Blue Damselflies. Car park at south by path up to Punch Bowl (Gorfydd?) - 7 Whincaht including 5 males and 2 females carrying food, also 1 Tree Pipit. Also today Bombus monticola bumblebee. Pentrepiod area at home - Dingy Slipper, Large Skipper, Small Heath, Common Blue, Painted Lady (cant find a local Brown Argus - they were here last year); Siskins with young at the garden feeders but best of all a stunning Elephant Hawkmoth in the moth trap this morning.

Steve Williams Sunday 14-Jun-2009 Coity Pond, Blaenavon
Early morning walk around the pond produced a single Green Sandpiper,1 Snipe, 1 Coot, several Reed Bunting, male Stonechat, and a family of Mallard. Butterlies included Common Blue, Small Heath, Painted Lady and Dingy Skipper.

Ian Smith Friday 12-Jun-2009 Osbaston, Monmouth
House Marin numbers appear well down this year, but a Hobby still mae an appearance over the garden at 13:17 on Thursday.

John Davies Thursday 11-Jun-2009 Gobion
7 Common Sandpiper, 2 families of Great spotted Woodpecker with young (2 & 3) 2 Kingfishers, Linnet, Fairly good numbers of Sand Martin. Some nest had been washed out with the recent rise in river levels but still lots of activity. Lots of Pied and Grey Wagtails with fledglings. Hobby, Sparrowhawk, Little Egret, Spotted Flycatcher. Worth a visit.

David Fisher & Mike Powell Thursday 11-Jun-2009 wentwood forest
Two male & two female Nightjars present. At one time a male was in the air with both the females. One showed very well on song perch & in hover display to both observers, the other was heard only. At least three roding Woodcock overhead off an on for 3/4 of an hour. Take a good insect repellent!!

chris hurn Thursday 11-Jun-2009 GLWR Goldcliff
avocet with two chicks this morning also little tern on the island

Ed Stevens Thursday 11-Jun-2009 Sudbrook
This afternoon watched a hobby for over half an hour hunting over saltmarsh and papermill yard at Sudbrook, including using papermill roof as a look out point

John Bennett Thursday 11-Jun-2009 Wentwood
Nightjars and Woodcock present on Tuesday showing from 9:30 near ninewells . For Friday's walk be mindful that this is the midge season so cover up well . Also a few Bats about so if anyone has a Bat detector bring it along .If we are quiet we may see some Deer.Hopefully the weather will be OK .

Tara Okon Wednesday 10-Jun-2009 Newport Wetlands - Uskmouth
Little Owl, Cuckoo, Bearded Tit 7, Kestrel, Buzzard, Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, Blackcap, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Cetti's Warbler, Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Reed Bunting, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Wren, Robin, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Wood Pigeon, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Moorhen, Coot, Little grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Pochard, Shelduck, Curlew, Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Swift, Swallow, House Martin, Great Spotted Woodpecker.

chris west, julie west and digger. Tuesday 09-Jun-2009 Llanwenarth
2.00pm pair of very noisy and aggressive curlew, pair goosander and 3 chicks, 3 buzzard, 3 common sandpiper, sand martin++, swift,

Nathan Casburn Tuesday 09-Jun-2009 Goldcliff Pools
Highlights were 5 Whimbrel,4 Grey Plover,and 9 Knot.

Tara Okon Tuesday 09-Jun-2009 Newport Wetlands - Uskmouth
Little Owl, Kestrel, Whitethroat, Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Chiffchaff,Reed Bunting, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Pochard, Shelduck, Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant, Little Egret, Grey Heron, Magpie, Wood Pigeon, Balckbird, Song Thrush, Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Swallow, House Martin, Swift.

chris hurn Monday 08-Jun-2009 GLWR Goldcliff
good veiws hobby flying over the island . one very small avocet chick with adult on island

John Davies Sunday 07-Jun-2009 Gobion
7 Common Sandpiper, 1 Green Sandpiper, Peregrine, 3 Great spots, Reed Bunting, Little Egret.

Ed Stevens Saturday 06-Jun-2009 Sudbrook
This evening flock of well over 200 swift feeding over Sudbrook.

timberbear Saturday 06-Jun-2009 Leechpool, Portskewett
Male and female Barn Owl feeding four chicks in the box. Recently ringed by BTO ringer.

Lee Parsons Friday 05-Jun-2009 Brynithel/Black Barn
Not a sighting more of an appeal, if anyone knows someone who has lost or had a Peacock stolen, it can be found roaming the mountain and forestry between Brynithel and Black Barn, Pantygasseg !

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