Gwent Sightings

Forum Most Recent Submit Sightings 2010 2009 All Sightings

Steve Williams Thursday 31-Dec-2009 Bryn Bach Park Most waterbodies in the Brynmawr/Ebbw Vale area remain frozen, the only open water was at Bryn Bach Park where an area of about 50X50 metres supported 100+ Coot, simliar number of Mallard, 6 Mute Swan, 3 Tufted Duck and 4 Moorhen. Also Black Headed Gull sporting a foreign ring. Nicholas Beswick Thursday 31-Dec-2009 mynydd llangattock Red Kite over the east end of the mountain in late afternoon. A good 'last bird' for the year! Roo Perkins Thursday 31-Dec-2009 Goldcliff Spot Redshank still present, otherwise very quiet, no sign of little or short-eared owl :-( Happy NY everyone. mark davies Thursday 31-Dec-2009 Llanwenarth Pair of bullfinch and a goldcrest in field opposite church - also at least 10 meadow pipits and a stonechat . Further up the lane in field on right 60+ redwings and a couple of fieldfares Ed Stevens Thursday 31-Dec-2009 Sudbrook Mid afternoon a female black redstart in trees along edge of Sudbrook paper mill seen from sea wall along salt marsh Mike Warburton Thursday 31-Dec-2009 Ebbw Vale College Male Goshawk having a half hearted go at a Carrion Crow at 10am this morning.Was driving so couldnt stop to watch. Happy New Year everyone! Mike Powell Thursday 31-Dec-2009 Cwm Red Kite over Cwm, Ebbw Vale in lousy conditions yesterday. Roo Wednesday 30-Dec-2009 Pontypool Garden: Brambling (5), Siskin (3), Bulfinch (2), Greenfinch (10), Chaffinch (80+), Blackcap (fem), GS pecker (male), Nuthatch (2), Treecreeper (1), Blue tit (6), Great tit (4), Coal tit (6), Dunnock, Wren, Robin, B/bird (12), S Thrush, Jay (5), Magpie, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove; Craig - share the Redpoll or Im sending round my trained Goshawk! matt osbourne Tuesday 29-Dec-2009 Goldcliff greenshank on first lagoon Mathew Meehan Tuesday 29-Dec-2009 Newport Wetlands RSPB Birds of note at the reserve yesterday included, 1 Spotted Redshank, 1 Greenshank and a Chiffchaff @ Goldcliff. A single Avocet was on the estuary towards the river mouth, and a Marsh Harrier was also sighted, along with a Little Owl in tree adjacent to the copse. 2 Lesser Redpoll's in trees in the car park, and there was 1 female Bearded Tit from the dead-end screen by the light house. Phil Monday 28-Dec-2009 Goldcliff Pools (Gwent Levels) Large numbers of Wildfowl roosting on the pools and grassland at 2.30pm included Canada Geese,Mallard,Gadwall,Shoveler,Wigeon,Teal,Coot,Mute Swans, one Barnacle Goose spotted among the Canada Geese. Nicholas Beswick Monday 28-Dec-2009 hafod farm,brynmawr Red Kite over, heading east, mobbed by two Jackdaws John O'Sullivan Monday 28-Dec-2009 Pen y Lan From the lay bys above Bassaleg school. In the fields down towards the M4 60 Lapwing, 11 Golden Plover. In the stubble field to the north 40 plus Reed Bunting. Usually these fields have a small flock of yellowhammer (10 plus). I have never seen reed bunting here before. Craig Constance&Little Dai Monday 28-Dec-2009 newport docks 1-4pm. Dirt track leading to foreshore.5 Ruff(1 colour ringed male and 1 female).1 Green Sand,10 Redshank,1 Common Sand feeding on river bank and 1 adult male Merlin hunting low over fields.On the tip itself hundreds of large Gulls in feeding frenzy, I could not pick out any white winged Gulls but did find a strange adult Herring type.I have posted pics on bird forum,Bird Identification Q&A under Gull spp.South Wales. Nathan Casburn Monday 28-Dec-2009 Llandegfedd Reservoir Iceland Gull for a few minutes this afternoon off Fishermans Car Park before flying Off towards Green Pool Area. Bryn & Ros Burgess Monday 28-Dec-2009 Goldcliff Lagoons Birds of note 1 Greenshank & 1 Spotted Redshank. chris hurn Monday 28-Dec-2009 sunflowers late this evening. barn owl hunting over sunflower field Birder Monday 28-Dec-2009 Portskewett Gray Wagtail taking meal worms, back garden Mal Jenkins Sunday 27-Dec-2009 Trevethin, Pontypool Hi Ian Re The white Buzzard. This bird, or a similar one, has been seen in and around Pontypool for many years, usually near the park. Good to know it's still about. Mal Roo Sunday 27-Dec-2009 Pontypool/ Pentrepiod Blackcap, a female on a feeder just outside the window was great, also still a few Brambling with 20-30 Chaffinch, Greenfinch - 4 first calendar year + 2 adults (family group?). Mike Warburton Saturday 26-Dec-2009 Newtown,Ebbw Vale A walk up to and around the top feeder (Carn Y Cefn)produced,Gulls,2 Buzzard,Kestrel,Raven,C Crow with the highlight being a Kingfisher fishing in the thawed edge of the little pond at the end of the Long Feeder. Craig Constance Saturday 26-Dec-2009 (Various) 11-1pm.Newport Docks,dirt track that leads to the river mouth and foreshore. 50 Lapwing,3 Ruff(1 female),2 Golden Plover,2 Common Snipe,prob 1000+Starling,35+Redwing,2 Fieldfare,200+Blackheaded Gull,6 Common Gull and 4 Little Egret in one field!(flooded on left).No large Gulls on tip. Ynys-y-fro 1.30pm I was not able to gain access different lock? Had a scan but nothing of note.Llandegfedd Res 2-4pm with Nathan Casburn, 10 Golden Eye(1 male),9 Goosander and good numbers of Teal and Wigeon. Roo Saturday 26-Dec-2009 Pontypool / Pentrepiod At last a Siskin in the garden, also 4+ Brambling, but in general bird numbers dropped rapidly compared to Christmas eve. Ian Meyrick Friday 25-Dec-2009 Pontypool Park While walking the dog in Pontypool Park around 3 pm I saw what I'm pretty sure was a white buzzard (not just pale - all over snowy white). It was in a tree along with one of the more common buzzards, then flew off out of the park. I saw it previously on 13th Dec - same area. Nicholas Beswick Thursday 24-Dec-2009 Llanover 50 Lapwings over in two flocks, heading towards Cwmbran timberbear Thursday 24-Dec-2009 LEECHPOOL HOLDINGS Grey Plover seen with approx 30 lapwings in fields behind holding. Most fields have large numbers of lapwings, fieldfare and Redwing. 3 Bramblin and 7 Redpoll feeding on sacrificial crops in our own feild, only problem is that the resident Sparrowhawk is very busy enjoying the rich pickings! David Hathaway Thursday 24-Dec-2009 Crumlin Woods Blackcap cock in tree tops. Pair goldcrest . 4 or 5 pairs of mating Robins,I assume the hens will now disappear until March. I have not seen any bramblings up here either. Lots of greenfinches and goldies on feeders. Sam Bosanquet Thursday 24-Dec-2009 Dingestow Court Another 39 & 16 Lapwing south-west at lunchtime. Still not more than a trickle of migrants. Simon Harrison Thursday 24-Dec-2009 Coed Eva, Cwmbran On the feeders in the garden today : 12 Goldfinch, 1 Dunnock, 2 Greenfinch. Craig - keep an eye on birdguides for me when I'm in Brighton. Sam - Your neighbours must be Val & Dennis Jackson? Merry Xmas All :) Craig Constance Thursday 24-Dec-2009 Pontypool/Tranch In garden today,10 Lesser Redpoll ,7 Siskin,3 Greenfinch,7 Chaffinch and no Brambling. Roo Thursday 24-Dec-2009 Pontypool 105 Chaffinch, garden record, with still 6 Brambling and 3 Greenfinch (sad to see so few). Craig - ta for info, have 3 feeders of sunflowers out, siskin love em, but never had a redpoll, will keep my fingers croosed. We live in Pentrepiod, Pontnewynydd area, near where Gypsy lane meets "zion hill". Sam Bosanquet Thursday 24-Dec-2009 Dingestow Court 20 Lapwing south-west over Dingestow Court Garden at 10:00 am today. Cold-weather movements continue, but very slowly - I've spent 5 hours looking skyward (off & on) over the last 4 days and only had these Lapwings & yesterday's Goldies. Barry Ingram Wednesday 23-Dec-2009 Caldicot Driving from Rogiet to Caldicot, a small flock of lapwing flew over the road from the field on the left (nearest the M48) to the field on the right.I've never seen them here before, driven inland by the weather perhaps? A very merry Christmas to all contributors and a happy new year. Sam Bosanquet Wednesday 23-Dec-2009 Dingestow Court Flock of 20 Golden Plover south-west over Dingestow Court garden at 12:20pm - brightened up rather slow sledging in the field behind the house. Otherwise pretty quiet in the frozen Dingestow area: 1 Reed Bunting in game crop yesterday, 1 Snipe from a stream on Monday, and 30 Yellowhammers on pheasant feeders today. Verity Picken Wednesday 23-Dec-2009 Llangybi area Seeing something large flying close past the kitchen window I glanced out to see a Goshawk pounce on a rabbit in the snow. No Bramblings today but 16 Blackbirds together under the feeders yesterday. Craig Constance Tuesday 22-Dec-2009 Pontypool/Tranch In reply to Roo.Sun flower hearts only.Also attracted Linnet in the past.I worked today so no garden sightings.What area in Pontypool do you live? Steve Williams Tuesday 22-Dec-2009 Ponthir Reservoir Todays count included, 1 Gadwall, 21 Tufted Duck, 3 Cormorant, 3 Coot, 1 redhead Goosander, 1 Great Crested Grebe and a single Meadow Pipit. Roo Tuesday 22-Dec-2009 Pontypool 6 Brambling with 100+ Chaffinch, but only 3 Greenfinch still. Lovely view was GS w/pecker, nuthatch and male brambling feding together on the bird table. Robin taken to fed on the nut holder looks odd. Craig - what do you put out to bring in the Redpoll? Never had one in the garden. Malcolm Appleton Tuesday 22-Dec-2009 Caerleon Alot of activity around feeders in the garden lately. Most noteworthy being Blackcap (m), the day before that had Bullfinch (2m 1f)& G S Woodpecker (f). Good numbers of House Sparrow but no other finches seen for ages. Lyn Waters Monday 21-Dec-2009 pye corner/whitson road Barn Owl flying over at 5.30pm. roger jenkins Monday 21-Dec-2009 Abertillery Birds in garden today included greenfinch,chaffinch,goldfinch, brambling,bullfinch,siskin,dunnock,blackbird,coal tit,blue tit, house sparrow,starling,collared dove and jackdaw. Nigel Garside Monday 21-Dec-2009 Peterstone Wentlooge White-fronted Goose and a Greylag Goose with small flock of Canada Geese on mudflats. Black Redstart on sea-wall at end of path from village. Craig Constance Monday 21-Dec-2009 Pontypool/Tranch 20 Lesser Redpoll in garden now.New record for garden today.(not Gay ha) Craig Constance Monday 21-Dec-2009 Pontypool/Tranch 20 Lesser Redpoll in garden now.New record for my garden.gay Keith Jones Monday 21-Dec-2009 Moorings Fields Newport Walked a loop of the River Usk south of Chichester Close hour after high-tide this morning, this produced a count of 30 species including 1 Grey Heron, 13 Canada Geese, 28 Wigeon, 28 Teal, 20 Mallard, 74 Lapwing, 7 Common Redshanks, 1 Common Sandpiper, 3 Common Snipe, 15 Black Headed Gull, 7 Herring Gull, 3 Meadow Pipit, 1 singing Cetti’s Warbler, 2 Reed Bunting. count of 30 species including Verity Picken Monday 21-Dec-2009 Llangybi area Two Bramblings joined the 30-odd Chaffinches in the garden today; Greenfinch numbers, as elsewhere, are low - c.6. Thirty Lapwing flew along the ridge this morning - an unusual sighting up here; one in the field two days ago was only my third record. Ed Stevens Monday 21-Dec-2009 Black Rock Late morning 3 probably 4 water pipits and 1 rock pipit with meadow pipit along shore just East of Black Rock. Early afternoon 6 brambling under feeders in garden at Sudbrook Roo Monday 21-Dec-2009 Pontypool Still no Siskin, but the snow has brought in 3 Brambling with the 65 Chaffinches (2 male and one fem). Only 3 Greenfinches which is worrying and one of the chaffinches seems very sluggish and puffed up. Other birds, GS pecker, 2 Nuthatch, treecreeper, 5 Jay, 8 B/birds, 3 Crows and a Raven which looked huge on the lawn! r.e. Siskin over the year, we had breeding birds around until the start of Sept and then they vanished, no sightings late sept to now, i guess the pine crop is good? last year had 3 or 4 by now but numbers didnt pick up until Feb. Craig Constance Monday 21-Dec-2009 Pontypool/Tranch Big rise in bird numbers on feeders today.11 Redpoll(1 returning ringed male),3 Siskin,1 male Brambling,8 Chaffinch,10 Goldfinch,2 Greenfinch and 1 female Great-spotted Woodpecker so far.I love being snowed in from work! Nicholas Beswick Sunday 20-Dec-2009 mynydd llangattock At dusk at the east end of the mountain below the Lonely Shepherd one Woodcock over and a Little Owl perched in a tree Adrian Plant Saturday 19-Dec-2009 Peterstone Gout Black redstart on the seaward side of the small point immediately west of the Gout at about 10::00. So it looks like there must now be two birds in the Peterstone area.Also 3 stonechat at the Gout Dave Brassey Saturday 19-Dec-2009 Peterstone Wentlooge Black Redstart on sea wall at end of footpath from church (12.10) Keith Jones Friday 18-Dec-2009 Ynysyfro Reservoir An count early morning included 5 Little Grebe, 8 Great Crested Grebe, 5 Cormorant, 4 Mute Swan, 22 Canada Geese, 12 Mallard, 61 Tufted Duck, 11 Pochard, 3 Moorhen, 174 Coot, 95 Black Headed Gull, 22 Herring Gull, 2 male 2 female Bullfinch, . Alan Coles Friday 18-Dec-2009 Ebbw Vale Further to the Siskin discussion below I have only had 3 single visits in the last few weeks and no sight of redpoll in the garden. The siskin bred locally and were still coming to my garden in July along with Redpoll but I had some major work going on and the feeders were taken down for a few weeks...the finches then disappeared. Most birds are back n forth again now including last week 4 male bullies in the garden at the same time. A little worrying though I have seen signs of large greenfinch/goldfinch n chaffinch visiting...the feeders have been taken down and cleaned with disanfectant twice in the last month and I also took them away for about a week n half just in case it was the finch disease. steve howcroft Thursday 17-Dec-2009 lakeside pond 14 male goosander,12 redhead at 1pm today.1 kingfisher. Craig Constance Thursday 17-Dec-2009 Pontypool/Tranch In reply to Roo.Ive had one or two Siskin on feeders but thats about it.Very disappointing compared to this time last year! And to make things worse, my cat killed and brought into the house a nice bright male Redpoll.Ive not seen any on feeders yet.(no Ring). john hunt Thursday 17-Dec-2009 Newport Wetlands - Uskmouth 11 30 am possable red necked grebe far side of hide at lighthouse , has anyone else had a sighting of it. Keith Jones Thursday 17-Dec-2009 Neddern A walk early morning from M4 to Caldicot via Castle Meadow produced just 37 species including 2 Little Grebe, 5 Mute Swan, 220 Wigeon, 60 Teal, 22 Mallard, 8 Shoveler, 18 Tufted Duck, 1 Peregrine, 7 Moorhen, 9 Coot, 90 Lapwing, 111 Black Headed Gull, 1 Stock Dove, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 17 Redwing, 1 Jay, and 50 Jackdaw. Roo Thursday 17-Dec-2009 Pontypool 65 Chaffinch coming to seed in the garden, plus 5 Jay and usual range of garden birds, but still no sign of a Brambling or a Siskin this winter period. Anyone had either locally yet? Warren Payne Wednesday 16-Dec-2009 cefn mabley On Wednesday 16th December whilst fishing at Cefn Mably lakes between Newport and Cardiff at about 3.30pm I noticed a single red kite soaring above me.It was there for about five minutes before heading towards the mountains by Machen.What a fantastic sight it was ,on first sight I thought it was a Buzzard as it was about the same size however on further viewing I could see the distinctive red plumage and pointed v shaped tail.I didn't catch any fish that day but that sighting more than made up for it! Regards Warren Payne. Mike Powell Wednesday 16-Dec-2009 Brynmawr 33 Goosander (16 males) this afternoon on the former Semtex Pond. Jeff Hall Wednesday 16-Dec-2009 Newport Wetlands Uskmouth The summer plumage Grey Plover was at Uskmouth today, in front of reedbed 9, looking very smart. There were about 20 other Grey Plovers, probably 300+ Dunlin and 200+ Canada Goose and a few Curlew. Mike Pointon Wednesday 16-Dec-2009 Bedwas A male Blackcap feeding in Mahonia . Blackcaps seem to be attracted to this shrub as we had several wintering birds in recent years. Interestingly, adjacent to the garden where the Lesser Whitethroat was seen last winter, is a large patch of Mahonia, a good food source for wintering warblers. Mathew Meehan Tuesday 15-Dec-2009 Newport Wetlands - Uskmouth Birds of note at the reserve today were, 2 Stonechat (in scrub opp. visitor centre cafe) Green, Goldfinch & G.Spot Wood on feeders. Lone drake Teal, and L.Egret on the scrape. On the lakes/reed beds were Gadwall, Tufted and a L.Grebe. No Pochard today. Cettis heard, with a good number of Reed Bunt. One large fox. Low tide at the estuary were small numbers of Dunlin, and 3 Grey Plovers amongst the Curlews. Had a lone finch pos bunt calling in flight over saltmarsh briefly. Couldn't I.D sorry? Wasn't Linnet or Goldie. Nigel Garside Monday 14-Dec-2009 Peterstone Gout Bewick's Swan over; Water Pipit on mud near gout sea-doors. Nigel Garside Sunday 13-Dec-2009 Peterstone Gout Black Redstart on the grassed area to the east of the pill. Martin Bell Sunday 13-Dec-2009 Goldcliff Lagoons Morning visit to Goldcliffe didn't turn up a lot, highlights were a Barwit fr0m the 1st platform and a summer plumage Grey Plover on the foreshore from the sea wall. There was a Pale-bellied Brent with the Canada Goose flock off Boat Lane (plus 1 Barnicle spp). jules Sunday 13-Dec-2009 Grosmont A group of 40 mainly Buzzard with some Raven floating and flitting together over the Grosmont side of the Graig Hill. Roo Saturday 12-Dec-2009 Wentwood Cadira beeches area - small group of Crossbills and a Willow tit, the latter with large party of common tits and Goldcrests. 2 Madarin Duck at Wentwood Res. Saturday 12-Dec-2009 many thanks for bus info everyone,very helpful. Kevin Dupe Friday 11-Dec-2009 Buses Another correction - the bus goes all the way to Newport Wetlands Car Park at Uskmouth - not to/ from Nash Community Hall as stated. Also if you want to go to Goldcliff Lagoons, the bus will stop and pick up here as well. You would have to visit the Lagoons first if you then wanted to get the bus to Uskmouth, as the buses only run in a clockwise direction. They are operated by Veolia. Keith Jones Friday 11-Dec-2009 Buses Sorry to give conflicting information regarding the bus service to Newport Wetlands, but I use this service on a regular basis. The times given are correct but for the 1300hrs which in fact leaves Newport at 1330hrs not 1300hrs. Also the bus does not go from Queensway, and has not done so for many months. At the moment the bus leaves from Newport Bus Station at stand number 6. After a poor start the service at the monent is fairly reliable. buses Friday 11-Dec-2009 From Queensway Bus Station, Newport the Number 63 bus leaves at 7.30 am, 9 am, 11 am, 13 pm, 15 pm, 16.50 pm and 18 pm and stops at West Nash Community Hall. A 15-minute walk is then required to get to Newport Wetlands. The bus departs from West Nash Community Hall. Alternatively, contact Newport bus services, tel: 01633 263600. Friday 11-Dec-2009 does anyone know the times of buses to the wetlands centre from newport and are they reliable i failed to get a timetable from newport or any help from drivers ect many thanks to you if you can help steve howcroft Wednesday 09-Dec-2009 lakeside pond 3 m goosander+4 redheads at 1pm today. Gareth Waite Wednesday 09-Dec-2009 Cwmbran boating lake . am. 10 goosander- all redheads John Davies Wednesday 09-Dec-2009 A4042 Abergavenny - Pontypool Barn Owl just before Llanover village Keith Jones Wednesday 09-Dec-2009 Uskmouth Walked around the lagoons excluding the west of R6, and also walked the coast between the wood and pontoon bridge at mid day. This produced a count of 44 species including 15 Little Grebe, 4 Mute Swan, 78 Shelduck, 16 Wigeon, 31 Mallard, 21 Gadwall, 2 Shoveler, 31 Tufted Duck, 4 male 3 female Pochard, 5 Water Rail, 27 Moorhen, 74 Coot, difficult to determine wader roost on shore due to vegetation but 14 Oystercatcher, 460 Dunlin, 260 Knot, 560 Curlew, 2 Green Woodpecker, 19 Cetti’s Warbler, 2 Meadow Pipit, about 4 Bearded Tits (R5 west), 6 Siskin, 5 Reed Bunting, 3 Raven. Nigel Garside Monday 07-Dec-2009 Peterstone Wentlooge Great Skua low over salt marsh, landing at the usual high tide wader/wildfowl roost west of village, where it flushed the Snow Bunting. Keith Jones Monday 07-Dec-2009 Goldcliff Lagoons At the lagoons during high-tide this morning 1 Cormorant, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Little Egret, 51 Shelduck, 25 Wigeon, 77 Teal, 103 Mallard, 22 Shoveler, 2 male 1 female Pintail, 1 Kestrel, 1 Pheasant, 1 Moorhen, 961 Lapwing, 5 Grey Plover, 2 Avocet, 300 Dunlin, 70 Knot. Also a single Barnacle Goose at Boat Lane. Keith Jones Sunday 06-Dec-2009 Moorings Fields Newport Walked loop of River Usk north of The Moorings just after high tide. Birds noted include 2 Canada Geese, 11 Teal, 4 Mallard, I’m fairly sure Goosander heard but couldn’t locate it, 2 Water Rail, 33 Lapwing, 17 Common Redshanks, 17 Common Snipe, 1 Jack Snipe (my first at this site), 136 Black Headed Gull, 1 Cetti’s Warbler, 6 Meadow Pipits, 1 Stonechat. At the flooded field 6 Wigeon, 7 Teal, 11 Lapwing, 143 Black Headed Gull (including 1 bird with full brown hood). Have not seen Common and Green Sandpipers for a few weeks now I guess tides are just too high. Nathan Casburn Saturday 05-Dec-2009 Peterstone And Wentwood Res Snow Bunting still on the tide line until a Merlin Put everything up.Also 6+ Water Pipits. 2 Manderin still at Wentwood Res. chris hurn Saturday 05-Dec-2009 perry lane early this morning one tree sparrow feeding near visitor center Mike Warburton Saturday 05-Dec-2009 Garnlydan Reservoir 9.00am-10.30am.On the reservoir 2 Grey Heron,2 Cormorant and about 20 Herring Gull (juves and adult).15 Redwing over the res and at the old farm beyond the dam,Stonechat(m),Mipit,2 C Crows,2 Mistle Thrush and the highlight was a Dipper in the river. Keith Jones Saturday 05-Dec-2009 Ponthir Reservoir Walked around the reservoir and along the road to Caerleon mid morning. Birds seen included 22 Tufted Duck, 3 Goosanders, 1 Coot, 55 Black Headed Gull, 2 Green Woodpecker, Dunnock, and Great Tit singing, 4 Grey Wagtail, 4 Redwing, 2 female Bullfinch, 2 Jay, 74 Jackdaw, 4 Raven. Also of note a Dipper on the Afon Lwyd just west of Ponthir Bridge, seem to be a regular occurrence there. Leyton Williams-Davies Saturday 05-Dec-2009 Mynydd Maen My dogs flushed a pair of red grouse on the top of Mynydd Maen today. First I've seen on Mynydd Maen since 2003. Keith Jones Friday 04-Dec-2009 Peterstone Wentlooge Walked from the village to the Gout at high tide this morning, Rather good for birds with 26 Mute Swan, 23 Canada Geese, 156 Wigeon, 98 Teal, 38 Mallard, 14 Shoveler, 16 Pintail, 34 Oystercatcher, 40 Dunlin, 90 Common Redshanks, 2 Common Snipe, 74 Curlew 1 Great Black Backed Gull, 13 Water Pipit, 3 Meadow Pipit, 8 Redwing, and Snow Bunting on the elongated concrete plinth just below the sea wall. Flew off to edge of the sea, before heading west. Walking at the moment rather difficult, grazing cattle have churned up the ground badly, and quite a lot of slurry makes for very hard going. Sorry I didn’t get back to you before your visit to The Moorings Ashley, but suggest you scroll down the GOS sightings page to read what is seen there. Reports are fairly regular, hug the river north of Chichester Close, and return along the edge of the reed bed. The best time is a hour or so before high tide, that way there is enough mud to feed and roost. If the tide is right out there is a lot of mud to scan. Mike Powell Friday 04-Dec-2009 Brynmawr 16 Goosander (7 males) on the old Semtex Pond, Brynmawr this afternoon. Jonathan Saville Friday 04-Dec-2009 Between Bal Mawr and Ty-hir Great grey shrike on edge of a grassland SSSI then moving N along the forestry Rd (approx SO262260) Ashley Bowe Friday 04-Dec-2009 Many thanks Keith, its cleared up that personal mystery. Gonna take a walk down by the moorings today and see what I can spot. Any highlights that I can look out for. am relatvly amateur, but incredibly interested. Keith Roylance & Mick Bailey Thursday 03-Dec-2009 Canal Ty Coch Cwmbran Walked from 3 Blackbirds back to Ty Coch along the canal. 23 species - 32 Mallard, 15 Moorhen, 6 Jackdaw, 5 Crow, 4 Magpie, 2 Jay, 4 Woodpigeon, 3 Starling, 2 Pied Wagtail, 6 Wren, 9 Blackbird, 11 Robin, 32 Redwing, 2 Mistle Thrush, 1 Dunnock, 1 Tree Creeper, 2 Great Tit, 2 Blue Tit, 10 Long-tailed Tit, 3 Meadow Pipit, 1 Chaffinch, 17 Goldfinch, 1 Bullfinch. Heavy rain and sleet curtailed the walk. Thursday 03-Dec-2009 LEECHPOOL HOLDINGS ED STEVENS, thanks for the email. Owner very greatful for your response and will look there tomorrow. Thursday 03-Dec-2009 LEECHPOOL HOLDINGS ED STEVENS. Please get in touch about the sighting of the Harris Hawk. One of our local small holders has lost his. Email timberbear@hotmail.com. Thanks Ed Stevens Thursday 03-Dec-2009 Black Rock This morning in field just East of Black Rock 1 male bullfinch, 1 male blackcap and 1 escaped harris hawk. steve howcroft Wednesday 02-Dec-2009 lakeside pond to mike powell.there were only 2 male goosander on the pond on wed 2nd. steve howcroft Wednesday 02-Dec-2009 lakeside pond to mike powell,there were only 2 male goosander there on wed,2nd. Alan Coles & Lee Turner Wednesday 02-Dec-2009 Penyfan Pond 11 Cormorants perched on the fence along with a BB Gull. Couple of mallards and about 1/2 dozen little grebes. On the path around the pond a selection of birds inc 2m & 2F Stonechats, 4/5 Reed Buntings, 2 Grey Wagtails. The Car Park had the normal garden birds on the feeders. Keith Jones Wednesday 02-Dec-2009 opposite Caerleon Golf Course. Welcome to bird watching. I suspect you are hearing Canada Geese. Several hundred are often seen in and around the area you describe, and flying to roost. Ashley Bowe Wednesday 02-Dec-2009 opposite Caerleon Golf Course. Recently moved to a house directly opposite Caerleon Golf Course, on the St Julians side. The garden is teaming with bird life. A few highlights include. A group of about 10 woodpigeons constantly in the large oak at near the river. A magpie who regularly visits my window for some reason, which I have not fathomed yet. But last but not least I have a couple of Great Tits nesting within the frame of the Bay Window in my bedroom. Quite a few great tits altogether in the garden as well, counted 8 in total 2 days ago in the hazel tree. Need a little bit of help with identification though.. At night around 7pm onwards I can hear what sounds like Geese/Ducks or similar coming from the direction of the river Usk. Does anyone know what they are or what species is resting there at night? Keith Jones Wednesday 02-Dec-2009 Bulmore Lakes Walked around the lakes and down the Bulmore Road to Caerleon early morning. Just 38 species noted including 2 Great Crested Grebe, 4 Cormorant, 1 Mute Swan, 118 Canada Geese, 1 Bar Headed Goose, 6 Wigeon, 18 Teal, 62 Mallard, 2 Gooaanders, 4 Buzzard, 30 Moorhen, 15 Coot, 1 Green Sandpiper, 229 Black Headed Gull, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 6 Siskin, 1 Tree Creeper, 4 Jay. Keith Jones Tuesday 01-Dec-2009 Wentwood Walked mid morning from the reservoir up to Cadira Beeches via the Nightjar path, west to Little Oak and completing walk about a kilometre north of Wentwood Gate. Good numbers at the reservoir with 2 Little Grebe, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Grey Heron, 50 Mallard, 84 Tufted Duck, 15 Pochard, 2 male Mandarin Duck, and. 15 Coot. Elsewhere 1 Buzzard, 1 Tawny Owl, 2 Green Woodpecker, 12 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 30 Blue Tit, 19 Coal Tit, 6 Great Tit, 1 Nuthatch, 7 Siskin, 15 Redpoll, 22 + Crossbill, 7 Jay, and 3 Raven. John Bennett Tuesday 01-Dec-2009 Usk Usk(garden) 1st December A male Blackcap feeding on apples(Ashmead’s Kernel) with Blackbirds etc . Chris Thomas Tuesday 01-Dec-2009 ooc (just) Beachley (within spitting distance of Gwent) Pale phase Pomarine Skua still at Beachley feeding on Sheep carcass. Park at bottom end of Loop Lane, take footpath to shore and turn right as far as reed bed to view. Well worth a look Lyn Waters Monday 30-Nov-2009 Mill Common, Undy Female Blackcap feeding in back garden Simon Harrison Monday 30-Nov-2009 Coed Eva, Cwmbran Flock of 33 Goldfinch incl. 2 Greenfinch on the feeders in the back garden today. Also 1 sparrowhawk over. Chris West and Digger Sunday 29-Nov-2009 Oxbow and R Usk, Gobion 10.00am-12 noon. Gleaming grey wagtail, cavorting corvids- 3 rooks ruffleing a raven, male and female goosander diving together. Keith Jones Saturday 28-Nov-2009 Uskmouth Walked around the lagoons and part of the foreshore at mid day. Rather quiet with a count of just 30 species including 6 Little Grebe, 4 Mute Swan, 42 Shelduck, 5 Mallard, 24 Gadwall, 19 Tufted Duck, 4 Pochard, 1 Sparrow Hawk, 2 Water Rail, 12 Moorhen, 108 Coot, 104 Curlew, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 10 Cetti’s Warbler, 2 Bullfinch, 3 Redpoll, 9 Reed Bunting, 25 Carrion Crow. Mike Warburton Saturday 28-Nov-2009 Garnlydan Reservoir 9.00-10.15. 3 Carrion Crow,2 Raven,2 Cormorant,c50 BH Gulls,10 Herring Gulls,1 Mipit,1 Red Kite. Friday 27-Nov-2009 Llandegfedd Reservoir Details on access are on the 'front' page, it'll cost you about £11 for access through the winter. Viewing from the dam is gratis,... so far. Roo Friday 27-Nov-2009 Llandegfedd Reservoir Anyone update me on access to the res. Do i need to sign in blood for a key etc.? Steve Williams Friday 27-Nov-2009 Ponthir Reservoir Another quick lunchtime visit produced 51 Tufties, 16 Goosander and single Coot. Simon Harrison Friday 27-Nov-2009 Llandegfedd Reservoir 9:00-11:10 Grey Phalarope still in front of the 2nd hide feeding on the shoreline. Gary Howells Friday 27-Nov-2009 Abergavenny Re Black Redsatart, bird was gone by 11:00 but was near entrance to Underhill Crescent from Old Hereford Road. Friday 27-Nov-2009 Abergavenny Where is Abergavenny College ? Grid ref's or streetmap links can help. Gary Howells Friday 27-Nov-2009 Abergavenny Black Redstart seen in a front garden just above Abergavenny college at 10:00 am,very approachable but gone by 11:00am Simon Harrison Thursday 26-Nov-2009 Llandegfedd Reservoir 3:45 Grey Phalarope location was right outside the 2nd hide (next one around after feeding station hide) feeding on the waters edge. Nathan Casburn Thursday 26-Nov-2009 Llandegfedd Reservoir 1 Grey Phal from fishermans car park this afternoon.Last seen flying along shoreline towards Greenpool. Chris Jones Wednesday 25-Nov-2009 Goldcliff Point Seawatch from 12:00 - 15:00hrs produced at least 4 Great Skuas, 1 Leach's Petrel and probably 50+ Kittiwakes. John Bennett Wednesday 25-Nov-2009 Black Rock 2 Leach petrels and a few Kittiwakes . Also lots of Birders on the other side looking at more exotic fare . Ed Stevens Wednesday 25-Nov-2009 Sudbrook 1 hours sea watch over high tide from sudbrook 44 kittiwakes including one flock of 23, 3 curlew, great black backed gull, herring gull, common gull and black-headed gull Nathan Casburn Tom Chinnick Tuesday 24-Nov-2009 Goldcliff Point 4 Leach's Petrels 1 Little Gull 1 Great Skua and 100+ Kittiwakes all Down Channel Tom Chinnick and Nathan Casburn Tuesday 24-Nov-2009 Goldcliff Point 10:00am-1:00pm- 4 Leach's Petrel, 1 1w Little Gull, 1 Bonxie and c100 Kittiwake. Ed Stevens Tuesday 24-Nov-2009 Sudbrook During a sea watch at Sudbrook for about 1.5 hours over high tide, 7 adult 3 first winter kittiwakes, probably more further offshore but to far out to be 100%, 2 shelduck, 1 peragrine, 1 cormarant lots of herring, lesser black backed, common and black-headed gulls and smal flock of dunlin. Nicholas Beswick Monday 23-Nov-2009 Newbridge Song Thrush singing vigorously after the morning's rain. Little Owl heard calling from area to the north of the technology park. Nathan Casburn ,Craig Constance,Darryl Spittle. Sunday 22-Nov-2009 Llandegfedd Reservoir 1 1st w Little Gull this afternoon.Best viewed from the Dam. Nigel Garside Saturday 21-Nov-2009 Peterstone Wentlooge Snow Bunting at same spot as Thursday, although again took flight at first sighting, from about 20 yards. Long, circular flight before settling at sea-marsh edge. timberbear Saturday 21-Nov-2009 Leechpool, Portskewett Harris Hawk either stolen or released from its enclosure on a nearby farm. This is a working bird and the owner is very upset. If seen email me at timberbear@hotmail.com Keith Jones Friday 20-Nov-2009 Moorings Fields Newport Not a lot about at high tide this morning, suspect little or no mud exposed. Just 3 Teal, 12 Mallard, 17 Lapwing, 1 Common Snipe, 125 Black Headed Gull. Slightly better at the flooded field with 1 Grey Heron, 1 Little Egret, 50 Teal, 20 Wigeon, 8 Mallard, 6 Shoveler, 345 Black Headed Gull, 1 Mediterranean Gull sported almost complete black hood. Steve Davies Friday 20-Nov-2009 Newbridge Highlight of a short walk was a colourful group of 6 bullfinch, another 3 spotted later. Otherwise it was the usual tit flocks, half a dozen red wing and a couple of mistle thrush. Maurice Chown Friday 20-Nov-2009 Peterstone Sluice Farm 2 Black Redstarts still present this morning 200 metres west of blockhouse, 1 adult male & 1 fem/imm. Also Fem/imm Merlin performed well, unsuccessfully chasing passerines. Nigel Garside Thursday 19-Nov-2009 Peterstone Wentlooge Snow Bunting on tide line below sea wall east of village, 200 yards before stile, before flying to edge of salt marsh. Keith Jones Thursday 19-Nov-2009 Peterstone Wentlooge Walked from the village to the Gout at high tide this morning. Count included 1 Little Egret, 2 Mute Swan, 127 Shelduck, 90 Wigeon, 90 Teal, 138 Mallard, 60 Shoveler, 14 Pintail, 1 Buzzard, 32 Lapwing, 40 Oystercatcher, 330 Curlew, 1 Common Gull, 1 Fieldfare. Highlight however was a rather good views of a single Water Pipit sheltering in the Gout from the wind. Keith Roylance Wednesday 18-Nov-2009 For Ed Stevens - Annual Report being posted out this week to those unable to collect at the indoor meetings. Ian Smith Wednesday 18-Nov-2009 Swansea Bird conservationists need to think long-term. So, if you want to get your reptile food supply up to scratch for future colonisation by Short-toed Eagles or just feed the local Barn Owls with frogs, you might be interested in this excellent and highly recommended event on the 28th of this month. www.swwarg.co.uk Keith Jones Tuesday 17-Nov-2009 Uskmouth Walked around the lagoons at midday. Not a great deal about, 11 Little Grebe, 6 Mute Swan, 1 Teal, 8 Mallard, 21 Gadwall, 28 Tufted Duck, 1 Pochard, 1 Kestrel, 1 Merlin, 3 Water Rail, 24 Moorhen, 110 Coot, 70 Lapwing, 15 Curlew, 2 Cetti’s Warbler, 6 Reed Bunting. Kevin Dupé Monday 16-Nov-2009 Newport Wetlands - Uskmouth Approx 47,000 starlings came into roost in Reedbed 11 (most north easterly reedbed). Started at 4pm with around 7,000 swirling around. They went down at 4.10pm. Large groups kept arriving until 4.25pm, most going down straight away. One group of around 10,000 was very impressive as it came in from the north westin a long 'snake' which looped over the National Grid wires. A blustery wind, but very good visibilty. Ed Stevens Monday 16-Nov-2009 Black Rock No sign of great northern diver at Black Rock this morning. Does anyone know if the 2008 Gwent Bird Report has been posted yet? Keith Jones Monday 16-Nov-2009 Ponthir Reservoir Very quiet this morning, just 27 Tufted Duck, 1 Coot, 11 Black Headed Gull, 2 Pied Wagtail, and 1 female Bullfinch. Ian Smith Monday 16-Nov-2009 Near Junction 6 Chris, Blackbirds appearing in a jump ijn numbers overnight in your garden at this time of the year usually means migrants from scandinavia. But in this wind it may just be any port in a storm! Chris Waite Monday 16-Nov-2009 Near Junction 26 M$ At least 5 blackbirds were just seen in our tiny garden, containing a norway spruce and a whitebeam, all at the same time. They all were in the spruce and were not fighting. The 6th bird might be a starling, it's too deep in the tree to tell. Is this usual? When I've seen lots of blackbirds at once before it's usually on a large lawn and they are all reasonably spaced out, then fight when they get close. Could they be siblings from this year's brood? Any idea where the great northern diver might be today? I've always wanted to see one. Simon Harrison Sunday 15-Nov-2009 Goldcliff Pools Not quite at Goldcliff pools, but on the way in the wet field on the left hand bend before the Farmers Arms Pub, Goldliff Road. 1 Barnacle goose with 12 Canada Geese, good numbers of Wigeon, Teal and Pochard and 3 Black-Tailed Godwits. John Bennett Sunday 15-Nov-2009 Blackrock Partial summer plumage Great Northern Diver this morning drifting with the tide from the original Severn Crossing. Also about 40 wigeon. Chris Jones, Nathan Casburn, Darryl Spittle, Richard Clarke Saturday 14-Nov-2009 Goldcliff Point Seawatch this afternoon produced single Gannet, Arctic Skua and Great Northern Diver and 25+ Kittwakes all of which were flying down channel swilliams Friday 13-Nov-2009 Oakdale buzzard came down for breakfast,a pair of nuthatches back and forth to sunflower hearts feeder,quite a number of goldfinches feeding on niger seed feeder as well as hearts,blackbirds are back feeding on windfalls as well as puddings.unfcys Barry Ingram Friday 13-Nov-2009 Caldicot A robin is singing at the bottom of my garden, another is answering at the bottom of my neighbours' garden. Not an exciting observation perhaps but doesn't it lift the spirit on a miserable day? Keith Jones Friday 13-Nov-2009 Uskmouth Walked central lagoons and part of the foreshore early morning. Didn’t have enough time to visit R8, R9, and western ends of R4 and R5. Within these restrictions count included 8 Little Grebe, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 6 Mute Swan, 2 Shelduck, 4 Mallard, 6 Gadwall, 27 Tufted Duck, 3 Pheasant, 3 Water Rail, 19 Moorhen, 37 Coot, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 9 Cetti’s Warbler, 1 Fieldfare, 6 Long Tailed Tits, 3 Reed Bunting, 17 Greenfinch, and 1 Raven. Simon Harrison Thursday 12-Nov-2009 Sluice Farm 13:00 -14:00 3 Black Redstarts approx 3-400m past the Gwent border on the rocks. May have seen more there but the rain closed play :( Keith Jones Wednesday 11-Nov-2009 Bulmore Lakes Walked early morning from the lakes back to Caerleon along the Bulmore Road. This produced a count of 44 species including 4 Great Crested Grebe, 4 Cormorant (None on usual pylon, but there was a single Peregrine), 6 Mute Swan, 83 Canada Geese, 1 Bar Headed Goose, 4 Wigeon, 52 Teal, 40 Mallard, 2 Tufted Duck, 1 male 2 female Goosander, 1 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 15 Moorhen, 23 Coot, 111 Black Headed Gull, 3 Common Gull, 2 Green Woodpecker, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Jay. Also of note single Song Thrush and Mistle Thrush singing. Ioan Jones Monday 09-Nov-2009 Pontypool Golf Course Small flock of Goldcrest sharing a lichen filled tree with a nuthatch a song thrush and several blue tits. Resident Buzzard in close attendance. Many Redwing in the area lately. Keith Jones Monday 09-Nov-2009 Llantarnam An early morning two hour walk around Llanfrechfa to Cwmbran Boating Lake, the ST39C tetrad for BTO Atlas produced 37 species. Highlights include 1 Goosander, 2 Buzzard, 2 Dipper (Afon Lwyd), 1 Stock Dove, 1 Tree Creeper, 5 Jay, and a very fine sighting of single Woodcock (Llanfrechfa). Gary Howells Monday 09-Nov-2009 Blorenge mountain, Llanover rd First Bramblings of the year amogst large flock of Chaffinch approaching Foxhunter car park. Simon Harrison Monday 09-Nov-2009 Peterstone Gout 12:00 - 2:00 1 ad. med gull, good numbers of Dunlin, Knot, Redshank, Curlew, Wigeon and Shelduck also. Nigel Garside Monday 09-Nov-2009 Sluice Farm Adult male Black Redstart; two female/juveniles further west, over Glamorgan border. Chris West Monday 09-Nov-2009 Abergavenny 2 tawny owls calling at 4.00am beyond my back garden. Roo Perkins Monday 09-Nov-2009 Newport wetlands and Goldcliff After negotiating the road closures yesterday..... 54 species at the two sites, but again, seemingly quite quiet and lower numbers than expected. Loads of Fieldfare and Redwing around and a steady Woodpigeon movement. Waders included Greenshank (1), Spot Red (2), Snipe (8), Grey Plover (4), Knot (100+). Also in the car park at Goldcliff an interesting looking Chiffchaff, very brown with a strong yellow wash and indistinct supercillium. Fox in the wetland reserve reeedbed may have explained the low duck numbers there. At home in the garden (Ponty) still very low numbers compared to last year (had a Brambling and plenty of Siskin this time last year, this weekend not even a Chaffinch!). John Bennett Sunday 08-Nov-2009 Llandegfedd Reservoir A Common Sandpiper,5 Gadwall and about 120 Teal . A few Wigeon and 8 Snipe were the highlights . Jeff Hall Sunday 08-Nov-2009 Magor Marsh Reserve 50 to 60 Fieldfares at Magor Marsh this afternoon, also 1 Little Egret. Keith Jones Saturday 07-Nov-2009 Ynysyfro Reservoir A late afternoon count found the entrance gate locked after a fashion, and numbers 1 Little Grebe, 4 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Mute Swan, 5 Canada Geese, 15 Mallard, 43 Tufted Duck, 11 Pochard, 1 Buzzard, 140 Coot, 5 Black Headed Gull, 1 Jay. Adrian Plant Saturday 07-Nov-2009 Sluice Farm Snow bunting flying strongly west along outer edge of saltmarsh at 07:40. Twite (1) came off saltmarsh close to Glam border and flew over me calling, back eastwards and turning inland to come down somewhere near access track from Sluice farm, but couldn't find it again. 3 water pipits on the saltmarsh. Also 142 curlew, 140 lapwing and 3 stonechat + plenty of mipits and linnets etc Steve Friday 06-Nov-2009 rogerstone on the lanes between cwmbran and rogerstone, Goshawk chasing wood pidgeons through the conifirs i think the bird caught one , as Goshawk dropped down. couldn,t investigate as cars behind me Keith Jones Friday 06-Nov-2009 Goldcliff Lagoons Rather quiet during a walk to the sea wall early morning with 1 Grey Heron, 1 Little Egret, 3 Canada Geese, 41 Shelduck, 6 Wigeon (Several more heard in the Pill), 41 Teal, 6 Mallard, 20 Shoveler, 334 Lapwing, 8 Ringed Plover, 2 Avocet, 260 Black Tailed Godwit, 60 Knot, 720 Dunlin, 6 Common Redshanks, 23 Curlew, 22 Fieldfare. Also over hour period at least 500 + Wood Pigeon flying west in a steady stream. allan dowson Friday 06-Nov-2009 reen,nr.st.mellons business pk 2-green sandpipers along the reen,12h00-12h30 John Harper Thursday 05-Nov-2009 The Bryn - south bank bulge 2 Green Sandpiper off pool John Harper Thursday 05-Nov-2009 Gobion Big tit party and hangers-on along the River Usk between Gobion Bridge and Oxbow: 45+ Blue Tits; 20+ L-t Tits; typically for this year only 3 Great Tits seen; 3 Nuthatch; 1 Treecreeper. Other titsp. not IDed as no binocs as I was veterantreewatching. At Oxbow and Bryn Bulge (south bank): 1 S-e Owl; 2 redhead Goosander; 3 Grey Heron Jeff O'Reilly Wednesday 04-Nov-2009 Croespenmaen Pair of Bramblings feeding at garden bird table. Mike Warburton Wednesday 04-Nov-2009 Trefil, nr Tredegar 15.00pm.Just witnessed two Peregrines down a Buzzard at the quarry end of the village.The one came and hit it from behind whilst the other came at it full speed in a stoop hitting it into the bracken.The Peregrines flew off and I could hear the Buzzard calling from the Bracken but it was in a fenced off area so couldnt investigate. Maurice Chown Wednesday 04-Nov-2009 Peterstone Sluice Farm 3 adult Whooper Swans this morning offshore from Rumney Great Wharf about 100 metres from Cardiff boundary. Jack snipe with a few Common Snipe near blockhouse. A few Redwings & Fieldfares and the Woodpigeon passge westwards continued on and off. Mike Warburton Tuesday 03-Nov-2009 Nantybwch,Tredegar The winter Thrush flock has moved from Trefil down to Nantybwch towards the Heads of The Valleys road.Still around 200 birds including Fieldfare (90%),Blackbird,Song Thrush,Mistle Thrush,Starling,1 Redwing.This afternoon they were joined by Blue Tit,Great Tit,Bullfinch and surprisingly a GS Woodpecker all on the Berries. Keith Jones Monday 02-Nov-2009 Goldcliff A first Winter walk to tetrad ST38L (Goldcliff West) for two hours from gate at Boat Lane, and NE path to Saltmarsh Lane, to the foreshore, up track to Farmfield lane, and completing walk at Goldcliff Road via east path. This produced a count of 48 species including 1 Little Egret, 4 Mute Swan, 218 Canada Geese, 2 Shelduck, 20 Teal, 96 Wigeon, 58 Mallard, 8 Shoveler, 2 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 1 Common Snipe, 4 Common Redshanks, 12 Curlew, 2 Great spotted Woodpecker 6 Cetti’s Warbler, 1 Stonechat, 33 Redwing, 74 Fieldfare, 46 Chaffinch, 59 Goldfinch, 53 Greenfinch, 18 Linnet, 33 Reed Bunting, 1 Jay. Glyn Roberts Monday 02-Nov-2009 Newport Wetlands - Goldcliff 1 Red Kite, 1 Swallow, 1 juvenile Ruff, 1 Spotted Redshank, 2 Greenshank, large flocks ( 500+) of Wood Pigeons and Starlings, smaller flocks (c50) Fieldfare and Redwing. Darryl Spittle & Nathan Casburn Sunday 01-Nov-2009 Peterstone 1 Twite, initially with a small flock of Linnet on saltmarsh opposite path to church, then feeding on its own on seaward edge of saltmarsh about 150m further west. Kevin and Liz Hewitt Saturday 31-Oct-2009 Newport Wetlands - Uskmouth Saturday morning visit to Uskmouth - a lot of visible migration taking place with at least 2000 wood pigeons flying west, including 2 flocks of over 400 birds, 10 skylarks and about 40 meadow pipts overhead, and a flock of 50+ greenfinches. Ed Stevens Saturday 31-Oct-2009 Sudbrook yesterday afternoon a adult medierranean gull on foreshore between Sudbrook and Black Rock Brian Thomas Saturday 31-Oct-2009 Newport Wetlands - Goldcliff 3.30-4.30: 3 spotted redshank, redshanks, 3 greenshank, black-tailed godwits, 1 golden plover, dunlin, knot. Nicholas Beswick Saturday 31-Oct-2009 hafod farm,brynmawr Flock of 150 Woodpigeons over late morning, heading east. 80+ Fieldfares and Redwings around the farm, Blackcap on the lane, Red Kite over late afternoon. John O'Sullivan Saturday 31-Oct-2009 The Gaer, Newport Much quieter overhead this morning on the thrush front with only c150 Redwing, 9 Mistle thrush (one party of 8 and a single)and a few singles/twos of songthrush and Blackbird.Virtually no finches and only a handful of pipits. As others have noted a good movement of wood pigeon c 1,500 with a few scattered stock dove. This morning everything going straight west Mal Jenkins Saturday 31-Oct-2009 Pontypool to Garn Lakes Cycled from Pontypool to the lakes and back via the old railway. Following noted: Jay, Nuthatch, Wren, Blackbird, Redwing, Fieldfare, Song Thrush, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Raven, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Magpie, Mallard, BH Gull, Coot, Starling. Roo Perkins Saturday 31-Oct-2009 Newport Wetlands Uskmouth to Saltmarsh lane followed by a brioef look in at Goldcliff. 53 species in total, but overall very quiet and little of note: Avocet (2 at Uskmouth), Sotted Redshank (3 at Goldcliff), Snipe (22+ at Goldcliff). The clouded Yellow as posted earlier was the highlight; also seen today a Common darter, plus quite a lot of other insect activity in the morning before it got cooler as the weather front came in in the pm. Eddie Wang Saturday 31-Oct-2009 Peterstone 1230 - 1300: Cracking Firecrest in trees to the south east of the church, opposite Ynyswen house. Also Great Spotted Woodpecker and Blackcap. Roo Perkins Saturday 31-Oct-2009 Newport Wetlands Bird wise quiet but a late Clouded Yellow was a nice surprise. 2 Avocet at the Uskmouth end but low tide so waders distant. Mike Warburton Saturday 31-Oct-2009 Trefil, nr Tredegar Large Thrush flock (200+)at the quarry end of the village.Redwing,Blackbird,Song Thrush,Mistle Thrush all present but flock about 90% Fieldfare. Adrian Plant Saturday 31-Oct-2009 Peterstone Wentlooge 47 spp this am despite low tide and sun in my eyes. Highlight was strong westerly movement of wood pigeons with 2340 heading west between 07:30 and 09:00 on a broad front (probably missed many more). Also a slow trickel of meadow pipits and finches including at least 25 redpoll. Many winter thrushes:- c 600 redwing and 200 fieldfare on haws around the Gout but many more in the area. On the mud 64 snipe is a good number for this time of year tony jenkins Saturday 31-Oct-2009 Chepstow Whilst walking the dog at 0730hrs I notice several large flocks of woodpigeons heading south from the wye valley, on closer observation, I counted several flocks of 300 - 500 birds and one flock in excess of 1,000. In total during 20 minutes I estimated 7 - 8,000 birds and as I enter this sighting at 0910hrs there are still smaller flocks of up to 100 birds still heading south. Ian and JIll Smith Friday 30-Oct-2009 Osbaston, Monmouth 5.32pm - 3 Barn Owls flying directly and silently through the same location as Tuesday's report. Craig Constance Friday 30-Oct-2009 Ystrad Mynach 8-11am.105 Wood Pigeon,1821 mixed Thrush mostly Redwing quarter Fieldfare and 8 Meadow Pipit going over south/south east.Also 4 Goosander prob from the river nearby. Adrian Meredith Friday 30-Oct-2009 Sorry that should have been 11.30am Wednesday 27th. Keith Jones Friday 30-Oct-2009 GLWR Goldcliff An early morning walk to the sea wall, produced a count of 38 species including 1 Little Grebe, 3 Little Egret, 24 Canada Geese, 40 Shelduck, 185 Wigeon, 118 Teal, 44 Mallard, 2 Gadwall, 24 Shoveler, 1 Water Rail, 2 Oystercatcher, 132 Lapwing, 3 Bar Tailed Godwit, 150 Curlew, 16 Common Redshanks, 3 Greenshanks, 8 Common Snipe, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Cetti’s Warbler, and 1 Swallow. Adrian Meredith Friday 30-Oct-2009 Llandegfedd Reservoir Sorry for late posting but first chance on-line. Emperor Goose seen with a flock of 43 Canada Geese at the top, east end of resetvoir at 11.30am. Must have escaped from a collection, nice to see it mind. John O'Sullivan Friday 30-Oct-2009 The Gaer, Newport Really good overhead passage from the hill on the Western edge of Newport.Most birds coming S down the Risca valley before heading SE over Newport. 7:20-8:45am at least 5,000 Redwing with around 800 Fieldfare, 800 Woodpigeon, 200 Chaffinches and 50 Meadow Pipits. Also smaller numbers of Song Thrush, Black bird,Mistle Thrush, Greenfinch, Linnet, Goldfinch and Pied Wagtail. Birds still moving now with a flock of 150 Redwing just seen out of my office window (Ringland) birds still heading SE Craig Constance Thursday 29-Oct-2009 Ystrad Mynach 12-3.30pm.(ruff estimate?)3600 mixed groups of Redwing and Fieldfare,quarter fieldfare, going over in SE direction today. Mal Jenkins Wednesday 28-Oct-2009 Pontypool canal to Llanellen Cycled along canal to Llanellen and back today, following noted; Grey Wagtail(2), Kingfisher, Mallard, Buzzard, GS Woodpecker(3), Green Woodpecker, Wren, Blue, Great & LT Tits, Moorhen, Mistle Thrush, Blackbird, Starling, Wood Pigeon, Carrion Crow, Raven, Jackdaw, Jay, Pheasant. Also flock of 30 Redwing over the house in Trevethin early evening. RG Wednesday 28-Oct-2009 Goldcliff Pools Redshank,Two Greenshank,Two Little Egrets,100+ Lapwing,Shoveler,Teal,Wigeon,Little Grebe,Kestrel,Stonechat,Dunlin 40+,Blk tailed Godwits.Two Painted Ladies and a single Red Admiral. Ian Smith Tuesday 27-Oct-2009 Osbaston, Monmouth You were obviously watching the same Barn Owls Darryl and any view of ECW from here is distant! Seriously it was cracking to have the same pair come and make some 10 flights directly up to you and then vocally swirl around before repeating the process. All just a short walk from the house. Darryl Spittle Tuesday 27-Oct-2009 FAO Ian Ian, the views of the Eastern Crowned weren't very distant (and it was being chased around by a Yellow-browed too). Unless your Barn Owls are performing cart-wheels whilst juggling vole carcasses, I'd suggest the warbler might just get my vote ;-) Judy Beswick Tuesday 27-Oct-2009 Beaufort Red Kite over Heads of the Valley road near the highest point at Beaufort. Also one yesterday over Hafod Farm. Ian Smith Tuesday 27-Oct-2009 Osbaston, Monmouth 5.30pm 2 barn owls flying around my head, sreeeching away and checking me out. Then 3 seen flying and hunting over an ungrazed field of vole friendly grassland. Perching on dead trees all around. Watch from the field gate (no accesss) shown by the arrow on this link: www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?x=349490&y=214270&z=120&sv=349490,214270&st=4&ar=y&mapp=map.srf&searchp=ids.srf&dn=605&ax=349490&ay=214270&lm=0 Beats distant views of any Eastern Crowned Warbler - I hope! Matt Broome Tuesday 27-Oct-2009 Rhiwderin/Coc-y-north rd 15 Fieldfare feeding on Hawthorn berries along the lane this morning. Circa. 300 Woodpigeon over stubble fields. Keith Jones Monday 26-Oct-2009 Uskmouth Walked early morning around the lagoons, and part of the foreshore. A count of 49 species produced including 26 Little Grebe, 11 Mute Swan, 138 Shelduck, 60 Wigeon, 8 Teal, 62 Mallard, 29 Gadwall, 30 Shoveler, 21 Tufted Duck, 1 Pochard, 1 Buzzard, 1 Pheasant, 6 Water Rail, 38 Moorhen, 113 Coot, 4 Oystercatcher, 70 Dunlin, 194 Curlew, 104 Black Headed Gull, 64 Herring Gull, 91 Wood Pigeon, 1 Little Owl, 1 Green Woodpecker, 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 male Blackcap, 22 Cetti’s Warblers, 35 Skylark, 3 Stonechat, 1 Mistle Thrush, 3 Fieldfare, 5 Bearded Tits, 23 Reed Bunting Maurice Chown Monday 26-Oct-2009 Peterstone Gout Pale Bellied Brent Goose near shoreline this morning. A few redwings about today. Tom Dalrymple Monday 26-Oct-2009 Goldcliff Lagoons Due to essential management work there may be some disturbance on the lagoons between 9:30 and 12 tomorrow (Tuesday) Gary Sunday 25-Oct-2009 Blaenserchan/Mynydd Llanhillet On the Moorland above the Blaenschyan valley male hen harrier hunting for about 10mins gave craking views came close to the mountain road selwyn Sunday 25-Oct-2009 Oakdale green wood pecker on sunflower heart feeder first time sighting for about three years, no buzzard today, goldfinches blue tits, great tits ,siskins dunocks. wrens in hedges,( pest magpies )all the time. Chris Jones Sunday 25-Oct-2009 Goldcliff Point Seawatch late morning produced single Great Skua and Fulmar. John Davies Sunday 25-Oct-2009 Castle Meadows, Abergavenny Single Swallow and 2 Dippers at the castle meadows this morning. Kevin Dupe Saturday 24-Oct-2009 Sharm el Shaek Eygpt Out of continent - walked to beach at first light - only 2 species. Night heron at waters edge, I walked within 3m of him without him flying, and osprey hunting. On menu - parrot fish, wrasse, lion fish and puffer fish. Also lots of turtle doves and a single swallow over palm trees. Mike and Jackie Pointon Saturday 24-Oct-2009 Bedwas Two separate sightings of Red Kite (Presumed to be different birds)flying low over the garden this afternoon. selwyn Friday 23-Oct-2009 Oakdale went out in the garden at 6.50 am no sign of buzzard,put someraw turkey leg strips on top of pergola whistled a call something like buzzard call ,he/she then appeared on roof crest of house behind us, glided down and ate it there.the bird seems to know mine and pats call as it is not long before it comes around. Keith Jones Friday 23-Oct-2009 Moorings Fields Newport Walked loop of the River Usk at high tide this morning. Count included 1 Grey Heron, 7 Teal, 3 Wigeon, 3 Mallard, 32 Common Redshanks, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Stonechat, 3 Cetti’s Warblers, 11 Meadow Pipit, 1 singing) Song Thrush, 1 Reed Bunting. At the flooded field 1 Canada Goose, 20 Teal, 1 Wigeon, 80 Lapwing, 2 Common Snipe, 135 Black Headed Gulls, 10 Lesser Black Backed Gulls. Iand & Jill Smith Wednesday 21-Oct-2009 Dixton, Monmouth WEdnesday 20:12pm. Barn Owl flew NE across A0 and landed high in willow on side of road. Richard Cornock Wednesday 21-Oct-2009 LEECHPOOL HOLDINGS Latest cluch of Barn Owl chicks have just been ringed by Dennis Jackson. Out of the five late hatching brood only three remain. All are very underweight and small despite only being a week or two off fledging. This is the second brood on our holding. Chris Formaggia (Formaggia Environmental Limited) Tuesday 20-Oct-2009 Usk College 1 egret in field on south side of college - initially I thought it was a little egret....however as I got closer it looked like it was grey heron size. However didn't get close enough to confirm. 2 grainy photos. selwyn Tuesday 20-Oct-2009 our garden,oakdale buzzard came down for breakfast and lunch he/she ate on top of pergola ,cleaned beak and tallons then flew up roost to preen feathers. Keith Jones Tuesday 20-Oct-2009 Goldcliff Lagoons Walked to the sea wall at first light. Birds noted include 3 Grey Heron, 5 Little Egret, 1 Canada Goose, 70 Shelduck, 27 Teal, 27 Mallard, 16 Gadwall, 78 Shoveler, 1 Pheasant, 6 Moorhen, 228 Lapwing, 1 Golden Plover, 30 Grey Plover, 13 Avocet, 280 Black Tailed Godwit, 2 Greenshanks, 24 Common Redshanks, 36 Knot, 150 Dunlin, 40 Curlew, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 (Singing) Cetti’s Warbler, 360 Starling, 13 Carrion Crow, 3 Raven. Roger Price Monday 19-Oct-2009 Peterstone Sluice Farm Retrospective entry for 19th.Morning tide:45 Dunlin,160 Redshank,6 Grey Plover,5 Snipe,1 Jack Snipe,female Kestrel,male Merlin,Sparrow Hawk. Cetti`s singing,2 White Wagtails with a couple of Pied at the pool.A pipit disturbed from the Marsh went high and disappeared to the far west and was probably a passage Water Pipit. Nicholas Beswick Monday 19-Oct-2009 mynydd llangattock Late report of a party of four Ring Ouzels feeding on Rowan berries at a private site at the east tip of the mountain (in Gwent). Birds were disturbed and did not return. Mike Warburton/Alan Coles Monday 19-Oct-2009 Newtown,Ebbw Vale Juvenile male Ring Ouzel flying high and heading south into the wind at 18.00pm. Keith Jones Monday 19-Oct-2009 Uskmouth An early morning walk produced a count of 37 species including 20 Little Grebe, 1 Little Egret, 15 Mute Swan, 1 Brent Goose (Just off shore), 36 Shelduck, 6 Teal, 37 Wigeon, 123 Mallard, c 100 Shoveler (all on R9 but lot went up before we could count), 46 Gadwall, 2 Pintail, 30 Tufted Duck, 1 Peregrine, 1 Kestrel, 2 Water Rail, 61 Moorhen, 86 Coot, 20 Common Redshanks, 15 Knot, 5 Wood Pigeon, 1 Green Woodpecker, 11 Cetti’s Warbler, 2 Reed Bunting, 1 Jay. Anthony Rees Sunday 18-Oct-2009 Portskewett Just spotted Barn owl carrying small mammal flying low over Portskewett/Sudbrook junction heading north, seen on several occasions now could be one of recent fledged birds from nearby Leechpool Farm? Nicholas Beswick Sunday 18-Oct-2009 hafod farm,brynmawr Female Peregrine soaring over, mobbed by a Merlin, providing excellent opportunity to compare size, build and agility! Ringtail Hen Harrier hunting over fields above Hafod Road at 5pm. Buzzard(2), Kestrel, Redwing (60 over), Fieldfare. R Cornock Sunday 18-Oct-2009 Parkwall Roundabout, Crick About 35 Lapwing feeding in recently turned field. Small groups of Redwing starting to show in nearby fields. Allan Dowson Sunday 18-Oct-2009 GLWR Goldcliff Birds of note,09h30-10h45;Tawny Owl calling from car park area,3-Spotted Redshanks,2-Greenshanks,1-Green Sandpiper,6+ Swallows,15+ Little Egrets. chris hurn and matt broome Saturday 17-Oct-2009 GLWR Goldcliff to night one little owl one tawny owl and two shorteared owls pat Saturday 17-Oct-2009 Oakdale It is 6.00pm and I have just fed the buzzard in my back garden, he/she is staying to eat his poultry tonight, sometimes he/she flies off to a roost with his meal in his talons. pat and selwyn Saturday 17-Oct-2009 Back garden Buzzard coming to feed everyday usually morning and night but sometimes lunchtimes as well, has bee coming since before Easter of this year. Will take mostly poultry and steak!! Chris West Saturday 17-Oct-2009 Abergavenny 12 Noon. Grey partridge sat on back garden fence singing. Chris Hatch Friday 16-Oct-2009 Garndiffaith I've had a report from Jim Rawlins of a Rough-legged Buzzard seen near Garndiffaith on the afternoon of Friday 16th. Jim picked it up with bins. on the Garndiffaith side of the valley, before getting views through his 'scope. The bird flew towards Lasgarn woods before disappearing. He was able to get good views of the tail pattern and commented on its long-winged appearance. He was also able to compare it with a Common Buzzard that was in the air at the time. Ed Stevens Friday 16-Oct-2009 Sudbrook Yesterday evening just after dark a barn owl hunting over saltmarsh at Sudbrook. First i have seen here for years. Hadyn Jones Friday 16-Oct-2009 West Pill,Undy On rising tide this afternoon 230 Black-Tailed Godwits, 140 Knot, also @500 Wigeon off Rogiet foreshore. 3 Chiffchaff also present plus 1 female Merlin which was chased off by a pair of territorial Kestrels. Matthew Meehan & Arthur Friday 16-Oct-2009 Goldcliff Pools Whilst observing this evenings wader roost, which mainly consisted of Dunlin, Knot, Lapwing and ten Curlew arriving late, Arthur picked up the S.E Owl flying from post to post along the reserve side of the sea wall. Tawny also heard from car park. Lyn Waters Friday 16-Oct-2009 Mill Common, Undy 7 Swallows flying south last evening Keith Jones Thursday 15-Oct-2009 Wentwood Walked mid morning from the reservoir to Five Paths via Nine Wells, west to Little Oak via Cadira Beeches, and completing at Parc Seymour by way of Wentwood Gate. Rather typical of the time of year, long periods of silence with isolated pockets of activity. Just 28 species noted including 2 Great Crested Grebe, 12 Tufted Duck, 16 Coot, 2 Green Woodpecker, 7 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 39 Robin, 19 Blackbird, 3 Goldcrest, 29 Blue Tit, 17 Coal Tit, 2 Willow Tit (both together just east of Nine Wells), 17 Great Tit, 4 Nuthatch, 24 Chaffinch, 1 Siskin, 12 Redpoll, 17 Crossbills (all flying north in small groups), 10 Jay. chris hurn Wednesday 14-Oct-2009 GLWR Goldcliff shorteared owl flying along sea wall and on to goldcliff pill early today Keith Jones Wednesday 14-Oct-2009 Ponthir Reservoir At the reservoir this morning 3 Little Grebe, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Cormorant, and 37 Tufted Duck. Informed by a water board employee Kingfisher, and Goosanders, Pochard, are regulars during the winter months. Also last winter 4 Common Scoter briefly seen. Sam Bosanquet Wednesday 14-Oct-2009 Dingestow Court I've just (10:30am) had a probable Tawny Pipit east over Dingestow Court west drive. It called "chep", a bit like a deeper Grey Wagtail, so definitely wasn't Richards Pipit (which I know well from Scilly). Unfortunately I don't know Tawny's call so can't progress this any further, not that a single observer record of a flyover Tawny would be accepted by anyone anyway. The only other potential observer will me was asleep on my back and also doesn't know Tawny Pipit call as she's only 16 months old. Also a female Reed Bunting in the game crop by Bluedoor Farm, several Skylark flying over (also heading east for some reason) and a few Meadow Pipits. Keith Jones Tuesday 13-Oct-2009 Moorings Fields Newport At high tide this afternoon just 15 Lapwing, and 9 Common Redshanks at the roost, also on the river, 6 Mallard, 2 Common Sandpipers, and 2 Reed Bunting. At the flooded field just 10 Teal, 4 Common Snipe, but few gulls. tony & jan jenkins Tuesday 13-Oct-2009 Tidenham Raven roost - On an evening walk around Tidenham Chase, we noted, 5 ravens flying to roost on the tall scots pines around the heathland but with one bird croaking persistently, appearing to call other birds in, we eventually counted a total of 40 plus birds flying in by sunset, mostly in twos and threes and from a south-east direction. Matt Broome Tuesday 13-Oct-2009 Pentrepoeth Rd/ Rhiwderin Circa. 50-60 Skylark over the fields above Cwm Hedd Trout Lakes this Morn, with more on the ground. Redwing calling over Rhiwderin Heights this evening. Mal Jenkins Tuesday 13-Oct-2009 Pontypool Golf Course 9 Fieldfare feeding on berries this morning. Ed Stevens Tuesday 13-Oct-2009 Caldicot Pill mid afternoon walk along caldicot pill, 1 merlin, 2 meadow pipit, 2 stonechat, 364 black-headed gull, 22 common gull, 5 herring gull, 5 lesser black backed gull, 68 mallard, 21 wigeon, 7 shelduck, 107 oystercatcher, 17 turnstone and 3 grey heron. Many more ducks and gulls offshore. chris hurn Monday 12-Oct-2009 GLWR Goldcliff thirty plus fieldfare flying east at goldcliff this morning Adrian Meredith Monday 12-Oct-2009 Goldcliff Late report of 3 spotted redshank and a single greenshank at sea wall end. Big Thank You to Brian from Cwmbran for the informative chat and the lift to Caerleon but no sign of pec-sand. John Evans Monday 12-Oct-2009 Magor Barn Owl flew across the M4 at 19.34 last night near the Magor services. Chris Jones Sunday 11-Oct-2009 Goldcliff Lagoons Single ringtail Hen Harrier which quartered around the lagoons briefly before heading off east. Also single Spotted Redshank and a Greenshank. Chris Jones Sunday 11-Oct-2009 Caerleon Flooded Field 2 Shoveler were the highlight this morning as well as a single Redwing. At the nearby Moorings, a single Redwing also as well as a Stonechat and a Common Sandpiper on the river Craig Constance&Little Dai Sunday 11-Oct-2009 Pontypool area and St Brides Yesterday;2 Hen Harrier(1 pos female first winter and 1 adult male together)1 Red Kite,10 Snipe and 1 escaped male peacock.Today no sign of the Pec Sand at Caerleon nor the Dartford warbler at St Brides but we did see 1 Golden Plover,42 Avocet,1 Peregrine also 20 Skylark,15 meadow Pipit,3 Reed Bunting,2 Redpoll,5 Linnet,20 Siskin,2 Lapwing going over north. Keith Jones Sunday 11-Oct-2009 Goldcliff Lagoons Walked to the sea wall at high tide this morning. Although too wet and windy for the passerines, count produced: 2 Little Grebe, 3 Grey Heron 5 Little Egret, 3 Mute Swan, 45 Shelduck, 12 Teal, 28 Wigeon, 24 Mallard, 61 Shoveler, 2 Moorhen, 90 Lapwing, 5 Ringed Plover, 1 Grey Plover, 2 Golden Plover, 25 Black Tailed Godwit, 1 Curlew Sandpiper, 155 Dunlin, 41 Knot, 1 Green Sandpiper, 2 Little Stint, 3 Common Snipe, and 1 Whimbrel, Hadyn Jones Saturday 10-Oct-2009 Collister to 2nd Severn Bridge This morning at 2nd Severn Crossing 1 Dark-bellied Brent Goose and over 140 Oystercatchers. At Collister 1 Golden Plover, 1 Bar-Tailed Godwit,90 Lapwing,1 Whimbrel,14 Little Egrets,6 Wheatear,2 Pintail,157 Wigeon,6 Chiffchaff and 1 Cetti's Warbler near Magor Pill, being the more interesting sightings. Also numbers of Skylarks moving west and a flock of over 100 Linnet at West Pill. Roo Saturday 10-Oct-2009 Caerleon Flooded Field Tried the field early pm (golf course side and from the green house), but only a handful of Teal present, no Snipe and certainly no Pec. Guess the birds had been pushed off that am, maybe back next high tide? Thanks for directions. Keith Jones Saturday 10-Oct-2009 Caerleon Flooded Field One of those mornings at high tide I’m afraid. By the time I reached the field I found a vehicle parked on the SW corner of the pool with an individual on foot. Decided to walk to The Moorings, but as I got there a pleasure boat passed and all the waders were driven down stream. Clive Ellis Friday 09-Oct-2009 Spytty,Newport 20+ Swallow heading down river this afternoon Holly Friday 09-Oct-2009 OOC - Waterton Bridgend Out of County I know but I've never seen this there... Single female red kite above the dual carriageway near South Wales Police HQ at Waterton, being mobbed by 2 Jackdaws Mathew Meehan Friday 09-Oct-2009 West Usk Light House St Brides Dartford Warbler still showing well with Stonechat in scrub/bramble by white post this morning at 11am Keith Jones Friday 09-Oct-2009 Caerleon Flooded Field Of note at the flooded field this morning 30 Teal, 1 Stock Dove, but no trace of the Pec or any wader come to that. A good deal of mud along the river was exposed so waders could be elsewhere. Although I didn’t have time this morning there is a reasonable high tide wader roost that could be worth looking at on the Caerleon side of the river at NGR ST 329 904. This is viewable from the (Moorings) river bank just north of Chichester Close. Also of note at the flooded field if you follow the lane down from the green house there are closer views of the field to be had. The one is a convenient pile of chippings, and further along at the houses there is a reasonable view of the SW corner of the field. John Evans Thursday 08-Oct-2009 Caerleon Flooded Field Pectoral Sandpiper seen at 1210 from Caerleon Road, near the green coloured house looking across the river, in the bottom left hand corner of the pool. It was staying fairly close to a group of Snipe the entire time I saw it. Also a single Swallow over at 1150 and a few singing Chiffchaff near the golf club. Keith Jones Thursday 08-Oct-2009 Caerleon Flooded Field NGR of the flooded field Roo is ST 335 899, view as per Chris Jones's instructions, or to the south from the B4596 Newport - Caerleon Road Roo Thursday 08-Oct-2009 Caerleon Flooded Field Anyone got a grid ref for the Pec sand site, can finally get to go on Sat. Cheers. saw the reports on swallows - been trawling as part of my work offshore (OOC - Sully island, Glamorgan) this week and had 100s past Mon and Weds but none at all on Tuesday. Also 100s of M/pipits and Pied wags and a few finches. Roger Price Thursday 08-Oct-2009 Peterstone Wentlooge 9.00am for the tide. Pale Bellied Brent Goose,Whimbrel,Wheatear,Sparrow Hawk,Kestrel,some Swallow movement,small numbers of Meadow Pipit,c. 200 Goldfinch. John O'Sullivan Thursday 08-Oct-2009 Gollers Don't know what this hill is called but this is what the locals call it. It is the hill on the right hand side of Bassaleg road (as you go into town) that overlooks the gwent levels to the south and the road from Tredegar park to Risca to the north. Been calling in this week in the morning on the way to work. Had overflying Siskin, Redpoll, greenfinch, goldfinch, chaffinch, Skylark, Mipit, Pied wagtail, Grey wagtail, Sparrowhawk, Buzzard, mute swan, Grey heron, Cormarant, Jay, Lots of swallows for this time of year (50+ in an hour) on Wednesday. Loads of Longtailed tit and chiffchaffs on the ground with a few goldcrests. Interesting looking spot with some potential. Nathan Casburn Thursday 08-Oct-2009 West Usk Light House St Brides A few pics of todays Dartford now on www.weekendbirder.blogspot.com Maurice Chown Thursday 08-Oct-2009 St Brides Wentloo The Dartford Warbler was first seen today at about 10.00am. Also 31 Swallows heading NE, 2 Wheatears and lots of Skylarks and meadow Pipits. Has anyone tried to count the Collared Doves in this area? Could well go into 3 figures. Nathan Casburn Thursday 08-Oct-2009 West Usk Light House St Brides Dartford Warbler still late mornining.At the Lighthouse walk left towards rivermouth and dock gates.The bird was favouring the scrub below sea wall just after the white and red pole. Lyn Waters Thursday 08-Oct-2009 Mill Common, Undy 5 Swallows over Common yesterday evening Andrew Jones Wednesday 07-Oct-2009 Pontypool Golf Course Three Housemartins over the 1st fairway at about 2.30 pm. steve Wednesday 07-Oct-2009 Brynithel Had a single Swallow this morning feeding for a few minutes, before carrying on with his journey south. Nathan Casburn Wednesday 07-Oct-2009 Goldcliff Pools 2 Whooper Swans dropped in for 20 minutes this morning before flying off NE. Pec Sand still at the Caerleon Wet Field this evening. Allan Dowson Wednesday 07-Oct-2009 Goldcliff Pools NR 10h15-11h40 4-Grey Plovers,5-Swallows,100+ Black'Wits,100+ Knot,3-Spotted Redshanks,3-Greenshanks and 12-Ringed Plovers.Most birds were on the most south-east lagoon and only visible from the sea wall.The three Spotted Redshanks were swimming and upending to feed,duck fashion,and looking for all intents and purposes like synchronised swimmers!! timberbear Wednesday 07-Oct-2009 Parkwall Roundabout, Crick First of the winter lapwings seen in the fields just before Parkwall roundabout, just up from Crick. Numbers last year got into the 250's so fingers crossed. Keith Jones Wednesday 07-Oct-2009 Peterstone Wentlooge Walked from the village to the Gout at first light 33 species noted including 3 Little Egret, 1 Mute Swan, 30 Teal, 18 Wigeon, 56 Mallard, 8 Pintail, 14 Curlew, 2 Whimbrel, 90 Common Redshanks, 1 Spotted Redshanks, 43 Black Headed Gull, 1 Great Black Backed Gull,, 1 Common Tern flying west, 1 Cetti’s Warbler, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Wheatear, 34 Carrion Crow. And 1 Raven. Work still continues around the gout area. Ruth Brown Tuesday 06-Oct-2009 Castle, Abergavenny 17.50: just had a Parakeet circling round. Bad light, so couldn't specify type. Llanwenarth: general sightings during the week include up to 8 red-head Goosanders, 3 Dippers fighting over territory, and singing, 5 Grey Wags, Mute Swans now have only 1 cygnet, 5 Moorhens ( but no Little Grebes yet), Kingfisher, 2 Siskins,Green and GS Woodpeckers,Mistle Thrushes, etc. Keith Jones Sunday 04-Oct-2009 Ynysyfro Reservoir A late afternoon count produced 2 Little Grebe, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Mute Swan, 2 Mallard, 37 Tufted Duck, 1 Pochard, and 163 Coot. Tony & Jan Jenkins Sunday 04-Oct-2009 R. Usk, Gobion Walk alongside river, east to Pantygoitre bridge, 2 kingfishers, 2 green sands, 1 common sand, egret, grey heron, goosander, sparrowhawk, cormerant, buzzard, raven, 12 linnets, 2 grey wags, 4 dabchick,1 gsw,5 moorhen and does anyone know anything about the shingle bank excavations on the Bryn - Gobion section ? Nicholas Beswick Sunday 04-Oct-2009 mynydd llangattock Ringtail Hen Harrier hunting over the east end of the mountain near the Lonely Shepherd late afternoon mark davies Sunday 04-Oct-2009 Llanwenarth 1st moorhen I have seen on the river for several months & 3 dipper . Also little owl enjoying the afternoon sun allan dowson Sunday 04-Oct-2009 Goldcliff reserve birds of note,11h30-12h30 4-greenshanks,1-spotted redshank. John Bennett Sunday 04-Oct-2009 Llandegfedd Reservoir Female Mandarin seen from the dam near the Mallard flock and a late swallow at Usk bridge . Also 4 Bearded tits showed well at Uskmouth in SE corner of reedbed . Adrian Plant Sunday 04-Oct-2009 Peterstone Gout 2 little stints amongst 155 redshank on the Gout at high tide.No sign of the spotted redshank. On the mud just 1 whimbrel. Overhead 42 siskins passing west; a stonechat, several chiffchaff and a couple of swallows & brief bursts of song from 2 cetti's warbler Ed Stevens Sunday 04-Oct-2009 Sudbrook Mid morning a sandwich tern was percehed on small rock in the mud on shore about half way between Sudbrook and Black Rock. Also 1 curlew, 1 little egret and 1 rock pipit Chris Jones, Nathan Casburn, Craig Constance Saturday 03-Oct-2009 Goldcliff Point Seawatch between about 3:00 - 17:30 produced just a single very distant Manx Shearwater and a group of Kittiwakes Mike Warburton Saturday 03-Oct-2009 A465 rassau,ebbw vale. 11.30 am.My first Fieldfares of the winter were a group of about 15 flying and settling in a field next to the A465. Chris Jones Saturday 03-Oct-2009 Caerleon Flooded Field Pec Sand still present this morning until about 11:00 at least. For access, park in the car Park for the Caerleon golf course and view from the fence by the green metal sheds. The bird seems to favour the right hand corner and is usually with a large number of Snipe. Please let them know in the club house that you have parked in the car park Adrian Plant Friday 02-Oct-2009 Sluice Farm Pronounced visible migration in the first part of the morning which dropped off rapidly after 10:00. A one hour count from 08:00 to 09:00 revealed westward movements of 400 meadow pipit, 40 pied wagtail, 1 yellow wagtail, 3 grey wagtail, 46 greenfinch, 20 chaffinch, 44 goldfinch. also 15 skylarks, mostly moving east. On the ground a single stonechat but not much on the mud Chris Jones Friday 02-Oct-2009 Caerleon Flooded Field A rarity at long last on the flooded field this evening with a Pectoral Sandpiper that was present until dusk. Other waders present included 55+ Snipe, 60+ Redshank, 90+ Lapwing and 300+ Canada Geese. Keith Jones Friday 02-Oct-2009 Bulmore Lakes A walk early morning from the lakes to Caerleon produced a count of 40 species including 4 ad 1 juv Great Crested Grebe, 10 Cormorant, 3 Grey Heron, 10 Mute Swan, 36 Teal, 33 Mallard, 2 Goosander, 2 Buzzard, 1 Pheasant, 11 Moorhen, 12 Coot, 108 Black Headed Gull, 4 Common Gull, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 singing Cetti’s Warbler (first at this location), 26 Robin, 1 Goldcrest, 7 Long Tailed Tit, 1 Tree Creeper, 3 Jay, 1 Raven. Also of note a bridge over the River Usk south of Sor Mill Farm at NGR ST 352 913 is in the process of construction. Keith Jones Thursday 01-Oct-2009 Moorings Fields Newport Walked loop of the River Usk late afternoon at high tide. Birds of note include 2 Teal, 14 Mallard, 10 Lapwing, 16 Common Redshanks, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Little Owl. At the flooded field 85 Canada Geese, 26 Teal, 24 Mallard, 136 Lapwing, 22 Common Redshanks, 6 Common Snipe, 1 Little Stint, and just 53 Black Headed Gull. Mike Pointon Thursday 01-Oct-2009 Newport Wetlands - Goldcliff Spotted Redshank 3 Redshank 12 Greenshank 6 Avocet 6 Oystercatcher 10 Lapwing 60 Liitle Grebe 5 Shoveler 50 Teal 80 Wigeon 10 Little Egret 6 Kestrel 2 Sparrowhawk 1 Tawny Owl 1 Swallow 30 White wagtail 2 Pied Wagtail 8 Grey Wagtail 1 Wheatear 1. Very few birds in front of VP 1&2 as the water level is to high for smaller waders to feed. Also Migrant Hawker Ruddy Darter Painted Lady Small Copper Large White and Red Admiral. Martyn Jones Wednesday 30-Sep-2009 Peterstone Mid afternoon. Single Spotted Redshank mixed in with 62 Redshank and small number Dunlin. Also 2 Kingfisher and 1 GS Woodpecker around Gout. Phil Wednesday 30-Sep-2009 Newport Wetlands - Uskmouth Viewed on the mudflats late afternoon 22 Wigeon 63 Oystercatcher 67 Black Headed Gull 17 Curlew 14 Dunlin 3 little Egret 1 Cormorant flying overhead and 1 Hobby flying around reserve with good views of it perched on pylon when leaving reserve at 5.20pm Matt Hicks Wednesday 30-Sep-2009 Penmaen Woods, Oakdale Red Kite circling overs woods at 12:55. Kevin Dupé Wednesday 30-Sep-2009 Goldcliff Lagoons There will be some disturbance at Goldcliff Lagoons on Thursday, between 12.30 and 13.30pm. This is due to essential monitoring work. Steve Wednesday 30-Sep-2009 Brynithel The Housemartins were feeding up until Sunday, but they now seem to have left the nest, i only hope they are strong enough for there long trip ahead Barry Ingram Tuesday 29-Sep-2009 Dewstow Golf Club, Caldicot Played golf today, every oak tree appeared to have a jay in it. Their are a lot of acorns this year so I would assume that they were the attraction. Peter O'Duffy Tuesday 29-Sep-2009 Mynydd Maen A.M. One female/juv Hen Harrier,also one Red Grouse. Jackie H Tuesday 29-Sep-2009 Blaenavon One solitary Swallow still feeding above farmland in Forge Side. All the House Martins and Wheatear seems to have gone. Monday 28-Sep-2009 Blaen-y-cwm quarry One Red Kite,also Peregrine,Buzzard and Kestrel Chris and Julie West Sunday 27-Sep-2009 Uskmouth Sunday 12 noon. Hobby catching and eating dragonfly on the wing. 4 wheatear on sea wall. tony & jan jenkins Sunday 27-Sep-2009 st pierre pill walk from chepstow along foreshore to st pierre pill then to hayes gate and st pierre great wood :- 80-100 redshank at the pill, kestral, sparrowhawk and 2 gsw at st pierre, 250 linnets plus single chaffinch and goldfinch at grain field near Willis tump, nuthatch in the wood and peregrine flying over from foreshore towards chepstow, dipper on mounton brook. Dawson Hulme Sunday 27-Sep-2009 six bells mountain blackbird, song thrush, robin, great tit, blue tit, coal tit, wren, dunnock, siskin, chaffinch, greenfinch, bullfinch, jackdaw, jay, magpie, carrion crow, raven, stonechat, wheatear, green woodpecker, meadow pipit, skylark, and the highlight of the day male sparrowhawk. mark davies Sunday 27-Sep-2009 Llanwenarth 2 swallows over farm just as you turn off main road for llanwenart Eddie Wang Sunday 27-Sep-2009 Peterstone Wentlooge 0950-1115: low tide. Spent most of the time in and around the village. Still and warm! 6+ Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcap, 2 Coal Tit, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Jay flew through heading west, so a few unusual species for here. Nothing unusual on the marsh/mudflats - distant Curlew, Shelduck, Oystercatcher, Lapwing. Peter O'Duffy Saturday 26-Sep-2009 Waun Wen Mid day;21Ravens on thermals above Six Bells. Mark Stevens Saturday 26-Sep-2009 Mon-Brecon Canal, Malpas Single ring necked parakeet seen in area of Moxon Road being chased by jackdaw. Marc Hughes and Ian Keith Thursday 24-Sep-2009 Newport Wetlands Needed Bearded Tit for my Welsh list so headed down to Newport Wetlands today from North Wales. Cracking views of up to 11 Beardies here. Marsh Harrier, a super hunting Hobby and several Cetti's warblers made it a worthwhile trip. Julian Branscombe Thursday 24-Sep-2009 Orkney Sorry, once the light goes here, there is nothing to do but drink and send irreverent e-mails and website postings. I am missing you folk, honest, but it'll probably take another month or two for me to miss woodland birds, given that the one bush per square mile up here will probably contain dusky warbler or Hume's yellow-browed when the wind turns easterly in October. If anyone wants to get in touch, I am on julianbranscombe@yahoo.com. Sorry to abuse the website, and all the best, Julian Thursday 24-Sep-2009 I bet you are Julian! LOL Julian Branscombe Thursday 24-Sep-2009 Orkney American golden plover at Deerness this morning, and nice views of Sandhill Crane on South Ron yesterday morning. The adult rosy starling at Birsay on Sunday morning was lovely too. Oh, what, you mean this is not the Orkbirds website? Sorry . . . Still, I am really missing jay, magpie, carrion crow, tits, goldfinch and nuthatch - I look forward to coming back to Gwent soon to catch up with people and birds. Julian Mike Warburton Thursday 24-Sep-2009 Silent Valley Nature Reserve 17.30-19.00 All the usual species present along with a Wren feeding at least four recently fledged juveniles in some gorse and a fresh Peregrine kill (Carrion Crow) on the hill. Steve Wednesday 23-Sep-2009 Brynithel on the way to work this afternoon seen, pair of House Martins still feeding young. Tom Dalrymple Wednesday 23-Sep-2009 GLWR Goldcliff Due to essential monitoring work there is likely to be some disturbance on the lagoons between 8:30 and 9:30 tomorrow morning. Tom Chinnick Tuesday 22-Sep-2009 River Wye Drake Mandarin still this morning with 3 Mallard, take footpath south toward Llandogo from Bigsweir bridge to view. Timberbear Monday 21-Sep-2009 LEECHPOOL HOLDINGS All four Barn Owls chicks fledged, one was predated by a Sparrowhawk. Juv's now using new boxes on nearby farmland. Parent birds seen and heard after dark most nights. Occasional family get togethers are still seen at sunrise. Tawny and Little owl seen last night. Mal Jenkins Monday 21-Sep-2009 Lasgarn Lane, Pontypool Peregrine, bullfinch, 2 Mistle Thrush, 30+ Pied Wagtail (at the Golf course), Robin, Dunnock, 3 Black-headed Gull, Buzzard, Wren, Wood Pigeon, Raven. tony & jan jenkins Sunday 20-Sep-2009 Llandogo single drake mandarin observed along the river wye near llandogo Mike and Jackie Pointon Sunday 20-Sep-2009 Newport Wetlands - Goldcliff To add to CJ sightings. Hen Harrier a female seen hunting then it flew below the height of the first VP before thermalling away north east. Wheatear 5 Yellow Wagtail 2 White Wagtail 1 Meadow Pipit 40 Rock Pipit 1. Also seen; Marsh Harrier female reported by Dave Wall. Migrant Hawker 3 Common Hawker 1 Common Darter 8 Adrian Plant Sunday 20-Sep-2009 Sluice Farm 300+meadow pipits, several fly by yellow wagtail, reed bunting and skylark, 4 wheatear left over from yesterday when there was marked movement of skylarks and c 420 meadow pipit more or less hanging around the saltmarsh and c 800 hirundines feeding over it. Steve Williams Sunday 20-Sep-2009 Ponthir Reservoir 48 Tufted Duck, 7 Coot, 3 Mallard, a single Great Crested Grebe, 5 Little Grebe, 2 Canada Goose, 2 singing Chiffchaff, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 30+ House Martin, 6 Pied Wagtail. Ray Evans Sunday 20-Sep-2009 caldicot to 2nd severn bridge Whinchat 2 juv, pair of Stonechat, Wheatear, 15+ Linnet, 20+ Meadow Pipit, 200+ Shell Duck all on the High Tide. Chris Jones Sunday 20-Sep-2009 Goldcliff Lagoons Similar selction of waders to yesterday, 43 Avocet, 250+ Black-tailed Godwits, 5 Greenshank, 4 Little Stint, 4 Spotted Redshank, 2 Grey Plover and single Curlew Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper and a fly over Golden Plover. Quite a few Snipe flying around. Very few Swallows / House Martins moving this morning but several Siskins and 2+ Redpoll. A Reed Warbler was in the bushes by the parking area. Nicholas Beswick Saturday 19-Sep-2009 mynydd llangattock Peregrine, Kestrel, Red Grouse (4), Stonechat (7), Whinchat, Great Spotted Woodpecker (what was it doing out on the moor??), many Meadow Pipits, no Skylarks Martin Bell and Jonathon Evans Saturday 19-Sep-2009 Various Goldcliffe - highlights over high tide this am. Little Stint (2); Curlew Sand (1); Spot' Red' (4); Greenshank (5+); Green Sand' (1); Grey Plover (2 inc 1 still in summer plumage); Avocet (40); and a juv Whinchat. Caldicot Pill - Black Redstart (with a very crossed bill, probably accounting for mottly appearance), at least 10 Wheatear and 4, poss 5, juv Whinchat. Blorenge - Red Grouse (8-9) Andrew King Friday 18-Sep-2009 Llanhennock 24 Collared Dove in one apple tree. On the River Usk, 100+ Mallard, 4 Teal, 4 MSwan and a Cormorant. Only a trickle of hirundines, mostly north. John Edwards Friday 18-Sep-2009 Usk Usk Garden Centre House martins nest with very late chicks Keith Jones Friday 18-Sep-2009 Goldcliff Lagoons An early morning visit produced 34 species including 4 Little Egret, 24 Shelduck, 34 Teal, 4 Wigeon, 19 Mallard, 30 + Ringed Plover, 1 Grey Plover, 5 Lapwing, 60 Knot, 2 Little Stint, 140 + Dunlin, 1 Common Snipe, 160 Black Tailed Godwit, 3 Curlew, 1 Spotted Redshanks, 4 Greenshanks, 1 Wood Sandpiper, 1 Cetti’s Warbler, 2 singing Chiffchaff. Plus signs signifies mixed flock from first observation platform of which another third or so screened behind reed-bed. Mike Pointon Friday 18-Sep-2009 Newport Wetlands - Goldcliff Little Stint 2 juv's Ruff 2 Lapwing 30 Redshank 5 Pintial 6 Shoveler 12 Raven 2 Cetti's Warbler 1 Kestrel 3 Swallow 50. Clouded Yellow 1 Jon Bartlett Friday 18-Sep-2009 Llanwern Steel Works Mating pair of Peregrin Falcons observed for the last few years with young, nesting atop the ZODIAC Galvanising plant (big blue building with white vertical stripe). Gareth Blockley Thursday 17-Sep-2009 Goldcliff Pools NR ... and a Ruff Gareth Blockley Thursday 17-Sep-2009 Goldcliff Pools NR 06:00 to 18:30 - High tide c18:00. 2 Little stint, Green sandpiper, 4 Greenshank, 25 Redshank, Spotted redshank, Grey plover, 38 Avocet, 178 Knot, 113 Black-tailed godwit, 74 Dunlin (max from 3 groups), 7 Ringed plover, Kingfisher, 2 Wheatear, 4 Yellow wagtail, Rock pipit, c140 Curlew (estuary), c100 Shellduck (estuary). Keith Jones Thursday 17-Sep-2009 Caerleon Flooded Field Viewed the flooded field early morning, birds include 40 Teal, 25 Mallard, 14 Lapwing, 1 Mediterranean Gull, 201 Black Headed Gull, 15 Lesser Black Backed Gull, 23 Herring Gull, 1 Goldcrest, 1 female Bullfinch, 2 Jay, 1 Raven. Gareth Blockley Wednesday 16-Sep-2009 Goldcliff Pools NR 15:00 to 18:00 - High tide c17:10. 1 Little stint (seen before wader roost from 1st screen and may have left with Dunlin later), 1 Ruff, 4 Greenshank, 7 Redshank, 158 Knot, c90 Dunlin (left before counted), 191 Black tailed godwit, 1 Bar tailed godwit, 3 Ringed plover, 21 Avocet (circled but didn't land then flew west), 7+ Snipe, Little grebe, 8 Wheatear, 3 Yellow wagtail, 31 Shellduck + many teal and shoveller. Gareth Jenkins Wednesday 16-Sep-2009 Peterstone Gout On the grass next to the sea, south of Peterstone, 2 Little Egret and 2 or 3 juvenile Wheatear amongst the rocks of the sea wall. Keith Jones Tuesday 15-Sep-2009 Ponthir Reservoir An early afternoon visit produced 3 Little Grebe, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Cormorant, 49 Tufted Duck, 3 Coot, 1 Common Snipe, 1 Grey Wagtail, 2 Pied Wagtail, 2 White Wagtail, 6 Raven. Mal Jenkins Tuesday 15-Sep-2009 Trevethin, Pontypool Red Kite low over the house heading North above Pontypool Golf Course at 1700 today. Also a few Chiffchaffs in song around the area. roo Tuesday 15-Sep-2009 anywhere selectively neutral polymorphism! wowsa, does that mean effectively summit that doesnt matter evolutionary-wise, hence the variation? really did sound like a YBW as i dashed out very much hoping it was, but was just a chiffy. was very dark green though. new race P. c. pontypoolensis. Matt Broome Tuesday 15-Sep-2009 Goldcliff Pools 10.30-12.15: 3 Ruddy Shelduck with Shelduck infront of first platform when I arrived, which had gone by the time i'd walked back from the seawall. 4 Wigeon on lagoons, Numerous House Martin & Swallow passing through, 2 Greenshank, 1 Green Sandpiper, 2 Wheatear on Seawall. Darryl Spittle Monday 14-Sep-2009 FAO Chris Hurn Chris, can you provide a bit more info re the identification? Have you got a photo? How many people have seen it, time of observation, etc? Cheers, Darryl chris hurn Monday 14-Sep-2009 Goldcliff reserve this afternoon to my suprise i watched a female northen flicker i have never see a bird like this before it was feeding on berries near the old rail truck by no 2 platform John O'Sullivan Monday 14-Sep-2009 I've seen two chiffchaffs recently with repetitive odd calls. One at Pye corner I initially thought was going to be a great tit with an odd call, very strident repeated piping call the second one with a repeated wagtail like di-sylabic call at Goldcliff. Both when eventually seen well were perfectly ordinary looking chiffs. Matt Broome Monday 14-Sep-2009 Coc-Y-North lane/Rhiwderin Female Redstart this morn along the lane, 5 Swallow, Wood Pigeon numbers increasing in stubble fields above Cwm Hedd Trout lakes. FAO Rupert Monday 14-Sep-2009 There is a fair bit of variety in Chiff calls at this time of year, in addition to the standard 'hweep', there are plenty (I'd bet almost entirely juvs/1st-winters) that produce a 'tsee-oo' and/or a monosyllabic 'peep' or 'heep'. Must admit though, they don't sound like YBW to me. The general plumage tone is variable within, as well as across, populations/age classes - the joy of selectively neutral polymorphism, soak it up :-) Verity Picken Monday 14-Sep-2009 Llangybi area Twenty Mistle Thrushes in a single tree this morning. Roo Perkins Monday 14-Sep-2009 Pentrepiod/Pontypool Interesting Chiffchaff turned up in the garden, dark green and distinctive contact call of tsu-ee, metallic and not unlike harsher form of Yellow-browed. Chiffchaff that bred locally this year still around na dcalling a lot, sound completely different and typical duller brown colour. Keith Jones Sunday 13-Sep-2009 Waunafon bog Single female Hen Harrier on post close to the road at 1530hrs. At Moorings on Friday 4th September a Mink. Keith Jones Sunday 13-Sep-2009 Waunafon bog A female Hen Harrier sat on a post at 1530hrs not too far from the road doing very little. Allan Dowson Sunday 13-Sep-2009 Goldcliff Pools NR 08h30-09h50;5-Greenshanks,1-Green Sandpiper,3-Snipe,5-Wheatears,2-Little Stints,9-Avocets on tide-line,1-Grey Plover in breeding plumage,8+ Little Egrets. Mike Powell Saturday 12-Sep-2009 Goldcliff Pools NR Bit poor this morning but 2 Little Stints & 2 Whinchats about the best. Peter Howlett Saturday 12-Sep-2009 Goldcliff Pools NR 150 Redshank, 100 Black-tailed Godwit, 70 Teal, 60 Lapwing, 8 Little Egret, 4 Greenshank, 2 Avocet, 1 Spotted Redshank, 1 Curlew Sandpiper, 1 Green Sandpiper, 4 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Wheatear, 8 Chiffchaff, 2 Raven Keith Jones Saturday 12-Sep-2009 Wentwood Walked mid morning from Parc Seymour up to Little Oak, east to Five Paths via Cadira Beeches, completing at the reservoir by way of Nine Wells. This produced a count of 36 species including 2 Great Crested Grebe, 8 Mallard, 1 Hobby, 2 Buzzard, 14 Coot, 11 Wood Pigeon, 5 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Blackcap, 1 singing Chiffchaff, 34 singing Robin, 2 Mistle Thrush, 4 Goldcrest (including 1 singing), 41 Blue Tit, 23 Coal Tit (including 9 singing), 3 Marsh Tit, 3 Nuthatch, 2 Tree Creeper, 2 Bullfinch, 6 Siskin, 3 Redpoll, 7 Jay, and 3 Raven. Peter O'Duffy Saturday 12-Sep-2009 Mynydd maen/Mynydd Henylls Two,probable three Hen Harriers(female-juv.)seen approx.12.30-13.00hrs Jeff Hall Friday 11-Sep-2009 UK A group of eight buzzards soaring on thermals over Magor this morning. They gained height together and then dispersed in different directions. Graham Collins Friday 11-Sep-2009 Treowen, Newbridge This morning a red kite above fflorens road being mobbed by jackdaws Adrian PLant Thursday 10-Sep-2009 Peterstone Gout Strong passage of hirundines in late afternoon, all heading east into the wind and mostly swallows. A sample 30 min count (16:50-17:20) produced 511 swallow and 7 house martin Andrew King Thursday 10-Sep-2009 Oldcastle/Hatterall Hill 3 Kestrel and 6 Buzzard on the ridge. On the farmland, family of Stonechat, Spotted Flycatcher, Chiffchaffs, Green Woodpecker, and a Hare. On the Monnow, Dipper (incl song) and 2 Grey Wagtails Gareth Blockley Thursday 10-Sep-2009 Redwick village At least two Tawny owls and a Little owl calling this evening. Gareth Blockley Thursday 10-Sep-2009 Goldcliff Pools NR Late afternoon. 1 Curlew sandpiper, 2 Spotted redshank, 4 Greenshank, 1 Redshank, 1 Whinchat, c8 Yellow wagtail. Eddie Wang Thursday 10-Sep-2009 Peterstone Wentlooge 0950-1030 - just popped in. Lots of migrants in and around the village. At least 6 Chiffchaff, 1 Willow Warbler and steady movement of hirundines (mainly Swallow and House Martin) eastward. 2 Sparrowhawk also heading east following M'pits. 3 Whimbrel from the seawall. Also 1 Coal Tit in the village. Brian Thomas Thursday 10-Sep-2009 Newport Wetlands - Goldcliff 10.30-12.00 third platform: Curlew sandpiper , knot, dunlin, greenshank, snipe, redshank, black tailed godwit, sparrowhawk, kestrel, buzzard, red kite. Also reported - merlin, hobby, winchat. Keith Jones Wednesday 09-Sep-2009 Uskmouth A walk around the lagoons at high tide this morning produced just 30 species including 11 Little Grebe, 1 Little Egret, 2 Mute Swan, 95 Mallard, 30 Tufted Duck, 1 ad 1 juv Buzzard, 37 Moorhen, 98 Coot, 175 Black Headed Gull, 1 Little Owl, 10 Cetti’s Warbler, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 singing Chiffchaff, 3 juv Bearded Tits, 1 Nuthatch, 5 Reed Bunting. Nathan Casburn,Craig Constance,Llandegfedd Rangers Tuesday 08-Sep-2009 Llandegfedd Reservoir After watching the remains of 20+ Common terns from this afternoon a flock of 70+ Common Terns with a few Arctic came in from the NE and tried to land on the boats at the dam end.After a few failed attempts they all flew off High to the SW leaving just 1 Common on the boats and 8 around at the fish nets. Gareth Blockley Tuesday 08-Sep-2009 Goldcliff Pools NR Mid-afternoon. 1 Redstart (female), 2 Greenshank, 2 Redshank, 12 Shoveller, 3 Snipe, 1+ Yellow wag (very mobile) Eddie Wang Tuesday 08-Sep-2009 Just a potential heads up. Rob Mitchell on the Glamorgan website picked up a Phyllosc with a call like a Greenish Warbler at the Heliport, moving east on Monday. Gareth Blockley Monday 07-Sep-2009 Goldcliff Pools NR Evening visit by visiting birder. 3 Ringed Plover, 1 Dunlin, 4 Greenshank, 1 Redshank, 5+ Snipe, 2 Shoveller, 1 Cetti's warbler Keith Jones Monday 07-Sep-2009 Peterstone Wentlooge Walked from the village to the gout at the morning tide, rather quiet due perhaps to the dredging operations which continues at the gout. A count of 32 species including 3 Little Egret, 69 Shelduck, 1 Teal, 41 Mallard, 1 Buzzard, just 30 fly past Common Redshanks, 2 Whimbrel, 230 Black Headed Gulls, 2 Great Black Backed, 35 Swallow, 2 singing Chiffchaff, 44 Goldfinch. The only other issue after weeks of relative silence, winter territorial song of the Robin seemed to have started again with 13 singing birds along the walk. allan dowson Monday 07-Sep-2009 Goldcliff Pools 14h30-15h50 4-greenshanks,5-yellow wagtails,6-snipe Verity Picken Monday 07-Sep-2009 Chain Bridge At least 1000 Swallows, mostly flying very high. John Davies Sunday 06-Sep-2009 Goldcliff Lagoons 2 Spotted Reshank, 2 Greenshank, 2 Knot. Also a Hobby over the reserve car park, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, Cettis, Great Spot and Green Woodpecker. Hadyn Jones Sunday 06-Sep-2009 Caldicot Pill Black Redstart female showing well at Caldicot Pill this morning plus 2 Grey Wagtails.Also 18 Knot at Collister,+ 1 Whimbrel,1 Wigeon,2 Grey Wagtails. Keith Jones Sunday 06-Sep-2009 Ynysyfro Reservoir Late afternoon count produced 2 Little Grebe, 2 Great Crsted Grebe, 1 Cormorant, 4 Mute Swan, 20 Canada Geese, 5 Mallard, 35 Tufted Duck, 3 Moorhen, 103 Coot, 2 Long Tailed Tit, and 40 Linnet. allan dowson Sunday 06-Sep-2009 Goldcliff Lagoons 14h30-16h00;1-curlew sandpiper,1-dunlin,2-spotted redshanks,2-greenshanks.also,this morning in my st.mellons back garden a female sparrowhawk took a house sparrow and ate it on the lawn. Maurice Chown Sunday 06-Sep-2009 GLWR Goldcliff About 30 minutes after Chris Left a flock of small waders flew in and included 1 Curlew Sand. Chris Jones Saturday 05-Sep-2009 Goldcliff Pools Over high tide this morning, single Ruff, Avocet and Green Sand, 3 Greenshank, 3 Turnstone, 140 Black-tailed Godwit, 200+ Dunlin and 30+ Ringed Plover. Quite a few Teal and Shoveler and 6 Pintail in amongst the wildfowl. Also single Peregrine and Sparrowhawk which took a Ringed Plover. Redstart along Boat lane. A trickle of passage going overhead included Swallow, House Martin, Grey and Yellow Wags. Nicholas Beswick Saturday 05-Sep-2009 hafod farm,brynmawr Hobby over mid-afternoon, Spotted Flycatcher (2), Chiffchaff (2) Adrian Plant Saturday 05-Sep-2009 Peterstone Gout 06:30-08:30 Swallows (239) & Housemartin (22) moving E in first half hour. Otherwise viz mig moving west included 15 grey wag, 19 yellow wag, 15 pied wag, 86 meadow pipit. Lots of finch activity but difficult to separate local flocks from those passing through... at least 44 linnet, 25 greenfinch 28 goldfinch and 3 chaffinch moving west. The Gout is being re-excavated so masses of disturbance expected 'till end of month when job will be completed apparently so only 2 whimbrel and 40 redshank about and haardly any shelduck Ed Stevens Saturday 05-Sep-2009 Caldicot Pill Late morning black redstart still along upper sea wall and concrete path at eastern end of Caldicot Pill.Also 1 female wheatear and pair of stonechat. Roo Perkins Friday 04-Sep-2009 Cardiff Seen from a moving car (as apssenger so watched closely) with no bins a v-shaped flock of flying all dark birds very high up over A48 east out of Cardiff - looked and flew exactly like Glossy Ibis. Birds flew east and disapeared behind treeline. Seeing the numbers of Glossy Ibis in Carmarthen makes me pretty sure thats what they were. Ed Stevens Friday 04-Sep-2009 Caldicot Pill This afternoon a female black redstart along concrete path at top of eastern end of caldicot pill, also 1 female wheatear. Just east of second severn bridge a stoat crossed the path carrying a dead juvenile black bird. Ed Stevens Friday 04-Sep-2009 Black Rock This morning spotted flycatcher at Black Rock. Yesterday afternoon a white wagtail on foreshore between Black Rock and Sudbrook. Yesterdat evening single teal and shovler on flooded yard of Sudbrook paper mill Keith Jones Friday 04-Sep-2009 Moorings Fields Newport Walked loop of Usk just north of the Moorings this morning at high tide. Count included 62 Canada Geese, 56 Lapwing, 46 Common Redshanks, 1 Green Sandpiper, 2 Common Sandpiper, 38 Black Headed Gull, 1 Reed Bunting. At the flooded field 40 Teal, 1 Common Sandpiper 216 Black Headed Gull, 3 Jay etc. Me Thursday 03-Sep-2009 A465 TREDEGAR 2 red kites quartering tradegar mountain first thing this morning, mobbed by 4 goldfinches, decided to cycle down the A465 where I saw 3 blackbirds, two turtle doves and a partridge in a pear tree - 4 penquins in tradegar lake (one juvenile) Keith Jones Thursday 03-Sep-2009 Goldcliff Lagoons Walking to the sea wall early morning produced 42 species in horrendous winds. Count included 1 Grey Heron, 4 Little Egret, 70 Shelduck, 45 Teal, 139 Mallard, 1 Moorhen, 5 Coot, 1 Oystercatcher, 1 Grey Plover, 17 Ringed Plover, 94 Black Tailed Godwit, 4 Common Redshanks, 12 Spotted Redshanks, 1 Common Sandpiper, 94 Dunlin, 3 Turnstone, 1 Common Snipe, 157 Black Headed Gull, 1 Green Woodpecker, 8 Swallow, 2 Grey Wagtail, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 (Singing) Willow Warbler, 1 Female Common Redstart, 6 Linnet, 10 Carrion Crow, 1 Raven etc. Eddie Wang Thursday 03-Sep-2009 Hi Adrian - I didn't think it had the white band across the neck, but I wasn't sure as I wasn't paying too much attention. More interested in the Sanderling! Like your description though - wierdo genetic monster! Doesn't look like either of the Breconshire birds either. Adrian Plant Thursday 03-Sep-2009 Eddie:- I took a basic description and crude sketch of the shelduck we saw on Monday. It was similar to the upper left bird image in darryl's blog but clearly different. The Peterstone bird had an all dark neck. The head was entirely dark except for a faintly paler mark behind the eye. Considering that there were 4-5 other 'shelduck' present with some form of aberration or another I don't think we should get too excited about this wierdo genetic monster. However, for fun, I pitch in with shelduck / bar-heded goose cross Darryl Spittle Wednesday 02-Sep-2009 Thanks to photos from Keith Noble in Breconshire there are more shelduck speculations at www.gwentbirding.blogspot.com Maurice Chown Wednesday 02-Sep-2009 Peterstone Gout I should have said the wings and body looked like a RUDDY Shelduck but missed out the word ruddy. Sorry. Eddie Wang Tuesday 01-Sep-2009 Re: Ruddy Shelduck sp. I think there are 2 knocking around. The light wasn't brilliant, but the one I saw yesterday seemed to have a dark head and looked similar to the photos on Darryl's blog, though I have to admit I didn't pay it enough attention to say it definitely was that bird. Thanks for the clarification Maurice - my mistaken assumption! Keith Jones Tuesday 01-Sep-2009 Bulmore Lakes Returning to Caerleon along the Bulmore Road from the lakes early morning produced 42 species including 1 Little Grebe, 4 ad 2 juv Great Crested Grebe, 1 Cormorant, 6 Mute Swan, 28 Canada Geese, 16 Mallard, 1 juv Buzzard, 7 Moorhen, 9 Coot, 12 Lapwing, 1 Common Redshanks, 1 Tawny Owl, 13 Wood Pigeon, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Green Woodpecker, 1 Reed Warbler, 2 Blackcap (one bird in sub song), 6 Sand Martin, 1 Marsh Tit, 4 Long Tailed Tit, 22 Goldfinch, 1 Raven. Darryl Spittle Tuesday 01-Sep-2009 Just FYI, there are two photos of the Shelduck x Ruddy (or Cape?) Shelduck from Goldcliff on my blog (just stick 'Gwent' and 'birding' into Google and use the 'blog archive' to find May 2006), I'd put a direct link on here but the message would be deleted. Kevin Dupé Tuesday 01-Sep-2009 Goldcliff Lagoons Management work on lagoon islands completed today, so no disturbance on Wednesday. Maurice Chown Tuesday 01-Sep-2009 Peterstone Gout Eddie the bird I saw was on 12th August. Nigel was also present. The body and wings were similar to a Shelduck but the head was greyish. I believe it has been around for some time but was previously in better plumage. It is not the Australian Shelduck which was at Goldcliff some time ago. I think it was a male Cape Shelduck and not a hybrid. chris hurn and keith thomas Tuesday 01-Sep-2009 Newport Wetlands Uskmouth this morning early otter with large eel giving good displays on lagoon 5 also male wheater on rocks near light house Mal Jenkins Tuesday 01-Sep-2009 Trevethin, Pontypool Single Hobby passing very low overhead heading west from the golf course at 0810 this morning Hadyn Jones Monday 31-Aug-2009 Collister to 2nd Severn Bridge Re Ruddy Shelduck sp. The bird I'm seeing is not a dark bird. Body colour is like Ruddy Shelduck but it does appear to have a greyish head, like Cape Shelduck when one gets closer but also has small amount of white around base of bill and eye.Are there 2 birds on estuary? Used to be a Pardise type Shelduck knocking around a couple of years ago. Eddie Wang Monday 31-Aug-2009 Maurice - you suggested South African. Could be that too, but it had a very dark head (perhaps because it's in eclipse!). Maybe it's just a weird cross! Eddie Wang & Adrian Plant Monday 31-Aug-2009 Peterstone Gout 1600 - 1730: On the rising tide - waders included 82 Oystercatcher, 30 Redshank, 11 Sanderling, 11 Ringed Plover, 5 Turnstone, 3 Dunlin, 2 Whimbrel and 2 Curlew. Duck counts included 465 Shelduck, 244 Mallard, 13 Shoveler and the dark rufous escaped Shelduck - Australian or Paradise? Doesn't quite seem to fit either perfectly but it is in eclipse. Also 2 Yellow Wagtail, 4 Swallow and lots of Chiffchaff in the scrub. Mal Jenkins Monday 31-Aug-2009 Trevethin, Pontypool Flock of 15-20 Pied Wagtails heading south over the house from the Golf Course. Keith Jones Monday 31-Aug-2009 Uskmouth A mid day walk around the lagoons produced just 29 species including 12 Little Grebe, 4 Little Egret, 6 ad 9 juv Mute Swan, 8 Shelduck, 46 Mallard, 1 Gadwall, 16 Tufted Duck, 2 Pochard, 1 male Kestrel, 34 Moorhen, 134 Coot, 2 Oystercatcher, 12 Curlew, 130 Black Headed Gull, 3 Reed Warbler, 7 Cetti’s Warbler, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 male Blackcap, 2 Swallow, 4 Reed Bunting. Nicholas Beswick Sunday 30-Aug-2009 hafod farm,brynmawr Red Kite over; Redstarts and Chiffchaff around farm Adrian Plant Sunday 30-Aug-2009 Peterstone Gout About 30-40 chifchaf in scrub around the gout this am. Some were trapped and ringed and these were all low weigth and lacking fat suggesting a recent (overnight) arrival. Also smaller no's of whitethroat, lesser whitethroat, blackcap & garden warbler. Only one tree pipit and one yellow wag overhead but a few parties of meadow pipit heading eastwards. 22 Black tailed godwit and only 8 redshank on the Gout Kevin Dupe Sunday 30-Aug-2009 Management at Goldcliff Lagoon Reserve staff will be clearing vegetation on the lagoon islands on Tuesday and possibly Wednesday this week. This is essential to maintain them as roosting sites ths winter and as wader breeding sites next spring. Roo Perkins Sunday 30-Aug-2009 Goldcliff Very quiet, Avocet (1), Snipe (3), Black t/gwit (45, Lapwing (34), usual common duck spp. and what was possibly a partial eclipsed male garganey distantly with sun behind (sun at last!). Hadyn Jones Saturday 29-Aug-2009 Magor Pill Hobby 1 juv,Turmstone 7, Ringed Plover 22,Whimbrel 4, Redshank 25,Wigeon 3,Yellow Wagtail 4,Tree Pipit 1, Grey Wagtail 2,Wheatear 4, Red-legged Partridge(inland) 1,Common Gull 10. Also 1 Ruddy/South African Shelduck hybrid probable - with greyish wash to head and neck but judging by the small white area at base of bill and around the eye it is probably a juvenile. Keith Jones Saturday 29-Aug-2009 Ponthir Reservoir A mid day visit produced 4 Little Grebe, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 40 Tufted Duck, 2 Buzzard, 2 Coot, 2 Raven etc. Thanks for your report of the 25th Steve, I didn’t know about this place. Maybe be worth checking on a regular basis. John Davies Friday 28-Aug-2009 Abergavenny Still have a lone Swift around the house, not sure if its returning to this years nest? Hadyn Jones Thursday 27-Aug-2009 Collister Pill to West Pill Late morning 15 Yellow Wagtails,14 Wheatear,3 Whimbrel,1 Kingfisher. Also at Goldcliff lagoons car park 1 Restart at 1.15 p.m. Luke Phillips Thursday 27-Aug-2009 Newport Wetlands - Goldcliff early morning: 1 Wood Sandpiper, 1 Garganey (on back lagoon), 1 Greenshank, 2 Green Sandpiper. Also good numbers of Yellow Wagtail and a few tree pipit passing overhead. Keith Jones Thursday 27-Aug-2009 Caerleon Flooded Field High tide at the flooded field this morning 20 Teal, 16 Mallard, 18 Lapwing, 18 Common Gull, 120 Black Headed Gull, 1 Mediterranean Gull, 18 Lesser Black Backed Gulls, and 23 Herring Gull. Flying down river at Caerleon yesterday PM 3 Spotted Redshanks. john hunt Wednesday 26-Aug-2009 computer just found a stunning sight you may be interested in arkive images of life on earth birds moths butterflies dragonflies ect great vidio clips have fun Jonathan Evans Tuesday 25-Aug-2009 Peterstone Gout 1400-1500. Mixed flock of tits and warblers working scrub bank on west side of gout. Of note were- 4 Whitethroat, 2 Blackcap, 2 Lesser Whitethroat & 6+ Chiffchaff. Common Sandpiper on outflow mud. Jonathan Evans Tuesday 25-Aug-2009 Goldcliff Lagoons Black Tern over 1st lagoon 9.30-10.00 then chased off along with waders and gulls by 2 juv Peregrines. 2 Wheatear along foreshore, Little Stint from sea wall. Small movement of Tree Pipits & Yellow Wagtails through. allan dowson Tuesday 25-Aug-2009 Goldcliff Lagoons 1-Wood Sandpiper from second platform on left side of island,14h00-15h30 Steve Williams Tuesday 25-Aug-2009 Ponthir Reservoir Quick lunchtime visit produced 3 little grebe, a single great crested grebe, 8 coot and 30 tufties. Andrew King Tuesday 25-Aug-2009 Bettws Newydd 5 Moorhen on a pond, and a Sedge Warbler in surrounding Juncus at lunchtime today Tom Forster Tuesday 25-Aug-2009 A48 near Crick 1 Hobby overhead. Keith Jones Tuesday 25-Aug-2009 Moorings Fields Newport A brief visit at high tide this morning because of rain produced 2 Grey Heron, 50 Lapwing, 29 Common Redshanks, 1 Green Samndpiper, 5 Common Sandpiper, 3 Reed Warbler, 1 Stonechat with little else of interest. Julian Ross Monday 24-Aug-2009 Sugar Loaf Pair of red kite giving fine early afternoon display over woods very near Sugar Loaf car park, Abergavenny. Chris Jones Monday 24-Aug-2009 re: various The Collister Pill roost is not the only Curlew roost on the estuary. These can also be found west of Peterstone, at St Brides, Goldcliff Pill and the Mathern foreshore. Ian Smith Monday 24-Aug-2009 Various THE Curlew roost is at Collister Pill and good numbers of Whimbrel can build up on the saltmarsh east of Black Rock. Chris Jones Monday 24-Aug-2009 St. Brides Wentlooge foreshore At the high tide roost this morning, 230+ Black-tailed Godwits, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 170+ Curlew, 70+ Oystercatcher, 5+ Whimbrel and <5 of each of Dunlin and Ringed Plover. Also 5+ Wheatear and several Yellow Wags in area. No sign however of the reported 'small' Curlew / Whimbrel seen on Saturday 22nd Aug. Verity Picken Monday 24-Aug-2009 Goldcliff Lagoons Wood Sandpiper, Little Stint and good numbers of waders close to the first platform this morning - but no small whimbrel. Ian from Bath Sunday 23-Aug-2009 Goldcliff Lagoons 10am Lesser Spotted Woodpecker seen alighting on one of small trees between car park and first blind. Seen for approximately one minute before it flew off in direction of willows adjacent to house. Rangers Sunday 23-Aug-2009 Llandegfedd Reservoir 27 Common Tern roosting on boats in front of Waterside office. Two Oystercatcher on dam wall. On 22/08/09 two Whimbrel. Norm Sunday 23-Aug-2009 Goldcliff Lagoons 19:30-20:15 1 Wood Sandpiper, 4 Greenshank, 4 Redshank, 20 Lapwing, 60 Teal, 40 Dunlin, 130 Black Tailed Godwit, 300 Curlew, 200 Black Headed Gull, 2 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 2 Raven, 1 Reed Warbler, 40 Shelduck, 2 Canada Goose, 6 Liitle Egret, 4 Grey Heron, 2 Gadwall, 5 Snipe. Plus, one fox that has penetrated the inpenetrable anti-fox fence. allan dowson Sunday 23-Aug-2009 Goldcliff Pools Early evening from the first platform;3-Greenshanks,1-Yellow Wagtail and 6 to 9 Dunlins.Water levels were very high. Keith Jones Sunday 23-Aug-2009 Goldcliff Lagoons A walk to the sea wall at high tide this morning produced 1 Cormorant, 4 Grey Heron, 9 Little Egret, 2 Canada Geese, 37 Shelduck, 65 Teal, 4 Wigeon, 26 Mallard, 2 Gadwall, 1 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 129 Black Tailed Godwit, 1 Bar Tailed Godwit, 3 Avocet, 2 Oystercatcher, 4 Lapwing, 70 Ringed Plover, 1 Little Ringed Plover, 1 Grey Plover, 115 Dunlin, 5 Knot, 2 Greenshanks, 2 Common Redshanks, 1 Little Stint, 1 Wood Sandpiper, 1 Turnstone, and 1 Common Snipe, 231 Black Headed Gull, 5 Lesser Black Backed Gull, 1 Green Woodpecker, 116 Swallow, 10 Sand Martin, 60 House Martin, 2 Yellow Wagtail. 12 Carrion Crow, 6 Raven. John Wilson Saturday 22-Aug-2009 West Usk Light House St Brides I thought Gwent birders might be interested in this,which was posted on the GBC web site on Sunday. The observer [which was not me] was doing a WeBS count, and is a good birder. Observations now quoted: "Small Numenius sp. A very small "curlew/whimbrel" was found at the wader roost near the lighthouse. There were some 150 or so curlew roosting these but this bird was separate and and very active. When it walked behind a black-headed gull, it appeared obviously smaller. It had a long thin neck, small head, thin bill and head marking similar to a whimbrel but perhaps less distinct; breast markings similar to a whimbrel. We discussed this bird at some length but decided it must be a runt whimbrel..However, on return home I checked a few details and I now think it could well have been something else, particularly bearing in mind its small size. This note is just to suggest that anyone out along the south Gwent coast might like to keep their eyes open in case it is still about. I doubt if it will be around the lighthouse today (Sunday) as there is a major fishing competition in the area." Persnally I think this might be worth checking out if it is still around. Maurice Chown Saturday 22-Aug-2009 Peterstone Sluice Farm On this mornings high tide a Wood Sandpiper which flew towards Peterston, 10 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Wheatear, C150 Swallows mainly perching on wires and good numbers of Goldfinches and Skylarks. Goldcliff Ringing Group (Richard Clarke & Darryl Spittle) Saturday 22-Aug-2009 Newport Wetlands - Uskmouth Aquatic Warbler ringed at 09:40 also 2 Yellow Wags and 14 Tree Pipit overhead. John Davies Friday 21-Aug-2009 Abergavenny 2 Swifts still present. D.Hutton Friday 21-Aug-2009 LLiswerry flock of greylags over house headin towards coast from northerly direction.approx 9.15 this evening... Eddie Wang Friday 21-Aug-2009 Peterstone Gout 0715 - 0850: high tide. Nice selection of waders on or around the Gout. ~100 Redshank, 76 Black-tailed Godwit, 6 Dunlin, 5 Knot, 4 Common Sandpiper, 1 Snipe, 1 Spotted Redshank. 1 Grey Wagtail over and 1 overly friendly horse - is there some-one I can contact over the horses here? This particular one actually made me leave in the end as it came up and was literally barging me around... Lyn Waters Thursday 20-Aug-2009 tesco distribution ctre MAGOR Sorry forgot to enter observer Thursday 20-Aug-2009 tesco distribution ctre MAGOR Solitary Gannet flying towards Corus steelworks at 7.30pm this evening.I have never seen Gannets here before is it unusual to see them inland? Steven Butler, John Davies, Steven Davies Wednesday 19-Aug-2009 Goldcliff Pools Wood Sandpiper, 200 plus B.T.Godwits, 5 Knot, Redshank, 150 plus Ringed plovers, 2 LRP, Greenshank, 20 Little Egret, Kingfisher, 20 Dunlin, Kestrel,10 Snipe Keith Jones Tuesday 18-Aug-2009 whitehead works Viewed Whiteheads Grounds at mid morning, and on this occasion most of the Herring Gulls were standing, as a result managed to notice 2 with yellow legs. Also 117 Lesser Black Backed Gull, and 1 Raven. Glyn Roberts Tuesday 18-Aug-2009 Goldcliff Pools Spoonbill, Wood Sandpiper, 2 Yellow Wagtail Glyn Roberts Tuesday 18-Aug-2009 Goldcliff Pools Spoonbill, Wood Sandpiper, 2 Yellow Wagtail Nathan Casburn Tuesday 18-Aug-2009 Goldcliff Pools Wood Sand Still,the only thing different from yesterday were 38 Ringed Plover. Ed Stevens Tuesday 18-Aug-2009 Sudbrook Early afternoon a female redstart in my back garden at sudbrook. Also yesterday evening 4 black-tailed godwit just east of caldicot pill c.hurn Monday 17-Aug-2009 sorry forgot my name Monday 17-Aug-2009 pylon to night 56 cormorants on car park pylon most ever i have seen Nathan Casburn Monday 17-Aug-2009 Goldcliff Pools Highlights this evening:1 Wood sand,6 LRP,4 Greenshank,1 Green and 1 Common Sand. Keith Jones Monday 17-Aug-2009 GLWR Uskmouth A walk mid morning produced 40 species including 26 Little Grebe, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 6 ad 9 juv Mute Swan, 17 Canada Geese, 7 Shelduck, 1female Wigeon, 61 Tufted Duck, 1 Pochard, 1 Kestrel, 41 Moorhen, 77 Coot, 2 Oystercatcher, 33 Curlew, 171 Black Headed Gull, 1 Great Black Backed Gull, 1 Cuckoo, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Swift, 6 Cetti’s Warbler, singles of Blackcap, Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, Reed Bunting, Stonechat, 2 Linnet, 7 Greenfinch, 10 Chaffinch, and 11 Goldfinch. 25 Little Grebe, Trevor Russell Sunday 16-Aug-2009 In my garden, Monmouth Siskin at bird bath. Hadyn Jones Saturday 15-Aug-2009 2nd Severn Crossing / Pill This afternoon at high tide 2 Greenshank, 3 Black-Tailed Godwits. tony & jan jenkins Saturday 15-Aug-2009 A48 Penhow single swift over roadside hedgerow Keith Jones Thursday 13-Aug-2009 Moorings Fields Newport At the high tide roost on the Caerleon side of the River Usk this morning 59 Lapwing, 2 Greenshanks, 26 Common redshanks, 1 Spotted Redshanks, 1 Green Sandpiper, 3 Common Sandpiper, also noted 1 Grey Heron, 1 Mute Swan, 8 Canada Geese, 1 Mallard, 2 Reed Warbler, 1 Stonechat, and 30 Linnet. At the flooded field just 10 Teal, 134 Black Headed Gull, 40 Herring Gull, and 8 Common Gull. Also at the roost, a biscuit coloured Lapwing possibly the same bird seen previously at Goldcliff. Ruth Brown Thursday 13-Aug-2009 Llanwenarth A flurry of migrants near the church: Wheatear, Common Whitethroat, feeding Goldfinches, flock of Mistle Thrush, Gt Sp Woodpecker, + others. Little Owl are back in the barn, after an absence of over a year. Keith Jones Wednesday 12-Aug-2009 Goldcliff Lagoons A walk to the sea wall at high tide this morning produced a count of 36 species including 3 Grey Heron, 16 Little Egret, 30 Canada Geese, 37 Shelduck, 6 Teal, 51 Mallard, 1 Pintail, 1 Merlin, 1 Hobby, 4 Moorhen, 5 Coot, 2 Oystercatcher, 70 Black Tailed Godwit, 9 Avocet, 14 Dunlin, 2 Curlew Sandpiper, 2 Common Redshanks, 3 Greenshanks, 6 Curlew, 284 Black Headed Gull, 8 Pied Wagtail, 5 Yellow Wagtail, 3 Reed Warbler. Maurice Chown Wednesday 12-Aug-2009 Peterstone Gout A bird this morning which appeared to be a South African Shelduck (Probably male). This bird seems to have been about for some time. Also 56 Black Tailed Godwits, Singles of Turnstone and Whimbrel plus the 'resident' Spotted Redshank. Keith Jones Tuesday 11-Aug-2009 Wentwood Walked mid morning from the reservoir, up to Five Paths via Nine Wells, across to Little Oak by way of Cadira Beeches, and completing at Parc Seymour via Wentwood Gate. This produced a count of 38 species including 2 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Tufted Duck, 1 Sparrow Hawk, 1 Buzzard, 8 Coot, 9 Wood Pigeon, 1 Green Woodpecker, 7 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Tree Pipit, 2 Willow Warbler, 5 Goldcrest, 49 Blue Tit, 28 Coal Tit, 3 Marsh Tit, 10 Great Tit, 3 Nuthatch, 1 Tree Creeper, 2 Crossbill (Cadira Beeches), 7 Redpoll, 6 Jay, 1 Raven. John Davies Monday 10-Aug-2009 A4042 Abergavenny - Pontypool 50 plus Swift just outside Abergavenny. John O'Sullivan Monday 10-Aug-2009 Goldcliff reserve Very quiet with few waders on lagoons despite lots of mud and shallow water. 3 Green Sand, 7 Avocet and two Greenshank the most interesting. 5 Yellow wagtail amongst sheep by sea wall. Keith Jones Monday 10-Aug-2009 Peterstone Wentlooge Walked from the village to the gout at high tide this morning. Given the restrictions of light drizzle and high winds did manage a fairly good variety including 2 Grey Heron, 2 Little Egret, 1 Mute Swan, 32 Canada Geese, 126 Shelduck, 125 Mallard, 2 Oystercatcher, 9 Lapwing, 102 Common Redshanks, 1 Spotted Redshanks, 4 Common Sandpiper, 9 Common Snipe, 19 Curlew, 5 Whimbrel, 1 Common Tern, 520 Black Headed Gull, 1 Great Black Backed Gull, 12 Swallow, 1 Reed Warbler, 20 Goldfinch, 10 Linnet 50 House Sparrow, Late news for Sunday Sunday 09-Aug-2009 Blaenserchan In additions to Roo's butterfly sitings, a fresh Silver Washed Fritillary, about 200 yards beyond 2nd gate. Seen well, perched on bracken near beech trees. Only bird sightings of note, family parties of Linnets and Siskins. Keith Jones Sunday 09-Aug-2009 Ynysyfro Reservoir Some numbers starting to build up again with 5 Little Grebe, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 3 Mute Swan, 5 Canada Geese, 23 Mallard, 71 Tufted Duck, 1 Buzzard, 1 Moorhen, 77 Coot, 98 Swallow, 30 Sand Martin, 6 House Martin, 4 Linnet, 1 Raven. D.Hutton Sunday 09-Aug-2009 Uskmouth its been over a week since a large movement of swifts over newport were the last i"d seen-so 4 swifts over the car park brightend up my afternoon. Mike and Jackie Pointon Sunday 09-Aug-2009 Out of County Shapwick Heath Great-white Egret putting on a fine display catching fish. White-winged Black Tern seen with three Black Terns, also Snipe 27 Black-tailed Godwit 8 Ruff 2 Dunlin 3 Kingfisher 2. Several Brown Hawker Dragonflies. Craig Constance&Nathan Casburn Sunday 09-Aug-2009 Llandegfedd Reservoir 7-9pm.3 1 Green Sand(green pool),1 Common Sand,3 Little Egret. There seems to be a big increase in Gull numbers today! 500+Black-Headed Gull(half juv/half adult),600+Lesser Black-Backed Gull,2 Herring Gull and 1 Adult Yellow-Legged Gull. Adrian Plant Sunday 09-Aug-2009 Peterstone Gout Scrub filled with Sylvias (07:00-10:00).. mostly warden warbler and Whitethroat but also several blackcap and lesser whitethroat. 2 yellow wags and a tree pipit flyovers... and a jay!. Also 1 greenshank and common sand. The local house sparrow flock much in evidence with 100+ birds John Davies Saturday 08-Aug-2009 Abergavenny Goshawk over the town Craig Constance&Nathan Casburn Saturday 08-Aug-2009 Llandegfedd Reservoir 5-6.45pm,Fishermans Car park and Green Pool area. 3 Little Egret(2juv+1ad),1 Common Sand,1 Stock Dove and 1 Teal. chris hurn Saturday 08-Aug-2009 GLWR Goldcliff five yellow wags. sixteen eagrets.six greenshank.sixty oystercatchers. eighty.godwits .three kestrels.one thousand plus black headed gullss Hadyn Jones Saturday 08-Aug-2009 2nd Severn Crossing / Pill This morning at high tide 1 moulting adult Mediterranean Gull and 1 Ruddy Shelduck female(with distant Shelduck in heat haze but did not appear to be a hybrid). Roo Friday 07-Aug-2009 Blaenserchan ps ta, now i know how to spell the name of the place. Roo Friday 07-Aug-2009 Pentrepiod Hi Steve - One definite Purple h/streak just beyond the main metal gate on the right hand side as you enter the valley. Two large oaks on the right here, and it flew in a low loop between them and disappeared into the second tree. Probable second just beyond the darker shaded area of trees, about 200 m further along the path, just before you get to the small clearing on the right. This one flew down and perched on the wooden fence, but as soon as i got close it flew off, typical hairstreak flight and looked silvery so Im pretty sure this was one as well. Right down the far end, loads of Grayling - about 30-40. Steve Williams Friday 07-Aug-2009 Blaenserchan near Pontypool Roo- nice selection of species where was the purple hairstreak within the valley? Roo Perkins Friday 07-Aug-2009 Pentrepiod Old Blaensychan colliery near Pentrepiod - Pied flycatcher, Whinchat, Redstart, Wood warbler and Garden warbler. Also 17 spp. of butterfly including Purple Hairstreak, Marbled White, Dark Green Frit and Small Skipper and 7 spp. of dragonfly including Golden-ringed and newly emerged Common darter. Maurice Chown Friday 07-Aug-2009 Peterstone Sluice Farm 2 Greenshanks this morning and 2 Green sands. Also 3 Lesser Whitethroats and a Kingfisher. Large Redshank flock aroung glamorgan boundary area - at least 300 birds. Tom Chinnick Thursday 06-Aug-2009 Newport Wetlands - Goldcliff 7:10-8:40pm- 2 Grey Plover, 1 Snipe, 2 Green Sand, 3 Dunlin, c30 Curlew, c120 Blackwit, 6 Yellow Wag, 21 Little Egret and good numbers of Black-H Gulls coming into roost. Craig Constance Thursday 06-Aug-2009 Llandegfedd Reservoir Yesterday Fishermans car park 5pm.1 adult Med Gull out in middle and 2 Little Egret(juv and adult). roger jenkins Thursday 06-Aug-2009 Abertillery female peregrine chasing flocks of seagulls over the town today between 11 oclock and noon Luke Phillips Thursday 06-Aug-2009 Newport Wetlands USKMOUTH: at least 12 Bearded tit seen and others heard, mostly juvs. Not an awful lot else at uskmouth except a Little Owl which wasn't too well, so it was taken into care. GOLDCLIFF: 1 Greenshank, 3 Green Sandpiper and a Knot in summer plumage. Roo Thursday 06-Aug-2009 Pentrepiod Party of 8 Green sands flew south, wheeling around quite low, over the garden last night. Passage of sandpipers started? Noticed several reports on the Glam web site. Re- Red Kites Thursday 06-Aug-2009 Waunafon bog Everyone's seen the buggers there except me. I drive that way every day and all I've ever seen on the wires is a Kestrel. Are you sure that's not what you saw? Last week, I saw a pair of Kestrels with what I presumed was a juvenile. Hadyn Jones Wednesday 05-Aug-2009 Collister Pill This evening 24 Whimbrel, 1 juv Hobby going through,4 Wheatear. 2 young red kites Wednesday 05-Aug-2009 Waunafon bog Notice what i presume is a young red kite on telegraph wires on the Blaenavon-Brynmawr road on top of the hill (Waunavon) stopped car to have closer look when bird flew away,looked further up the telegraph wires and noticed another small (young)red kite. Has any one else seen Red Kites in this area,i never knew they were this far down in south wales?? Roo Perkins Tuesday 04-Aug-2009 Pentrepiod Jackie - now that was funny, brightened up my wet dingy Tuesday! Incidently, what about two African Swallows carrying a coconut using their dorsal guidance feathers, now that really is impressive (r.e. Monty Python). Just to add a bird record - we have now had Siskins visiting our bird table (min of 4, max of 27) every day this year (bar two weeks when we were away and couldnt check, but food was still put out). Keith Jones Tuesday 04-Aug-2009 Re. Swifts When it comes to books on swifts, a bit dated now but David Lack's 'Swift in a Tower' (Chapman and Hall, London 1973) is a classic. I have a copy which I'm reading at the moment. I was fortuanate enough to spend a week with Lack and his two sons on Skokoholm back in the mid 60ies. A huge influence on my birding. Re Swifts Tuesday 04-Aug-2009 Any of these books published since 2002? Perhaps you have more recent references? 'Getting on a plane' vs. a Swift flying carbon neutral to Lilongwe and back? No contest. Keith Jones Monday 03-Aug-2009 Uskmouth Walked around the reserve late morning found mothers and children +++ (organised coach trip) but very little in the way of birds. Tide out, and rather noisy gave just 28 species including 28 Little Grebe, 3 Great Crested Grebe, 15 Mute Swan, 50 Mallard, 6 Gadwall, 21 Tufted Duck, 3 Pochard, 19 Moorhen, 96 Coot, 6 Curlew, 90 Black Headed Gull, 2 Swallow, 1 Stonechat, 1 Tree Creeper, 3 Linnet, 1 Raven. Also reported on notice board Marsh Harrier, and Bearded Tits just outside visitors centre. Jackie Huybs - unafraid to reveal name despite my ignorance Monday 03-Aug-2009 Far too numerous to list here. Yes, Mozambique is also mentioned, but each and every one of them also says South Africa. By the way, I'm a 9 stone bird from Blaenavon and I've travelled to South America. How impressive is that? Re Swifts Monday 03-Aug-2009 Begs the question - which books?! Both BWP (1985) and 'Swifts' (1995) agree with the 'Migration Atlas' (2002) in suggesting nominate race birds winter in DR Congo, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zimbabwe and Mozambique. Still a pretty impressive trip for a bird from Blaenavon weighing 35-40 grams though! Jackie H Monday 03-Aug-2009 Blaenavon Thank you Re, I - and all those rubbish bird books I've been buying for years - stand corrected. Perhaps their authors should have also studied the Migration Atlas before misinforming those of us with sub-standard birding knowledge. I want my money back! Re Swifts Monday 03-Aug-2009 Only one British ringed Swift has ever been found in South Africa, the great majority appear to winter in the Congo Basin or Malawi (see the 'Migration Atlas'). Jackie H Monday 03-Aug-2009 Blaenavon Around 25-30 Swifts gathered for some swooping around this morning, before disappearing - probably back to South Africa. Can't blame them - they've had a difficult month. Hadyn Jones Sunday 02-Aug-2009 Mill Common, Undy As Swifts are hot at the moment I had 30 screaming ones over Mill Common in the evening this date - same date and similar number as last year but their numbers dwindled rapidly from then on. Wish I was migrating with them in this weather! Mike and Jackie Pointon Sunday 02-Aug-2009 wentwood forest Two flocks of Crossbills 12 and 17 Spotted Flycatcher 1 many Chiffchaffs 8 seen together, Treecreeper 1 Willow Warbler Swift 10. Also a Silver-washed Fritilary. Chris Jones Sunday 02-Aug-2009 Caerleon 4+ Swifts over Home Farm estate this evening. 3 were over the Spytty Tesco site early pm as well Chris Jones Sunday 02-Aug-2009 Goldcliff Lagoons Female type Marsh Harrier briefly over lagoons before dropping over seawall towards foreshore. Otherwise 80+ Blackwits, 3 Dunlin, a Green Sand and several Yellow Wags. Craig Constance Saturday 01-Aug-2009 Llandegfedd Reservoir 14.30,2 adult Common Tern that eventually flew off high to the south over dam and 2 Common Sand. Nathan Casburn Saturday 01-Aug-2009 Bettws Comprehensive School 1 Ad Med Gull in with 40+ BH Gulls Hadyn Jones Friday 31-Jul-2009 Collister Pill This afternoon at high tide, birds of note-1 Sanderling,2 Wheatear,5 Ringed Plover, 12 Whimbrel, 28 Dunlin. Keith Jones Friday 31-Jul-2009 Goldcliff Lagoons Not a great deal about early morning, walked to the sea wall and managed a count of just 40 species including 2 Grey Heron, 37 Shelduck, 2 Teal, 2 Wigeon, 31 Mallard, 1 female Pochard, 1 Kestrel, 3 Coot, 3 Oystercatcher, 10 Avocet, 5 Lapwing, 5 Common Redshanks, 2 Turnstone, 3 Bar Tailed Godwit, 90 Black Tailed Godwit, 62 Black Headed Gull, 8 Common Gull, 2 Great Black Backed Gull, 1 Reed Warbler, 49 Jackdaw. Andy Davis Thursday 30-Jul-2009 A449 ST398984 M. Marsh Harrier - Flew low over the carriageway to swoop up and land on one of the roadside branches on the side of the northbound carriageway. - Having had a very close ob of it landing but due to circumstances (driving) I can only be positive it was a harrier. Nathan Casburn Thursday 30-Jul-2009 Caerleon golf course 1 Ad Med Gull early evening. Mike Pointon & Neville Davies Thursday 30-Jul-2009 Newport Wetlands - Goldcliff A very wet and windy day Black-tailed Godwit 75 Turnstone 6 Dulin 4 Redshank 2 Avocet 11 Curlew 30 Little Egret 10 Peregrine 1imm Kestrel 2 Black-headed Gull 300 Shelduck 50 also Mallard Teal Pochard. Craig Constance & Naithan Casburn Tuesday 28-Jul-2009 Llandegfedd Reservoir 1 Adult female Common Scoter out in middle,1 Little Egret and 1 juv Peregrine hunting with zero success. Ed Stevens Tuesday 28-Jul-2009 Black Rock This afternoon 2 mediterranean gulls in field at black rock, 1 juvenile and one 2nd year also 60-70 redshank and 2 dunlin on shore. Just east of big jetty at Sudbrook 1 adult mediterranean gull, 1 redshank and 4 common sandpipers. Andrew King Monday 27-Jul-2009 Clytha Hill Flock of 60 Greenfinch and 25 Raven overhead this morning. roger jenkins Monday 27-Jul-2009 Abertillery single red kite over house at 11.40 today. Ed Stevens Monday 27-Jul-2009 Black Rock This morning 1 juvenile and 1 2nd year mediterranean gull in fiels at Black Rock with flock of 19 black-headed gull including 1 juvenile. Hadyn Jones Sunday 26-Jul-2009 Lower Minnetts Wood This morning 5 Hawfinches feeding in cherry trees briefly. Tom Chinnick Saturday 25-Jul-2009 Goldcliff Lagoons 15 Crossbill SW at 12:50pm. John Burns Saturday 25-Jul-2009 River adjacent to Risca Rugby Walking along the river bank just behind the Risca Rugby ground, I spotted several Grey Wagtails, 2 Kingfishers and a single Dipper. John Bennett Saturday 25-Jul-2009 Blackrock One adult and one Juvenile Mediterranean gull . Also a number of freshly emerged " Painted Ladies " . Nathan Casburn Saturday 25-Jul-2009 Llandegfedd Reservoir 34 Common Sands at the dam.1 Little Egret at the fishermans car park. Luke Phillips Saturday 25-Jul-2009 Ebbw Vale Another two Crossbill over the house this morning. Darryl Spittle & Richard Clarke Saturday 25-Jul-2009 Newport Wetlands - Goldcliff 1 Whimbrel, 1 Grey Plover, 2 Green Sandpiper, 2 Common Sandpiper, 6 Avocet and 64 Black-tailed Godwit (including 3 colour-ringed birds). Darryl Spittle & Richard Clarke Saturday 25-Jul-2009 Newport Wetlands - Uskmouth 3 Crossbill high over west, 1 Green Sandpiper and 2 broods of Pochard. Hadyn Jones Saturday 25-Jul-2009 Magor Pill 9 Whimbrel, 2 Yellow Wagtails at high tide this morning plus 1 Microlite putting up the Curlew. Keith Jones Saturday 25-Jul-2009 Moorings Fields Newport Walked loop of the Usk north of Chichester Close, and looked at the flooded field at high tide this morning, which produced a count of 29 species including 1 Grey Heron, 2 Mute Swan, 44 Canada Geese, 7 Mallard, 82 Lapwing, 52 Common Redshanks, 4 Common Sandpipers, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Whimbrel flying down river (calling as it went), 130 Black Headed Gulls, 1 Swift, 3 Reed Warbler, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 male Stonechat, 1 Jay, 1 Raven etc. Hadyn Jones Friday 24-Jul-2009 Lower Minnetts Wood 1 Hawfinch(adult) again feeding in stand of cherry trees in late afternoon. Also just south of wood 1 Hobby. mark davies Friday 24-Jul-2009 Abergavenny Red Kite circling low over Robert Price (BM) this afternoon Ed Stevens Friday 24-Jul-2009 Sudbrook this afternoon adult mediterranean gull with small flock of black-headed gulls on shore near big jetty at sudbrook. Also 4 common sandpipers mark davies Thursday 23-Jul-2009 Llanwenarth A pair of Curlew in field opposite Llanwenarth Church towards river & a Little Owl enjoying the views from the barn Matt Broome Thursday 23-Jul-2009 Goldcliff 7-9p.m. Birds mainly gathered infront of first platform at high tide this evening(as previous eve). Black Headed Gull & Blk Tailed Godwit numerous as posted earlier in the day. Large number of Curlew circa 260, along with 4 Whimbrel, 1 Knot (summer plumage), 9 Dunlin, 1 Grey plover, 1 Green Sand, few Sand Martin, swallow, 1 Sparrowhawk. 3 Yellow Wagtail on sea wall. Chris Jones Thursday 23-Jul-2009 Caerleon Hobby flying over Home Farm estate this evening Chris Jones Thursday 23-Jul-2009 Caerleon Hobby flying north over Home Farm estate this evening. Keith Jones Thursday 23-Jul-2009 GLWR Goldcliff Only enough time to venture to the third observation platform at high tide this morning, but this included 4 Little Egrets, 8 Canada Geese, 102 Shelduck, 14 Teal, 71 Mallard, 69 Black Tailed Godwit, 10 Avocet, 2 Oystercatcher, 31 Lapwing, 1 Grey Plover, 11 Dunlin, 57 Common Redshanks, 4 Green Sandpiper, 256 Black Headed Gull, 2 Common Gull, 1 Cetti’s Warbler. john hunt Thursday 23-Jul-2009 Cwmbran boating lake . lesser spotted woodpecker top of tree near new pond sight about 9.30 male very good view for about 10 mins Luke Phillips Wednesday 22-Jul-2009 Ebbw Vale Just had (18:50) three Crossbill go over the garden heading south. Lee Parsons Wednesday 22-Jul-2009 Brynithel Talk about a chance sighting ! At 6.15 pm I was saying goodbye to visitors only to look above the house to be greeted by the sight of a Goshawk no more than 150ft above, before making its way South ! Keith Jones Wednesday 22-Jul-2009 Cwmbran Walked from the Boating Lake (now open, but no obvious structural change), up the river to road bridge near Cwmbran Railway Station mid morning. Not a lot about, river in spate, dense growth of Himalayan Balsam, Japanese Knotweed, Alder etc screening much of the birds, but 4 Canada Geese, 82 Mallard (including 3 broods of 13 juvs), 2 separate Dippers, family party of 7 Mistle Thrush, and 1 Tree Creeper. At Whiteheads waste ground on Monday (20th) 95 Herring Gull, 230 Lesser Black Backed Gulls. Steven Butler Tuesday 21-Jul-2009 Abergavenny, Black mountains 8 Yellowhammers, Green Woodpecker, 6 Linnets, Stonechat Hadyn Jones Monday 20-Jul-2009 West Pill,Undy On a falling tide this evening 1 Manx Shearwater sat on water, drifting slowly pass West Pill. Flew briefly once then settled on water again. Rob Parsons Monday 20-Jul-2009 Gilwern Red Kite quartering ground behind tractor turning hay for baling SIAN Sunday 19-Jul-2009 Parc Bryn Bach The tufted duck now only has two ducklings left out of the original 5. The swans had 7 young when I first saw them and they are now down to 5. Hadyn Jones Sunday 19-Jul-2009 Lower Minnetts Wood Late morning at least 3 Hawfinches(inc 1 juv)feeding in usual stand of cherry trees at end of track,only calling occasionally. Sometimes flying across track. Also 2 Spotted Flycatchers(plus 2(inc.1 juv)Slade Wood) and 1 Marsh Tit. Ed Stevens Sunday 19-Jul-2009 Blackrock, Portskewett this morning 2nd year mediterranean gullwith lose flock of 8 black-headed gull including 2 juveniles and 1 common gull. Also green woodpecker on blackrock picnic site and 1 whimbrel, 1 curlew and 36 redshank along shore mark davies Saturday 18-Jul-2009 Abergavenny Red Kite over St Helens Road first thing this morning and again this afternoon Bob Gwillim Saturday 18-Jul-2009 A4042 Abergavenny - Pontypool Single Red Kite at approximatly 3.00pm, Flying Low over the A4042 at the Junction of Oak Lane, Near the site of the Car Boot Sales Darryl Spittle & Richard Clarke Saturday 18-Jul-2009 Newport Wetlands - Goldcliff 1 Little Stint, 3 Yellow Wagtail, 3 Knot, 1 Green Sand, 1 Common Sand, 4 LRP and 1 Ruddy Shelduck (the other one must have been hiding). Jon Lawrence Saturday 18-Jul-2009 Llanvihangel Crucorney Two linnets in the front garden on the Old Hereford road. Single Red Kite over fields opposite and low over the house. Keith Jones Saturday 18-Jul-2009 GLWR Goldcliff An early morning walk to the sea wall produced just 35 species including 1 Little Egret, 11 Shelduck, 3 Teal, 24 ad 5 juv Mallard, 6 Shoveler, 1 female Pochard, 1 female Sparrow Hawk, 5 Moorhen, 4 ad 2 juv Coot, 5 Lapwing, 3 ad 1 juv Ringed Plover, 2 Little Ringed Plover, 130 Black Tailed Godwit, 5 Common Redshanks, 14 Curlew, 140 Black Headed Gull, 30 Sand Martin, 36 House Martin. Also reported 2 Ruddy Shelduck hidden on Becs, 1 Green Sandpiper, and 1 Yellow Wagtail. Later off pontoon bridge at Uskmouth very close views of 1 female 5 juv Bearded Tits. Ed Stevens Friday 17-Jul-2009 Blackrock, Portskewett Mediterranean Gull in field at Blackrock with flock of 61 black-headed gulls, including juveniles, and 3 common gull Keith Jones Thursday 16-Jul-2009 Caerleon At the flooded or rather muddy field during mid-day high tide little of note 15 common Gulls, and 1 Mediterranean Gull among the 110 Black Headed Gulls. Brian Thomas Thursday 16-Jul-2009 Newport Wetlands - Goldcliff 11.30 Sea wall: 2 ruddy shelduck on far pool (ta to gentleman from Aberdare). Mal Jenkins Wednesday 15-Jul-2009 Trevethin, Pontypool For those that don't already know - the planned M4 Relief Road Project has been dropped. See the Argus website for more info John Evans Wednesday 15-Jul-2009 Pandy Single Red Kite over the field opposite the turning to Pantygelli on the A465 main road at about 1310. Ed Stevens Wednesday 15-Jul-2009 Blackrock, Portskewett This morning adult mediterranean gull with black-headed gull at Blackrock Keith Jones Monday 13-Jul-2009 GLWR Uskmouth Walked around the Lagoons including the shore at mid day, just caught a very heavy shower at end of the walk. Typical for the time of year rather quiet with 34 species including, 32 Little Grebe, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 9 Little Egret, 6 Mute Swan, 9 Canada geese, 6 Shelduck, 38 Mallard, 27 Tufted Duck (20 young in 4 broods), 1 ad 2 juv Pochard, 3 Water Rail, 32 Moorhen, 71 Coot, 80 Curlew, 4 Whimbrel, 1 Stock Dove, 13 Reed Warbler, 3 Sedge Warbler, 1 Cetti’s Warbler. Of note 2 Bearded Tits heard below the ramp just south of the play area by the visitors centre (never had them there before). Nicholas & Judy Beswick Sunday 12-Jul-2009 Bryn Bach Park Female Tufted Duck with five newly-hatched ducklings; pair Mute Swans with five cygnets; pair Great Crested Grebes with one juv; 7 Canada Geese with 4 goslings. Also, on the mountain between Tredegar and Rhymney a Buzzard and a juv Red Kite hunting. Mal Jenkins Sunday 12-Jul-2009 Trevethin, Pontypool peregrine putting on dispaly over the house this afternoon. Stalking the pigeons but not really making any attempt to catch anything. Keith Roylance, Mick Bailey, Ken Cook Friday 10-Jul-2009 Gobion to Bryn Bend A productive few hours along the river from Gobion towards the Bryn. Species noted: Mute Swan, Mallard, Goosander (7), Pheasant, Juvenile Great Crested Grebe, Little Egret, Heron, Buzzard, Moorhen, Juvenile Redshank, Common Sandpiper (3), Lesser Black-backed Gull, Woodpigeon, Swift, Kingfisher (3), Green Woodpecker, Juvenile Great Spotted Woodpecker, Sand Martin, House Martin, Grey Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Treecreeper, Crow, Raven, Chaffinch, Goldfinch. Allan Dowson Wednesday 08-Jul-2009 Peterstone Gout 19h00-19h30 3-Common Sandpipers,1-Greenshank,1-juv. Lapwing in very pale plumage,1-Spotted Redshank still in br.plum.1-Redshank with leg rings as follows;right leg-red over green over yellow,left leg-green over yellow.the yellow ring seemed to have slipped down a bit. Helen Parry Jones Wednesday 08-Jul-2009 Newport Wetlands Open day at Uskmouth 12th July 11am - 4pm. If anyone can spare an hour or more to help out with the GOS stall, it would be appreciated. Just turn up or let membership secretary know at membership@gwentbirds.org.uk Mark Jones Wednesday 08-Jul-2009 A465 Abergavenny - Hereford Red Kite flying above Abergavenny bypass. Regularly seen in that area, and also on 2nd July over the Hardwick Inn. Keith Jones Wednesday 08-Jul-2009 Peterstone Wentlooge Walked from the village to the gout at high tide this morning. Birds included 1 Little Egret, 3 Mute Swan, 54 Shelduck (including a crèche of 16 juveniles), 36 Mallard, 96 Lapwing, 80 Common Redshanks, 26 Curlew, 4 Whimbrel, 1 Great Black Backed Gull, 4 Common Gull, 772 Black Headed Gull, 1 Stock Dove, 1 Swift, 6 Wren, 4 Reed Warbler, 3 Common Whitethroat, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 9 Linnet, 23 Greenfinch, and 18 Goldfinch John Davies Tuesday 07-Jul-2009 Gobion Adult Green Woodpecker & 2 Juv, Green sandpiper, 5 Common Sandpipers, Linnet, Whitethroat, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Sparrowhawk Gray Tuesday 07-Jul-2009 Goldcliff Lagoons 6th July at 21:30, the two ruddy shellduck were in front of the first observation platform. 19 avocet also present, together with numerous shellduck and lapwing. John Evans Tuesday 07-Jul-2009 Goldcliff Two Ruddy Shelduck still seen from the sea wall and looking back towards the 'new' bridge on the SDR. At approximately 1045, a group of at least 21 Manx Shearwater went up river. No other birds of real note seen off shore. Luke Phillips Monday 06-Jul-2009 Newport Wetlands - Goldcliff The two Ruddy Shelduck were still on show late afternoon but very little else, just a Little ringed plover and about 350 Black headed Gulls. Keith Jones Monday 06-Jul-2009 Moorings Fields Newport Couldn’t manage the full loop of River Usk south of Chichester Close early morning, vegetation rather dense in places, but good variety of birds about. Including 69 Lapwing, 36 Common Redshanks, 1 Green Sandpiper, 5 Common Sandpiper, a family party of 5 Stonechat, 5 Reed Warbler, and 5 Reed Bunting. Highlight however was solitary male Black Redstart on shed roof in back garden of house between Caerleon Road, and The Moorings. This was 0732hrs As I approached the bird flew off south towards Old Barn. Adult Mediterranean Gull with 240 Black Headed Gulls at muddy field also. mark davies Sunday 05-Jul-2009 Abergavenny Red Kite low over linda vista around midday Martin Bell and Jonathon Evans Sunday 05-Jul-2009 Newport Wetlands - Uskmouth 2 Ruddy Shelduck, 1, poss 2 Green Sand, 1 Common Sand, 1 Wood Sand, 3 Little Ringed Plover, 7 Ringed Plover, 1 Greensank, 21 Avocet Nathan Casburn Sunday 05-Jul-2009 Llandegfedd Reservoir 23 Common Sandpipers on dam this morning. Chris Waite Saturday 04-Jul-2009 Out of County A (young?) dipper landed on the bow of our narrowboat whilst moving down the canal towards Talybont and stayed there for a minute or so. It startled both of us and the bird. Wonderful. Darryl Spittle Saturday 04-Jul-2009 Newport Wetlands - Goldcliff 1 Med Gull (3rd cal yr), 1 Grey Plover, 2 Green Sands, 2 LRP and two Ruddy Shelducks. ROGER JENKINS Saturday 04-Jul-2009 Abergavenny 2 Red Kites on the outskirts of Abergavenny this morning circling over houses. Keith Jones Saturday 04-Jul-2009 Bulmore Lakes A walk from Caerleon to the lakes early morning produced 46 species including 6 ad 4 juv Great Crested Grebe, 6 Cormorant, 4 Grey Heron, 7 Mute Swan, 64 Canada Geese, 16 ad 8 juv Mallard, 8 male 2 female Tufted Duck, 2 Buzzard, 1 Pheasant, 4 ad 3 fl Moorhen, 10 ad 5 fl Coot, 1 Common Sandpiper, 16 Wood Pigeon, 9 Wren, 8 Reed Warbler, 7 Blackcap, 7 Chiffchaff, 18 Swallow, 17 House Martin, 4 Sand Martin, 5 Reed Bunting, 2 Jay, 1 Raven etc. Luke Phillips Friday 03-Jul-2009 Llandegfedd Reservoir 12 Common Scoter on the Reservoir late afternoon. 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 david potter Thursday 02-Jul-2009 nelson mid-glam urban kites! driving through nelson (south side)i spotted a red kite doing its usual circling flight at about 30m high,when all of a sudden it seemed to land in a builders yard on the side of the bypass. This happened on the 2/07/09 at about 12:42pm, thought you be interested! 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 ! Tara Okon Thursday 04-Jun-2009 Newport Wetlands - Uskmouth Little Owl, Kestrel, Buzzard, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Wren, Robin, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker, Pheasant, Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Reed Bunting, Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Tufted Duck, Mallard, Swift, Swallow. Cuckoo also reported. Brian Thomas Thursday 04-Jun-2009 Newport Wetlands - Goldcliff 10.00 1st/2nd platform: Curlew sandpiper (sum pl), garganey. Wednesday 03-Jun-2009 Re GoWild event, email is membership@GwentBirds.org.uk Membership Secretary Wednesday 03-Jun-2009 caerphilly Sorry not a sighting but urgent appeal for help at Caerphilly GO WILD event in Caerphilly, Saturday 6 June 2009 at Sir Harold Finch Memorial Park, Pontllanfraith, Blackwood, 11am - 4pm. Richard Clarke is the GOS lead on this. In previous events our stall and quiz has been very popular, and because we give time (and provide bird books for reference) to help people of all ages (but mostly youngsters) with the quiz, it's impossible for one person to manage on their own. You don't need to be an expert (you will have the quiz answers and access to the books), and you don't need to be there all day but if you have an hour or so to help out, it would mean that GOS could be there. The only expertise you need is to engage with people and enjoy birdwatching. contact membership@gwentbirds.org.uk asap Tara Okon Wednesday 03-Jun-2009 Newport Wetlands - Uskmouth Little Owl, Peregrine Falcon, Kestrel, Buzzard, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Whitethroat, Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler,Cetti's Warbler, Reed Bunting, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Robin, Wren, Blackbird, Swallow, House Martin, Swift, Mallard, Pochard, Tufted Duck, Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Little Egret, Oystercatcher. Mike Pointon Wednesday 03-Jun-2009 Newport Wetlands - Goldcliff 08:30 - 10:30 Not a lot here. Sad to witness the Carrion Crows devouring at least two broods of Oystercatchers. There was no sign of the Avocets on the island opposite the second VP have their chick met the same end? But three very corageuous Redshank chicks swam to safety away from the island- thought I finish on a brighter note. Nathan Casburn Tuesday 02-Jun-2009 Goldcliff Pools Yesterday 1st of june a Possible/Probable Marsh Warbler was heard and seen briefly in hedges to the left and right of entrance gate.Other Reed Warblers in the area also singing but nothing quite like this Call although some did mimic some calls.Plenty of Willow Chiffchaff Linnet Swallow Sparrow Goldfinch heard in the song.Seen and heard Last in hedge by gate.No further sign or sound up untill 11pm.No sign today either.A Few pics taken but most were of the head.Although One picture taken did show quite longish Primaries with what appeared to be pale(ish)tips. Tony Horrobin Tuesday 02-Jun-2009 Goldcliff Lagoons Spoonbill (4) Bar-headeded Goose Angus Scott Monday 01-Jun-2009 Whitestone (above Llandogo) At least 3 Wood warblers singing and displaying at Whitestone (Forestry Commission). Nicholas Beswick Sunday 31-May-2009 hafod farm,brynmawr Red Kite circled over at 8.30 this morning. Brief visit by Spotted Flycatcher. Deb Sunday 31-May-2009 Penrhos One Red Kite flew over the garden at around 1.30pm Keith Roylance & Mick Bailey & GOS Walk participants Sunday 31-May-2009 Mynydd Maen Many thanks to the 20 people who came on the GOS walk this morning. We hope you enjoyed it all. Our list for the day was:Mallard, Buzzard, Peregrine, Lesser Black backed Gull, Herring Gull, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Cuckoo, Swift, Green Woodpecker, Skylark, Swallow, House Martin, Tree Pipit, Meadow Pipit, Pied Wagtail, Robin, Redstart, Stonechat, Wheatear, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, Great Tit, Magpie, Jackdaw, Crow, Raven, Starling, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Linnet, Bullfinch, Reed Bunting. Darryl Spittle Sunday 31-May-2009 Newport Wetlands - Goldcliff 1 Curlew Sand and 2 Greenshank. ROGER JENKINS Sunday 31-May-2009 Abertillery 3 buzzards and 1 male peregrine falcon circling together over town this morning Steven Butler, John Davies, Steve Davies Saturday 30-May-2009 Sugar Loaf The following species were noted on route to BTO survey on Sugarloaf mt. Single Hobby, 5 Whinchats, Blackcap, 10 Willow Warbler, 6 Wood Warbler, 3 Great spots, 7 Tree Pipits, 4 Spotted flycatchers, 2 Pied Flycatchers, 2 Redstart , 3 Skylarks ,2 Linnet, 24 Meadow Pipits,3 Cuckoo (6 in total for the mornings birding)100 plus Painted Ladies. ROGER JENKINS Saturday 30-May-2009 Abertillery single red kite over town at 11.30 today. John Gale Friday 29-May-2009 Twmbarlum, Ty Sign, Risca At 9.30 sighted cuckoo Mike Pointon Friday 29-May-2009 Newport Wetlands - Goldcliff 08:20-11:40 Four Spoonbills seen flying toward Uskmouth and one feeding in front of the second viewing platform, whether this was one of the four I could not say for certain. Later two birds returned landing in the far pool. Otherwise a quite day Peregrine 1 Whimbrel 1 a number of young Redshank. I noticed a sign near the road oposite the entrance stating that it is an offence to drive beyond this point; which would mean we cannot drive onto the reserve car park. Does anyone know anything about this? I did mention it to a member of the CCW staff. Sam Bosanquet Thursday 28-May-2009 Dingestow Court 1 ad Herring Gull again following the plough. Plenty of Painted Lady migrating straight north today, including 9 in half an hour's watching this evening. On another subject - if anyone would like free runs of Birdwatch and/or Birdwatching from the 1990s (I stopped buying them in 1999 or so) please let me know. They would need to be collected from Dingestow Court/Gwent Wildlife Trust. First come first served! John Bennett Thursday 28-May-2009 LLanllowell Hobby(probably male) hawking for mayflies along river Usk at llanllowel . Also about 10 Painted Ladies feeding on valerian in my garden . Nathan Casburn Wednesday 27-May-2009 Goldcliff Point An hour this evening produced 8 Gannet(some close in) and 2 Fulmar. Brian Thomas Wednesday 27-May-2009 Newport Wetlands - Goldcliff 3rd platform 2.30: 5 spoonbill on sea-wall pool. Later flew infront of 2nd platform. Tom Chinnick Wednesday 27-May-2009 Goldcliff Pools NR 7:10-9:15pm. 5 Spoonbill showing very well from platforms, 2 colour ringed birds present. Also c150 Dunlin, 3 Whimbrel, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit. Sam Bosanquet Tuesday 26-May-2009 Dingestow Court 2 ad Herring Gulls with Lesser Black-backs following a plough at Dingestow. Herring are pretty scarce here compared with daily spring-summer-autumn Lesser-backs, with perhaps 2 or 3 sightings a year. Keith Roylance & Mick Bailey Tuesday 26-May-2009 Mynydd Maen Recce for next Sundays walk produced an interesting variety of birds together with proof of breeding for a number of species. If you want to know more, come on the walk next Sunday. See outdoor programme for details. Keith Jones Tuesday 26-May-2009 Peterstone Wentlooge Walked from Pengam (a little west of the village) to the Gout at high tide this morning. Rather quiet just 1 Cormorant, 1 Gannet flying west, 2 Little Egret, 17 Shelduck, 33 Mallard, 6 Lapwing, 4 Common Redshanks, 20 Curlew, 1 Whimbrel, 2 Swift, 8 Reed Warblers, 1 Blackcap, 2 Common Whitethroat, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Chiffchaff, 19 Swallows, 1 Spotted Flycatcher (Village), 10 Goldfinch, and 13 Carrion Crow. A total of 39 species. Iain Stuart Tuesday 26-May-2009 Goldcliff Lagoons Two Spoonbills visible from the seawall at around 1.00pm today. Thanks to the chaps who told me about them - a new tick for me. Plenty of avocets around too. D.Hutton Monday 25-May-2009 Uskmouth late noon,all the standard fare,exept for a hoopoe on the tide...a yacht named hoopoe making its way to newport on the high tide! its fair enough to name boats after seabirds,e.g. fulmar,shearwater,or perhaps a shag on yr boat,but "hoopoe"! hopefully the only one i"ll see in the drink... Nathan Casburn Monday 25-May-2009 Goldcliff Pools 1 Colour Ringed Spoonbill,1 Bar Tailed Godwit,2 Sanderling,2 Whimbrel and 100s of dunlin. Bill Jones Monday 25-May-2009 Clytha Hill Red-legged Partridge taking an afternoon stroll along field verge, while probably unbeknown to it a Red Kite was quartering overhead. Keith Jones Monday 25-May-2009 Out of county My wife had never heard Nightingale so walked part of Highnam Wood (1845 – 2035hrs). about 7km west of Gloucester. A very enjoyable evening 25 species noted including 4 – 5 Nightingales, snatches of sub song started 1935 and full song heard by 2005hrs. Easy walking, and well signposted 2.4km round trip. An idea for future GOS trip? Kevin & Liz Hewitt Sunday 24-May-2009 Wentwood Visited Cadira Beeches/Five Paths open-fell area in late evening for nightjars, and @ 21:10 heard the first of at least 2 males churring, one of which egaged in display flight with wing-clapping when it was joined by a female. Also of note in the area were at least 2 roding Woodcocks and 3/4 calling Tawny owls. Nathan Casburn Sunday 24-May-2009 West Usk Lighthouse Area 3 Sanderling,5 Knot,2 Turnstone,Dunlin,Ringed Plover,Redshank,Whimbrel Tara Okon Saturday 23-May-2009 Newport Wetlands - Uskmouth At least 5 Spotted Flycatcher, Cuckoo, Bearded Tit, Blue Tit, Great tit, Wren, Robin, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Reed Bunting, Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Cetti's Warbler, Whitethroat, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Whimbrel, Shelduck, Mallard, Tudted Duck, Coot, Moorhen, Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Swallow, House Martin, Swift, Little Egret, Grey Heron. Also, Little Ringed Plover reported. Goldcliff :Kestrel, Rook, Carrion Crow, Magpie, Little Egret, Shelduck, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Avocet, Ringed Plover, Dunlin, Redshank, Black-tailed Godwit, Reed Warbler, Skylark. Clive Saturday 23-May-2009 Goldcliff Must have been daydreaming,thanks. FAO Clive Saturday 23-May-2009 Goldcliff Point The dark rumped Whimbrel was also alerted to RBA. Keith Jones Friday 22-May-2009 Llangybi area Yes Verity I witnessed much the same behaviour in 1969 at Bridgend General Hospital while I was training there. A single bird I recall was doing much the same as your bird on frosted glass of the Accident and Emergency Department. It kept it up for a week or so, the Unit Sister though it was asking for admission! Re my report 21st at Wentwood the first Woodcock showed up at 2123 not 2223. FAO Clive Ellis Friday 22-May-2009 Goldcliff Clive, the news of the whimbrel was put on Birdguides not long after the sighting and on Weekendbirder the next day. Hardly 'kept quiet'. Barry Ingram Friday 22-May-2009 Raglan Area Fishing yesterday at Trefelddu near Raglan a heron was fishing in a very unusual way, a way I haven't seen before. It would launch itself into the water from a standing start, spear at the fish, a bit like a pelican does and then have to swim, either to the bank or to a small wooden pier. It seemed quite happy to be swimming and made several successful sorties. I'd say its success rate was about 30%. It also tried, unsuccesfully, to snatch a small duckling from a brood swimming in the lake, even trying to fly above them and grab one while hovering. Clive Ellis Friday 22-May-2009 Goldcliff Just found out about the possible Hudsonian Whimbrel on the 15th.Any reason for this being kept quiet? Keith Jones Thursday 21-May-2009 ninewells wood car park A Nine Wells visit (2052 – 2212hrs) produced very good sightings of Woodcock with 2 – 3 birds, first appearance 2223, first Tawny Owl heard at 2122 4 birds in separate locations. The Nightjar first heard at 2130hrs, and first sighting 2141. Two charring birds with another male on the wing at the same time. Also noted Great Spotted Woodpecker, Cuckoo, Tree Pipit, Jay. Tara Okon Thursday 21-May-2009 Newport Wetlands - Uskmouth Cuckoo, Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Kestrel, Buzzard, Great Tit, Blackbird, Robin, Whitethroat, Reed Bunting, Cetti's warbler, Sedge Warbler, Reed warbler, Mallard, Coot, Tufted Duck, Shelduck, Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Little Egret, Swift, Swallow, House Martin. Keith Jones Thursday 21-May-2009 Wentwood Walked early morning from Parc Seymour up to Little Oak via Wentwood Gate, east to Five Paths passing Cadira Beeches, completing at the reservoir by way of Nine Wells. This produced 41 species although I’m sure the high winds didn’t help, 2 Mallard, 3 Buzzard, 8 Coot, 1 Tawny Owl, 13 Wood Pigeon, 8 Cuckoo, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 20 Wren, 6 Dunnock, 3 Tree Pipit, 5 Common Whitethroat, 4 Garden Warbler, 24 Blackcap, 8 Wood Warbler, 21 Chiffchaff, 16 Willow Warbler, 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 33 Robin, 49 Blackbird, 15 Song Thrush, 4 Mistle Thrush, 3 Goldcrst, 16 Blue Tit, 16 Coal Tit, 2 Marsh Tit, 1 Willow Tit, 7 Great Tit, 19 Chaffinch, 1 Siskin, 1 Redpoll, 1 Jay, 16 Carrion Crow, and 3 Raven. Also of note a Hobby chasing House Martins at Langstone. Verity Picken Thursday 21-May-2009 Llangybi area A Hitchkockian episode: over the last two days our house has been ‘under attack’ from two Rooks. The birds land on the window sill, tap vigorously on the glass panes, pause to call loudly and then resume their tapping. The attacks last up to ten minutes and at least four windows have been involved. Has anyone else seen such behaviour? They are presumably attacking their reflections. GARETH REES Wednesday 20-May-2009 United Kingdom 05.30 2 TAWNY OWLS roosting in hedge by gate. Another seen on telegraph pole next to farm yard on route to Goldcliffe from Llanwern direction. Tara Okon Wednesday 20-May-2009 Cuckoo 4, Hobby, Kestrel, Green Woodpecker, Reed Bunting, Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, Cetti's Warbler, Coot, Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Little Egret, Blackbird, Mallard, Shelduck. Keith Jones Wednesday 20-May-2009 whitehead works Returned early morning this time with my scope. Although most of the birds were sitting did locate 3 if not five Yellow Legged Gulls, one of which seemed paired off with a Herring Gull (The 5 birds very close, and didn’t need my scope). Total count of gulls this time, 287 Lesser Black Backed Gulls, of which 27 were nesting on NE facing roof of the surviving most easterly building. Also a total of 93 Herring Gulls of which 5 were nesting on roof among the lessers. No doubt other birds are nesting on other surviving buildings. Its possible to view part of the site from Mendalgief Road, but much of the railings are covered with green plastic netting which makes this difficult. There are enough gaps in the netting however which helps. On this occasion was approached by a workman who informed me as far as he could tell, the birds sitting on the ground are not nesting, and a number of foxes hunt there during the night. Mathew Meehan Sunday 17-May-2009 Newport Wetlands - Goldcliff 12 Manxies DC off sea wall @ 17.30 Keith Jones Sunday 17-May-2009 whitehead works Dodged the showers at mid day for a count, birds noted 160 Lesser Black Backed Gulls (some displaying, and coitus), 100 Herring Gulls, mostly sitting (?) , had a look but no yellow legs, although didn’t have my scope. Also of note a single juvenile Pied Wagtail begging for food. Thanks for the information on former status of this site. Eddie Wang Sunday 17-May-2009 Peterstone 1100 - 1140: quick seawatch before heavy showers set in - 2 Guillemots heading upchannel. 1 Peregrine on the marsh, plucking something I couldn't identify. Adrian Plant Saturday 16-May-2009 Peterstone Gout 9 whimbrel, 2 grey plover,13 ringed plover, 1 turnstone and a handful of dunlin around the high tide am. Also some swallow movement going on with several small parties heading east d. hutton Saturday 16-May-2009 whitehead works f.a.o. keith jones...i see the gulls most days-as someone who still (just about) works there.you might notice many of them paired up,mourning the loss of their man made cliffs which they once nested.they used to bring falconers in to shift the gulls (mostly sakers) but was not sucssesful. Keith Jones Saturday 16-May-2009 PEN Y FAN Not much there this evening, Curlew heard calling, 7 adult 7 very young Mallard, 30 Swift, 90 Swallow, 30 Sand Martins, 20 House Martins, 3 Willow Warblers. Also of note while passing site of former Whiteheads this afternoon (south of Bell Vue Park, Newport), several dozens of gulls on concrete. Second time I’ve noticed this now, a month or so back had about 200 + . Couldn’t stop, will have to check this out shortly chris hurn Saturday 16-May-2009 GLWR Goldcliff to night shorteared owl hunting over reserve robbo Saturday 16-May-2009 Llanwern Steel Works Bar-headed goose, untagged, therefore tickable. Tara Okon Saturday 16-May-2009 Newport Wetlands - Uskmouth Little Ringed Plover, Little Egret, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Coot, Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Shelduck, Green Woodpecker, Swallow, Swift, House Martin, Reed Bunting, Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Cetti's Warbler, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Whitethroat, Blackbird, Pheasant, Kestrel. Bearded Tit also reported. Mike Powell Saturday 16-May-2009 Goldcliff Point Just two Sandwich Terns heading west at 12.20 were only birds of interest in a hour of sea-watching over high tide. Roo Saturday 16-May-2009 Pontnewynydd, Pontypool Thanks Keith. garden - recently fledged juv Siskin coming to the bird table with group of 8 adults. Chris Jones, Nathan Casburn, Darryl Spittle Saturday 16-May-2009 Goldcliff Point Seawatch in fresh south westerly winds this morning - at least 2 Arctic Skuas flying up channel, 7+ Gannets, 10 Kittiwakes and single Fulmar and Storm Petrel. At Goldcliff Lagoons other than an adult Spoonbill it was farily quiet although successful breeding was confirmed for both Pochard and Shoveler Martin Collier Friday 15-May-2009 United Kingdom Spoonbill flying around high above Newport bus Station.Office window List Mega! Keith Jones Thursday 14-May-2009 Wentwood Re The Nightjar, if you could ring me most evenings (Not Friday) at Caerleon 423012, I can advise you Roo. Keith Jones Thursday 14-May-2009 GLWR Goldcliff A walk to the sea wall early morning produced 44 species including 1 Grey Heron, 2 Little Egrets, 3 Mute Swan, 7 Canada Geese, 22 Shelduck, 45 Mallard, 5 Gadwall, 4 Shoveler, 12 Tufted Duck, 1 Buzzard, 6 Coot, 2 Oystercatcher, 1 Black Tailed Godwit, 10 Common Redshanks, 1 Greenshanks, 1 Great Black Backed Gull, 18 Lapwing, 12 Avocet, and 582 Dunlin (the Dunlin all between first platform and island with single Sanderling among them). 4 Reed Warbler, 2 Common Whitethroat, 3 Chiffchaff, and 1 Raven. Also of note a Spoonbill hidden it seems somewhere behind the sluice gate of Monks lagoon. I would have missed this bird if it wasn’t for a fly by Little Egret who dived towards it drove it to my position before chasing it off in a southerly direction. Jen Rowlands Thursday 14-May-2009 Wyllie & surrounding woodlands Sizable group (20+) of swifts hunting overhead the neighborhood 3 days straight. Hope they stick around! Nathan Casburn Thursday 14-May-2009 Caerleon Flooded Field 2 Osytercatchers early morning Tara Okon Wednesday 13-May-2009 Newport Wetlands - Uskmouth Little Ringed Plover, Little Egret, Grey Heron, Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Reed Bunting, Cetti's Warbler, Cuckoo, Whitethroat, Great Tit, House Sparrow, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Mallard, Tufted duck, Pochard, Little Grebe, Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Robin, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Green Woodpecker, Swallow. Sarah Edworthy Tuesday 12-May-2009 Newport Golf Course Rogerstone 1 Red Kite seen circling above 9th fairway. Buzzards normally seen but this is the first time seen a Red kite in the area Tara Okon Tuesday 12-May-2009 Newport Wetlands - Goldcliff Reed Warbler, Skylark, Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, Swift, Swallow, Lapwing, Redshank, Oystercatcher, Avocet, Whimbrel, Ringed Plover, Black-tailed Godwit, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Gadwall, Shoveler, Coot, Moorhen, Canada Goose, Shelduck. Tara Okon Monday 11-May-2009 Newport Wetlands Uskmouth : Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, Cetti's Warbler, Reed Warbler, Blackcap, Wren, Song Thrush, Blackbird, Cuckoo, Kestrel, Little Egret, Grey Heron, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Reed Bunting, Pheasant, Little Grebe, Tufted Duck, Moorhen, Coot, Tufted Duck, Pochard, Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Green Woodpecker, Swallow, swift, House Martin. Goldcliff :Spoonbill seen from sea wall on back lagoon, Whimbrel, Ringed Plover, Redshank, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Shoveler, Shelduck, Cormorant, Avocet, Dunlin, Skylark, Lesser Whitethroat, Whitethroat, Moorhen, Coot, Chaffinch, Little Egret, Swallow, Swift, House Martin. Roo perkins Monday 11-May-2009 Pontypool/Pentrepiod 5 singing redstart, wheatear, cuckoo and common woodland birds on hillside walk above Pentrepiod area yesterday, Redstart were very vocal. can anyone advise where in Wentwood is good for Nightjar? Holly Monday 11-May-2009 Cwmbran Drive Nr B&Q Small Hobby observed chasing some swifts above B&Q roundabout in Cwmbran Tara Okon Sunday 10-May-2009 Newport Wetlands - Goldcliff Avocet 16, Lapwing 14, Skylark 4, Blue tit 1, Great Tit 1, Reed Warbler 1, Lesser whitethroat 1, Whitethroat 1, Chiffchaff 1, Blackbird 2, Starling 5, Swallow 2, Mute swan 1, Moorhen 7, Shelduck 6, Shoveler 4, Tufted duck 10, Little Egret 3, Grey Heron 2, Kestrel 1, Buzzard 1, Dunlin 4, Ringed Plover 1, Oystercatcher 4, Redshank 12, Mistle Thrush 1, Mallard 12, Canada Goose 1, Greylag Goose 1. Tara Okon Sunday 10-May-2009 Newport Wetlands - Uskmouth Cormorant 1, Little Grebe 6, Great Crested Grebe 1, Grey Heron 1, Shelduck 10, Pochard 6, Mallard 6, Tufted Duck 24, Mute Swan 5, Canada Goose 11, Coot 11, Herring gull 4, Lesser black-backed Gull 1, Carrion Crow 5, Magpie 3, Wood Pigeon 5, Blackbird 4, Starling 3, Oystercatcher 10, whimbrel 3, |Little Ringed Plover 1, Swallow 5, Swift 3, Song Thrush 1, Robin 3, Wheatear 2, Reed bunting 3, Bearded Tit 2, Cetti's warbler 2, Sedge Warble 5, reed warbler 2, Lesser whitethroat 3, Whitethroat 7, Blackcap 2, Chiffchaff 5, Wren 7, Goldfinch 14, Greenfinch 7, Chaffinch 1, Cuckoo 1, Kestrel 1, Buzzard 6, Peregrine 1, Willow Warbler 2, Green Woodpecker 1, Long-tailed Tit 1. Darryl Spittle and Nathan Casburn Sunday 10-May-2009 Newport Wetlands - Goldcliff 1 Spoonbill, 1 Garganey, 1 Golden Plover, 4 Turnstone, 1 Knot, 5 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Greenshank, 2 Wheatear, 300+ Dunlin and 1 Bar-headed Goose. John Bennett Sunday 10-May-2009 Wentwood 2+ Nightjars churring and also roding Woodcock . Also a good selection of songbirds . Tom Chinnick Sunday 10-May-2009 Goldcliff Pools NR 1 Male Garganey, 2 Turnstone, 1 Presumed Fem Redstart seen very briefly in hedge viewed from gate behind platforms. David Price Sunday 10-May-2009 Goldcliff Lagoons 1 Male Garganey, seen from seawall looking back toward farmers arms, sitting on bank just on opposite side of lagoon. Brian Thomas Sunday 10-May-2009 Single sanderling among flock of dunlin, 3 turnstone Keith Jones Sunday 10-May-2009 GLWR Uskmouth A good variety of birds early morning including 8 Little Grebe, 4 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Grey Heron, 1 Little Egret, 5 Mute Swan, 4 ad 7 fl Canada Geese, 15 Shelduck ( 2 pair were displaying), 4 male 2 female Mallard, 1 female Gadwall , 13 male 12 female Tufted Duck (mostly paired off), 2 male 1 female Pochard, 1 Hobby, 4 Pheasant, 14 Moorhen, 28 ad and 4fl, 1 fl, 3fl, 1 fl Coot, 2 Oystercatcher, 1 Little Ringed Plover, 2 Curlew, 4 Whimbrel, 1 Common Redshanks, 1 Black Headed Gull, 2 Cuckoo, 35 singing Reed Warbler, 16 singing Sedge Warbler, 12 Cetti’s Warbler, 11 Common Whitethroat, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, 5 Blackcap, 1 Willow Warbler, 6 Chiffchaff, 14 Wren, 3 Dunnock, 2 male Stonechat, 13 Reed Bunting., 5 Magpie, 4 Carrion Crows, and three separate sightings of Bearded Tits, a single 3, and another 4 the 3 & 4 same birds same location. Nathan casburn Saturday 09-May-2009 West Usk Light House St Brides Highlights-33 Sanderling 300+ Dunlin 3 Bar-Tailed Godwits 9 Whimbrel 20 each of Osytercatcher and Ringed Plover.Curlew,Redshank and 3 Wheatears. John Davies & Steven Butler Saturday 09-May-2009 Gobion 2 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Linnet, Common Sandpiper, Great spot, Garden Warbler, Blackcap, Curlew and Hobby John Bennett Saturday 09-May-2009 Goldcliff Pools NR A cuckoo and the usual suspects . 3 Gannets just before I arrived.Along the reen there was a Hairy Dragonfly . Mike Warburton Saturday 09-May-2009 Willowtown, Ebbw Vale Just counted 17 Swifts screaming up and down my street. Steve Williams Friday 08-May-2009 Tirpentwys LNR Quick visit to the Local Nature Reserve produced a couple of Tree Pipit, 2 Redstart, 2 singing Wood Warbler, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Nuthatch, Willow Warbler and Linnet. Ian Smith Friday 08-May-2009 Re Dingestow area wheatears seen by Sam. This is a classic date for the Greenland race passage that I used to note when making daily observations through Cosmeston in South Glamorgan, following the Icelandic birds at the end of April. Chris Jones, Nathan Casburn and Tom Chinnick Friday 08-May-2009 Goldcliff Point Sea watch this evening following a day of blustery SW winds eventually produced a pale phase Pomarine Skua flying upchannel at 18:30. The only other birds noted were 3 Arctic Terns and a Kittiwake. Sam Bosanquet Friday 08-May-2009 Mitchel Troy nr Monmouth 3 Wheatears by the track to Trealy Farm. Presumably migrants, although site is on the side of Craid y Dorth and could conceivably be breeding habitat. Jackie H Thursday 07-May-2009 Various Plenty of Swifts over Usk town centre, although just three in Blaenavon - been here a week now - and the House Martins (two so far) arrived yesterday, returning to their nest at my neighbour's. Two Cuckoos heard in Blaenavon area to date. David Allan Thursday 07-May-2009 M4 Junction 28 An Osprey was flying north-west just to the north of junction 28 of the M4 at 1731hrs this evening. Keith Jones Thursday 07-May-2009 Neddern Walked from the motorway to Caldicot via Castle Meadow at mid morning produced just 33 species including 5 Little Egret, 2 Mute Swan, 55 ad 5 fl Mallard, 2 ad 3 fl Moorhen, 5 Coot, 4 Lapwing, 1 Stock Dove, 12 Wren, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Common Whitethroat, 6 (including 1 Food for Young) Blackcap, 22 Blackbird, 72 House Sparrow, 22 + 1 (ON) Jackdaw. David Price Thursday 07-May-2009 Goldcliff Lagoons 1 Spoonbill flew overhead whilst i was on 2nd platform dropped down onto lagoon nearest seawall. 9 BT Godwit, 10 Avocet, 1 Wheatear female, 2 greylag. 10:30-11:30 Roo Perkins Wednesday 06-May-2009 Pontypool/Pentrepiod First Swift of the year over the garden. Also still 10 siskin and 4 Bulfinches coming to the feeders so im still going through the sunflower hearts fast! Great spotted w/pecker ignores the nuts and goes for the lard balls instead. Lee Parsons Wednesday 06-May-2009 Brynithel First Swift of the year observed over the village ! D McLaughlin Tuesday 05-May-2009 Cwmcarn Forest Drive At least 5 wood warblers singing yesterday, noted while mountain biking (only when going very slowly uphill...) Keith Jones Tuesday 05-May-2009 GLWR Uskmouth An early morning walk produced just 40 species including 10 Little Grebe, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 6 Mute Swan, 2 Grey Lag Geese, 2 Canada Geese, 26 Shelduck, 9 Mallard, 12 male 8 female Tufted Duck, 4 male Pochard, 8 Moorhen, 12 adult 3 juv Coot, 3 Avocet, 1 Whimbrel, 24 Reed Warbler, 6 Sedge Warbler, 5 Cetti’s Warbler, 1 Garden Warbler, 2 Blackcap, 8 Common Whitethroat, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Willow Warbler, 7 Chiffchaff, 2 Stonechat, 1 Cuckoo, 1 Swift, 7 Reed Bunting etc. Martyn Jones Monday 04-May-2009 Newport Velidrome Cettis Warbler heard from reens at rear of sports village 09.30 Luke Phillips Monday 04-May-2009 Outdoor Programme The 2009 Bird Race is coming up shortly, so any teams wishing to enter can email me (using the Contact GOS page) and let me know whos in the team. Rules went out with the last newsletter. Nathan Casburn Monday 04-May-2009 Goldcliff Point Dam It i knew i left to early. Roger Price Monday 04-May-2009 Goldcliff Point 5 to 5.30pm. 1 Fulmar up,6 Manx up, 10 Manx down, 2 Arctic Skua (dark phase),down.Apologies to Nathan. c.hurn ccw Monday 04-May-2009 no 1 platform to night very cold and windy avocet chick with adult Gary R Jenkins Monday 04-May-2009 flood meadow next to St Pierre At least 4 egrets skulking in the reeds of the flood meadow / marsh Roo Perkins Monday 04-May-2009 Blorenge Walk C in the gwent birds book - 8 wheatear, cuckoo and a peregrine carrying food. No sign of any redstart or whinchat, but it was pretty dull and windy. Steve Davies Monday 04-May-2009 Mynyddislwyn 2 redstart, chiffchaff, swallow, linnet, gsw drumming, pied wahtail, goldfinch, chaffinch, buzzard, coal/long tailed/blue/great tit, robin, song thrush, blackbird, jackdaw, magpie... Bryn & Ros Burgess Monday 04-May-2009 Llandegfedd Village Walk (pm) Llandegveth Village to Reservoir and return. Treecreeper 2, Redstart (female), Goldfinch 7, Swallows c10, Swift (also 1 in Caldicot, Raven, Buzzard 2. Steve Davies Sunday 03-May-2009 Newbridge black cap, housemartin (3), coal tit, song thrush, mistle thrush, nuthatch, greenfinch, chaffinch, chiffchaff... Julian Branscombe Sunday 03-May-2009 Sugar Loaf Not a great deal, but redstart singing from the top edge of the woods fringing the Sugar Loaf, and stonechat in the bracken half way up. Julian Branscombe Sunday 03-May-2009 Talywain Late posting for yesterday. The Gwent Wildlife Trust / Torfaen CBC International Dawn Chorus Day walk (in rivalry with Darryl's at Uskmouth) came up with 33 species, including about 6 singing male wood warblers, cuckoo, treecreeper, siskin, nuthatch, treecreeper, goldfinch and lots of blackcap, willow warbler, chiffchaff, mistle thrush, robin, blackbird, wren, dunnock and greenfinch, so it was certainly nice and noisy. Good to see the first swift of the year too. I did my best to string a redstart, but decided in the end it was an odd chaffinch with buzzy redstarty notes in its song - I certainly couldn't see it, so that was one that got away. Keith Jones Sunday 03-May-2009 Ynysyfro Reservoir Not much of note at the reservoirs late morning, but included 1 Little Grebe, 2 Mute Swan, 3 Mallard, 5 Tufted Duck, 1 Buzzard, 1 Moorhen, 10 Coot, 1 Green Woodpecker, 10 Swallow, 20 Sand Martins, 16 House Martins, 3 Common Whitethroats, 1 Jay etc. Roo Perkins Sunday 03-May-2009 Talywain Slow cycle from Pentrepiod to Cwmavon along the cycle track, 8+ singing Wood Warbler, 5 giving great eye level views, all in about a 1 mile stretch N of Abersychan (as per yesterdays posting). Plenty of Blackcap, Willow W and Chiffchaff and other common woodland birds. Tara Okon Sunday 03-May-2009 Newport Wetlands - Uskmouth Dawn Chorus Walk: Robin, Blackbird, Wren, Great Tit,Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Cetti's Warbler, Reed Bunting, Coot, Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant, Herring Gull, Wood Pigeon, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Little Egret, Grey Heron, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Pochard, Canada Goose, Mute swan, Swallow, Sand Martin, Great Spotted woodpecker, Green Woodpecker, Whimbrel, Little Ringed Plover, Cuckoo, Little Owl. Thank you Darryl. Mike Warburton Sunday 03-May-2009 Trefil, nr Tredegar From the village to the quarry.Mipit,Common Sandpiper,Swift,Swallow,Linnet,Skylark,Wheatear,Blackbird,Raven and at least three Snipe drumming on the hill. Not happy with the restricted access to the disused quarries(large rocks blocking the road!).I suppose it is just another case of societies scumbags (off roaders,car thieves etc) spoiling it for the resposible visitors to the area though. Mike Powell, Steve Howell & John Martin Saturday 02-May-2009 GLWR Goldcliff Not a bird but a dragonfly. Our first Hairy Dragonfly of the year, flying over the brambles at the car-park around 14.30. Tara Okon Saturday 02-May-2009 Newport Wetlands - Uskmouth Goldfinch 8,Greenfinch 5, Wren 3, Robin 1, House sparrow 2, Blue Tit 3, Whitethroat 10, Lesser Whitethroat 7, Blackcap 1, Chiffchaff 8, Willow Warbler 1,Reed Warbler 10, Sedge Warbler 6, Cetti's Warbler 4,Reed Bunting 1, Blackbird 8,Green Woodpecker 2, Wheatear 2, Wood Pigeon 1, Carrion Crow 23, Magpie 4,Pheasant 2, Moorhen 1, Coot 28, Mallard 8, Pochard 3, Tufted Duck 17, Shelduck 22, Canada Goose 8, Little Grebe 3, Great Crested Grebe 1, Mute swan 4,Herring Gull 8, Lesser Black-backed Gull 2, Little Egret 1, House Martin 1, Swallow 13, Oystercatcher 1, Whimbrel 7, Little Ringed Plover 2. Saturday 02-May-2009 Sugar loaf & St David's Vale 5 Wood Warbler, 6 pairs linnet, 6 Skylark, 4 Cuckoo, 12 Whinchat, Peregrine,Whitethroat,Blackcap, 2 Pied Flycather, 4 Redstart, 2 Stonechat, Garden Warbler, Willow Warbler, Sparrowhawk, 2 Wheatear, Meadow Pipit number appear down, 10 plus Tree Pipit, Yellowhammer, 2 Green Wood pecker Keith Jones Saturday 02-May-2009 Moorings Fields Newport Walked loop of the Usk at mid day (high tide). The Moorings produced 2 male Mallard, 1 Water Rail, 8 Reed Warbler, 1 Cetti’s Warbler (Newport side of river on this occasion), 1 male Stonechat, 8 Reed Bunting. At the Flooded field 5 Canada Geese, 2 Shelduck, 4 Teal, 6 male Mallard, 4 Moorhen, 2 Lapwing, 2 Great Black Backed Gulls etc. Julian Branscombe Saturday 02-May-2009 Talywain 7 or 8 singing wood warblers in about half a mile from the cycletrack north from Talywain / Abersychan this morning. Some fantastic views. Also drumming great spot there. Garden warbler & yellowhammer singing on The British. Keith Jones Friday 01-May-2009 Bulmore Lakes Walked from the lakes to Caerleon along the Bulmore Road early morning. 45 species noted including 5 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Cormorant, 3 Grey Heron, 7 Mute Swan, 17 adult 7 young Canada Geese, 17 male 4 female 6 young Mallard, 2 male 1 female Tufted Duck, 2 fly-by Raven of which 1 was seen off by a Sparrow Hawk, 10 Coot, 8 Reed Warbler, 5 Blackcap, 8 Common Whitethroat, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Willow Warbler, 5 Chiffchaff, 6 singing Skylark, 3 Reed Bunting etc,. Nicholas Beswick Thursday 30-Apr-2009 Newbridge Dipper feeding juvenile on River Ebbw. Two Swifts over Luke Phillips Thursday 30-Apr-2009 Monmouth Good numbers of Swift flying over the town bridge this morning, a nice distraction from the the rather large traffic jam! Natalie Duggan Thursday 30-Apr-2009 Manmoel Pair of Red Kites and Pied Flycatcher seen this afternoon Lee Parsons Wednesday 29-Apr-2009 Castle Meadows, Abergavenny Common Sandpiper, Reed Bunting and a host of common species, highlight six Swift ! Bill Jones Wednesday 29-Apr-2009 Saltmarsh/Farmfield Lane My first Hobby of the year this afternoon. NJD / MJP Wednesday 29-Apr-2009 Goldcliff reserve 2 ringed plovers, 4 oystercatchers, lapwing (one pair with 4 young), dunlin, redshank, shovelers, lt egrets, avocets. Saltmarsh Lane: 2 lesser whitethroats, sedge warblers, cettis warbler. Newport Wetlands: 8 whimbrel, reed buntings, whitethroats, more sedge warblers. No sign of subalpine warbler at 1220hrs. John Bennett Wednesday 29-Apr-2009 Usk A Garden Warbler near Llanbadoc Church this morning Keith Jones Tuesday 28-Apr-2009 Peterstone Wentlooge Walked from the village west as far as Swn y Mor Farm, and east to the Gout with the advancing tide early morning. This produced a count of 38 species including 1 Mute Swan, 2 Canada Geese, 1 Bar Headed Goose, 14 Shelduck, 2 Teal, 36 Mallard, 1 Buzzard, 20 Lapwing, 4 Oystercatchers, 12 Common Redshanks, 36 Whimbrel, 4 Curlew, 1 Common Sandpiper, 8 Swallow, 5 Reed Warbler, 7 Common Whitethroat, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 5 Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcap, etc. Tara Okon Tuesday 28-Apr-2009 Newport Wetlands - Uskmouth Subalpine warbler seen at approx. 9 a.m. in trees in front of raised seat, to the left. Whitethroat 4, Lesser Whitethroat 3, Blackcap 3, Chiffchaff 6+, Willow warbler 3, Greenfinch 4, Goldfinch 8+, Reed bunting 2, Reed warbler 4, Sedge Warbler 6, Wren 1, Robin 1, House Sparrow 1, Great Tit 1, Blue Tit 2, Long-tailed Tit 1, Linnet 2, Whinchat 1, Little Ringed Plover 2, Lapwing 1, Green Woodpecker 2, Cuckoo, Canada Goose 1, Mallard 6+, Shelduck 10+, Oystercatcher 3, Little egret 1, Grey Heron 2, Kestrel 1, Magpie 6+, Little Grebe 6, Great Crested Grebe 2, Tufted Duck 8, Pochard 2, Moorhen 1, Coot 10+, Pied Wagtail 2, Cetti's Warbler 5, Mute Swan 3. Also reported Bearded Tits. Chris Thomas Tuesday 28-Apr-2009 Newport Wetlands Subalpine Warbler seen for around 20 seconds with subsong at 6:40 am in trees next to raised bench. Bird then flew off into copse and I couldn't relocate it between then and 8am. Nathan Casburn Monday 27-Apr-2009 Uskmouth Subalpine Warbler still this evening at 8pm. Keith Jones Monday 27-Apr-2009 GLWR Uskmouth Walked around the lagoons at mid morning noting 5 species including 4 Little Grebe, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Little Egret, 7 Mute Swan, 16 Shelduck, 11 Mallard, 28 Tufted Duck, 2 Pochard, 1 Buzzard, 2 Water Rail, 10 Moorhen, 18 adult 8 fl (in 3 broods) Coot, 2 Oystercatcher, 3 Curlew, 19 Whimbrel, 1 Cuckoo, 2 Swift, 22 Reed Warbler, 12 Sedge Warbler, 11 Cetti’s Warbler, 6 Blackcap, 9 Common Whitethroat, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, 4 Willow Warbler, 6 Chiffchaff, 2 Stonechat, 1 Bearded Tit, 12 Reed Bunting. No trace of the Sub Alpine while I was there, but 22 twitchers south and west of the wood near R11. steve howcroft+joek roex Monday 27-Apr-2009 wetlands reserve rspb 3.oopm white stork,seen circling just to north of goldcliff from wetlands reserve (eastern end)then flew towards celtic manor area.observed for c5 min then caught sight again towards c,manor Luke Monday 27-Apr-2009 Newport Wetlands - Uskmouth News from RBA/birdguides - Subalpine Warbler still at uskmouth this morning. Presumably in the same place as yesturday?? mark davies Sunday 26-Apr-2009 St Mary green & greater spotted woodpecker , willow & wood warblers & 2 male & 1 female pied flycatcher in the vale this afternoon Nathan Casburn Sunday 26-Apr-2009 Uskmouth Still There at 7:30pm.A few pics on www.weekendbirder.blogspot.com Mathew Meehan Sunday 26-Apr-2009 Newport Wetlands - Uskmouth Male Subalpine Warb still showing well in willow/scrub area adjacent to sea wall, when I left at 17.25. Darryl Spittle Sunday 26-Apr-2009 Newport Wetlands - Uskmouth At approx 15:00 the Subalp moved from the shelter belt to scrub along the sea-wall just to the south. 'Photo' at www.gwentbirding.blogspot.com Gideon Sunday 26-Apr-2009 Newport Wetlands Subalpine warbler seen near the woods to the East of the reedbeds Paul Tilley Saturday 25-Apr-2009 llyn aled Osprey feeding on No swimming sign at edge of lake Chris Jones / Nathan Casburn Saturday 25-Apr-2009 Goldcliff Point 2 hour sea watch this evening, eventually produced 2 Fulmars (both going down channel) and 5 Arctic Skuas (1 light phase and 4 dark phase) going up channel. Adrian Plant Saturday 25-Apr-2009 Peterstone Gout 17 Whimbrel mostly sheltering from the strong wind in the gout or on the short turf just W of the sluice Darryl Spittle Saturday 25-Apr-2009 Newport Wetlands - Uskmouth 12 Swift, 1 Cuckoo, 10 Whimbrel, 1 Red Admiral and Large Red Damselfly. John Bennett Saturday 25-Apr-2009 Newport Wetlands - Goldcliff A quick visit produced 60 Dunlin,about 10 Knot-one in breeding plumage-,a pair of Bar-headed Geese and a single swift Mike Warburton Saturday 25-Apr-2009 Newtown,Ebbw Vale My first Whinchat of the year in the form of a male singing from the top of a tree. Rudi and Robin Richards Saturday 25-Apr-2009 Brynmawr 1 Common Swift over town this morning. Tom Chinnick Friday 24-Apr-2009 Garnlydan Reservoir 8-9:00am- Highlights were 2 Common Sands. Allan Dowson Friday 24-Apr-2009 Peterstone Gout 17h30-18h15 6-Bar'wits,5 in breeding plumage,11+Whimbrels. Nigel Garside Friday 24-Apr-2009 Peterstone Wentlooge Two male Bar-tailed Godwits and one female, all summer plumage, 20 Whimbrel, 4 Common Sandpiper and 4 Lesser Whitethroat. Barry Ingram Friday 24-Apr-2009 Caldicot Walking from Magor to Caldicot, along Green Lane, behind the school and then along Herbert Road to home in Sandy Lane I was struck bu the number of house sparrows I saw and heard throughout my journey. Difficult to count but for 3/4's of a mile or so the incessant chirruping and sight of males and females was a return to my boyhood. Where have they been all this time? Craig Constance&Little Dai Friday 24-Apr-2009 Goldcliff Pools 6-9pm 13 Bar-tailed Godwit,10 Knot,60+Dunlin,1 Common sandpiper,1 Spot Red,1 Greenshank,1 Grey Plover,2 Whimbrel,1 Curlew,2 Greylag Goose,(1 Bar-headed Goose),2 White Wagtail,4 Wheatear,5 Sand Martin,1 House Martin and 1 Peregrine hunting.Yesterday at the old railway line in Abersychan there were 2 Wood Warblers singing and showing well. P.O'Duffy Friday 24-Apr-2009 Mynydd Henllys Two Golden Plover(one summer plumage),also six passage Wheatear(all female) Keith Jones Friday 24-Apr-2009 Caerleon An early morning visit to the river south of Home Farm Estate at high tide produced just 32 species including 2 Canada Geese, 8 Mallard, 1 Oystercatcher, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Cetti’s Warbler (Caerleon side), 2 Blackcap, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Chiffchaff, 42 House Sparrow, 3 Reed Bunting etc. chris west Thursday 23-Apr-2009 Bryn to Gobion female goosander and 7,week old chicks,kingfisher, l r plover, hobby, buzzard, sand martins, house martins. Tara Okon Thursday 23-Apr-2009 Newport Wetlands - Uskmouth Greenfinch 6, Goldfinch 8, Cetti's Warbler 3, Dunnock 2, Reed Warbler 2, Sedge Warbler 1, Coot 11, Tufted Duck 8, Pochard 2, Mallard 6, Shelduck 2,Great Crested Grebe 1, Little Grebe 5, Mute swan 6, Canada Goose 2, Bar-headed Goose 2, Little Ringed Plover 2, Grey Heron 2, Pied Wagtail 1, Green Woodpecker 1, Pheasant 2, Little Egret 1, Wheatear 2, Chiffchaff 3, Whitethroat 1, Lesser Whitethroat 2, Reed Bunting 1, Kestrel 1, Sparrowhawk 1, Buzzard 1. Nathan Casburn Thursday 23-Apr-2009 West Usk Lighthouse Area 11 Bar Tailed Godwits 8 Whimbrel 1 Grey Plover 20+ each of Ringed Plover and Dunlin.1 Wheatear along the sea wall. Dave Maile Thursday 23-Apr-2009 Varteg 4:30pm Nice view of a Male hen harrier heading over hillside. Craig Constance Thursday 23-Apr-2009 Goldcliff Pools 6.30-9.30am. 4 Bar-tailed Godwit (2 in summer plumage)on first island,3 Black-tailed Godwit,71 Dunlin,1 very black Spotted Redshank,1 Greenshank,1 Whimbrel,10 Knot,8 White Wagtail,2 Wheatear both female on point,4 Swallow,1 House Martin and 3 Stock Dove. John Davies & Steven Butler Wednesday 22-Apr-2009 St Mary 2 Cuckoo, 7 Tree Pipit, Yellowhammer,Chiffchaff, Nuthatch, loads of Willow Warbler, 1 Wood Warbler, 2 Redstart, Blackcap, Garden Warbler, Tawny Owl, Skylark. Allan Dowson Wednesday 22-Apr-2009 Goldcliff Pools early evening wednesday,15-Whimbrels,10+ White Wagtails and 14-Avocets. Bill Jones Wednesday 22-Apr-2009 Newport Wetlands First Large Red Damselfly and a teneral (newly hatched) Blue-tailed Damselfly seen yesterday, also at least 50 Orange-tip, 23 Speckled Wood, Comma, Painted Lady, Peacock and lots of Large, Small and Green-veined White Butterflies. Luke Phillips has previously posted our bird sightings for yesterday, however I know many Gwent birders are interested in Dragonflies and Butterflies and I thought you may be interested in these sightings also. My apologies that this post is not strictly about birds. FAO Mr EC Wednesday 22-Apr-2009 Anywhere Given the amount of information on the RSPB website, I don't think news of breeding species from the Newport Reserve on here is letting any additional cats out of bags, they have long since escaped. Mr Egg Collector Wednesday 22-Apr-2009 Anywhere Is it really necessary to post sightings of breeding birds and locations on here? Thanks anyway! Lee Parsons Wednesday 22-Apr-2009 Cwmtillery Lakes Five Coot on nests, one pair with six young, Dipper feeding chicks, Wren nest-building ! Swallows back in abundance and singing Willow Warbler throughout the Millenium wood, highlight, catching a Jay drinking at stream. The work recently carried out has certainly enhanced the lakes, but one drawback would seem to be the loss of Little Grebe to the area. Tom Chinnick Wednesday 22-Apr-2009 Abergavenny Abergavenny area 8-9:10am. lots of activity from pair of Lesser-S Woodpecker which showed well, numerous Redstart, Wood Warbler and Pied Fly, Cuckoo and Tawny Owl heard. Luke Phillips Wednesday 22-Apr-2009 Newport Wetlands - Uskmouth Forgot to mention that there was also a Common Sandpiper that flew 'in off' and appeared to go down somewhere near the visitor centre lagoon. Luke Phillips & Bill Jones Wednesday 22-Apr-2009 Newport Wetlands - Uskmouth 06:15-16:30 Highlights were at least 6 Bearded Tit, 2 Grasshopper Warbler, 4 Lesser Whitethroat and 2 Little Ringed Plover showing well on the visitor centre 'scrape'. Also about were 9 Common Whitethroat, 25 Cetti's Warbler, plenty of Chiffchaff, Segdge and reed Warbler, 7 Willow Warbler, 3 Cuckoo, 13 Reed Bunting, and the Marsh harrier. Keith Jones Wednesday 22-Apr-2009 Neddern A mid morning walk produced 34 species including 6 Grey Heron, 10 Little Egret, 1 Black Swan (Castle Meadow Pool), 2 Canada Geese, 7 Shelduck, 17 male 1 female Mallard, 2 male Shoveler, 1 Moorhen, 9 Coot, 3 Lapwing, 17 Wood Pigeon, 1 Green Woodpecker, 11 Wren, 5 Dunnock, 3 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff, 24 Robin, 18 Blackbird, 42 House Sparrow, 19 Jackdaw etc. Craig Constance Wednesday 22-Apr-2009 Llandegfedd Reservoir 10am-12pm. 1 male Lesser Spotted Woodpecker showing well near usk river inlet near fishermans carpark,2 Greylag Goose that were new,62 Lesser Redpoll in one flock flushed by male Sparrow Hawk and 1 Yellow-Legged Gull out in middle briefly. Ashley Tuesday 21-Apr-2009 Castle Meadows, Abergavenny Plenty of Sand Martins nesting in the bank of the Usk at Castle Meadows, Abergavenny While sat there on the river bank, I witnessed part of the bank collapse into the Usk, probably ruining much of their hard work. A Single Grey Heron also spotted surveying from the field opposite. A handfull of great Tits. A pair of Buzzards up above. Also, I believe I seen a Kestrel above later in the afternoon.