Gwent Sightings

Forum Most Recent Submit Sightings 2010 2009 All Sightings

Keith Jones Monday 08-Feb-2010 Llandevaud My error Peter it was ST39B I visited. This monring completed my second winter visit for ST39V but little out of the ordinary. Allan Dowson Monday 08-Feb-2010 Goldcliff Birds of note,11h00-12h00;1-fem.Smew,1-Spotted Redshank,19-Gadwall all from 1st. platform. Peter O'Duffy Monday 08-Feb-2010 Wales Att.KeithJones:The walk you did is in ST239B. Steve Williams Sunday 07-Feb-2010 Bryn Bach Park Good numbers of wildfowl included 7 Mute Swan, 60 Coot, 50 Mallard, 11 Pochard, 11 Tufted Duck, 32 Canada Goose and a hybrid Canada x Greylag Goose (photos on valleynaturalist.blogspot.com. Also 22 Goosander at Machine Pond. mark davies Sunday 07-Feb-2010 River Usk 30+ flock of goldfinches , redpoll & a couple of siskens in alders just below the llanwenarth arms Mike Warburton Sunday 07-Feb-2010 Waunafon bog 16.30pm.One Short Eared Owl observed on/off through the fog for about tem minutes on the Western side of the mountain road near the cattle grid.Be aware for anyone planning a visit that the mountain road gate is now locked at 2pm. John Bennett Sunday 07-Feb-2010 LLanllowell Llanllowel 7th February 2010. A female Scaup on the river Usk from the siding just south of Usk opposite the Craig Olway Farm . Be careful to climb the bank so as not to flush the birds . The Scaup was on the river bend and there were about 20 Goldeneye towards Usk . Also 2+ Little Grebe and 3 Goosander. Keith Jones Sunday 07-Feb-2010 Ponthir Reservoir Not a lot about mid afternoon but 1 Great Crested Grebe, 22 Tufted Duck, and 1 Goosander. mark davies Saturday 06-Feb-2010 Sugar Loaf 4 red grouse on side of sugar loaf this afternoon Nathan Casburn Saturday 06-Feb-2010 Wentwood Willow Tit,Brambling and good numbers of Crossbills Brian Thomas Saturday 06-Feb-2010 Newport Wetlands - Goldcliff 9.45 - 11.45:Female smew on back lagoon after visiting the other ones. Greenshank, spotted redshank from 1st platform. Keith Jones Saturday 06-Feb-2010 Cwmbran boating lake . Completed second Winter Atlas visit for ST39C, Walked (Two hours) early morning from Cwmbran Boating Lake following the SE river – railway line footpath to Rose Cottage, then NE to finish walk at Llanfrechfa Church. High-lights include 14 Goosander, 2 Dipper, 1 drumming Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Jay, 1 Nuthatch. Birds singing include Wood Pigeon, Wren, Mistle Thrush, Coal Tit, Greenfinch, and 13 Dunnock. Lee Parsons Friday 05-Feb-2010 Brynithel 30+ Siskin; Goldfinch, Bullfinch, Chaffinch; Greenfinch; Great, Blue and Coal Tit; Treecreeper; three Buzzard and all the usual corvids. Keith Roylance & Arthur Pitcher Friday 05-Feb-2010 Wentwood Flock of 40+ Crossbill at Cadira Beeches. Also Redpoll, Goshawk, Buzzard, Blue, Great & Coal Tits. Willow Tit heard. Out of County - Great White Egret at Hendre Lake, St. Mellons this morning. Flew from its roost at 08:00 westward. Also 5 Little Egret. Keith Jones Friday 05-Feb-2010 Uskmouth A count early morning from Power Station entrance followed the western footpath to west R4, then walked to east R 8 & 9 via Pontoon Bridge, completing walk from west R11 to the visitors centre. Numbers rather low with 4 Little Grebe, 1 Little Egret, 2 Mute Swan, 2 Canada Geese, 14 Shelduck, 132 Wigeon (Foreshore) 44 Teal (Foreshore), 32 Mallard, 18 Tufted Duck, 7 Pochard, 2 Pheasant, 5 Water Rail, 9 Moorhen, 38 Coot, 40 Curlew, 1 Green Woodpecker, 19 Cetti’s Warbler, 34 Greenfinch, 10 Linnet, 21 Reed Bunting, 5 Raven. Among the birds singing Song Thrush, Blackbird, Blue Tit, Greenfinch. David Hathaway Thursday 04-Feb-2010 A465 Abergavenny - Hereford Red Grouse calling near Offa Dyke Path close to Hay Bluff. Could not see it as it was full cloud cover.I walked through heather but they did not get up. Mike Warburton Thursday 04-Feb-2010 Garnlydan Reservoir 15.45-17.00.There were 12 Goosander on the res (7 female) along with 7 Pochard and about 20 BH Gulls.Around the res were 3 C Crows,1 Buzzard,3 Mistle Thrush but the highlight was a male Peregrine having a go at 4 Starlings.The Starlings used the Skylark trick of gaining height but the Peregrine easily matched them.One Starling broke away and the Peregrine had a go but missed.He then went after the three but they all dropped out of sight behind a hill so couldnt see if he made a kill. Alice Thursday 04-Feb-2010 Abersychan 1 Lesser Redpoll feeding on niger in garden (first sighting here!). Also female sparrowhawk sitting at end of garden watching over feeders, eventually seen off by two crows and a magpie. A good day of firsts for the garden (also a treecreeper last week). Neil Hempstead Wednesday 03-Feb-2010 maesycwmmer A pair of goldcrests, firstly feeding at some old Christmas pudding on our feeders, then each in turn lurking in our window boxes (managed to get deveral photos of one on my phone) steve howcroft Wednesday 03-Feb-2010 lakeside pond 5m goosander 9 redheads 1 gbb gull Sheila, Kevin,Jo, Max and Claudia Dupe Wednesday 03-Feb-2010 Hendre Lake Great white egret flew in to roost at exactlly 5pm from south. Soon after bittern seen from 20m climb up into reeds and preen for 10 minutes. Also water rail heard. Gray Wednesday 03-Feb-2010 Goldcliff Lagoons Lagoons very quite at 3.30pm today, with poor visibility. Sprinkling of mallard, wigeon, pochard, tufted duck, shoveler, teal, canada geese, lapwing and little egret. Birds of note were four pintail, two males and two females, viewed from the first platform. Didn't walk to third platform or seawall as mist was descending. Mathew Meehan Wednesday 03-Feb-2010 Newport Wetlands RSPB 1 Green Sandpiper on the scrape outside the visitor centre. Also the a Little Egret. Keith Jones Wednesday 03-Feb-2010 Moorings Fields Newport Walked part of the loop of the River Usk north ofChichester Close at high tide this morning. No doubt missed some birds due to poor visibility, but through the murk did make out 2 Mute Swan, 9 Wigeon, 16 Teal, 6 Mallard, 1 female Sparrow Hawk, 20 Common Redshanks, 1 Greenshanks, 2 Common Snipe, 230 Black Headed Gulls, 40 Lesser Black Backed Gull, 1 Meadow Pipit, 1 Mistle Thrush, 2 Long Tailed Tit, 2 Jay. A Little later at the flooded field 2 Mute Swan, 4 Mallard, 2 Teal, 102 Lapwing, 400 Black Headed Gull, 60 Lesser Black Backed Gull, 120 Jackdaw. Also of note Dunnock, Great and Blue Tits singing. Keith Jones Monday 01-Feb-2010 PEN Y FAN Most of the pond was frozen over late afternoon of 31st January with just 3 Lesser Black Backed, and 2 Black Headed Gulls, and 2 Mallard. More luck on the feeding station in the lower car park with 2 male and 1 female Bullfinch, and also a single Yellowhammer. The latter my first for this location and never seen them coming to feeding station before, but read they are known to. Neil Hempstead Sunday 31-Jan-2010 Ystrad Mynach By-pass Cormorant on a power line pole close to river Rhymney at Llanbradach, a short distance from the fishing lakes Neil Hempstead Sunday 31-Jan-2010 Maesycwmmer a pair of greater spotted woodpeckers at our feeders, but the female also came down onto the patio to snack on biscuits and wet bread / cake Chris Jones / Nathan Casburn Sunday 31-Jan-2010 Llandegfedd Reservoir In the gull roost late pm today a 1st winter immature Little Gull was the only gull of interest. Otherwise 65 Great Crested Grebes, 6 Little Grebes, 480 Teal, 28 Goosander and a female Goldeneye. Sunday 31-Jan-2010 Pen y lan (above Bassaleg) very quiet on the hill this afternoon although 7 Grey Partridge a nice surprise. Nicholas Beswick Sunday 31-Jan-2010 hafod farm,brynmawr Two Ravens feeding on a dead sheep, after which one had a "snow bath", rubbing against the sprinkling of snow on the ground, even rolling right over on to its back with feet in the air. This morning there was an adult Great Black-backed Gull on the ice at the Asda (aka Dunlop Semtex) Pond, a very occasional visitor in these parts. Mike and Jackie Pointon Sunday 31-Jan-2010 St. Brides Wentlooge foreshore Shelduck 150 Shoveler 12 Canada Goose 54 Redshank 60 Dunlin 600 Oystercatcher 6 Buzzard 4 Reed Bunting 1 Goldfinch 20 Woodpigeon 40 Magpie 20 Jackdaw 60 Grey and Pied Wagtail 1. Surprise of the day was Goshawk seen mobbed by Jackdaws. Adrian Plant Sunday 31-Jan-2010 Sluice Farm Two short-eared owls and at least 7 water pipit among a myriad of mippits this morning at 08:00 Steve Williams Sunday 31-Jan-2010 Lasgarn Wood, Abersychan A couple of hours around my local patch produced a nice mixed flock of around 100 birds feeding high in larch, including 3 crossbill, 30 siskin, 40 goldfinch, plus a few coal, great and blue tit. Also great spotted woodpecker and flyover raven. Celia Randerson Sunday 31-Jan-2010 Tredegar House Park 1 hour walk around the park and parts of the lake produced 28 species including - Bullfinch (4); Redwing (50+); Kingfisher (1) - Showing well; Treecreeper (1); Nuthatch (2); Buzzard (1); Golcrest (1) Martyn Jones Sunday 31-Jan-2010 Hendre Lake, St Mellons Just out of county. 07.45. Crippling views of GWE for almost half an hour as it warmed itself in the early morning sunshine prior to flying of west. Several L.Egret 2 Woodcock. Keith Jones Saturday 30-Jan-2010 Wentwood Reservoir A brief visit late morning produced 8 Little Grebe, 1 Great Crested Grebe (posture including neck position suggested diver at distance), 1 Cormorant, 10 Canada Geese, 14 Mallard, 94 Tufted Duck, 24 Pochard, 1 female Goldeneye, 1 Moorhen, 21 Coot, 1 Great Black Backed Gull, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Jay, 1 Raven. KJK Friday 29-Jan-2010 Machen Pair of Bullfinches seen in garden for first time yesterday near top of tall tree. Buzzard flying over garden today being mobbed by 15 jackdaws. HADYN JONES Friday 29-Jan-2010 Slade Woods This afternoon 2 male and 1 female Crossbill showing well. Ed Stevens Friday 29-Jan-2010 Black Rock This morning at Black Rock 1 male bullfinch, 1 great spotted woodpecker and 1 little egret. Tonyr there has been a quite dark buzzard spending quite a lot of time in Sudbrook in the last month or so, but the possibility of red kite can not be disscounted. I have not seen one in Sudbrook but did see one last year over Caldicot. Gray Friday 29-Jan-2010 Hendre Lake, St Mellons (Out of County). Today, at 7:35am the Great White Egret and sixteen little egret lifted from a roost on the lake island and landed again, alongside the reeds on the railway side of the island. Good views for about ten minutes until the flock dispersed, with the Great White disappearing over the railway track. JillyJ Thursday 28-Jan-2010 Handpost, Newport I looked out of the window yesterday to see a small hawk sitting quietly on top of the lilac bush where all my feeders are sited - about the size of a wood pigeon. It had a white stripe over the eye, a grey back with a number of white 'spots'. Would it have been a female sparrow hawk? She disappeared when I dashed for the binoculars so I missed her in flight and was unable to get a better look. My black cap has also returned and is in permanent residence. Saw a wren for the first time earlier in the week. John Bennett Thursday 28-Jan-2010 Usk Valley About 7 Bewick Swans with 25 Mute Swans seen from layby just north of Llangybi but viewing difficult through the trees. tonyr Thursday 28-Jan-2010 Sudbrook First time on this site (or any other) so this covers more than one date. Green woodpecker in garden today, fed for over one hour alongside garden path. I would guess from the rapidity of pecks that it was feeding on ants, there are several ant nests under my path although I didn't know they were active in winter. Have only seen a green woodpecker in this area once before, about six months ago in my next door neighbours garden. Sparrow hawk taking birds in and around village on a fairly regular basis. Lots of buzzards, most I have seen together overhead, middle of last year is nine feeding on flying insects I assumed. Week commencing 11/01/10 arriving home I turned into camp lane and saw something with an enormous wing span flying very low away from me. I first thought a buzzard but the buzzards in this area are quite pale, this was a dark brown on top. Wing movement similar to heron's. Is it possible it was a red kite? Have they made it this far yet? Maurice Chown Thursday 28-Jan-2010 Hendre Lake The G W Egret left the roost at 7.40 this morning and flew west. At about 9.30 I relocated it about 1 mile west north of the railway along with the bittern and both birds flew south and appeared to land on the other side of the railway. It may come back to the roost this evening. Probably best to get there no later than 4.30pm. Lee Parsons Wednesday 27-Jan-2010 rogerstone Magpies nest building at the medical centre and also opposite the recycling area ! Tom Chinnick Wednesday 27-Jan-2010 Hendre Lake, St Mellons Glamorgan/Gwent Great-White Egret flew ESE from Hendre lake @ 7:40 appeared to land in nearby fields. Tom Dalrymple Tuesday 26-Jan-2010 Goldcliff Lagoons We will be repairing the fox fence between 8:30 and lunch time tomorrow (27th). I'm sorry if this causes inconvenience. Keith Jones Tuesday 26-Jan-2010 Bulmore Lakes Walked late morning from Ultra Pontem Caerleon along the Bulmore road to the lakes. Just 27 species noted including 1 Little Grebe, 3 Cormorant, 304 Canada Geese, 6 Wigeon, 43 Teal, 57 Mallard, 5 Goosander 3 Buzzard, 5 Coot, 1 Great Black Backed Gull, 72 Black Headed Gull, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Jay. The Moorings visit listed for 26th January should read 25th January. Keith Jones Tuesday 26-Jan-2010 Moorings Fields Newport A count one hour following high tide in the afternoon produced 15 Wigeon, 29 Teal, 4 Mallard, 2 Goosander, 1 Kestrel, 1 Buzzard, 5 Lapwing, 10 Common Redshanks, 1 Green Sandpiper, 38 Black Headed Gull, 1 Stonechat. Keith Jones Monday 25-Jan-2010 Ynysyfro Reservoir A late morning count produced 4 Little Grebe, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Cormorant, 15 Canada Geese, 9 Mallard, 2 Gadwall, 49 Tufted Duck, 13 Pochard, 1 male Goosander 4 Moorhen, 232 Coot, 2 Great Black Backed Gull, 7 Lesser Black Backed Gull, 10 Herring Gull, 119 Black Headed Gull, 1 Mediterranean Gull. During week days construction continues at entrance to south reservoir, so access possible. Please call in at site office prior to visit. KJK Monday 25-Jan-2010 Machen Same stretch of Rhymney as before: Female Goosander in river again and Cormorant flying. mike tidley Monday 25-Jan-2010 Itton Two woodcock feeding in garden 7pm Barry Ingram Sunday 24-Jan-2010 Dewstow Golf Club, Caldicot Good to have you back Keith. Played golf today at Dewstow on the old course. Two birdies and a lot of singing birds, blackbirds, robins and several I can't identify by their song but finches perhaps, everal different songs. Also the usual suspects, crows, rooks, jackdaws and magpies. One green woodpecker and a brief glimpse of, perhaps, a sparrowhawk. No sign of any buzzards which was a surprise but rabbits appear to be in decline so maybe they've moved away. Bryn Burgess Sunday 24-Jan-2010 Neddern Earleir entry is for the Neddern Bryn Burgess Sunday 24-Jan-2010 United Kingdom 1105 - 1215 Bewick Swans 2Ad + 21st years and 2 female golden Eye still present. 4 Little Grebe, 148 Lapwing, 2 Snipe, 3 Shoveler, 8 Mute Swan, 13 Coot. No Wigeon or Teal present may have been disturbed earlier Keith Jones Sunday 24-Jan-2010 Goldcliff Lagoons A walk to the sea wall mid morning produced a count of 40 species including 2 Little Grebe, 1 Grey Heron 3 Little Egret, 4 Mute Swan, 83 Shelduck, 91 Canada Geese, 120 Wigeon, 109 Teal, 162 Mallard, 15 Shoveler, 11 Gadwall, 11 Pintail, 4 Tufted Duck, 1 female Smew (On Becs), 1 Merlin, 2 Kestrel, 1 Buzzard, 780 Lapwing, 9 Ringed Plover, 5 Grey Plover, 1 Greenshanks, 1 Spotted Redshanks (these two extreme NE corner of Monks), 500 Dunlin, 400 Knot, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 13 Carrion Crow, and 1 Raven. Later at Ponthir Reservoir 1330 – 1345hrs 22 Tufted Duck, 3 Goosander, 12 Black Headed Gull, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Grey Wagtail. John Bennett Saturday 23-Jan-2010 Goldcliff Lagoons Redhead Smew from the seawall also Greenshank and Spotted Redshank from No 1 platform . Garden Blackcap feeding on a fatball . D.Hutton Saturday 23-Jan-2010 Newport Wetlands firstly-good to know your back keith.a nice afternoon produced the usual big flocks of waders and wildfowl-even more spectacular when in flight-put up by a quartering ringtail h.harrier,olso a single woodcock low overhead. David Hathaway Saturday 23-Jan-2010 Gigrin Farm Black Kite at feeding station today,1st one I have seen very exciting. Roo Saturday 23-Jan-2010 Pentrepiod, Pontypool Garden birds coming back, 40 Chaffinch, 7 Brambling and a male Siskin, plus the now resident Blackcap (she rarely leaves the bush with the sunflower feeders). Keith Jones Saturday 23-Jan-2010 Caerleon Hi thanks for the concern Barry, but I’ve been out of action from the 21st December with a rather serious case of Cellulititis from a routine blood test. Was admitted to hospital from 26th December for 19 days. Rather weak and shaky from the whole experience at the moment, but it’s a matter of building up strength again. Did have a quick look at the Great Northern Diver at Llandegfedd Reservoir last weekend, and the central area of Uskmouth also. Didn't report it alrady had been. Plan a short trip this Sunday. So watch this space. KJK Friday 22-Jan-2010 Machen Saw female goosander in River Rhymney from footpath between Tyn y Waun Road and Forge Road. Have never seen goosander in Machen before, but have only just started walking by the river every day as usual dog walking field is full of cows at the moment. Also dipper and young cormorant flew along river opposite rugby club. Nathan Casburn Friday 22-Jan-2010 Llandegfedd Res Great Northern Diver still this afternoon.Gulls came in very late. Hadyn Jones Friday 22-Jan-2010 Newport Wetlands - Uskmouth This afternoon one Ring-Tailed Hen Harrier observed several times-at Farmfield lane,at Dry reed bed, and at east side of main reed bed. Also Barn Owl quartering sedgy field near Farmfield Lane. Mark Dutfield,Matt Evans, Rob Gaze. Friday 22-Jan-2010 Newport Wetlands - Goldcliff Female Smew viewed from the sea wall,Dunlin,Grey Plover,Teal,Wigeon,Little Egret,Shovelor,Curlew,Redshank,Heron,Gadwall,Lapwing(500+),Pintail(5 male,3 fem),Greenshank and Spotted Redshank (last two birds viewed from the second platform)far right of the lagoon. Brian Thomas Friday 22-Jan-2010 Newport Wetlands - Goldcliff 15.00 - 16.30: Godd views of smew from sea-wall and platforms 2 and 3. Pair whooper reported. Barry Ingram Thursday 21-Jan-2010 Where's Keith Jones? No sightings from him since well before Christmas? Warren Payne Thursday 21-Jan-2010 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. Alan C Thursday 21-Jan-2010 Ebbw Vale Just saw a Red Kite flying quite low over Harcourt Street in Ebbw Vale - this is virtually the Town Centre. Now seeing one regularly over Newtown (opposite town) so guess it the same one? Wednesday 20-Jan-2010 Hendre Lake HEADS UP!!! There was a report of a colour-ringed Great White Egret, which was observed in the fields east of Hendre Lake, St. Mellons yesterday [19/01 at 13.30]. It was there for approx 5 mins.No Sign today.This is just outside Gwent. May be hiding in Gwent somewhere. Daniel Jenkins-Jones Tuesday 19-Jan-2010 Neddern Brook Flood Late morning 2 adult and 2 1st yr Bewick Swans still present on Caerwent side of the flood KJK Tuesday 19-Jan-2010 Machen Dog walk on same stretch of river as yesterday: Pair of dippers. Two juvenile cormorants landed nearby that were paler than any I'd seen before. When they saw me and the dog one took off again in the same direction, but the other was so spooked it flew back the way it had come. timberbear Tuesday 19-Jan-2010 Leechpool, Portskewett One lone Twite feeding with Chaffinch and Goldfinch in a nearby neighbours garden. Neighbour rang me to ask me to confirm it was a Twite. The first Ive seen in this area. One Yellowhammer in our own field feeding with large numbers of Chaff and Greenfinch. Barn Owls calling early evening. John Evans Tuesday 19-Jan-2010 GLWR Goldcliff Smew still present early afternoon. mark davies Tuesday 19-Jan-2010 Llanwenarth flock of 10+ redpolls along with several goldfinches feeding in alders by the river John Edwards Tuesday 19-Jan-2010 rogerstone TRee pipit and several redwing in front garden KJK Monday 18-Jan-2010 Machen Dog walk this morning along river footpath between Tyn y Waun and Forge Road: Bullfinch, Dipper preening itself on very steep rock slope near Spar and Squirrel carrying most of an apple in its mouth (mistook it for something more exotic at first!). Tom Chinnick Monday 18-Jan-2010 Newport Wetlands - Goldcliff Redhead Smew still present early morning from seawall and 2/3 Platforms. John Clark Sunday 17-Jan-2010 Goldcliff Lagoons Hello. Redhead smew - I noticed that Craig has put this up on the sightings forum. Just to let you know that I spotted the bird during a WeBS count at 8:15. Mentioned it to a couple of birders on my way back (perhaps Craig was one of them?) so glad others managed to see it. I was on the seawall, beyond the fenced off section, so had very good views of Lagoon 2. Hadyn Jones Sunday 17-Jan-2010 Neddern Brook Flood Late morning 2 adult and 2 1st yr Bewick Swans still present on Caerwent side of the flood. Anyone lost a Sulphur-crested Cockatoo as there was one flying around the Undy levels this morning?...Honest! mark davies Sunday 17-Jan-2010 Llanwenarth 5 greylag geese in field behind church - also 11 lapwing Roo Sunday 17-Jan-2010 Llandegfedd Reservoir Further to Craig (nice to meet you) - GN Diver literally vanished as I watched it, dived and never showed again despite a 30 minute scan, but guess its out there somewhere! Also 16 Goosander, 8 Goldeneye and total of 67 GC Grebes. David Hathaway Sunday 17-Jan-2010 Newport Wetlands Walk toward power station. Pair goldcrests and hen merlin hunting on foreshore. Helen I asked the staff for a GOS brochure. They said they were out of stock,but would like some more posted or handed in. I asked them to encourage people to join GOS tony & jan jenkins Sunday 17-Jan-2010 Cobblers Plain & Lower Hale Near New Inn barn, where the stream crosses under the road, 4m & 1f yellowhammers feeding in adjacent field and then 4m bullfinches flying to alders nearby, Lower Hale to Piercefield, a total of 7 nuthatches & 2 gsws drumming. Craig Constance Sunday 17-Jan-2010 (Various) 11am.Red head Smew showing on back far pool from sea wall.Llandegfedd Res 12pm,1 Great Northern Diver near Osprey pole,5 Goldeneye(2m)13 Goosander and 1 Lesser spotted Woodpecker near water tower at dam end(first light 8am)also a few Skylark going over. Lynn Sunday 17-Jan-2010 rogerstone 12 Fieldfare observed in neighbouring garden striped a tree of it's berries. A Kingfisher while walking the canal in Rogerstone. A Grebe on the River Ebbw at Afon Village. David Hathaway Saturday 16-Jan-2010 Goetre On my way home from AGM,about 5 minutes from The Village Hall I had a Barn Owl fly across the road in front of me. I had taken the back lanes towards Usk. Simon Harrison Saturday 16-Jan-2010 Coed Eva, Cwmbran On the feeders today : My 1st pair of siskin, along with the usual flock of goldfinch which has now grown to 25+ birds. M Jenkin & Msuller Saturday 16-Jan-2010 Goldcliff Morning visit to the lagoons and sea wall produced a good variety of duck (100's of wigeon and teal and a few shovellor, pintail and gadwall) and waders (Lapwing, dunlin, redshank, curlew, snipe, oystercatcher, ringed plover, turnstone, grey plover including one individual in full summer plumage). Hi-light was a female merlin low across the sea wall. Uskmoth produced 2 male and 3 female goldeneye on pool 4. Roo Saturday 16-Jan-2010 Cwmbran boating lake Ta Craig, pulled my lazy finger out and googled it last night, went today but lots of disturbance, ice breaking by staff for fisherman _ only species present, Mallard. Garden gone very quiet as per other reports below, 3 Brambling, 10 Chaffinch and usual common stuff. John Bennett Saturday 16-Jan-2010 Llandegfedd Reservoir Great Northern Diver still present showing well from the Dam . Jeff Hall Saturday 16-Jan-2010 Magor Marsh Reserve The first thing we saw today on entering the reserve was a fox. There were quite a lot of teal on the pool but they all flew up as soon as we entered the "hide" (must remember to crawl in on all fours next time!). Also on the pool about 10 gadwall and 4 shovelers and,in the trees, a treecreeper, redwings and a kingfisher (3rd sighting in three successive visits). Garden birds have mostly disappeared with the snow, just one redwing, a songthrush and a male blackcap today. mark davies Saturday 16-Jan-2010 Llanwenarth In first flooded field off the brecon road towards llanwenarth one little grebe and in the second field eight lapwing Machen and Newport Wetlands Saturday 16-Jan-2010 Sorry, posting below should be titled as above. KJK Saturday 16-Jan-2010 Machen and Nash Rd All back to normal in Machen, except fewer birds than before snow. Bird feeders abandoned and apple left for Redwing is untouched. Only 1 each of Great and Blue Tit and faithful Robin, 5 House Sparrows and what sounds like huge numbers of Goldfinch making a din out of sight in neighbouring gardens. Jackdaws have reclaimed field opposite and no Redwings in sight. Would be depressed if not for fact that this means good news for birds. Hoped to get some Blackcap but even less reason now for them to leave small wood on other side of field where I've seen a few. And a Treecreeper, living on a main road as we do, probably an impossible dream, so I am very envious! Mike- saw a Song Thrush behave in exactly the same way as the Redwing you describe on A468 nr Trethomas petrol station. Not sure if car in front drove over it, but it didn't fly off and wasn't injured. Didn't see it myself, but Red Kite landed at Newport Wetlands last Saturday after being mobbed (not sure by what). Easily seen from main building windows. Might be same one seen at Rhiwderin. Also, just been told by a friend who is a proper birder, that there were male and female Sparrowhawks and Hen Harrier yesterday at Wetlands and a Merlin over M4 nr junction 30. Didn't mean to write so much. I promise I won't do it again! Steven Millard Saturday 16-Jan-2010 Festival Park, Ebbw Vale Charm of 18 goldfinches today; most in last couple of days was 24, atttracted to nyjer seed in the garden. Iain Stuart Saturday 16-Jan-2010 Thornhill, Cardiff I know it's not Gwent but thought I would post up my back garden observations anyway. Just noticed a small flock of around 9 Goldfinches on garden feeders - normally only get a single Goldfinch with other species. Also had first ever Fieldfare (greedily feeding on apples put out) and a Redwing over the last few days - must be due to snowy weather. Other first spots in garden over the last few weeks are Blackcaps (two - now very regular visitors)and Treecreeper. Sadly regular Nuthatch visitors have disappeared. The extra food I've been putting out over the last few weeks due to the cold and snow has really been attacked with relish from all bird species as well as the odd very small Woodmouse. Now off to Newport Wetlands for a stroll to see what's about. KJK Friday 15-Jan-2010 Machen and Nash Rd?, Newport Saw single redwing in garden for first time yesterday, first eating the berry treats I'd put out on the ground,then sharing a fallen fat ball with a blackbird at my mother's next door. Sat in a laburnum bush by her back door after this watching me watching it for five minutes. Today: 15 redwing in the field opposite house feeding on newly thawed ground (on main Caerphilly to Newport road just before Royal Oak turn). Watched them for 10 mins and still there when I left. Also glad to see 6 long-tailed tits in garden on Wednesday after a long absence. Mistle thrush currently a near permanent guard of bird feeder in a garden up the road. Grey wagtails also visiting there and generally more of these around the houses than usual (one at the end of our drive last week). Also, saw dipper on stone in river opposite rugby club. Usually seen most days on this stretch of river. Over last two weeks in garden: frequently seen coal, blue and great tits, 2 blackbirds, 2 robins, dunnock and always a small flock of sparrows. Occasional magpie, thrush, wren and nuthatch. Large flock of goldfinch regularly high in tree at bottom of garden and up to 20 jackdaw often there too. Only 2 chaffinch seen in 2 weeks and no greenfinch, which is unusual. Nearly forgot, saw a kingfisher very closely today perching on a branch by ditch just past Newport Ford garage on what I think must be Nash road. Stopped the car to look at him and he stayed there. Never seen a kingfisher so closely in Britain! Sorry this is so long, but Machen doesn't feature here much. Nathan Casburn Friday 15-Jan-2010 Llandegfedd Reservoir Great Northern Diver still over towards Pettingale Point. John Bennett Friday 15-Jan-2010 Usk About 18 Goldeneye , 6 Goosander and 2 Little Grebe on river just south of Usk. Craig Constance Friday 15-Jan-2010 Cwmbran boating lake . In reply to Roo. Llanyrafon, Llanyravon Boating Lake, NP44 8,.Its on Google map if thats any help. Roo Perkins Friday 15-Jan-2010 After 5 days away was worried the garden birds would have moved on, re-stocked the feeders and Blackcap, 4 Brambling, 3 LT Tits and the usuals all in within 20 mins. r.e. Cwmbran boating lake, where abouts is it in Cwmbran please? Chris West and Digger Thursday 14-Jan-2010 Oxbow and R Usk, Gobion 3.00pm to 5.00pm. 1000 starlings heading north west then 400 rooks came in noisely from south east to rookery. 9 goldfinch, buzzard, 6 mute swan, cormorant,kingfisher,6 pochard,9 mallard. Mick Bailey Thursday 14-Jan-2010 Cwmbran Just noticed that my submission last week was ascribed to United Kingdom! Should have been Cwmbran, in fact the Greenmeadow area thereof. Had another Redwing observation today at the bus stop at the top of Ty Gwyn Road, only 300 meters from the earlier site. This time a lone bird showed very dopy behaviour. It stood on the snowy kerb while I stood only 5 meters away and watched it. It then moved into the middle of the snow-free road. Then it moved further across the road, right into the path of a car which duly went over it. The bird was left rolling over, but got to its feet, apparently uninjured. Only then did it hop/fly on to the far verge - as it would normally have done in the first place. Steve Williams Thursday 14-Jan-2010 Cwmbran boating lake . Note Craig's entry, Red Crested Pochard was still present at first light. Gray Thursday 14-Jan-2010 Allt-yr-yn A feast of birds in the garden today. Magpie, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Feral Pigeon, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Redwing, Starling, Robin, House Sparrow, Dunnock, Chaffinch, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Coal Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Nuthatch and male Blackcap - a first for the garden. Craig Constance Thursday 14-Jan-2010 Cwmbran boating lake . 4.25pm. No sign of the Red-crested Pochard sadly. Craig Constance Thursday 14-Jan-2010 Cwmbran boating lake . 4.25pm. No sign of the Red-crested Potchard sadly. Simon Harrison Thursday 14-Jan-2010 Coed Eva, Cwmbran On the feeders today - 2 Redpoll first time seen this winter. Also 1 Greenfinch, 1 Dunnock & 11 Goldfinch. Lynn Wednesday 13-Jan-2010 rogerstone The sightings below were on the 13th January. Today a solitary Fieldfare is still visiting the tree which is totallt bare of berries. Craig Constance Wednesday 13-Jan-2010 (Various) In garden today,4 Siskin(2 m singing),13 Lesser Redpoll,5 Greenfinch,15+ Chaffinch,4 Blackbirds and a few Common Gull flying about including 1 landing on my house (thats a first!).At Cwmbran Boating lake, the Red-crested Pochard showed well and a few Common Gull in with Black-headed Gulls on the ice. John Evans Wednesday 13-Jan-2010 The Moorings, Newport 2m 1f Goosander on the Usk adjacent to the Moorings, also 1m 1f Wigeon, several Lapwing, Heron, Redshank and a Raven over. Simon Harrison Wednesday 13-Jan-2010 Cwmbran boating lake . 12:45-1:00pm Red Crested Pochard still present - Next to boat hut in the unfrozen part of the lake Tony McGowan Wednesday 13-Jan-2010 Cwmbran boating lake . Drake Red Crested Pochard David Hathaway Tuesday 12-Jan-2010 Newport Wetlands 2 or 3 kestrals,small number of fieldfares,pair bullfinches, Marsh Harrier(appeared to be hen) in sunflower field and possibly a short eared,but it was flying high,which is somewhat unsual. Keith Roylance Tuesday 12-Jan-2010 Llandegfedd Reservoir Great Northern Diver still visible from Dam this morning. John Harper Monday 11-Jan-2010 Bryn to Gobion As I rarely look at this site, and spend what little birdwatching I do in Brecknockshire, I don't know if anyone is interested in roosting Starlings in Gwent. At 1600hr this afternoon two large (5000ish) flocks of Starlings flew over north-ish, one over Gobion and t'other over The Bryn. I didn't get decent bearings on them as I was driving (between the two places as it happens) so can't triangulate accurately on an intersection point. Possibly Llanthewy Wood is a candidate, or further north. John Harper Monday 11-Jan-2010 Bryn to Gobion As I rarely look at this site, and spend what little birdwatching I do in Brecknockshire, I don't know if anyone is interested in roosting Starlings. At 1600hr this afternoon two large (5000ish) flocks of Starlings flew over north-ish, one over Gobion and t'other over The Bryn. I didn't get decent bearings on them as I was driving (between the two places as it happens) so can't triangulate accurately on an intersection point. Possibly Llanthewy Wood is a candidate, or further north. Matt Broome Monday 11-Jan-2010 Llandegfedd Reservoir Viewed from dam end, Diver still present up until 4.05p.m, spending time out in middle of Res & below Pentingale wood. Verity Picken Monday 11-Jan-2010 Llandegfedd Reservoir Great Northern Diver still present at the dam end this morning. Steven Millard Monday 11-Jan-2010 Festival Park, Ebbw Vale Cold weather making life difficult. At garden feeders, 8 goldfinch, 7 bullfinch, 9 long tail tit, blue tits, coal tits, great tits, chaffinch, greenfinch, song thrush, 4 blackbird, 3 robin, 4 dunnock, 4 magpie, 6 jackdaw and surprisingly a buzzard who has been hanging around the back garden eating bits of fat on the patio! Peter Blackaby Monday 11-Jan-2010 Magor Couple of new ones to the bird table this cold weather including male and female black cap,wood pigeon,female bull finch and nuthatch. Four lapwing all day on unfrozen part of nabours lawn under Plantation Saturday and two Sunday leaving at dusk. Martyn Jones Sunday 10-Jan-2010 Peterstone Wentlooge Mid Day. At least 165 Wigeon in Gout + 134 Teal+ Grey Heron Buzzard, Kestrel. On mudlflat sveeral more Wigeon, Teal etc. Very good numbers of Pintail, at least 156 and 42 Shovler. Large wader flock inc Dunlin and Knot at 1000+ each. 9 Cormorants on pylons in Marshfield and Little Egret over Masons Arms pub at 3.00pm. Good selection of birds in garden (Marshfield) over last 5 days inc female Blackcap, male Bullfinch, 8 Fieldfare,sev Redwing. Most feeding well on scraps,seeds etc but Fieldfares spend some much time being aggresive to everything else they have much less time to feed and then the local Song Thursh kicks the S**t out of them. Karma. John O'Sullivan Sunday 10-Jan-2010 Bassaleg Two female/imm teal a snipe and a common sand on the river between pye corner and the footbridge north of here. Snipe and Teal new for my regular dog walk. Noticed regular common gull over the garden today no Med Gull despite checking the blackheads for one. The common sand wasn't spotted either. d. hutton Sunday 10-Jan-2010 LLiswerry despite having the worst cold in 2 decades,I managed to scrape myself of the bed and peer out the window...good job i did as my seen from garden/bedroom list had some lifers today.apart from the 3 regular gull species patrolling the skies,common gulls were almost equal in numbers as b.heads,first time i have seen them in numbers above built up areas of Lliswerry,an adult med gull seen on and off throughout the afternoon was a bigger suprise,2 lapwing(heading north),6+fieldfares traversing back and forth complete the window ticks.olso 1 buzzard seen off by pair of c.crows,2 redwing,1 bullfinch+others heard,1 s.hawk olso seen off by same c.crows,6 cormorant.(perhaps i should call it death-bed birding)! Hadyn Jones Sunday 10-Jan-2010 West Pill,Undy Scoping from West Pill there were up to 250 Lapwing strung out along the tideline an hour or two before high tide with more in distance at Collister Pill, obviously displaced from the frozen fields. 6 Tufted Duck flew east. Craig Constance & Nathan Casburn Sunday 10-Jan-2010 Llandegfedd Res 2-4pm.1 Great Northern Diver from dam end this afternoon!I have posted 2 video grabs on you tube under "Great Northern Diver, Llandegfedd Res" photos and a link will appear on Weekend Birder in due course.Nice start to the year. tony & jan jenkins Sunday 10-Jan-2010 (Various) Walk along wye valley from chepstow to st arvans, ravens, buzzard,plenty of individual song thrushes,marsh tits,long t.tits,4 nuthatch, 2 gsw and 1 green woodie, over the fields to howick and in long orchard good nmbers of siskin feeding on the tall larch, 3 flocks of @25 and one of 50,light to poor to i.d. any redpolls, gsw and a kingfisher on mounton brook. John Evans Sunday 10-Jan-2010 The Moorings, Newport Water Rail in the garden this morning for a full ten minutes under the bird feeders and along the fence line. Bryn Burgess Sunday 10-Jan-2010 United Kingdom 1110-1245. Still 80% frozen. Good selection of birds with high number of Wigeon 193 & Teal 404 highest count of this species in nearly 15yrs + birding at this site. Highlight 2 AD & 2 1st year Bewick Swans. Also present Gadwall, Shoveler, Coot, Snipe, Pochard, Lapwing,Mallard & Moorhen Matt Broome Sunday 10-Jan-2010 Rhiwderin/Coc-y-north rd Single Red Kite over the fields along the lane this morning. Drifted off into the valley below towards Lower Machen. Snipe overhead, few Redwing & Fieldfare dotted around, few Bullfinch heard along the way. Gray Sunday 10-Jan-2010 Allt-yr-yn Amazing how the makeup of birds coming to the garden and feeders has change during the last week or so. There has been a marked increase in blackbirds and thrushes in particular. Looking out yesterday and today there were a couple of redwing, a mistle thrush and a party of six to eight starling. A group of eight long-tailed tits has also been in backwards and forwards but tit numbers in general have fallen. A dozen fieldfare flew low over the house yesterday. Strange, the nuthatch who generally visit everyday have not shown for some two weeks. Alice Sunday 10-Jan-2010 Garndiffaith 5 fieldfare came through garden today John O'Sullivan Sunday 10-Jan-2010 Pen y lan No reed bunting, Lapwing or Golden Plover at Pen y lan now in fact the fields almost devoid of birds. Similarly my garden. Despite enough food having been provided to feed an avian army I have one very territorial (fat) Mistle thrush. Everything else is sent packing as soon as it arives. Adrian Plant Saturday 09-Jan-2010 Peterstone Gout Large numbers of Wigeon and 2000+ mixed knot & dunlin. There seem to be large numbers of shovelers about too. Flock of 18 skylarks and many blackbirds looking stressed (very tame)as they scrape around the ice. The black redstart is still present at Peterstone Wentlooge too... spending most of its time feeding / sheltering in the reen behind the sea wall c 200m west of the access track from the church tony & jan jenkins Saturday 09-Jan-2010 Goldcliff Foreshore A visit between 1500 - 1600hrs :- large numbers of wigeon and in excess of 400 lapwing plus 150+ curlew, canadas, a single black tailed godwit, 3 snipe overhead,grey heron, peregrine, kestral, sparrowhawk and buzzard. Darryl Spittle Saturday 09-Jan-2010 Newport Wetlands - Uskmouth 1 Bittern, 4 Woodcock, 9 Water Rail and 2 Cetti's Warbler. Overhead, a few Lapwing, Fieldfare and Redwing were going west interspersed with smaller numbers of Skylark and Blackbird and a couple of Redpoll. Another Water Rail and a Kingfisher at Goldcliff. PS. Did I see a Little Bunting report on here earlier? Chris Jones and Nathan Casburn Saturday 09-Jan-2010 Black Rock an extremely cold walk along the foreshore in a biting north easterly wind produced a Short-eared Owl, 2 Jack Snipe and 2 Water Pipits. Chris Jones and Nathan Casburn Saturday 09-Jan-2010 Neddern Brook Flood Flooded area partly iced over. Still decent areas of free water where the highlight was 4 (2 adults and 2 imms) Bewick Swans. Otherwise generally good numbers of Wigeon, Teal, Shoveler and Lapwing as well as 6 Gadwall, 4 Pochard and a Pintail. Bryn Burgess Saturday 09-Jan-2010 Walk between Caldicot & Magor Walk along track between Caldicot & Magor & return. Male Bullfinch, Female Reed Bunting, good numbers of Redwing & Fieldfare, 38 Lapwing & 6 Snipe seen in field with a very small patch of unfozen ground near Undy, also 3 single Snipe feeding in ditches, 1 male Sparrowhawk. Also Magor Reserve as Haydn plus 5 Shoveler, 4 Little Grebe, 13 Teal,10 Moorhen, Littel Egret & Cormorant overhead Matt Broome Saturday 09-Jan-2010 GLWR Uskmouth Late afternoon Male Merlin end of Farmfield Lane. Nicholas Beswick Saturday 09-Jan-2010 Abergavenny Red Kite and two Buzzards over A465 west of the town; Cormorant on River Usk. Later, Red Kite flying west over the Clydach Gorge. Hadyn Jones Saturday 09-Jan-2010 Magor Pill At high tide had 2 drake Goosander off the Pill also 8 Teal, 6 Gadwall(unusually high numbers for there). Also 1 Greenshank, good numbers of Redshank and Wigeon. At home am getting 1 female + 2 male Blackcaps on feeders frequently plus have had Redwing and Fieldfare in garden. 25 Gadwall at Magor Reserve today and 1 Grey Wagtail. Keith Roylance Saturday 09-Jan-2010 Coed Eva, Cwmbran 2 Redwing finally in the garden today. Blackbirds maxima has been 15. All the usual species feeding regularly except no sign of Greenfinch for the past few weeks. Jeff Hall Saturday 09-Jan-2010 Undy In our garden this morning: 3 Redwings, 9 Blackbirds, 2 Collared Doves, 1 female Bullfinch, 1 female Blackcap, 1 male Blackcap, 1 Songthrush, 6 Goldfinch, 1 Chaffinch. The Redwings have been coming every day since the snow fell. At first they just rested in the trees but they are now feeding on the ground with the Blackbirds. Getting some nice photos. Ashley Bowe Saturday 09-Jan-2010 Opp Caerleon Golf Course Recently put some Bird feeders up in my Garden. And this morning my sightings were: 8 Great tits, (which visit almost daily, same group, they are recognisable due to one member of the flock being incredibly tiny compared to the rest) 14 Coal tits (which all arrived together in one flock) 1 mistle thrush (I had to research to find out) H 1 redwing (another I had to research) A cheeky solitary Robin who was practically taking bread out of my hand on my door step. 1 Wren who also was just as bold as the Robin. And a very very cheeky Grey Squirel who after 10 mins of me putting out a net of peanuts came and climbed the tree and took the whole lot.. Verity Picken Saturday 09-Jan-2010 Llangybi area Blackbird numbers around my feeders are dwindling - a mere 42 this morning, down from 46 yesterday. Mick Bailey Friday 08-Jan-2010 United Kingdom Indicative of hard weather, a very small group (4) Redwings feeding on patch of snow-free grass beside a bus stop moved only 20 metres at my approach. Later, Keith Roylance and I saw few birds on walk beside the Afon Llwyd from Woodlands Social Centre to the Boating Lake, but pleased to see 8 Common Gulls with over a hundred BH Gulls on the frozen lake. Birder Friday 08-Jan-2010 Portskewett 2 Redwing in back garden Ed Stevens Friday 08-Jan-2010 Sudbrook This afternoon on saltmarsh at Sudbrook a peragrine mobbing a buzzard and 2 yellowhammer. In garden in Sudbrook 5 fieldfare, 1 brambling and 1 reed bunting. Mike Warburton Friday 08-Jan-2010 Silent Valley Nature Reserve 14.30pm.Red Kite very low over the trees being mobbed by a Buzzard and a few Raven. Sian Friday 08-Jan-2010 Tredegar Flock of male and female reed buntings feeding on wild bird seed and chopped up fatballs in garden. Also robin, thrush blackbird and dunnocks. Mike & Shirley Friday 08-Jan-2010 Gibbs Road Beechwood Plenty of feedstuff in garden has attracted 1 GS Woodpecker, 3 Fieldfare ( agressive and stayed on ground on/off for last 2 days), 3 Redwing, 2 pairs of blackcap, ... all previous quite rare here....10 Goldfinch, LT Tits, Greenfinch, Chaffinch, Blue, Great and Coal tits, aggressive blackbirds and thrush, and lone starling this morning DRWG Thursday 07-Jan-2010 Re: Gyr Falcon, it's a falconers bird with a radio tag on its back. It is there to scare the gulls. They have had Goshawks, Harris Hawks & Eagle Owls in the past - the gulls get used to them, hence the change in species. Eddie Wang Thursday 07-Jan-2010 Just a heads up - unconfirmed report of a white morph Gyrfalcon over Lamby tip today on Birdguides... chris hurn Thursday 07-Jan-2010 top of farmfield lane watched a woodcock to night scraping away the snow trying to fined food saw me flew in a circle and landed back in same place thats only the second woodcock i have seen in 10 years on the reserve Stuart Thursday 07-Jan-2010 Rogerstone/ Mon Brec Canal 1 Kingfisher on canal towards risca Verity Picken Thursday 07-Jan-2010 Llangybi area The tally of Blackbirds round my feeders was 34 this morning - the highest yet - and for a second day a Fieldfare joined them. Visits from Nuthatch and Marsh Tit have been less frequent since the snow fell. Mal Jenkins Thursday 07-Jan-2010 Pontypool Stood on the town bridge yesterday when a dipper flew underneath, a fem Sparrowhawk flew low over chased by BH Gulls, closely followed by a Buzzard being harassed by a crow. Then a Cormorant and a Grey Heron flew by. All in less than 2 mins! GOS Committee Thursday 07-Jan-2010 Whitford Burrows/Llanelli WWT We regret that due to current weather conditions this weekend's trip is CANCELLED Tony Mcgowan Wednesday 06-Jan-2010 Blaen Bran Res., Upper Cwmbran Flocks of thrushes includes Siskin,Redpoll and Crossbill. Several Bullfinches in evidence lower down. Lyn Waters Wednesday 06-Jan-2010 Mill Common, Undy Redwing and Grey Wagtail feeding in garden,also 10 Blackbirds squabbling over food. Claire Wednesday 06-Jan-2010 Usk Male Hen Harrier flying over fields near Castle Farm, just north of Usk. Marilyn Dunn Wednesday 06-Jan-2010 garden in st. Julians, Newport Two Fieldfare ground feeding in garden, nver seen before in area. Matt Broome Wednesday 06-Jan-2010 Rhiwderin/Pentrepoeth Rd Early morning single Woodcock over the road above Cwm Hedd Trout Lakes. Good numbers of Redwing and Fieldfare feeding in fields, 2 Male Bullfinch along the lane. Ed Stevens Wednesday 06-Jan-2010 Black Rock This morning along the shore at Black Rock lots of redwing, fieldfare, lapwing and meadow pipit, 15 linnet, a few reed bunting, 6 common snipe, 1 jack snipe, 52 wigeon, 5 teal, 19 mallard, 14 redshank and 1 curlew. This afternoon along the saltmarsh at Sudbrook quite a few reed buntings, a few meaodw pipit and 1 male yellowhammer. John O'Sullivan Wednesday 06-Jan-2010 Newport Interesting drive to work this morning. Male Goosander in flight flying from the entrance to Tredegar Park along the river towards rubbish tip (turned back at the next roundabout). Little Egret over the roundabout by Hartridge School and a Great Black Backed Gull over Ringland Circle. First real evidence of birds being displaced by all this cold weather. Nigel Garside Tuesday 05-Jan-2010 Peterstone Wentlooge Water Rail flushed from rocks below gout at high tide. Also at gout, Merlin and single Water Pipit. Gadwall pair amongst other wildfowl off the wharf, Snow Bunting close to sea-wall east of village. Julie and Chris West and Digger. Sunday 03-Jan-2010 Oxbow and R Usk, Gobion 1-3pm. Pair of green woodpeckers, a number of herons,buzzard,song thrush, single redwing,meadow pipit. Helen Parry Jones Sunday 03-Jan-2010 Newport Wetlands - Uskmouth Frozen conditions brought water rail out of hiding - prolonged good views in the wet area of the woodland ealy afternoon. Another visitor had seen one in a field along the path to the woodland Craig Constance Sunday 03-Jan-2010 (Various) Newport Docks,1-2pm. No sign of the Ruff or flocks of Gulls around tip today?. Ynys Y Fro, 2-2.30pm,1 Adult Med Gull,2 Black-headed Gulls with Metal rings on right legs but too distant to read also male and female Goosander on bottom pool.LLandegfedd Res,3-4pm,1 male Pintail,1 female Goldeneye and good numbers of Teal and Wigeon the most I have seen at this site for years! chris hurn Sunday 03-Jan-2010 Goldcliff Pools late this afternoon no1 platform male hen harrier went down in reeds near sea wall tony & jan jenkins Sunday 03-Jan-2010 (Various) On fields either side of A48 at Parkwall 200+ lapwing and 2 golden plover, on the Neddern 450 wigeon, 100 teal, 2 pochard and 4 pairs of shoveler, at Magor marsh, a pair of stonechat, 2 pr of gadwell, 3 pr of shoveler, 70 teal, 2 buzzard, 1 egret, 50 lapwing and 1 kingfisher and at Llanlowell a pr of goosander plus one other male and a gsw then over the M48 bridge to Aust but no sighting of any short eared owls yet. Barry Ingram Sunday 03-Jan-2010 Caldicot Driving from Caldicot to Rogiet, 40+ lapwing in the field next to the M48 along with a few rook, jackdaws and bh gulls. I was driving so couldn't make an accurate count. Adrian Plant Sunday 03-Jan-2010 Sluice Farm Walked the Gwent part of Sluice Farm and tne western half of Peterstone at the morning high tide. 1 short-eared owl, 1 jack snipe, 66 common snipe, 1000+ dunlin several grey plover,167 curlew , 25 oystercatcher. 9 stonechat (there were 5 at Peterstone Gout yesterday so the coast must be teaming with them) At least 20-30 reed buntings, 15 skylark and 300 meadow pipit along with good numbers of blackbird and song thrush at the high tide mark. Black redstart still at the style west of the access track from the church at mid day. Chris Jones, Nathan Casburn Sunday 03-Jan-2010 Peterstone Wentlooge very high tide this morning completly covering the foreshore. Snow Bunting showed very well along the rocks just east of the Church as well as 5 - 6 Water Pipits. The female Black Redstart was just west of the church. Good numbers of waders and duck present tony & jan jenkins Saturday 02-Jan-2010 GLWR Goldcliff 1600 - 1700hrs, scrapes frozen over but worth the visit for the starling display, @7000 birds came to roost on the eastern reedbed near the seawall, on the shore several flocks of 100+ dunlin plus the odd grey plover also a group of 30 grey geese on the tideline - too dark to i.d. On return to the car park 3 snipe and a tawny owl calling. Earlier in the day 7 crossbill at Trellech Common and a merlin. Gray Saturday 02-Jan-2010 Ally-yr-yn & Ridgeway Possible Goshawk along the ridge today. Tried to take a crow that escaped and then came back to commence aerial battled over house. Close quarter fight continued over the woodland and out of sight. Saturday 02-Jan-2010 Pen y lan 6o plus lapwing and at least 6 Golden plover, 30 plus reed bunting and a female peregrine here today. Yesterday at Y.R. Adult Med Gull and male and female goosander. mark davies Saturday 02-Jan-2010 River Usk Kingfisher & dipper on river - also little egret in field next to llanwenarth church Roo Saturday 02-Jan-2010 Pentrepiod, Pontypool Brambling in full song and display for second day, female very uninterested! Also singing Siskin and drumming GS W/pecker. Spring is in the air! Dave Brassey Saturday 02-Jan-2010 Bettws Brook Mescoed Bach Dipper, 2 Nuthatch & 3 Male Bullfinch early morning Nathan Casburn Saturday 02-Jan-2010 Peterstone Wentlooge Snow Bunting on foreshore infront of ramp then flew off strong towards Sluice Farm.Black Redstart along seawall towards the Gout. Wendy James Friday 01-Jan-2010 Goldcliff Pools A video was taken of a diving duck at Goldcliff. At the time I was unable to identify it and assumed it to be a hybrid. I've shown the video to a fellow birder who immediately identified it as a red head Smew. A video or photo can be sent on request. Apologies for the late report. Steve Williams Friday 01-Jan-2010 Bryn Bach Park For those interested it turns out the ringed Black Headed Gull in yesterdays report orginates from Estonia. See valleynaturalist.blogspot.com for more details. Mathew Meehan Friday 01-Jan-2010 Newport Wetlands - RSPB Birds of note at the reserve today included, Avocet (2), good numbers of Dunlin, Grey Plover, Little Owl, Cetti's, and Bearded Tit (2). Happy New Year from us all at the reserve! Steve Williams Friday 01-Jan-2010 Magor Marsh Pair Stonechat near visitor centre, 12 Gadwall, 5 Little Grebe, single Kingfisher, 30 Teal, 3 Mute Swan, 1 Coot, 6 Moorhen all on lake. 150 Lapwing, 15 Golden Plover and many Fieldfare and Redwing on adjacent sheep grazing field outside of reserve. One Little Egret Magor Pill. Chris West and Digger Friday 01-Jan-2010 R. Usk, Gobion 2-4pm. Opposite oxbow, Moorhen, heron, cormorant, green sandpiper, pied wagtail, robin, blackbird, 8 long tailed tits feeding in alder,jay, rook, b headed gull, w pigeon. john hunt+jan mccauley Friday 01-Jan-2010 ty coch ponds little egret nr bridge by ice cream factory 11 30 am mark davies Friday 01-Jan-2010 Llanwenarth Two red kites over llanwenarth church early afternoon 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 G