Sightings

Main sighting: Swift

Four Swift late afternoon, first of the year.

Main sighting: Curlew

Curlew calling in right hand field on the Llanishen to Parkhouse Lane. Reported to me by bird watcher

Main sighting: Whimbrel

Big numbers of Whimbrel this evening.I counted at least 62.I think there could have been many more further down channel towards Sluice farm and beyond.19h15-20h00.

Main sighting: Green Winged Teal

The teal (found by JG) was on the far bank straight ahead as you look out from hide 3. Roosting while we watched, female with it possibly GWT also?. En-route to hide 1: collard dove, wrens, woodpigeons, starlings, pheasants, magpies, blackcap, crows, mallards, dunnock, blue tits, linnets, herring gulls, chiffchaff, moorhen, raven and swallows. Hide 1: lapwing pair with 4 chicks. Hide 2: blackbirds, lesser whitethroat (favoring the hedge line from here to the snipe platform), 119 black-tailed with 5 bar tailed godwits mixed in (3 of the latter in summer plumage), Canada geese, 10 avocet, 495 dunlin, 2 greenshanks, shelduck, lesser black-backed gulls, spotted redshank (not the dark bird but the original one seen with it previously), 19 knot, 1 ruff, 4 oystercatchers, reed warbler, greylag geese, ringed plover, coot, 3 redshanks, 4 gadwall, cuckoo calling (towards direction of the seawall tea rooms), heron, 1 snipe, marsh harriers, pied wagtail, jackdaws, 2 little egrets, skylarks and meadow pipit. Snipe platform: 13 shoveler, pair tufted ducks, 4 male little grebes, reed buntings, pintail pair, 2 sedge warblers and 12 mute swans. Seawall: 2 whimbrel, 1 curlew only, male stonechat, grey plover in breeding plumage, black headed gull and a porpoise. Hide 3: 10 Eurasian teal, 2 common sandpipers (left tip of the island) and 44 more avocet. Back at the car park, 2 jays over and chaffinches.

Main sighting: Swift

2 Swift + 2 Hs Martin

Main sighting: Red Grouse

A pair of Red Grouse were in the heather near the summit of Blorenge, calling and displaying. Whinchat singing on the east side.

Main sighting: Swift

Two plus 3 Hs Martins this evening

Main sighting: Lesser Whitethroat

1 male singing plus; 1 Whitethroat, 4 Tree Pipits, 1 male Stonechat (atypical breeding habitat) 3 Skylark, 1 Marsh Tit, 1 Kestrel, 11 Linnet, 2 Bullfinch, only 1 House Martin. Lack of hirundines and Redstarts at present.

Main sighting: Swift

Calling loudly from bespoke nest box on house beside B4233 very near entrance to Monnow Bridge Caravan Park. Quite early to be in a nesting location, though could just be sheltering from the rain.

Main sighting: 4 pairs goosander (no chicks)

Between Redbrook and brockweir –
Above plus 15 mandarin (mostly male)
2 grey wagtail, only 1 imm cormorant

Main sighting: Ring Ouzel

Male Ring Ouzel, Grasshopper Warbler, Wheatear, Redstart, Willow Warbler, Swallow.

Main sighting: GOS Outdoor Meet on Somerset Levels

The society had a great day out on the Somerset Levels with a group of nine.
The day started at RSPB Grey Lake, which immediately kicked off well with sightings of Red Kite, Marsh Harriers and a Barn Owl.
We later moved on to RSPB Ham Wall for lunch and an afternoon birdwatch. Highlights were Ring-Necked Duck, a pair of Glossy Ibis and Spotted Redshanks, Ruff, Great White Egrets and Marsh Harriers.
The trip ended with a diversion to Durliegh Reservoir in Bridgewater where the group was rewarded with good views of a rare Whiskered Tern , Goldenye and a Common Sandpiper.
The birding adventure was thoroughly enjoyed by all.
Full list

1. Red Kite
2. Marsh Harrier
3. Barn Owl
4. Reed Warbler
5. Sedge Warbler
6. Garden Warbler
7. Willow Warbler
8. Cetti Warbler
9. Robin
10. Blackbird
11. Blue Tit
12. Great Tit
13. Long Tailed Tit
14. Blackcap
15. Reed Bunting
16. Wren
17. Carrion Crow
18. Magpie
19. Glossy ibis
20. Grey Heron
21. Little Egret
22. great White Egret
23. Bittern
24. Redshank
25. Spotted Redshank
26. Lapwing
27. Ruff
28. Teal
29. Shoveler
30. Gadwall
31. Mallard
32. Pochard
33. Tufted Duck
34. Ring-Necked Duck
35. Goldeneye
36. Coot
37. Moorhen
38. Cormorant
39. Dunnock
40. Great Crested Grebe
41. Great Spotted Woodpecker
42. Herring Gull
43. Hobby
44. Lesser Black-Backed Gull
45. Little Grebe
46. Snipe
47. Swallow
48. House Martin
49. Woodpigeon
50. Common Sandpiper
51. Whiskered Tern
52. Chaffinch
53. Buzzard
54. Pied Wagtail
55. Canada Goose
56. Greylag Goose
57. Water Rail
58. Goldfinch
59. Mute Swan
60. ChiffChaff