Sightings

Main sighting: Swallow

Saw my first Swallow over the road drinking in the lake by the cemetery, with 8 Goosander on the lake (2m + 6f).
Also had 3 Wheatears by the approach road.

Main sighting: Swallow

A lucky group of seven enjoyed a lovely spring morning. Two Chiffchaffs sang on the lane to the start and a distant high-soaring Peregrine put in a spectacular stoop as we gathered in the car park. We much enjoyed newly-arrived male Wheatears on our walk along with many Stonechats, Meadow Pipits and Skylarks performing. Dave Brassey spotted a lone Swallow flying over. Our final tally was 28 species though, sadly, the Red Grouse eluded us.

Main sighting: Road Closed

If you’re coming on Wednesday’s walk, please note that there is no access from Gilwern/Llangattock. You must approach from Brynmawr – ignore the “Road Closed” signs at the end of the lane.

Main sighting: Goosander (M&F)

Pair of Goosander (male and female) on River Ebbw near Bassaleg.

Grid Ref: ST 28052 86615

Main sighting: Weekly roundup

En-route to hides: robin, collard dove, starlings, pheasant, pied wagtails, chiffchaffs, wren, chaffinches, woodpigeons, little egret, 3 stock doves, crows, gt spotted woodpecker, magpies, greylag geese, goldfinches, moorhen, blackcap in full song, raven and blackbirds. Hide 1: Canada geese, 21 redshanks, 12 wigeon, 11 teal, 4 lapwing, mallards and dunnock. En-route to next hide 1 redwing, blue tits and cettis. Hide 2: skylark, 795 black-tailed godwits and 1 bar-tailed mixed in, 218 knot, 1 ruff, great tits, 3 avocet, 6 shoveler, 1 dunlin, lesser black-backed gulls, pair spotted redshanks (possibly a 3rd but not relocated), heron, 3 cormorants, gadwall, peregrine and female marsh harrier. 2 swallows over prior to platform. Snipe platform: 3 male and 1 female tufteds, coot, 5 more gadwall, herring gulls, 2 more little egrets and a linnet. Seawall: 7 oystercatchers, 8 curlew, 15 more teal and meadow pipits. Hide 3: pair pintail, 37 more shelduck, 46 more shoveler (good number now), 67 more avocet (1 colour ringed bird), pink footed goose and 4 ringed plovers. Back at hide two: 11 snipe.

Main sighting: Bar tailed godwit

Bar tailed godwit from middle hide at goldcliff 3 ringed plover , 100s of bar tailed godwits ,15 avocet ,the highlights

Main sighting: Mandarin duck

Pair of mandarin – male photographed in riparian tree

Main sighting: Chiffchaff

Chiffchaff calling

Main sighting: Black - crowned Night Heron

Over M4 from Ridgeway at first light

Main sighting: Hooded Crow

Whilst conducting the WeBS count for the Goldcliff Point – Magor Pill coastal area the numbers of waders and wildfowl are starting to recede but still in excess of 100 Wigeon and Teal, wader highlights included 60 Oystercatchers, 54 Redshank and 7 Knot. Skylarks were in double figures in the sunshine. The real highlight though was a Hooded Crow flying east over the farm fields near Redwick.

Main sighting: Red kite

Red kite, 7 buzzards, 5 ravens, cormorant, 2 song thrush, wren, ltt, chiffchaff, stock doves, great spotted woodpecker, green woodpecker, 2 fieldfares, 2 pairs goosander and a skylark.

Main sighting: Knot

Highlights of the WeBS count today. There were 341 Knot on Monk’s Island highest numbers we have seen here. Golden Plover first seen by Tim Collier and later relocated by Jackie. Spotted Redshank 2 Redshank 90 Dunlin 20 Snipe 10 Black-tailed Godwit 350 Avocet 100 Ringed Plover 4 Pintail 4 Teal 90 Little Grebe 2 Little Egret 1 Merlin 1 Sparrowhawk 1 Chiffchaff 3 Wheatear 1 (female) and biggest surprise of all two Lesser Redpolls drinking in the reen never seen this species here previously.