Sightings

Main sighting: Curlew

Swallows, pheasant, skylarks, cettis calling, reed warbler singing, linnets, reed bunting family group and from the seawall 1 common whitethroat singing, 108 shelduck, 31 curlew, 27 lapwing, 1 heron and 1 little egret. Other: stoat running along the path, small tortoiseshell butterfly, large skipper and in the reen a mix of four-spotted and broad-bodied chasers and an emperor dragonfly egg laying with an azure damselfly landing on her back.

Main sighting: Juveniles

(No sign of spoonbill, garganey or wood sandpipers). Dawn – md-morning visit: Pheasants, chiffchaff 2, common whitethroat 1 male singing by hide 1, cettis calling, 6 skylarks, moorhen with 2 chicks and pied wagtail family group. Redshank Platform – 85 redshanks (46 more from hide 3), common buzzard, little egret 3 (1 juv), oystercatcher 5, lapwing 18, black-tailed godwit 2 (1 in breeding plumage), lesser whitethroat calling, dunlin 6, sanderling showing well, green woodpecker calling and 3 grey herons. Snipe Platform – juv little grebe present again, 2 pairs tufted ducks, reed warbler singing, gadwall 8, sand martins 42 with 2 swifts mixed in, 5 swallows elsewhere. Seawall – oystercatcher 21 and 45 curlew on the saltings. Mix of pied wagtails and meadow pipits along the sea wall and a pyramidal orchid half way down on the left towards hide 3. Hide three – teal 15, ringed plover 2, shelduck 23, mute swan 3, male marsh harrier, reed bunting bringing food to the nest and 3 little ringed plovers (adults). Hide one – black-headed gulls 92 with a single juvenile in front of the hide and 13 more ringed plovers. Other: good numbers of meadow browns, 1 small tortoiseshell.

Main sighting: Redshank

Further to Brian’s sightings: 18:30 -21-15 Redshank 120 Curlew 80 Whimbrel 2 Black-headed Gull 140 Ringed Plover 30 Little Ringed Plover 4 Oystercatcher 35 It was good to meet up Chris Jones who saw a female Gadwall with seven young. And most remarkable, totally calm, not a hint of wind!

Main sighting: Yellow hammer

Several males calling perched on top of ferns on the main path up the mountain about 100metres from car park

Main sighting: Sanderling

1st platform: Sanderling: 3rd hide: Garganey: Reported and gone: Spoonbill, Garganey, Green Sandpiper

Main sighting: Wood Sandpiper

Single bird from the first hide this morning. Pair of Little Ringed Plover and 3 Black Tailed Godwit from 2nd hide. Distant pair of buzzards in the haze – one was probably ‘Bosprey’ and 30+ Teal.

Main sighting: Wood Sandpiper

First hide: Wood Sandpiper

Main sighting: Rose coloured starling

Adult rosy starling, at 5pm was in buddleia bushes by social club, then flew to South side of pumping Station.
Cold and windy location, definitely jacket required.

Main sighting: Hobby

Hobby observed hawking among Hirundines over The Narth at midday, also single Wood Warbler heard trilling in Trellech Common Woods (they seem much fewer in the woods on the Trellech plateau this year).

Main sighting: Rosy Starling

A Rosy starling appeared in our garden this morning approx 9.45, it was later found by the social club and gave good views.. It was seen later on the roof of the cottages past the pump house briefly, but the club is a good/better? bet.

Main sighting: Wood Sandpipers

3 Summer Plumaged Wood Sandpipers from the seawall hide plus 19 Teal. 80-100 Sand Martin feeding in the shelter of the seawall in a cold N wind. Male Marsh Harrier showing beautifully, 3 LRP, a single Dunlin, 12 Black Tailed Godwit, also 3 Little Egret and a Great Spotted Woodpecker

Main sighting: Rosy Starling

Rosy Starling, one on beach lane and one on the park itself a few days before.