Sightings

Main sighting: Great White Egret

2-GWEs around the small reed bed in the north west corner of the reserve,6-White Wagtails on the ground near to the sea wall hide,2-Ruff,1-White fronted goose,no sign of Bean goose,20 or so Swallows,2+LRPs,2-Wheatears on sea wall and lots of Avocets too many and too spread out and mobile to make a count,but 70 to 80 possibly.11h30-13h25.

Main sighting: Swallows

A late afternoon passage of swallows observed along the river @ 1 mile upriver from the bridge, several groups of 500 + birds heading upriver also feeding low over the sheep fields, a few house martins also, 25 sand martins over their nesting site, a pair of goosander, single green sandpiper, single common sandpiper, pair of grey wags, little egret and grey heron.

Main sighting: Merlin

0725, shortly after arriving at first (Greenshank) hide, a small group of Redshank took to the air as a Peregrine flew in chasing a Redshank (which it subsequently missed) , followed closely by a Merlin (female). Both flew off beyond the sea wall. Other sightings: Swallows (3); Gadwall; Widgeon; a few Teal; Tufted Duck; Dabchick; Black Tailed Godwit (250+), Avocet (50+); single Curlew (no leg rings); Ruff (2); Little Ringed Plover; Bean Goose and White Front Goose sat together in adjacent field; Reed Bunting; Skylark singing. Rather cold and windy.

Main sighting: Brent goose

regarding report of Brent goose at Sudbrook, date should have read 1st April, sorry

Main sighting: Curlew request

Please go to the Home page to see details of GOS’s request for all inland Curlew sightings in Gwent. It’s essential to know where they might be breeding if we’re to do anything to prevent the appalling decline in numbers of this lovely bird.

Main sighting: Swallow

Single Swallow (male). First this year for me.

Main sighting: White Stork

Stunning views of a White Stork low overheard just north of Llangybi. Refound on the deck, following the plough and scoped through a bit of a heat haze. It took off flying northwards but I was unable to relocate it.

Main sighting: Lesser Redpoll

Lesser Redpoll visiting on a daily basis for the last 14 days, feeding on sunflower hearts feeder in my garden. (I have photo). One or two birds frequently seen. Is this unusual? Also regular visits by up to four Greenfinch, the occasional Chaffinch and many Goldfinch.

Main sighting: Firecrest

Our first self found firecrest yesterday! Can’t say where here, have informed county recorder. Also many migrants – chiffchaffs, willow warblers, blackcaps

Main sighting: White Wagtail

I have checked my pictures against the books and had a credible friend / birder check the images, but of the 5 pieds along the seawall, as thought, 2 were white wagtails. Amendment to yesterday’s post also, should read ‘no sign of the garganey today’ (not gadwall as listed).

Main sighting: Red kite

Kite flew over garden today n/e – I see there was a Brent goose at Golcliffe, there was one at Sudbrook on Thursday 1/2. Also approx 9 Sand martins n/e yesterday

Main sighting: Ruff

In relation to Stewart Hovey’s sighting yesterday, the Brent Goose was today feeding on the saltings from the seawall and did appear very dark, also wondering dark-bellied race? Also of note dawn to mid-morning: Blackcap singing and chiffchaffs singing, cettis heard calling.
Several pheasants about. Redshank Platform – 19 shelduck, 2 lt egrets, 12 avocet, 29 dunlin, 18 common redshanks, 1 lt ringed plover, skylark singing and 1 willow warbler singing from the hedge line. Snipe Platform – 19 mute swans (adults and last year’s cygnets), 18 tufted ducks, shoveler, teal, pair of little grebes, 12 gadwall, 2 grey herons, 2 cormorants and the white-fronted goose showing well (no sign of either the bean goose or gadwall today). Hide 3 – fem marsh harrier, 1 buzzard circling, female merlin made an appearance close to the hide, 51 avocet including the ringed bird, good count of 324 black-tailed godwits, pair of lt ringed plovers on the island, single ruff feeding on the bank, 21 ringed plovers, 2 oystercatchers, pair of pintail roosting on the far bank and a male reed bunting feeding. Seawall – brent goose, wheatear along the seawall, 4 pied wagtails may have had a white mixed in (tbc from photos).