Sightings

Main sighting: Brent Goose

Brent Goose flew over the sea wall and landed to the left of the Sea Wall hide. In flight it appeared totally black. In the water there was a very little contrast between the head, neck and the flank. However, it did have a quite thin white neck stripe. I didn’t see it out of the water. I watched it in the lagoon for about 10 mins. I concluded that it was a juvenile Dark-Bellied Brent Goose. I’m happy to be corrected. It was exciting as I have only ever previously seen Brent Geese in Norfolk. Sorry, I didn’t have a camera with me, I really hope other birders saw it!! But I then went off to see the 3 Garganey, Bean and White fronted geese. A great morning! It pays to be early!

Main sighting: Swallow

Single swallow hawking for insects above the Linnetts

Main sighting: Migrants

One swallow, at least three willow warblers and a wheatear just below the summit

Main sighting: Garganey, Geese and Waders

Lots of birds this morning. Dawn Visit. 200 + Shelduck, throughout the reserve. Monks of note – 20 x Dunlin, 2 x Little Ringed Plover, 1 x Ruff. 10 x Redshank and 6 + Lapwing. Priors Lagoon – 3 x Garganey (2 M = 1F), 1 x Bean Goose, 1 x White Fronted Goose. First light 80 x Avocet ( moved to Becs). 1 x Buzzard. Becs – 2 x Wheatear, Reed Bunting, 300 + Black Tailed Godwits, 2 x Oystercatchers, Lapwings and Redshanks. Swallow x 2 , Sand Martin x 2
There was a report of a Brent Goose in with the Canada’s. Did not see it to confirm.

Main sighting: Garganey

Two male and a female Garganey seen from Snipe platform. Bean and White-fronted Geese still present.

Main sighting: Little Egrets

With J Marsh Superb view of 5 Little Egret at roost preening and moving around the trees
fantastic photo shoot.Also seen Grey lag ,Canada. Mallard ,Coot Moorhen Blackcap and Greenwoodpecker.

Main sighting: Swallow

Swallow seen over Pen y Fan Green near The Narth; many Black Caps + Chiffchaff singing.

Main sighting: Spotted redshank

Early(ish) morning visit to Goldcliff lagoons. Highlights were 5+ swallow, c.10 sand martin, 3 willow warber, chiffchaff, 6 LRP (first hide), spotted redshank (first hide, just in front), 17 grey plover and 2 knot together, from first hide. Also 4 species of geese from furthest platform (Tundra bean, white-front, Canada and greylag) lined up like a picture in a field guide. Lots of black-tailed godwits (150+), 50+ avocet and 3 bar-tailed godwit flying over, calling. Lovely seeing lapwing and redshank displaying too.

Main sighting: Tundra Bean Goose

In the field at the back of the Snipe hide 19:00 Tundra Bean Goose and White-fronted Goose. Also Black-tailed Godwit 260 Avocet 55 Shoveler 30 Gadwall 6 Tufted Duck 12

Main sighting: Lesser Whitethroat

Lesser Whitethroat

Main sighting: Common Whitethroat

High tide so not a great deal of water birds. AM visit saw a common whitethroat in partial song and showing sporadically, also noted 4 singing chiffchaffs, 1 willow warbler in song, 1 singing blackcap and a cettis calling. Other – skylark singing, 90 common redshanks (1 ringed bird) in the outfall poo. On the high tide 18 teal, 1 great black-backed gull and numerous herring gulls and several black headed gulls. In the ploughed field were 107 rooks with jackdaws mixed in, 2 buzzards overhead and a male reed bunting in the hedge. On the exposed grasses and mudflats – 3 little egrets, 141 shelduck, 126 curlew and 38 oystercatchers.

Main sighting: Lesser Whitethroat

Bird on shrub outside my patio window 6′ away thought it was my wren at first.