Sightings

Main sighting: Goosanders

Mum teaching seven well-grown ducklings to dive for fish

Main sighting: Lapwing

A lapwing flew around us while walking in the fields from Michaelstone-y-Fedw to Draethen, having exited Park Wood. It landed in the field and stayed while we walked on. I know they have been spotted in the Gwent levels so wondered if it came across from there.

Main sighting: Ruddy Shelduck

Dawn – 11am. Chiffchaff 2, common whitethroat pair (male taking feathers into possible nest site, swallow 5, pheasant, reed warbler 2, cettis 1 and reed buntings. Hide one – very quiet all over the reserve, but highlights included 1 little ringed plover, 10 redshanks, shelduck, good count of 27 lapwing, skylarks, 2 grey herons (1 juvenile) and 3 oystercatchers. Redshank platform – single black-tailed godwit, 3 black-headed gulls, linnets (breeding pair), lesser whitethroat feeding (not singing for a change), 2 mute swans and 2 swifts. Seawall – 5 more black-tailed godwits and 7 curlew. Hide three – pair of tufteds with a third single male, pair of teal, 2 ringed plovers and 12 gadwall roosting (possibly more in the vegetation)?. Hide two – the ruddy shelduck was feeding opposite hide 1 then flew across in front of hide 2 for about a minute before flying off over the seawall. Garganey preening on the edge of the island before flying off towards the third hide. Male kestrel hovering a single little egret past and 4 cormorants. OTHER: Good numbers of hairy dragonflies around the first reen by the stone bridge, 1 banded demoiselle also. Elsewhere 1 small tiger moth, the first meadow brown of the year, 1 speckled wood, 1 common blue and 1 small copper.

Main sighting: Cuckoo

2 pairs of nesting redstarts, wood warbler singing from the alder woodland and a cuckoo calling.

Main sighting: Curlew request

A reminder to keep sending all reports of Curlews to Curlew@gwentbirds.org.uk . You may be lucky enough to see chicks now but all records help. As much detail as possible, please – numbers, date, location, behaviour, habitat etc – but if it’s just a distant sighting send that too.

Main sighting: Little Ringed Plover

Pleased, though surprised, to see a Little Ringed Plover in a field flash with Curlews and Lapwings.

Main sighting: Woodcock

I estimate at least five birds (including two together) roding at dusk but repeat circuits make accurate counting impossible. Only one churring male Nightjar for me. Also a couple of Tree Pipits singing and calls from at least two Stonechats.

Main sighting: Woodcock

2 Woodcock roding. At approx 21.50 hrs at least 2 Nightjars heard, but not seen. Tawny owl heard, and I was told the chicks branched recently.

Main sighting: Ruddy shellduck

Yesterday we were advised that there were 3 Ruddy shellduck on the estuary which we duly seen there, later before leaving we checked the first hide again and Keith, spotted the Ruddy shellduck flying back into the pools on the seaward side. We retuned there but unfortunately they were nowhere to be seen? Thanks for the tip off. We went to the Newport wetlnds after and also saw a Bittern in flight over the reeds

Main sighting: Ruddy Shelduck

Quiet morning on the reserve but 3 Ruddy Shelduck feeding out on the mudflats with the common variety made the trip worthwhile. Also a Bittern in flight at RSPB Newport

Main sighting: Spotted Flycatcher

Pair previously reported by lane to Hoaldalbert nest building – so food in bill may have been a courtship offering. Four birds also seen around a probable nest site in overgrown tree stump by bridge over moat in castle grounds. All appeared to be adult so possibly a family with well grown juveniles. This species not seen at all around the village last year.

Main sighting: Greenshank

Blackcap 2, lesser whitethroat usual place, common whitethroat 1 and 1 buzzard. Hide one – 4 ringed plovers, 1 little ringed plover, 5 dunlin, common redshanks and shelduck. Redshank platform – 16 more dunlin, 5 skylarks in a chase, 2 grey herons, 4 gadwall (18 more from hide 3), 2 swallows, oystercatcher, reed warbler singing, cettis calling, 3 cormorants over and 2 little egrets feeding. Snipe platform – single greenshank, single black-tailed godwit, 7 mute swans, linnets, drake teal and 11 swifts. Seawall – 4 more black-tailed godwits on the mudflats and a single curlew. Hide three – grey wagtail over, ravens, pair of tufted ducks and a single male, male marsh and a pair of fox cubs further along the wall in the grass. Other: Large whites, 1 small copper, blue-tailed damselflies and a female broad-bodied chaser.