Sightings

Main sighting: Buzzard

Amazing sight of large buzzard flying through trees. Probably around due to many thrushes in trees.

Main sighting: Wentwood Forest

About the size of a magpie long slender tail feathers, grey and white bird all white face with a slight crest again white on head very loud shrill call I haven’t heard before no eye mask (usually remember that) calling loudly in a tree and again in flight I’ve seen the Great Grey Shrike before this looked similar but different as described above.

Main sighting: Barn Owl

1 Barn Owl quartering over fields by River Usk behind house northwest from The Hanbury.

Main sighting: Grey Partridge

Two Grey and two Red-legged Partridges in the garden – doubtless released birds although I haven’t seen any Greys in recent years.

Main sighting: Lesser Redpoll

Not only goldcrests, coal tits, a mistle thrush and a treecreeper came out in the rain this morning, but also two lesser redpolls (in the same location as I saw at least one a week ago).

Main sighting: Skylark

Spring has sprung – maybe. Three Skylarks singing over the common. Mallards mating on one of the small ponds. Six Goosanders on the bottom pond at Beaufort Woodlands.

Main sighting: Fielfare

26 Fieldfare and 100+ Redwing in fields opposite Wernddu golf club . Also 4 flyover Lapwings

Main sighting: Lesser Redpoll

At least one lesser redpoll in the park in the afternoon. In the morning also a male blackcap and a singing chiffchaff.

Main sighting: Smew

Male Smew plus 10 Goldeneye 1 mile south of Usk near layby.

Main sighting: 15 Goosanders and Wigeon

Regular local walk to Brynmawr Ponds, up to 15 Goosander on main pond near Asda, Mute Swan family doing flypast with cygnets. Machine pond also busy with 16 Wigeon, 40 Canada Geese, Tufted Duck, Cormorants and Grey Heron. Snipe in the reeds on the smaller pond near Bridge. Good numbers of birds singing including Song Thrush, Dunnocks, Robim and Wrens. Also saw pair of Bullfinches, Reed Buntings, Long tailed tits, Chaffinches and a Goldcrest. Raven over and Magpies at nest sites. Seeing up to 30 species during visit.

Main sighting: Grey Herons

Group of grey herons standing on turnip patch. 3 buzzards overhead. Large group of linnets flitting around the winter stubble with their flock supplemented by other finches, especially chaffinches. Pair of Goosanders on the river. One skylark darted out of the riverbank onto the field near footpath. Lone fieldfare in oak tree.

Main sighting: Common Gull

Common Gull (x4) sat on posts along with Black Headed Gulls and the occasional Lesser Black Backed Gull.
Gadwall; Dabchick; Teal; Tufted Duck; Redshank; Widgeon; Canada Geese; Moorhen. Redwings; Green Woodpecker; Song Thrushes (singing); Buzzard. (and a Fox).