Sightings

Main sighting: Yellow-browed warbler

The yellow-browed warbler still present this morning, some 50 m back from the confluence of the Wye and Monnow (i.e. along the bank of the Monnow). The bird was very active in willows, but showing well. Also present were a treecreeper, bullfinch and a chiffchaff, this last with an odd splayed tail. Nearby was a kingfisher close to the footbridge over the Wye.

Main sighting: Disturbance at Goldcliff lagoons

There will be some distubance at Goldcliff Lagoons on Tuesday, between around 10.00hrs and 12:00hrs, when we check the salinties and water levels. We apologise for inconvenience caused.

Main sighting: Jack Snipe

Flushed a Jack Snipe on the moor

Main sighting: Black-tailed Godwit

Back-tailed Godwit 80 Dunlin 150 Redshank 70 Knot 1 Pintail 3 Shoveler 20 Teal 20 Mallard 12 Wigeon 12 Shelduck 30 Stonechat 1. Meadow Pipit 2 also, hundreds of Black-headed Gulls and 2 Common Gull There were very few passerines as we arrived a Falconer was leaving the site with his Lanner type bird flying around the hedgerows.

Main sighting: Water rail and jay

1 water rail hoping around low lying trees and reeds, (very vocal despite many cyclists dog walkers etc) 1 Jay flew over path, flock of goldfinches, long tailed tits, Robins, wrens, sparrows, plenty of mallards and moorhens.

Main sighting: Starlings

A flock of 800-1000 Starlings on the fields – very unusual here.

Main sighting: Glossy Ibis

2 glossy ibis still present and showing well from the roadside, cettis and green woodpecker calling also.

Main sighting: Swallow

Haydn and a fellow birder in hide 3 reported seeing a single swallow flying towards the Pill, and as Dan Webb, Paul and I walked past hide 2 possibly the same one flew past. Quiet generally with the water level too high for waders, but of note were the barnacle geese, the juv white-fronted goose in with the Canada’s, greylag geese, 2000+ starlings passing over from the reed bed roost at Uskmouth (0730hrs), plenty of fieldfares and redwings, 2 cormorants, 17 gadwall, 101 teal, 127 wigeon, sparrowhawk, female stonechat, 3 female tufted ducks, curlews (no rings) in front of hide 3 and a chiffchaff contact call back at the car aprk.

Main sighting: YBW

9-30am very wet and blustery morning. YBW showing well 50yds back from confluence of wye and monnow

Main sighting: Common Scoter

5 Common Scoter resting up in front of seawall hide, others included Shoveler, Wigeon, Teal, Shelduck plus large numbers of Fieldfare and Redwing. Everything spooked by male Marsh Harrier later on.

Main sighting: Mandarin Duck

A big increase in numbers of Mandarin on my late WeBS today – a flock of 23. Only one Goosander. Total of 530 Canada Geese flying downriver.

Main sighting: Yellow-browned Warbler

In case you haven’t seen on Twitter: Yellow-browed Warbler at confluence on Rivers Wye and Monnow in Monmouth. Associating with small mixed flock of mainly Blue Tits. Park at Cattle Market car park and walk east along north bank of Monnow. Can be elusive and calling infrequently.