Sightings

Main sighting: Firecrest

Singing bird heard (then seen) from mixed belt of trees along roadside, at edge of reserve. Third firecrest found this spring in different parts of Gwent, a species appearing to be spreading rapidly.

Main sighting: Lesser Redpoll

Single bird heard calling (in flight) several times during walk around the heath. Also the usual singing male tree pipits (3) willow warblers (6) with several linnets and siskins present.

Main sighting: Juvenile robins

2 juvenile robins in a Machen garden.

Main sighting: Wader mix and cuckoo

First two hides visited only due to heavy showers. En-route to hides – pheasants, blackbirds, blackcaps, woodpigeons, wren, chiffchaffs, magpie, lt egret, 2 cettis, linnets, whitethroat, goldfinches, song thrush, starlings, blue tits and moorhens. Hide one (very productive) – 83 dunlin most showing the black bellies, 17 redshanks, 8 avocet, 33 shelduck, 10 gadwall, 301 black-tailed godwits and the single bar-tailed with them, 6 lapwing, Canada geese, greylags, ls black-backed gulls, 5 oystercatchers, 1 lt ringed plover, skylarks, 2 mite swans, 2 more lt egrets, 12 shoveler, 1 heron, mallards, stonechat pair, 1 cormorant, 5 males and 1 female tufted, pair of teal and a single male, 2 swallows, 6 ringed plovers, crows, 1 greenshank, 1 ruff and jackdaws. Hide two – sedge warbler in the brambles, drake pintail, fem marsh harrier and great white egret. En-route back to hide one – 2 stock doves, cuckoo calling from along the hedge line leading back up to hide 2.

Main sighting: Song thrushes

2 fledged song thrush chicks hopping about.

Main sighting: Wood Warbler

1 singing male bird heard, but very faintly from edge of conifer plantation, towards river.

Main sighting: Red Grouse

One flushed from path heading SE from communication masts. Also 1 Wheatear on breeding territory, plus several Skylarks singing but Meadow Pipits curiously were not. Pair of Stonechats by base of masts. Glad to find all the species I was hoping for on my group walk.

Main sighting: Woodcock

Woodcock flushed from cover by a dog along side the steam. Also first sighting here this year of StoneChat and Willow Warbler. Lots of Linnets and Meadow Pipits plus 2 buzzards hanging on the up drafts.

Main sighting: Swallow

Swallow on overhead wire.

Main sighting: Cuckoo

One calling and calling for at least half an hour…with no reply from around the valley !

Main sighting: House Martin

Single house martin aerial feeding. 3 swallows seen also later on.

Main sighting: Cuckoo

Cuckoo called twice before moving on, Wheatear and Redstart having a spat over territory and male sprawk trying for and missing female Wheatear!