Sightings

Main sighting: Drake Smew

Drake Smew in the usual place near Usk (opposite Craig Olway Farm) 2 Little Grebes, 2 Drake Goldeneyes, 2 Moorhens, 2 Canada Geese, a Wren on the debris washed up by the river and 9 Mallards.

Main sighting: Common Sandpiper

A mid afternoon visit between rain showers viewed from the visitor centre; Common Sandpiper flew from Sailing Club to the Dam this bird has been regular on the dam this winter with a second bird on the 17th Jan, 35 Mandarin in Doctor’s Bay (high count!), 50 Wigeon, 36 Teal, 6 Goosander – 3 drake, 22 Mallard, 21 Canada Geese, 17 Cormorant, pair Great Black-backed Gull, singing Mistle Thrush and Nuthatch.

Main sighting: Black tailed Godwit

Ebb tide from Pill; 120 wigeon, 45 shoveler, 2 pintail, 60 teal, 5 gadwall, 25 avocets, 24 redshank, 6 curlew on foreshore, also stonechat on sea wall. SW passage of 10 bp cormorants during the morning.

Main sighting: Glossy Ibis, Black-Necked Grebe and Waders

Dawn visit – Monks Curlews roosting x 215, Grey Plovers 15c. Flew over se wall at first light
Priors – Plenty of ducks – 4 x Goldeneye, 1 x Pintail, Shovelers,Gadwall, Teal, Mallard and Wigeon 300c. 3 x Mute Swans. Black-Necked Grebe showing well. 1 x Little Grebe. Glossy Ibis very active.
Foreshore from sea wall the Pill was later home to the Curlews, Plovers and a 20+ Oystercatchers as well as Shelduck.
Others to note- Marsh Harrier quartered Priors reedbed. Peregribe on gate near Monks. Carrion Crows, 2 x Ravens, 1 x Buzzard. Flock of 20 Pied Wagtails. Hedgerow are rear of Snipe Platform had a good flock of Fieldfare and Redwings.

Main sighting: Water Rail

Productive walk around Castle Meadows. On the Usk: Kingfisher, Goosander, Grey Wagtail, two Little Grebes and a massive domestic duck. Water Rail on the margins of the Gavenny just below the footbridge.

Main sighting: Blackcap

2 male and one female blackcap are overwintering on garden feeders in St Julian’s, Newport.

Main sighting: Blackcaps

Female blackcap on the feeders two days ago and this morning a pair of female blackcaps present (no sign of a male yet).

Main sighting: Various

The GOS trip to Tregaron, Ynys-Las, Borth & Aberystwyth provided a mix of species totaling 50 by the end of the day. Species: Greylag Geese, Canada Geese, Shelduck, Wigeon, Mallard, Pintail, Shoveler, Common Scoter, Goosander, Pheasant, Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant, Little Egret, Grey Heron, Red Kite, Buzzard, Merlin, Coot, Oystercatcher, Ringed Plover, Golden Plover, Knot, Purple Sandpiper, Snipe, Curlew, Turnstone, Black-headed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Woodpigeon, Kingfisher, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Meadow Pipit, Rock Pipit, Wren, Robin, Stonechat, Blackbird, Fieldfare, Willow Tit, Blue Tit, Jay, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Raven, Starling, Chaffinch & Reed Bunting.

Main sighting: Goldeneye

5f-Goldeneyes on Priors,1-Black Necked Grebe,25-Avocets on tideline,35+Grey Plovers and the usual Peregrine on first island.10h00-12h00.

Main sighting: Snipe

10 Snipe, 3 great crested grebe, kingfisher
Grey heron, and the usuals.

Main sighting: Glossy Ibis

Glossy Ibis on island straight out from Marsh Viewing screen. Also Snipe from snipe screen and Black Necked Grebe at far back.

Main sighting: Ravens and Pied Wagtails

Further to Nevs post – 2 x Ravens and 2 x Pied Wagtails warly on at dawn.