Sightings

Main sighting: Water Rail

Evening visit at low tide. 10+ Wheatears using the fence posts around the reserve. Whinchat observed near Hide 1. On priors 3 x Snipe foraging in open in the shallows. Water Rail showed for a good period skulking in shadows of the reedbed and was chased around by Moorhens. Greenshank , 2 x Black Tailed Godwits and a Knot seen on Becs Lagoon. Out on the mud 3 x Curlews late on, Oystercatchers , Black Headed Gulls and Redshanks. Female Kestrel was hunting over Priors.

Main sighting: Wheatears

4.45 – 2000 hrs visit. From hide 1 was an excellent count of 17 wheatears (adults and juvs) and 3 whinchats moving along the fence posts and feeding close by. Of note elsewhere was 1 buzzard, 29 sand martins, 98 swallows (all heading slowly south), female kestrel, 8 lt egrets, 11 house martins, 1 yellow wagtail only, 3 snipe, 1 water rail, 1 greenshank, 1 ruff, 1 black swan, 1 heron, 1 chiffchaff, 2 black-tailed godwits and the glossy ibis arrived on the 2nd lagoon at 1945hrs. A flock of 200+ knot flew up from the saltings and followed the seawall around towards the Point. Several male broad-bodied chasers on the wing also.

Main sighting: Hobby

Three hobby chasing each other high over farm buildings. Semi-palmated sandpiper still at Goldcliff Lagoons (Monks) at 12.45.

Main sighting: Spotted Flycatcher

3-Spotted Flycatchers,2-Red Kites,4f-Goosanders and a Kingfisher.10h20-12h35

Main sighting: First Pintail

On the morning tide: 4 Pintail,3 Teal, 15 Shoveler,65 Shelduck,142 Mallard,126 Redshank, 22 Dunlin. One each of Greenshank, Blacktailed Godwit, Grey Plover, Ringed Plover, Turnstone, 4 Lgrt, 2 Wheatear.

Main sighting: Little owl

Just before 10pm saw a little owl perched on fence of sudbrook pumping station. First I have ever seen here in 32 years of living here.

Main sighting: Semipalmated Sandpiper

Went to Goldcliff early afternoon to see the Semipalmated Sandpiper. Also a Little Stint present which in my view was a faded adult, same as the bird present on Saturday which I also put down as an adult Little Stint – faded rufous on the back and head, indistinct ‘braces’, not as neat as a juvenile. The Semi-p was new for me – quite a subtle bird, but at least I had a chance to read up on the key features before I saw it!

Main sighting: Semi-palmated Sandpiper

Semi-palmated Sand (found by Darryl Spittle) and Little Stint at Goldcliff this morning!

Main sighting: Little Stint

Curlew Sandpiper, 2 Little Stint, colour-ringed Curlew (black over red on right leg, black on left), 1 Whimbrel, 2 Turnstone, c.150 Red Knot, ++

Main sighting: Peregrine Falcon

At high tide: Large Peregrine falcon harasses duck and Gulls on sea. 80+ Oystercatchers, Whimbrel, 2 each Turnstone,Ringed Plover,Dunlin, 5Lgrt, 30-40 Swallows feeding, 7Pied Wagtails, 22Canada Geese, 7 Wheatear along Peterstone coast(ANO).

Main sighting: Red Kite

Red Kite flying over A465 with crows, west of Skirrid Fawr.

Main sighting: Colour-ringed Ringed Plover

The colour-ringed Ringed Plover seen at Goldcliff on 31/8 had been ringed at its breeding site in Norway. Recoveries of birds ringed in that area suggest they winter in West Africa.