Sightings

Main sighting: Herons

On the morning tide: 6 Herons, 3 Lgrt, 1 Cormorant, 365 Black Headed Gulls (4 juvs), 8 Curlew, 1 Blacktailed Godwit (SP),75 Redshank, 7 Dunlin, 2 Common Sandpiper, 4 Oyster catcher. A group of 16 Shelduck turned up including one free flying juvenile, which eventually tried to join the resident family of 11 large juveniles, but unsurprisingly, was rebuffed by the parents. A small dead Mustela was found, thought to be a young Stoat.

Main sighting: Raven

Also raven and 10 linnets

Main sighting: Green woodpecker

Green woodpecker, chiffchaff, blackcap, willow warblers, swallows, mipits, skylark, juv stonechat, juvbuzzard, jay.

Main sighting: Green woodpecker

Green and greater spotted woodpeckers both heard calling from school grounds.

Main sighting: Nightjar

Had fabulous views of a pair of Nightjars for more than half an hour.The female landed several times on the path less than 20 metres away.Directions to the spot i saw them,as follows;take a left turn out of the car park,don’t go down the long straight path but turn left again.On the left is an open area follow the path till you come to a small path to the left.Down this path are two large logs,this is where i saw them.

Main sighting: Snipe

Highlights of hightide count today: Snipe 2 LRP 2+2juvs Whimbrel 1 Black-tailed Godwit 70 Bar-tailed Godwit 1 Dunlin 56 Knot 7 Green Sandpiper 1 Wigeon 5 Teal 10 Reed Warbler 4 Mediterranean Gull 1 ad BP Black-headed Gull 160

Main sighting: Glossy Ibis

Dawn visit.100+ Dunlin, 100+ Black Headed Gulls including a Mediterranean Gull later. Early on the Glossy Ibis flew low over Monks from the direction of Priors. It settled for a short time on Monks and then flew over the seawall in the direction of the pill/salt marsh. Hirundines were in good numbers.100c Black Tailed Godwits many in breeding plumage. 150+ Redshanks ( in good numbers). 100+ Dunlins. Lapwings seem to be increasing in numbers or flocking together more. No Avocets. Pied Wagatils, Meadow Pipits, Stonechats,Linnets,Starlings and Skylarks around. May be Yellow Wagatails as well. Teal, Gadwall, Shelduck and Mallards. Large numbers of coot on Priors ( may be because of algae that is blooming).

Main sighting: Black Tailed Godwit

On the morning tide: 2 full summer plumaged Blacktailed Godwits,also 3 on the 1st July (all Icelandic race). These are very early records. Do they reflect an early breeding season? Also returning Redshank as at Goldliff, 122 birds, 11 Lapwing, 2 Common Sandpiper,2 Dunlin, Heron, Lgrt, Cormarant, two large Shelduck families and 2 successfull Mute Swan families in the area.

Main sighting: Tree pipit

Pair of tree pipit in clearfell forestry behind farm. Also pair of spotted flycatcher in hedgerow and oaks same location. Yellow wagtail still between Dingestow and Raglan (single bird on wires). Hawfinch (single bird) in Mitchel Troy. Up to 20 swift over Monmouth.

Main sighting: Kingfisher

Adult and juvenile kingfishers together, then one hovering above river for 10 seconds before joining me on the bank! Plenty of mallard ducklings.

Main sighting: Yellow wagtail

Quiet at Goldcliff this evening, but of note was 5 skylarks, 1 buzzard, 3 herons, 3 lt egrets, shelcduck, 212 redshanks (another good count here), 17 ringed plovers, 25 swallows with 28 house martins and 11 sand martins mixed in, 1 reed warbler, gadwall, tufted ducks, 1 curlew only, 70 black-tailed godwits, 1 adult Med gull landed for only a minute on the 2nd lagoon before moving off (may still be present), 1 stock dove, 1 chiffchaff and 305 black-headed gulls 2 of which were juvs, with more gulls arriving in small groups as I was leaving. Two juv yellow wagtails were feeding around the feet of the cows on the 1st lagoon amongst pied wagtails. Other: 1 emperor dragonfly, 1 common darter, 2 ringlets, numerous meadow browns, 1 small white, 1 large skipper, 1 speckled wood and 2 painted ladies.

Main sighting: Various

1 Whimbrel, 6 Curlew,5 Dunlin,97 Redshank,3 Common Sandpiper,58 Mallard, 80 Canada Geese (becoming scarce),2 Heron, 2 Lgrt, Green Woodpecker on the lincs, 7juv BHG, usual 13 large juv Shelduck.