Sightings

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.

Main sighting: butterflies

A big variety of butterflies today,Painted Lady,Red Admiral,Ringlet,Marbled White,Meadow Brown,Small Heath,Common Blue,Small Pearl Bordered Fritillery,Large Skipper.Birds___Blackcap,Blackbird and Song Thrush.

Main sighting: Dragonflies etc

Kingfisher Also many banded demoiselles , 2 Clubtails dragonflies and a white-legged damselfly.

Main sighting: Painted lady

Several painted lady bfs

Main sighting: Willow warblers

Family of willow warblers,raven,buzzard,meadow pipit,swallows,house martins.

Main sighting: Ruff

Just a short visit to Goldcliff this afternoon and didn’t get past first lagoon. Approx. 320 Black-headed Gull, 1 LBB Gull on mud, along with 1 Little Egret, 5 Dunlin, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Greenshank and 1 male Ruff in intermediate plumage. Redshank, Ringed Plover, Lapwing, Shoveller and Oystercatcher present but not counted

Main sighting: Red kite

Red kite, two ravens, wheatear, male stonechat, 2 swifts, 3 swallows, numerous skylarks and mippits

Main sighting: Godwits

5-7.30pm visit. Of note, house martins, 1 buzzard, 2 lt egrets, cormorant, shelduck, 21 lapwing, 349 black headed gulls roosting (only 2 juvs), excellent count of 168 redshanks, 4 shoveler, cettis calling, 6 oystercatchers, 2 black-tailed godwits only, 11 dunlin, 1 ringed plover, 1 lt ringed plover, skylarks, 1 heron, 1 chiffchaff, 2 reed warblers, 26 gadwall, 2 pairs tufteds, pair of teal, 2 drake wigeon and 5 swallows. Lepidoptera wise – excellent show of meadow browns at one point 20+ feeding on bramble flowers by the snipe platform. several small skippers seen and 8 painted lady butterflies which was nice to see.

Main sighting: Redstart

Adult male Redstart in the garden this morning.

Main sighting: House Martins

Just seen a Grey Squirrel attacking two of the four House Martin nests on my house – drove it off this time – only minor damage to the nests on this occasion. Three Red Kites over local fields that were being mown.

Main sighting: Hawfinch

Hawfinch feeding in yews in churchyard. Quite approachable, and seemed to be used to people.