Sightings

Main sighting: Change of start time for WWT Llanelli on Sunday.

Hi all

I’ve just found out that the Llanelli Half Marathon run is taking place on Sunday at 9.00am causing the WWT Centre to delay its opening to 11.00am

Having looked at several possibilities ,and taking into account the different routes that will be taken to get there, I’ve decided to keep it simple and just move our start time to 11.00

However several options have been suggested to make best use of the lost 90 mins and some of us will be going to Kenfig for 9.00am to see the American Widgeon that should still be there

I trust we will still see you at the Centre and later at Whiteford Burrows and Llanrhidian Marshes

Cheers

Dave Brassey

Field Secretary

Main sighting:

Request for 2024 Bird Records

A grateful thanks to all that have been submitting their bird records to the Society in recent years.  We’re currently in the process of compiling the next bird report, which will cover the years 2021 and 2022, but importantly we still require you to submit your records for 2024, as we need to provide some data to the Welsh Ornithological Society and to the Rare Breeding Birds Panel.

We therefore request that any bird records for 2024 are submitted by the 31^st March 2025. These can be submitted to the Society in the excel spreadsheet, which can be down loaded from the Society’s website.  Go to the page Records, then How to Submit Records.  The Official records spreadsheet can be down loaded by clicking on the words official form in the 3^rd paragraph.

Please send records or any queries be emailed to the Countyrecorder@gwentbirds.org.uk email address.

Kind regards

Chris Jones

Interim County Recorder

Main sighting: Hen Harrier

Ringtail harrier hunting over the moor near the old Brynmawr reservoir on the Brecon/Gwent border. One Skylark.

Main sighting: Peregrine

1-Peregrine was on the first lagoon island all the time I was there.This Peregrine looked to be much bigger than the one a few years ago which was regularly seen here,so it was probably a female bird.Also on the first lagoon were 43-Shovelers.12h00-13h00.

Main sighting:

A reminder that Dr Rob Thomas will be presenting a talk concerning Storm Petrels in Wales and Beyond on Wednesday 5th February 2025 – 7.30 pm to 9pm.

The talk will be co-hosted between GOS and the Gwent Wildlife Trust @ Chepstow Leisure Center.NP16 5LR.

All are Welcome.

Main sighting: Curlews!

Highest tide of current cycle today (12.4 metres) meant that Curlews from the foreshore were likely to come in to the lagoons to have their colour rings read. At very first light, none were roosting on the first lagoon (as sometimes happens). At the height of the tide at 09h46 only 17 came in to the island on the seaward lagoon, all showing their legs, but (sadly!) none were ringed. They were flushed by a Peregrine after a short time and no more came in. This is about the fourth big high tide in a row, when no Curlews have come in to roost. Suggests Goldcliff in winter is not an easy place to read curlew colour rings – Peterstone or St Brides seem better! Nevertheless, I would be grateful for any records or photos of colour-ringed Curlews, if anyone manages to find any!
Other birds noted: 50+ Shelducks, 40 Wigeon, 15 Gadwalls, 300 Teal, 100 Shovelers, 2 male Pintail, 1 female Marsh Harrier hunting, 1 Peregrine, 105 Lapwings, 200 Black-tailed Godwits, 1 Cetti’s Warbler singing. (roosting on first lagoon at first light).

Main sighting: lesser redpoll

Lesser redpoll (25) feeding on alder trees in Waitrose car park at 10:30.

Main sighting: M blackcap

Present in garden for several weeks. Just started a soft song. Hope a mate arrives soon

Main sighting: M blackcap

Lone m blackcap in garden for several weeks.. Started to sing very quietly Hope a female arrives soon

Main sighting: Little egrets

3 little egrets, 2 grey herons, 2 teal, 50+ mallard, 2 little grebe, yellow legged gull, snipe, buzzard, 2 red kites, 2 collared doves, 9 ltt, 2 mistle thrush, 12 goldfinch, a greenfinch, 140 starlings.

Main sighting: Hawfinch

Two Hawfinch present in churchyard

Main sighting: Chiffchaff

More activity this morning which was nice, en-route to hides jackdaws, blue tit, pheasant, magpies, crows, herring gulls, dunnock, chaffinch, woodpigeons, starlings, robin, blackbirds and moorhen. Hide one – Canada geese, 28 teal, 59 wigeon and 71 lapwing. Hide two – 2 buzzards, 19 shoveler, single dunlin, mallards, coot, 5 redshanks, male stonechat, wren and 2 cormorants (fly-by). Snipe platform – 32 more teal, 2 more shoveler, 2 greylags, water rail squealing and distant green woodpecker calling. Seawall – 12 curlew, 15 shelduck, black headed gulls, 158 black-tailed godwits and meadow pipit. Hide three – 11 gadwall, 53 more wigeon, 2nd water rail squealing, female marsh harrier hunting, 3 male pintail and chiffchaff feeding. Single redwing flying past en-route to the car park.