Sightings

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.

Main sighting:

Main sighting: Spotted Redshank

Spotted Redshank 1 Redshank 40 Curlew 30 Teal 100 Wigeon 50 Pintail 5 and a few Shoveler and Mallard. Greylag Goose 27 Canada Goose lots Green Woodpecker 1.

Main sighting: Hen Harrier

Ringtail harrier hunting mid-afternoon over and round the old Brynmawr reservoir. Eventually disappeared towards Garnlydan. Red Kite circling over, also swooped on a Carrion Crow that was bothering it. A single Meadow Pipit. Flock of 16 Redwings around Hafod Farm.