Sightings

Main sighting: Disturbance

There will be some disturbance today at Goldcliff Lagoons, between approx. 12.45pm and 2pm. when we carry out our monthly monitoring of salinities and water levels. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.

Main sighting: Little Egrets

A gathering of between 50 – 60 egrets sighted from the M48 as we returned from Goldcliff.

Main sighting: Lapwing

Retrospective report. Pair seen and heard in maize crop for several weeks including display and injury feigning (reports from locals) so likely to have bred though no nest or juveniles seen. No calls heard today so breeding activity seems to have finished. This species not at all common in this part of the county.

Main sighting: Sparrowhawk

Juvenile sparrowhawk, male redstart, 2 male stonechats, 3 skylarks, 5 meadow pipits, 3 ravens.

Main sighting: Yellow Wagtail

Highlights of todays WeBS count: Little Egret 43 GWE 1 Common Gull 3 Redshank 40 Black-tailed Godwit 99 Bar-tailed Godwit 3 Little Ringed Plover 6 Dunlin 18 Knot 6 Spotted Redshank 1 Black-headed Gull 325 Yellow wagtail 2 Pied wagtail 10
Other: Marbled White 1 Large White 8 Green Veined White 4 Red Admiral 3 Gate Keeper 20
Meadow Brown + Comma 1
Black-tailed Skimmer 1 Ruddy Darter 6 Emerald Damselfly 1 Azure Blue Damselfly 10

Main sighting: Bittern

A varied day with blue skies interspersed with extremely heavy showers. 5 members braved the elements for an all day walk culminating in 47 bird species, 6 Butterfly and at least 3 Dragonfly/Damselfly species.
Mute Swan, Greylag Geese, Canada Geese, Gadwall, Mallard, Shoveler, Pochard, Little Grebe, Great-crested Grebe, Cormorant, Bittern, Little Egret, Great Egret, Grey Heron, Marsh Harrier, Buzzard, Kestrel, Moorhen, Coot, Lapwing, Black-headed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Stock Dove, Woodpigeon, Swift, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Swallow, Wren Robin, Blackbird, Cetti’s Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Long-tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Treecreeper, Magpie, Rook, Carrion Crow, Starling, Chaffinch, Goldfinch and Reed Bunting.
Butterflies: Red Admiral, Peacock, Green-veined White, Speckled Wood, Small White and Meadow Brown.
Dragonfly/Damselfly – Emperor Dragonfly, Blue-tailed Damselfly and Common Blue Damselfly.

Main sighting: Mandarin Duck

Female Mandarin Duck with four ducklings. Female Goosander with nine.

Main sighting: Common Sandpiper

Common Sandpiper 4 Redshank 162 Black-tailed Godwit 210 Ringed Plover 2 Little Ringed Plover 3 Little Egret 30+ GWE 3 Snipe 2 Little Grebe 3 Whitethroat Chiffchaff Reed Warbler Singing. And a very smart juvenile Whinchat from the seawall hide.
Other: Ruddy Darter 3 Blue-tailed damselfly 2 Gate Keeper Red Admiral and lots of Meadow Browns.

Main sighting: Barn Owl

Dawn visit: En-route to hides crows, pheasant, blackbirds, blackcap, wren, chiffchaffs, whitethroat and several brief calls from a lesser whitethroat. Hide one – Canada and greylag geese, skylarks, 5 oystercatchers, 43 little egrets with 2 great white egrets mixed in, 10 ringed plovers, 2 curlew, moorhen, mallards, grey heron, 62 lapwing, 3 common sandpipers, shelduck, magpies and 2 swallows. Hide two: 215 black-tailed godwits, goldfinches, cettis, 46 shelduck, woodpigeons, 1 stock dove, herring gulls, 6 dunlin, lesser black-backed gulls, barn owl (05.45hrs), great tits, reed warbler, pied wagtails, reed buntings, 9 sand martins, starlings, 3 swifts, 3 knot, black headed gulls (including the first juveniles of the year) and peregrine. Snipe platform – 1 little grebe, 11 mute swans and 3 cormorants.

Main sighting: Great White Egret

5-Great White Egrets,36+Little Egrets,5-Little Ringed Plovers.Also showing well from the third hide,1-Spotted Redshank in breeding plumage.10h30-12h30

Main sighting: Manx shearwater

100 to 200 Manx shearwater on estuary seen from sudbrook.

Main sighting: Common Redstart

Juvenile Redstart sighted around garden pond. May have been after insects or looking for somewhere to perch to take a drink.