Sightings

Main sighting: Spoonbill

Immature Spoonbill feeding in the lagoon directly in front of Hide 1. Distant view of Spotted Redshank feeding along the far shore of the island. Pintail pair seen from Seawall Hide. Skylarks and Chiffchaffs singing. Sparrowhawk and immature Marsh Harrier hunting over reedbeds.

Main sighting: Wheatear

3 male Wheatear at Westpill in afternoon.

Main sighting: Sand Martin

5 Sand Martins, probably moving through

Main sighting: Wheatear

Spring has sprung! Skylarks, Meadow Pipits, Stonechats and a Reed Bunting back on territories on the mountain. Count of 14 Wheatears, including three females. Red Kite, Kestrel and three Buzzards.

Main sighting: Red Kite

Red Kite in Sluice Farm area. Tide out birds far off at Peterstone Gout, Little Egret 4 Chiffchaff 3. Yesterday in Machen a Brimstone butterfly and a small Bat almost certainly a Pipistrelle.

Main sighting: Chiffchaff

Chiffchaff calling in woodland, also one calling on 19th March in garden off Manor Wood, The Narth – the first I’ve heard this year.

Main sighting: Pale -bellied Brent Goose

Pale-bellied Brent Goose among the Shelduck on Collister saltmarsh.Also my first Wheatear of the year at the Pill.A male.

Main sighting: Water Rail

Morning visit: En-route to hides – great tits, blue tits, magpies, herring gulls, greylag geese, blackbirds, crows, Canada geese, woodpigeons, goldfinches, cettis and throughout the reserve a total of 13 chiffchaffs (several in full song). Hide one – 25 redshanks, 1 spotted redshank, 4 lapwing, 31 shelduck, 8 gadwall, mallards, marsh harrier (fem), 2 pairs stonechats, goldcrest, wren, robins, and water vole on the way to hide 2. Hide two – 2 herons, 1 coot, 116 wigeon, 36 teal, 32 shoveler, ls black-backed gulls, meadow pipit, 3 cormorants, male kestrel, reed buntings and another pair of stonechats. Snipe platform – good count of 10 coot, 3 male and 1 fem tufteds and a black headed gull (full hood). Seawall – House sparrows, 11 curlew overhead and 14 more on the mudflats, 3 oystercatchers, 2 ringed plovers, 26 grey plovers and 15 dunlin. Hide three – 2 pairs of avocet (one ringed bird, red ring 64 upper right leg), 3 black-tailed godwits, 50 more wigeon, 2 more gadwall, another pair stonechats, 20 more redshank and 2 oystercatchers. Water rail heard calling.

Main sighting: Stonechat

Pair beside River Monnow (unexpected for this site). Also male Goosander, singing Chiffchaff, Kingfisher and Red-legged Partridge calls.

Main sighting: Red Kite

Red Kite flying through. Peregrine. Also mixed flock feeding of @80 Grey Plover,@50 Knot.

Main sighting: Wheatear

My first migrant of the year,1-male Wheatear.

Main sighting: Chiffchaff

Chiffchaff in full song behind St Marks Church Llanhilleth