Sightings

Main sighting: Med.Gull

1-adult Med.Gull amongst a large flock of Black Headed Gulls,including at least six juveniles.Also 1-Turnstone in BP.1-Knot,3-Whimbrels,Good numbers of Redshanks and Dunlins.15h15-17h00

Main sighting: Med gull

Med gull juv – Com sandpiper – Shellduck 4

Main sighting: Hobby

An evening walk was rewarded with views of a Hobby looking for supper. Also, Woodpigeon 200 Stock Dove 12 Linnet lots.

Main sighting: Whimbrel/Bittern

En-route to reserve – collard doves, swallows, wren, reed warbler, woodpigeons, moorhens, crows, chiffchaff, blackbird and moorhens. Hide 1 – Canada and greylags, raven, sand martins, mallards, herring gulls, 1 heron and 8 black-tailed godwits that flew off high at 0642 heading south-east. En-route to hide 3 – linnets, goldfinches and pied wagtails. Hide 3 – ad male and juv stonechats, 32 lapwing, 2 lt egrets, 92 dunlin, 11 more black-tailed godwits, reed buntings, black headed gulls, 1 swift, meadow pipits, 2 cormorants, starlings, 1 spotted redshank, 1 greenshank (which flew off over the Pill), 1 gt white egret, 6 teal, female sparrowhawk which later flew past with prey (small bird), juv bittern flying twice last seen dropping in reeds by hide 2, 3 shoveler, 2 adult yellow wagtails and 5 redshanks. Seawall – 3 whimbrel, 30 oystercatchers, 38 curlew, ls black-backed gulls and 78 shelduck. Marsh platform – 4 gadwall, lt grebes and coot. Snipe platform – 2 more herons, 13 swans and a single female tufted in eclipse plumage. Hide 2 – 3 more black-tailed godwits, 5 more redshanks and a female marsh harrier. Other: Vapourer moth, southern hawkers (3), ruddy darter, meadow browns, 1 red admiral, 1 green-veined white, common blue damselflies and numerous gatekeepers.

Main sighting: Disturbance at Goldcliff Lagoons

The contractor working on the anti-predator fence will be working on Saturday morning. He will be starting near the 1st hide and working along clockwise until approximately midday. Hopefully the work will not affect birds on Bec’s Lagoon. We apologise for any inconvenience caused and for the short notice.

Main sighting: red kite

Around midday above the monnow st car park, I saw the gulls mobbing a large bird of prey as it flew from the playing field area then over the car park and head up the river monnow.
No bins with me to see if it was a ringed bird but confirmed it was a red kite.

Main sighting: Common Sandpiper

Common Sandpiper 13 was the highlight of our visit. Redshank 60 Shelduck with 6 small young singles of Curlew, Whimbrel and Black-tailed Godwit and Little Egret 4.

Main sighting: Redshank

Redshank 8 juvs (dam) – Little egrets 12 – com sands 2

Main sighting: Yellow leg gull

4 Shellduck juvs – Yellow leg gull Ad

Main sighting: Grasshopper Warbler

On machine pond there were 5 Canada geese and 3 tufted ducks. In a willow tree just past the pond were 6 long tailed tits. In the meadow/wetland area to the west of the pond were house sparrows, reed buntings ( male & female ), whitethroats, 2 willow warblers, a female sparrowhawk soaring high up, red kite and to the right of the track in a young oak tree on a branch a grasshopper warbler briefly appeared before disappearing due to its elusiveness back into the undergrowth/vegetation – thanks to Nicholas Beswick, well found.
From the bridge on horsetail pond flew a male & female bullfinch across the water, 2 moorhens and a little grebe. Also 1 swift.

Main sighting: Spoonbills

En-route to hides – blackcaps, magpie, woodpigeons, crows, ls black-backed gulls, swallows, black headed gulls, pheasant, Canada geese, wren, goldfinches chiffchaffs, gt tit, starlings and blue tit. Hide 1 very quiet, mallards, herring gulls, pair of gadwall and 2 black-tailed godwits. En-route to hide 3 – reed bunting, reed warbler, 15 house martins, linnets and 2 pied wagtails. Hide 3 – sedge warbler singing, 1 lt egret, 8 dunlin, 64 more black -tailed godwits, juvenile yellow wagtail, stonechat family group, 2 lt ringed plovers, 5 shelduck, 43 sand martins aerial feeding, 2 oystercatchers, 8 teal, 3 more gadwall, 1 lapwing and 1 cormorant. Seawall – 4 ringed plovers only and no curlew. Marsh platform – 15 mute swans, 41 coot, 2 pairs lt grebes, 8 greylags and meadow pipits. En-route to next platform – cettis calling and moorhens. Snipe platform – 2 herons and tufted family group. Hide 2 – pair of spoonbills dropped onto lagoon 3, pair of kestrels by hide 3, 1 curlew overhead and skylark contact call. Other: Weasel by bridge at the entrance, numerous gatekeepers, 1 ruddy darter and 3 green-veined whites.

Main sighting: Kestrels

Probably up to 6 kestrels along 6km of Seawall from Peterstone Gout to Lamby Way, including one group of 3 presume parent with chick(s); also greenfinch, goldfinch linnets (mixed flock); little egret; several curlew, one whimbrel; lots of swallows, 6 swifts; skylarks, meadow pipits, pied wagtails; many BHGs; gatekeeper, meadow brown and large white butterlfies