Sightings

Main sighting: unusual stint

I haven’t seen this bird and it might be a Bairds. I have however been in the hides/platforms at Goldcliff and on three separate occasions over a number of years and seen excellent birders look at “long winged” Little Stints and call them as Bairds. It took a little while to persuade them they were Little Stints, Little Stints can look very sleek and long-winged, particularly in hot weather. I suspect it is a form of temperature control???

Main sighting: Wigeon

Two Wigeon on Dunlop Semtex Pond – first of autumn – along with a notable 130 Coot, single Little and Great Crested Grebes plus eight House Martins. Yesterday a female Wood Duck on Machine Pond – not seen today – probably one from the flock at the Festival Park lakes.

Main sighting: Garganey

Just the highlights of a long vigil at Goldcliff today: juvenile Garganey, Little Stint, 2 Green Sandpiper, 1 Greenshank, 1 Ruff, 1 Little Ringed Plover, 25 Pintail, 3 Great Egret, 3 Whinchat, 1 Spotted Flycatcher.

Main sighting: White Wagtail

4-White Wagtails in the field leading to the coast at a cattle feeding spot.Also,at Peterstone Gout 6-adult male Wigeons in eclipse plumage,one was showing its orange forehead coming through.
11h30-13h00.

Main sighting: Kingfisher

Kingfisher, 3 little egrets, grey wagtail

Main sighting: Rose Ringed Parakeet

The Parakeet flew into the Church grounds from a tree next to the the Church hall. Seen several times lately.

Main sighting: Late sightings for Wednesday

Apologies for late sighting, but citrine was still present (1400hrs) from snipe platform, top left exposed mud area. Also of note, single grey plover, 126 black-tailed godwits, lapwing, shoveler, little egret, juv green woodpecker, 2 kestrels, 2 male stonechats and redshanks (Only snipe platform visited). Other: holly blue, speckled wood, small whites, gatekeepers, migrant hawker and common darters.

Main sighting: Hobby

Highlights of 55 species recorded were swift, hobby, little ringed plover, at least 3 whinchat and wheatear including a greenland race, 2 yellow wagtails, kingfisher and sparrowhawk.

Main sighting: Barn owl

Barn owl flying across A4051 just between parkway hotel & rougment roundabout 05:45 this morning
Goshawk drifting north over greenmeadow golf club
Red kite regularly seen around henllys lanes

Main sighting: Ruff

1 ruff among 100 redshank on the gout; also heron, little egret; few hundred BHGs and 200 mallards on the estuary (very high tide), few juv shellduck, and then flock of 100 ringed plover + 50 dunlin; few linnets around; 2 painted lady butterflies

Main sighting: Marsh Harrier

Hightide visit 09:45 Two juvenile Marsh Harrier were quartering the fields at the back of the Golf Club House. Mallard 250 Oystercatcher 42 Ringed Plover 40 Ruff 1 Redshank 167 Dunlin 6 Black-tailed Godwit 7 Knot 2 Common Sandpiper 1 Common Gull 2 Black-headed Gull lots Swallow 20 Sand Martin 3 Jay 1

Main sighting: Rose Ringed Parakeet

The Parakeet flew into the Church grounds from a tree next to the the Church hall. Seen several times lately.