Sightings

Main sighting: Swift

Reed warbler singing, cettis calling, chiffchaff 3, blackcap 2, common buzzard, marsh harrier, pheasants, gt spotted woodpecker, skylarks singing. Redshank Platform – 3 greenshanks, shelduck (1 with a yellow leg ring A07 – a bird ringed on the Axe Estuary), 8 dunlin, avocet, common redshanks, 5 ringed plovers, 5 mute swans and a whimbrel overhead. Lapwing Platform – 2 cormorants, linnets, 7 gadwall (14 more from hide 3), 2 whitethroats singing and a pair of greylags with 5 goslings. Snipe Platform – the bean and white-fronted geese were mixed in with greylags sitting on the raised bank. 2 whimbrel in the field behind the platform. Seawall – productive with 1 white wagtail, 2 wheaters, 7 swallows, 2 whimbrel flying towards The Point, 2 great black-backed gulls, oystercatchers, curlew, 12 more dunlin, 1 little egret, grey heron and 4 teal. Hide 3 – pair of reed buntings nest building in the sedges opposite, 239 black-tailed godwits which started to fly off in 4 separate groups, gaining height and migrating (0800 – 0815), 3 bar-tailed godwits remained, 2 wigeon and 5 yellow wagtails – one of which fed within 15 feet of the hide. At this point I was stood with Dan Webb outside the hide watching the godwits moving off and he picked out a distant swift. Other: holly blue 1 and orange tip butterfly 1.

Main sighting: Swallows and House Martins

Swallows seen over Goldcliff on 13th and 14th and over Peterstone on 21st
House Martins over Peterstone on 21st and over Allt-yr-yn Newport on 22 but neither in great numbers
First House Martins 18 days later than last yearw

Main sighting: No Swallows/House Martins

Has anyone seen any swallows or house martins yet? Seems very strange this year

Main sighting: Ducklings

Mallard with 8 two week old ducklings and another with 10 day old ducklings. Sad to report that our walking and bird watching companion digger, passed away on 20th April.

Main sighting: Common Snipe

2 males and 1 female pied flycatchers in the wooded area with redstart close by. Willow warblers in good numbers, chiffchaffs, blackcaps, 2 red kites, 3 buzzards, 2 wheatears 3 swallows. Other: green-veined white butterflies.

Main sighting: Bar Tailed Godwit

The highlights of a high tide visit this afternoon were 7-Bar Tailed Godwits,two of which were in full breeding plumage also 11-Whimbrels.15h30-16h45

Main sighting: Various

High tide visit started with 4 wheatears near reserve entrance, spotted redshank from first platform, 4 common sands, 3 LRPs, peregrine fly past disturbing avocets and blkwits, 2 white wags, 4 whimbrel on foreshore, small numbers of dunlin and ringed plovers on tideline, on return to first platform 2 lapwing chicks noted on island.
Wood warblers noted on evening visit near Vedw wood, same arrival date as last year.

Main sighting: WORLD CURLEW DAY!

Curlews are pretty much on the brink of extinction as a breeding species in the UK. To do anything at all to save them we need to know where they are. Please send your records of inland Curlews in Gwent to Curlew@gwentbirds.org.uk – see the Home page for the details we need. Thanks to all who have already submitted records.

Main sighting: Willow Tit

One calling in the birch scrub. A good time of year for a possible breeding territory, so worth a re-visit.

Main sighting: Wheatears

Large numbers if Wheatear on the old mining road 21 in one location 13 of which are adult males

Main sighting: Sand martin

6 sand martin [my first this year], common sandpiper, cormorant, 2 little egret, 8 mallard one with 10 small ducklings, 8 jackdaws, gs wood pecker, 2 heard drumming, 3 chaffinch.

Main sighting: Willow warbler

Mini influx of warblers along the western edge of Loysey woods, @ 10 individuals.