Sightings

Main sighting: Goldeneye

An unusual sighting for goldcliff were 2-female Goldeneye from the snipe platform.Also,5-Snipe,1-Peregrine,1-Little Grebe and 42-Gadwall.10h00-12h00.

Main sighting: Hen Harrier

Male harrier hunting winter thrushes (unsuccessfully), disappeared on to Mynydd Llangatwg.

Main sighting: Kingfisher

Kingfisher and Grey Wagtail by the pond

Main sighting: male blackcap

Late male blackcap in garden this morning in crab apple tree. It might overwinter?

Main sighting: Stonechat

Late afternoon/dusk visit. Buzzard, 3 Red Grouse, pair Stonechats. No owls…

Main sighting: Swallow

Afternoon visit highlights 2 barwit, 14 grey plover, c80 dunlin, 10 turnstone, c30 curlew, 10 redshank and 10 avocets on mudflats, 1 swallow, 3 stonechats, 40+ fieldfares, c10 redwings, 5 blackbirds, 1 grey ‘continental’ type song thrush, 2 goldcrests, 12 long tailed tits, 1 spotshank, c220 wigeon, 50 teal, 50+ gadwall, 60 shoveler, 16 mallard, adult male peregrine, kestrel, 20 meadow pipits, 26 lapwings on lagoons. 3 more swallows over Farmer’s Arms pub in village.

Main sighting: Short Eared Owl

Short Eared Owl flushed at 8am from the grass flood bank. Flew towards Sudbrook.

Main sighting: Avocet

There were 5 Avocets and 3 Grey Plover on the mudflats. Most birds were on Priors Lagoon sheltering from the cold wind Gadwall 61 Wigeon 80 Shoveler 50 Teal 30 and a pile of Canada geese and four Greylags one having pink legs. Peregrine 1 Buzzard 2 Sparrowhawk 1 Kestrel 1 Skylark 6 Green Woodpecker 1. Despite the cold two Red Admirals!

Main sighting: Hybrid

Water levels still high, but of note was a Canada goose x barnacle goose looking at the markings on the head (see @ecology_cymru for the picture). Also seen was 1 buzzard, 4 ravens, 11 shelduck, 45 shoveler, 2 lt egrets, 249 Canada and 52 greylags, 1 cettis calling, 11 lapwing, 45 teal, wigeon numbers now at 61, excellent count of 53 gadwall, 2 common redshanks with 3 common snipe, 1 tufted duck, male marsh harrier hunting towards sunset. Mudflats: 38 curlew, 1 gt black-backed gull and 18 grey plovers. Other: group of stubble rosegill fungi by wooden kissing gate (opp redshank platform).

Main sighting: Hen Harrier

Male Hen Harrier this am , on Mynydd Maen

Main sighting: Goosander

2m white with black heads 3f grey with brown heads on the pond late am

Main sighting: Fieldfares

Further to the fieldfare sightings for the common, 9 buzzards and 3 red kites seen also.