Sightings

Main sighting: Curlews!

Went to Goldcliff at first light in the hope of reading Curlew rings on the high tide (12.4 metres at 08h21). 57 Curlews had spent the night on the first lagoon, where water levels were lowish, and observation conditions excellent. Disappointingly, I could not see any rings at all, though it’s good to have confirmation that Curlews do actually spend the night on the lagoon when tides are high. At the same time, Chris Wells was at Peterstone and read eight rings among the 250 Curlews on the high tide roost there.

Other birds of interest at Goldcliff were a very large flock of Black-tailed Godwits, which had also spent the night and were feeding hungrily at first light, though they flew out over the seawall at about 08h00. I estimated the flock at 1500 individuals. Also a roosting flock of 70 Knot, and quite large and agitated flocks of about 500 Lapwings, perhaps recently arrived migrants.

Main sighting: Chiffchaff in song

Bullfinches, chaffinches, blue tits, jackdaws, dunnock, rook, mistle thrush, crows, cettis warbler, great tits, wrens, herring gulls, blackbirds, water rail and woodpigeons. From the hide – 2nd and 3rd water rails calling,, moorhens, mallards, 8 gadwall (a good count here), 1 swan, kingfisher, stock dove, little grebe, teal, magpie and green woodpecker yaffling. Elsewhere – robin, chiffchaff in full song, song thrushes, raven, long tailed tits and house sparrows.

Main sighting: Merlin

Merlin, Kestrel, Peregrine and group of four Red Kites over. Red Grouse flushed. Report of a Goshawk narrowly failing to catch a rat on a bird feeder.

Main sighting: Woodcock

Woodcock flushed from roost. Goshawk over ridge, pursued by a Raven. Sparrowhawk soaring.

Main sighting: Adult goshawk

M when mountain

Main sighting: Goosanders

Two females fishing on the river

Main sighting: Great White Egret / Golden Plover

En-route to hides: herring gulls, crows, jackdaws, magpies, song thrush, dunnock, wrens, pheasants and blackbirds. Hide 1: Canada geese, 18 greylag geese flying out, 25 teal, 2 wigeon, 8 black tailed godwits, robin and stonechats. Hide 2: water rail squealing, 33 more teal, 4 shoveler, 2 curlew, 1 heron, 3 fly-by swans, starlings, little egret, 25 lapwing which landed in front of hide one ad a single golden plover mixed in, marsh harrier, buzzard calling, robins, linnets and 1 stock dove. Snipe platform: male pintail, 15 gadwall, coot, 71 more teal, mallards and 8 more shoveler. En-route to seawall: 4 fieldfares calling, blue tits and chaffinch. Seawall – numerous meadow pipits, male pied wagtail, great white egret flying across by the wall and then on past The Point, shelduck, 2 more wigeon, black headed gulls, 4 oystercatchers, 31 more curlew, 35 redshanks and a better flock of 30 dunlin. Hide 3: reed bunting and 25 more wigeon. Other: fungi enthusiasts, horse mushrooms and orange peel fungus on raised bank to the right just over the stone bridge.

Main sighting: Hawfinch

A very pleasing single Hawfinch in the garden this morning, plus the regular Green Woodpecker and 8 Greenfinch. Less welcome are the now regular 23 Pheasant (which have taken to roosting in the birches) and the 4 Red-legged Partridge.

Main sighting: Green sandpiper

1# adult about 45 minutes after 1st light

Main sighting: Pochard

A very busy Waun pond, after the sad events of recent week, female Mute Swan was killed and Male has left the site leaving 4 cygnets. These were seen taking off and landing on several occasions and looked strong. There was also good Numbers of Tufted Duck, Coot and Mallard as well as 8 Wigeon and surprisingly a single male Pochard. Also a Cormorant, Great crested Grebe and a Grey Heron. 2 Bullfinches, were near the steps with Goldfinches nearby and a Chiffchaff calling. The Machine pond was less busy but there were 5 Goosanders and a flock of 16 Canada Geese flew over. Raven heard and a Jay was also seen.

Main sighting: Disturbance at Goldcliff

There will be some disturbance at Goldccliff Lagoons on Thursday 7th November, between 1pm and 3pm, when a Reservoir Act inspection takes place. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.

Main sighting: Red Grouse

2 birds seen by friends (photo proof) between Foxhunter Car Park and B4246.