Sightings

Main sighting: Brambling

More evidence of the “hungry gap”: the first Brambling of the year visiting feeders, with record numbers of Siskins still around. Meanwhile, a Magpie was carrying a stick for its nest.

Main sighting: Curlew

A Curlew pair, 200+ Canada Geese and a single Greylag this morning. Please remember to email all Curlew reports to curlew@gwentbirds.org.uk – there are still more to be found!

Main sighting: Siskin

Siskin numbers have been increasing, reaching an impressive 25 on/around the feeders today, joined by a pair of Lesser Redpolls.

Main sighting: Redpoll

4 Redpoll feeding on seed feeders

Main sighting: Greenfinch

An amazing count of 18 Greenfinch in the garden just now. Also at least 8 Reed Buntings in the winter seed crop.

Main sighting: Goosander

1 male and 2 female Goosander at 9.30. Not there at 17.15. Also Little Grebe

Main sighting: Long-tailed Duck / Weekly round-up

En-route to hide 1 – wren, chaffinch, collard dove, crows, gt tits, robin, blue tit, gt spotted woodpecker, herring gulls, magpies, song thrush, blackbirds, redwings, fieldfares, woodpigeon, starlings, pheasant and cettis warbler. Hide one – Canada geese, mallards, 41 teal, 119 wigeon, 2 gadwall, 1 cormorant, skylark singing, 18 shoveler, single ringed plover (on the island) and 1 heron. En-route to hide 2 – long tailed tit (1), female goldcrest and moorhens. Hide two – coot, greylags, stonechat pair. Flooded field opposite snipe platform – 15 pied wagtails. Snipe platform – 6 more gadwall, lt grebe, 4 male and 3 fem tufteds and a water rail calling. Seawall – high tide so not much exposed mud, 7 oystercatchers, 25 curlew and ls black-backed gulls only. Hide three – 69 more wigeon, 22 more shoveler, 51 more teal, 2 lt egrets, 2nd-year male marsh harrier, 2 lapwing only and the long-tailed duck diving and showing well.

Main sighting: Grey Heron

From the hide i counted nine occupied Grey Heron nests.Also near to the hide were 2-Chiffchaffs.

Main sighting: Curlew

Two more early arrivals seen today!

Main sighting: Curlew

The first inland Curlews of the year were reported today – singles at both locations. This is an early date for Gwent birds. Please keep your eyes peeled and ears pricked and send all reports to curlew@gwentbirds.org.uk so that we can follow up on your sightings.

Main sighting: Frogs

100 plus breeding frogs pen y fan pond oakdale

Main sighting: Sparrow Hawk

Walk around Crumlands wood. 6 Skylarks,5 song thrush,8 jackdaws,In my field 1 sparrowhawk,3 red kites,2 buzzard,2 siskins,numerous goldfinch,chaffinch and greenfinch