Sightings

Main sighting: A goldcrest,I believe.Sadly dead on my son's drive.A photo can be provided

Caerllion

Main sighting: Whinchat

A morning pre-high tide visit. the only waders present were a small group of Redshank at the bottom of Prior’s and a solitary Greenshank on the far side of the island on Bec’s. A Snipe by the sluice on Monk’s and many Yellow Wagtails by the cattle on their too. The Glossy Ibis was showing well on the seawall side of Prior’s later flying over the reed bed to appear on the main section of the lagoon. Black Swan and a large group of Mute Swans also on here plus many Teal, Coots, Moorhens etc.. Wheatears seen on the sea-wall. On the return visit to the first hide several GOS members in there watching a pair of Wheatears, Stonechats and Whinchats on the fence posts and wires and on the dock plants and tussocks behind, also a female Sparrow Hawk by the sluice on the opposite side of Monk’s. Two Buzzards, one of the “Bosprey” colouration and a Kestrel complete the raptors seen.

Main sighting: Wheatears

Afternoon visit highlights: 2 chiffchaffs (contact calls), 5 wheatears today and 2 whinchats, 169 swallows passing south with 46 sand martins and 14 house martins, 9 curlew, female kestrel hunting, kingfisher flew right across the reserve, juv stock dove, 6 buzzards circling together (including the ‘bosprey’), 4 shoveler, juv male sparrowhawk, female ad seen alter, 2 herons, 4 lt egrets, 9 yellow wagtails amongst the cows and a female stonechat. Waders were very poor with only 1 dunlin seen along with 1 common snipe, 1 each of greenshank and redshank, only 2 black-tailed godwits and 18 lapwing. The black swan was present. Other: Impressive count of 18 southern hawkers (photos also), small copper, large whites, red admiral, speckled wood, common darters and keeled skimmers. At Red Farm Barn on the buddleas there were 9 painted lady’s, large whites, small tortoiseshells, red admirals and speckled woods.

Main sighting: House Martin

small flock 20+ House Martin and few Swallows further along top road Peregine Falcon tree height.NB drive is not open taken around with N.R.Wales as part of project

Main sighting: Comic tern

Seen today by Chris Stone at sudbrook, 13 commic tern heading west over houses. And 1 juvenile sanderling with flock of 22 redshank along shore between sudbrook and BlackRock.

Main sighting: Water Rail

Evening visit at low tide. 10+ Wheatears using the fence posts around the reserve. Whinchat observed near Hide 1. On priors 3 x Snipe foraging in open in the shallows. Water Rail showed for a good period skulking in shadows of the reedbed and was chased around by Moorhens. Greenshank , 2 x Black Tailed Godwits and a Knot seen on Becs Lagoon. Out on the mud 3 x Curlews late on, Oystercatchers , Black Headed Gulls and Redshanks. Female Kestrel was hunting over Priors.

Main sighting: Wheatears

4.45 – 2000 hrs visit. From hide 1 was an excellent count of 17 wheatears (adults and juvs) and 3 whinchats moving along the fence posts and feeding close by. Of note elsewhere was 1 buzzard, 29 sand martins, 98 swallows (all heading slowly south), female kestrel, 8 lt egrets, 11 house martins, 1 yellow wagtail only, 3 snipe, 1 water rail, 1 greenshank, 1 ruff, 1 black swan, 1 heron, 1 chiffchaff, 2 black-tailed godwits and the glossy ibis arrived on the 2nd lagoon at 1945hrs. A flock of 200+ knot flew up from the saltings and followed the seawall around towards the Point. Several male broad-bodied chasers on the wing also.

Main sighting: Hobby

Three hobby chasing each other high over farm buildings. Semi-palmated sandpiper still at Goldcliff Lagoons (Monks) at 12.45.

Main sighting: Spotted Flycatcher

3-Spotted Flycatchers,2-Red Kites,4f-Goosanders and a Kingfisher.10h20-12h35

Main sighting: First Pintail

On the morning tide: 4 Pintail,3 Teal, 15 Shoveler,65 Shelduck,142 Mallard,126 Redshank, 22 Dunlin. One each of Greenshank, Blacktailed Godwit, Grey Plover, Ringed Plover, Turnstone, 4 Lgrt, 2 Wheatear.

Main sighting: Little owl

Just before 10pm saw a little owl perched on fence of sudbrook pumping station. First I have ever seen here in 32 years of living here.

Main sighting: Semipalmated Sandpiper

Went to Goldcliff early afternoon to see the Semipalmated Sandpiper. Also a Little Stint present which in my view was a faded adult, same as the bird present on Saturday which I also put down as an adult Little Stint – faded rufous on the back and head, indistinct ‘braces’, not as neat as a juvenile. The Semi-p was new for me – quite a subtle bird, but at least I had a chance to read up on the key features before I saw it!