Sightings

Main sighting: Ruff

Just a short visit to Goldcliff this afternoon and didn’t get past first lagoon. Approx. 320 Black-headed Gull, 1 LBB Gull on mud, along with 1 Little Egret, 5 Dunlin, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Greenshank and 1 male Ruff in intermediate plumage. Redshank, Ringed Plover, Lapwing, Shoveller and Oystercatcher present but not counted

Main sighting: Red kite

Red kite, two ravens, wheatear, male stonechat, 2 swifts, 3 swallows, numerous skylarks and mippits

Main sighting: Godwits

5-7.30pm visit. Of note, house martins, 1 buzzard, 2 lt egrets, cormorant, shelduck, 21 lapwing, 349 black headed gulls roosting (only 2 juvs), excellent count of 168 redshanks, 4 shoveler, cettis calling, 6 oystercatchers, 2 black-tailed godwits only, 11 dunlin, 1 ringed plover, 1 lt ringed plover, skylarks, 1 heron, 1 chiffchaff, 2 reed warblers, 26 gadwall, 2 pairs tufteds, pair of teal, 2 drake wigeon and 5 swallows. Lepidoptera wise – excellent show of meadow browns at one point 20+ feeding on bramble flowers by the snipe platform. several small skippers seen and 8 painted lady butterflies which was nice to see.

Main sighting: Redstart

Adult male Redstart in the garden this morning.

Main sighting: House Martins

Just seen a Grey Squirrel attacking two of the four House Martin nests on my house – drove it off this time – only minor damage to the nests on this occasion. Three Red Kites over local fields that were being mown.

Main sighting: Hawfinch

Hawfinch feeding in yews in churchyard. Quite approachable, and seemed to be used to people.

Main sighting: Mediterranean Gull

1 very active 2nd calyr Med Gull among small B H Gull flock at hide tide. Also 260 Shelduck,103 Mallard,65 Curlew,1 Whimbrel,2 Oysters,@35 Dunlin,18 L Egret.

Main sighting: Dipper

Dipper seen on rocks in river near the allotment. Also Blackcap singing

Main sighting: Swifts

20+ Swifts moving north up the channel, feeding low over grassland as they move. Presumably some extremely late arrivals.

Main sighting: House Martins

small numbers of House Martins Swallows and Swifts feeding along the river and Waunfawr Park early evening

Main sighting: Temminck's Stint

Two Temminck’s Stint on lower basin.

Main sighting: Spotted Flycatcher

Spotted Flycatcher one in the village