Sightings

Main sighting: Spotted Redshank

A Spotted a Redshank in summer plumage originally seen in front of the first hide but relocated directly in front of the second giving excellent views. Also in addition to Neville’s previous list a Green Sandpiper on the mud behind the island on Monks and a Greenshank at the bottom of the island in Bec’s.

Main sighting: Lesser Whitethroat

Just heard a male rattling close to my house near the centre of the village. Spotted Flycatchers around again this year but not apparently breeding in castle grounds though one successful nest in a garden nearby. Another nest abandoned due to disturbance from workmen. None nesting along lane to Hoaldalbert unlike last two years. Birds return to the area but not particularly faithful to former nest sites.

Main sighting: Snipe

Dawn visit: En-route to hides woodpigeons, 3 chffchaffs, wrens, blackcap, pheasants, 3 whitethroats, reed warbler singing, crows, moorhen and magpies. Hide one – skylark, 3 gt white egrets (including the Ham Wall project ringed bird), 21 lt egrets, 3 herons, greylags and Canada geese. Hide two – cettis, 60 lapwing, 121 black-tailed godwits, 46 redshanks, 7 gadwall, 10 swifts, ls black-backed gulls, 7 swallows, 7 ringed plovers, 5 cormorants, 3 snipe, 3 oystercatchers, herring gulls, starlings, 5 black headed gulls and fem marsh harrier. Snipe platform – 67 mallards (most in eclipse plumage), 2 lt grebes, pair tufteds, 14 swans and 21 coot including juveniles. Single curlew only bird of note from the seawall. Hide three – 8 teal, 6 shoveler, 5 shelduck, lone female tufted and 18 sand martins passing. Back at hide two – pair of lt ringed plovers, female peregrine through, great tits and jackdaws. Plenty of early morning meadow browns on the wing.

Main sighting: Yellow-legged gull

Yellow-legged gull with lesser blackbacks on boys’ school cricket field

Main sighting: Wood Warbler

Wood warbler singing among hardwoods.

Main sighting: Sand Martin

Active colony with a number of nest holes in Welsh bank – birds seen entering and exiting. Around 35 birds in flight. Sadly the few that nested in holes by the old bridge at Monmouth no longer appear to be doing so – unless anyone knows differently.

Main sighting: Wood Sandpiper

WeBS count: Highlights, Wood Sandpiper 1 Great White Egret 4 Little Egret 30 Bar-tailed Godwit 2 Black-tailed Godwit 267 Greenshank 3 Avocet 25 Gadwall 67 LRP 3 Stock Dove 1 Warblers: Blackcap Reed Sedge Chiffchaff Whitethroat Cetti’s.
Other: Marbled White 1 Common Blue 1 Large Skipper 1 Meadow Brown 12 Emperor dragonfly 1 Common Darter 1 Blue-tailed Damselfly 6

Main sighting: WBBS Late Visit

Late visit for WBBS. Less notable species than early (no dipper & goosander). Main boating lake was teeming with mallards in eclipse at least 50-60+ as well as some females with ducklings of various ages. 2 pairs of coot with chicks, 2 cormorant and lots of LBB Gulls. 6 grey wagtails – a pair with 4 young feeding on rocks in faster flowing stretches of the river.

Main sighting: Tree Pipit

Stephanie Tyler led a successful walk around Trellech Heaths for 10 GOS members. Sightings included: Herring Gull, Woodpigeon, Great Spotted Woodpecker, House Martin, Tree Pipit, Wren, Robin, Redstart, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Garden Warbler, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Firecrest, Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Siskin and Linnet. Also seen were Fallow Deer, Broad-bodied Chaser dragonfly also Emperor dragonfly. Common Spotted Orchid in significant numbers. Thanks to Steph for an interesting walk.

Main sighting: Invisible Curlew chicks

Although the chicks were hidden in long grass two adult Curlews standing guard on the wall surrounding the nest field indicated that chicks were definitely present! Waiting to see how many. Keep your eyes peeled please, Gwent birders.

Main sighting: Green Sandpiper

Dawn – 9am visit. Hide one – Magpies, pheasant, wren, chiffchaff, blackcap, common whitethroat, crows, ewarbler singing, 4 herons, 3 swallows, skylark, 76 blak-headed gulls, linnets, 2 shelduck, coot, 3 oystercatchers, 26 little egrets, 2 great white egrets, Canada geese, 18 ringed plovers, 26 dunlin, 37 redshanks, 34 lapwing, 2 greenshanks, 3 cormorants, reed buntings, mallards, 2 curlew, lesser black-backed gulls, cettis calling. Hide two – 2 shoveler, 25 gadwall, 189 black-tailed godwits with bar-tailed mixed in, 3 avocet, greylags, marsh harrier, green sandpiper, starlings, blackbirds, 15 mute swans, family group blue tits, goldfinch and 11 sand martins.

Main sighting: Curlew chick

The first Curlew chick of the year was found this morning! Hopefully more to follow. Please keep your eyes open for chicks or agitated adults and send all sightings to Curlew@gwentbirds.org.uk .