Sightings

Main sighting: Kingfisher and dipper

1 Dipper still present, 1 kingfisher flew downstream, 1 siskin, 1 grey wagtail, 2 mallards.

Main sighting: Goosander

2 Goosander seen – a female and immature male. Also a Little Grebe and a singing Mistle Thrush.

Main sighting: Curlews needed!

The first Curlews are back in inland Gwent and more are bound to follow! Please send all records (seen or heard) to the dedicated email address Curlew@gwentbirds.org.uk , giving the date, location (a grid ref is a huge help), number, habitat and whether any sheep or cattle are nearby. We need to know where they’re breeding if we’re to stop the steep decline in their numbers.

Main sighting: Pintail and Weasel

En-route to hides – House sparrows, crows, blue tits, magpies (pair nesting in the village too), chaffinches, starlings, Canada geese, heron, robins, 3 redwings, blackbirds and woodpigeons. Redshank platform – 68 shoveler, 3 shelduck, 8 teal only, mallards, gt spotted woodpecker calling, 28 lapwing only, 17 gadwall (a better number), fem marsh harrier, meadow pipits, 1 fieldfare, goldfinches, 4 curlew (overhead), herring gulls, moorhens and skylark singing. Hide 2 – no sign of the Dartford, but plenty of activity in the three bramble bushes including 2 wrens, 3 chiffchaffs, 2 pairs stonechats, pair of reed buntings and 3 meadow pipits. Also from here, drake pintail showing well, 2 greylags, 116 shelduck that flew up from lagoon 3, and on the edge of the island 20 ringed plovers with 7 dunlin mixed in, and a flock of 81 dunlin that flew in but did not land. 4 wigeon only, and on the way out a weasel was scurrying along the bank.

Main sighting: Kingfisher

Kingfisher, heron, cormorant, goosander, tufted duck, 5 ltt, 2 song thrush, 90 common gulls, 65 mallard, 17 black headed gulls, 3 moorhen, 60 rooks, 30 jackdaws

Main sighting: Lots of Cirl Buntings

On holiday while sites these – fab

Main sighting: Mandarin duck

Male Mandarin among three Mallard on pond near Pen y Fan green.

Main sighting: Grey wagtail

Drizzle coming in through hide window, overcast and wet. En-route to hide 1 – 46 herring gulls in the field, long tailed tits and a goldcrest by the stone bridge with a grey wagtail feeding in the reen, wrens, blue tits, crows, magpies, robin, 1 lt egret, starlings, woodpigeons and a greenfinch. Hide 1 visited only – female marsh harrier, 43 wigeon, 37 shelduck, 147 lapwing, 7 common redshanks, 56 teal, Canada geese, mallards, and a better number of shoveler at 43.

Main sighting: Green Sandpiper

Green Sand in the reen at the back of the reserve late morning but flew onto the main pools. At least three Chiffchaffs around, one singing briefly, Cetti’s calling, Skylark calling but no sign of the Dartford Warbler in strong gusts.

Main sighting: Spoonbill

Spoonbill first seen in the gout / lake, then later on the Peterstone saltmarshes; also buzzard, kestrel; good numbers of regular waders, duck and gulls.

Main sighting: Brent Goose

4 Brent Geese off Goldcliff Pill also Spotted Redshank 1 and good numbers of Lapwing Wigeon Shoveler Teal and Shelduck with Oystercatcher 32 Curlew 40 Chiffchaff 2.

Main sighting: Dipper

1 dipper flew upstream before settling on some large rocks on the stretch of river next to football fields. Also, 1 grey wagtail, long-tailed tits, goldfinches, 2 mallards.