Sightings

Main sighting: Kestrel

Kestrel, heron, 2 buzzards, 2 ravens, 2gsw, 30 goldfinch, 4 mipits, a jay.

Main sighting: Finches

A flock of 157 Greenfinches tonight going to roost in the Bay trees along with a smattering of Goldfinches

Main sighting: Greenfinch

A flock of 157 Greenfinches going to roost tonight in the Bay trees plus a smattering of Goldfinches

Main sighting: Bittern

1 Bittern flying low over reedbeds half way to the lighthouse. Sparrowhawk, Jay

Main sighting: Crossbill

A calling male Crossbill at the top of a tall spruce tree. Had a brief spat with a Chaffinch before flying off. First-ever record here.

Main sighting: Peregrine falcon

Peregrine falcon, kingfisher, 4 buzzards, 5 ravens, 2 grey herons, 30 meadow pipits, 25 redwings, 25 fieldfares, female bullfinch, mistle thrush, wren, 3 cormorants, a jay, a goldfinch.

Main sighting: Chiffchaff

Five mile circular walk across Gwent levels and along sea wall from Redwick Parish Church.
Highlight of this late morning to midday walk just after High Tide was a Chiffchaff seen and heard in a hedge just south of the village. On the levels were a good selection of winter thrushes, including 130 Redwing, 11 Fieldfare and a flock of 8 paler continental Song Thrushes.- all spooked by a Sparrowhawk; also 2 Snipe, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Little Egret, 2 Buzzards, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 3 Raven, 300 Starling, 9 Meadow Pipits. From the seawall 53 Mallard, 47 Oystercatcher, 8 Ringed Plover, 3 Curlew, 18 Dunlin, 15 Common Gull, 1 Rock Pipit. ( 44 species in total )

Main sighting: Little Owl

Single bird sitting on the roof of the outbuilding. Not sure of the farm name but it is the one on the outskirts of the village at the end just before the turn off for the village itself.

Main sighting: Afternoon roost

Late afternoon saw a great number of Lapwing (492 – my highest count on the Levels), 6 Snipe, 2 Little Egrets, 88 Wigeon, 7 Black-tailed Godwits, 18 Shoveler, 1 Curlew, 1 Greylag Goose and a distant female Marsh Harrier.

Main sighting: Otters and barn owl

Water levels not being managed at all in respect to waders so very little about. Surprised to see a pair of Otters fishing from Snipe platform, showing quite well and then out of sight towards the reeds at the top end (on the right where they join the grass area). Hide 3 saw the most action with the Barn Owl hunting twice (14.15 and 14.25hrs) and flying right in front of the hide. It came from the outbuilding at the farm (heard one calling in there about 5 months back and suspected it was roosting / living there). Also of note, 16 Black-tailed Godwits, 2 pairs Stonechats, 4 Gadwall only, male Reed Bunting, female Marsh Harrier, 1 Heron, female Peregrine over the seawall, 72 Wigeon, 10 Teal, 4 Shelduck, 4 Shoveler, 2 Cormorants and 2 Mute Swans.

Main sighting: Common Gull

Hightide count on very windy and cold day. It was good to see 9 Common Gulls but, the wader and duck counts were very low. Barn Owl 1 Marsh Harrier 1 Kestrel 1.

Main sighting: Kingfisher

Kingfisher perched on wall beside river for a while before taking off downstream. Also single grey wagtail.