Sightings

Main sighting: Waders

With more mud showing on Monks there were a few small waders Ringed Plover 12 Dunlin2 Curlew 40 Black-tailed Godwit 1 with good numbers of Teal, Shoveler and a flock of 250 Wigeon also Stonechat 4 Wren 4 Blue Tit Great Tit Dunnock Marsh Harrier 1 Sparrowhawk 1 Kestrel 1

Main sighting: Marsh Harrier

1female Marsh Harrier this morning.Also,yesterday at Goldcliff late afternoon a Short Eared Owl on a fence post.

Main sighting: Water rail

2 water rails – sighted both of them briefly as they scampered back into the reeds. Both birds were loudly calling back and forth from then on.

Main sighting: Woodcock and winter thrushes

Flushed a Woodcock as I walked the path. As the morning progressed lots of Redwings and Fieldfare. Several flocks of Woodpigeons moving through. Raven and Buzzard kept me company

Main sighting: Fieldfare

Pre-roost gathering of 130 Fieldfare in the cutting just above the lakes and just 1 Redwing. Also 3 Raven but sadly no Owls or raptors.

Main sighting: Dartford Warbler

It was brought to my attention today by David Gilbert that a birder named Chris ( apologies I don’t know his surname) had taken photos of a Dartford Warbler ( female) today at Goldcliff Lagoons. Chris had seen it with a Stonechat opposite Hide 1 . The bird was later seen by David and Chris again at Hide 1 and Hide 2 ( onto of the brambles). I later saw it from a distance on the brambles at Hide 2. Photos are good and are online on various social media spaces.

Main sighting: Woodcock

Two Woodcock over at very last light (17.00) up from Clydach Gorge

Main sighting: Shorebirds.

41 species including 52 Shelduck, 32 Mallard, 62 Curlew, 1Turnstone, 54 Knot, 200 Dunlin, 1Redshank, 3 Great Black -backed Gull, 1Grey Heron, 5 Little Egret, 2Buzzard, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Raven, 40 Rook, 1Cetti’s Warbler, 1Mistle Thrush, 48 Redwing, 19 Fieldfare, 2 Stonechat -pair, 1 Rock Pipit, 3 Meadow Pipit

Main sighting: Water Rail

Afternoon visit. Good numbers of fieldfares (at least 300 compared to about 100 redwings), some continental race blackbirds mixed in too. 1 little egret in the field, good numbers of lapwing with 194 on the lagoons and another 147 on the mudflats, teal 85, curlew 7 on the lagoons 84 on the mudflats, shoveler 26, shelduck, oystercatcher, wigeon now at 382, 1 snipe only. Seawall – 10 meadow pipits around the field by the farm with robin and a stonechat mixed in, male sparrowhawk hunting and 230 dunlin. 10 black-tailed godwits with a few redshanks and a male kestrel perched on a post with a female hunting nearby. Back at hide 1 a water rail was ‘squealing’ in the low reeds in front of the hide. Water levels great for ducks but not enough exposed mud for waders anywhere, shame.

Main sighting: Grey Wagtail

A Grey Wagtail on a roof in the town centre was a surprise. Female Stonechat near Brynmawr School. Around a hundred Fieldfares on Hafod Road.

Main sighting: Mandarin Duck

Male Mandarin on river just up from Llanfoist bridge . Also a Little Grebe

Main sighting: Fieldfare

Around 500 Fieldfares going to roost near the old Brynmawr reservoir. Just a couple of Redwings with them. Two Stonechats nearby.