Sightings

Main sighting: Little Egret

At 11.30 am there was a Little Egret on the island bar that appears below Monnow Bridge at low water. It was standing on a large stone and preening. Also the usual mallard, Mute Swan and Moorhen – and the family of Mandarin Ducks that have been around for a week – a female a 4 fledged young.

Main sighting: Little Stint

Little Stint, Hobby, Knot – hide 3

Main sighting: Redstart

Redstart 1 ( Lesser Whitethroat 1 Little Stint 1 (ad) Grey Plover 1 (BP) Whimbrel 2 Curlew 60 Black-tailed Godwit 140 Dunlin and Ringed Plover Shelduck 160 Garganey 2 (Monks)
Other: Emerald Damselfly 10 Blue-tailed damselfly 2 Common Darter 2 Meadow Brown ++ Gate Keeper + Large white 2 and a Ruby Tiger Moth

Main sighting: Swift

Two swifts as we were having Breakfast. Any advance on two?

Main sighting: Swift

Single Swift as I had my breakfast

Main sighting: swifts

Passage of @ 20 swifts at 0700hrs following the Huntspill river east

Main sighting: Swift

A single Swift over Parc Nant-y-Waun. Tufted ducklings on Dunlop Semtex Pond but now only two cygnets. House Martins and Swallows hawking.

Main sighting: Hobby

Hobby swooping over near Keeper’s Pond. Otherwise very quiet

Main sighting: willow warbler

At least 40-50 willow warblers, a couple of them singing, flying around the rowans and birches along the eastern slopes of the Blorenge. A juvenile redstart in the felled area below, and a raven over. Many young stonechats and meadow pipits. Butterflies included a faded dark green fritillary and a small heath. No raptors seen.

Main sighting: Lapwing

After the failure of two Curlew nests on my patch beside the Usk I was relieved and delighted to see fledged young of LRP and Lapwing; sadly at least 2 chicks seem to have been predated.

Main sighting: Swift

Single swift screeching overhead lunchtime.

Main sighting: Kestrels

Male & female kestrel hunting all morning along the far bank of Monks. Female predating on ground feeding finches. Observed a least one successful kill. Flew off with prey and returned 20 minutes later to continue hunting.
1 Ruff 5 BT Godwit 6 R Plover 1 Knot 100 plus Dunlin 3 Green Shank