Sightings

Main sighting: Smew

Male Smew plus 10 Goldeneye 1 mile south of Usk near layby.

Main sighting: 15 Goosanders and Wigeon

Regular local walk to Brynmawr Ponds, up to 15 Goosander on main pond near Asda, Mute Swan family doing flypast with cygnets. Machine pond also busy with 16 Wigeon, 40 Canada Geese, Tufted Duck, Cormorants and Grey Heron. Snipe in the reeds on the smaller pond near Bridge. Good numbers of birds singing including Song Thrush, Dunnocks, Robim and Wrens. Also saw pair of Bullfinches, Reed Buntings, Long tailed tits, Chaffinches and a Goldcrest. Raven over and Magpies at nest sites. Seeing up to 30 species during visit.

Main sighting: Grey Herons

Group of grey herons standing on turnip patch. 3 buzzards overhead. Large group of linnets flitting around the winter stubble with their flock supplemented by other finches, especially chaffinches. Pair of Goosanders on the river. One skylark darted out of the riverbank onto the field near footpath. Lone fieldfare in oak tree.

Main sighting: Common Gull

Common Gull (x4) sat on posts along with Black Headed Gulls and the occasional Lesser Black Backed Gull.
Gadwall; Dabchick; Teal; Tufted Duck; Redshank; Widgeon; Canada Geese; Moorhen. Redwings; Green Woodpecker; Song Thrushes (singing); Buzzard. (and a Fox).

Main sighting: Goosanders and Wigeon

Brynmawr

Main sighting: Merlin

Following the River Rhymney downstream from the iron bridge i stopped to view mixed species foraging amongst the Riverside trees inc. Common tit species, tree creeper, several siskin and a small party of redwing. Merlin flew in fast and low, scimmed over the treeline then down the other side. Also 2 skylarks singing in flight in fields near the old Plas.

Main sighting: marsh tit

Only seen in cold periods, a marsh tit visiting the feeder station between 1100 – 1530hrs today would only take seeds from the covered bird table and then fly into nearby dense conifers.

Main sighting: Black Redstart

Female Black Redstart in private garden

Main sighting: siskin

Saw a flock of 60 (100??) siskin out over the gardens in Marshfield this morning. Only got to manage 2 of them on our own patch for the big garden bird watch though!

Main sighting: Male Goosander

Stunning male goosander swimming along next to me as I walked from the Fire Station all the way down to Ebbw Street “bath’s field”.

Main sighting: Water Rail

Lovely water rail, not shy at all. Was in plain sight with runners cyclists going past. Making a squeaky call. Loads of mallards and moorhens. 1 juvenile mute swan (solitary).

Main sighting: Ravens

12 ravens, a buzzard, 70 fieldfares, a green woodpecker, 2 song thrushes