Sightings

Main sighting: Swift

Single Swift still going to nest

Main sighting: Redstart

10:05 -13:30 Redstart 2( 3) Whitethroat 3 several Chiffchaff in the hedgerows, not many waders on the lagoons but good numbers of Shoveler and Teal and a solitary Greenshank. and 40 Lapwing. On the foreshore a Black-tailed Godwits 407 Shelduck 153 Dunlin 30 Knot 6.

Main sighting: Kingfisher

Kingfisher, 2 little egrets, 2 herons, 14 common gulls, green woodpecker, 2 song thrush, juv or female blackcap, juvenile willow warbler

Main sighting: Dipper

Excellent views (& photos) of Dipper at Sirhowy Valley park; more distant views of grey wagtail and glimpse of kingfisher; also Jay calling (awful sound)

Main sighting: Kestrel

Female kestrel, 4 ravens, 4 buzzards, a jay, male and female stonechat. Near Forest coalpit, a grey wagtail, jay, female bullfinch, and 4 great spotted woodpeckers

Main sighting: Waders and Glossy Ibis

Attended at dawn at Goldcliff Point Initially during high tide. Hedgerows had Chiff Chaffs calling. The wall had Wheatear and lots of Black Headed Gulls. As the sun came up flock of Curlews flew up from Goldcliff Lagoons. A solitary Curlew was feeding near the point as the tide receded.

Goldcliff Lagoons –
Priors had the flock of Black Tailed Godwits 250+, 2 x Ruff , 4 x Knot and 1 x Greenshankl, 20+ Redshanks. Flossy the Glossy Ibis was roosting with the waders. Flocks of Teal, Shoveler and Mallard Ducks . 4 x Snipe

Out on the foreshore – 2 x Oystercatchers, Curlews and Black Headed Gulls.
The sea wall had at least 4 x Wheatear and also Yellow and Pied Wagtails.

Good passage of House and Sand Martins and Swallows all morning.

Main sighting: Kestrel

4 ravens, 4 buzzards, a jay, female kestrel, pair of stonechats in moult, grey wagtail. Near forest coalpit, a jay, grey wagtail, 4 great spotted woodpeckers

Main sighting: Yellow Wagtail

At least 11-Yellow Wagtails around the cattle this morning.

Main sighting: Swift

Lone Swift above the house with everal House Martin late afternoon

Main sighting: Redstart

Just east of black rock picnic site one male one female redstart and at least two spotted flycatcher.

Main sighting: Migration

Dawn – 11.30hrs. 3 chiffchaffs (contact calls), 70 mallards flying out as a group past hide. Snipe platform – 20 knot, 338 black-tailed godwits, 1 greenshank, 2 lt egrets, 2 grey herons, 62 lapwing, 2 curlew, 62 teal, 1 garganeye, and a juv fem peregrine which failed at catching the teal before moving off. Sea Wall – 2 avocets close in on the mud, oystercatchers, 1 whimbrel, 20 dunlin and large numbers of black-headed gulls. 4 wheatears along the seawall and 6 yellow wagtails also. Good movement of house martins with at least 200+ counted along with 31 swallows, 4 sand martins and 2 swifts. Good numbers of meadow pipits also. Hide 3 – male stonechat, 1 whinchat and a barnacle goose that came in with a large flock of Canadas, 68 greylag geese was a good number. Marsh Platform – glossy ibis showing well preening etc, 2 ruff, 35 redshanks and 1 buzzard. Other: Large and small whites, 1 small tortoiseshell, male common darter and 1 migrant hawker.

Main sighting: Spotted flycatcher

Three Spot flys (different to Ed’s}
Swift(Ed)