Sightings

Main sighting: Wheatear

Two Wheatears at Gilwern Hill quarrires

Main sighting: Chiffchaffs

AM visit: 11 chiffchaffs noted (9 near the entrance) and a cettis calling also and the three stonechats still present along the fence line. Hide one – 1 buzzard, 120 starlings, single redwing through, group of 24 crows together and already harassing the waders, lapwing, 24 redshanks, 2 pairs of skylarks, 2 pairs ringed plovers, 1 mute swan. Redshank platform – 2 goldcrests in the willow, blackcap singing from the hedgeline, snipe calling, 2 black-tailed goswits amongst a good number of 43 avocets and 2 mute swans. Snipe platform – 92 teal, 104 shoveler (good numbers today), 96 wigeon, glossy showing intermittently, 3 pairs of tufted ducks, 4 pairs of gadwall and a pair of little grebes. Seawall – good numbers of curlew and shelduck on the mudflats with 2 gt black-backed gulls and 8 dunlin only. Hide three – the ringed Canada Goose (FANC) from Windermere was present again. Back at hide one 2 pairs of reed buntings were flying about.

Main sighting: Sand Martins

9 sand martins feeding over the lagoon early this morning.

Main sighting: Skylark

A pair of Skylarks on the fence as it turns towards the sea wall hide, others heard although not seen. Avocet and Redshank numbers continuing to build. Ringed Plovers taking possession of their nesting spaces on the island in Monks. Glossy Ibis seen on Prior’s. The usual high numbers of Shoveler, Wigeon, Shelduck, Canada Geese, Greylag also a pair of Gadwall. A Snipe was spooked from by the electric fence on the way down to hide three. It waited until I was practically on top of it before flying towards the reed bed on Prior’s and I was told for it to be waiting like this is more characteristic of a Jack Snipe.

Main sighting: Little Ringed Plover

1-LRP,1-Ringed Plover both on 1st island,43-Avocets and 2-Spotted Redshanks all on monks lagoon.10h30-13h00.

Main sighting: Sand Martin

At least three buzzing the pond at 1300

Main sighting: Hen Harrier

High tide at 14:30. Ringtail Hen Harrier buzzed the ducks on Priors’s Lagoon before landing on the bank of Monk’s Lagoon in full view for a minute or so, then flew off over the sea wall heading west. Good variety of waders: 23 Redshank, 14 Ringed Plover, 12 Lapwing, 7 Avocet, 6 Curlew, 5 Dunlin, 3 Snipe and 2 Oystercatcher on Monk’s. Glossy Ibis still present as well as a Kestrel and Fieldfares in hedgerow behind hides. Was unable to take a look at the ducks on Prior’s due to extremely bad weather!

Main sighting: Great skua

Clear view at 12.05 as it spooked lots of ducks and the glossy ibis from the lake in front/right of hide. Wing markings very visible both top and under wing

Main sighting: Willow warbler

2 Hr bike ride from along the cycle track – home to Garn lakes and back. 23 species observed/heard.
Willow warbler, female blackcap, female siskin stood out for me!
Others included: Buzzard, green woodpecker, Nuthatch, great tit, blue tit, Chaffinch, Dunnock, Blackbird, song thrush, Robin, carrion crow, Jackdaw, Wood pigeon, black headed gull, Canada goose, Coot, Mallard, Goldcrest, Bullfinch, house sparrow,

Main sighting: Red Grouse

Two Red grouse on the Blorenge this morning plus lots of singing Skylarks & Meadow Pipits and a couple of pairs of Stonechat

Main sighting: Blackcap

High-tide visit with 57 species seen including a blackcap in song near to the entrance (suspect this is an overwintering male as opposed to an early migrant)?, flock of 10 linnets (hide 1) – 2 pairs skylarks (and displaying), 26 redshanks (pair copulating), 11 lapwing (2 pairs showing interest in nesting, 4 ringed plovers, 42 wigeon, 36 teal, 49 shoveler, 4 gadwall, 9 dunlin, 1 gt black-backed gull over, 11 black-tailed godwits (2 in breeding plumage, 4 in partial breeding plumage), 13 avocet, cettis calling, 1 lt egret and a single redwing over. Snipe platform – glossy flying around several times and dropping out of sight into the thick reeds, pair of little grebes, 1 female goldeneye, 3 pairs of tufted ducks, female kestrel hovering and a flock of siskins overhead high calling. Sea wall – 56 curlew on the saltings with 22 more redshanks and 2 knot. Hide 3 – 2 black-headed gulls, 2 cormorants and my first small tortoiseshell butterfly of the year. On route back to hide 1 was a flock of 25 fieldfares in the tall trees leading to the railway carriage, and 3 female stonechats on the fence by hide 1. Buaazrd circling and a male reed bunting flew past.

Main sighting: Brambling

Brambling, singing Chiffchaff and a single Siskin. Apart from loads of Chaffinches and Coal Tits along the main track, the forest was surprisingly quiet on this glorious morning.