Sightings

Main sighting: Blackcap

A Blackcap, male I think, flickering about in trees in The Gardens, Monmouth at 10.30 this morning.

Main sighting: Merlin

I was on the phone to the AA, when the bird suddenly appeared very low overhead, gliding west.
I wonder if it would do a repeat tomorrow !

Main sighting: Waders

Song thrush, crows, 222 black-tailed godwits, 79 teal, 320 wigeon, 223 redshanks, herring gulls, 20 pintail, 10 shoveler, 25 shelduck, lesser black-backed gulls, mallards, female kestrel hovering, 15 curlew, 75 Canada geese flying over, 250 dunlin, 18 ringed plovers, 1 great black-backed gull, great tits, blackbirds, male sparrowhawk 24 magpies, starlings, woodpigeons, 16 oystercatchers, robin, meadow pipit, 15 fieldfares, buzzard and goldfinches.

Main sighting: Caspian Gull

On Monday afternoon a large gull showing characters of Caspian was with other gulls in the wet field N of the lane at Llanwenarth- darker grey back than Herring Gulls, elongated structure with long wings, pear-shaped head sloping into a long, parallel-sided bill, dark-looking eye in an (almost) unstreaked white head. The bird was a subadult/3rd winter with a few black spots on the tertials (also apparently a Caspian feature), leg and bill colour dull greenish-yellow, bill with a prominent black band near the tip. Details of wing-tip pattern were not visible, nor was the leg-length due to long grass. An adult Yellow-legged gull was also present, loosely associating with the ‘Caspian’. With extralimital Caspian there is always the possibility of a hybrid, but based on the books and feedback received by observers with experience of the species this bird seems to be a strong candidate for a pure bred male Caspian. It wasn’t present yesterday but it might be worth a look at groups of large gulls in case it’s still in the area (for gull obsessives!)

Main sighting: Black-throated Diver

Black-throated Diver 1 on Llanishen and Ring-necked Duck 1 female type and Common Sandpiper on Lisvane.

Main sighting: Goosander

A pair of Goosander on the borrow pit in Overmonnow this morning, as well as a Little Grebe. Long tIme no see!

Main sighting: Male Bullfinch

Whilst travelling to Bettws Newydd I encountered more tree destruction in various fields in and around Gwent/Monmouthshire caused by storm darragh ( dec 7th ) in addition to what I saw in the black mountains ( dec 23rd ) – see Brecknock birds for further reading.
I saw 4 buzzards in different places. 2 robins, blue tit and great spotted woodpecker in Bettws Newydd Priory Wood nature reserve. Above the reserve was a jay and a green woodpecker flying between the trees. At Bettws Newydd lakes there were 2 mallards – male and a female, 4 chaffinches and perched/sat on a fence a superlatively wonderful male bullfinch.

Main sighting: Jack Snipe

One Jack Snipe flushed from the path near the old reservoir. Count of nine Meadow Pipits (unusual in mid-winter). Red Kite, two Buzzards, Raven, otherwise pretty quiet. Coal Tit sang near Hafod Farm.

Main sighting: Golden Plover

8-10 Golden Plover seen, 3 Red Grouse heard and 1 seen.

Main sighting: Avocet

Quiet bird wise on the reserve today with only 336 species counted. En-route to hides – blue tit, Canada geese, chaffinch, moorhen, wren, herring gulls, magpie, robin and buzzard. Hide one – jackdaws, 117 wigeon, 31 teal, crows, blackbird, lesser black-backed gull, kingfisher flying the length of the reen and a pair of bullfinches. Hide two – 11 black-tailed godwits that flew off high at 08.39, 16 lapwing, 4 shoveler, 31 more teal, 7 swans flying past, mallards and a female marsh harrier hunting. Snipe platform – 30 more teal, 5 more wigeon, 2 more shoveler, coot, woodpigeons and a female reed bunting. Seawall – 9 oystercatchers, 17 redshank, 11 curlew, black headed gulls, 8 avocet, shelduck, 56 more wigeon and a male stonechat. 2 males and 1 female tufted ducks en-route to next hide. Hide three – 6 more shoveler, 6 more shelduck, 1 greylag and 1 starling.

Main sighting: Goosander

A pair of Goosander on the borrow pit in Overmonnow this morning, as well as a Little Grebe. Long tIme no see!

Main sighting: Wren

Wren, female bullfinch, woodcock flying along the other side of a stream, three starlings, buzzard and a snipe.