Sightings

Main sighting: Red kite

Red kite, 7 buzzards, 5 ravens, cormorant, 2 song thrush, wren, ltt, chiffchaff, stock doves, great spotted woodpecker, green woodpecker, 2 fieldfares, 2 pairs goosander and a skylark.

Main sighting: Knot

Highlights of the WeBS count today. There were 341 Knot on Monk’s Island highest numbers we have seen here. Golden Plover first seen by Tim Collier and later relocated by Jackie. Spotted Redshank 2 Redshank 90 Dunlin 20 Snipe 10 Black-tailed Godwit 350 Avocet 100 Ringed Plover 4 Pintail 4 Teal 90 Little Grebe 2 Little Egret 1 Merlin 1 Sparrowhawk 1 Chiffchaff 3 Wheatear 1 (female) and biggest surprise of all two Lesser Redpolls drinking in the reen never seen this species here previously.

Main sighting: Redwings

Redwings (8 moving North); Chiffchaff (3 singing); Bullfinch (2); Goldfinch; Chaffinch; Greenfinch; Siskin; Goldcrest; Blackbird; Blue Tit; Coal Tit; Great Tit; Buzzard (2); Tawny Owl (calling); Carrion Crow; Jackdaws; Great Spotted Woodpecker; Green Woodpecker; Magpie; Mistle Thrush; Nuthatch; Robin; Woodpigeon; Wren; Lesser Black Backed Gull.

Main sighting: Wheatear

single Wheatear this am.

Main sighting: Avocets & Female Marsh Harrier

A successful supreme spring walk with decent birds. At the entrance a wren on the right in the brambles. Quiet at the greenshank hide ( hide 1 ) and was a bit untidy so I decided to tidy it up and moved the sitting benches in line with the viewing windows to give birdwatchers and visitors a better experience for when they arrive. Opposite the curlew hide ( hide 2 ) were 2 chiffchaff’s on hawthorn bushes and a magpie. At the curlew hide ( hide 2 ) were 2 Avocets trying to breed the other side of the island, then flew off into the distance when disturbed by other birds. Female marsh harrier. Also here were lapwings on the island, canada geese, 60 curlew, 2 common sandpipers, shovelers and wigeon.
Between the curlew ( hide 2 ) and avocet ( hide 3 ) hide’s also on a hawthorn bush was gwent/monmouthshire’s most famous well known butterfly – a comma. Approaching the avocet hide ( hide 3) a little egret flew over and a male stonechat perched on a thistle. At the avocet hide ( hide 3 ) were over 200 black tailed godwits, canada geese, female marsh harrier seen again, lapwings, mute swan, shelducks and another 6 avocets ( I took some photo’s ). At the seawall 10 avocets on the sea which flew towards Newport wetlands. In total 18 avocets.

Main sighting: Goshawk

Goshawk, 2 skylarks

Main sighting: Chiffchaff

Chiffchaff calling in woods.

Main sighting: oystercatcher

high tide roost of 70 oystercatchers under the Prince of Wales bridge, largest number that we have ever seen in Monmouthshire.

Main sighting: Goosanders

M and F goosander

Main sighting: Spotted Redshank

Spotted Redshank (opposite Hide 2); Marsh Harrier (fem); Avocet 56; Black Tailed Godwit 380; Canada Goose 51;

Main sighting: Spotted Redshank

Spotted Redshank in WP no signs yet of BP. Avocet 10 Black-tailed Godwit 200 Curlew 60 all on foreshore, Lapwing 10 Ringed Plover 1 . Teal 50 Pintail 5 Pochard 1 Shoveler 20 Wigeon 30 Stonechat 3 Marsh Harrier 1

Main sighting: Egyptian Goose

Egyptian Goose 1 (feeding on foreshore then moved to the fields feeding with the Mute Swans)
Canada Goose 25
Greylag Goose 4
Mute Swan 65
Cormorant 17
Little Egret 5
Curlew 200
Dunlin 1000
Grey Plover 2
Ringed Plover 12
Teal 2
Wigeon 10
Shelduck 300
Fieldfare 30