Sightings

Main sighting: Goosander and Swallows

Around 0915 1 male and 2 female goosanders up river flying towards Caerphilly above the tree line but following the path of the river. Male flew back downriver again above the tree line around 1315. Also throughout the morning, 6 separate swallows aerial feeding and again heading towards the direction of Caerphillty.

Main sighting: green sandpiper

no other birders at Goldcliff this morning!! 1-Green Sandpiper from the first hide on the near side of the island.Also from the first hide but on the waters edge beyond the island and looking decidedly a blotchy black and white as it aquires its breeding plumage,a Spotted Redshank.10h30-12h00

Main sighting: Weekly update

En-route to hides – moorhen, chiffchaffs (5 seen in total on the reserve), woodpigeons, starling, 3 singing blackcaps, blue tit, magpies, collard dove, pheasant, jackdaws, chaffinch, wren, lesser black-backed gulls, crows, sparrows, blackbird and robin. Field behind hide 2 and reen – greylags, mallards, 2 gadwall, siskin overhead calling, green woodpecker calling, goldfinch and cormorant. Hide 2 – skylarks, 22 avocet, 6 shoveler, wigeon now 9 only, 15 redshanks, 6 teal now only, 22 shelduck, 1 spotted redshank (going slowly into breeding plumage), 2 lapwing, coot, 1 snipe only, and 1 buzzard and herring gulls. Snipe platform – 4 male and 3 female tufteds, reed bunting and 3 little grebes. Seawall – pied wagtail, 53 more shelduck, 1 curlew, 2 oystercatchers and 116 more Canada geese. Hide three – pair linnets, male stonechat, 1 swallow, 6 more lapwing, 8 more avocet, 1 dunlin, 1 black-tailed godwit only, 2 ringed plovers, pair pintail, meadow pipits, 2 more curlew, mute swan and female sparrowhawk.

Main sighting: Willow Warblers

Bit quieter here today but species seen included Canada geese, robin, chiffchaff, wren, magpies, woodpigeons, mallards, blue tit, crows, coot, gadwall pair, single lapwing, skylark, cormorant, 2 singing willow warblers, cettis, jackdaws, long tailed tits and a pheasant.

Main sighting: Common Sandpiper

Common Sandpiper on River Usk a little upstream of Llanfoist bridge. Sand Martins swarming above their nest colony.

Main sighting: Swallow

Swallow flying through 15:15pm.

Main sighting: Goosander

Male flying low and fast downstream between the old post office and Biotage section.

Main sighting: Swallow

A swallow over the Wye bridge

Main sighting: Wheatear

En-route to hides: wrens, ls black-backed gulls, greenfinch, jackdaws, collard dove, magpies, raven, chiffchaff, woodpigeons, cettis, starlings, pheasant, sparrows and blackcap. Hide one – fem marsh harrier, 1 cormorant, 1 heron, 28 shelduck, mallards, 28 redshank, 18 teal, 27 avocet, 6 shoveler, 9 wigeon, Canada geese, greylags, 4 lapwing, coot, 2 black-tailed godwits, 2 gadwall, herring gulls, spotted redshank and 5 singing skylarks. En-route to hide 2 – goldfinches, robin, reed buntings, moorhen and blue tit. Hide two – pair pintail, 2 snipe, 2 oystercatchers and 2 stock doves. Snipe platform – 8 male and 3 fem tufteds and lt grebes. Marsh platform – long-tailed duck. Seawall – 2 male stonechats with a male wheatear, pied wagtail, gt black-backed gull and 12 curlew. Hide three – the remaining 207 black-tailed godwits were on the edge of the island, 3 lt egrets, linnet and 10 ringed plovers.

Main sighting: Swallow

A swallow frying around the village hall .

Main sighting: Red kite

Red kite near recording studios

Main sighting: Merlin and roundup

En-route to hides – wrens, chaffinch, crows, chiffchaffs (6 recorded throughout the reserve), blackcap in song, pheasant, collard dove, starling, woodpigeons, cettis, blackbirds, magpies, moorhen, blue tits, buzzard (light-morph bird), long tailed tits and a dunnock. Hide one – 41 redshanks, 2 little egrets, 55 shelduck, Canada and greylags, skylarks, 26 avocet, 8 shoveler, 221 black-tailed godwits with 2 knot mixed in, 1 heron, 5 gadwall, pair pintail, 6 teal only, 4 lapwing, 5 wigeon only, ls black-backed gulls, coot, female stonechat, meadow pipit, female marsh harrier, 1 snipe and a female sparrowhawk. Female goldcrest and linnets en-route to next hide. Hide two – male merlin flew low and landed on the fence to the right of the hide, stayed there for about 15 minutes preening / stretching (photos on @ecology_cymryu), 2 cormorants, 2 oystercatchers, spotted redshank, mistle thrush and 4 mute swans. Snipe platform – robin, 2 little grebes, 4 male and 3 female tufteds and mallards. Seawall – 7 curlew and a reed bunting only. Hide three – pair of spoonbill resting, 14 more teal, 4 more wigeon, 2 more oystercatchers, 2 more shoveler, 4 more lapwing, 4 more little egrets, 1 ringed plover, raven and what looked to be an albino-type mallard. marsh platform – long-tailed duck showing well.