Sightings

Main sighting: Red kite

Red kite, two ravens, wheatear, male stonechat, 2 swifts, 3 swallows, numerous skylarks and mippits

Main sighting: Godwits

5-7.30pm visit. Of note, house martins, 1 buzzard, 2 lt egrets, cormorant, shelduck, 21 lapwing, 349 black headed gulls roosting (only 2 juvs), excellent count of 168 redshanks, 4 shoveler, cettis calling, 6 oystercatchers, 2 black-tailed godwits only, 11 dunlin, 1 ringed plover, 1 lt ringed plover, skylarks, 1 heron, 1 chiffchaff, 2 reed warblers, 26 gadwall, 2 pairs tufteds, pair of teal, 2 drake wigeon and 5 swallows. Lepidoptera wise – excellent show of meadow browns at one point 20+ feeding on bramble flowers by the snipe platform. several small skippers seen and 8 painted lady butterflies which was nice to see.

Main sighting: Redstart

Adult male Redstart in the garden this morning.

Main sighting: House Martins

Just seen a Grey Squirrel attacking two of the four House Martin nests on my house – drove it off this time – only minor damage to the nests on this occasion. Three Red Kites over local fields that were being mown.

Main sighting: Hawfinch

Hawfinch feeding in yews in churchyard. Quite approachable, and seemed to be used to people.

Main sighting: Mediterranean Gull

1 very active 2nd calyr Med Gull among small B H Gull flock at hide tide. Also 260 Shelduck,103 Mallard,65 Curlew,1 Whimbrel,2 Oysters,@35 Dunlin,18 L Egret.

Main sighting: Dipper

Dipper seen on rocks in river near the allotment. Also Blackcap singing

Main sighting: Swifts

20+ Swifts moving north up the channel, feeding low over grassland as they move. Presumably some extremely late arrivals.

Main sighting: House Martins

small numbers of House Martins Swallows and Swifts feeding along the river and Waunfawr Park early evening

Main sighting: Temminck's Stint

Two Temminck’s Stint on lower basin.

Main sighting: Spotted Flycatcher

Spotted Flycatcher one in the village

Main sighting: Willow Tit

Took part in the national Willow Tit survey today, but sadly no sign of the species in this woodland that used to hold them. Plenty of other things of interest however: Crossbill, Siskin, displaying Buzzard and a Raven – flying out from a lambing shed! Some early bluebells already in flower. There are still some remaining areas in the county where we are looking for people to survey for Willow Tit. If you think you can help please drop me a line at surveys@gwentbirds.org.uk.