Sightings

Main sighting: Snipe

Highlights of hightide count today: Snipe 2 LRP 2+2juvs Whimbrel 1 Black-tailed Godwit 70 Bar-tailed Godwit 1 Dunlin 56 Knot 7 Green Sandpiper 1 Wigeon 5 Teal 10 Reed Warbler 4 Mediterranean Gull 1 ad BP Black-headed Gull 160

Main sighting: Glossy Ibis

Dawn visit.100+ Dunlin, 100+ Black Headed Gulls including a Mediterranean Gull later. Early on the Glossy Ibis flew low over Monks from the direction of Priors. It settled for a short time on Monks and then flew over the seawall in the direction of the pill/salt marsh. Hirundines were in good numbers.100c Black Tailed Godwits many in breeding plumage. 150+ Redshanks ( in good numbers). 100+ Dunlins. Lapwings seem to be increasing in numbers or flocking together more. No Avocets. Pied Wagatils, Meadow Pipits, Stonechats,Linnets,Starlings and Skylarks around. May be Yellow Wagatails as well. Teal, Gadwall, Shelduck and Mallards. Large numbers of coot on Priors ( may be because of algae that is blooming).

Main sighting: Black Tailed Godwit

On the morning tide: 2 full summer plumaged Blacktailed Godwits,also 3 on the 1st July (all Icelandic race). These are very early records. Do they reflect an early breeding season? Also returning Redshank as at Goldliff, 122 birds, 11 Lapwing, 2 Common Sandpiper,2 Dunlin, Heron, Lgrt, Cormarant, two large Shelduck families and 2 successfull Mute Swan families in the area.

Main sighting: Tree pipit

Pair of tree pipit in clearfell forestry behind farm. Also pair of spotted flycatcher in hedgerow and oaks same location. Yellow wagtail still between Dingestow and Raglan (single bird on wires). Hawfinch (single bird) in Mitchel Troy. Up to 20 swift over Monmouth.

Main sighting: Kingfisher

Adult and juvenile kingfishers together, then one hovering above river for 10 seconds before joining me on the bank! Plenty of mallard ducklings.

Main sighting: Yellow wagtail

Quiet at Goldcliff this evening, but of note was 5 skylarks, 1 buzzard, 3 herons, 3 lt egrets, shelcduck, 212 redshanks (another good count here), 17 ringed plovers, 25 swallows with 28 house martins and 11 sand martins mixed in, 1 reed warbler, gadwall, tufted ducks, 1 curlew only, 70 black-tailed godwits, 1 adult Med gull landed for only a minute on the 2nd lagoon before moving off (may still be present), 1 stock dove, 1 chiffchaff and 305 black-headed gulls 2 of which were juvs, with more gulls arriving in small groups as I was leaving. Two juv yellow wagtails were feeding around the feet of the cows on the 1st lagoon amongst pied wagtails. Other: 1 emperor dragonfly, 1 common darter, 2 ringlets, numerous meadow browns, 1 small white, 1 large skipper, 1 speckled wood and 2 painted ladies.

Main sighting: Various

1 Whimbrel, 6 Curlew,5 Dunlin,97 Redshank,3 Common Sandpiper,58 Mallard, 80 Canada Geese (becoming scarce),2 Heron, 2 Lgrt, Green Woodpecker on the lincs, 7juv BHG, usual 13 large juv Shelduck.

Main sighting: butterflies

A big variety of butterflies today,Painted Lady,Red Admiral,Ringlet,Marbled White,Meadow Brown,Small Heath,Common Blue,Small Pearl Bordered Fritillery,Large Skipper.Birds___Blackcap,Blackbird and Song Thrush.

Main sighting: Dragonflies etc

Kingfisher Also many banded demoiselles , 2 Clubtails dragonflies and a white-legged damselfly.

Main sighting: Painted lady

Several painted lady bfs

Main sighting: Willow warblers

Family of willow warblers,raven,buzzard,meadow pipit,swallows,house martins.

Main sighting: Ruff

Just a short visit to Goldcliff this afternoon and didn’t get past first lagoon. Approx. 320 Black-headed Gull, 1 LBB Gull on mud, along with 1 Little Egret, 5 Dunlin, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Greenshank and 1 male Ruff in intermediate plumage. Redshank, Ringed Plover, Lapwing, Shoveller and Oystercatcher present but not counted