Sightings

Main sighting: Red Kite

Bedraggled red kite (feathers missing from both wings) quartering over fields adjacent to coffee shop for several minutes.

Main sighting: Eagle species

Several distant sighting throughout the day. Possible Booted Eagle

Main sighting: Greater Spotted Woodpecker

Got a video of Woody on my peanut feeder and he’s a healthy big one

Main sighting: Cuckoo and White Wagtail

Singing warblers included 2 chiffchaffs, 1 blackcap, 1 common whitethroat and 1 reed warbler. A pair of pheasants were feeding in the approach field and swift numbers over the lagoons were good with 81, and 7 house martins and 17 swallows mixed in. Hide two: 5 redshanks, 2 oystercatchers, 3 lapwing, 1 common buzzard (perched in a low bush, 1 (male) white wagtail, reed bunting (male), 2 shelduck, 78 dunlin (high tide), 1 grey heron, 2 little egrets and a male cuckoo which landed in a low hawthorn bush, eating at least 4 dark caterpillars before being harassed by a pair of meadow pipits (one of which was carrying food), eventually flew off towards the barns. Snipe platform – pair of tufteds and 8 mute swans. Hide three – pair of avocet, male teal, 4 black-tailed godwits (non breeding plumage), 2 black headed gulls, pair of linnets and a pair of gadwall and a lone female. Other: hairy dragonfly, small whites.

Main sighting: Red Grouse

1 calling male flew away from track going SE from Foxhunter Car Park. Also male Wheatear in suitable breeding habitat and 4 male Stonechats plus at least 2 females. Two sets of mysterious Woodpigeon remains (this species not resident on the mountain) possible explanation birds of prey using the site to dismember carcasses killed elsewhere in order to do so undisturbed. Meadow Pipit and Skylark predominant species (many singing).

Main sighting: Red kite

Beautiful red kite quartering above house heading towards Risca.

Main sighting: Hobby

Falco subbuteo, swifts, mallard and 7 ducklings.

Main sighting: Spotted Flycatcher

At least two calling males in castle grounds (as last year) – third bird by Tresenny Brook near Hoaldalbert, possible fourth at last year’s nest site but only seen fleetingly. Redstarts and Tree Pipits singing within a couple of miles of the village.

Main sighting: Garganey

Garganey, Gadwall, Dunlin, Great Black-backed Gull, Greenshank, Spoonbill, Turnstone, Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Common Crane (flyover, Chris Jones), Grey Plover sp.

Main sighting: Scaup

A male Scaup was on Monks this afternoon.Also 1-Spoonbill on monks,Lapwing with 3 juvs. on the island and another juvenile Lapwing from the first hide.13h00-14h25

Main sighting: Temminck's Stint

Wind E (F2), Cloud 7/8, Rain clearing by 05:50, becoming warmer as the morning progressed.
A great morning with the following waders present on Monks scrape 04:45 – 11:30; Temminck’s Stint (1), Little Stint (1), Ruff (2), Avocet (2), Knot (1), Black-tailed Godwit (2 1st summer L.l. limosa), Turnstone (1), Sanderling (8+), Ringed Plover (30+), Grey Plover (1 west around 06:15), Redshank (20+), Dunlin (150+), Lapwing (7), Oystercatcher (4), Yellow Wagtail (2), Marsh Harrier.
Elsewhere, 3 Whimbrel and 14 Curlew on the estuary, LRP (4), 4 Gadwall (Priors). 17 species of wader, not a bad morning!

Main sighting: Swift

Two Swift and one Sand Martin feeding!