Recent sightings from 2 to 15 December 2019
The starlings were still accompanying us throughout the first half of December. Numbers peaked at the beginning of the month with well over 40.000. Since then the numbers have dropped slightly and on some days we could see that the flock split into some larger groups which went down in different parts of the reedbeds. Redwing and fieldfare remained regulars especially in the fields whilst goldcrest, stonechat and bullfinch could often be found at different parts of the reserve throughout the fortnight. Around the visitor centre, a green woodpecker was a common sight, water rails could be heard squealing from the reedbeds and a kingfisher visited the scrape in front of the café on several occasions. Sparrowhawk, peregrine and kestrel could be seen hunting nearby and on 3rd a tawny owl started to get vocal just when we were locking up. Another rare (or under-recorded) visitor was a treecreeper on the same day. In regard to the reedbeds, marsh harriers were seen patrolling over them on a daily basis and a bittern was recorded on four of the fourteen days. Bearded reedlings remained rather elusive, but after one was spotted on the 2nd, a flock of eight was seen on the 4th. A water pipit was recorded dropping down into the reeds on the 7th. Fortunately, the otters were still very active and could be seen in different parts of the lagoons on most days. The maximum were three otters at the beginning of the month. They often could be seen during the day as well with most sightings during the late morning. As a further highlight, the second hen harrier of the season was spotted on the 8th. The mudflats were often teaming with life and were always worth a closer inspection. Flocks of linnets were regularly seen on the salt marshes and wigeons and some shovelers were seen on the water’s edge whilst shelduck were grazing the mudflats in decent numbers. There was a good selection of waders: Curlews, snipes, redshanks, oystercatchers and up to more than a thousand dunlins were joined by lapwings and up to more than 40 grey plovers (on the 2nd and the 7th). Some knot could be spotted on the 4th, up to 50 black-tailed godwits on the 5th and four bar-tailed godwits on the 7th. Attracted by all the potential food offerings, a merlin was keeping a close eye on what was going on along the coast on the 4th. At Goldcliff Lagoons was a good number of shoveler, gadwall and teal present as well as the resident peregrine and a merlin on the 8th. The glossy ibis was reported on the 3rd and the 14th. The 3rd December also brought two further highlights with a barnacle goose and a very late swallow being seen. Let’s see which pre-Christmas presents the coming week will bring.
Get the new year started with our New Year’s Day Twitch and Tick Guided Walk. Whether you just come for a leisurely stroll or to get your year list started, this walk has something for everyone. On 11th January we offer for the first time a Winter Warmer and Wellbeing Walk in the morning. We will look at how wildlife can help our wellbeing before enjoying a warming hot chocolate and marshmallows around the firepit. If one of your new year’s resolutions is to pick up birdwatching as a hobby, then come along to our Birdwatching for Beginners Guided Walk on 26th to improve your birdwatching skills just in time before the Big Garden Birdwatch. Details of all our events can be found on our website: https://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves-and-events/reserves-a-z/newport-wetlands/
Bar-tailed godwit, Barnacle goose, Bearded reedling, Bittern, Blackbird, Black-headed gull, Black-tailed godwit, Blue tit, Bullfinch, Buzzard, Carrion crow, Cetti's warbler, Chaffinch, Cormorant, Curlew, Dunlin, Dunnock, Fieldfare, Gadwall, Glossy ibis, Goldcrest, Goldfinch, Great spotted woodpecker, Great tit, Green woodpecker, Greenfinch, Grey heron, Grey plover, Greylag goose, Hen harrier, Herring gull, House sparrow, Jay, Kestrel, Kingfisher, Knot, Lapwing, Lesser black-backed gull, Linnet, Little egret, Little grebe, Long-tailed tit, Magpie, Mallard, Marsh harrier, Meadow pipit, Merlin, Moorhen, Mute swan, Otter, Oystercatcher, Peregrine, Pheasant, Pied wagtail, Raven, Redshank, Redwing, Reed bunting, Robin, Shelduck, Shoveler, Snipe, Song thrush, Sparrowhawk, Starling, Stonechat, Swallow, Tawny owl, Teal, Treecreeper, Tufted duck, Water pipit, Water rail, Wigeon, Woodpigeon and Wren.
Please note that we take our recent sightings list from the visitor sightings board that anyone can contribute to. This is great as everyone can get involved, but obviously can lead to potential errors too as they aren’t always verified! We try to keep this list as accurate as possible but if you see something unusual feel free to comment here!
Photo credit: Dunlins by Jeremy White