It’s been a very wet February and as we write this, we breathe a sign of relief as the sun is shining through the office windows! We have water levels so high the ducks are having to dive a little deeper, longer-lasting puddles meant the toads have taken up residence and squelchy paths means you won't go home without wet, muddy wellies! Despite the never-ending precipitation, the wildlife has not failed to put a smile on the faces of the team and our lovely visitors.
The starlings have really delivered this year, murmurating well into February with very few now to be seen. They have beautifully displayed all winter and stayed a lot longer than previous years. Who knows why but they sure loved Newport Wetlands this time round! On average, 100,000-120,000 could be seen murmurating through the months of November, December, January, and February every night just before sunset. Roll on their return in November!
Starlings - Claire Fidler Starling on ground - Jeremy White
Speaking of murmurations, the foreshore has seen an abundance of Dunlin in flocks thousands strong. Amongst them, the Canada Geese gather in groups to prepare for the spring, as well as waders; Oystercatcher, Redshank, Knot, Lapwing and even the Black-Tailed Godwit have all been seen between the tides. Shelduck scatter the mudflats and tufted duck are pairing up on the lagoons.
Black tailed godwit, shelduck - Ieuan Evans Oystercatcher - Jeremy White
Tufted duck - Ieuan Evans
The weekend of the 17th of February saw Goldcliff ringers giving a ringing demonstration, a process by which birds can be tagged and recorded. Their results are as follows:
- 154 new birds and 8 re-traps.
NEW BIRDS
Robin 1
Greenfinch 27
Goldfinch 31
Chaffinch
Blue tit 53
Great tit 20
Long tailed tit 9
Great Spotted Woodpecker2
Dunnock 1
House Sparrow 6
RETRAPS
Two of the Great tit were ringed in 2021 others Blue/Great tit were all ringed in 2022 and 2023 elsewhere on the reserve with just one previously ringed at RSPB centre.
Ringing is a good way to be able to track individual birds and take down their vital statistics, such as weight, wingspan, condition of their plumage etc. It can give us an estimate not only of the bird’s individual condition but also an insight into their population density and distribution.
Our Garden bird variety has maintained itself all through the winter and their plumage is growing ever brighter and more colourful as the spring comes into view. The Finches are looking rather resplendent, Greenfinches Goldfinches, Chaffinches and the occasional Bullfinch are all presenting themselves with great vibrance. Accompanying them, Blue, Great and Long-tailed tits are busy getting materials ready for their nest-building bonanza. Closer to the ground we’ve seen our Dunnocks, Blackbirds, the occasional lone Starling and Reed Bunting all picking through the moss and grasses for leatherjackets and whatever has fallen from the feeders and feeding tables. In terms of migrants, Chiffchaff have been heard singing close by, as well as Song Thrush, Redwing and Fieldfare. With the Spring migration seemingly just around the corner, many migrants will be either heading home or coming back to join us.
Bullfinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch - Jeremy White
As the slightly warmer weather moves in, it’s the time of year where we see Bumblebees, Butterflies and Moths start to emerge. Whilst they’re few for now, Buff-tailed Bumblebees, being rather large and prominent, are the first Bumblebees to be seen so far this year! Alongside them we’ve had sightings of Brimstone Butterflies, Scarlet tiger Moth Caterpillars, even Spiders like the Noble False Widow and the Long-jawed Orb Weaver.
Queen white tailed bumblebee - Claire Fidler Scarlet tiger moth caterpillar
The reens are teeming with small creatures as Spring rolls in, and there are some impressive Amphibians about, including some very large Smooth Newts and the occasional Common Toad.
From our Star species, the bittern has not yet been heard booming but no doubt will get very loud and talkative with the breeding season just around the corner. You can still see the Bittern in flight over the reedbeds, and if you’re very lucky you might see him stalking along the waterline too!
Two otters were sighted very recently so we will keep you posted if more sightings occur! The kingfisher is still visible frequently from the café, often she has a fish in beak too! Weasels and snipe are being spotted often with 10 snipe disguising themselves amongst the reeds. This is our favourite time of year as colour returns to the wetlands! One in particular is the whites and creams with hints of pink and green from the blossom on the trees! Soon our orchard blossom will be fuelling many bumblebees with important pollen.
Blackthorn and spot the snipe! - Jeremy White
Bar-tailed godwit, Bearded reedling, Bittern, Blackbird, Black-headed gull, Black-tailed Godwit, Blue tit, Bullfinch, Buzzard, Canada goose, Carrion crow, Cetti's warbler, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Collared dove, Coot, Cormorant, Curlew, Dunlin, Dunnock, Fieldfare, Gadwall, Goldcrest, Goldfinch, Great spotted woodpecker, Great tit, Green woodpecker, Greenfinch, Grey heron, grey plover, Greylag goose, Herring gull, House sparrow, Jay, Kestrel, Kingfisher, Knot, Lapwing, Lesser black-backed gull, Linnet, Little grebe, Long-tailed tit, Magpie, Mallard, Marsh harrier, Meadow pipit, Moorhen, Mute swan, Oystercatcher, Peregrine falcon, Pheasant, Raven, Red kite, Redshank, Redwing, Reed bunting, Robin, Shelduck, Siskin, Skylark, Snipe, Song thrush, Sparrowhawk, Starling, Stock Dove, Stonechat, teal, Treecreeper, Tufted duck, Turnstone, Water rail, Wigeon, Woodpigeon, Wren, Yellowhammer, Brimstone butterfly, Fox, Grey squirrel, Otter, Rabbit, Stoat, Weasel