Spring has sprung… the bittern is booming! Britain’s loudest bird is a member of the Heron family and we are lucky to have resident Bitterns that breed here. Having bred for the first time in South Wales in 2020, they have been successful every year since with 6 fledged in 2022. They have been spotted most from the hide; situated on the Eastern side of the reserve, but the famous booming can be heard from anywhere. Their call can travel up to two miles and the male bittern begins booming as early as late January to establish territories and attract partners.
Image credit: Ieuan Evans
A peregrine pair we spotted by our retail manager one early morning and a sharp-eyed visitor caught sight of one on a pylon near to our welcome hut. The pylons are perfect nesting habitat for peregrines.
Image credit: Jeremy White
Image credit: Neil Hooper
Although the recent weather hasn’t seemed spring like, the wildlife is certainly gearing up for those longer days and warmer climates. The resident Cetti’s warbler most often heard and not seen are dominating the reedbeds and another of Britain’s loudest birds is jumping into action. Staff had a lovely and rare sighting of one outside the office window as it hopped along the edge of the scrape.
Image credit: Kirsty Lindsay
Is it an otter…? No, it is just a cormorant! The reserve has seen an influx of cormorants recently and from a distance their diving behaviour in the lagoons can be mistaken for an otter! If you haven’t already been to the wetlands with the hopes of seeing an otter, don’t give up, they are still around and have been spotted mostly from the west end of the reserve. Canada goose and mute swans are pairing up and the little grebes can be seen diving in the lagoons hoping to catch a fish.
Image credit: Micheal Rodgers
The woodlands have been offering up some treats in the form of goldcrest, nuthatch and tree creeper. Around high tide, wigeon, pochard, teal, shelduck and curlew can be seen off the coast path. Water rail are still being heard squealing from the reedbeds and bearded reedlings are a nice addition to the sighting’s boards on a regular basis.
It would be rude not to mention our café special guest who never fails to be a highlight of everyone’s day. Our resident kingfisher is being seen by all and we are loving all your photographs of her. Even on those dull and dreary days she’s out on the scrape catching multiple fish and the odd newt. We need a name! Open to any suggestions!
Image credit: Cellan Micheal
Avocet, 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, Collared dove, Coot, Cormorant, Curlew, Dunlin, Dunnock, Fieldfare, Gadwall, Goldcrest, Goldfinch, Great spotted woodpecker, Great tit, Greenfinch, Grey plover, Herring gull, House sparrow, Jackdaw, Jay, Kingfisher, Lesser black-backed gull, Lesser redpoll, Linnet, Little grebe, Long-tailed tit, Magpie, Mallard, Marsh harrier, Meadow pipit, Mistle thrush, Moorhen, Mute swan, Nuthatch, Oystercatcher, Peregrine falcon, Pheasant, Pied wagtail, Pochard, Redshank, Redwing, Reed bunting, Robin, Rock pipit, Shelduck, Snipe, Song thrush, Sparrowhawk, Starling, Stonechat, Teal, Tufted duck, Water rail, Wigeon, Woodpigeon, Wren, Bank vole, Grey squirrel, Mink, Otter, Rabbit, Stoat.
Easter is fast approaching so keep an eye on our website for guided walks and activities for all the family: events.rspb.org.uk/newportwetlands
I think the name ‘Brenin’ would be a lovely name for the kingfisher, as it’s the Welsh word for ‘King’, even if she is a female