Yes – it’s official! Spring is most definitely on its way according to the recent sightings this week at Newport Wetlands. In 2015 & 2016 the cuckoo arrived on 19 April and the following year it was a day earlier, first sighted on 18 April. So we have all been waiting to see when it would arrive this year. Despite everything else being late the cuckoo was sighted today, arriving a little earlier than anticipated. Our other migrants are also on their way and we have had several sightings of reed and sedge warbler in the past couple of weeks. Although these birds are hard to see there is no mistaking their song – so it is one of the best times of year to visit the reserve and hear the orchestra of sound bursting from the reedbeds, woodlands and hedgerows.
Cuckoo by Les Davies
Recent sightings from 7th April – 13th April
Barn owl, Bittern, Blackbird, Blackcap, Blue tit, Bullfinch, Buzzard, Canada goose, Cetti's warbler, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Coot, Cormorant, Curlew, Dunnock, Gadwall, Goldfinch, Grasshopper warbler, Great spotted woodpecker, Great tit, Greenfinch, Green Woodpecker Grey heron, Greylag goose, Herring gull, House sparrow, Jay, Kestrel, Lesser black-backed gull, Little egret, Little grebe, Long-tailed tit, Magpie, Mallard, Marsh harrier, Moorhen, Mute swan, Oystercatcher, Peregrine, Pheasant, Pied wagtail, Pochard, Redshank, Reed bunting, Reed warbler, Sand martin, Sedge warbler, Shelduck, Sparrowhawk, Stonechat, Swallow, Tufted duck, Wigeon, Willow warbler, Wood pigeon, 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!