Recent sightings from 13 to 19 August 2018

It has gone a bit quiet in the reed beds with all the reed specialists having finished their breeding business. The warblers, reed buntings and bearded reedlings are still around, but can be even trickier to find than usual. However, it has become really lively on the mudflats recently. If you come at the right time of the day (that is when the tide isn’t high), you might well be rewarded with a good number of Curlews, Black-tailed godwits, lapwings and oystercatchers. There have also been sightings this week of Whimbrel, Dunlin, Ringed plover and Greenshank. So, it is well worth bringing your telescopes along and having a close look at what you might find on the mudflats! Other highlights of the week at the wetlands included a Marsh harrier causing some havoc amongst the ducks, a late Swift on the 15th and a late Hobby flying over Newport on the 19th.

Bearded reedling, Black-tailed godwit, Blackcap, Black-headed gull, Blue tit, Bullfinch, Buzzard, Canada goose, Carrion crow, Cetti's warbler, Chiffchaff, Coot, Cormorant, Curlew, Dunlin, Gadwall, Goldfinch, Great spotted woodpecker, Great tit, Greater black-backed gull, Green woodpecker, Greenfinch, Greenshank, Grey heron, House sparrow, Jay, Lapwing, Lesser whitethroat, Linnet, Little egret, Little grebe, Magpie, Mallard, Marsh harrier, Moorhen, Mute swan, Oystercatcher, Pheasant, Pied wagtail, Reed bunting, Reed warbler, Ringed plover, Sand martin, Shelduck, Sparrowhawk, Starling, Swallow, Swift, Teal, Tufted duck, Whimbrel, 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!

Photo credit: John Marsh