Recent sightings from 09 to 15 September 2019

Once again, the passerines/perching birds took centre stage and produced the one or the other truly exciting sighting this week. Wheatear remained a common sight along the coast, both at Newport Wetlands and at Goldcliff lagoons. Whilst sedge and reed warbler only allowed short glimpses, the Cetti’s warblers were singing loudly even at the beginning of the week with inclement…

Recent sightings from 02 to 08 September 2019

It was a week which was dominated by wading birds and passerines (also known as perching bird or songbirds). A semipalmated sandpiper, a rare visitor from the North American tundra, visited Goldcliff lagoons and attracted many twitchers. The last record of the “semi p” – as it was named – was from Thursday. It wasn’t the only attraction at Goldcliff which once again was a…

Recent sightings from 26 August to 1 September 2019

The week started off very promising with sightings of three curlew sandpipers, a hen harrier and a glossy ibis at Goldcliff Lagoons. The curlew sandpipers remained at the lagoons for the rest of the week and were joined by large flocks of knot and black-tailed godwit, some whimbrels, ruffs, greenshanks and bar-tailed godwits and by a little stint and three turnstones…

Recent sightings from 19 to 25 August 2019

Not only the heatwave over the bank holiday weekend was a clear sign that summer isn't quite over yet. Plenty of dragonflies enjoyed the warm and sunny conditions. Butterflies were very active as well. There were still some quite faded painted lady butterflies around and lots of common blue butterflies added a splash of colour to the scenery as did a kingfisher which flew past…

Recent sightings from 12 to 18 August 2019

There was a fair share of rainy and windy days this week which resulted in birds, butterflies and dragonflies seeking shelter wherever possible. Painted ladies were, however, still around this week and in the woodlands a big number of speckled wood filled the air. These medium sized butterflies might not be the most colourful ones but with their delicate pattern they are very…

Recent sightings from 04 to 11 August 2019

There were still plenty of painted lady butterflies around the reserve to the delight of our visitors. Up to 100 were seen struggling with the conditions on a windy Friday. Common and ruddy darter as well as southern and migrant hawker were seen in good numbers on the sunny days. More than a hundred curlew were present on the mudflats throughout the week and there were some redshank…

Recent sightings from 29 July to 04 August 2019

One of our most spectacular summer visitors, the swift, started to gather for their way back to their wintering grounds in south Africa. On Tuesday, we could see a group of at least 40 of them flying over the reserve. Swallows, house martins and sand martins could be seen in small numbers over the water as well. Once again, the reserve was full of insects. Lots of butterflies…

Recent sightings from 22 to 28 July 2019

The green woodpecker made several appearances close to the visitor centre this week and could be seen regularly in the mornings. Surprisingly busy were the mudflats. Not only were there a good selection of gulls (including great black-backed gulls) and a good number of shelduck, but also a variety of wading birds. Up to 100 curlews were seen probing the mud with their distinctively…

Recent sightings from 15 to 21 July 2019

Family groups of long-tailed tits were seen regularly during this week and sometimes you could even find a goldcrest in amongst them. Lots of the other song birds preferred to keep out of sight, finishing their breeding business or being in the process of moulting. You could still get glimpses of reed and sedge warbler and with a good portion of luck even get a nice view of a Cetti…

Recent sightings from 01 to 14 July 2019

Whilst summer is usually a quiet time in regard to birds, there were still quite a few interesting sightings in the first half of July. The month started with a real rarity when a long-eared owl got spotted on 1^st July. One day later, a great white egret was another exciting sighting. Although it isn’t a rare bird at the wetlands, sightings of a water rail are very rare indeed…

Recent sightings from 24 to 30 June 2019

The week started off at Goldcliff Lagoons with the Spoonbill remaining the main attraction. Ringed and little ringed plover, black-tailed godwit, lapwing and redshank were also still about, as were a few dunlins. A wood sandpiper was a surprise guest on Tuesday. Shoveler, teal and wigeon were amongst the ducks present at the lagoons, whilst the warblers were still quite active…

Recent sightings from 17 to 23 June 2019

After the rain and wind of last week, the weather was much kinder to us this week and with it came lots of exciting sightings. During our Bearded Reedling and Breakfast Walk on Wednesday our group not only got a glimpse of a bearded reedling but also a good view of two otters. This was well worth getting up early for! The bearded reedling was seen once more later that day and once…

Recent sightings from 10 to 16 June 2019

It was definitely a mixed bag in regard to the weather at Newport Wetlands last week – as it was indeed for most of the UK. Therefore, it wasn’t a big surprise that a lot of birds preferred to seek shelter from rain and wind. It was relatively quiet on the mudflats but there was still a whimbrel about on Monday alongside a good number of shelduck. It was a rather good week for…

Recent sightings from 3 to 9 June 2019

On Saturday our new bronze relief model of the Gwent Levels was finally revealed by TV presenter and RSPB President Miranda Krestovnikoff, but this was not the only highlight during what was at times a very windy and wet week. There was still plenty of new life to be welcomed. Two pochard females were looking after three ducklings, the reed warbler and the green woodpecker also had…

Recent sightings from 27 May to 2 June 2019

More and more orchids appeared all over the reserve with the southern marsh orchid being the most common one but there are also some common spotted orchids and a good number of bee orchids to be found. We are still waiting for pyramidal orchids and marsh helleborine, but the bee orchids are well and truly spectacular. Spectacular is also a fitting description for dragonflies…

Recent sightings from 20 to 26 May 2019

Reed, sedge and Cetti’s warblers remained very active in the reedbeds and there was also the one or the other sighting of bearded reedlings. The star of the show in the reedbed this week was, however, a Savi’s warbler which appeared during the weekend and attracted a big number of birdwatchers to the reserve. Its characteristic song could be heard Saturday and Sunday morning. Usually…

Recent sightings from 13 to 19 May 2019

This week brought a sighting of a hobby which was flying over the reserve on Wednesday on the lookout for dragonflies of which more and more are on the wing now. There were also nice displays of kestrels, buzzards and sparrowhawks and a marsh harrier flew over the scrape right in front of the café on Saturday afternoon allowing some rare close-up views. A red kite which was seen…

Recent sightings from 06 to 12 May 2019

The most sought-after species this week were once again the cuckoo and the bearded reedling. The cuckoo has been active most days and up to three individuals could not only be heard but also seen close to the visitor centre. The participants of our Bearded Reedling and Breakfast Walk on Saturday were lucky to get a sighting of a male bearded reedling which was perching nicely in…

Recent sightings from 29 April to 05 May 2019

The week started off in style with the sighting of a spoonbill at Goldcliff lagoons on Monday and a grasshopper warbler at the wetlands on Tuesday. Most visitors were hoping to catch a glimpse of a cuckoo or a bearded reedling. Cuckoos still were rather active all over the reserve and could be heard and seen on a daily basis and fortunately there have also been a number of…

Recent sightings from 22 to 28 April 2019

Whilst things turned a bit wilder this week with storm Hannah making an appearance at the wetlands, those who braved the windy weather conditions were rewarded with some great sightings. This can also be said about the kids who went pond dipping despite of the rain and they were thrilled to see newts, water scorpions and sticklebacks to name but a few. The second week of the Easter…

Recent sightings from 15 to 21 April 2019

The Easter week brought glorious sunshine to the wetlands which not only attracted lots of visitors but also lots of birds and butterflies. On Monday, the first reed warbler of the year was recorded, they have been very active since and can be heard singing emphatically around the visitor centre and all around the reserve. Other arriving migrants included sedge warbler, common…

Recent sightings from 08 to 14 April 2019

After a rainy start into the week things started to brighten up from Wednesday onwards and with that came some more arrivals. Most notably a Grasshopper warbler and a Common whitethroat were recorded for the first time this year on Saturday, and Friday brought the first Speckled wood butterfly. Sand martins continued to fly over the reedbeds and lagoons in big flocks with the…

Recent sightings from 01 to 07 April 2019

Whilst one swallow doesn’t make a summer, hundreds of Sand martins definitely make a spring. Although some colder weather brought back some snow on the hilltops on Thursday morning, visitors to the wetlands who braved the weather conditions were treated to a sky full of Sand martins which were flying low over the reedbeds and lagoons especially on Thursday and Friday. Some Swallows…

Recent sightings from 25 to 31 March 2019

It was another exciting week at Newport Wetlands. Spring is well and truly on its way now with an array of butterflies in the air and with Chiffchaffs singing everywhere on the reserve competing with the Cetti’s warblers for the crown of the most vocal bird. One of our nicest singers, the Blackcap, is spreading joy with its melodious yet slightly melancholic song. Swallows and…

Recent sightings from 18 to 24 March 2019

The stars of the week were without a doubt once again our Otter family (probably a female with three young ones) which showed themselves nicely and were seen nearly every day. It is just always a very special encounter to see these fascinating animals in the wild. There were also some sightings of Weasels and a Water vole was spotted on Wednesday. With some great sunny weather…