Anybody who has visited Goldcliff will realise that although it is an amazing site for actually seeing a great number of birds it is not great for photography as the hides and viewing screens are so distant from the lagoons. That is a bit of a preamble to say that all of these photos suffer from the fact that they are all taken with a telephoto at the limit of its magnification and not as sharp as I would have liked - hopefully they will still give a taste of what's around here in the autumn. We've been lucky enough to have some really special birds here recently - a Ring Ouzel last week, Whooper Swans the other day, and of course the Hen Harrier yesterday.
First up some Snipe which I took on a very foggy morning - the sun lifted for the last couple of shots.
Snipe
Avocet
Curlew
Greenshank
Redshank
Godwits
Dunlin
Whooper Swans (took a right instead of a left if they were aiming for Slimbridge)
Wigeon
Mixed Waders
We that live close to this facility do not realise how lucky we are but I must agree with you John, nearly all photos are pure record shots due to distance from subject. Nice article.
They look good to me JL, my waders here on the tidal mudflats congregate on a sand spit which is just beyond the range of my cam for any decent clear shot ... I need a small boat!
2013 photos & vids here
eff37 on Flickr
Thanks Wendy, I sympathise with you with your uncooperative waders - why can't they just pose nicely for us?
Great report and photos John, I've never been to Goldcliff but looks a very good area for waders judging by the variety you saw. Another place for my bucket list lol
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Regards, Hazel
It's great to see your images of the Whooper swans. If only one or two would stay for a longer period. They are always on their way to richer pastures.
Cheers Hazel and Colin, so lucky to be in the right place at the right time to see those Whoopers!
Had better luck at Goldcliff than Uskmouth yesterday. Marsh Harrier, Spotted Redshank, Ruff, Green Woodpecker among many others.
Wahey! Great to hear David - I haven't seen Marsh Harriers since the Spring when we saw three in the sky over the reed beds to the right of the hide but I've never seen a Green Woodpecker down there and only one ever so quite envious!
I would suggest that rather than not reaching Slimbridge, the Whooper Swans have overshot somewhere like the Welsh Wetlands Centre, where they are regular, in small numbers, the Swans at Slimbridge are normally Bewicks ;)
Best regardsNigel
| My Images | Newport Wetlands on Flickr @barman58
A good selection of birds, there, John--thanks. I've only been to Goldcliff a few times and only in May or June, so it is lovely to see what is around at other times of year.
Kind regards, Ann