I have only managed to get down to the wetlands twice in the last couple of weeks - once on a lovely sunny Saturday and then on this last windy, overcast Wednesday.
The conditions on the Saturday two weeks ago were perfect for photography and I managed to get a couple of Beardie shots and enough extra video to decide to complete my Beardie video for the British birds series. I also saw Wigeon, Gadwall, Linnet, Great, Blue and Long-Tailed Tits, Greenfinch, Goldfinch and an elusive Cetti's Warbler although it was too deep in foliage for a photo. With the weather conditions being so good it was possible to get some nice bright photos - here are a few - I won't label them individually because they are familiar species.
Oh and here's the promised Beardie video -
What a difference on Wednesday - it was gloomy, overcast and windy when I arrived although to be fair it was around dawn - not a Beardie to be seen. However I did see the same finches and tits plus a couple of Dunnocks and a few Fieldfares. It brightened up later and i managed to snap a Stonechat, more Gadwall and down on the river gulls flying upstream - there have been reports of all kinds of exotic birds at Goldcliff Point including Great and Arctic Skua, a Black Guillemot, Common Scoter, Leaches Petrel, Gannets, Kittiwake, Great Northern Diver but on my random snaps all I managed was a Black-Backed Gull!
Just as I was leaving I saw this Red Admiral high in the Ivy at the bottom of Perry Lane.
Good selection John, I haven't been walking for quite a while now and only time we went to Goldcliff I didn't take my camera because the light was so bad. Guess what we had lovely close views of the Marsh Harrier and Buzzard from hide 1.
Thanks for the kind comment. Isn't that always the way? Well jell, I haven't seen the Marsh Harrier since the Spring but loads of sightings have been reported.
Such a great selection of wonderful pics JL & a fabulous Beardie-fest, your vid is such an inspiration to us would-be Beardie spotters!!
2013 photos & vids here
eff37 on Flickr
Great set of pictures. Seeing all your photos whets the appetite to get down their now the weather is less overcast.
Hoping to get down to Goldcliff and Uskmouth tomorrow but I know it will be cold. Hoping the Fieldfare and Redwing have arrived. Would be nice to see a Waxwing but that's not too likely.
I loved that Beardie video so much I just had to join the group to say so. Fantastic and very informative.
Lot to learn
Fantastic pics of the Beardies, John, and a lovely collection altogether--thanks!
Kind regards, Ann
Thanks Wendy, so glad to hear it gave you inspiration, really hope you get to see them soon!
Thanks Colin - I'm sure it's going to be a perfect weekend for the wetlands - won't be able to make it this weekend as I'm in London so hope you get some good photos.
Good luck David, won't be around this weekend. Oh I'd love to see another Waxwing eruption like we had a couple of year's ago in Chepstow. Fingers crossed!