The joys of a Misty Monday

As I missed my weekly trip down to the Wetlands last week due to my bad back, I was determined to get there this week, whatever the conditions.

So Monday morning came to find me on the 9am bus to the wetlands complete with minimal equipment, out into the mist we went ...

A normal part of my public transport trips is "birding from the Bus", as the route taken includes a large loop around the Gwent Levels, and is often quite productive, Not Today!, at times the visibility stretched as far as 10M into the fields beyond the hedgerow, at others I could hardly see beyond the edge of the road, not helped of course by the many roadside reens adding to the mist.

On arrival at the Visitor Centre, a cup of coffee and a scan of the scrape was order of the day - Coots, Mute Swans, Moorhen, and Mallard on the water and Greenfinch on the feeders.

Just about to venture into the murk, which was actually clearing slightly, brought the arrival at the centre of a large party of Birder/walkers,and a party of local youth on an educational field trip, So much for a quite days birding I thought ... ... then as if to lift my spirits the Greenfinch were joined on the feeders by a Great Spotted Woodpecker.

Due to the presence of the two parties of visitors, especially the younger contingent I made the decision to head for the Western side of the lagoons hoping for a quite time to just enjoy the fresh air ...

I passed by the normal left turn of the western walking route to follow the paths to the far Western end of the reserve, which comprises of a lot more trees and low scrub, which I found to be full of birds, Robin, Blackbirds, Tits, and Finches, all in full song, most impressed by Dunnock giving it large from seemingly every bush, much overlooked bird the Dunnock, but well worth spending time with :) .

Due to my protecting my back I spent much of my time sitting and watching rather that walking, and as always this sitting time was very productive, with the birds coming to within a few feet, of course the light was not at all suitable for photography, the only downside of the day. The reedbeds and scrub were also full of the calls of Cetti's Warbler and the tinkle of Bearded Tits, both of which did provide fleeting views.

When i reached the far end of the reserve I sat for an hour or so on the last bench overlooking the estuary, the tide-line itself held a group of 20 or so Curlew, Mallard, Shellduck, Teal and all the common Gulls and Corvids, including a raven on the saltmarsh. The saltmarsh was visited by our resident Marsh harrier, which appeared to fall onto prey amongst the seaweeed.

Birds attracted my attention on the shrubs by the coast path fence, Male and female Stonechat, and a brief visit from a female Winchat, my earliest sighting and possiby amongst the earliest in Gwent.

Walked back via the inner paths to the normal western route and past the viewpoints on R4, R5, R6 and R7, lots of tufted duck in large rafts, of upto 20 birds, plus Coot, Gadwall, Mallard and at least eight pairs of Little Grebe, in full breeding plumage. Only sighted one Great Crested Grebe in the cut area by the first blind, reeds and scrub full of pairs or Reed bunting and Stonechat.

A quick cup of coffee complete with a two foot encounter with the Cock Pheasant that lives by the playground,and a nice female Siskin on the feeders, saw me head out toward the hide along the path where unfortunately the Little owls were not on view.

On arrival at the hide the lagoons were very quiet except for a few Canada Geese and what looks like a Pair of Mallard nesting right in front of the Hide.

Decided to sit on the bench and check out the scrub area to the rear of the hide, a good place for spring migrants, to be greeted to the sight of a bearded Tit fly low above the scrub and into the edge of the copse!  Was also treated to my best view of the year of a Cetti's Warbler, which called, flew to the edge of the scrub a few feet behind the bench called/ sang and then flitted off, amazing view of a shy bird, and maybe worthwhile staking out these bushes with a camera with better light over next few weeks.

Back into the hide to have Bittern rise above the reeds to the left (towards lighthouse), fly for about twenty metres and drop back into the reeds, 

Walk back produced another view of Cetti's in the woodland by the raised platform, Grey Heron and Little Egret in the newly cut area, a second Raven of the day in the trees to the east of the path, not appreciated by the resident Carrion Crows who beat a hasty retreat!

All in all an amazing day which shows what can be seen at the reserve even on a day where the sun never showed once until after 4PM, 

All you need to do is take the time to stand or sit for a while - so many people complain that they see little or nothing at the Wetlands, the birds are there you just have to let them show themselves ....