Highlights

Highlights at the Pools.5 Whimbrel 4 Grey Plover 9 Knot and this Little Owl.Nothing much else to report

The Big Dip

Headed off down to the somerset Levels Sunday morning arriving on site at 11am and left at 1:30pm.Had to get back for family duties.The Little Bittern stayed well and truly hidden in the reed bed without even a little flap.A picture of a reddish buff below swallow from the wet field a couple of weeks ago is all i got of interest at the moment.A dark looking Rustica or a pale looking Transitiva?

The Pools Again

Picked up an Acro Warbler flying into the bushes by the main entrance gate and thought that it looke paler in flight than a Reed Warbler.Couldnt find it at first but then it sang,lots and lots of mimicry including Linnet,Willow Chiff,Swallow,Goldfinch and House Sparrow,There has been a few Reed Warblers with a bit of mimicry there recently but nothing like this,it was completly different.It also didnt have the repetertiveness of a Reed Warbler.It kept out of view for most of the time but did fly back across to another bush on a few occasions.Never really came out into the open so didnt get any id clinching features but the best pic i got do show longish primaries and what seems to be pale tips.Last seen in the bushes by the metal gate.It was then looked for up untill 11pm and the next day with no Joy.Didnt even check the pools,the Black stork could have been sat there in full view.

Get Up And Go

Couldn't find the get up an go to get out early this morning,instead i browsed the internetweb to see what i was missing,not a lot as it goes.Then a text came through of a summer plumage Curlew Sand at Goldcliff.Don't think i would normally go rushing round after a Curlew Sand but with the Lack of birds locally i thought why not.Anyway apart from the Curlew Sand a handful of dunlin and 2 Greenshank were the best of the rest.Still lots of Painted Lady's about tho.Checked the gulls out at Whitheads after tea but couldn't find any Yellow-Legs.A few wearing rings but the heat haze made them unreadable.Gave that up when a Tramp swigging Special brew and lugging around the biggest rucksack you ever have see walked straight through the middle of them.

The Golden Cliff Delights Again.

An Hour before the football produced 8 Gannet quite close in for Gwentish terms and two mid channel fulmar.Also a lone Gannet Gently floating up channel with the tide.

Waders At West Usk Beach

Spoony Number 3

Spoonbill number 3 turned up at Goldclif Pools today.Even More amazing is its the same bird that turned up on the 11Th June last Year.Where has it been i wonder?

Taken this evening.

Taken on the 11/06/08.

Deep In The Middle Of Gwent

Only other birds of note were Marsh Tit and Tawny Owl.

It Wasn`t Meant To Be

Well what a day Friday turned out to be,Checked the internetweb and a few seabirds were moving further down the channel.An hours watch at the cliff of golden delights was on.Not alot happening,just a single Gannet and 1 Arctic skua until a few Whimbrel flew up off the foreshore one with a completely dark Rump.Myself and Tom called it at the same time.In the Panic i thought S*** i better get a pic of this so rattled off a few of the flock.Should have really stayed on it with bins and got a few more features.Immediately checking the photos all were blurred and none Identifiable. Never mind S*** Happens.So it was back down this morning in search.Only a handful of Whimbrel about and all had nice spanking white rear ends.A new Spoondbill was at the Pools also 1 Rock Pipit and the cutest baby Shoveler you ever had seen.Also the cutest baby Pochard you ever have seen.Back over at the Point the seabird tally consisted of 2 Arctic Skuas 7 Gannet 10 kittiwake 1 Fulmar and the earliest Stormy for 7 Years.

Now You See It Now You Dont

The Garganey was still on the back lagoon,the Spoonbill made some fleeting appearances on the furthest lagoon but soon disappeared back up a small ditch.Plenty on Dunlin, some Turnstone and a lonesome Golden Plover were the best of the rest.

West Usk Beach

Highlights at Goldcliff Pools Saturday Morning were 3 Gannet and a Flyover Cuckoo.The Little beach at the West Usk Lighthouse came up trumps in the evening with 33 Sanderling 300+ Dunlin 3 Barwits 9 Whimbrel and a few Wheatears.

Pom Tiddly Pom Pom Pom

After watching the winds on XC Weather all day.Winds reaching 31Mph in a SW Direction with a few poms scattered about it was straight down to the Golden cliff of delights after work.After an hour and a half of nothing one Pom flew straight up channel circling for a bit before carrying on.

Managed to get these cracking pics as well.

Early One Sunday Morning.

Paid a visit to a nice little local woodland to look for Wood Warbler.Was not disappointed with at least 8 Birds present.Also popped down to the Cliff of Golden delights for 2 hours after XCWeather forecast 20mph SW winds this afternoon.The Only delights from the cliff were 1 Fulmar down Channel and lots of Swift Up and Down.

This Time Last Year

Back to normal this weekend with the usual suspects about.It was around about this time Last year we were graced With Broad Billed Sand,BW Stilt And Temmincks Stint.Keep The Faith!