RSPB Newport Wetlands.

 

Xmas presents should result in a more orderly year! Certainly more paperwork.

Started 2025 by driving down to Newport, Wales, to collect the eldest granddaughters possessions as she is moving back to York having gained her Bachelors degree in Cyber Technology. A fairly pleasant drive due to the lack of traffic. The journey home on January 2nd was different, as there was a lot more traffic.

First light on the 2nd saw me heading for Goldcliff Lagoons.

 

The new fencing has been erected and looks substantial enough to keep out predators. Not a lot of bird activity. I chose to arrive at first light in the hope of catching sight of an owl or two, but no such luck.

Greylag geese took to the air in their usual noisy fashion. 10 curlew were standing silently in the water while 2 avocets were busy feeding near the edge of the reedbed.

Sunrise over the Severn Estuary. It was high tide so no birds on the shore line.

Mute swans, lapwings, shovelers, wigeon and mallard were all starting to wake up. As I walked back to my car a male bullfinch flew across the path.

RSPB Newport Wetlands was my next destination.

The large reedbed reminds me of Blacktoft Sands. It is a shame that this is not a lookout point.

High tide has passed so birds were starting to use the exposed mud.

Lots of shelducks

Something was upsetting the waders, but I could not see a raptor. Lots of lapwings and dunlin.

No sign of oystercatchers or other waders apart from a single redshank. As I followed the Woodland trail I heard then saw great spotted woodpecker, siskin, chaffinch and goldfinch. Near the car park there are some bird feeders and here I saw blue and great tits and house sparrows. A pleasant couple of hours before my long drive home.

Saturday afternoon I went with my youngest granddaughter to Askham Bog. A lot of conservation work has taken place and the undergrowth and trees have been thinned out.

Why people have to throw  branches etc in the pond amazes me. Not many birds to be seen. Was it because of the time of day, the lack of cover or the notices now asking you not to feed the birds. The notice states that feeding birds can encourage species that could have a detrimental effect on the rare willow tit population, and as the site is a SSSI it is illegal to take bird food onto the reserve!

Will the forecast weather mean no going out tomorrow?