Saturday 5 May 2012

Red-rumped Swallow etc.....

5 May - A morning visit to Goldcliff, just across the Severn bridge, and after a wait, good flight views of the Red-rumped Swallow in a large mixed flock of 100s of hirundines and Swifts (photos, 2, Gwent birding, 3 JM). Very distinctive gliding flight and colouration. A good mix of other species seen at the wetland reserve - Peregrine, Hobby, 30+ Avocets at the colony, Bar-tailed and Black-tailed Godwits, 3 Greenshanks, a summer-plumaged Spotted Redshank, 12+ Little Egrets, 5 Wheatears and a Yellow Wagtail. A quick stop at pit 57 in the CWP en route home looking for Hobbies was very successful, with 6 being seen, some perched and hawking for insects at close quarters in the SE corner of the lake. Photos 4-5, JM.

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