The reedbeds and estuary at Uskmouth are teaming with wildlife at the moment, with waders in particular putting on a real show down on the mudflats.
Huge numbers of curlew, golden plover, grey plover, snipe, black tailed godwit, dunlin and knot can be seen feeding out on the foreshore, especially at high tide.
Meanwhile, on the lagoons, there’s wildfowl aplenty with pintail, wigeon, teal, gadwall and pochard as well as hundreds of tufted duck.
The marsh harrier has been seen most days and a couple of little owls are putting a smile on everyone’s face, sitting out in their usual position almost every day. Merlin, peregrine and a barn owl were all spotted last Thursday – obviously a good day to be out on the reserve!
Bearded tit, treecreeper, linnet, brambling and kingfisher have also all been sighted in the last week and it appears the water pipit is back! This large and stocky pipit was around at the beginning of last month and has now reappeared where the reeds have been cut back near the pylons at the eastern end of the reedbeds. It was spotted yesterday by RSPB staff members so hopefully will be around for a little while yet.