luke
A Welsh birder in Dorset!
This is probably gwents premier reserve covering 483 hectares with numerous different habitats, such as reedbeds, wet grassland, fresh water lagoons, saline lagoons and mudflats. Due to this variety of habitats, plenty of different birds can be seen from 10 different warbler species to vast numbers of wintering ducks and a great variety of waders including some rarities over the years. Also, during winter, up to 50,000 starling use the reedbeds to roost, sharing the evening sky with short eared owl which hunt the foreshore during the winter evenings.
The reserve has a rich variety of breeding species including avocet, which is a first for wales and also bearded tit, which again hasn't breed in wales since the 80's. Little Egret also nest very near to the reserve. Hopefully in coming years bittern and Marsh harrier will join the list of breeding birds with latter already seen carrying nest material, and turning regularly though migration times. The reserve is also your best chance of Cetti's warbler as nearly 40 birds were recorded singing quite recently. A recent report (2005) revealed that the reedbeds are significant for water rail with 54 birds (including 24 pairs) were recorded during a survey.
Garganey and spoonbill are regular spring visitors along with little ringed plover which stay and breed. The lagoons at Goldcliff are a great place to be during the autumn migration with numerous curlew sandpiper and little stint passing through. Most years during this time vagrant wader often turn, usually in the form of Pectoral sandpiper, with Bairds, white rumped and semipalmated also being recorded.
At present a 3 million pound visitor centre is being constructed which will house classrooms, a cafe and visitor centre. This will greatly enhance visitor facilities along with the new pontoons and walkways through the reedbeds. This reserve has tremendous potential to a top Uk bird reserve with bird numbers and species increasing every year!
The reserve has a rich variety of breeding species including avocet, which is a first for wales and also bearded tit, which again hasn't breed in wales since the 80's. Little Egret also nest very near to the reserve. Hopefully in coming years bittern and Marsh harrier will join the list of breeding birds with latter already seen carrying nest material, and turning regularly though migration times. The reserve is also your best chance of Cetti's warbler as nearly 40 birds were recorded singing quite recently. A recent report (2005) revealed that the reedbeds are significant for water rail with 54 birds (including 24 pairs) were recorded during a survey.
Garganey and spoonbill are regular spring visitors along with little ringed plover which stay and breed. The lagoons at Goldcliff are a great place to be during the autumn migration with numerous curlew sandpiper and little stint passing through. Most years during this time vagrant wader often turn, usually in the form of Pectoral sandpiper, with Bairds, white rumped and semipalmated also being recorded.
At present a 3 million pound visitor centre is being constructed which will house classrooms, a cafe and visitor centre. This will greatly enhance visitor facilities along with the new pontoons and walkways through the reedbeds. This reserve has tremendous potential to a top Uk bird reserve with bird numbers and species increasing every year!
Last edited:
