Eight GBC members came with me to the Goldcliff lagoons, east of Newport, hoping to see some good waders, even tho’ two of the lagoons were dry. It turned out well with the only wet lagoon, Prior’s, giving us couple of ‘star’ birds – a Little Stint and a Ruff, in with Redshank, Black-tailed Godwit, Dunlin, Snipe, 3 Little Ringed Plover, Lapwing and Oystercatcher [the latter on distant mudflats]. Another star bird picked out by another birder and confirmed by our country recorder, Phil Bristow who was also visiting, was a Garganey, albeit not the showy head-striped male, but a female or eclipse bird with subtly different head pattern from the Teal it was with.
We ended up at the Avocet hide below the sea wall and were immediately rewarded with a couple of Green Sandpipers. Outside the hide I got on to a Whinchat on the fence, together with 2 Wheatear. Back in the hide all hell was let loose when I spotted a bird land on a post near the lagoon. Highly patterned with a marked white supercilium, and two bold white wing bars, A load of images were taken and much discussion ensued as to what it was – clearly a wagtail or pipit of some sort. It was eventually decided it was probably an immature Citrine Wagtail but books would need to consulted later, none of us being familiar with non-adult plumage of that species. It was seen and videoed later that day and immediately ID’d as a 1st winter Citrine Wagtail! Possibly a 1st for Gwent! It was still present today [23rd]. My best images below.
We saw 52 species – full list here.