We were pleased to welcome 10 folk on our first GBC Birdwalk for Women, it was great to see old and new friends, then have snacks in the cafe together afterwards to discuss the list!
On this overcast damp day, saw and heard 31 species between us, the highlights being – good views of a kingfisher on the lake, glimpses of a Water Rail by some, and several Bullfinch. We were entertained by a juvenile Little Grebe trying to swallow a fish.
Full list – Magpie, Robin, Carrion Crow, Mallard, Woodpigeon, Bullfinch, Wren, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Goldcrest, Long-tailed Tit, Siskin, Chiffchaff, Stonechat, Meadow Pipit, Coot, Little Grebe with young, Moorhen, Jay, Kingfisher, Herring Gull, Buzzard, Red Kite, Coal Tit, Blackbird, Raven, Chaffinch, Water Rail, Blackcap, Grey Wagtail, Dunnock.

Many thanks to Strinda for co- leading and Angharad for keeping the list.
Summary by Jean Haslam

A successful GBC trip with 10 participants, to Steart Marshes WWT reserve. Wader-wise the reserve was pretty quiet with just a few distant Lapwing & Golden Plover. Highlights there were 3 sleeping [of course!] Spoonbills, an immature Cattle Egret and a few Ruff. Out at Steart Point we had 2 Little Stint, at least 6 Curlew Sandpipers, plus Knot, Ringed Plover, Dunlin, Oycs and Curlew and about 1000 Shelduck. Other highlights were Marsh Harrier and Peregrine. 55 species in the end was pretty good. Many thanks to those who came along. Click here for the full list. Only 1 photo taken [birds here are often pretty distant] – the fem/imm Wheatear which was one of a few seen on the walk out to Steart Point. An Osprey!! … was only seen by two folk who had lagged behind finishing their sandwiches – good move!!

We had a warm humid troll round the Lavernock WT reserve and along the coastal path – 11 participants came along – thanks for your support and patience folks. The hoped for small birds were very much not in evidence but nevertheless we logged 28 species – click here for the full list. There was continuous light passage of Swallows. Apart from the common birds, other interest was provided by a Small Copper butterfly, Common Migrant and Common Darter dragonflies and various hoverflies including several of the impressive and scary looking hornet mimic, Volucella zonaria. For interest I’ve posted some pix below.

Twenty folk enjoyed the field trip on Sunday 27th August.
We were very lucky to be led by Dan Jenkins-Jones , an expert on the site, who made sure that everyone had some view of the elusive and rare Green Sandpiper. After a lot of skulking, a total of seven were found!
Full list-
Grey Heron, Cormorant, Carrion Crow, Common Buzzard, Long-Tailed Tit, Wood Pigeon, Starling, Robin, Jackdaw, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Swallow, Magpie, Wren, Chiffchaff, Nuthatch, Lesser Black-Backed Gull, Jay, Blackbird, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Rook, Stonechat, Kingfisher (heard), Green Sandpiper, House Martin, Goldfinch, Meadow Pipit, Moorhen, Mallard, Canada Goose.
Many thanks to Dan (especially for the chocolate!) and to David Hibler for leading.
Summary by Jean Haslam

We had a reasonably successful trip to Goldcliff in Gwent when 21 participants logged a total of 58 species. Waders were a little disappointing but we did see c.55 Blackwits, c.100 Lapwing, c.40 Dunlin, 1 Redshank, 11 Ringed Plover and a fly-over-calling Green Sandpiper. Other highlights included 4 Yellow Wagtails, a Spoonbill, fem/imm Redstart and 2 Marsh Harrier. Not many bird pix were taken [by me at least]. Featured below are the notorious Goldcliff ‘Bosprey’ [v distant][a v pale Buzzard that is often mistaken for Osprey], a fem/imm Redstart and some Blackwits & Dunlin. Full list can be seen by clicking here. John Wilson